Dark Genesis Blog Tour: Q&A + Giveaway

As part of the blog tour for Dark Genesis, I got the lucky opportunity to interview the author and bring you guys a super awesome giveaway!

Hi David, and thanks for making time for this interview! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My pleasure, Joie!  I grew up in a suburb of Minneapolis, and graduated from college with a B.A. in English and creative writing from St. Cloud State University.  I moved to the Milwaukee area about seven years ago, and that’s where I am currently, where I’m surrounded by books for my day job!

Where did you get the idea for your book, Dark Genesis?

I grew up reading hundreds of YA books, and there’s such a variety of forms of magic in novels and in movies, that I thought it would be cool to have a world where witches are separated into covens by the magic they use (astral projection, runes, pyrokinesis, etc). And years ago, my boyfriend and I talked about creating a comic book where a group of people travel to a world populated by monsters, so I sort of merged the two ideas into this one cool story.

(J: So. Dang. Cool.)

Did you learn anything from writing your book? If so, what is it?

To just have fun with my writing and not get too bogged down with particulars.  I did a massive rewrite after the first draft just because I got stuck on the idea of an arbitrary number of villains I came up with before I started writing.  I cut a lot out of the story and reworked it to focus more on the characters and the important aspects of the story that I wanted to tell.

If Dark Genesis were made into a movie, what would your dream cast be?

Naya Rivera (Santana on Glee) for Alyssa, Ian Somerhalder (Vampire Diaries) for Parker, Emma Roberts (Scream 4) as Vessa, Alex Pettyfer (I Am Number Four) for Eric, and Angelina Jolie as The Ice Queen.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I’m a huge film buff, so I watch lots of movies, especially horror movies, and I’m an avid reader of YA as well as graphic novels.  I also enjoy jogging and getting sucked into some Real Housewives drama from time to time.

Which books/authors have influenced you the most?

I grew up with great admiration for L.J. Smith and Christopher Pike, so they are definitely the two key authors that have inspired me in my writing.  “The Vampire Diaries” and “Night World” in particular pushed me down the road to loving the paranormal.

Think fast! If you had to describe Dark Genesis in just three words, what would they be?

What makes identity.

Lightning round!

Ebook or paper book? 

Ebook.  I find myself reading at night most often, and it’s just easier to have an ereader in bed.

Early bird or night owl?  

Definitely a night owl.  I barely get any writing done while it’s still light out.

Tea or coffee?  

Tea.  My drink of choice is a London Fog, which is a mixture of Earl Grey Tea, milk and vanilla flavor.

Music when you write or no?  

Definitely.  Music probably inspires me more than anything.

Favorite genre to read?  

Probably horror.  I like being scared, and I think that being in horrible circumstances forces a character’s true colors to surface, and interesting things can happen.

Thanks so much for taking the time for this interview! Don't forget to check out Dark Genesis and add it on goodreads, and keep reading for a giveaway!

Dark Genesis
Publication date: March 18, 2013

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Alyssa opened her eyes to darkness. And in the first flash of light provided by a gathering storm, she could make out a ring of bodies surrounding her.

With no memory of who she is, Alyssa stumbles into a dark world populated by witches. The witches are powerful, and demonstrate frightening powers, but even more terrifying are the monsters who rule over the land. Vampires, werewolves and other awful creatures of the night have taken over, forcing the witches behind stone walls, afraid to venture outdoors. But Alyssa finds that as she kills certain monsters, memories return to her, memories of a life on Earth, and the boy she left behind.

The quest to collect her memories and piece together the puzzle of what has happened to her is a daunting one, with betrayals and sacrifices every step of the way. But Alyssa is determined to fight for a world that is not her own, destroying powerful monsters along the way, so that she can return home to the boy she is coming to love through the memories she recollects.

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Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Dracian Legacy

Title: Dracian Legacy
Author: Priya Kanaparti
Publication date: February 14th, 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Synopsis:

Ren and Axel are caught between two powerful magical races: one destined to end the bloodhsed, the other out for vengeance.
Seventeen-year-old Ren Pernell is prophesied to end the war between the Dracians and the Telalians. So when a Dracian, Axel Knight, is sent to find and bring back the prophesied one before she turns eighteen and Telalians discover of her existence, unexpected sparks fly start to fly between the two. Once Ren finds the truth behind Axel's arrival, she wants everything to do with him and nothing to do with his mission.
Things prove to be difficult as Ren's life is constantly threatened by forces that are beyond her control, including the leader of the Telalians.
With the clock ticking and Ren's life in jeopardy, it is no longer just a mission for Axel. It becomes a personal endeavor to save the only one he's ever loved. In a heart racing ending, they must find a way to evade the preordained war that won't also end Ren's life

My thoughts:
I don't know about you, but I am in serious cover love right now!

About the author:

Priya Kanaparti was born in India, grew up in Detroit, and is now living in Boise, ID. She attended Wayne State University for her undergrad degree in Bachelor of Science in Biology, and University of Phoenix for her Masters in Business Administration. Priya works as a project manager in software field during the day and lives in the world of her characters during the nights and weekends. She had found the love for reading and writing early this year, when she stayed home with her year old and needed something to occupy those 'downtime' hours. 

She loves playing tennis on a good summer day and chess during the cold winters, but reading and writing has become a year round hobby.

She lives in Boise with her husband, son and a Yorkie. Dracian Legacy is her debut novel.

Twitter l Facebook l  Goodreads author page l Dracian Legacy on goodreads l Google+ l Pinterest

Giveaway time!!!

*Must be 13 years or older to enter

*Giveaway is hosted by the author

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Author Interview & Giveaway: Wingless by Cydney Lawson

I am super excited to welcome author Cydney Lawson on my blog today! She was kind enough to answer a few questions and provide a copy of her books, Wingless and Displaced, for a giveaway. Be sure to check out the info for that at the end of this post! :)

 Hi, Cydney, and welcome to my blog! I’m so glad to have you here! Please tell us a bit about yourself  

I’m a twenty-year-old college student with either not enough or too much time on her hands. I love to read, and I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life but creating something that others can read, too.

-What was your inspiration for writing Wingless?

 Well, I had a very abstract direction of dividing up the five senses into super powers. And then I had a completely unrelated idea of a naked girl, falling from the sky, and landing on a boy’s lawn in my head. I merged the two rather forcefully and Wingless came out.

-Who was your favorite character to write about and why?

Tane was my favorite point of view to write from because she is so complex. She’s stoic, and snobby, and all business. But at the same time, she manages to be dependent, and gentle, and curious about other worlds. She was amazingly fluid in the book, taking different shapes and forms as the plot progressed. She went through genuine change, and I love to see that in a story.

-If Wingless were to be made into a movie, who would your dream cast be?

I have no idea who would play Charlie, but Tane would be played by Sophie Turner from Game of Thrones. Gaius would be played by Keegan Allen, maybe? Ezra Miller would play Felix!

-Describe Wingless in 3 words. Go!

Thought-provoking. Tragic. Cliffhanger.

Now for some random questions…

Tea or coffee?

Tea always! I love tea!

Early bird or night owl?

*stares at the clock* It’s midnight right now, and I’m doing an interview.

Hardback or paperback?

Hardback. I love a book that can take a beating because I’ll probably be reading it more than once.

Do you listen to a soundtrack while you write?

Absolutely. No book I’ve ever written could have ever survived without music behind it, surrounding it.

Favorite genre to read?

YA anything. I love Young Adult contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, verse.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Cydney, and now it's time for the giveaway! :)

A copy of Wingless and its sequel, Displaced are up for grabs. 

Charlie thought his summer was going to end like every other summer before it. With a growing sense of forboding and a waning sense of freedom. Until Tane landed on his front lawn in a crumpled heap claiming to be from heaven. A place much darker and much greater than he’d ever imagined. Tane is on a mission to find a Septar, a citizen of Fismuth that was left behind when she was supposed to have been taken. And when she enlists the help of Charlie and his friends, she pulls them into a world of danger, love, and ultimately, heavenly rewards.

My name is Tane. At least it was before I was banished to the outlands of heaven. Before everything I had learned to care for was taken from me. Before I murdered an innocent human.

Tane is an outcast in her own world. She is forced to fend for herself against the infamous and ravenous Feeders in Abannon to prove her worth and save her own life. When Azurael, a de-winged, slightly insane angel finds her and offers to deliver her to a secret land of life and prosperity-the Oasis-Tane agrees to become his traveling companion and student. As she learns his ways, she begins to question her own, as well as her role in the last prophecy he ever told.
My name is Charlie. At least it was before I was dragged to Fismuth. A lot has changed since then, and my new name is the least of them.

Charlie is an outcast in his own world. He doesn't fit in with his old friends. He can't stand to be around the only parent he has left. And he's plagued with thoughts of a girl long gone. Until the day Charlie is dragged and blessed with wings, a new sense of strength, and a mission to save Tane from her own fate. But Charlie isn't the only one planning to escape to Abannon and claim Tane.

In a struggle to find their purpose and each other, Charlie and Tane must face death, trust new friends, and start a war they didn't know existed to either fulfill or stop the prophecy that will end heaven as they know it.

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Blogoversary Giveaway!!!

Aaaaahhhhhh! This is so exciting!
Exactly on year ago, I made my very first post--a pitiful first post where I pretty much just said"Yaay, first post!" but that's beside the point. When I first started up this blog, I honestly thought I'd be lucky if just five people liked my posts enough to follow me.

343 posts and 278 followers later, here I am. And I just wanted to say a big, fat THANK YOU for reading my posts and making this whole book blogging experience so amazing.

To celebrate and show you all how much I love you, I'm having my very first giveaway!! <--err, one that I'm hosting personally.  :)
I've decided to choose a couple of my absolute favorites that I've read/reviewed since my book blog was born and here are the choices

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Saving June by Hannah Harrington
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

How to win one of these books

Must be 13 or older to enter (or have parents' permission)

Must live in a country that the Book Depository ships to

Must enter the rafflecoptor below :)

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Blog Tour: The Super Spud Trilogy giveaway + review

Title: The Super Spud Trilogy
Author: Michael Diack
Publication Date: May 2012
Publisher: Pen Press

Genetic engineering has accomplished many things, one of which has been to create the Super Spud! The humble potato elevated to new heights, creating the most flavoursome crisps ever known to humankind! But that's not all - A magical transformation occurs to all Super Spud crisps not eaten before their use-by date. They take on a life of their own. And so long as they remain undetected by humans, they enjoy life in their own Super Spud cities, take part in major Super Spud sporting events and even start the odd Super Spud war or two. Join Colin, Cougar, Hannibal Vector, Generals Rock, Jock and Strap and all the others in their rollicking adventures. You'll never look at a packet of crisps in the same way again! 

Rule 1:
Once a Super Spud is placed and sealed into its packet, the package cannot be punctured in any way. if that happens, the Super Spud dies.

Rule 2:
Once the package is sealed, if the Super Spud is seen with its facial features by a human, or heard talking by a human, the Super Spud automatically dies.

Rule 3:
If a Super Spud has not been opened by its use-by date, it can grow arms and legs--but if seen by a human, subsequently dies.

With these three rules, I was thrust into this strange and clever world crafted by Michael Diack.
I honestly cannot remember the last time I read a book that was so quirky and silly and just plain funny. Amidst stressful days of tests, AP classes, and SAT prep, daily doses of this book gave me comic relief and prevented me from completely losing my mind!

The idea of this book is very light-hearted and a bit silly, but Diack's writing is wonderful and the imagination and creativity that went into creating the world of the Super Spud was amazing--just the little details, like their mode of transportation, Super Spud hierarchy, and their entertainment choices, were all addressed!

The concept of genetically modified potatoes was really interesting--I really liked how the different flavors of Super Spud determined their personalities--and Diack executed the story with humor that was hilarious, but surprisingly cynical! I myself was especially intrigued by the Super Spuds' reactions to death.

Rating: 3.75 stars*

All in all:
This was a really clever and utterly unique story, and I think it would appeal to both teens and adults alike. And I can't wait to read more from Michael Diack!

*I received a copy of this book for review from the author. All opinions are my own.


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The Modified Cover Reveal + Giveaway

The Modified Cover Reveal & Giveaway!

What would you sacrifice to save the one’s you love? To save the one who holds your heart? To save the world?

Kenley Grayson is all too familiar with these questions.

After Earth is thrust into its first intergalactic war with an unknown race called the Bringers, our military forces begin to suffer heavy losses. Desperate for a solution, the Allied Federation issues a worldwide draft for every able seventeen-year-old to enlist. As Kenley turns seventeen, she finds herself thrown into the very war that took her older brother’s life.

This year’s draft is a little different than in the past though. A new program, known as the Magnus Project, has been introduced, and only the best and brightest qualify. Kenley is amongst a select few whom are chosen to join this elite group of soldiers, and as a part of this project, undergoes a modification procedure that leaves her and her peers endowed with powers beyond their wildest dreams.

As Earth continues in its struggle against the Bringers, Kenley is transported to a high-tech training facility, the Magnus Academy, to prepare for the major battle that lies ahead. It’s here that she meets the California heartthrob, and son of a legendary war hero, Landon Shaw. As unexpected feelings toward Landon begin to develop, Kenley wonders if this is the right time or place for romance to bloom, especially when those feelings start to interfere with her training.

With the weight of the world on her shoulders, Kenley is constantly reminded of how important she and the rest of the Magnus cadets are to the fate of humanity. She is one of the Modified, Earth’s last line of defense against utter destruction.

The Modified releases this Fall!

Like the cover for The Modified? Well then head over to Nathan Szerdy’s website and peruse his amazing collection of works. We guarantee that you won’t be disappointed!

The mom and son author duo, C.A. Kunz, thoroughly enjoys writing about things that go bump in the night and futuristic action-packed romances while drinking massive amounts of English breakfast tea and Starbucks coffee. To find out more about this duo and their books visit their blog, or find them on Facebook and Twitter!

And now for the giveaway!!*
What's up for grabs:

 A choice of a signed paperback or an e-book copy of The Modified when it is released

A signed The Modified swag pack

And a signed foam core mounted posted of The Modified book cover

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*This giveaway is not through Joie de Lire, but through the authors. I am simply providing the info about it an the rafflecoptor form so you all can enter.

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Don't Tell by Mercy Amare

Hey guys!
I'm so stoked to be part of the lucky group of bloggers to reveal to you the cover of Mercy Amare's new book, Don't Tell.
So without further ado, here it is!

I could be surrounded by a million people, but I would still feel alone. I smile on the outside, but inside I feel like I’m slowly dying. I cry out for help, but nobody sees me, at least not the real me. They see a façade, a mask that I put on to hide the pain.

I pretend that I’m normal, but really, what is normal? Maybe what I’m feeling is normal. The hurt, the disappointment, the loneliness… it could be all just be a part of life. Maybe I will never know what normal is.

I put on long sleeves and makeup to hide the bruises, but they only mask the outside. What happens when I can’t carry my burden alone any longer? What would happen if I told somebody the truth?

Don't Tell is a YA Contemporary Romance about love, forgivness and hope.  Coming Fall 2012.

A bit about Mercy Amare:

Mercy Amare writes YA fiction books. She has a slight addiction to NOS, and her guilty pleasure is Pretty Little Liars.

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love the cover! The splash of pink is wonderful and I love the girl's outfit and the whole vibe of the cover!

And now, time for the giveaway!!!

Mercy has been kind enough to give each blog hosting the cover a free copy of her book to give away through Smashwords. 

The giveaway will run from today till next Friday and the winner will have 72 hours to respond.

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