CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #24: Smart by Kim Slater - FEATURE + GIVEAWAY

Smart by Kim Slater

GENRE: YA Mystery

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER

I found Jean’s friend dead in the river. His name was Colin Kirk. He was a homeless man, but he still wanted to live. 

There’s been a murder, but the police don’t care. It was only a homeless old man after all.

Kieran cares. He’s made a promise, and when you say something out loud, that means you’re going to do it, for real. He’s going to find out what really happened. To Colin. And to his grandma, who just stopped coming round one day. It’s a good job Kieran’s a master of observation, and knows all the detective tricks of the trade.

But being a detective is difficult when you’re Kieran Woods. When you’re amazing at drawing but terrible at fitting in. And when there are dangerous secrets everywhere, not just outside, but under your own roof

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #23: Fever by Dee Shulman - FEATURE + GIVEAWAY

Fever by Dee Shulman
SERIES: Parallon Trilogy #1

GENRE: YA Science Fiction

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER

Two worlds. Two millennia. One love . . . A fearless Roman gladiator. A reckless twenty-first-century girl. A mysterious virus unites them . . . 152 AD. Sethos Leontis, a skilled and mesmerising fighter, is unexpectedly wounded and lies dangerously close to death. 2012 AD. Eva is brilliant - but troubled. Starting her new life at a school for the gifted, a single moment in the lab has terrifying results. An extraordinary link brings Sethos and Eva together, but it could force them apart - because the fever that grips them cannot be cured and falling in love could be lethal . . . Can love survive when worlds collide and threaten time itself?

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #22: Deviation by Christine Manzari - FEATURE + GIVEAWAY

Deviation by Christine Manzari
SERIES: The Sophisticates #1

GENRE: YA Science Fiction

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER

Being a Sophisticate of the Program seems like it’d be a pretty sweet deal: a little genetic alteration and anyone can be smarter, faster, and stronger. It’s a dream come true. All you have to give up is your freedom. 

Cleo is a Sophisticate and she has a bright future in the Program. But she has a secret. When she gets upset, bad things happen. Explosive things. Things she can’t control. 

When her secret is discovered, she’s sent to the Academy to train in the military branch of the Program. She’s destined to be a human weapon in the war that’s been going on since Wormwood occurred nearly 30 years ago. She soon learns that although her ability is unique, there are others like her — other Sophisticates with lethal skills and odd code names like Archerfish and Mimic Octopus.Immersed in a dangerous game of supernatural powers and dubious motives, Cleo doesn’t know who to trust. Ozzy, the annoyingly attractive cadet who has perfect aim in weapons class and deviant lips behind closed doors, begs her not to use her powers. He’s the golden boy of the Program, but can she trust him? Or will she find herself a target, caught in his crosshairs? 

DEVIATION IS CURRENTLY FREE FOR YOUR KINDLE ON AMAZON UK HERE. I AM ALSO GIVING AWAY 1 PAPERBACK COPY OF DEVIATION BELOW (UK).

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #21: Pop Travel by Tara Tyler - FEATURE + GIVEAWAY

Pop Travel by Tara Tyler
SERIES: Pop Travel #1

GENRE: YA Contemporary

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER

In 2080, technology has gone too far for J. L. Cooper. He thinks he can avoid pop travel teleportation, until he stumbles onto a video of a pop traveler who turns to dust.

Sparking a series of murders, attempts on his life, and threats to his brother, Cooper wants to pass off the evidence but knows he’s being watched and can’t trust anyone. And who would believe him?With help from the neurotic genius “Creator” of pop travel and a beautiful Southern charmer, Cooper must expose the deadly glitch and shut it down or die trying. No problem.  

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #20: Waking under Water by Christine Bailey - GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY

Waking under Water by Christine Bailey

GENRE: YA Contemporary

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR 

Sixteen-year-old Mia Hughes is not really a bad girl. She’s just made one bad decision after another, like mixing in with the wrong crowd and disappearing for days at a time. Her latest move has forced her parents to do the unthinkable—send her away to boarding school.

Trying to make sense of her new world, far away from Pittsburgh, is only half the battle for Mia as she fights to survive the wicked ways of the rich, spoiled kids at Galt Academy. But Mia is a fighter, and when she befriends junior Lucas Dunlap, the cute coffee shop guy, and his friend, Natalie, things start to look up for her—until the betrayal.

After falling into a deep depression, Mia resorts to the one thing she does best: running away. There’s only one problem—Lucas has a hold on her. And just when Mia thinks life can’t get any more complicated, it does with some life-changing news. Can Mia keep her head above water long enough to survive the pressures of her new school? And will Lucas be there when she finally comes up for air, once and for all? 

GUEST POST - Tis the Season…for Depression?

Young Adult “problem” novels can sometimes be overwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy them, but they can take a lot out of a reader. Topics such as eating disorders, abuse, and depression are heavy topics to digest, but when the stories are done well, they can also give readers a sense of understanding, hope, and connection to others.

I didn’t set out to write a problem novel, but that’s exactly what I ended up doing with my latest book. My goal was simple: to tell a story about a girl going through a tough time in her life. The inspiration came from my cousin who was given a shocking diagnosis in her teen years. I won’t give it away in case you want to read the book (Waking Under Water), but I will talk a little about the depression that she—and my main character—struggled with after that diagnosis.

Depression is something many of us deal with every day—not just characters in books and movies. And it often hits us hard especially over the holidays. That’s why I wanted to write about it…maybe start a conversation. So let me start by telling you a little about what my main character is fighting. Mia forgets to eat, causing her weight to drop, and she chooses to sleep rather than engage with friends and family. Although her teachers see potential, Mia has difficulty maintaining her grades. Plus, the mean girls at school continue to bully and intimidate her. As her depression grows, Mia is drawn into a deep darkness. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. “Studies indicate that…among adolescents, one in eight may suffer from depression (“Statistics—Adolescent Depression”).

Many teens fight emotional battles every day—battles that affect the body and the mind. So what can be done? What does Mia do? What did my cousin do? We take it one day at a time. We breathe. We connect and talk with others about what’s going on with us. I am constantly reminded about the pressures of our daily lives bearing down on us, but there’s hope all around—we just have to look up to see it. So, let me hear from you and your positive notes and the good vibes you want to pass along. And thanks for stopping by and reading. Happy and healthy holidays to you all!

Chris Bailey—author of Waking Under Water and Girl in the Middle

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #19: Don't Get Caught by Kurt Dinan - INTERVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Don't get caught by Kurt Dinan

GENRE: YA Contemporary

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER 

Max Cobb is sick of being “Just Max”—the kind of guy whose resume boasts a measly 2.5 GPA and a deep love of heist films. So when an invitation appears in his locker to join the anonymous, untraceable, epic prank-pulling Chaos Club, Max jumps at the opportunity.

Except that the invite is really a setup, and Max, plus the four other misfits who received similar invitations, are apprehended by school security for defacing the water tower. Max has finally had enough. It’s time for payback. Time to unmask Chaos. Let the prank war begin.

INTERVIEW WITH KURT DINAN

1) What's the biggest prank you have pulled?

My college, Ohio University, used to have an annual event called Spring Fest that was canceled due to years of poor attendance.  We decided to "revive" the festival by printing flyers for Spring Fest that said the B-52's, they of "Love Shack" fame and at the time a hugely popular band, would be performing.  The flyers looked awesome, and our plan would have worked perfectly if we hadn't made one mistake when putting them up all over campus--we did it late at night.  On the list of suspicious behaviors to a cop, students skulking around in the dark, putting up flyers on light posts, building windows and doors, and on statues is probably pretty much near the top.  So we got busted, and told we had to go take down all of the flyers we put up, otherwise we would be charged with some sort of ticky-tack "crime."  We thought we took all of them down, and that our prank had failed, but two weeks later while standing in line for Jay Leno tickets (yet another hugely popular performer at the time), a spokesperson for the campus entertainment committee came out and made an announcement that, "No, the B-52's are not performing here.  Someone put those flyers up as a bad joke."  There were groans throughout the crowd.  Vindication!

2) The cover for Don't get caught is fabulous. Do you think covers are important or should you never judge a book by its cover?

Yeah, I love my cover, too!  I'm so glad other people are excited about it, as well, because I think covers are incredibly important.  I can't speak for anyone else, and maybe this is shallow of me, but I tend to grab books with covers that jump out at me, or with titles that interest me.  It's the first impression you have of the book, so I think it's vital.  The crew in charge of designing my cover and the pages of the book did an amazing job.

3) Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I didn't come into writing until my early 30's when I took a class as part of my Masters' degree.  People were writing a lot of very personal, very revealing narratives, and I'm pretty boring, so I didn't have anything interesting in my life to write about.   Instead, I decided to write a short story--a Stephen King knock-off that was terrible in retrospect--and the process awakened something in me. I fell in with a good crowd of writers after that, other short story writers, who motivated me to continue.

4) Why did you chose to write a YA novel?

Having taught in a public high school for over twenty years I think I understand teenagers pretty well.  And even though I'm...errrr, older...I still remember my teenage self pretty well, too.  Put those two things together, and it's just sort of a natural fit.  But more importantly, as an English teacher, I want all teenagers reading more.  The most common complaint I hear from my students on why they don't read is because it's: A. boring, and B. too time consuming.  So I decided to write a book that reads super fast, and where a lot of things happen, specifically to give those students something they'll look forward to reading.  :)

5) What books are on your Christmas wishlist for this year?

Oh man, okay: Andrew Smith's Stand Off, Jenny Lawson's Let's Pretend This Never Happened, Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: Overture; Josh Lieb's Ratscalibur; and anything by Sarah Vowell, but I probably want those on audio.  Actually, the Lawson book on audio, too.  Both are such great readers.

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #18: Sanctuary Bay by Laura Burns and Melinda Metz - COVER DISCUSSION + GIVEAWAY

Sanctuary Bay by Laura Burns and Melinda Metz

RELEASE DATE: January 16th 2016
GENRE: YA Thriller

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER 

When Sarah Merson receives the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the most elite prep school in the country-Sanctuary Bay Academy-it seems almost too good to be true. But, after years of bouncing from foster home to foster home, escaping to its tranquil setting, nestled deep in Swans Island, couldn't sound more appealing. Swiftly thrown into a world of privilege and secrets, Sarah quickly realizes finding herself noticed by class charmer, Nate, as well as her roommate's dangerously attentive boyfriend, Ethan, are the least of her worries. When her roommate suddenly goes missing, she finds herself in a race against time, not only to find her, but to save herself and discover the dark truth behind Sanctuary Bay's glossy reputation. 

In this genre-bending YA thriller, Sanctuary Bay by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz, Sarah's new school may seem like an idyllic temple of learning, but as she unearths years of terrifying history and manipulation, she discovers this "school" is something much more sinister.

COVER DISCUSSION

Despite the saying 'never judge a book by its cover', I think covers are really important to a book as it sets the scene for what to come. When browsing in a bookshop, I look at the covers to see what things I would like and try and get an idea of what the book is about. 

The cover for Sanctuary Bay is fabulous. It looks really professional and gives a great eerie feel before you even start the book! I usually like covers without people on but this photo from behind is really effective! I love the branch silhouettes as well as this adds to the idea that this is a thriller. The font is also well suited to the book's genre and will entice you in. I also really like the colour theme of greys and blues as this indicates ice and cold as well as a creepy sense of calm. 

Overall, I would definitely pick up this book based upon the cover alone. And when I read the synopsis, I want to read it even more! Look out for a review to come soon.

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #17: Walking in the Shadows by Cassandra Giovanni - GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY

Walking in the Shadows by Cassandra Giovanni

GENRE: YA Mystery

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER 

This is Abigail Martin’s nightmare. After her parents become the first victims of a serial killer obsessed with the vampire saga, "Crimson Reign," Abigail does the only thing that she thinks will save her from her parent’s fate–she becomes some one else. As Vera MacIntrye, she falls in love with the very handsome Tad Knightley, and then walks into her first day at her new school to see him standing at the front of the classroom. He’s every teenage girls fantasy, but as he writes “Mr. Knightley: AP British Literature” across the white board Vera realizes the one person who filled the gaping hole in her heart will soon rip it wide open again. 

Vera struggles to adjust to being a ‘normal’ teenager with very adult responsibilities like paying the rent, buying groceries and making sure that lights stay on, while being drawn time and time again back to her off-limits teacher. What’s worse is he is drawn to her too, and their worlds refuse to stay apart when Tad finds Vera screaming in terror in the parking lot after the winter formal. The murderer has struck again and is getting closer to the next target–Vera. Tad will do whatever he can to save her, even if it means losing his dream job, but will it be enough when the murderer is closer than anyone ever thought?

GUEST POST - Cassandra Giovanni: YA Crossovers

This particular lingo has been floating around for a while now. So what exactly is YA Crossover? I’ve seen many authors say that it’s when a YA book crosses over into the realm of adult as a series progresses. I’ve also seen others refer to it as a book that appeals to more than just young adults. I’m not sure which definition is correct, because I can think of numerous things that I enjoy as an adult that are definitely childish—like playing in the leaves or making a snowman, but those things aren’t crossing over. They’re just fun; kind of like my love of Tinkerbell movies. 

What I wanted to talk about today is what YA Crossover means to me, because I consider myself an author who crosses over YA fiction into adult. What I’ve written that is YA comes off as more mature and is made for a more mature audience than say a 14 year old, who would be considered a YA. I actually had this conversation with a mother of a girl of exactly that age the other day about my YA novel Walking in the Shadows. The novel is about a girl who is of YA age, but whom is very mature. At seventeen she has no parents, lives alone and works to pay her own rent. Not only that, she kind of accidentally started dating a teacher over the summer. That’s where my YA is a little tricky. I don’t want any young girl thinking that this novel condones such a relationship, because it doesn’t, and I also don’t want a parent wanting to throttle me because their daughter suddenly has a crush on her hot teacher. 

This is where the novel crosses over into adult, because the decisions that are made are adult level ones—and the tragedy that plays out because of those decisions is also adult level. Vera isn’t in love with a teacher in his forties – she’s in love with a teacher in his very early twenties and she’s eighteen by the end of the novel. She’s also immensely mature for her age and has no one to support her. She’s alone in a world that’s threatening to eat her alive, and the one person she grew to count on can’t be there for her. At least not the way he wants to be.

I’m sure you now see there are young adults, or new adults in the love interest’s case, making adult decisions. Over the span of the novel, you get to see an already mature Vera, becoming even more mature, facing fears and growing as a person. You see her transform from a young adult to a blossoming adult. I think that’s where a true crossover lies – in watching a character grow from one maturity to another – from a young adult into a new one.

And I think that’s pretty darn special – something you don’t get in adult, because adults are adults—and we can be pretty darn boring.

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #16: Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn - PLAYLIST + GIVEAWAY

Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

RELEASE DATE: 5th January 2016

GENRE: YA Contemporary

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER ~ FACEBOOK ~ TUMBLR ~ INSTAGRAM 

Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward, fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time- the kind Mercedes never had herself.

Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a secret has been easy- so far. Her absentee mother isn’t home nearly enough to know about Mercedes’ extracurricular activities, and her uber-religious best friend, Angela, won’t even say the word “sex” until she gets married. But Mercedes doesn’t bank on Angela’s boyfriend finding out about her services and wanting a turn- or on Zach, who likes her for who she is instead of what she can do in bed.

When Mercedes’ perfect system falls apart, she has to find a way to salvage her reputation and figure out where her heart really belongs in the process. Funny, smart, and true-to-life, FIRSTS is a one-of-a-kind young adult novel about growing up.

GUEST POST - LAURIE ELIZABETH FLYNN'S PLAYLIST

Music can be an inspiration or a distraction to a writer, and for me, it's both. My music preferences are different for each project. For some of my writing, I can't listen to music with lyrics at all because I'm too tempted to sing along and not get any work done. That’s when movie soundtracks come into play (hello, American Beauty). For FIRSTS, there was a handful of key songs that kept me going back to the keyboard and pounding out words, even when I didn’t feel like it.

More than any other song, I give credit to Lover I Don’t Have To Love by Bright Eyes, which I listened to on repeat while writing. (I’m sure my husband got sick of hearing it through the door.) But a few other songs were also on standby when I needed a burst of energy. In no particular order, they are:

Love Her Madly- The Doors

Heartbreaker- Led Zeppelin

Crazy On You- Heart

Lay Lady Lay- Bob Dylan

Glory Box- Portishead

Don’t Speak- No Doubt

Zombie- The Cranberries

Playground Love- Air

Don’t Let it Bring You Down- Annie Lennox

Sometimes, the worst sound to hear as a writer is silence—when your characters’ voices have gone quiet and you have no idea what to say next. For me, the best cure for that is to crank up a great song, get out of your desk chair, and dance like nobody’s watching. (In my case, I really hope nobody’s watching, because I’m a horrible dancer!)

There’s a quote I love by Hans Christian Andersen: “Where words fail, music speaks.” I remember this whenever I get writer’s block, and most often, after dancing myself into a stupor and singing along badly to a song I love, my characters start to speak again, too.

AUTHOR BIO:

Laurie went to school for Journalism, where the most important thing she learned was that she would rather write made-up stories than report the news. She also worked as a model, a job that took her overseas to Tokyo, Athens, and Paris. Laurie now lives in London, Ontario with her husband Steve, who is very understanding when she would rather spend time with the people in her head. Laurie can mostly be found writing happily at her desk, with the world’s most spoiled Chihuahua on her lap. Laurie drinks way too much coffee, snorts when she laughs, and times herself when she does crossword puzzles. Laurie is represented by the amazing Kathleen Rushall of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

GIVEAWAY

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #15: When Destinies Collide by Shirl Rickman - DREAM CAST + GIVEAWAY

When destinies collide by Shirl Rickman

GENRE: YA Romance

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~  TWITTER

FROM THE OUTSIDE, THEY APPEAR TO HAVE IT ALL… 
Waking every morning and pasting a smile on her face, Selene Chandler only looks like she has it all: parents who love each other, popularity… but what she actually has, is everyone fooled. 
Afraid to let anyone see the real, raw her, Selene’s life is far from perfect, and the well-constructed wall she’s built is so high, no one has ever seen past it except her mother; the one and only person she’s ever felt love from.

A TWIST OF FATE THAT IGNITES A FIRE… 
The handsome “golden” boy of Montgomery, Texas, Drake Thomas appears to have the perfect life. The Mayor’s son, Drake is privileged, entitled, and has never faced the consequences of his actions. He’s never had to until one fateful night, his carefully constructed world begins to unravel, and it takes all the strength he didn’t know he had to hold it together. 

A CONNECTION THAT CAN’T BE DENIED… 
When fate deals Selene a devastating hand, she is forced into a new life, in a new town. Both alluring and beautiful, two strangers lives cross paths in a tangle of feelings impossible for them to ignore. 
Desire turns to a longing neither have ever allowed themselves to feel; but will it be enough to tear down their walls and overcome the secrets of their past? They’re both pretending; but in this life, you can only pretend for so long.  

SHIRL RICKMAN'S DREAM CAST
The process is always different with every story I write. For instance, when writing the characters I don’t always have a picture in my mind of a particular person. In the case of When Destinies Collide, I knew  immediately what both Drake and Selene looked like in my mind.  I’m a huge fan of the TV show Arrow on The CW network. As I wrote the first few chapters, I realized that I definitely had a specific look I was describing for Drake. The more I wrote the more he came to life. It happened with each character until the story was complete. Both Drake and Selene were created with two characters from Arrow in mind.  As a writer, we’re often asked who we imagine would play each character if our book was turned into a movie, below is a list of who my dream cast would be if it were to happen. 

Selene Chandler: Actress, Willa Holland 

Drake Thomas: Actor, Colton Haynes

Aunt Violette: Actress, Blythe Danner

Emme Fleming: Actress, Anna Sophia Robb

Tommy Phillips: Actor, Dylan O’Brien

Gregory Thomas: Actor, Eric Dane

Claire Thomas: Actress, Laura Linney

Elizabeth Chandler: Actress, Elizabeth Banks

Mike Chandler: Actor, Aaron Eckhart

Jared: Actor, Ezra Miller 

Ryan: Actor, Evan Peters

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #14: Sugar by Deirdre Hall - GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY

Sugar by Deirdre Hall

GENRE: YA Contemporary

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER

Sugar Legowski-Gracia wasn’t always fat, but fat is what she is now at age seventeen. Not as fat as her mama, who is so big she hasn’t gotten out of bed in months. Not as heavy as her brother, Skunk, who has more meanness in him than fat, which is saying something. But she’s large enough to be the object of ridicule wherever she is: at the grocery store, walking down the street, at school. Sugar’s life is dictated by taking care of Mama in their run-down home—cooking, shopping, and, well, eating. A lot of eating, which Sugar hates as much as she loves.

When Sugar meets Even (not Evan—his nearly illiterate father misspelled his name on the birth certificate), she has the new experience of someone seeing her and not her body. As their unlikely friendship builds, Sugar allows herself to think about the future for the first time, a future not weighed down by her body or her mother.

Soon Sugar will have to decide whether to become the girl that Even helps her see within herself or to sink into the darkness of the skin-deep role her family and her life have created for her. 

Sugar's Christmas Wish List: a mixture of goodies and goodwill for everyone in the world (in no particular order as told by the character Sugar from the young adult novel)

1. A massage for service worker's, preferably after their shift: food servers, 

teachers, nurses, bus drivers, police officers, they do tremendously stressful 

jobs and could certainly benefit from tension relief. It would also create a high 

demand for masseurs! 


2. A splendid sunrise for everyone who fell asleep crying.


3. A proper birthday cake with the appropriate number of candles. For people 

turning 100, it'll be a big cake, but that just means more to share. 


4. Peace on this planet. Peace in our hearts. Peace in our minds. 



5. Pink nail polish for fingers or toes.


6. A notebook like this BE BRAVE one or this KISS MY CURVES one *Check 

out my Zazzle store for more goodies like this. I like to jot down design ideas, 

but it's also great place to preserve experiences, write out frustrations or hurts, 

or make lists of hopes and dreams. 


7. Speaking of preserving experiences, a retro instant camera like these are 

mega fun to have had when hanging out with friends or road tripping.


8. Self love, respect, and body care for girls and boys, and men and women, 

young and old, little and big. 


9. A house, a room, or a spot in a church to take shelter. If I'm being specific I 

really enjoy a cushiony bed, with a pillow top mattress, and pillows like these! 

Sheets and pillowcases that are super soft like this one and a big warm 

blanket because everyone deserves to be warm and cuddled. 


10. A pretty, pretty dress or something like a dress. Like this Golden Girl one. 

Or this Frida inspired skirt. Or this one. I don't believe there is a one-size fits 

all, but I do believe girls and women of all shapes and sizes are beautiful and 

should feel fancy and lovely when they dress up.


11. Reusable water bottles with fresh water for every human being on the 

planet. I like this glass one in raspberry! And this metal one is pretty 

utilitarian. 



12. Hugs. For everyone. Everyday.

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #13: The Fix by Natasha Sinel - TWEET REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

The Fix by Natasha Sinel

GENRE: YA Contemporary

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER

One conversation is all it takes to break a world wide open.

Seventeen-year-old Macy Lyons has been through something no one should ever have to experience. And she’s dealt with it entirely alone.

On the outside, she’s got it pretty good. Her family’s well-off, she’s dating the cute boy next door, she has plenty of friends, and although she long ago wrote her mother off as a superficial gym rat, she’s thankful to have allies in her loving, laid-back dad and her younger brother.

But a conversation with a boy at a party one night shakes Macy out of the carefully maintained complacency that has defined her life so far. The boy is Sebastian Ruiz, a recovering addict who recognizes that Macy is hardened by dark secrets. And as Macy falls for Sebastian, she realizes that, while revealing her secret could ruin her seemingly perfect family, keeping silent might just destroy her. 

TWEET REVIEW - Review in 140 characters

'If you want a bit of mystery whilst dealing with some serious issues; The Fix is for you. Emotion and sincerity; a great YA with a twist!'

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #12: 5 to 1 by Holly Bodger - GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY

5 to 1 by Holly Bodger 

GENRE: YA Dystopian

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER

In the year 2054, after decades of gender selection, India now has a ratio of five boys for every girl, making women an incredibly valuable commodity. Tired of marrying off their daughters to the highest bidder and determined to finally make marriage fair, the women who form the country of Koyanagar have instituted a series of tests so that every boy has the chance to win a wife.Sudasa doesn’t want to be a wife, and Contestant Five, a boy forced to compete in the test to become her husband, has other plans as well. Sudasa’s family wants nothing more than for their daughter to do the right thing and pick a husband who will keep her comfortable—and caged. Five’s family wants him to escape by failing the tests. As the tests advance, Sudasa and Five thwart each other at every turn until they slowly realize that they just might want the same thing. 

HOLLY BODGER GUEST POST

Revi-mo?

Many people spent November participating in Nanowrimo—the challenge to write a 50,000 word book in a month. Although I did not participate this year, I have participated in past years, and if there is one thing I’ve learned from doing so it is that all writers wake up on the first of December with the same daunting task weighing them down: revisions.

No book is a masterpiece on first draft. Most take many rounds of revisions. Some writers like to do a few rounds of revisions, tackling all issues at once. I personally can only revise for one thing at a time so I do dozens and dozens of rounds. There is no right or wrong way. You have to do what works best for you.

If I can give one piece of advice to writers who participated in Nanowrimo (or who have recently finished a draft of a book) it is this: spend the next month or two tackling your macro revisions. Macro revisions are the big painful changes that may require moving or deleting entire scenes. You want to get them done before the micro, otherwise you might spend hours perfecting a paragraph only to delete it later.

When tackling revisions for my novels, I use a checklist for both the macro and micro. The macro section looks like this:

Macro Revisions
□	PLOTTING: Create cards for each scene in the novel noting length, occurrence, and purpose of scene. Organize chronologically on corkboard (separating by character for multiple POV). Check placement against Snyder’s beats. Are any scenes in the wrong place (for example, things going wrong before midpoint or things going right after)? Can any scenes be merged to serve two purposes? Can any be removed without affecting plot?
□	PACING: Check length and pacing of scenes. Pace and conflict should increase until Finale.
□	TURNING POINTS: Mark turning points on scene cards. Check that these are spaced out and do not all come at Black Moment. Check that turns in character arc are bigger as story progresses.

As you can see, I like to use Blake Snyder’s beats as a sort of “sanity check” on my major plot points. There are many other methodologies like Snyder’s; his is simply the one I prefer. Whichever you choose to use, I think you’ll find that creating scene cards will an invaluable use of your time. Scene cards help you look at the big picture items that you cannot easily see when you are staring at a single page. Plus, the great thing is that, after you have created your scene cards, you can use them for any future revisions you might need to do after you receive feedback from readers/agents/editors. You won’t regret it. Trust me!

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #11: Fantasia by Jane Turley - MINI REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Fantasia by Jane Turley

GENRE: Short Story

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR ~ TWITTER 

The year is 2031 and Walt Disney, suspended in cryogenic suspension since 1966, has been brought back to life by Dr Corey, a scientist researching brain function for the purposes of suspending life for space travel. However, Dr Corey gets more than he bargained for when Walt awakens. Opinionated and arrogant but still in love with films, Walt is gobsmacked when he discovers what has happened to the world in the intervening years: films are a whole-body experience, all human organs except the brain are replaceable and research is underway to preserve life so mankind can reach the outer edges of the universe. But what affects Walt most is the shocking news that the world is being affected by catastrophic climate change... 

Fantasia is a universal story containing humour and pathos. It is particularly suitable as an educational tool for children who are beginning to learn the science of climate change and understand the concept of social responsibility.

MINI REVIEW
This short story is suitable for all ages and genres and carries a vitally important message. Originally written for her own children, Fantasia is eye opening and inspiring when highlighting climate change - a vital issue in today's society especially recently with the Climate Change summit in Paris. I really enjoyed the idea of using an iconic figure such as Walt Disney to help demonstrate the idea to children. I also very much enjoyed the science aspects to it - making it a quirky and lovable science fiction short story; suitable for all ages.

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CHRISTMAS ADVENT SPECTACULAR #10: Marooned in Manhattan by Sheila Agnew - MINI REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Marooned in Manhattan by Sheila Agnew

GENRE: YA Contemporary

GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ AUTHOR 

After Evie Brooks’ mother dies, her American uncle Scott, whom Evie barely remembers, arrives in Dublin. Much to Evie’s dismay, she’ll have to go and live with Scott in New York City.

Having never owned a pet more substantial than a goldfish, Evie is intrigued by her uncle’s NYC veterinary practice. Scott engages Evie as an assistant in the clinic. Thus begins a series of light-hearted adventures with lovable animals and their sometimes lovable owners.

At the end of the summer, Evie has to make the choice of whether or not to return to live in Ireland with her godmother, Janet... 

MY THOUGHTS

If you're looking for a fabulous adventure that will leave you in stitched then look no further! Marooned in Manhatten was the best read for soothing my NYC blues - it captured the essence of the city brilliantly as well as the slighlty 'unique' parts. This setting proved for a beautiful backdrop. 

My favourite character of the books was Scott - Evie's uncle. His love for animals and passion for his veterniary clinic was awesome to read about and not something that is rarely ever found in a book.

In short, a fabulous, quirky and hilarious start to a fabulous series - a definite recommendation to lovers of YA and middle grade especially.

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