Cecily Wolfe's Blog: The Start of Something New - Posts Tagged "ya-lit"
The Cities of the Dead by Alys Arden - Cover Reveal
I adore this series so much, and this cover is just beautiful and perfect!
Are you a The Casquette Girls fan? Who do you ship?
Are you a The Casquette Girls fan? Who do you ship?
Enter to Win!
Have you entered to win book prizes (paperbacks!) in these two giveaways? Both are only open for a short while, so be sure to click over for your chance to win.
Rafflecopter: A paperback ARC of The Competition (signed or unsigned, winner's choice) and a $25 Amazon gift card goes to the winner.
https://bit.ly/2lufpd9
New Adult Scavenger Hunt: Two teams (I'm Team Red) have six paperback New Adult novels each to give away - one winner for each team will get all of that team's books. You can enter to win both sets, or just one. Start here on my Goodreads blog post (https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...) and follow the directions to enter.
Good luck to everyone - and don't forget, July 4 and the first anniversary of That Night are coming up, which means another giveaway!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Rafflecopter: A paperback ARC of The Competition (signed or unsigned, winner's choice) and a $25 Amazon gift card goes to the winner.
https://bit.ly/2lufpd9
New Adult Scavenger Hunt: Two teams (I'm Team Red) have six paperback New Adult novels each to give away - one winner for each team will get all of that team's books. You can enter to win both sets, or just one. Start here on my Goodreads blog post (https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...) and follow the directions to enter.
Good luck to everyone - and don't forget, July 4 and the first anniversary of That Night are coming up, which means another giveaway!
Have a wonderful weekend!
CLOSED *** YA Scavenger Hunt
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors, and a chance to win some awesome prizes! On this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SEVEN contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the ORANGE TEAM, but there are six other teams for you to visit and enter to win a set of books from each of them as well.
If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page here: http://www.yash.rocks/p/how-to-hunt.html
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the orange team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here (http://www.yash.rocks/p/enter-here.html) to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by DATE, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
I am thrilled to be a part of the hunt, and to host the brilliant and lovely Paige Lavoie!
Paige Lavoie is a vintage-loving YA Author from Orlando FL. She writes Coming of Age stories about geek girls, outsiders, and monsters! Paige loves telling stories about characters who find strength in themselves and create long-lasting friendships along the way. When she’s not writing, Paige makes motivational pep talk videos for local writing community Writer’s Atelier, streams creating-writing and video games on her twitch channel. And can often be spotted strolling arm an arm with her husband hunting for antiques to furnish their 1950s home. She blogs about daily life, inspiration, and writing on www.paigelavoie.com and her books can be found on https://amzn.to/2qUDAmc
FROM THE BACK COVER:
"Where she came from there were no windows. The sounds of buzzing equipment and the doctor's shouting rang through her ears daily. It was too uncomfortable to call home and too familiar not to be. Like it or not, she was an experiment.
Filled with childlike wonder and innocence, she took pleasure in stories, imagining what it would be like to live in those pages. A longing growing deep inside her.
She knew she'd never have that life... Not in the lab. Not with them studying her every move. So she decided to do something terrifying.
She escaped."
AESTHETIC BOARD - A Girl Called Monster's protagonist jolts to life in a dark laboratory. She doesn't know why she's there, or what's outside the walls she's grown accustomed to. As her story progresses she realizes she needs to find out. Outside she'll find friendship, freedom, and a name "Monnie". I chose a dark overlay for this board because though Monnie finds hope and laughter, her past scars remain. I don't want to say any more for fear of spoiling the book, but I hope you'll give it a read!
******
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this video of the cover photoshoot! It's a must watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXztT...
*******
FAN CASTING
Monnie" - Brittany Lee
This was an easy choice for me, in my dream movie cast my cover model Brittany (@withdropsofjupiter on instagram) would be my monster! Brittany is an old soul with a childlike sense of hope and wonder, and a spirit of joy that would be perfect for the role. Plus she looks EXACTLY like the main character. (You can check out the behind the scenes video of the cover photoshoot here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXztT... )
Victor "The Doctor" - Tom Hiddleston
While I was writing A Girl Called Monster, I always pictured Tom Hiddleston! He plays a villain extremely well, all while maintaining a charming quality. It doesn't matter how attractive the doctor is, a few pages in we can already see that he is the real "Monster" of our story. I feel like Tom Hiddleston would bring the role to life in a way that really showcased that, and give the character a lot of depth on screen.
Igor -KJ Apa
This casting choice is a result of watching a heck of a lot of Riverdale while I was sick last week. Seeing KJ as "The boy next door" Achie Andrews slip into darkness in the second season made me think he'd be a pretty cool choice for Igor... And that's all I'm going to say about that before I get into spoilers!
Sam - Saoirse Ronan
I thought long and hard about this one. When writing Sam I always thought of her as tough. But, my friend Taylor Simonds (Author of COLLATERAL DAMAGE 2019, Parliament House Press) recently described her as a "Cinnamonroll" while talking about the book. And I feel like Saoise Ronan would balance tough and sweet perfectly. Not only does she have incredible range, but I'd long to see her as a protective big-sister type of friend. (and with long green hair!)
LINKS
Website: www.paigelavoie.com
Books: https://amzn.to/2qUDAmc
Twitch: www.twitch.tv/paigelavoie
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mrspaigelavoie
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrspaigelavoie
BOOK TRAILER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPFwI...
FUN FACT (which may include a certain number!)
I may have a bad habit of drinking way too much coffee and wondering why I have trouble sleeping, but the most cups of coffee I've ever had in a single day is only **13**
****GIVEAWAY!****
Before you leave, I have a Rafflecopter for a chance to win a paperback copy of The Competition, so essentially, you get TWO chances to win it during the scavenger hunt, one by completing the hunt for the orange team, and the second by entering this Rafflecopter!
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out Tori Rigby's site: https://www.booksbytori.com/blog
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SEVEN contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the ORANGE TEAM, but there are six other teams for you to visit and enter to win a set of books from each of them as well.
If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page here: http://www.yash.rocks/p/how-to-hunt.html
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the orange team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here (http://www.yash.rocks/p/enter-here.html) to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by DATE, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
I am thrilled to be a part of the hunt, and to host the brilliant and lovely Paige Lavoie!
Paige Lavoie is a vintage-loving YA Author from Orlando FL. She writes Coming of Age stories about geek girls, outsiders, and monsters! Paige loves telling stories about characters who find strength in themselves and create long-lasting friendships along the way. When she’s not writing, Paige makes motivational pep talk videos for local writing community Writer’s Atelier, streams creating-writing and video games on her twitch channel. And can often be spotted strolling arm an arm with her husband hunting for antiques to furnish their 1950s home. She blogs about daily life, inspiration, and writing on www.paigelavoie.com and her books can be found on https://amzn.to/2qUDAmc
FROM THE BACK COVER:
"Where she came from there were no windows. The sounds of buzzing equipment and the doctor's shouting rang through her ears daily. It was too uncomfortable to call home and too familiar not to be. Like it or not, she was an experiment.
Filled with childlike wonder and innocence, she took pleasure in stories, imagining what it would be like to live in those pages. A longing growing deep inside her.
She knew she'd never have that life... Not in the lab. Not with them studying her every move. So she decided to do something terrifying.
She escaped."
AESTHETIC BOARD - A Girl Called Monster's protagonist jolts to life in a dark laboratory. She doesn't know why she's there, or what's outside the walls she's grown accustomed to. As her story progresses she realizes she needs to find out. Outside she'll find friendship, freedom, and a name "Monnie". I chose a dark overlay for this board because though Monnie finds hope and laughter, her past scars remain. I don't want to say any more for fear of spoiling the book, but I hope you'll give it a read!
******
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this video of the cover photoshoot! It's a must watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXztT...
*******
FAN CASTING
Monnie" - Brittany Lee
This was an easy choice for me, in my dream movie cast my cover model Brittany (@withdropsofjupiter on instagram) would be my monster! Brittany is an old soul with a childlike sense of hope and wonder, and a spirit of joy that would be perfect for the role. Plus she looks EXACTLY like the main character. (You can check out the behind the scenes video of the cover photoshoot here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXztT... )
Victor "The Doctor" - Tom Hiddleston
While I was writing A Girl Called Monster, I always pictured Tom Hiddleston! He plays a villain extremely well, all while maintaining a charming quality. It doesn't matter how attractive the doctor is, a few pages in we can already see that he is the real "Monster" of our story. I feel like Tom Hiddleston would bring the role to life in a way that really showcased that, and give the character a lot of depth on screen.
Igor -KJ Apa
This casting choice is a result of watching a heck of a lot of Riverdale while I was sick last week. Seeing KJ as "The boy next door" Achie Andrews slip into darkness in the second season made me think he'd be a pretty cool choice for Igor... And that's all I'm going to say about that before I get into spoilers!
Sam - Saoirse Ronan
I thought long and hard about this one. When writing Sam I always thought of her as tough. But, my friend Taylor Simonds (Author of COLLATERAL DAMAGE 2019, Parliament House Press) recently described her as a "Cinnamonroll" while talking about the book. And I feel like Saoise Ronan would balance tough and sweet perfectly. Not only does she have incredible range, but I'd long to see her as a protective big-sister type of friend. (and with long green hair!)
LINKS
Website: www.paigelavoie.com
Books: https://amzn.to/2qUDAmc
Twitch: www.twitch.tv/paigelavoie
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mrspaigelavoie
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrspaigelavoie
BOOK TRAILER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPFwI...
FUN FACT (which may include a certain number!)
I may have a bad habit of drinking way too much coffee and wondering why I have trouble sleeping, but the most cups of coffee I've ever had in a single day is only **13**
****GIVEAWAY!****
Before you leave, I have a Rafflecopter for a chance to win a paperback copy of The Competition, so essentially, you get TWO chances to win it during the scavenger hunt, one by completing the hunt for the orange team, and the second by entering this Rafflecopter!
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out Tori Rigby's site: https://www.booksbytori.com/blog
The St. Cat's Chronicles is Here!
The first chapter of The St. Cat's Chronicles is on Wattpad, and readers can expect a new chapter every Monday through the end of May.
You can read it here, where it is and always will be absolutely free to read and follow:
https://www.wattpad.com/myworks/16393...
What is SCC?
Audrey is returning to the private school campus she has known since kindergarten. Elise joins twenty new freshmen, new to the school and unsure what to expect. After all, the rumors about St. Catherine's are rampant, and not all are good. Strict, academically challenging, and full of snobby rich girls. That's what the kids at all the other schools in the area say. Audrey thinks nothing will change this year; new girls would come, some would go, but the ones with whom she has grown up would stick to the same cliques and the same drama. She loves the school and the nuns in charge, but all-girls means mood swings that strike entire grades and certain personalities that fight to dominate. When Audrey and Elise find their locker assignments side by side on the first day of school, the warhorse and the rookie strike an unlikely alliance as their freshman year unfolds, with surprises and disappointments along the way.
*This is a companion sequel serial to The Competition, during which Mary Sofia and Jada are seniors at St. Cat's. They are not main characters, however, and will make very few and brief appearances.
You can read it here, where it is and always will be absolutely free to read and follow:
https://www.wattpad.com/myworks/16393...
What is SCC?
Audrey is returning to the private school campus she has known since kindergarten. Elise joins twenty new freshmen, new to the school and unsure what to expect. After all, the rumors about St. Catherine's are rampant, and not all are good. Strict, academically challenging, and full of snobby rich girls. That's what the kids at all the other schools in the area say. Audrey thinks nothing will change this year; new girls would come, some would go, but the ones with whom she has grown up would stick to the same cliques and the same drama. She loves the school and the nuns in charge, but all-girls means mood swings that strike entire grades and certain personalities that fight to dominate. When Audrey and Elise find their locker assignments side by side on the first day of school, the warhorse and the rookie strike an unlikely alliance as their freshman year unfolds, with surprises and disappointments along the way.
*This is a companion sequel serial to The Competition, during which Mary Sofia and Jada are seniors at St. Cat's. They are not main characters, however, and will make very few and brief appearances.
Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry - Available Now!
Happy Book Birthday to Katie McGarry!
Don't miss the Rafflecopter below!
Would you dare to defy destiny? Are our destinies written in stone? Do we become nothing more than the self-fulfilling prophesies of other people's opinions? Or can we dare to become who we believe we were born to be?
“A gorgeous, heartfelt journey of redemption and love” (Wendy Higgins), ONLY A BREATH APART is a young adult contemporary novel from critically acclaimed Katie McGarry. “Haunting, authentic, and ultimately hopeful” (Tammara Webber), ONLY A BREATH APART is now available!
About ONLY A BREATH APART:
They say your destiny is carved in stone. But some destinies are meant to be broken.
The only curse Jesse Lachlin believes in is his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, the girl he froze out his freshman year.
A fortuneteller tells Scarlett she's psychic, but what is real is Scarlett’s father’s controlling attitude and the dark secrets at home. She may be able to escape, but only if she can rely on the one boy who broke her heart.
Each midnight meeting pushes Jesse and Scarlett to confront their secrets and their feelings, but as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head…
Amazon | Kobo | Google Play
B-A-M | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books
Add it to your Goodreads today!
EXCERPT:
~SCARLETT~
A scraping of a chair, a tray full of food and I glance over with my practiced smile in welcome. It’s not Camila, Evangeline, or anyone else from the group. It’s green eyes, red hair, a familiar mischievous smile that used to be reserved only for me, and my blood pounds with excitement as if someone lit a sparkler in my chest. Then I frown because I’m not supposed to feel this way. Not with him. Not with anyone.
Jesse Lachlin winks at me as he sits across from me like no time has passed from when we climbed trees together. “What’s up, Tink?”
Another thrill runs through me but then my muscles tighten. Stupid, antiquated reaction belonging to a dead past. “What are you doing here?”
Jesse pops a fry into his mouth, chews, then picks up another as if he has no intention of answering. I scan the cafeteria. Several people are watching us, curious as to why Jesse Lachlin is sitting with me, or is event at lunch, or even at school.
From the lunch line, Camila’s and Evangeline’s eyes are bugging out of their heads.
What is going on? Camila mouths.
I raise my eyebrows to inform her I have no idea. Jesse digs into his corn with his fork and that’s crossing a line. “Maybe you didn’t hear me, but I asked what you’re doing here.”
He lifts his eyes to meet mine and there’s a glimmer in them that causes my lips to flatten. Fantastic. He’s here to make my life a living hell.
“It seems obvious,” he says.
If he remembers anything about me, he should recall I was never known for my patience and that he should be speaking, and speaking soon. “Just answer the question.”
“I’m eating lunch.”
I honest to God groan in frustration. “There’s no room at the inn.”
He surveys the table, takes in the empty seats, my books, and then gives me a good look. A slow look. As if he’s trying to memorize every inch he’s drinking in. My cheeks redden because that somehow feels a little too intimate for lunch. Feels a little too intimate for someone I’m no longer friends with. It feels too intimate if we were friends.
I glance away, but I sense him still staring at me. God help me, I want to stare back.
Katie McGarry Bio:
Katie is the author of the PUSHING THE LIMITS series, THUNDER ROAD series, SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME, and the upcoming YA novel, ONLY A BREATH APART. Her novels have received starred reviews, critical acclaim and have won multiple awards including being a multiple Goodreads Choice Award Finalist for YA Fiction, multiple RT Magazine's Reviewer's Choice Award Finalist for Best YA Fiction, including a win in the category, and she was a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumbler | Instagram
Don't miss the Rafflecopter below!
Would you dare to defy destiny? Are our destinies written in stone? Do we become nothing more than the self-fulfilling prophesies of other people's opinions? Or can we dare to become who we believe we were born to be?
“A gorgeous, heartfelt journey of redemption and love” (Wendy Higgins), ONLY A BREATH APART is a young adult contemporary novel from critically acclaimed Katie McGarry. “Haunting, authentic, and ultimately hopeful” (Tammara Webber), ONLY A BREATH APART is now available!
About ONLY A BREATH APART:
They say your destiny is carved in stone. But some destinies are meant to be broken.
The only curse Jesse Lachlin believes in is his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, the girl he froze out his freshman year.
A fortuneteller tells Scarlett she's psychic, but what is real is Scarlett’s father’s controlling attitude and the dark secrets at home. She may be able to escape, but only if she can rely on the one boy who broke her heart.
Each midnight meeting pushes Jesse and Scarlett to confront their secrets and their feelings, but as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head…
Amazon | Kobo | Google Play
B-A-M | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books
“Gritty and real, Only a Breath Apart is a story of hope conjured from pain, strength drawn from innocence, and love earned from self-respect. Beautiful, poignant, and fierce.”
―Kristen Simmons, critically acclaimed author of the Article 5 series
Add it to your Goodreads today!
EXCERPT:
~SCARLETT~
A scraping of a chair, a tray full of food and I glance over with my practiced smile in welcome. It’s not Camila, Evangeline, or anyone else from the group. It’s green eyes, red hair, a familiar mischievous smile that used to be reserved only for me, and my blood pounds with excitement as if someone lit a sparkler in my chest. Then I frown because I’m not supposed to feel this way. Not with him. Not with anyone.
Jesse Lachlin winks at me as he sits across from me like no time has passed from when we climbed trees together. “What’s up, Tink?”
Another thrill runs through me but then my muscles tighten. Stupid, antiquated reaction belonging to a dead past. “What are you doing here?”
Jesse pops a fry into his mouth, chews, then picks up another as if he has no intention of answering. I scan the cafeteria. Several people are watching us, curious as to why Jesse Lachlin is sitting with me, or is event at lunch, or even at school.
From the lunch line, Camila’s and Evangeline’s eyes are bugging out of their heads.
What is going on? Camila mouths.
I raise my eyebrows to inform her I have no idea. Jesse digs into his corn with his fork and that’s crossing a line. “Maybe you didn’t hear me, but I asked what you’re doing here.”
He lifts his eyes to meet mine and there’s a glimmer in them that causes my lips to flatten. Fantastic. He’s here to make my life a living hell.
“It seems obvious,” he says.
If he remembers anything about me, he should recall I was never known for my patience and that he should be speaking, and speaking soon. “Just answer the question.”
“I’m eating lunch.”
I honest to God groan in frustration. “There’s no room at the inn.”
He surveys the table, takes in the empty seats, my books, and then gives me a good look. A slow look. As if he’s trying to memorize every inch he’s drinking in. My cheeks redden because that somehow feels a little too intimate for lunch. Feels a little too intimate for someone I’m no longer friends with. It feels too intimate if we were friends.
I glance away, but I sense him still staring at me. God help me, I want to stare back.
Katie McGarry Bio:Katie is the author of the PUSHING THE LIMITS series, THUNDER ROAD series, SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME, and the upcoming YA novel, ONLY A BREATH APART. Her novels have received starred reviews, critical acclaim and have won multiple awards including being a multiple Goodreads Choice Award Finalist for YA Fiction, multiple RT Magazine's Reviewer's Choice Award Finalist for Best YA Fiction, including a win in the category, and she was a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumbler | Instagram
