MAY I tell you something about country music?

May 1, 2012May 3, 201241 Comments

♥ Thanks so much for all the love regarding my YA Confidential announcement yesterday, guys! Your excitement and support mean the world to me! ♥

Welcome, May, and the first day of Blog Me MAYbe! Since it’s been awhile since I last posted about this awesome idea, here’s a refresher:

The brainchild of writer/blogger/all-around-awesome-person Sara McClung, Blog Me MAYbe is a weekly blog format for the month of May, an easy schedule to follow with topics built right in. Of course, if posting every day sounds like too much, or if you miss a few days, or only do a couple posts a week, no biggie. Blog Me MAYbe is all about ease and fun! You don’t have to worry about following every blogger who participates or commenting on everyone’s daily posts (though if you want to do that, feel free!). The intent of Blog Me MAYbe isn’t to gain followers — although that could very well happen – but to branch out, make a few new friends, share information, and get into the head space where ideas for blog posts flow freely.

And here’s the schedule:

Mondays: May I tell you something about writing?
- This can be anything writing-related. A post on craft. A post on your process. A snippet of your WIP, if you like to share. A book on craft that you want to recommend. Things you struggle with. Things you rock at. ANYTHING at all!
Tuesdays: May I tell you something about myself?
- Pretty self-explanatory… Share something about yourself that your followers might not know. Or, maybe they do. It doesn’t matter–this is just so people who read your blog can get to know you a little better.
Wednesdays: May I ask something about you?
- Ask your followers something about themselves.
Thursdays: May I tell you something about someone else?
- Make this post about someone else. A writing friend. A critique partner. A person from history who’s fascinating. A character from a book. Have a guest poster. Give an interview. Get creative, but let the spotlight shine on someone else!
Fridays: May I share something funny?
- Fridays = The start of the weekend… BOOYA! A reason to celebrate and laugh on its own — plus, who doesn’t want to see something amusing after a long week?

Fun, right?! There’s still time to sign up, so head over to Sara’s blog if you’re interested, and feel free to grab our banner or the button below (both made by crazy-talented Tracey Neithercott) to use on your own blog.

And, since today is Tuesday and Tuesdays are for Tunes :), I’m going to share a little something about myself in the form of this fantastic music survey I snagged from Love is your Shield (slightly modified):

1. What are your three favorite songs right now? This Years Love by David Gray, Alone With You by Jake Owen, and Dancin’ Away With My Heart by Lady Antebellum.

2. What is the most played song on your iTunes? If I Die Young by The Band Perry (pretty much the theme song for my manuscript Where Poppies Bloom, so no surprise there!)

3. What song are you listening to right now? Farmer’s Daughter by Rodney Atkins

4. What was the last album you bought? I never buy full albums on iTunes and it’s been forever since I bought an actual CD, so… Maybe the soundtrack to Annie to listen to in the car with my daughter? (Incidentally, you should hear my girlie sing Tomorrow… Adorable!)

5. What was the last concert you went to? Taylor Swift’s Speak Now Tour last fall. It was freaking amazing. I took my daughter, and we had a blast!

6. What was the first album you ever bought? Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet (the cassette tape!). My parents bought it for me in the eighties because they’re cool like that.

7. What was the last single you downloaded? Everybody by Ingrid Michaelson… Such a fun song!

8. Favorite artist or band? Tim McGraw. I ask you: Is there a sexier man? (I also love Johnny Cash and Sugarland and T-Swift and Kenny Chesney.)

9. What’s your favorite musical genre? Country. Obviously.

10. Quote one of your favorite lyrics: I love this verse from Anna Nalick’s Breathe (2 am) because it speaks of writing:

2 AM and I’m still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper, it’s no longer inside of me,
Threatening the life it belongs to
And I feel like I’m naked in front of the crowd
Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
And I know that you’ll use them, however you want to

I encourage you to grab this survey, fill in responses of your own, then comment here or tweet me to let me know where I can find your answers!

Until then… What’s your all-time favorite song?

N is for Noteworthy

April 16, 2012April 16, 201239 Comments

First, an important bit of business: The announcement of the TWO winners from my Lucky Me, Lucky You book giveaway, chosen randomly. Congratulations…

Jaime Morrow and Sophia Richardson

The first winner to email me at katy(dot)upperman@live(dot)com will have her choice of either a signed copy of John Green’s The Fault in our Stars or a free book of choice from The Book Depository, up to $20. The second winner to email will receive the remaining prize. (Don’t forget to include your mailing address in your email so I can get your book to you!)

Congrats again, Jaime and Sophia, and thanks so much to everyone who entered and helped spread the word about Lucky Me, Lucky You!

🙂

And… Here’s a super fun idea you might be interested in participating in, especially if you’re looking to rejuvenate your blog, or get into (or back into) the habit of blogging regularly:

Gorgeous banner created by crazy-talented Tracey Neithercott!

The brainchild of writer/blogger/all-around-awesome-person Sara McClung, Blog Me MAYbe is a weekly blog format for the month of May, an easy schedule to follow with topics built right in. Of course, if posting every day sounds like too much, or if you miss a few days, or only do a couple posts a week, no biggie. Blog Me MAYbe is all about ease and fun! You don’t have to worry about following every blogger who participates or commenting on everyone’s daily posts (though if you want to do that, feel free!). The intent of Blog Me MAYbe isn’t to gain followers — although that could very well happen — but to branch out, make a few new friends, share information, and get into the head space where ideas for blog posts flow freely.

Here’s the schedule:

Mondays: May I tell you something about writing?
- This can be anything writing-related. A post on craft. A post on your process. A snippet of your WIP, if you like to share. A book on craft that you want to recommend. Things you struggle with. Things you rock at. ANYTHING at all!
Tuesdays: May I tell you something about myself?
- Pretty self-explanatory… Share something about yourself that your followers might not know. Or, maybe they do. It doesn’t matter–this is just so people who read your blog can get to know you a little better.
Wednesdays: May I ask something about you?
- Ask your followers something about themselves.
Thursdays: May I tell you something about someone else?
- Make this post about someone else. A writing friend. A critique partner. A person from history who’s fascinating. A character from a book. Have a guest poster. Give an interview. Get creative, but let the spotlight shine on someone else!
Fridays: May I share something funny?
- Fridays = The start of the weekend… BOOYA! A reason to celebrate and laugh on its own — plus, who doesn’t want to see something amusing after a long week?

Fun, right?! I’m already committed to participating, as are Sara, Cambria, Tracey, Jessica, Lola, Alexandra, and Alison. Blog Me MAYbe begins on the first of May, so head over to Sara’s blog if you’re interested in signing up, and feel free to grab our banner or the button in my sidebar to use on your own blog.

Tell me: Will you participate in Blog Me MAYbe?

Happy Valentine’s Day!

February 14, 2012February 14, 201244 Comments

In honor of the Day of Love, I’m jumping in on YA Highway‘s Valentine’s Day Blog Lovefest. The parameters are as follows: The Valentine blog posts can be a love note to anything–another blogger, a book, an author, a character, a bookstore, your beta readers…anything and anyone! Since I’m sort of terrible at following directions and at narrowing things down, and since it’s February 14th, I’m going to list…

FOURTEEN (TOTALLY RANDOM) THINGS I LOVE…

1. My husband. Because he’s selfless and patient and funny and kind and the very best kind of daddy to our little girl. Plus, he’s super cute.

2. My daughter. Because she’s sweet and precocious and thoughtful and adorable and she makes me smile every day.

3. My blog, and my blog readers, and YOUR blogs. Because your visits and your comments and your posts give me the greatest sense of community.

4. Inspiration. Because it’s everywhere. On TV. In nature. In art. In the kitchen. In window shopping and people watching and daydreaming. In the support of those who love me, and in the success of those before me.

5. Yoga. Because not only is it fantastic exercise, but it makes me feel more centered and grounded and peaceful.

6. Agent Vickie. Because she’s encouraging and savvy and writes some of the most hilarious emails and editorial notes ever. And because she loves my “people” like I do.

7. The lovelies who’ve read and commented so helpfully on my writing. Heather, Jus, Ann, Christa, Amie, Alison, and Kari — What would I do without you girls?!

8. Twitter. Because every day I learn something new, and every day I interact with brilliant people, and every day I feel less alone in my writing crazies.

9. Ghiradelli Bittersweet Chocolate. Because it’s my writing fuel.

10. Books. Because they teach and entertain and transport and delight. A few of my favorites from this year so far? A Million Suns. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. The Disenchantments.

11. My writing/blogging friends and regular commenters. Especially Tracey, Jessica, Erin, Katharine, Alicia, Kris, Carol, Sophia, Kirsten, Caroline, Jaime, Elodie, Erin, and Rebecca (who I met through YA Highway’s Valentine’s Day blogfest last year!).

12. My family and (real-life) friends. Because they’re wildly supportive even though they don’t entirely understand this nutso writing dream of mine.

13. The Bookanista. Because they’re new friends with a mutual love for promoting amazing kidlit.

14. Pinterest. Because… I just can’t help myself. It’s simply awesome.

Who are you showing Valentine Love for today?

That’s YAmore!

February 11, 2012February 12, 201219 Comments

The girls at Oasis for YA love blogfests. And they love good YA romance. So they’re back, combining the two again in their second annual That’s YAmore Blogfest. Starting today, they’re inviting YA writers to post 250 romantic, steamy, swoon-worthy words from their WiPs on their blogs. Then participants can hop around to check out all the other steamy entries.

Fun, right?!

So, because I’m awesome and currently knee-deep in a rewrite, I’m posting an excerpt from Cross My Heart (the contemporary YA romance formerly known as Loving Max Holden), the very same WiP I pulled from for last year’s That’s YAmore Blogfest post. Now, before you start to wonder if I’m crazy and completely obsessed with this story (I TOTALLY AM), please know that I do have other projects I’m working feverishly on. It’s just that I can’t let go of Cross My Heart and Max and Jill and all their angst. In the down time between my other WiPs, I find myself continuously coming back to their story, working to better it so eventually it’ll be fit to see the light of day.

*sigh*

We’re getting there.

That said, here’s a steamy little excerpt from Cross My Heart:

“What were we talking about again?” Max asks.

He’s close, so close I can see the dark stubble on his chin. I study it to avoid his eyes, but then I want touch it, to feel the roughness for myself. I look down at my hands, clasped tightly in my lap. My heart is pounding so ferociously I’m certain he hears it too.

“How everything’s changed,” I say softly.

“Jilly.” I sink unwillingly into his embrace as he whispers the nickname that never fails to melt me. “If you tell me to go home, I will.”

His words give me sudden, stark clarity, forcing me to view the situation from a distance, unencumbered by his scent and his warmth and his touch. I’m a reasonable person. A smart girl. He’s drunk, looking for distraction, a good time. As much as I want to help him come out of the darkness he’s been hiding in, I won’t be his no-strings-attached hook-up, the other woman to his obnoxious relationship with Becky McMahon. I resolve to tell him as much—that he should, in fact, go home, that he should drink a glass of water and swallow a couple of Aspirin before bed, and that I’ll see him tomorrow at school.

But before I can utter a syllable, he’s charging forward, eyes glazed, lips parted. I’m so astonished, so shocked, I let him push his mouth against mine, and even though it’s aggressive and sloppy and utterly unexpected, I fall headlong into his rhythm. I can’t help it, and I certainly can’t process this frantic, feverish kiss. I didn’t even know I wanted it, but—oh my God—it’s good.

And just like that, I forget all about the millions of reasons kissing Max Holden is a terrible idea.

Yep. That’s Max and Jill.

I ♥ them.

Don’t forget to stop by Oasis for YA to check out all the other swoon-worthy That’s YAmore entries!

Hello, 2012!

January 2, 2012January 1, 201222 Comments

{Hmm… How long will it take me to get used to writing 2012?}

Ringing in the new year with my girlie…

First, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to everyone who participated in last week’s Class of 2011: YA Superlative Blogfest. It was an absolute delight to visit the blogs of all you participants and to read about the books you fell in love with last year. My To-Read list thanks you as well. 🙂

And another HUGE THANK YOU to my three lovely friends and fellow Superlative Blogfest hosts: Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, and Alison Miller. This whole shebang would not have been nearly as successful without your brilliance, and it definitely wouldn’t have been as fun.
You girls ROCK!

If you’ve yet to read my Class of 2011: Superlative posts (or if you’d like to reread them) check out my header. I’ve given the blogfest its very own tab for easy access to all of the amazing 2011 releases I read. A perfect place to visit if you’re ever in need of book recommendations.

And, as the final category of my last Class of 2011: YA Superlative Blogfest post, I asked you to tell me your:

Most Anticipated 2012 Release

You responded overwhelmingly with mentions of this book:

Insurgent (Divergent, #2)

Other titles named: Nevermore, Perigee Moon, Butter, If I Lie, Cinder, Partials, Hallowed, The Fault in Our Stars, The Lost Girl, Unspoken, Bitterblue, Girl of Nightmares, Ditched, and A Million Suns

My Most Anticipated Release of 2012? As if I can pick just one!

If I Lie The Selection (The Selection, #1)

Under the Never Sky Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1) In Honor The Fault in Our Stars Ditched: A Love Story A Million Suns (Across the Universe, #2)

And, speaking of 2012 releases I can’t wait for… My incredible CP Jus Accardo has one such book. It’s the follow-up to her debut, Touch, and it’s called Toxic (a perfect title, in my opinion!). Jus finally has the go-ahead to share Toxic‘s cover and summary, and (good news!) I get to help in that reveal. Without further ado, the cover of Toxic…

(She is so Dez!)

And the summary… When a Six saved Kale’s life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she’d lose the one thing she’d give anything to keep… And as if it’s not enough, Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading and the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez’s problems. After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice—surrender to Denazen for the cure…or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn’t involve being bagged and tagged—or losing someone she loves—Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there’s a traitor among them. Jade. Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there’s any hope of proving Jade’s guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead…

I’ve read this one, guys, and it’s fantastic! Full of adventure and action and Dez’s snarky wit, it had me feverishly flipping pages. Toxic is available May 1, 2012, and you can find it on Goodreads HERE.

Tell me: How did you ring in the New Year?

Class of 2011: YA Superlatives Blogfest DAY FOUR

December 30, 2011December 30, 201127 Comments

Today is the final day of the The Class of 2011: YA Superlatives Blogfest, a fun and interactive way to highlight and share your favorite YA novels, covers, characters, and story elements, hosted by Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and me. The Class of 2011: YA Superlatives Blogfest spans four days, beginning December 26th and culminating today, December 30th.

Hopefully you’ve been participating throughout the week, but if not, that’s okay! Just draft today’s post (you can find the topics listed below or on the original post) and then scroll to the bottom of THIS post and add your link to the link list.

I’ve had so much fun dropping by the participants’ blogs this week, and I look forward to stopping by your blog to read about your Class of 2011 selections today!

And speaking of selections, here are mine for Day Four:

Best in Show

Again, my books published in 2011 Reading List:

Crossed, The Future of Us, Hushed, Want to Go Private?, The Scorpio Races, The Pledge, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Chain Reaction, Forgotten, Notes From the Blender, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Ripple, Hourglass, A Need So Beautiful, Chime, The Day Before, Forever, Moonglass, Beauty Queens, Boyfriends With Girlfriends, Forbidden, Wither, Divergent, Invincible Summer, Trapped, Where She Went, We’ll Always Have Summer, Cryer’s Cross, Across the Universe, Desires of the Dead, Lola and the Boy Next Door, Imaginary Girls, and The Liar Society

And my favorites in the way of Best in Show:

Favorite Cover – I think the cover for Hourglass by Myra McIntyre is beautiful. I love the movement, the graceful point of the model’s foot, and her unusual hair color. I also love the title font. Honorable Mentions: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children because it’s eerily intriguing, and Beauty Queens because it’s graphic and cheeky.

Cutest Couple – Luke and London from Cat Patrick’s Forgotten are so freaking sweet. Their relationship boasts mutual adoration, tons of respect, and a big dose of fun, too. While Forgotten‘s plot is engaging, it was Luke and London’s interactions that snagged my attention and kept me reading for the duration of this novel.

Most Likely to Succeed (Or, pick a Printz Winner) – Are you guys getting tired of hearing about Chime yet? Clearly Franny Billingsley’s novel had a huge impact on me. Of every book on my 2011 list, Chime is the one that, in my humble opinion, most exemplified literary excellence in young adult literature. Honorable Mentions: Divergent, The Scorpio Races, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone for their unbelievably thorough world-building and beautiful writing.

Most Likely to Make You Miss Your Bedtime – Veronica Roth’s Divergent is everything a page-turner should be. I was so connected to Tris and Four’s story, and so drawn in by their world, I could NOT put this book down. I still recommend it to anyone who asks for a great YA book or a fantastic dystopian read.

Best Repeat Performance (Favorite sequel or follow-up.) – An easy choice: Gayle Forman’s Where She Went, or My Most Anticipated Sequel EVER. Love the emotional intensity of this book, and I love how Adam and Mia’s story concluded.Honorable Mention: We’ll Always Have Summer. Belly totally ended up with who I wanted her to end up with!

Romance Most Worthy of an Ice Bath – Harlin and Charlotte from Suzanne Young’s A Need So Beautiful. These two are adorable, and they have chemistry that seeps through the page. Then there was that scene… you know, the one with the fancy dress and the–ahem–wall. Honorable Mention: Violet and Jay from Kimberly Derting’s Desires of the Dead. They’re hot too. 🙂

Pair Most Likely to Stay Best Friends Till They’re 80 – Josh and Emma from The Future of Us. We’ve seen the future (thank you, Facebook!). We KNOW they’ll stay friends!

the-future-of-us-book-cover

Breakout Novel (Favorite Book by a Debut Author) – Yep, Divergent again. This book rocks. Obviously. Honorable Mentions: Moonglass and Across the Universe. I honestly had a hard time believing Jessi Kirby and Beth Revis were debut novelists after reading their first books!

Best Old-Timer (Favorite read of the year, published BEFORE 2011) – Another easy choice. I read Jellicoe Road this year and it broke me. Never have I envied another writer’s storytelling skills the way I envy Melina Marchetta’s, and never have I fallen so fully and completely for two characters as I did for Taylor and Jonah. Such an amazing book–a definite favorite!

Most Likely to Make a Grown Man Cry – I have it on good authority that “animal books” make men emotional. Take Where the Red Fern Grows, for example, or Stone Fox (hell, Stone Fox made ME cry!). That’s why I have to go with The Scorpio Races. The bond between Sean and his horse Corr is enough to make any man (anybody) weepy.

Most Pleasant Surprise (Book you didn’t think you’d like, but totally did.) – Laini Taylor’s The Daughter of Smoke and Bone, for sure. As a rule, I don’t like fantasy, and I definitely don’t like “angel” books. Plus, the mention of teeth in the back cover synopsis totally skeeved me out. I was wrong, of course. I ADORE this book.

Most Creative Use of a Love Triangle – The “triangle” in Ally Condie’s Crossed is pretty lopsided (Cassia’s not really wavering in who she wants), but there’s an element of loyalty and romance between both she and Ky, and she and Xander. What I love about this triangle is how it’s used in plot twists and in the bigger picture of what’s going on within the Society. Win.

Sleeper Hit (Book I found so awesome I wish it had been hyped more) – Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma. This book was a trip. I wasn’t quite sure what was real and what wasn’t, and I didn’t know what to think about Ruby (or Chloe or London, for that matter) until the very end. Plus, the writing was, as I’ve mentioned, gorgeous.

And now it’s MY turn to pick a superlative! Leave me a note in the comments telling me your:

Most anticipated 2012 YA release…

I’ll tell you mine next week, and I’ll post about your selections. 🙂

And if you’re participating in the Class of 2011: YA Superlative Blogfest, please click on the image below to drop your link:

Class of 2011: YA Superlatives Blogfest DAY THREE

December 29, 2011December 28, 201134 Comments

Today is Day Three of the The Class of 2011: YA Superlatives Blogfest, a fun and interactive way to highlight and share your favorite YA novels, covers, characters, and story elements, hosted by Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and me. The Class of 2011: YA Superlatives Blogfest spans four days, beginning December 26th and culminating this Friday, December 30th.

I’ve had a blast dropping by the participants’ blogs so far, and I look forward to stopping by your blog to read about your Class of 2011 selections!

And speaking of selections, here are mine for Day Three:

Elements of Fiction

Again, my books published in 2011 Reading List:

And my favorites in the way of Fictional Elements:

Most Envy-Inducing Plot (Or, the plot you wish you’d thought of yourself.) – Easy. The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler. The idea of using Facebook as a way to “travel” to the future is brilliant. There’s also the addition of the numerous nineties mentions that brought nostalgia to a whole new level.

Most Wonderful World-Building – I have to go with Laini Taylor’s The Daughter of Smoke and Bone. There are so many worlds in this story: Prague, Marrakesh, the backwoods of Idaho, and the world beyond the portal doors. While submerged in Smoke and Bone, it was as if I was a willing and active member of all these worlds. I’ve even added Prague on my Must-Visit list! Honorable Mention: The Scorpio Races because by the end of the story, I felt Thisby.

Most Formidable World (Or, the setting I most definitely would NOT want to travel to) – While Lauren DeStefano wrote about Wither‘s world beautifully, there’s no way I’d ever want to visit it. Plural marraige and a painful awareness of the (early!) age at which I’ll die? No thank you!

Most Wanderlust-Inducing (Or, the setting I’d happily travel to) – Jenny Han’s We’ll Always Have Summer. I’ve been romanced by its quaint little beach town setting, Cousins, since I read The Summer I Turned Pretty, the first book in this series. Honorable Mentions: Moonglass by Jessi Kirby and Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz — Can you tell I love the beach?

Loveliest Prose – This was a very difficult choice, but I have to go with The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater because it was so incredibly emotive, yet never overdone. I imagine dual narration is quite a challenge to pull off, but Scorpio‘s Sean and Puck were unique and vibrant, as was their world. Honorable Mention: Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma and Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Every sentence = Enviable.

Best First Line – Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone: “Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.” Says it all.

Most Dynamic Main Character – Briony Larkin from Franny Billingley’s Chime. Oh, how I adore this girl! She’s so feisty and loyal and clever and intense. Her inner monologue was a joy to read, sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes hilarious. I want to know her! Honorable Mentions: Sean Kendrick from The Scorpio Races, Tris from Divergent, and Karou from Daughter of Smoke and Bone. All were SO memorable.

Most Jaw-Dropping Finale – The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin because really… did ANYONE see THAT coming?! The last few pages of Mara sealed the deal: I simply must read its follow-up. Honorable Mention: Cryer’s Cross. Yowza. That ending blew me away!

Best Performance in a Supporting Role – Ruby, from Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma. This girl was so colorful, so full of life, such a force to be reckoned with, I loved her and hated her with equal intensity. Entirely fleshed out and incredibly well written.

Best Use of Theme – I’m choosing two here, because they both did what’s nearly impossible: Taught an important lesson in an entertaining way. I’m not going to give those lesson away, of course. If you haven’t read these books, I recommend them both! First, The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder:

And second, A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young:

There you have it… My selections for Elements of Fiction. What do you think?

And if you’re participating in the Class of 2011: YA Superlative Blogfest, please click on the image below to drop your link:

And don’t forget to check out what some of the Bookanistas are up to today…

Shannon Messenger shouts about twelve 2012 releases she can’t wait for–and a pre-order giveaway!

Megan Miranda marvels at UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Corinne Jackson gushes over THE MATCHMAKER AND THE GHOST

Stasia Ward Kehoe gets psyched for 2012

Class of 2011: YA Superlative Blogfest DAY TWO

December 28, 2011December 28, 201126 Comments

Today is Day Two of the The Class of 2011: YA Superlatives Blogfest, a fun and interactive way to highlight and share your favorite YA novels, covers, characters, and story elements, hosted by Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and me. The Class of 2011: YA Superlatives Blogfest spans four days, beginning yesterday and culminating this Friday, December 30th.

Hopefully you participated yesterday, but if you didn’t, that’s okay! Just draft today’s post (you can find the topics listed below or on the original post) and then scroll to the bottom of THIS post and add your link to the link list.

I had a blast dropping by the blogs of all yesterday’s participants, and I look forward to dropping by your blog to read about your Class of 2011 selections!

And speaking of selections, here are mine for Day Two:

Popularity Contest (Characters who fit each topic from ANY 2011 YA book!)

Again, my 2011 Reading List, in no particular order:

And from those, my Most Popular List:

Class Clown – I could have gone with any of the lovelies from Beauty Queens, or Declan from Notes from the Blender, but I’m choosing a more nuanced clown: Josh, from Jay Asher and Carolyn Macker’s The Future of Us. While he wasn’t particularly outgoing or boisterous, that kid had me laughing out loud on several occasions. Loved his subtle sarcasm and witty inner monologue!

Most Likely to Become a Rock Star – Sam Roth from Maggie Stiefvater’s Forever. He’s knows what an uncertain future feels like, so I think he’d do everything in his power to reach his musical goals. Plus, Grace thinks he’s really talented.

Mostly Likely to Start a Riot – Luis Fuentes from Simone Elkeles’s Chain Reaction. He’s not afraid of anything, and he’ll do whatever it takes to prove a point, dangerous or not. In fact, Luis’s reckless behavior had my heart going double-time for the last quarter of this book!

Biggest Flirt – Brooklyn, from Kimberly Derting’s The Pledge. She’s all about strutting her stuff for the guys, but there’s definitely more to Brook than meets the eye–which is why I loved her so much!

Fashion King and/or Queen – Cricket Bell and Lola Nolan from Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. For him: narrow, pinstriped pants and an arm full of rubber bands. For her: themed outfits, colorful wigs, amazing make-up–everyday a different persona. They’re a match made in fashion heaven. ♥

Girl You’d Most Want For Your BFF – This one was hard… I almost went with Karou from Daughter of Smoke and Bone. She’s awesome, but she’s not exactly present all the time, so I’m going with Briony Larkin from Franny Billingsley’s Chime. I love her for all the reasons I love Karou (brave, clever, and loyal), plus, Briony is someone who can be counted on to drop by with a pint of ice cream (or a bottle of wine?) after a rough day.

Boy You Wish You’d Dated in High School – Adam Wilde from Gayle Forman’s Where She Went. He’s devoted and brooding and musical and he loves deeply, with everything in him. And that scene from If I Stay where he cries… Good grief! Gets me every time!

Most Likely to Become President – Four from Veronica Roth’s Divergent. He’s able to overcome the few things that scare him, he leads without evoking fear in others, and he makes decisions based on what’s best, not necessarily what’s popular. I’d vote for him!

Quirkiest Character – Harley from Across the Universe by Beth Revis. I could never quite put my finger on what it was about Harley that I appreciated, but I suppose that was part of his charm. He was eccentric and unpredictable and artistic and never played by the rules. Love that!

Villain You Love to Hate – Facebook, from The Future of Us :). One of the most inimitable antagonists I’ve encountered.

Favorite Parental Figure – This might be an unconventional choice, but I pick Brimstone from Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Strange and distant as he is, there’s an obvious and fierce love between Brimstone and Karou that feels boundless.

(Source Unknown)

Coolest Nerd – Cricket Bell from Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. Yes, friends, Cricket is a nerd. But it’s that bumbling awkwardness and observable intelligence that makes him so adorably charming. What girl wouldn’t find a guy like Cricket irresistible?

(Illustration by Simini Blocker)

There ya have it! My Popularity Contest selections! Thoughts?

And if you’re participating in the Class of 2011: YA Superlative Blogfest, please click on the image below to drop your link:

Class of 2011: YA Superlative Blogfest DAY ONE

December 27, 2011December 26, 201134 Comments

Today’s the day, the day I’ve been looking forward to for WEEKS!

Today is the first day of the The Class of 2011: YA Superlatives Blogfest, a fun and interactive way to highlight and share your favorite YA novels, covers, characters, and story elements, hosted by Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and me. The Class of 2011: YA Superlatives Blogfest will span four days, beginning today and culminating this Friday, December 30th.

Hopefully you’ve already signed up to participate, but if you haven’t, that’s okay! Just draft today’s post (you can find the topics listed below or on the original post) and then scroll to the bottom of THIS post and add your link to the link list.

We can’t wait to drop by your blog and read about your Class of 2011 selections!

And speaking of selections, here are mine for Day One:

Head of the Class…

I’ve read SO MANY amazing 2011 YA books this year! Here they are, in no particular order:

And here are the best of that bunch, categorized by genre:

Favorite Dystopian: Veronica Roth’s Divergent came to mind immediately. Still, I made myself scan back through all the dystopians I’ve read this year–there were several!–and… yep. Divergent was my absolute favorite. The world-building is fascinating, Tris and Four are compelling, and the pace is gripping and swift. Cannot wait for the follow-up, Insurgent. Honorable Mention: Crossed, a quiet mid-trilogy book with stunning writing and fantastic character development.

Favorite Science Fiction: I’m not usually sci-fi reader, and I know this one is fairly light, but I’m a big fan of Across the Universe by Beth Revis. The first chapter was absolutely riveting. With each page I turned, I marveled at the detail of the Godspeed and the compassion I felt for Amy, Elder, and everyone else cooped up on that ship. The twists and layered mystery unfold masterfully.

Favorite Fantasy: I honestly didn’t think I’d enjoy Franny Billingsley’s Chime (it’s sort of confusing, initially, and VERY fantastical), but I heeded the reviews of some taste-making friends and oh-my-goodness I adored this book. It features some of the most gorgeous writing I’ve encountered, and heroine Briony is absolutely lovable. Plus, Eldric… Yes, please!

Favorite Contemporary: Where She Went was the follow-up I was most looking forward to this year, and also the book I was most terrified to read. I loved If I Stay so much that the thought of a sequel tainting its perfection made me anxious. Turns out my fears were unfounded. Gayle Forman is brilliant. She took Adam and Mia’s story exactly where I wanted it to go, and she threw in a few surprises too. Plus, the end… Oh, the end!

Favorite Action/Adventure: Jus Accardo’s Touch could fit into the paranormal romance or mystery categories too, but one of the things I love most about this book is its exhilarating pace and constant sense of impending doom. Main character Dez is tough and hilarious, and love interest Kale is all kinds of tortured and adorable.

Favorite Historical Fiction: Eek… Cheater Alert! I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t read a historical fiction published in 2011 during 2011. I did read Jennifer Donnelly’s Revolution (pubbed in 2010), though, and while not strictly historical, it is AMAZING. That’s why I’m breaking the rules to recommend it.

Favorite Comedy: I usually like my books serious, dark, and, um, turn-your-heart-inside-out depressing. But Notes from the Blender by Brendan Halpin and Trish Cook was a pleasant change of pace. It literally made me laugh out loud. Death metal fan Declan should have been off-putting, but he was so freaking funny I couldn’t help but find him endearing. He has some of the best one-liners I’ve read. Honorable Mention: Beauty Queens. Obviously.

Notes from the Blender
Favorite Mystery: Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann was a mystery with a dash of horror and a sprinkle of romance, and it was excellent. I actually had to stop reading more than once because I was home alone at night and totally spooked. There’s something very atmospheric about this book, something that leaves you feeling isolated and at risk. I still get chills thinking about the end. Honorable Mentions: Imaginary Girls, because for a good chunk of the book, I didn’t know what the heck was going on with Chloe and Ruby, but I sure was desperate to find out, and The Liar Society because it was chock full of suspense.

Cryer's Cross

Favorite Romance: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins has everything a fantastic romance should, times ten! A girl you can’t help but root for? Check. A boy who’s flawed but irresistible? Check. Countless obstacles standing in the way of our dream couple? Check. A setting that makes you want to hop on a plane? Check. That longing, hopeful, can’t-live-without-him vibe? Check, check, check! Honorable Mention: Desires of the Dead. I ♥ Jay and Violet.

Favorite Paranormal Romance: I’m not entirely sure how to classify Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races, but I do know that it most definitely belongs on my Best of 2011 list. The magical water horses fit into the paranormal realm, and while the romance is light, it’s definitely a factor, so… Favorite Paranormal Romance it is. This book was beautiful and intense and threatened to shred my heart more than once. I was completely and utterly romanced by Thisby and Sean and Corr and Puck and The Scorpio Races.

Favorite Family Drama: Jessi Kirby’s debut, Moonglass, is lovely. It’s set on the beach, protagonist Anna is vibrant and likable, and the issues she faces concerning her family are relatable yet heart-wrenching. Plus, love interest Tyler is, in a word, hot. Moonglass‘s ending is one of those that comes together in a way that’s surprising but entirely perfect.

Favorite Genre Bender: Daughter of Smoke and Bone completely blew me away. It’s part urban fantasy, part romance, and part paranormal, and it’s one of my newest all-time-favorite books. Laini Taylor’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, and the way she crafted her world and her characters… enviable. The ending is a little abrupt, but honestly, it just made me crave the sequel even more!

So, what do you think of my Head of the Class list? Did any of your selections match mine?

And if you’re participating in the Class of 2011: YA Superlative Blogfest, please click on the image below to drop your link:

Monday Musings…

December 19, 2011December 18, 201128 Comments

Ahh, the holidays. I feel like I’ve been shopping and wrapping and baking for eons! I’ve got so much crazy going on this week, it’s hard to keep it all straight in my head. Good news? It’s all fun, Christmas-y stuff. Bad news? It’s all majorly time consuming! That said, I do have a few things to share with you today. Please excuse the random nature of this post. 🙂

1. Thanks so much to everyone from the Deja Vu Blogfest who stopped by this little blog over the last few days. Your comments on my (re)post were reassuring and validating and inspiring. The YA community rocks!

2. I made November Cakes! In case you’re in the dark about these tasty little treats, November Cakes are pastries invented by Maggie Stiefvater, beautifully described in The Scorpio Races (an aMaZiNg book, by the way). Maggie recently wrote and posted a recipe for these little rolls of heaven, and of course I had to test it out. Though they took about four (FOUR!) hours to make start to finish, the effort was certainly worth it…

Now, I’m not sure Maggie would approve, but I’m thinking I might’ve come up with a shortcut for November Cakes, in case you’re not down with spending four hours in the kitchen dealing the yeast and multiple risings. Why not buy already prepared refrigerated bread dough and start with that, picking up Maggie’s recipe after the first rising, and skipping the second rising all together? I admit, I haven’t actually tried this yet so I can’t vouch for whether these shortcut November Cakes are quite as delicious, but I’m definitely down to give it a go. Also, the next time I make November Cakes I’m going to roll candied pecans into them. Because… why not?

3. YA Highway has been rocking my world lately. It almost seems as if the bloggers there are tailoring their posts to me and the specific struggles I’m having with my writing. Take this post on Getting Your Characters “In” by Veronica Roth, or the one about Asking Why by Leila Austin. Seriously awesome. I highly recommend you check out these posts (and all the rest!) if you haven’t already.

4. The Class of 2011: YA Superlative Blogfest kicks off one week from tomorrow! There’s still plenty of time to prepare and schedule your posts before the real holiday madness begins. Have you signed up yet?

5. Dexter. Season finale. Last five seconds = Jaw drop. Holy Hell.

6. Remember last week when I mentioned my daughter’s preschool Christmas Program? Well, it was predictably adorable. Nothing like 25 four-year-olds screaming Jingle Bells at the top of their lungs. Not that I’m biased or anything, but there was one four-year-old who was especially delightful…

All pretty and ready to go…