Fierce Reads at Books and Books Week Blitz: Josephine Angelini

Hello Swooners!

Today is the last day of our Fierce Reads at Books and Books Week Blitz. We are excited to be interviewing Josephine Angelini, author of Firewalker which was released on September 1. Josephine will also be at Books and Books in Coral Gables on Monday, October 12 at 7pm in for the Fierce Reads Tour! Check out what she had to say to us below.

Firewalker (Worldwalker #2)
Author: Josephine Angelini
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher:Feiwel & Friends
   

"You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified."

Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.

Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves.

What were your biggest challenges in writing Fire Walker?

The beginning! For me, getting the beginning of a book right is so hard. I’m a plotter, so I always know what my major turning points and reversals are going to be, and as a result I always rush the start of the book so I can get to the juicy bits. I always have to go back and fix my beginnings.

Has Lily changed at all from Trial by Fire to Firewalker?

Enormously. She’s suffering from PTSD, and who wouldn’t be after what she went through? I have a hard time believing books that ignore the messy fall-out of a tortured main character. One of the things that I wanted to do with this series was to test the validity of the saying “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Lillian isn’t stronger after what she went through. Is Lily? Let’s find out.

I've got to ask a fun question. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

I used to always say flying because of my first series, Starcrossed, but now I’m thinking it would be mindspeak.

If you're in Miami, we hope you attend this event next week, Monday, October 12th, 2015 at 7pm. Those not attending, don't worry. Books & Books will be live streaming this event, so make sure to tune in!

About the author: 

JOSEPHINE ANGELINI is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in theater, with a focus on the classics. Originally from Massachusetts, she now lives in Los Angeles with her screenwriter husband, their baby girl, and three shelter cats. Her debut series, Starcrossed, Dreamless, and Goddess, (Harper Teen) are all international bestsellers and have garnered the praise of various major publications, including the LA Times, and have twice won the Reader’s Choice Awards in Germany. The second book in the WorldWalker Trilogy, Firewalker, (Feiwel and Friends, Macmillan) will be out in the US on September 1st.

Author Links: Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Website

Fierce Reads at Books and Books Week Blitz: Leila Sales

Morning Swooners!

Today we have the pleasure interviewing Leila Sales, author of Tonight The Streets Are Ours, which was released on September 15. Leila is one of the four authors that will be at Books and Books in Coral Gables on Monday, October 12 at 7pm in for the Fierce Reads Tour! Check out what she had to say to us below.

Tonight the Streets Are Ours
Author: Leila Sales
Release Date: September 15, 2015
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
    

Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.
Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.

What are 5 random facts about yourself?

1 – I type using only two fingers.

2 – My middle name is a boy’s name.

3 – I can recite the name of every student in my high school class in alphabetical order.

4 – I own more than 100 original My Little Ponies.

5 – For five years I received so many text messages from strangers that I started a blog about them: theleilatexts.blogspot.com

If you were hosting a literary dinner party, which six authors or characters would you invite?

I’d invite my closes author friends: Rebecca Serle, Lauren Oliver, Jocelyn Davies, Courtney Sheinmel, Lexa Hillyer, and Jess Rothenberg. Whenever we hang out together, we always have a blast and laugh so hard and inspire each other. What more could I want out of a dinner party?

What can you tell us about your new book, Tonight the Streets Are Ours and what do you hope readers take from it?

TONIGHT THE STREETS ARE OURS is about a teen girl who becomes fascinated with a blogger from afar. Based on what he writes about his life, he seems perfect—he seems to get her in a way that nobody who knows her in real life does. So she sets out on a road trip with her best friend to track him down in person. Over the course of one epic night in New York City, she comes to realize that he’s not exactly who she expected him to be based on his online persona. There’s a lot that I’d like readers to take away from this book, but one of the main ideas is that everyone lies by omission online. The way people present themselves online is a curated version of themselves, and you should try to understand that whatever you’re seeing there is only one part of their whole life story.

If you're in Miami, we hope you attend this event next week, Monday, October 12th, 2015 at 7pm. Those not attending, don't worry. Books & Books will be live streaming this event, so make sure to tune in!

About the author: 

Leila Sales was born in 1984 and grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in psychology in 2006. Now she lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works in the mostly glamorous world of children's book publishing. Leila spends most of her time thinking about sleeping, kittens, dance parties, and stories that she wants to write.

Author Links: Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Website

Fierce Reads at Books and Books Week Blitz: Emma Mills

Hi Lovelies!

As we mentioned yesterday, we've teamed up with a group of South Florida bloggers to bring you exclusive interviews of the authors on the Fierce Reads tour. Today we have the lovely Emma Mills, author of First & Then, slated to be released on October 13.

First & Then
Author: Emma Mills
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.
Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.

Describe your book in 5 words?

Emma Mills: Family, football, romance, and feels! (I’m counting the ‘and’) 

2. Without spoilers, were there any scenes you had to cut that you wished you could have kept?

EM: There was a quiet sort of scene between Devon and Ezra in the back half of the book that I really liked-- one in which some things about Ezra were revealed. Most of the content of this scene got threaded in elsewhere, and I think the storytelling is much stronger for it… but it hurt a bit to let go of that one at the time!

3. Do you have any future writing projects in the works?

EM: I do! I’m working on another YA right now that I’m very excited about!

If you're in Miami, we hope you attend this event next week, Monday, October 12th, 2015 at 7pm. Those not attending, don't worry. Books & Books will be live streaming this event, so make sure to tune in! 

About the author: 

Emma Mills is a debut author better known to her subscribers as vlogger Elmify. She is also co-creator and co-host of the "life skills" channel How to Adult.

Author Links: YouTube / Twitter / Goodreads

Fierce Reads at Books and Books Week Blitz: Leigh Bardugo

Hi Lovelies!

When we learn that the Fierce Reads Book tour will be at our favorite indie bookstore, Books & Books, we were ecstatic. And so we are happy to say that we've teamed up with Books & Books and a group of South Florida bloggers to bring you exclusive interviews with these lovely authors! Today we have t Leigh Bardugo on the site. Let's see what she has to say.

Six of Crows was EPIC! I am however curious about the total of the main characters. Why SIX? Not four nor five?

Leigh Bardugo: Thank you! I don't have a great answer to that question except that six served the story. I wrote the "zero draft" of Six of Crows in about a week (it's more like an outline than a real first draft) and the characters arose very naturally. I'd get to the end of a scene and another character would step up and say, "Oh let me take it from here." I will say that Jesper's role got a lot bigger as the story progressed, and each of their voices became more distinct. Now I can't imagine Kaz's crew of criminals any other way.

What inspired you to write Six of Crows? 

LB: Truth? I was driving down a street in Los Angeles and saw a billboard for a movie called Monuments Men. I thought, "Wow, I have no interest in seeing that, but I should watch Oceans 11 again." And then I almost drove off the road because all I could think was MAGICAL HEIST. Looking back, I think I was also just a little burned out on "chosen one" stories. They're resonant for a reason, but after the Grisha Trilogy, I was ready to write about people who weren't trying to save the world.

This one is hard one. I loved all the character but Matthias had me drooling all over the book. But who's your favorite? Who was the most challenging one to write? 

LB: You know, Matthias was actually the most fun to write. He's so intense. about. everything. I think he has the heart of a knight, but he was just born into the wrong circumstances, so I'm glad you enjoyed him. Kaz was probably the toughest to write because his backstory is so dark. I couldn't work on it for too long a stretch at a time.

If you're in Miami, we hope you attend this event next week, Monday, October 12th, 2015 at 7pm. Those not attending, don't worry. Books & Books will be live streaming this event, so make sure to tune in!

Six of Crows
(Six of Crows #1)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Release Date: September 29, 2015
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

About the author: 

Leigh Bardugo is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Grisha Trilogy: Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising. She was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and most recently, makeup and special effects. These days, she lives and writes in Hollywood where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band. Her new book, Six of Crows, arrives fall 2015.

Author Links: Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Website / Instagram

Blog Tour Stop: Interview + Giveaway: Paradise City by C.J. Duggan

Hello Swooners!

I am so excited to have C.J. Duggan here today! She is the Author of The Summer Series, and is here today to answer some questions about her new book Paradise City! I can't wait to see what she has to say.

What inspired you to write Paradise City? 
I really enjoy writing books about wallflowers and underdogs. Paradise City is heavily based on a journey of self-discovery and the fear of the unknown. I wanted to set it in a rich, vibrant city setting after having holidayed in LA and the Gold Coast; I just loved the vibe of these places. And although Paradise City is set in a mythical location in Australia my experiences from my travels drew heavily on the inspiration behind Lexie’s story.

Are there any characters that were difficult to write?
It was particularly difficult to get into a certain male character’s head because he was naturally guarded, so it took some prying to work him out; he is still quite elusive to me, which I kind of love.

Did you identify with any character specifically?
I think at the crux of it Lexie personifies those anxious, uncertain years of youth that I think we can all identify with in some way. I really like her wit and her strength, I would like to think I have something in common with her. She was a very cool character to write.

What was the best part about writing Paradise City?
Pushing the envelope on anything I had ever written before, creating a new world with new characters, gaining new readers and having a flow-on effect from the Paradise series to the Summer series and vice versa. Paradise City is a lot grittier, sexier than anything else I have created, and I had an absolute blast writing it.

Were there any scenes that you found particularly difficult to write?
There were a few curly scenarios that were difficult to write, whether it was just a bump in the story line I had to figure out, or something that affected the character directly. But the difficult scenes are so important and needed, so it’s a justified difficulty.

Why did you choose Red Hole and Paradise City as the setting of this story?
I like the idea of setting my stories in a mythical Australian setting, being able to allow the reader the freedom to imagine it as they would like it to be. I often get emails from people who tell me that they grew up in a place just like ‘Onslow’ and I think that’s great. I love that dusty, rural Red Hill (Red Hole) or Paradise City could be the next mythical place that people connect with on some personal level. As for the names, I needed to choose something to reflect the complete polar opposites of the worlds. Red Hill and all its dusty, remote nothing to Paradise City with its coastal, urban setting filled with tourists and chaos: it had to be the ultimate culture shock for poor Lexie, even though Paradise is not all it seems.

There are some really awkward moments in Paradise City, did you ever cringe while you were writing them?
Completely. I would quite often think, “Oh no, what now?” Writing Lexie’s story definitely kept me on my toes; I really never knew what might happen from one minute to the next and I loved that.

What is your favourite moment in Paradise City?
Anytime Lexie found her voice are always fond moments for me, and anything to do with banter – it’s all about the banter. 

 If you were on a deserted island and could choose one of your book characters to be there with you who would you choose to be stranded with? 
Hmm, maybe Ballantine? He could teach me how to surf.

What do you want the readers to know before they start reading Paradise City?
Paradise City is quintessentially Australian, heavily focused on family, friendships, love and pushing the limits. A sexy, sassy and witty character novel with plenty of twists and turns. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did creating it.

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to us! Please check out Paradise City which will be in stores April 28. You can enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a singed paperback of Paradise City! For more information about C.J. Duggan and her books check out her Website!

Paradise City (Paradise #1)
Author: C.J. Duggan
Expected Release Date: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Hachette Australia Books
   

When her parents decide a change will be good for her, seventeen-year-old Lexie Atkinson never expected they'd send her all the way to Paradise City. Coming from a predictable life of home schooling on a rural Australian property, she's sure that Paradise will be amazing. But when she's thrust into a public school without a friendly face in sight, and forced to share a room with her insipid, hateful cousin Amanda, Lexie's not so sure.

Hanging out with the self-proclaimed beach bums of the city, sneaking out, late night parties and parking with boys are all things Lexie's never experienced, but all that's about to change. It's new, terrifying . . . and exciting. But when she meets Luke Ballantine, exciting doesn't even come close to describing her new life. Trouble with a capital T, Luke is impulsive, charming and answers to no one. The resident bad-boy leader of the group, he's sexier than any boy Lexie has ever known.

Amidst the stolen moments of knowing looks and heated touches, Lexie can't help but wonder if Luke is going to be good for her . . . or very, very bad?

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the author:

C.J Duggan is a number one internationally bestselling Australian author of seven independent titles of her popular New Adult Summer series. In addition to her chart-topping indie novels, C.J is set to publish two titles with Hachette, Australia with her brand-new Paradise Series in 2015 (Paradise City and Paradise Road).

C.J lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia. When she isn't writing books about swoony boys and 90s pop culture you will find her renovating her hundred-year-old Victorian homestead or annoying her local travel agent for a quote to escape the chaos.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Instagram

Follow the Blog Tour:

2014 Debut Author Bash: Katie Delahanty - Interview

In Bloom (Brightside #1) by Katie Delahanty

Release Date: February 10, 2014

Publisher: Entangled Embrace

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / iTunes

My name is Olivia Bloom and I. Am. Free.
I left for LA with everything I owned piled into my old Volkswagen and dreams of becoming a costume designer. Little did I know I’d wind up designing for a lingerie company—yeah, not sure how I landed this gig—and taken under the wing of two young Hollywood insiders. The fashion shows and parties were great, but life really got exciting when the seriously hottest lead singer of my favorite band started to fall for me. How does someone like me, an ordinary girl from Pittsburgh, wind up in the arms of the world’s sexiest rock star—surrounded by celebrities, fashion, and music—and not be eaten alive? Berkeley is everything I've ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, but the paparazzi, the tabloids, the rumors, it's all getting a bit too crazy. My life has become every girl’s dream come true, if only I don’t blink and lose it all…

I'm so excited to have Olivia and Berkeley here today for their first interview as a couple. Thank you both for being here. 

Olivia:
How are you handling all of the media coverage since you started dating Berkeley? 
Can I crawl under a rock and hide? I always hated being the center of attention, but this is like being the center of the world! I don’t know how real celebrities handle it. I’m definitely not star material…I’ll leave that to Berkeley.

What is your favorite thing about living here in California?
Honestly? The weather. I love being able to bike to the beach in the middle of January. And also the food. There are so many unique restaurants to try, it’s easy to pretend you’re dining in a faraway, exotic city instead of your own backyard.

Up to this point what do you consider your greatest achievement?
Having lingerie that I helped design sold at Nordstrom. I know I didn’t do it alone, but six months ago I never could have dreamed I’d be saying that. Life is funny sometimes…so many unexpected twists! I really feel like I’m on the right path. Maybe someday I’ll have my name on a label…

What is the most difficult part of dating someone as famous as Berkeley?
We rarely get to be alone. There are always people around, and they all need his attention. Sometimes I feel like I’m in the way… But when we do get a moment together, I remember it’s totally worth it.

What is your favorite thing about being a lingerie designer? I love the fantasy of it all—imagining how the girl who is wearing it wants to feel, what story she’s trying to tell.

Berkeley:
What is next for Berkeley & the Brightside, can we expect more touring or a new album soon? We’re actually going to take a little break. We’ve been touring the world relentlessly for the last two years and I think there might be mutiny if I ask the guys to get on one more plane. Hopefully we’ll be back in the studio in a couple months to start the new album, and we’re going to be working on a movie soundtrack soon, too.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Having balance—being comfortable at home, surrounded by family and friends and feeling successful at work—but staying hungry, not getting complacent. I’m happiest when a project I’ve been working on starts to come together.

What is your greatest fear?
Missing an opportunity.

What inspires you when you are writing a song?
Everything—it could be an article I read, or a conversation I overheard at the grocery store, or the way the light is hitting my balcony in the morning. I don’t know where inspiration comes from, but I always consider it a gift. Sometimes I’m writing and the music or words are coming faster than I can comprehend them, it’s like they’re flowing through me, and I consider myself lucky that they chose me to tell their story.

Are you working on new material?
Always. Not a day goes by that I don’t jot down lyrics in my composition book.

Both:

Do you find it difficult to manage your career and relationship?
Both: YES!
Liv: It’s so new… we’re still figuring it out.
Berkeley: I travel so much, it’s never easy, but I’m hoping Liv will agree to tag along on my next adventure…

What is the most difficult aspect of being in a relationship with each other?
Berkeley: The outside forces that keep pulling us in different directions. The band, my publicist and her crazy schemes…
Liv: And don’t forget my mom and her crazy prophecies!

Are there any quirks or habits you have had to get used to since you started dating?
Berkeley: Liv probably has to get used to me staring at her all the time because I still can’t believe she’s real, and I keep checking to make sure she hasn’t disappeared…and I’ve had to get used to her singing. She’s an eternal botcher of lyrics.
Liv: I am not!
Berkeley: What do you think the words to “Headshot” are again?
Liv: ‘’You wanna take it up, go ahead and make it up/ You better hold me when you’re done”
Berkeley: Or “You wanna break it up, go ahead and break it up/ You better hope you’re really done”…
Liv: Noooo.
Berkeley: I think I should know… I wrote them. 
Liv: No comment. And Berkeley doesn’t have quirks, he just has ex-girlfriends. 

What are your plans for the future as a couple? 
Berkeley: We have to plead the fifth on that for now...Shar’s orders…but we hope to make an announcement soon…

Thanks again for taking the time out of your busy schedules to talk to us we look forward to seeing more of the two of you around. 


About the Author:

Katie is a fashion designer turned novelist. She graduated with a BA in Communication Studies from UCLA and a Professional Designation in Fashion Design from FIDM. It never occurred to her that she was a writer until an economic crisis induced career shift from lingerie designer to ecommerce webmistress led her to start the company blog. Not being an expert in lingerie, she decided to write the blog as a fictional serial starring a girl named Olivia Bloom who worked for the lingerie line. And that’s when Katie fell in love with storytelling. She hasn’t looked back since. Katie lives in Los Angeles with her husband

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Twitter 

You can follow the rest of the Debut Bash tour by clicking here.

Blog Tour organized by: YA Reads Blog Tours 

Author Interview + Giveaway: Elizabeth Eulberg

Morning Swooners!

It's been a crazy week, with all the interviews and features and giveaways but it been fun brainstorming with Nahomi trying to decide what to feature, and what questions to ask you. Sometimes they were straight out silly and funny and were serious business. Like, favorite bad boys and favorite book boyfriends. SRS BNS HERE, YO.

So to help end our blogiversary week, we have the awesome Elizabeth Eulberg, author of one my favorite reads this year (so far) Better off Friends stopping by. 

Jenn: Elizabeth, thanks so much for taking the time to answer all my silly questions. Let's get started. Macallan and Levi have such a great friendship. I was cheering for them when they didn't succumb to the peer pressure that would destroy their friendship (although there were a few close calls). Did/do you have anyone like Levi in your life? Whether romantic or platonic?

Elizabeth: Thanks so much! In high school, I did have a really good guy friend, but we were platonic (I do like to tease him that Better Off Friends is based on us, but it isn't!). I do have a very close guy friend now (he's my concert bestie), but he's gay so there aren't any issues about us ever getting together - HA!

Jenn: From Better Off Friends, is there a character that enjoyed writing or that gave you the most difficulty?

Elizabeth: I spent a lot of time thinking about the characters before I started writing so I knew them all really well. I did have to take particular care when writing from Levi's point of view since he is a boy and I am not! I didn't want him to come across as anything but authentic.

Jenn: Oh, he came out sounding authentic, that's for sure. I love Levi. Do *you* believe that men and women can be friends?

Elizabeth: Yes, but it isn't easy. I do think the "will they or won't they" question will come up. But it is possible!

Jenn:  Do you have a writing ritual?

Elizabeth: I usually don't start writing until the afternoon. I get everything (workout, errands, e-mails, etc.) done in the morning. Then after lunch, I sit down and write. I also listen to music, but I'm not super strict with any rituals - except that I have to at least know what I'm supposed to write before I sit down!

Jenn:  Of the books you've written, do you have a favorite? Or one that is more special than the other?

Elizabeth: This is really hard! I can't pick a favorite since every book has a special place in my heart. I'm really proud of Better Off Friends, most people think it's my best book so far. I also have a soft spot for The Lonely Hearts Club since that book took me five years to write and it changed my life (I'm also working on the sequel right now so the characters are fresh in my mind).

Jenn: Which 2014 book release are you most excited about?

Elizabeth: What books aren't I excited about!?!? I'm really fortunate that I get to read a lot of books before they come out. One of my favorites is Only Everything by Kieran Scott (coming in May) - I pretty much harassed Kieran for the sequel the second I finished reading the book. It's SO GOOD! 

Jenn:  Is there an author whom you fangirl about?

Elizabeth: Of course! I used to work in publishing so I know and am friends with a lot of authors that people fangirl over, but I do have my moments. I got to meet Jennifer Weiner last year. I was shaking I was so excited!

Quick fire questions:
1. Coffee or tea?

Tea (unless I'm on deadline then it's a vanilla latte!)

2. Favorite book? Or if you can't pick, (I mean, who can?) favorite book in a specific genre?

Impossible, but Pride and Prejudice is a favorite.

3. Favorite swoony boy? Or book boyfriend?

Mr. Darcy forever!

Thanks so much for stopping by, Elizabeth. I think Nahomi will run to buy and read your books just because one of your favorite book is a Jane Austen's book. She's the biggest Austen fan I know.

About the author:

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can't be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan's friends. They are platonic and happy that way.
Eventually they realize they're best friends - which wouldn't be so bad if they didn't keep getting in each other's way. Guys won't ask Macallan out because they think she's with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can't but wonder... are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?
From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again - and one kiss away from true love?
Author's links: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

So you know what you're gonna go, right? You're gonna go enter the requested information on the Rafflecopter and enter for a chance to win Better off Friends. Giveaway open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Don't forget to enter all the giveaway from the past week. Giveaway will be running throughout the whole month of April.

Author Interview + Day 4 of Blogiversary Giveaways: Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

 

Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3) by Wendy Higgins

Expected Release Date: April 29, 2014

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

It's time.

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways. 

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous-especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna's great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she's prepared to risk. 

Author Interview

Morning Swooners!

I am sooo excited, because Wendy Higgins is here to talk about Sweet Reckoning and See Me today! Thank you so much for taking the time to be here with us.

1.) What is your favorite part of being a writer?

~Besides the actual writing, which is always such a neat feeling to let the imagination flow, my favorite part is interacting with other readers and writers. The book community is so positive and so fun. Geeking out over books is the best!

2.) Was there a character that was more difficult to write in your Sweet Trilogy and why?

~Oh, yes, Kaidan Rowe has always been my difficult character, but also my favorite. He challenges me as a writer. I tweak his scenes more than any others. He's a bit of a dichotomy - torn between his true nature and his trained nature.  He's a hardened character who shows just enough moments of softness for us to not hate him. A lot of people ask for me to write the whole book from his point of view, but I could never do that. It would be too hard. And I think some things about Kaidan should remain a mystery. Readers have a pretty good imagination. They know what he's been up to!

3.) What is the most difficult part of being a writer?

~The pressure of wanting to make everyone happy, when that's not realistic. 

4.) I am really excited about Sweet Reckoning, what can you tell us about it?

~Yay! I'm excited too! Well, it picks up right where book two leaves off, and it spans a two-week timeframe. It's fast paced. We see more of all our Neph allies and more Jay too. It's a stressful ride, and was very emotional for me.

5.) Do you have a favorite scene or quote in Sweet Reckoning?

~My favorite lines are the very last ones, but I can't share them! Rats. ;)  Some of my other favorite lines are too spoilery. I've tried to be really cautious what I give away because I HATE spoilers, and I wouldn't want to ruin the fun of discovery for anyone.

6.) I read the deleted scene you posted on your blog from See Me! Can you tell us more about this story?

~SEE ME is a self-publication that just came out on St. Patrick's Day.  It's a fun, cute, and swoony fantasy set in Ireland. If you're looking for a light read with a sweet romance and lots of laughs, you might like this one!  

7.) Are you working on anything new at the moment?

~I have two other books in the works. Both YA. One is fantasy and one is contemporary. I hope to get more finished on them soon! Neither story has been picked up by a publisher yet.

Quick Fire:

Beverage of Choice?

Dark roast coffee with vanilla syrup and cream

Favorite book?

Currently Poison Princess series and White Hot Kiss series

What is your Ideal day?

Kids go to school & husband goes to work, I write at home, Kids come home, husband comes home, homework/practices/dinner/bedtime, I go upstairs and have my "social media" time - woot!

Every person needs?

Love! Of course <3

Who is your favorite swoony book boy?

Too hard too choose just one!!!  Jackson and Death (Poison Princess), Roth and Zayne (White Hot Kiss), Cole (Alice in Zombieland)

About the Author:

      After earning a bachelors in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until becoming a mommy. Writing Young Adult (YA) stories gives her the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal, daunting, and exciting years before adulthood. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Evil is her debut novel.           Author Links: Website / Facebook / Twitter  

The Giveaway 
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Author Interview + Giveaway: Suzanne Young

Hiya Lovelies!

As part of our Blogiversary week, we are showcasing some of our favorite authors. And so today we have the awesome Suzanne Young, author of one of my favorite duology, The Program and The Treatment, stopping by Books and Swoons.

Jenn: Suzanne, thanks so much for stopping by. I loved The Program and I'm super excited about The Treatment being released next month.

1. You have the hat of mom, teacher, and author, how do you balance all those titles and have time for yourself?

Suzanne: I haven’t had time for myself since 2001. At this point writing has become my personal time.  I’ll occasionally go to a hotel to write, and ordering room service and watching Harry Potter marathons in-between writing sessions feels pretty indulgent. Teaching actually takes up most of my life, but in the summer I’m all author. And I’m Mom 24-7. Pretty sure my kids think it’s cooler for me to be a teacher (at their school) than an author.

2. Between all the books you've written, which was the hardest/easiest to write?

The books with the toughest subject matters are usually the easiest for me to write, mostly because they are my passion projects. I need to FEEL in order to write, and those dark, emotional stories are the ones I love to tell. I have a few lighter stories that I've struggled with, but I definitely had the hardest time writing the novella A Desire so Deadly. I've learned that shorter stories are not for me because once I get going, I have too much to say.

3. Do you have a favorite character that you enjoyed writing? Although I realize this may be like asking which is your favorite kid so I apologize for asking you to choose.

I enjoy writing my main characters: Sloane, Charlotte, Tessa—but I have more fun writing side characters. I really had a great time writing James from The Program—his reactions were always hilarious to me, and I loved Onika from A Need so Beautiful because writing evil is always a blast.

4. The subject matter of The Program and The Treatment is really dark and, as a reader, I went through Sloane's slow descent into the darkness and despair, especially in The Treatment (thanks to my friend for loaning me her ARC!) If it hard enough to read, I can't even imagine how it must have been writing it. While writing The Program and The Treatment, did you slip into that kind of mentality? Did you have a hard time writing certain scenes? And how did you bounce back from it?

Some of the emotions in The Program were based on my own, so writing it was difficult at times. I cried a lot, wrote and rewrote painful scenes. But like all of my books, I put myself in a bit a trance during the process—thinking about the book all day, even when I’m not writing. When I finished the story, the first emotion I felt was loneliness. I missed the characters, and almost immediately, I started writing scenes for the next book. Spending time with my family outside of the house helped me deal, and I also watched mindless television at night to distract me.

5. Is there an author whom you fangirl over?

I’m always fangirling over Trish Doller. I adore her writing style—it’s smart and real and some of the best contemporary writing out there.

6. Which 2014 book release are you most excited about?

The first book I’m going to read on spring break from school is Lauren Oliver’s PANIC.

7. You've done the solo author and the co-author thing, which works best for you?

I loved co-writing with Cat Patrick. It was fun, and it was nice to write a book so quickly because I had a friend writing half. I think the stories I want to tell are dark, though, and extremely personal—so I like writing for myself most of the time.

Quick fire questions:
1. Coffee or tea?

Coffee

2. Favorite book? Or favorite in genre?

One of my favorite books in college was The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 

3. Favorite book boyfriend?

Dexter from This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

Suzanne, thanks so much for stopping by! I can't wait until The Treatment comes out on April 29th so I can get my own copy. Go out and buy, Swooners!

About the author:

Originally from New York, Suzanne Young moved to Arizona to pursue her dream of not freezing to death. She currently resides in Tempe, where she teaches high school English. When not writing obsessively, Suzanne can be found searching her own tragic memories for inspiration.
Suzanne is the author of several books for teens, including THE PROGRAM, A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, and A WANT SO WICKED. Friend her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @suzanne_young.  

Alright Swooners, now you get a chance to win either The Program or The Treatment. The giveaway is open internationally and all you have to do is enter down below.

Be sure to stop by this week and check out the other authors and giveaways we're hosting!
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Book Blitz - The Art of Letting Go by Anna Bloom

The Art of Letting Go (Uni Files #1)

By: Anna Bloom

Release Date: September 25, 2013

Genre: New Adult, Romance

Links: Amazon / Goodreads

Synopsis:

One year. One woman. One Diary. One question: can you ever stop history from repeating itself and if you could what would you do to stop it?

When Lilah McCannon realizes at the age of twenty-five that history is going to repeat itself and she is going to become her mother - bored, drunk and wearing twinset - there is only one thing to do: take drastic action.

Turning her back on her old life, Lilah's plan is to enroll at university, get a degree and prove she is a grown-up.

As plans go, it is a good one. There are rules to follow: no alcohol, no cigarettes, no boys and no going home. But when Lilah meets the lead singer of a local band and finds herself unexpectedly falling in love, she realizes her rules are not going to be the only things hard to keep.

With the academic year slipping by too quickly, Lilah faces a barrage of new challenges: will she ever make it up the Library stairs without having a heart attack? Can she handle a day on campus without drinking vodka? Will she ever manage to read a history without falling asleep? And most importantly, can she become the grown-up she desperately wants to be?

With her head and her heart pulling her in different directions, can Lilah learn the hardest lesson that her first year of university has to teach her: The Art of Letting Go?

Character Interview: Lilah McCannon

Lilah McCannon’s Top Ten

What makes Lilah McCannon tick? Apart from Ben Chambers that is! Here she is; a little get to know you from the girl herself. Let’s just hope she hasn’t been at the old Pinot when she answered the question…

Favorite Color? Blue. It used to be red but I have recently changed it.

Favorite Food? Ho-Fun noodles. There is a place on the Old Brompton Road which makes the best Ho—Fun in the word. Sadly I cannot show my face in there at the moment.

Favorite Song? The Promise by Tracy Chapman – but sung much better by Benjamin Chambers. I find most things are.

Favorite book? Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I have to skip large chunks of text because it makes me cry. I still read it though, at least twice a year.

Favorite Film? This is a bit embarrassing but I don’t have one. Okay, um. Uh, definitely not Bambi. Can I think about this one?

Favorite TV Moment? Mr Darcy wet and in a shirt...Elizabeth Bennett looking like she is munching soap because she is about to be caught snooping around his gigantic estate and has realised just how loaded he is and therefore will appear a money grabbing bimbo...oh okay – just Mr Darcy in a wet shirt.

Favorite Childhood Memory? My Mum once got so drunk on gin over Christmas Lunch that she slid off her chair under the table. Dad picked her up eventually but only after we had taken numerous photo’s and Gemma our Golden Labrador had licked the brandy butter off her face.

Favorite bar/pub? The pub that smells of old farts on Putney High Street. At least it will be when they let me back in again.

Favorite Flower? Wild cornflowers.

Favorite Drink? Sorry, do you want me to narrow it down to one? Can I break it into categories?

      White wine = A fun night out with the girls.

       Bottles of beer = Boredom alleviation.

      Vodka =Extreme emotional situations.

       Gin = For when vodka no longer works

Hold on! I’ve just thought of my favorite film. The Way We Were...

Why? You want to know why?

Because when I first watched it I thought about it every day for a week afterwards and I knew I never wanted to be a grown-up.

I also knew from the age of fifteen that I would never ever be able to let go of someone that I loved as much as Barbra loved Robert in that movie. That moment at the end where they bump into each other in the street and she brushes his hair out of his eyes nearly killed me. It was the first time I ever swore in front of my mum because when they walked away from each other I screamed “What the fuck? Are they not going to get back together again?” at the telly.

Mum just gave me a Gin and Tonic to get over the shock.

There you go that’s me and my Top Ten

About the author:

Anna Bloom is a contemporary romance writer who writes about life as it happens. Combining a busy schedule of looking after two small children whilst working in a local school and completing The Uni Files series. Anna's main aim in life is to create the perfect book which makes a reader laugh and cry at the same time, hopefully causing a convulsive (impossible to ignore) donkey noise. It's a work in progress! Anna spends a lot of time imagining kissing hot guys - all in the name of her art.

Author Links: Goodreads / Twitter / Website

Book Blitz Organized by: Xpresso Book Tours