Interview with YA author Tess Oliver

Book Title: Camille

Author:  Tess Oliver

At a time when society conforms to the strictest rules and most proper etiquette, sixteen year old Camille Kennecott and her guardian Dr. Bennett live a most unconventional life. They hunt werewolves.

When unwitting victim, Nathaniel Strider, wanders into one of their full moon pursuits, Camille and Dr. Bennett believe they have found a specimen for their study. Finding a scientific key to unlocking the mystery of lycanthropy would bring an end to their late night excursions. But beneath the irresistible exterior, Nathaniel is transforming into a flesh tearing monster, and as each experiment fails, Camille loses another inch of her soul to him. She knows that in a month’s time, she will be faced with the prospect of destroying the boy who owns her heart.

Camille is a 63,000 word young adult paranormal/romance set in 19th century London.

 

When did you know you wanted to be an author? Ever since I fell in love with Jane Austen's books. 

Why do you Indie publish? I've worked with publishers and editors under a different name and I can say that indie publishing gives you much more creative freedom and way less stress.

What inspired you to write your book? With Camille, I knew I wanted to write a romance with a Gothic feel and a 19th century London setting. That's how the story emerged. 

What are three things you want people to know about you or your book? I hope people enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them.

What advice do you have for parents to encourage their kids to read more? As a teacher, I get asked this question all the time. Some children take naturally to it because they love it. For others, it is not on their 'list of fun things to do'. But with the right books, anyone can become an avid reader. But they need to find the books that interest them.

A Short Interview with YA Author Ami Blackwelder

Book title: She speaks to Angels

Author: Ami Blackwelder

When Ali Maney discovers a world of angels and demons, her own world flips upside down. Join Ali at Millennium high for the romantic adventure. 

 

When did you know you wanted to be an author? Since birth...LOL

Why do you Indie publish? Love the independence and freedom.

What inspired you to write your book? Love angels and mysteries and wanted to combine them. 

What are three things you want people to know about you or your book? Like all authors, I work my butt off. A job-teaching, a passion-writing  and neither is ever complete. My books all tell stories of romantic suspense and usually comment on social issues. 

What advice do you have for parents to encourage their kids to read more? Buy them books they like. Take them to the book store. Read to them. Read yourself. Children mimic what adults do. 

Mini-Interview with YA Author Angela Fristoe

Book title: Songbird

Author: Angela Fristoe

There are defining moments in life when everything changes. For Dani Mays, it was the day she witnessed her father kill her brother. Now seventeen, she still hasn't put it behind her.

After Jace's death, she bounced between her alcoholic mother and foster homes until she found a permanent place. And a reason to want to stay: Reece Tyler. He's her best friend, yet Dani wants more from him.

Faced with losing Reece, Dani struggles to define his place in her life and escape the influence the memories of her brother's death have over her choices. Even as she weaves the pieces of her heart back together, the past becomes more than a memory when a former foster brother reappears and Dani begins receiving threatening calls.

 

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I always loved writing, but never really considered it as a career option until after I finished university. Until then I didn’t even know YA was a genre, but once I started reading YA books I knew I wanted to write my own stories.

Why do you Indie publish?

I love the freedom and control I have over my work by Indie publishing. There’s no delay of a year, waiting for someone to take my book to the next step in the process.

What inspired you to write your book?

I started writing Songbird as part of Nation Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and basically sat down at my computer the first day and wrote as the story came to me. Dani was a character that really just spoke to me. Some of the events Dani experiences are inspired by real life events that happened to people I know.

What are three things you want people to know about you or your book?

1. The “I’ll love you forever” that comes up throughout Songbird actually comes from my Dad. He would always say that to my sister and me after asking us to do something for him.

2. I considered adding in an epilogue to give the reader a look at Dani and Reece in the future, but decided I wanted the reader to decide on their own where they would be.

3. Without my husband nudging me along and constantly reminding me to get off the internet and back to writing I may never have finished Songbird.

What advice do you have for parents to encourage their kids to read more?

Build an appreciation for reading early, and read with your child each day. As they grow up ask them about what they are reading and tell them about what you are reading. Don’t limit their choices by assuming the books they want are low quality. Reading is reading and every word counts. And the best piece of advice I have is to explore your public library. They are a wonderful resource not just for reading, but for building a life long appreciation for literature.

Interview with YA Author Leslie DuBois

Book title: The Queen Bee of Bridgeton

Author:Leslie DuBois

When fifteen-year-old Sonya Garrison is accepted into the prestigious Bridgeton Academy, she soon discovers that rich girls are just as dangerous as the thugs in her home of Venton Heights. Maybe more so. After catching the eye of the star, white basketball player and unwittingly becoming the most popular girl in school, she earns the hatred of the three most ruthless and vindictive girls at Bridgeton. Can she defeat the reigning high school royalty? Or will they succeed in ruining her lifelong dream of becoming a world class dancer?

When did you know you wanted to be an author? I was in elementary school when I won my first award for my writing. That just about sealed the deal for me.

Why do you Indie publish? My book The Queen Bee of Bridgeton was being held hostage by a major publisher for three years. They just wouldn't make a decision about whether they wanted to publish it or not. Finally, I decided to pull it and publish it myself. Best decision I ever made. I probably would still be waiting for them.

What inspired you to write your book? When I was little, I wanted to take ballet but we were too poor for lessons. My mother cleaned the dance studio in exchange for lessons for my brother, sister and me. In the Queen Bee of Bridgeton, Sonya is so determined to be a ballerina that she cleans the studio when she can't afford lessons.

What are three things you want people to know about you or your book?

1. The Queen Bee of Bridgeton is like Mean Girls meets Center Stage

2. The third book in the series will be out in August

3. There is a plot twist you will never guess

What advice do you have for parents to encourage their kids to read more? I personally like the movie game. If there is a movie coming out that is based on the book, require the kids to read the book before they are allowed to see the movie.

Two more Awesome YA's

The Boyfriend Thief by Shana Norris

Shana is also participating in the INDIEpendence Day Giveaway.

 I'm dying to read the book, but I'm grounded. I have to meet my deadline before I can read anything. Sigh.

Here's why Shana's book has me hooked:

Avery James has her life planned out: this summer she'll work with a humanitarian program in Costa Rica, next year she'll graduate at the top of her class, and after that, college and medical school. Perfect, planned, total order. The only problem: getting the rest of the money she needs for the trip before the deadline.

Hannah Cohen, her biggest competition for the valedictorian title, makes an unexpected offer: If Avery can win over Zac Greeley and make him break up with Hannah before the end of the school year, a check for five hundred dollars is all hers. Faced with the prospect of spending yet another summer working as a giant hot dog, it's an offer Avery can't refuse. Zac is nothing like Avery expected. Within his chaotic world of midnight slushie runs and spontaneous dance parties, her total order is quickly falling apart while Hannah seems poised to get everything she wants.


But just how much is Avery willing to give up for the perfect, planned life?



Another author who is participating is Courtney Vail. How's this for intense?

Seventeen-year-old Majesty Alistair wants police to look further into her father’s fatal car wreck, hopes the baseball team she manages can reclaim the state crown, aches for Derek…or, no…maybe Alec…maybe. And she mostly wishes to retract the hateful words she said to her dad right before slamming the door in his face, only to never see him again.

All her desires get sidelined, though, when she overhears two fellow students planning a church massacre. She doubts cops will follow up on her tip since they’re sick of her coming around with notions of possible crimes-in-the-works. And it’s not like she cries wolf. Not really. They’d be freaked too, but they’re not the ones suffering from bloody dreams that hint at disaster like some crazy, street guy forecasting the Apocalypse.

So, she does what any habitual winner with zero cred would do…try to I.D. the nutjobs before they act. But, when their agenda turns out to be far bigger than she ever assumed, and even friends start looking suspect, the truth and her actions threaten to haunt her forever, especially since she’s left with blood on her hands, the blood of someone she loves.


Make sure to enter the Kindle Giveaway while you're here.

Visit the Main Site

For a full list of participating authors and books and the disclaimer with all the legalese, visit Giveaway

Giveaway!

The Brainchild of Sybil Nelson.  Visit her here!

Win a Kindle Fire for your kid...so they'll leave yours alone!

It is time for the second annual Kindle INDIEpendence Day giveaway. This year we have even more authors and prizes. Contest begins July 1st and ends July 7th!

Grand Prize: 1 Kindle Fire
1st place: 1 Kindle with special offers
2nd place: a choice of 20 free ebooks from the 29 participating authors
3rd place:  a choice of 15 free ebooks from the participating authors

There are tons of ways to enter including tweeting about the contest, following the authors on facebook or Twitter, blogging about the contest and even purchasing the participating books. Just fill out the rafflecopter form below!

This is also a blog hop. Be sure to visit the other blogs on the list and learn more about Indie authors of YA and MG novels. You can add your blog and get extra entry points as well!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Three Five-Star YA Reads

Today, I am featuring three books from some of the best authors in Young Adult fiction–Amanda Brice, Niki Burnham, and Stephanie Hale.




Aspiring ballerina Dani Spevak’s visions of sugar plums are dashed when she’s assigned to understudy her nemesis, Hadley Taylor, in the Nutcracker. Pretty, popular, and rich, that girl has all the luck. Or so she thought.

When Hadley mysteriously disappears with opening night just around the corner, Dani can’t sit idly by, even if it means losing the part. Now she’s running all over Phoenix in a race against the clock. From reality TV trophy wives to sleazy real estate developers to a possible drug ring, the cast of suspects begins to add up.

Will she find Hadley before the curtain rises?

My take: Brilliant and captivating.






From the RITA-Award winning author of ROYALLY CRUSHED and SCARY BEAUTIFUL, an all-new romantic comedy!

Two guys, two girls, two thousand dollars, and one epic water gun battle.

Senior year? It’s all about Senior Assassin, a yearly water gun tournament where the last team standing receives a cool two grand. Connor wants nothing more than to split that prize with his best friend, Josh.

When their mission is put in jeopardy by Molly–thanks to her crush on Connor–Josh comes up with a plan to thwart her, one that involves his sister, Peyton…

Peyton’s deepest desire is to score entry to MIT. She’s working her tail off to achieve her goal, but when she’s dragged into Connor and Josh’s water gun tournament, their antics threaten to leave her high and dry.

As Peyton’s forced to choose between chemistry class and chemistry with Connor, will the super student and the super athlete discover they have more in common than they imagined?

One thing’s for certain: When Connor, Peyton, Josh, and Molly load their weapons, someone’s bound to get shot through the heart.

My take: Amazing and Superfun.




I, the flawless Aspen Brooks, was born to be Homecoming Queen. I’ve prepped for it like some kids do the SAT. So can someone please tell me why the crown was given to my evil nemesis?

As if that wasn’t bad enough, somebody seems out to get me. Locker vandalism, a slashed tire, and horrendous lipstick graffiti are just a few of the ways someone is trying to get under my blemish-free skin. (And I’m not even going to mention how the biggest geek in school kissed me, and I didn’t hate it.)

But things start getting serious when girls begin disappearing. I can’t be worrying about tiaras or crushing on a geek when the detective on the case is completely clueless. I have to save the day, all while looking fabulous.

My take: Absolutely Fabulous!

Stay tuned for how to win these books or even a Kindle!