Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop-Dec 2-Dec 6

Greetings to all of you making the rounds for the Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop (Dec. 2nd to 6th). Shout out and thanks to Kid Lit Frenzy and I'm A Reader Not a Writer for hosting us!

Don't know about you, but I love love the Holidays, spending time with family, reading, writing, decorating, baking...er, eating!

As a book lover I appreciate anything book related I must say and one of my all time favorites and something I cannot get enough of is gift cards. So-thought I would give away a 20.00 gift certificate from Indigo Books (Canada) or Barnes and Noble...or, if you have a favorite indie store you buy from and they offer online gift certificates I am more than happy to get you one from there. OR-a book of your choice, up to 20.00.

All you need to do is comment with what you would like and your email so I can contact you  if you win. I will use random org to pick a winner at the end of the blog hop.

Happy Hopping! See below for the links so you can carry on with the fun and if you are so inclined to hang here for a little longer please check out my MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE READ-A-THON.  It will be in the first week of January.

Catherine Austen Blog Tour and a Giveaway

Today it is my pleasure to welcome Catherine Austen to the blog. She's a mighty fine author of picture books, middle grade and young adult authors. And, she's Canadian so I'm adding her to my OH (MG/YA) Canada collection of interviews!

Adding a quick note to say...The Marvelous Middle Grade Read-a-thon is on!

Catherine has two new books out now and she's on a whirlwind blog tour that I'm thrilled to be a part of. Plus, her publishers are giving away both of her books. Details follow the interview.

First, let me share the books.

Her Young Adult: ALL GOOD CHILDREN
From Catherine's site: Quick-witted, prank-pulling graffiti artist Maxwell Connors is more observant than the average New Middletown teenager. And he doesn't like what he sees. New Middletown's children are becoming frighteningly obedient, and their parents and teachers couldn't be happier. As Max and his friend Dallas watch their classmates transform into model citizens, Max wonders if their only hope of freedom lies in the unknown world beyond New Middletown's walls, where creativity might be a gift instead of a liability. For those who like their dystopias with a rich character sauce and a side of humour.
Her Middle Grade:  26 Tips for Surviving Grade 6
From Good Reads:Becky wrote the book on getting through grade 6, but these aren't the kinds of tips that come from school books or teachers... 
Forget social studies, math, and science - this hilarious new novel is about surviving some of the real problems tween girls face. Honest and heart-warming, the story follows 11-year-old Becky Lennnox over the course of the school year as she figures out how to survive friendships, first crushes, embarrassing parents and annoying older brothers. 

And now, the interview!

Congrats on having two more books out! One is middle grade, one young adult. Was the process for writing each one different? Or do you have a basic path you follow from idea to book?

I am all over the map. If I make any progress at all in a manuscript, I call it a good day.

I wrote All Good Children  fairly steadily for about ten months (5 drafting and 5 revising), working from a detailed outline. Some days were hard to face (I got stuck in my narrator’s terrified head a bit too deeply), but I was I was dedicated and methodical.

I wrote the first part of 26 Tips as a short story about 8 years before I wrote the rest of the book, and I expanded it SUPER FAST: I jotted out some ideas and drafted the whole thing in the space of a few weeks. Then came revisions, but still, it was a fast and completely joyful process because that book is all fun.

You have been pretty busy this fall with launching ALL GOOD CHILDREN & 26 TIPS FOR SURVIVING 6TH GRADE, blog tours, interviews. What were some of the highlights. Did you getting any sleep? ) Any advice for other authors embarking on a blog tour or getting out there and promoting their books online?

I always get my sleep. I always exercise. And I practice drums at least a couple times a week. The real question is: Did I get any writing done?

As for highlights, I love my book launches. I throw a party at my local library. It’s relaxed and warm and busy and chatty. I am always touched by the friends and neighbours who come out to help me celebrate.

I also enjoyed meeting other writers this past year – I joined a critique group and attended events and visited an awful lot of coffee shops. I’ve always envied the way musicians collaborate. “I’ll do the dialogue and you jump in with some narrative summary,” just doesn’t work the way guitar and piano can. But writing and publishing is still made easier by friends who are peers. 

For promotion advice, I’d say: Do what you’re comfortable with. I like interviews because they make me pause and think about my own creative process. I have fun on my website, and a few people actually look forward to my blog posts. But if you’re not comfortable doing those things, then don’t. One good review in a respected journal will sell your book better than a ton of self-promotion. So write a great book and let other people blog about it. Would Salinger tweet? Would Dostoevsky do a blog tour? You need to write; all the rest is optional.

In my book club I have some keen readers (of course!), but also some keen writers. They range in age from 8 to 14. When did you start writing and do you have any advice for my book clubbers?

I don’t remember if I wrote stories as a kid, but I took extra English credits in grade 13 and I published my first story in university, so I’d guess that I started young.

As for advice: Cultivate your imagination (unplug and go stare out of windows or sit on a stoop and conjure up some characters and stories – adults will call this lazy but it’s hard work). Devote yourself to a task long enough to accomplish something (keep working until it’s the best you can make it – adults will call this obsessed but it’s completely normal and necessary). Read A LOT. And just write, whatever it is that you feel like writing – a poem, a journal, a comic, a story – as often as you can and as well as you can. And be proud of it.

What’s your typical writing day like?

Drag self to computer. Procrastinate for twenty minutes. Berate self for procrastinating and UNPLUG INTERNET. Open work in progress. Reread yesterday’s writing. Experience pleasant surprise that it’s not as bad as I remembered. Resist temptation to plug internet back in. Resume writing (for whatever time I have available that day).

Recent read/s you’d like to recommend?

A House Called Awful End by Philip Ardagh cracked me up. The Glory Wind by Valerie Sherrard made me cry. Blink and Caution by Tim Wynne Jones was beautifully written. And Christopher Paul Curtis’s Elijah of Buxton is my favourite narrator ever. 

Thanks for stopping by, Catherine! Happy touring.


If you'd like to learn more about Catherine please do head to her website and her blog. And, be sure to check out the blogs on the tour. I know I am!

The giveaway is for US and Canada. All you need to do is comment and make sure I can contact you so I pass the info to the publishers. One winner with receive BOTH books. You have until midnight (MST) Monday, November 28. Good luck!

And to all our neighbours south of the border...Happy Thanksgiving.


And a quick note to say...Marvelous Middle Grade Read-a-Thon is on!

New Release Day GIVEAWAY-Extraordinary: The True Story of My Fairygodparent, Who Almost Killed Me, and Certainly Never Made Me a Princess

Day two of featuring Adam Selzer! And today it is all about EXTRAORDINARY, The True Story of My Fairygodparent, Who Almost Killed Me, and Certainly Never Made Me a Princess. The title alone is a fun read and when you turn the page to start the story you will not be disappointed. I read the ARC of this a long while ago and have been waiting for release day to say....get this one! It's witty, it's funny and the plot twists and turns are crazy good.

From Indie Bound:

Jennifer Van Der Berg would like you to know that the book ostensibly written about her—Born to Be Extraordinary by Eileen Codlin—is a bunch of bunk. Yes, she had a fairy godparent mess with her life, but no, she was not made into a princess or given the gift of self-confidence, and she sure as hell didn't get a hot boyfriend out of it. 
Here's the REAL scoop . . .


My Thoughts from GoodReads:


I will say (as The Plot Whisperer does), beginnings hook the reader (and Adam Selzer did a great job of hooking me in)...endings make fans. I am a fan. He took vampires (including prudish victorian ones), fairy godmothers (okay, fairy godmofo), zombies, highschool, true love, an ordinary girl (who deals with anger by smashing crap from the dollar store), Shakespeare, The Music Man and some unicorn poop, mixed it all together into a great, clever read for teens. Kind of a wow for me.

The Book Trailer:

The...GIVEAWAY:

Leave a comment.
That be it.
You have until November 9 @ Midnight mst. Open Canada and the U.S.
Tomorrow Adam is here with a guest post, hope to see you back then and next head over to his website...there are more GIVEAWAYS!! 

And FYI There is another Adam Selzer book out today! SPARKS. How cool is that? Pretty cool if you ask me.

From Adam Selzer's Website: A John Hughes-esque story of aFull House-obsessesd girl who tries to get over a crush by embarking on a a "holy quest" with a couple of misfits. 

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday-Interview and Giveaway-Rebecca Upjohn

Today I’m welcoming Rebecca Upjohn to Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. She is also one of the authors I’m featuring for Oh MG YA Canada. A great combination and thanks to Rebecca for taking part. You can find out more about her on her website, rebeccaupjohn.com

Rebecca’s debut middle grade is The Last Loon, which I read a couple of weeks ago and loved. This is another heads up on the quality of books from Orca Young Reader series. Evan is a boy who is sent to live with his aunt for part of the Christmas Holidays. He’s got some attitude adjusting to do--and he get’s it, but not in a heavy handed here’s your lesson Evan. What he learns about himself and respect for others comes from within him and the concern he feels for a lone loon that is in danger of dying if it does not leave the lake it is on. Soon that lake will be frozen over and the loon will have no way to take off (they need water to get a good enough speed for take off, they’re too heavy to do it on land). The thought of what will happen to the loon if he doesn’t do something drives Evan to take action and do the things that makes an ordinary, poor attitude-ed boy a hero and the kind of person best friends are made of.
And now....on with the interview.
How did this story idea develop? I have to tell you what I loved is that for me this would have been a dream vacation as a kid! Staying with an aunt, lakeside, wilderness for a back yard. But, Evan? Not so much.The loon part of the story was inspired by an actual loon rescue by my cousin on a lake in Ontario that I spent many summers at as a kid. I love loons so when she told me the story, I got goose-bumps and asked if I could use it. Some of the events in the story were based on real occurrences such as the part about the hovercraft. The character of Evan was developed slowly. The initial inspiration was a boy at a school visit I did, who didn't know what a frog was. It was the moment when I realized that lots of the kids had never seen wildlife outside the city. Many kids don't have the opportunity spend time out in the woods or on lakes the way I did. Being in the natural world had a huge affect on who I am. So, into my life walked Evan, a boy who needed the loon as much as the loon needed the boy. I made Evan a city kid with no experience in the wild, with the hope that the setting would gradually draw him in.
I liked Evan right away, although there were some things that could have made him un-likeable. Was it easy for you to get us to like him, or were them some rewrites involved to get you there.
Great question! Some readers have told me that Evan is too obnoxious at the beginning. He certainly has attitude. It took a while to develop his character. The first draft was all wrong--for one thing he was too young and whiney! I loved writing from the point of view of an eleven-year old boy and the humour helped. I have two boys of my own and I have always enjoy being around them and their friends. It's nutty but often amusing. I hoped the magic of being in the setting Evan was in, would work on him as he experienced new things. He is a lively, curious kid and the other characters treat him differently than he expects. Cedar had a big impact because he is so different than Evan. Writing in Evan's voice, in a first person POV, helped get into his head. I did have to work at finding a balance! My editor really helped that process.
You also write picture books. How do you balance that? One project at a time, work on both during your writing day?
I usually work on one thing at a time. Each story seems to demand my full attention. I wish I could do multiple projects simultaneously but the only time I can make that work is if the projects are in very different stages of completion. I work slowly. It takes time for me "to grow" a book.
Something I haven’t asked my pervious guests is where is their favourite place to write? What is yours? At a desk? On the couch?
I've just started using a treadmill desk. I love it!
Do you have a great author moment you could share? Maybe a question from a student during a school visit, or something from a book signing?
At a recent school visit, one of the students didn't quite believe that I, as the author of the book they'd been reading, was really coming. "Is she the real author or a knock-off?" I loved that. I love how kids think and how they question things.Okay--that moment? Priceless!
My book club is filled with aspiring writers, ages 8 and up and I’ve been gathering advice from my Oh MG & YA featured authors. I saw on your website that you’ve been writing since you were a child (including songs for your high school rock band the RADS!) What advice would you share?
Read, read, read! Write, write, write! Don't worry about the quality. The more you do the better you will get. Enjoy the process, because, it IS a process.
Speaking of my book club kids. Anything you'd like to recommend they read or we get for our library? Something that is a recent read, or a book you loved when you were a kid? The kids are aged 8-12, plus I now have three teenagers who’ve started to come. We’re starting a teen book club in the fall and they’re getting an early start!"Out of the Box" by Michelle Mulder, "Blob" by Frieda Wishinsky, and Arthur Slade's "Hunchback Assignments" series. "Zorgamazoo" by Robert Paul Weston, "Featherbrain" by Maureen Bush and anything by Diana Wynne Jones!
What’s next for you? Do you have anymore books you are writing for Orca Young Readers?
I'm working on a picture book for older readers set during WWII. All will be revealed soon...I would like to write more books at the Orca Young Readers level. I had so much fun writing The Last Loon!
Happy writing, Rebecaa and thanks again for being here! Before I move on to the Giveaway info, you can check this site out! Here what a loon sounds like.
GIVEAWAY-All you have to do is comment by this Wednesday, June 15 (midnight MST). Please include your email so I can contact you. Open to Canada and U.S.
LAST WEEK’S GIVEAWAY WINNER for Yolanda Ridge’s Trouble in the Trees was *Lisa*. The book is on the way!
More on Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: When Shannon Whitney Messenger developed Marvelous Middle Mondays I was in, as were many others and the group and posts are growing, growing!
Here are my MMGM posts all together-ed.
And here are other regular posters:

• Anita Laydon Millers Middle Grade Blog
• Book Dreaming
• Kit Lit Frenzy
• Middle Grade Mafioso
• My Brain on Books
• Night Writer
• Novel and Nouveau
• So I'm Fifty
• Somewhere in the Middle
• Write About Now

Oh MG & YA Canada, Interview and Giveaway with Yolanda Ridge

Welcome  Yolanda Ridge to Oh MG & YA Canada.  She is a debut novelist whose middle grade novel, Trouble in the Trees is now out. I’ll be going a giveaway (international, all you have to do is comment). But, don’t forget to check out the giveaway being done on Good Reads, as well! Double your chances of winning a copy.





From Good Reads:

Eleven-year-old Bree is happiest when she's climbing the trees at Cedar Grove, her urban townhouse complex. She's the best climber around, even better than an older boy, Tyler, who drives her crazy with his competitiveness. When Ethan, a younger boy, falls from a tree and hurts his elbow, the neighborhood council bans all tree-climbing in Cedar Grove. If Bree chooses to ignore the bylaw, her family could be kicked out of their home, so she vows to change the rule instead. After giving a presentation to the neighborhood council, she realizes this is not a battle she can win on her own, but rallying the Cedar Grove troops is more difficult than she imagined.

On with the interview!


Yolanda, can you tell me where the idea for you book came from and what the journey was like once you got the idea? Smooth sailing? Stop and start?

When my friend, Claire, had tree climbing banned in her townhouse complex in South Vancouver she put together a short power point presentation called “Tree Illegal”. Claire was 11 years old at the time and although she didn’t fight the bylaw, she gave me the premise for a book that I just had to write. It took me a long time to finish the first draft (I was a stay at home Mom of twins who were two) and the manuscript went through quite a few revisions (including the ending which was changed at the request of my publisher) but relatively speaking, it was pretty smooth sailing.

I _loved_ climbing trees when I was a kid. Will admit to getting myself into a bit of climbing to high a few times. 

What is next for you? Is there another book in the works?

Yes! I just signed a contract with Orca for the sequel to Trouble in the Trees. Tentatively titled Road Block , it’s about Bree’s fight against the construction of a highway through her grandma’s farmland. It’s scheduled to come out in Spring 2012. I have another completed manuscript (in need of some revision) about a 12-year-old girl who’s battling some serious anxiety issues. And my manucript in progress has a 12 year old male protagonsit… so I guess I’m sticking with middle grade for now although I still have a pile of picture book manuscripts desperately seeking a publisher!

Congratulations on the sequel! 

How do you find the balance you need for family, reading and writing (your poetry and your novels)? A color coded timetable on your wall, possibly?

Ha! A color coded timetable – why didn’t I think of that? Basically, family is my first priority and takes up most of my time. I read after my boys go to bed, when I’m too tired to do anything else. I fit writing in the little time that's left… it used to be when my boys napped. Now it’s when they are at preschool or watching Dinosaur Train. I’m very productive with the time I have because there is so little of it. I’m a bit worried that when they go to full day kindergarten, I’ll start finding ways to procrastinate!

Does your poetry help with writing novels and visa versa?

Great question Deb, that’s something I’ve never really thought about before. I love words (a good thing for any type of writing) but sometimes I get a little carried away with things like rhyme, rhythm, alliteration… things you don’t want too much of in a fast paced novel. Poetry gives me an outlet where I can be more fancy and playful.

My book club is filled with aspiring writers, ages 8 to 13 and I’m gathering advice for them. When did you start writing and would you like to share some advice for my young writers?

I think I’ve always been a writer. I started writing for the school newspaper when I was in elementary school and I’ve been bombarding my friends and family with poems and screenplays for as long as I can remember. My biggest piece of advice is to write a lot… it’s a skill that takes practice, just like anything else. Not everything you write will be good but the more you write, and the more you share your writing with others, the more likely it is that you will find your niche.

Speaking of my book club kids, I always like to ask my guests what they would recommend for them. Is there something that is a recent read, or a book you loved when you were a kid?

I just read The Ballad of Knuckles McGraw by Lois Peterson, another book from OrcaYoung Readers. I loved the characters and the original story line (including it’s un-perfect ending.) As a kid I loved Judy Blume which is probably why I am attracted to realistic fiction with strong protagonists.

Thanks for the recommends! I've just ordered some of Lois's books, but didn't get the one you've mentioned...I will be sure to, though. 

Anything you would like to add? Maybe a question you wanted to answer...but I didn't ask?

No – you’re questions were great and my answers were long so I will leave it at that. Thank you so much for your interest in Trouble in the Trees and Oh MG and YA Canada!

Thanks again for being here Yolanda!


ORCA, is at BEA this week. If anyone drops by their booth, Yolanda and I hope you’ll stop, say hi and check out hers and other books ORCA will be showcasing. 


And, what's that, what's that you say...another giveaway? Yep. Just comment on this post I will enter you in a draw for THE TROUBLE IN TREES. You have until next Sunday June 5, Midnight MST.

Maureen McGowan-Interview & Giveaway-Sleeping Beauty:Vampire Slayer/Cinderella: Ninja Warrior

Welcome to another Oh (MG & YA) Canada. Today we have Maureen McGowan on the blog. Telling us a little bit more about her books, SLEEPING BEAUTY: VAMPIRE SLAYER & CINDERELLA:NINJA WARRIOR.  Great titles aren't they? _Great_ reads, too. Here is a little bit more about Maureen from her website:
"Maureen has always been making up stories—her mother called it lying, her teachers creative talent—but sidetracked by a persistent practical side, it took her a few years to channel her energy into writing novels. Before seeing the light, she was: an auditor, a knowledge engineer, a software development manager, a product development director and a hedge fund CFO. " 
As I say in the upcoming interview, I'm pretty darn glad she found her way back to writing, because now we have:

Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer


With vampire-slaying talents that she practices in secret, Sleeping Beauty puts her courage to the test in the dark of night, fighting evil as she searches for a way to break the spell that has cut her off from her family. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Sleeping Beauty and decide where she goes next.

Cinderella Ninja Warrior
Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next.

And now...on with the interview!

Thanks for being her Maureen. This week I'm giving away both of  your books to one lucky commenter (open International). What inspired you to twist up Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella the way you did. I especially loved the idea of Sleeping Beauty as a vampire slayer and how later in the book you used the glass coffin (LOVED it, I tell you). 

Thanks so much, Deb! The original spark for this series actually didn't come from me. A freelance editor, who'd seen some of my not-yet-published writing, came to me with the idea of creating updated fairy tales with a choose-your-own-adventure element. At first I wasn't certain I was interested--I've never been a big fairy tale person--but as soon as I started to develop ideas, I got excited.

Unsure if I'd have creative freedom in writing these books (since the overall concept idea was the editor's) I asked her, "In Cinderella, can there be ninjas?" I was mostly joking at the time, testing my boundaries, but she said yes, I could do whatever I wanted, and immediately, an image of ninjas dropping out of trees to attack Cinderella popped into my mind. 

The original proposal for the series included the first twenty pages and an outline for Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (then called Not Your Mother's Cinderella Story) and I also included up a few possible titles for other books in the series. One of those titles was Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer. I honestly don't know where that idea initially came from. A lightning bolt? 

But I loved the idea of combining Sleeping Beauty with vampires. Elements of the traditional fairy tale are so dark to me, and the idea of a girl sleeping, unable to wake up, with other people watching is just creepy. I knew I wanted to include that glass coffin right from the start.

These are choose your own path books, which you don’t see much of in teen books. What were your thoughts in developing the story this way. Personally, I loved getting to choose the path.

I'm not sure I would have chosen a choose your own adventure format if I hadn't been asked to do it that way, but I found it equal parts challenging, frustrating and fun.

At first, I wasn't sure how to tackle it. The first decision I made was to have a single ending for each book. Because the books are fairy tales, I thought they demanded happy endings, and pretty specific happy endings if they were going to live up to the fairy tale promise. 

I also decided against "wrong" paths. The way I see things, each day we face choices, and the alternatives aren’t necessarily right or wrong—just different. Smart heroines (and smart readers) will make smart choices, so I wanted to present reasonable alternatives at each decision point without making it obvious which choice was better. Also, a capable heroine—even if she makes a mistake—should be able to face whatever challenges her choices place in her way and still reach her goal.

When I decided on the structure, I didn’t realize what a difficult path I was laying out for myself as a writer! My choices created challenges for me—almost as tough as those facing Cinderella in her magic competition, or Lucette when she’s the only one awake and facing vampires in the night. 

Because I decided to have alternate paths that loop into common sections, I had to be very careful to ensure the key story elements either: occurred in the common sections; or occurred in different ways but with similar outcomes, in the alternate paths. There were times while writing these books when my head was spinning so badly I didn’t know which end was up!

I’ve been asking other participants in OH MG YA Canada for author signing, school visit  advice for other authors for they’d like to share. Plus, do you have a great book signing or school visit moment you’d like to tell us about, as well?

I wish I had some advice to share and will be combing the archives on your site for others' advice, as I'll be doing my very first school visit soon. I can't wait to talk to some kids about writing. I've been asked to take part in some teen book clubs at book stores, too. Can't wait! 

You will love it. You’re sharing your passion and kids will know it and respond. Just be yourself. This also reminds me, though, I want to do a post in which I do gather together all the advice in previous posts!

Everyone of my book club kids are aspiring writers, ranging in age from 8 to 13. When did you start writing and do you have any advice for my book clubbers?

I really enjoyed writing when I was a student, and English was one of my favourite subjects, but I got side-tracked by my practical side after high school, and pursued another career before getting back to storytelling. It's not easy to earn a living as a novelist, but I wish I'd had more faith in myself and the courage to try earlier. That said, I don't regret any of the decisions I made. My advice would be that, even if life takes you in a different direction, if you love writing and storytelling, never give it up! 

Never give up...I like it and agree. Certainly glad you didn’t!

Speaking of my book club kids. Anything you'd like to recommend they read or we get for our library? Something that is a recent read, or a book you loved when you were a kid?

If they like funny, I highly recommend anything by Eileen Cook. She cracks me up and she writes for both the young adult and middle grade age groups. She also has an extremely funny adult book that I think older teens would love.

On the darker side, I'm currently a huge fan of Carrie Ryan's books. I just finished The Dark and Hollow Places and LOVED it. But her books might be a little too scary for the younger members of your group.

Yes yes on Eileen Cook. I especially love her latest YA Education of Hailey Kendrik and am currently reading Fourth Grade Fairy for an upcoming giveaway and feature as part of BEA! Carrie Ryan's books are...aaaamazing, too. And have a couple for girls (12 and 13) who love them, so yes on those!

Speaking of that Book Expo America starts this week. Are you going? Have you been before?

Oh, I wish I were going! I've never been, but I did go to Book Expo Canada about five years ago. (Sadly, they don't have it anymore.) It was fabulous to see which titles all the publishers were excited about. My publisher, Silver Dolphin Books, will be featuring my Twisted Tales series this week at their BEA  booth, but sadly, I can't go. :(

Oo, maybe someone could get a picture for you. It would be nice to be there, though, so I totally understand. I’m hoping to go in 2012.

Anything you'd like to add, maybe a question you was hoping I would ask but missed?

Mostly, I want to thank you and all the fabulous book enthusiasts out there. Seeing my books on the shelves has fulfilled a life-long dream, but it's even better to hear from readers. 

Well, you’re welcome. You’re the reason we get to do what we do!

Giveaway time. You have until midnight (MST), Sunday May 22. As always, all you need to do is comment...irregardless of your continent, if you win I will get the books to you. <my loooong winded way of saying this is open internationally. Good luck everyone.

Also, wanted to quick mention that if you are not going to BEA, there is a blog feed you can subscribe to, there are giveaways, interviews and more so head on over to ARMCHAIR BEA!

Janet Gurtler-Interview and Giveaway for OH (MG & YA) Canada!

I am thrilled to have Janet Gurtler on the blog today for OH (MG & YA Canada). Her second novel for young adults, I’M NOT HER, just came out and her third book, IF I TELL is scheduled for this fall.

All about I'M NOT HER from Good Reads :

Brainy Tess Smith is the younger sibling of the beautiful, popular, volleyball-scholarship-bound Kristina. When Kristina is diagnosed with bone cancer, it drastically changes both sisters' lives. Sometimes the things that annoy us the most about our siblings are the ones we'd miss the most if we lost them.

In this YA literary coming-of-age novel that will appeal to readers who love Jodi Picoult and Sarah Dessen, sisters Tess and Kristina discover not only who they are, but who they can become.


I am telling you now, I agree with the above. I’d also recommend this book to fans of Deb Caletti, Sarah Okler and Gayle Friessen (If I Stay). Tess is a strong, funny character who teens will related to and cheer for, just like the heroines in these other books. And voice? It's there...in spades.

And now...on with the INTERVIEW!


Janet,  I read your book in a couple of sittings. I had to know what was going to happen with the two sisters, especially the younger I loved seeing her get stronger and stronger for
herself and her sister. I think you captured that relationship amazingly
well. You must (well, I know you do, lol) have a sister relationship that
you could use for inspiration?

Thank you for reading my book in a couple of sittings! Magical words! And
yes, I do indeed have a sister, an older sister and while we certainly never
went through anything as traumatic as Kristina and Tess I did draw on some
of the feelings I had about her growing up. There was a bit of worship but
tongue tied shyness on my part when we were teens. She is three years older
than me, which is a lot when you're young, hardly anything now. She seemed
so much cooler and prettier than I felt and she had awesome boyfriends. Plus
she was thin. And tall. With long legs. And I wasn't.

The other thing that captivated me was your ability to paint
moments--especially some very painful ones--the details of the places
(hospital) and the emotions (finding out about cancer, helping a family
member deal with it) were, for me, nailed. I've been there so speak from
experience. How did you research this, or were you drawing from life? (You
don't have to answer that if you'd rather not).

No one really close to me has been affected by cancer, not while I was
growing up anyways. Actually I have been very fortunate with good health for
myself and my family (and quick knock on some wood for me would you?) I did
connect with a wonderful young woman who went through bone cancer and she
helped with some of the medical and some of the physcholgical aspects of the
illness. And, when I was getting ready to write the hospital scene, I went
to the nearest hospital and kind of wandered around the hallways and
different floors, taking mental notes about what I saw and noticed.


As far as the emotions of the family, I just did a lot of deep thinking on
how I thought the characters would react from who they were deep inside. How
would a self centered mom who wants to control everything around her react
to something she couldn't control? How about a father who prefers not to
deal with hardships face on? I tried to stay real to the way I thought the
characters would behave, even if it was sometimes not the way we want people
to behave when someone they love is suffering.


Well, well done. It just goes to show that you can research and interview to gain an experience
you are writing about.

It's a busy time for you with an upcoming book launch. Excited? Nervous?
Care to share some tips for others gearing up for the same thing? (and,
Congratulations!!) You've done this before, with Waiting to Score. Any
experiences you want to repeat? Some, not so much?

A book launch is truly an exciting and nerve wracking time! Ohh look, my
pretty books arrived in a big box from Fed EX. Watch me squeal and hug one
and sniff it and giggle. Ohhhhh. Reviews are coming in, watch me hide under
my covers and cower and tremble until it's all over.


I did publish one book before, but this is a completely different
experience. I'm publishing under my own name this time, with a new publisher
(Sourcebooks) and it's a GIRL BOOK so it definitely feels like a debut (with
some life experience thrown in)


My advice is to others is to try to do as much promotion as you're
comfortable with and then try to ENJOY the rest!!! There are so many
stressors authors could get hung up on, but the best advice is to have some
fun and celebrate what really is a wonderful occasion!


I am having a book launch this time and inviting everyone to come, and doing
a reading and generally making myself feel like a Queen for a night (okay
for two hours). Sort of like a wedding without having to go on a diet to
fit into a pretty white dress. But like a wedding there will be cake. I'm
now thinking I should appoint the equivalent of bridesmaids. I pronounce
you a BOOK MAID, Deb! You and our fabulous lunch crew. But you don't all
have to dress matchy matchy. Unless you want to.


NO! Let's go matchy matchy and we can wear eighties style bridesmaids dresses to feel
all young like again! Who's with me??


I'm asking this of all my guest authors, so now it's your turn, my friend!
Almost everyone of my book club kids , aged 8-13, are also aspiring writers.
Do you have any advice for them? When did you start writing? A possible
crazy bad story in your past where everyone dies? Even the MC? Or?

I was an aspiring writer from the time I was in grade one. I still have my
first short story from that time and remember the praise I got from my
teacher and my mom for how cute and creative it was. It was about a cat.
Falling into a pot of spaghetti. Oh how clever I thought I was!


My advice to your lovely aspiring writers is to do exactly what they love to
do--write! Write journals! Write blogs. Write poems or letters or stories or
whatever it is that you feel compelled to write. Believe in yourself and
your dreams. Write. If you're a writer, you write. And it feeds your soul.
Also. Don't try to follow someone else's path. Some authors are published
when they're 13. Some when they in their 20's. I was older than that.
Everyone has their own journey.

Speaking of my book club kids. I am thrilled to say I will be starting a
teen book club as part of our Summer Reading Programme, even have a few who
are keen to get started now. Any teen reads that you've loved lately? The
kind you can't wait to tell someone about?

I love how enthusiastic you are about kids and reading!! I really do. I
love Young Adult fiction with passion. I am especially drawn to contemporary
stories or gritty urban fantasy. The latest teen read I loved was FIXING DELILAH by Sarah Okler.


Oh boy, yes. That one was good.


AND--speaking of being a writer and a reader. How do you balance that (and
your family and all the other busy that life brings?

Oh that crazy thing called balance. I admit I spend far, far too much time
on my computer. Writing and the lure of social media and online writing
communities. Sometimes it drives my son and my husband a little crazy.
Luckily my son is an avid swimmer and swims 6 days a week, so that gives me
time to either write or exercise (so I can write when I would otherwise be
exercising) And my husband drags me out to the cabin he's building for
periodic escapes from the Internet.


I'm not working at another part time job right now, but probably will be
again and that's when I find it really tough to manage to find writing time.
I'm lucky enough right now to write while my son is in school and hubby is
at work!

Is there a question you were hoping hoping I would ask? Go ahead and answer
it right now.

Just how awesome do I think Just Deb is? Well thanks for asking. I think
she's great! I think she's a talented and passionate lady and she has really
good taste in lunch partners! Thanks for having me on your blog.


Aw, thanks, Janet! Yeah, the lunch pardners are cool bacon sauce (to partially quote Angela). Thanks for being with me today.

Next Up....THE GIVEAWAY!

Comment on this interview and I will enter your name in a giveaway for a hardcover, signed copy of I’m Not Her.

Comment with a recommended contemporary YA book or author and I’l give you another entry.

If you don’t read whole lot of realistic or contemporary YA, then comment with your latest “LOVED IT” YA book, ‘cause my book club kids read all genres.

There's more (lol, again with me sounding like an info-mercial?) Stina of Seeing Creative is hosting Janet today, too and there's a giveaway. Check it out and get some great writing advice from Janet. Kind of a win win, imo!

Finally, you still have a chance to win book one of Maggie L. Wood's series, The Divided Realms.

Interview and Giveaway-Maggie L. Wood

It’s my pleasure to have Maggie L. Wood on the blog today. Another talented writer for teens whose series, The Divided Realms is on my favourite reads list. An advance thanks for stopping by to those of you reading and a thanks to Maggie for taking part in Oh (MG & YA) Canada! Giveaway details are at the interview’s end (open internationally). And now...let’s begin!

A little about Maggie from her website :


Maggie L. Wood was born and grew up on Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest  province. She goes by the name Maggie (short for Margaret) now, but Margaret is actually her middle name, and the L. part of her name (the super secret part) is actually her real first name. So, of course, her initials are not M.L. but L.M., just like another very famous L.M. writer from Prince Edward Island. Maggie also has red hair (well, sort of red-ish now with gray highlights) and spent many summers camping and swimming at Cavendish, just like one of her very favourite red-headed book heroines

(*hint* fave red-headed book heroine’s initials start with A.)


Oh my---I love, love her. Even added an "e" to my middle name, lol.


The giveaway book is CAPTURED fom Maggie’s website :

"Willow nodded, then her mouth fell open as she realized who Brand was. The white knight story.
Nana had always said, The princess looked to the white knight for protection. Brand was a
White knight in the game. Was he the white knight Nana had meant? The white knight Willow
had built her dreams around?"


Book Description

Fifteen-year-old Willow Kingswell has been listening to her Nana's tales of faeries and enchanted
kingdoms for as long as she can remember. But when she is magically transported to the realm
of Mistolear, she is stunned to learn that the stories were true, and that she is actually a
princess. Suddenly, Willow has to fit into a royal family she didn't know she had, deal with
customs she doesn't understand, and sort out her feelings for Brand, the handsome knight
who has sworn to protect her.

On top of everything, she may also be the key to saving Mistolear from a terrifying spell. The
nefarious faerie prince Nezeral has pitted two kingdoms against each other in a life-or-death
chess match, in which people are the game pieces. As a pawn, Willow now glows with the light
of the game, and must find the courage and cleverness to battle Nezeral before her loved ones
fall. Could a meager pawn really be the most powerful piece on the board?
Captured is the first book in the thrilling "Divided Realms" series.

The book trailer :


The Divided Realms Series from maggie l. wood on Vimeo.

This book will most definitely appeal to teens 12 and up (plus some ten and ups I know, too). Especially for the relationship between Willow and Brand (love their first meeting where he is sounding all “lord of the ring-ish” to her and she is trying to figure out how to get him to rise up after he has declared he will protect her no matter what, his oath of fealty). Plus, the characters, fast paced plot and world building weave together wonderfully. Loved. it.

The...interview :

The world building in your book is wonderful. What was your process for doing it in general and how did you come up with place names in particular? I have to say I just like saying Mistolear! Was there a certain mythology or culture that you used for your inspiration?



First of all, Deb, I would like to thank you for having me on your blog and for all your wonderful enthusiasm pertaining to Canadian YA literature! Always makes me want to wear an I *HEART* LIBRARIANS (or TEACHERS or BOOKSELLERS) button, when I meet someone with your caliber of passion, as kids always respond so well to it (as I’m sure your lucky book club kids do).

To answer your question about world building, though, right from when I was very young and playing medieval Barbies, I always had an interest (or “crazy obsession” as my mother called it) in all things concerning the Middle Ages. I loved pouring over gigantic history books from the library and watching historical movies and documentaries on TV. My first book loves were fairy tales, and I can remember playing knights of the round table with my brother and our friends. So really the world building in The Divided Realms is very much based on my love (and years and years of researching) medieval history, as Mistolear is certainly a medieval-style world. Writers are often told “to write what you know” and I think that is exactly what I did!

I love that you love the word Mistolear! I made it up from words connecting to some of my favourite things. At the time, I was playing a computer game called “Myst,” and my two favourite authors were “Tolkien” and “Shakespeare.” One day, I was just fooling around with the letters of those three words and came up with Mis-tol-ear. Pretty much all the place names were made this way from playing around with words.

Concerning culture and mythology, as I said up above, the Mistolearians are based on a medieval-type society, but the faeries in The Divided Realms are based more on myths concerning the Seelie and Unseelie Courts of the Celtic fey (another passion I love to read about!).

Way cool on how you came up with the name. And what a great piece of information to share with kids. (plus, you're welcome on having you on the blog!)


I loved how chess plays a role in this story and am impressed that a reader like me does not have to know everything about the game in order to follow along and appreciate the tale. Do you play much chess? Are you good? 



My brother and I are only a year and half apart in age, so we grew up with the same friends. I remember the summer when we were eleven and twelve was also the summer we and our friends learned to play chess. We all loved the game and played it almost every day until school started. I got a chess set for my birthday that year, and then my brother and I played the game constantly (or “obsessively” as Mom would say). My brother was the younger sibling, but he was always a much more strategic player than I was, so I’m afraid my answers to your questions are, yes, I like to play chess, and, no, I am not a very good player. Heh, heh.



As I read your book I knew I didn’t want it to end. So! Very Glad that there was a sequel to jump right into. Had you planned on this being a series and if so did you outline or develop both stories at the same time? Is there a book three or another project you are working on?



Now *that* is a good question! Writers often debate whether it’s better to be an “outliner” type of writer or a “pantser.” I am definitely a pantser (by the seat-of-your-pants) type of writer, which of course means that I regularly sit down to write without any idea of what’s going to happen next in my story. So, no, I did not set out specifically to write a series. In the beginning, my goal was mostly just to be published, as publishers do not usually accept series ideas from writers with no proven track record. I did, however, always like the idea of a series, so when I wrote my first novel Captured, I made it have a satisfying conclusion in case a publisher only wanted the one book, but I also left a couple of plot-strings dangling just in case the publisher wanted more books in a series. And, as it turned out, the publisher *did* want more books, and so now I am working on revisions for Book 3 (which will be out spring 2012!) and Book 4 and will be writing a Book 5 and Book 6 as well!

YAY on Book 3 and all the rest. Congratulations on that and happy writing and revising.

Speaking of not wanting a book to end. What are some of your favourite reads this year? As you know, I have a book club that has kids in it from ages 8-13 with reading interests from Geronimo Stilton to Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange (another great OH MY YA Canada read btw!). I’d love you to share some of your favourites with them.



Well, for many years now I’ve been keeping lists of what I’ve read, so I would be happy to share my favourite-YA-books-so-far-this-year list with you and your book club! My very favourite YA book so far this year is by another Canadian writer, Erin Bow. I absolutely loved her wonderful book Plain Kate about a woodcarver girl in a Russian-style fantasy world. Other favourites so far this year have been Eilis O’Neal’s debut novel The False Princess, Saundra Mitchell’s The Vespertine, Melissa Marr’s Darkest Mercy, Karen Mahoney’s The Iron Witch, and Lauren Oliver’s Delirium. I think, though, the YA book that has most enthralled me this year (so far) is Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. I have never been a big fan of dystopian fiction (always thought it was too depressing), which is why it has taken me so long to read The Hunger Games, but, boy, am I ever glad I did! Right from the very first page, this book just absolutely gripped me, and now I can hardly wait to see the movie!

A great recommended reads list for teens! And, I am reading Plain Kate right now. (okay, not right, right now...:) I have _not_ read False Princess...will get me to a bookstore and add it to the pile. Speaking of Plain Kate. I have that on my Kindle, but it is a book I am loving so much I know I need to have it in hardcover, on my book shelf. And yes on The Hunger Games. It has crossed all reading genres, boy, girls, women, men-people who don't read fantasy, don't read dystopian, they read The Hunger Games. But, I digress (believe me it happens a lot).

Many of my book club kids are writers, as well. When did you start writing and do you have some advice you could share with them?

I always liked reading and writing as a kid, but I didn’t start writing with the goal of being published until I was 28 years old. At the time, my 10-year-old stepson brought home a type of book called a Fighting Fantasy game book, which was part book and part game. We played/read them together and after about the fortieth one, it just hit me that *I* could write one of these. So when I first started to write, I started out writing game books, which, 12 years later, metamorphosed into writing regular fantasy books about games.

One of the things I enjoy most about being a YA writer is meeting the readers of my work, especially the young readers who are also writers. My advice to them is always to BE passionate! Find things that you love (all kinds of things, not just writing) and become experts in them! Writers need to be able to weave worlds out of nothing, so the more you know about your own world, the more you’ll be able to create a fantastic written one. The next most important words of advice I could give to any writer is to READ as much and as varied as you can, and to WRITE daily. If a writer wants someday to be a published author, then reading is like the instruction from experts and daily writing is the practice it takes to become an expert yourself. So read, write and be passionate! (That’s what I found worked best for me, anyway.) :D

Maggie! I so agree...read, write and be passionate. So thank you for creating a book for kids to read and keep that passion burning.

Now for the giveaway. All you need to do is comment with contact information. 


Hmmm, and if you do want an extra entry? Include a recent middle grade or young adult read that you would recommend for kids (or adults reading for kids and themselves) Doesn't have to be Canadian,  just a book you want to hand someone and say READ THIS! Include fiction or non-fiction, classics. Whatever if your favourite. One of mine you ask? Anne of Green Gables!


This is open internationally until next Sunday, midnight MST. Good luck and Maggie and I appreciate you taking the time to stop by.  Also, if you got a bit more time you can read last weeks interview with Joelle Anthony. There is still time to comment and enter that giveaway as I've extended it to next Sunday, as well.

OH MG YA Canada Interview & Giveaway: Joelle Anthony

Joining me for Oh (MG & YA) Canada today is Joelle Anthony.  I've been looking forward to hosting her ever since I read her book. It captivated me from page one and I loved following Molly's story, watching her make her way into the States, with nothing but determination (and her fiddle) to bring her Grandparents back. And the setting! Oh my--I can still see and feel it.

More about her book from Goodreads:

The year is 2041, and sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world left after global economic collapse—one of massive oil shortages, rampant crime, and abandoned cities.

Molly is relieved to find her grandparents alive in their Portland suburb, but they're financially ruined and practically starving. What should've been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission. And when Molly witnesses something the local crime bosses wishes she hadn't, Molly's only way home may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there's a handsome stranger who's willing to help.

Restoring Harmony is a riveting, fast-paced dystopian tale complete with adventure and romance that readers will devour.

And more:

Joelle Anthony's young adult novel, Restoring Harmony, is a riveting tale of how a resourceful teen survives, and even finds romance, in a future world where no one is as they seem. Putnam Books for Young Readers, May 2010

Armed with only a fiddle and a keen sense of the land, Molly is the best kind of heroine–smart, feisty and courageous. Anthony writes with tenderness and imbues her story with hope. - Suzanne Selfors, author of SAVING JULIET and COFFEHOUSE ANGEL

Watch for her second novel, The Right & the Real - forthcoming, also from Putnam.  Joelle's website : http://www.joelleanthony.com

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

Joelle, thanks for taking the time to do this! The book we’re giving away is RESTORING HARMONY, it was a debut novel for 2010. You’re currently working on your next book. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

I’ve actually finished my second book already and it’s in production. My third one is still bouncing around in my head right now, so I’ll talk about the second one. It’s called The Right & the Real and it comes out in April of 2012. It’s about a girl whose father gets mixed up in a cult and when she won’t join him, he kicks her out on the street. She doesn’t have anywhere to go, and so she’s essentially on her own. She is only a few months away from graduating, and also turning eighteen when she can legally live on her own, so she just wants to hang in there. The book is about how she does that, and also how she reconciles with her father when everything gets out of hand and he needs her help.

Do you have any advice for a first time author going in to do a school or library visit or do you have a great 2010 debut moment you would like to share with us? (or--both?)

I haven’t done many school visits as an author, but I am currently the writer in residence at my local school (we got two grants – thanks to Arts Council and BC ArtStarts!) so I’m in the classroom every week. I would suggest to authors if it’s at all possible to get the students writing during your visit. Even a little bit. One of my favourite things to do is talk about description and sensory details. Kids know the five senses so well and applying them to writing comes naturally. Then I give them each an index card and pencil and ask them to take ten minutes to describe a place that is familiar to their fellow students using all five senses without saying where it is. I let them read them aloud and the other kids guess the place they’re describing. The other thing, which I think is actually the most important thing, I learned from author Tim Wynne Jones…ask your audience questions. It’s the best way to start. And then end with letting them ask you questions. Everyone is engaged then.

In my book club I have some keen readers (of course!), but also some keen writers. They range in age from 8 to 13. When did you start writing and do you have any advice for my book clubbers?

I wrote a lot in Grade 5, but after that I was much more into theatre. I guess I was in my early twenties when I decided to start writing for kids and thinking of it as a possible career. It took me about sixteen years from when I started to publication, but part of that was just life getting in the way and also growing up. And I worked as a professional actor for a while too.

My best advice to writers is always the same. Read. Read some more. And then keep reading. You will learn to write from the books you read. At some point, you actually have to write too, but seriously, reading is your first tool.

I write in a journal every morning for half an hour. It’s really just a lot of boring stuff about my life, and how I slept, and what I ate yesterday, etc., but it primes the pump for the writing day. Also, you can get rid of all your grumblies and then you’re a more pleasant person to be around. Occasionally, a plot point will work itself out, or I’ll have an epiphany while journaling, but mostly it’s just blah, blah, blah! I highly recommend it.

Speaking of my book club kids. Anything you’d like to recommend they read or we get for our library? Something that is a recent read, or a book you loved when you were a kid?

Well…everyone who knows me say it together…, “You can’t go wrong with the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.” Actually, if you have a bunch of teen boys in your group, they probably wouldn’t get that excited over Betsy, but I still have to mention these books every chance I get.

Let’s see…for a book club…recent reads…I really love Megan Whalen Turner’s series that starts with THE THIEF. I do not really read books that fall into that fantasy/kings & queens/days-of-yore category, but my friend, the wonderful writer, Kim Thacker got me started on these and I devoured them. They’re good for everyone – boys, girls, adults. I also loved C. J. Omololu’s DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, Jandy Nelson’s THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE, and Nova Ren Suma’s DANI NOIR.


What is your favourite part of living where you do? Do you have another part of Canada that you love to visit or that you’ve always wanted to but haven’t yet?

We moved to Canada from the U.S. almost four years ago, and we live on one of the small Gulf Islands in B.C. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. I mean, if we had the dough, we’d definitely buy a little more property and live at the quieter end of the island, but I don’t see us ever actually leaving this island. We have a great little house in the woods and we love it, but we’d like a little sunshine for growing food too. This is just a wonderful place to live with fantastic people and we’ve made great friends.

We definitely want to visit Cape Breton and the Maritimes. We love the music and it looks so beautiful. And as an Ann of Green Gables fan, I have to go to PEI someday!

Anything I didn’t ask that you hoped I would?

No one ever asks about the language. Just kidding. I’m currently reading Stephen King’s book ON WRITING and in the forward he says he asked Amy Tan what no one ever asks in interviews that she wishes they would, and that’s what she said, so he wrote the book because he thought he had something to say about the language!

How about if I share something that I told my students the other day? They were asking me questions about getting ideas and how to grow them big enough to write a story or a book, and I told them something that I just recently learned. It took me fifteen years to learn it, but I was willing to save them the effort! Here it is: It’s okay, no, it’s more than okay, to ask for help from your writer pals, your friends, your spouse, teacher, parents, whoever when you’re brainstorming an idea. You don’t have to figure it all out yourself. If you’re stuck, take it to your team and say, “I’ve gotten this far, but I don’t know what happens next.” You don’t have to use any of their ideas, but sometimes you’ll want to. And even if you don’t, their ideas will get you thinking of more of your own.

I’d heard that saying that a writer should never write in a vacuum, but I didn’t really get it until I had a great book idea, but couldn’t come up with the ending so I asked the writer Eileen Cook and she came up with a brilliant finish! That book’s on a back burner right now, but because I asked, and she is so great, it’s all figured out. It’s okay to ask for help. Thanks for having me.

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

In order to win a copy of RESTORING HARMONY all you need to do is comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win. You have until next Sunday, April 24, midnight (MST). Open Internationally! BUT---it doesn't end here, head over to Joelle's blog and wish her...HAPPY BIRTHDAY and enter to win a RESTORING HARMONY tote!