Happy Halloween Vlog!

Dead Books Epic Halloween Giveaway!

Alright guys I’ve had several book giveaway for my Dead Books Celebration with all books that have “Dead” in their title and today I have the best giveaway of them all!

What’s up for grabs:

• A copy of Picture The Dead signed by Adele Griffin
• A Picture The Dead T-shirt (Women’s Medium)

This book has to be one of the most beautfully made ones I’ve ever seen! The story along with the artwork makes this such a wonderful book, it’d be a great addition to your book collection!

Here is a sample of the beautiful artwork done in the book:

Truly awesome! So here’s how you can enter to win it!

RULES
International!
There will be one (1) winner 
Ends Nov. 14th
Must be 13 or older
Must fill out the form below

Author Interview

LAST DAY TO ENTER!

Hey Everyone! Today is your last day to enter some of my Halloween Giveaways!

Win a signed copy of She Smells The Dead *International* Ends today!

Win a copy of Living Dead Girl *International* Ends Today!

I’ve also got two other giveaways running right now:

Win a copy of Dead Is Just A Rumor *US/Canada only* Ends 11/3

Win a signed copy of The Body Finder or a Body Finder Swag pack! *US Only* Ends 11/7

Also I’ve be posting my final epic Halloween giveaway soon! So look out for it :D

Authors Interview: Adele Griffin & Lisa Brown

<Adele Griffin

Lisa Brown>

Today I have the wonderful authors of Picture The Dead, Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown! Their book, Picture the Dead, is a truly amazing book filled with a haunting story of love and loss and beautiful pictures drawn my Lisa herself, which adds so much to the story. Please welcome them and enjoy the interview!
______________________________________________________

Tell us a little about yourselves.

(Adele) I’m a small, sensitive, easily excitable person who has never really stopped believing that there are monsters under my bed.

(Lisa) I am very short. I am quiet until you get me talking. I am solemn until you get me laughing. I like to look at disembodied body parts in jars and taxidermied animals (I come from a family of doctors; we are not a squeamish people.) I drink unbelievable amounts of coffee. My favorite illustrator is Edward Gorey. I live in San Francisco, and I come from New England, so I am happy and surrounded by beauty all the time, but I feel guilty about it. I live in an old Victorian house with my husband and son and a parade of dead or dying goldfish.

How do you think you’d handle being haunted?

After I got over the initial horror, I would probably be deeply grateful to be haunted because it would bring me so many fantastic ideas for stories.

Believe it or not, fairly well. I am rarely surprised when unusual things happen to me, except when I am surprised that they do not happen often enough. A haunting would seem to fit that bill. On the other hand, I like to spend time alone, and having a ghost around one’s home would make that less possible.

What was the main inspiration for your book?

We were more inspired by each other’s wacky work, and wanted to do something collaborative.

There was this amazing exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2005: “The Perfect Medium: Photography and the Occult.” It was an exhibit of spirit photographs from the 19^th and early 20^th centuries; that is, photographs of ghosts. Adele and I were fairly obsessed with these pictures, and they were absolutely the primary inspiration for Picture the Dead.

(for lisa) How did you get into illustration?

There was no getting into it. I was just always drawing, from the time that I could first pick up a crayon. I had this professor in college who evaluated me based on the doodles that I had done in my notebook during class. I thought that he was angry with me, but it turned out that he just really, really liked my artwork.

I spent a handful of years pretending that I would be something else for a living: academic, magazine editor, graphic designer, but I finally gave up and became what I always wanted to be most of all.

If you could choose, what supernatural creature would you be?

I wouldn’t mind being a ghoul. I understand that ghouls are the scariest of the ghost kingdom, because of the whole living-in-burial-grounds, eating-flesh aspect. And if you have to be supernatural, be terrifyingly supernatural.

Oh, vampire, for sure. I am already quite pale, dislike the sun, and wouldn’t mind living forever. Besides, as I mentioned earlier, I have never been particularly squeamish. But I would miss melted cheese.

What do you think makes a perfect horror/fantasy novel?

I think it comes down to a mastery of pacing. The Shining is thirty years old, but show me a horror that can come close to the way Stephen King paces his horror. His is the master.

I always think that it comes down to the unknown. Things are far scarier when .

What’s one of your greatest Halloween memories?

Being nineteen years old, dressed up as a nun, speeding in a golf cart down the center of campus thinking: I will never be younger and sillier than I am now.

On a rainy Halloween night when I was a small child, walking up and down the hallways and floors of our apartment building in Queens, New York, knocking on every door. We didn’t even have to step outside, and it was a great haul.

What are some books you have recently read and/or recommend?

In YA I just read The Body Finder, Some Girls Are and Sea. In middle grade; The Girl Who Could Fly. In adult: Freedom, and next up The Peculiar Sadness of Lemon Cake. But it’s time to get my nonfiction motor revving…

This summer I loved “Welcome to the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan, “Citrus County” by John Brandon and “What Is Left the Daughter” by Howard Norman. And I just snuck off and read “Linger” by Maggie Stiefvater in close to one sitting. Now I’m starting a book called “Memoirs of a Sword Swallower.” Non-fiction.

Quick Fire!

Angel or Demon?
Angel with a Vendetta
Demon. Duh.
(me: Love that they choose opposites XD)

Fangs or No Fangs?
Maybe one, well-placed fang
Fangs. Better for biting.

Ghosts: Believer or not?
All the way, every day, I Believe
Open to possibilities.

Alive or Undead?
Decidedly pro-choice.
OK, wait a minute. Undead as in sexy vampire, yes, but not as a decomposing zombie.

Thank you two so much for doing this interview! Is there anything else either of you would like to say?

Thank you for these fun and funky questions, sheer Saturday morning entertainment.

You are very welcome.
______________________________________________________

Author Interview: Dianne K. Salerni

 

 

Today I have author of We Hear The Dead, Dianne Salerni, on the blog!! I’ve gotten the chance to meet her in person and she is so wonderful and her book is amazing (look for my review soon)! So give a big welcome to her!

 

How did you get into writing?

I’ve been writing all my life. When I was in elementary school, I wrote stories in notebooks and passed them around for my friends to read. In fact, I was recently reminded of this because one of my fifth grade students this year is the son of an old classmate. When I was talking to my students about my lifetime writing habit, this boy raised his hand and called out, “I know! I know! My mom says she used to read your stories!” It was nice to know she remembered!

Where did you get inspiration for your book?

I was researching spiritualism because I wanted to write a story with a séance in it, when I stumbled across the Fox sisters. I’d heard of them before, but I always imagined they were old spinsters. I was shocked to discover they were only 14 and 11 when they became spirit mediums, and that these two adolescent girls fooled people all over the country. They were America’s first teenage celebrities! When I discovered that one of the sisters had a celebrity romance with a famous Arctic explorer -- AND that her romance caused a scandal because of her social class – I knew I had to write the story! (I wonder if the 1850’s press referred to Maggie and Elisha as Maglisha?)

Which of your character do you most relate to?

I relate most to Maggie Fox, who never intended for her little prank to turn into a national hoax. She was mischievous and clever, but she would not have chosen a life of deceit if her older sister Leah had not pushed her into it. Of course, she certainly loved all the attention once she became famous! There were a few scary situations that made her regret her lies, but it wasn’t until she fell in love with Elisha Kane that she considered turning her back on her sisters and leaving the spirit medium business forever.

If you could write a novel with any other author in the world who would it be?

I wracked my brains over this one. I’d love to write with a master of gothic fiction and ghostly mysteries, but I was trying to think of somebody still alive -- Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876-1958) kept coming to mind, but she was dead before I was born! Then I heard a student talking about Mary Downing Hahn, and I thought “Bingo!” Hahn has written timeless ghost stories, as well as historical fiction, although mostly for the MG level. It would be really fun to write a Teen ghost/horror/mystery with someone as accomplished as Hahn!

So I hear you have plans for complete world domination. Do tell.

Well, there IS a movie in pre-production, but I’m not sure if I can achieve world domination unless we get the cast of Twilight involved. Just kidding! Seriously though, I‘ve been working on a screenplay version of the Fox sisters’ story for over a year now, in collaboration with Amy Green, producer and owner of One Eye Open Studio. We are close to having the screenplay finished, and Ms. Green plans to seek financial backing for the movie this fall. And with all due respect to Kristen, Robert, and Taylor – I’d rather see someone more livelily than Kristen play Maggie, and my pick for Elisha Kane would be that Prince of Persia guy, Jake Gyllenhaal!

(Me: Wow that is wonderful! So when your book becomes an epically famous movie with a bunch of awesome stars you’ll send me tickets to the premiere, right? XD)

What are some books you have recently read and/or recommend?

I can highly recommend Picture the Dead, by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown, another Sourcebooks Fire book that is historical and ghostly, as well as beautifully illustrated. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting is another book I recently enjoyed. Something a little less recent, and probably not as well known, is a steampunk trilogy written by Kenneth Oppel: Airborn, Skybreaker, and Starclimber. Thanks to these books, I am developing an interest in steampunk fiction, which combines a little science fiction with Victorian age society – win/win for me!

Describe your book in one sentence.
When a young girl pretends she can speak to the dead, she finds herself trapped in a life of lies --until a love affair with a dashing hero offers her a possible escape.

Quick Fire!

Hot or Cold? Cold! I would rather be skiing than sweating!
Tea or Coffee? Coffee. But I’m not a fan of Starbucks.
Angel or Demon? Definitely demon. Demons are more ornery and offer the potential for so much more mischief!
Fangs or No Fangs? I think no fangs. Too many other vampires out there right now. I plan on staying away from them for awhile. Same with werewolves!
Ghosts: Believer or not? I really WANT to believe in ghosts. The world would be so much more interesting if they were real! But I can’t shake my skeptic side.

Thank you so much for doing this interview Dianne! Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’m just happy I got the chance to meet you at PAYA 2010 last month! I thought that was an amazing event – incredibly successful in its first year, all for a good cause, and organized by a Teen reader! Wow! I can’t wait to see what happens next year, and I hope to see you there again!
______________________________________________________

Cover Contest: Vote Vote Vote!

Hey everyone! Taking a small break from my Halloween posted to say that today is the last day to vote for the Matched Re-create cover contest over at Squeaky Books!! There are a bunch of wonderful covers entered and some really tough competition. Though, I’d appreciate it if you when over to voted! One lucky voter actually gets to win a prize pack! How cool, right?!

Here’s my cover:

If you like mine the best I would love your vote, but make sure to look at all the other beautiful covers too :D

GO VOTE! 

Guest Review: The Dead and The Gone

Title: The Dead and The Gone

Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books

Pages: 321

Summary: Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as We Knew It enthralled and devastated readers with its brutal but hopeful look at an apocalyptic event--an asteroid hitting the moon, setting off a tailspin of horrific climate changes. Now this harrowing companion novel examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican Alex Morales. When Alex's parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland, and food and aid dwindle.

     With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful new novel explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities.

Review: Seventeen year old Alex Morales is a poor Puerto Rican boy who works hard and responsibly for his age. He plans on completing his senior year of college in his small New York school and going to college. When an asteroid crashes into the moon, however, his careful plans are crashed with it.

At first, nothing seems amiss, after all the moon is thousands of miles away from Earth. But he can't contact his mother, who's a nurse, or his father who's in Puerto Rico for a funeral. Soon panic, tsunamis, floods, and natural disasters cover the Earth, while people struggle to get and save whatever food they can find. Through pain and hardship, Alex tries his best to make sure his 12 year old sister and 15 year old asthmatic sister are well-fed and stay alive.

The Dead and the Gone is written in the third-person point of view, unlike the first book in this series - Life as We Knew It (you don't have to read the series in order), which was written in diary-format. Still, readers feel the personal connection with Alex, as he struggles to live and care for his two younger sisters. For edge-of-your-seat science fiction, I recommend picking up The Dead and the Gone right away.
______________________________________________________

This review was done by Hafsah from Icey Books. Thanks so much for the guest review Hafsah! Make sure to take a look at her blog to see more of her reviews!

Dead Books GIVEAWAY: Win *signed* copy of The Body Finder!

Up for grabs here is a SIGNED copy of The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting and a swag pack! Thank you Kim for so kindly donating both the book and swag!

*RULES*
*US Addresses only
*Ends Nov. 7th
*There will be two (2) winners!
*First place winner will receive a signed (and if wanted, personalized) copy of The Body Finder.
*Second place winner will winner a The Body Finder swag pack.
*Fill out the form below!

Interview with Kim
The Body Finder Review
Kim’s Blog