GCC presents Kelly Lynne Parra

Well, we knew that my blogging frenzy couldn't last for too long didn't we! Still, the good news is that I've been busy on my next book (and honestly, it's completely normal to rewrite one chapter nine times!!!!) And of course I've been a little bit busy with the whole world cup thing. I was bummed that New Zealand and Australia didn't progress but sooooooooooo relieved that England pulled their socks up and managed to get a win (but a big yay for the US getting through as well - Landon Donavon played for my husband's team, Everton for a month or so and we were both majorly impressed with his mad skills).

Anyway, enough with the chatter and onto the coolness that is Kelly Parra!

Most of you will know Kelly as the Rita nominated YA author of Graffiti Girl and Invisible Touch, but she has also just released her first suspense novel, Criminal Instincts with Carina Press! For those of you who don't know, Carina Press is a Harlequin e-book enterprise (which is sort of cool because Kelly actually sold this book to Harlequin Bombshell just before the line was canceled, so it was like she was destined to be with Harlequin!). Anyway, here is the skinny:

Five years in prison or five years working as an undercover agent?

Not the easiest choice for Ana Moreno, who has a history of B and E convictions and a problem with authority. But it’s a decision she and four other felons are willing to make to stay out of a jail cell.

When a deadly shipment of Ecstasy heads for San Francisco, Ana’s team is sent to stop it. Ana’s task: get close to the handsome and dangerous Jonas Saven, right-hand man of a suspected drug dealer with a deadly agenda. As Ana uncovers a web of secrets, betrayal and revenge, her heated attraction to Saven grows.

But with time running out to stop the dangerous drug lord, Ana must complete her mission—even if it costs her everything...

“Kelly Lynn Parra brings a distinctive voice and style to her intense suspense novels that sucks you in from page one and holds you prisoner." ~ NYT Best Selling Author Dianna Love

"Kelly Lynn Parra wrote a romantic suspense that hit the right note with me. I read it breathlessly from first to last page and the ending had my mind spinning." ~ Pearl's World of Romance

"As a suspense novel, there is plenty here that will keep readers guessing. The line between the good guys and bad guys is blurred, and no one is exactly as they seem." ~ RT Book Reviews

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GCC presents Wendy Toliver

Woot!!!! I'm so happy today because it's time to tour the awesomely awesome Wendy Toliver, who is not only one of the Girlfriends but she is also one of my fellow Teen Fiction Cafes!!!! Anyway, I loved Wendy's first two romantic comedies, Secret Life of a Teenage Siren and Miss Match and I've been dying to read her brand new young adult book, Lifted! Not only does it have an amazing premise but it also has a totally gorgeous cover, don't you think!!!!!

I actually had a friend who liked to shoplift when we were at University. I could never do it due to my huge fear of getting in trouble, but Nicole stole loads. At first it was just small things but as time went on she started stealing more and more until she met a guy who liked to shoplift as much as she did and then they both spiraled out of control until they were stealing the most ridiculous things - like giant stuff animals. The crazy thing was that instead of making her happy, she ended up getting more dysfunctional and depressed. I ended up losing touch with her when she dropped out of Uni, but I've never forgotten that time of my life.


Anyway, here's the skinny on Wendy's book:

Being bad never felt so good...

Poppy Browne had never stolen anything in her life before moving to Pleasant Acres, Texas and meeting Mary Jane and Whitney. But when Poppy walks out of the mall with her two new friends and her first pair of stolen jeans, she’s hooked. Before long, Poppy is lifting whenever she gets the urge—it’s never about the merchandise, it’s always about the thrill. But when her secret gets out, the girls in Poppy’s clique turn on one another. As she watches her life collapse around her, Poppy must decide where her loyalties lie … and how far she’ll go to protect herself.

What was the inspiration behind this book?

I was watching a show on TV about how shoplifting is a huge problem, especially with teens, and thought it would make an interesting topic for a book. Most people have either shoplifted themselves, have been tempted to try it, or know someone who has, so I think it’s something we can all relate to.

Are you a panster or a plotter and do you find your writing process changes from book to book?

At my heart, I’m mostly a pantser. But since I have to submit proposals (according to my contract) to sell a book, I have to come up with an outline or synopsis, so I’m learning to be a little more of a plotter as I go. I'm a quote queen and there's nothing I like more than reading other people's words of wisdom.

Do you have a favorite quote that motivates you or sums up the way the you write?

I wrote a book on quotes! (Really!) Here’s one I’m particularly fond of: The most absurd and reckless aspirations have sometimes led to extraordinary success. (Luc de Clapiers)

What's your favorite television series right now? Okay, I know this isn't a writerly question but I'm a very nosy person who has a very large television habit to feed!!!!

I’m really into the Vampire Diaries and can’t wait for next season! oooh - it's just about to start here in NZ. I'm sooooo excited. The commercials look awesome!!!!

Everyone has a talent. Mine is being able to discover chocolate no matter where it is hidden in the house. What about you? What is your secret talent (apart of course from being a fabulous writer!!!!!) I think I’m really good at doing girls’ hair. Which is completely unnecessary as I’ve got three little boys. Then again, I’m really good at catching lizards and other little critters so that does come in handy. hahaha - that is so funny. I'm dreadful at doing my daughter's hair so I wish I had your talent!!!! Retweet this button on every post blogger

YALSA popular paperback of 2011

Goodness me - what's with all the blogging, Ashby?

Anyway, don't worry I'm sure I'll return to my normal slovenly blog habits soon but I just had to do a big squeal because Zombie Queen has been nominated for YALSA popular paperback of 2011!!!! I actually only discovered it when the I was celebrating that the awesome Linda Gerber was on it!!!!!!

And now back to the glamor of being at the beck and call of two young kids!!!!!! Retweet this button on every post blogger

Help required

So many books to read - I think I need some help on which one to read next! Here is the choice!!!!

Shadowland by Alyson Noel
Incareron by Catherine Fisher
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Ruined by Paula Morris
Need Carrie Jones

All suggestions/thoughts will be gratefully accepted! Retweet this button on every post blogger

Update

What's this? A blog post without a tour? Surely that's a first. Anyway, I just thought I'd swing by and say hi! Things are getting pretty busy around here! I still work every weekend at the teen/children's section of my local library, which is a job I love to do, but it definitely cuts into my writing and my family time, which sort of sucks. Still, it does mean I get to talk books for ten hours a week!!!!

On the writing front, I've finally made a start on the third Djinn book. Since this is my first series, I've been finding the whole process quite interesting -especially in deciding how to start each new book and how much back story is too much back story. Anyway, the plot line is lots of fun so hopefully it will get it finished quite quickly.

My husband and I are also in the process of re-watching Deadwood, which is surely the best freaking TV show that has EVER been invented. In the true spirit of Deadwood, I should probably add a few swear words in there, but I'll try and keep it clean. I've started the process of swapping all my Buffy and Angel videos over for DVDs - though no doubt they will be obsolete as well by the time I'm finished!

Of course, for the new few weeks, pretty much the only TV watching I will be doing will be of the football variety since the world cup is about to start! When it comes to football, I tend to totally forget that I was born in Australia and currently live in New Zealand because the only team I want to win is England. Come on boys, let's bring it home!!!!!!

So, that's me. What's everyone else been up to? Retweet this button on every post blogger

Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Today I'm hanging with Lauren Baratz-Logsted on her brilliant one question tour! Now for those of you who don't know, Lauren is a prolific author who writes books romance, mystery, YA, MG and pretty much everything in between. Added to that her husband and her young daughter are also authors and don't worry, if you're thinking that they are probably just big old show offs, you're wrong, wrong, wrong because they're full of awesomeness and Lauren is one of the coolest, most giving, helpful authors out there.

So before I get to Lauren's one question, let me talk about just one of her new books, The Education of Bet, which is out in July (but available for pre-order now!!)

When Will and Bet were four, tragic circumstances brought them to the same house, to be raised by a wealthy gentleman as brother and sister. Now sixteen, they’ve both enjoyed a privileged upbringing thus far. But not all is well in their household. Because she’s a girl, Bet’s world is contained within the walls of their grand home, her education limited to the rudiments of reading, writing, arithmetic, and sewing. Will’s world is much larger. He is allowed—forced, in his case—to go to school. Neither is happy.

So Bet comes up with a plan and persuades Will to give it a try: They’ll switch places. She’ll go to school as Will. Will can live as he chooses. But once Bet gets to school, she soon realizes living as a boy is going to be much more difficult than she imagined.

Wow, I can't wait to read this book since it sounds like a cross between She's the Man (hello Channing in no-shirt) and Georgette Heyer, all of which is a very good thing!!!!!! So now here is Lauren's question!

Lauren, I like you a lot, I really do, but I'm afraid I need to send to a desert island for an undisclosed period of time. But because I'm not a total monster (regardless of what my kids say), I will let you take three books, two CDs and a DVD. What are they going to be?

Amanda, I'm glad you like me, and thanks for giving me an easy question! Three books: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare; Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez; The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Two CDs: Frank Sinatra, The Reprise Collection; Warren Zevon, Excitable Boy. One DVD: The Piano - since I'll be by myself maybe I'll develop a strong connection to the mute Holly Hunter character although I suspect Harvey Keitel's nakedness might start seeming even stranger when I'm alone. Really, the DVD part is the hardest part of your question.

Woot - did you see that Lauren managed to name an NZ film? She definitely gets double points from me!! Anyway, if you want to see Lauren answering more questions, you can follow her tour around. Her last stop was at Galleysmith where she is talking about what other genres she might tackle one day and tomorrow she will be at Weronkia Janczuk's blog talking about how she feels as she approaches each new book (Yeah, I agree, everyone else asked better questions than I did. Whoopsy!)

As for me, I've just finished doing some tweaks on Fairy Bad Day and now it's off to copy edits - yay! Which means I really need to get moving on the next book, which I'm actually excited about since it's the final book in my trilogy and I need to start bringing everything together. Of course I need to cause a few explosions for my heroine before then, but still, it should be fun!!!!!!

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