Interview with Sarah Dessen from Horn Book

Here's a sample:

RS: You have very fervent fans.

SD: They’re fantastic — they buy the book the day it comes out and read it incredibly quickly and then immediately e-mail me and ask when the next one is due! It’s really the highest compliment. Young adults are an amazing audience to be writing for because you’re catching people at their most enthusiastic about reading. Adults are a little more reserved. I still get excited about good books, but I don’t get jumping-up-and-down-screaming excited. It’s such a passionate time, adolescence. I remember the feeling in high school, and even in middle school, of reading a book and really connecting with it on that elemental level of “somebody understands me.” It’s so powerful. It’s a great market to be writing for because you connect so strongly with your audience.

Ok, so...that's so me. I confess that I do squeal and sometimes jump up and down when the book I've been dying to read appears at the library. It's an endless source of entertainment for the ladies in the Cataloging/Processing Dept. This has also been known to happen at conferences or just after I meet a wicked cool author (I try saving this until I'm not longer in front of them.) But my fan girl usually wins. I just think it means that I'm in the right job - and maybe I've never grown out of my teens years. But I'm ok with that.

Read the rest of the interview here.

Fate: www.teensreadtoo.com

Senior year of high school is supposed to be about making memories with your friends and having the time of your life. So why does Bailey feel that her world is about to come crashing down?

Her three best friends are excited about life after high school, while every time she thinks about the future, her stomach becomes tied with knots.

Could it be that Bailey doesn't really have a choice when it comes to her future? While she lives the life of the average high school girl, her life is far from normal. She's part of the three fates that weave and control the destiny of the world. The Sidhe world has rules that Bailey doesn't understand. She suspects something's about to happen when she's brought into the Sidhe world for the first time.

When the truth comes out, will it forever change Bailey's view of the world?

Jennifer Lynn Barnes starts this sequel of Tattoo two years later. She perfectly blends normal everyday life in high school with a supernatural world. Plus, the powers of friendship shine through in this novel and will resonate with readers - particularly those ending their own high school careers.

Being Nikki: www.teensreadtoo.com

Emerson Watts - in Nikki Howard’s body - returns to Nikki’s home from a photo shoot to find a stranger waiting for her in the apartment’s lobby. He reveals that he’s her brother – when she thought she was an orphan. It’s hard enough trying to keep up with the world, but now her brother drops a bomb on her. Their mom is missing.

Em/Nikki doesn’t know what to think of this information. She doesn’t remember her mother or her brother. Plus, she’s got a sneaking suspicion that Stark Enterprise might know more than they’re saying. Nikki already suspects Stark of bugging her apartment. Who’s to say they haven’t gone farther?

She’s made a deal with her brother to help find their mother. In a moment of weakness, she confides in Christopher. He’s willing to help her find her mother – for a price. In exchange, he wants a login and password for Stark Enterprise. Em/Nikki gets caught up in a plot to ruin the company she works for while trying to uncover the mystery surrounding her mother’s disappearance.

A little science fiction blended with both mystery and romance equals a great series. The secrets uncovered in BEING NIKKI will leave the reader eagerly awaiting RUNAWAY – a sign that Meg Cabot rocks yet again.

PS. Meg Twitter about the review! How awesome is that?

A video by Meg on Being Nikki on location!

September Sisters

"Sisters, Sisters
There were never such devoted sisters." by Irving Berlin from the musical White Christmas.


Abigail and Becky are your average sisters - fighting all the time about the little things in life. One morning when it's discovered that Becky's missing; Abby doesn't realize just how much her life has changed - without her sister, her mom falls apart, the neighbors start whispering about their family, and Abby's best friend drops her. She has no friends at school and no one to confide in. Abby desperately wishes for comfort, but her father is trying to track down clues to his daughter's disappearance while her mother shuts down and hides in her room. Abby doesn't know how to help her family get over this trauma. She tries asking questions and pretending she's grown-up enough to hear the truths, but really, she just needs someone to pay attention to her. When her new baby-sitter's grandson moves in, they start to connect. He's getting over his own family drama. With him, Abby can save stories about Becky without judgment. She also confides in Tommy about her family now vs her family before. Can she make sense of life without her sister?

Caution: Read this one with tissues.

As a sister, this book was realistically painful. My sister and I fought constantly for several years before we came BFFs again. I can understand the torment of Abby wondering where her sister is and if she's coming home. Not knowing what's happening is the scariest part of the journey. Time passes, but it doesn't feel real with the other part of you missing. This book is a a very powerful and emotional read. Fans of Lurlene McDaniel and teens looking for a tear-jerker will love this book.

Librarilly Blonde's review
Compulsive Reader's Book Trailer and review and Author Interview

*Copy courtesy of Sarah Shealy at Blue Slip Media.

Fall TV: What's upcoming and What's canceled

There's been a lot of buzz about certain shows getting the axe. Find out if your fave show is one of them. I have two up for potential cuttings that I really hope continue.

Castle (which I LOVE - it makes me Mondays along with 24)
And Chuck, the clever spy comedy

What do you want to save?

Pride and Prejudice voting

Kristin Cashore (0f Graceling fame) has an awesome voting post in the blog asking which character in Pride and Prejudice would you LEAST enjoying having with you on a desert island? I voted...did you? and who did you vote for?

Cabot

Here's Cabot our new Puppy. We got him on Thursday and spent a long weekend with him. He's adjusting pretty well so far....

Posing for a picture
Stalking the neighbor...

Playing with a new toy:
A HUGE Celtics Fan!

Playing with Chris at the Dog Park:
His new bed:
Our First Picture together!