This is the tour I’ve been hanging out for, my very good friend, the hugely talented, fabulous Wendy Toliver. I was lucky enough to read Lifted before it was published and I know you’re all going to love it. And the cover is amazing, I have serious cover envy!!

So………

Being Bad Never Felt So Good.

Poppy Browne had never stolen anything in her life before moving to Pleasant Acres, Texas and meeting Mary Jane and Whitney. But when Poppy walks out of the mall with her two new friends and her first pair of stolen jeans, she’s hooked.

Before long, Poppy is lifting whenever she gets the urge—it’s never about the merchandise, it’s always about the thrill. But when her secret gets out, the girls in Poppy’s clique turn on one another. As she watches her life collapse around her, Poppy must decide where her loyalties lie … and how far she’ll go to protect herself.

Check out the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX6goy2sAwc

And now for my usual questions:
What inspired the plot for your book?
I was watching a show on TV about how shoplifting is a huge problem, especially with teens, and thought it would make an interesting topic for a book. Most people have either shoplifted themselves, have been tempted to try it, or know someone who has, so I think it’s something we can all relate to.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
My first attempt at writing a book was in the chick lit genre. That manuscript never sold but it did get me some valuable feedback from editors. More than one mentioned that my voice is “young and fun” and that I might be suited to write YA. Sure enough, my first attempt at writing for teens (The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren) was successful and I was hooked!

What is your writing process like?
Since I have three little boys who are always getting into things I have to write whenever I can squeeze out the time. I write on a laptop most of the time (though I sometimes do jot things down on napkins or scraps of paper). I self-edit along the way, which sometimes bogs me down but I can’t seem to go on if something isn’t quite right. I tend to walk around in a daze, thinking about my stories so that when I do get a minute to sit down, I can type it out and make the most of the time.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a paranormal YA at the moment, with a few other projects on the sidelines.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I try to catch up on housework, play, and sleep. For fun, I like to wakeboard in the summer and snowboard in the winter, and I’m always up for a hike or long walk.

Who do you like to read?
I read a variety of authors. Right now, I’m reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett and enjoying it.

What People Are Saying About Lifted
“Smart, deftly written, and extremely well-observed, Wendy Toliver’s Lifted is so realistic and moving I felt like I was transported right inside Poppy’s world, watching as she struggled to navigate her way through a school where appearances are deceiving and no one is quite what they seem. A hard to put down, compelling read!”
Alyson Noël, #1 New York Times Best Selling author of The Immortals series

“Lifted is the story of an imperfect heroine seeking her place not only in school, but in life. Its exploration of the amount of truth behind social and religious stereotypes escalates into a double-dog dare to believe them. A haunting morality tale that will leave you questioning just what it means to be “good.”
Aprilynne Pike, author of the #1 New York Times Best-Selling novel Wings

“Lifted by Wendy Toliver is an amazing, compelling read, filled with all the realness of being in high school, from humor to love to angst. I haven’t met a character so well developed as Poppy since reading Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. At times heartbreaking, at others uplifting, Lifted is a book that I absolutely loved.”
James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner and the13th Reality series

VOYA
Poor Poppy Browne! Her mother, an attractive but uptight college professor, has moved her from hip Colorado to bucolic Pleasant Acres, Texas, saying that she is doing it for Poppy’s benefit. Even worse, she has to make a go of it in a conservative Baptist school. Calvary High, though, proves to be a much more interesting place than Poppy had imagined. Initially, it is all a bit straight-laced and humdrum, but when she makes friends with popular Mary Jane and Whitney, her life becomes more intriguing. The two girls, top students and role models, prove to be accomplished shoplifters. When they introduce Poppy to their pastime, she is instantly hooked—and it is not the merchandise—it is the thrill of the chase, the charge of getting away with something. Then, one of her friends informs on her, and as her world comes crashing down, Poppy has to figure out what her values really are. The writing and characterization are both decent, with enough contemporary slang and topical references for teens to relate. Plot driven, yes, indeed; but in the category of light read, this rates well on the girl interest scale. A strictly additional purchase, this is excellent beach reading for those seeking mean girl-fare with a soupcon of romance. Reviewer: Ann Welton

Booklist
Especially well drawn is Poppy’s crush, a quirky, sincere minister’s son, who—as Poppy’s world spins out of control—comforts her with unconditional support: “We all make mistakes. It says so in the Bible, so it’s gotta be true.” Will appeal to all teens interested in wayward behavior. Reviewer: Karen Cruze

Contest
Wendy is running a contest on her website, www.wendytoliver.com, the entire month of June. Simply click on the “contact” button and send her a message including the word “contest,” your name, and your U.S. mailing address. (If you’re under the age of 14, please get permission from your parents/guardians first.) She will be giving away gift cards to Border’s, signed copies of Lifted, as well as other fun prizes. One entry per person, please.

Bio
Born in Texas, raised in Colorado, and now living in Utah, Wendy Toliver has successfully eliminated “y’all” from her vocabulary. However, she still managed to marry a pickup man. They have three young sons and an assortment of furry, scaly, and slimy pets. She is the author of three novels for teens: The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren, Miss Match, and Lifted.

Online
Web-site: www.wendytoliver.com
Blogs: www.teenfictioncafe.blogspot.com, www.booksboysbuzz.com, www.pulserocom.com
Other: www.facebook.com/wendy.toliver, www.twitter.com/wendytoliver, www.myspace.com/roxytoliver, http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Wendy-Toliver/44777487

I’m very excited to touring ENDLESS SUMMER by Jennifer Echols.

Two irresistible boys. One unforgettable summer.

Lori can’t wait for her summer at the lake. She loves wakeboarding and hanging with her friends–including the two hotties next door. With the Vader brothers, she’s always been just one of the guys. Now that she’s turning sixteen, she wants to be seen as one of the girls, especially in the eyes of Sean, the older brother. But that’s not going to happen–not if the younger brother, Adam, can help it.

Lori plans to make Sean jealous by spending time with Adam. Adam has plans of his own for Lori. As the air heats up, so does this love triangle. Will Lori’s romantic summer melt into one hot mess?

And now for the usual questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
I grew up on a beautiful lake in Alabama, and I invented a romantic plot that should have happened to me when I lived there. I’m a sucker for books about love triangles, the boy next door, and finally getting together with the crush you pined after forever—so I threw every bit of that into the pot and made it into the book I wanted to read.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I love the romantic comedy genre above anything else.

What is your writing process like?
It’s a total mess. It takes me forever to figure out what I’m writing about next, and then I start the book…on page 150! I don’t write in order. I have tried to streamline my process, but I’ve found that I need the chaos. It drives me crazy but it seems to work for me, and I do produce a book I love in the end.

What are you working on now?
My next romantic drama, Forget You, is coming out on July 20. Right now I’m writing still another romantic drama that will be published in July 2011.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I work as a copyeditor. In my free time I hang out with my son, run about four miles a day, and read!

Who do you like to read?
I like to sample one book by everybody just so I’ll know what’s going on—but my all-time favorite writers are Jane Austen, adult romantic comedy writer Jennifer Crusie, and my fabulous critique partner, Victoria Dahl.

Bio:

Jennifer Echols grew up in a small town on a beautiful lake in Alabama–a setting that has inspired many of her books. Always interested in creative writing, she finished her first (and still unpublished) novel soon after graduating with a degree in English from Auburn University at age 20. She worked as an editor for newspapers, a writer for business publications, and a writing instructor for three major universities, completed a master’s degree in English, and finished the coursework for a PhD in genre studies before selling a book. Since then, she has written many young adult novels for Simon & Schuster, including Major Crush, which won the National Reader’s Choice Award, and Going Too Far, which is a finalist in the 2010 RITA, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Book Buyer’s Best. Her next novel, Forget You, will be released on July 20. Currently she works as a copyeditor and lives in Birmingham with her husband and son. Please visit her online at www.jennifer-echols.com.

Endless Summer is Published by Simon Pulse, a division of Simon & Schuster. ISBN-10: 1442406593; ISBN-13: 978-1442406599.

But first the books Lauren’s touring:

THE EDUCATION OF BET published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and coming out in July, is about a 16-year-old girl in Victorian England who impersonates a boy in order to get a proper education.

Volume 5 of the Sisters 8, co-written with Greg Logsted and Jackie Logsted, also published by Houghton Mifflin, MARCIA’S MADNESS which came out on May 3rd and is about Marcia – the fifth-born sister, Marcia, the sensible one; Marcia, the reasonable one; Marcia, the one who would never do anything crazy, begins to act in a most unusual way.

And now for the question:

What I find incredible is the way you move, seemingly effortlessly, from one genre to another. How do you manage to do this and what tips would you give anyone wanting to do the same?

I’m glad it looks effortless, but it isn’t always! Basically what it boils down to is that like a lot of people, I’m an eclectic reader. There are books I love in nearly every area of literature. I’m the same in terns of writing. I can no more see myself sticking to writing in one area than I can picture myself saying I’ll only read adult comedies for the rest of my life or only YA vampire novels. Obviously if I have a multibook contract with a publisher, I have to write the type of book they hired me to write in terms of what I deliver to them, but for things not under contract, I simply move where the whim takes me. In fact, that’s how I wrote my first YA novel, Angel’s Choice. I’d started it thinking I was writing yet another novel for the adult market but somewhere in the process realized that the voice of the narrator was authentically a teen and that I’d stumbled into writing YA.

I’ve loved writing YA ever since. One of the fabulous things about it is that a writer is less likely to get pigeonholed by YA readers. When you write for the adult market, people try very hard to keep you in the box you first were published in. If you start out in light comedy, they get perplexed if you published a book classified as literary Victorian suspense – ahem. Not so with YA. Perhaps that’s because readers of YA are as eclectic as I am: as likely to read a contemporary problem novel, a seriocomic sort-of mystery, a fairy tale re-visioning, or a novel set in the Victorian era about a girl impersonating a boy in order to get a proper education.

As for tips for people who want to do what I do – well, hopefully they’ll do it better! – I would say simply to begin thinking as early as possible about what would make you happiest in terms of a writing career and also examine why you write in the first place: Do you do it primarily because you love to write, or because you want to be published? You can have both goals simultaneously but they are separate things. If you’re more security-oriented, you may want to stick to one area so you have a better chance of branding yourself as the marketing gurus like to call it these days. But if you’re more task-oriented, like me, you might want to try writing what you love, whatever that might be on any given project, and hoping the money will follow. If, like me, you’re not a branded author, the money will not follow all that heavily, but it may just be enough. And in my case, writing as I do means I’m never bored as a writer, which is important to me since life is short. I hope my readers are never bored either.

And now this is, officially, the longest answer I have given on The One-Question Interview Blog Tour!

Bio:
Before becoming a published author, Lauren was an independent bookseller, a Publishers Weekly reviewer, a freelance editor, a sort-of librarian and a window washer. You can read more about her life and work at www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com.

I’m really excited for my first tour of 2010 to be Eileen Cook’s GETTING REVENGE ON LAUREN WOOD. I can’t wait to read it, Eileen’s such a funny writer.

About the Book:

Popularity is the best revenge.
In the final weeks of eighth grade, Lauren Wood made a choice. She betrayed her best friend, Helen, in a manner so publicly humiliating that Helen had to move to a new town just to save face. Ditching Helen was worth it, though, because Lauren started high school as one of the It Girls–and now, at the start of her senior year, she’s the cheerleading captain, the quarterback’s girlfriend, and the undisputed queen bee. Lauren has everything she’s ever wanted, and she has forgotten all about her ex-best friend.

But Helen could never forget Lauren. After three years of obsessing, she’s moving back to her old town. She has a new name and a new look, but she hasn’t dropped her old grudges. She has a detailed plan to bring down her former BFF by taking away everything that’s ever been important to Lauren—starting with her boyfriend.

Watch out, Lauren Wood. Things are about to get bitchy.

And now for my usual questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
The book was inspired in part by rereading The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s such a great revenge tale with secret identities, romance and betrayal between best friends. It made me think how things would play out if the story were to take place in a high school. Right then I was off and running with a story.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I love writing for teens! Everything matters so much more at that age that it allows books and characters to have a great intensity. I tend to use humor in my books because I don’t seem capable of writing without it.

What is your writing process like?
There’s a process? Dang, I should get one of those. I don’t have a set routine or system to my writing. I still work part time at my day job and my life seems to teeter towards chaos at times so a set schedule doesn’t work well for me. I do try and write a bit every day so that I can keep the story moving forward and tell myself not to get too bogged down if something is wrong, I can always fix it once I have something on the page.

What are you working on now?
I have two projects on the go. I am doing a middle grade series about a girl who comes from a long line of fairy godmothers. All she wants is to be normal, but that is harder for her than you might imagine. I’ve also just started a YA about a girl caught in a prank gone wrong and her ability to deal with the fall out.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
Reading! I’m a book junkie. I love to snuggle up on the sofa with my dogs and lose myself in a good book. I also love watching movies and knitting.

Who do you like to read?
I read EVERYTHING. I love mysteries, and non-fiction, funny books, serious books, books with dogs, scary books, romance – you name it and I bet I have it on my shelf.

About the Eileen:

Eileen Cook spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer. When she was unable to find any job postings for world famous author, she went to Michigan State University and became a counselor so she could at least afford her book buying habit. But real people have real problems, so she returned to writing because she liked having the ability to control the ending. Which is much harder with humans.

You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

www.eileencook.com

Praise for Eileen’s Writing:
“Sassy and sly and sweet all at the same time, this book made me laugh out loud.” –Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries and Airhead
“Not since Judy Blume’s Margaret introduced herself to God has there been such a funny, genuine, conflicted, wanna-be-sorta-good-maybe-later girl as Emma. Cook’s tone as she takes on the big ones—life, love, faith, and friendship—is pitch perfect.”–Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Midnight Twins and The Deep End of the Ocean
“Smart and fun and full of heart.” –Sarah Mlynowski, author of Bras & Broomsticks and How to Be Bad

I’m very excited to be touring the awesome Stephanie Kuehnert (one of my fellow TFCers) and her latest book Ballads of Suburbia which I can’t wait to read.

In high school, Kara McNaughton helped maintain the “Stories of Suburbia” notebook, which contained newspaper articles about bizarre and often tragic events from suburbs all over, as well as personal vignettes written by her friends,which Kara dubbed “ballads”. Ballads are the kind of songs that Kara likes best.

-more-

Not the clichéd ones but the truly genuine, gut-wrenching songs that convey love, loss and an individual’s story. Those “stories of Suburbia” were heartbreakingly honest tales of the moments when life changes and a kid is forced to grow up too soon. But Kara never wrote her own ballad. Before she could figure out what her song was about, she was leaving town after a series of disastrous events at the end of her junior year of high school.

Four years later, Kara returns to face the music, and tells the tale of her first three years of high school with her friends’ “ballads” interspersed throughout. Among them are her best friend Stacey, who dates guy after guy trying to find the one who will take care of her the way her parents never did; Cass, who copes with her mother’s mental illness and her older brother’s abandonment by doing copious amounts of acid; Adrian the creator of the “Stories of Suburbia”, who has “Thrown Away” tattooed on his forearms to express how he feels about his
adoptive parents and his birth parents; Christian, who seems like the nice guy type that Kara belongs with, but has a violent streak; Kara’s little brother Liam, who idolized Johnny Cash as a preschooler and has idolized Kara all his life though she lets him down again and again; and Maya, an eccentric but beautiful redhead who refuses to talk about her mother’s suicide.

Then of course, there’s Kara. She begins high school as a loner, who copes with her lack of friends and her rapidly unraveling home life by going to concerts with Liam, smoking the occasional joint, and cutting herself when things get really bad. She’s reluctant at first when she tags along with Maya to Scoville Park, where the “misfit” kids hang out, but she really wants “a life.” The summer after junior year that life nearly ends with a heroin overdose, the event that triggers Kara’s exit from Oak Park.

All the things that happen in between make up the ballads of suburbia.

And now for my usual set of questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
I have a list of early inspirations of the book and its characters that I will share:
-Chicagoland, particularly the little corner of it I am so familiar with being the near western suburbs
-The epic fall and rise out of the ashes that makes you a person (Mythology)
-Suburbia (the place and the 80s movie)
-Punk Rock
-Family (the one you are born into and the one you chose, which often mirrors the problems of the original family but also fills the void)
-”Fitting in”/Jenga/house of cards

The main characters and the influences for them are:
Adrian is imagery of the worn cuff of your jeans slowly being worn away as you walk without you even knowing it.
Maya is scarlet lipstick stains on a cigarette butt.
Liam sang Johnny Cash as a little kid not the Beatles like everyone else.
Kara is the bastard child of a PJ Harvey song and a Mark Lanegan song.

Some of that may seem rather vague and I came up with that list when I was in first draft phase which is why I thought it would be particularly fun to share. But ultimately, the plot was inspired by my own experience in suburbia. It’s not autobiographical by any means, but I saw that a lot of things were not as happy and safe as they seemed and wanted to bring that out into the light.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I write the kinds of books I wanted to read as a teenager. As a teen, I read adult books, so I didn’t necessarily set out to write YA. I wanted to write books that both teens and adults would love and honestly as an adult, the genre I love most right now is YA! It’s the most honest and real and interesting. I’m glad to be a part of it!

What is your writing process like?
Well, it really depends on the book. Each times I start a new project I learn to write over again. For the most part though, I start with an idea and I toy with it forever. Then I finally start to write in fits and spurts. Then I binge. I go away for a week and just write like 10, 12 hour days. Then the first draft is finished and that is the part I hate most, the first draft. Revising is the fun part. Perfecting, shaping.

What are you working on now?
I’m in the fits and spurts phase. I have a few different ideas I’m toying with, but right this very second I’m toying with a book about a girl who has been moved around by her mother her whole life, so she goes on this road trip to find her “real home”. She’s on the road with a boy who is like a brother to her who is dealing with bipolar disorder and off his meds. But um, I could end up putting out a very different book next. Who knows really!

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I love to listen to music and go to concerts. I also love to read and just veg out in front of the TV with my fiancé.

Who do you like to read?
A wide variety of authors from the classics like John Steinbeck to gritty
contemporary adult like Irvine Welsh, to Urban Fantasy like Jeri Smith-Ready and
then mostly YA, in which my favorites are Melissa Marr, Francesca Lia Block, Cecil Castellucci, Laura Wiess…. Oh I could go on…

Here’s what people are saying about BALLADS OF SUBURBIA:

“….an intensely real and painfully honest novel of high-school anxiety.” and “….Kuehnert nails the raw vulnerability of teendom and delivers a hard-hitting and mesmerizing read.” – Booklist

“Like an American Beauty for the teen set.” – NewCity

“With her first two novels, Kuehnert has created vivid pictures of teenage lives that lie in that borderland that abuts adulthood. It is a fertile, confusing and intense place, and Kuehnert never holds back. But like a good ballad, she keeps the stories taut and precise, with a touch of heart thrown in for good measure.” – Chicago Sun-Times

“This book is powerful. It’s been haunting me for days. Yes, haunting me.” – The Story Siren, 5 star review, Recipient of the Luminous Pearl Award

“BALLADS OF SUBURBIA is a remarkable achievement that hits you right where it counts (your heart) and lingers where it matters (the brain). I’m truly looking forward to seeing what Stephanie Kuehnert will do next.” – Steph Su Reads, 5 out of 5 rating

“This novel was addicting. It was harsh, raw, cruel, sad, and painful, but the scariest of all is that this is real. In one powerful novel, whole worlds are exposed. I recommend this novel to anyone ready to see the truth.” – Reading Is Bliss

“All that really needs to be said about Ballads of Suburbia is that it’s spectacular, and that I can’t recommend it enough.” – Frenetic Reader

Bio:
Stephanie Kuehnert got her start writing bad poetry about unrequited love and razor blades in eighth grade. In high school, she discovered punk rock and produced several D.I.Y. feminist ‘zines. She received her MFA in creative writing from Columbia College Chicago and lives in Forest Park, Illinois. Her first novel, I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE, was released by MTV Books in July of 2008. BALLADS OF SUBURBIA, also published by MTV Books, is her latest release.

Website: www.stephaniekuehnert.com
Blog: stephaniekuehnert.blogspot.com A cyber launch party for Ballads of Suburbia is running there through August 14 with lots of guest bloggers and daily prizes!

Link to Epilogue (ie the very first chapter of the book) on Stephanie’s site: http://www.stephaniekuehnert.com/ballads/index.html#chap1

I’m really excited to be touring ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH by Greg Logsted. It’s my kind of book and I can’t wait to read it.

Thirteen-year-old Cody Saron has been home schooled his whole life by his father, an undercover agent for the CIA. Cody has never lived the same life as other kids his age. He never went to a regular school, never lived in one place longer than a few weeks, never had a friend or played on any sports teams. Cody’s a black belt in the arts of Tae Kwon Do and Ju Jitsu. He speaks five languages and has traveled to every corner of the globe. But what Cody isn’t prepared for is . . . junior high.

When the danger surrounding Cody’s dad heats up like never before, Cody is sent to stay with the aunt he’s never known, Jenny Williams, in her small Connecticut suburb. Cody knows how to pick a lock or follow a trail, but he has no idea how to fit in with regular kids, how to handle his first crush, or how to make it through a day of classes. How will he ever fit in?

Reviews:
“Funny and fast paced, this fits right in with the beach-read crowd.”
-Kirkus
“I just finished reading Greg Logsted’s Alibi Junior High in a single sitting. Thankfully the family had other things to do for a while because the author nailed me to the pages with his premise and with the fantastic pacing of this young adult novel. I wasn’t tempted even once to get up and go do something else. Logsted starts his spell on page one, and readers will have to stay with him to see what ultimately happens to Cody Saron, the 13-year-old professional spy.” ~ Mel Odol, INDENVER TIMES

Bio:
Greg Logsted currently lives in Danbury with his wife and fellow author, Lauren Baratz-Logsted and their daughter Jackie. He is the author of Something Happened and coauthor of The Sisters 8 series for young readers. www.greglogsted.com and www.twitter.com/GregLogsted.

Simply Irresistible (Penguin) brings us a whole new set of adventures now that Casey has had a big city-haute makeover, courtesy of her classmate and neighbor Madison Macallister – part teen icon and part queen diva-bitch. Wearing the right clothes, saying the right things, and meeting the right people, has given Casey the look and the attitude – she’s “in” and loving it! Much to Madison’s dismay, her rival is climbing up the social ladder in a big way and could end up just as popular as Madison now that the two are set to star in their own TV reality show, “De-Luxe.” Yes, showbiz came knocking on two of The Bramford’s most illustrious doors and, as much as Madison thrives on the attention the show brings, she’s not thrilled about having every bit of her life of privilege caught on tape. However, fame comes at a price and Madison is one chick who is willing to pay anything…especially if it means becoming the next reality “it girl.” Casey, on the other hand, is realizing that Reality TV can sometimes beunreal, causing her to wonder if she even knows who she is anymore. With her relationship with Drew, Madison’s ex, currently more off than on, she can’t help wondering if everything i n her life is really just an illusion – and how much longer the illusion can last….

Now for the questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
Reality TV! I’m absolutely hooked on it (I know, I know), and I knew from the very beginning of the series that I wanted the girls to get their own TV show. In the last novel in the series, IN TOO DEEP, the girls get a call from a MTV-esque music television network, and are offered their own series, a look inside the lives of Manhattan’s REAL Gossip Girls. In SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, we get to watch the process as the show is filmed and aired!

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I did some ghostwriting for a popular YA series, and I just fell in love with the genre. I love how excited readers get over these books, and how much fun they are to write. It’s like getting to be 16 again–without having to have bad hair, or be socially awkward

What is your writing process like?
If I’m actively working on a book, I write 5 pages a day, no excuses. I write for around 4 hrs a day, then call it quits, otherwise I’ll be too burned out to write again the next day.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a novel called WHITE LINES, about club kids in NYC in the late 1980′s.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
Read, watch mindless reality TV, pet my beagle and take him to the beach, hug my boyfriend

Who do you like to read?
Megan Kelley Hall–can’t wait for the sequel to SISTERS OF MISERY!, Robin Benway, Melissa Walker, Barry Lyga, Anna Godberson, Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot.

Reviews
“If you love all the drama, scandal, and high-end fashion of Gossip
Girl…you’ll want to check out…The Elite!”–Seventeen.com

“The Elite is Pretty in Pink for the millennium generation.”–Romance
Reviews Today

“An awesome tale of friendship and betrayal with just the right amount
of humor and heart. Seriously irresistible, and impossible to put
down.”-Alexa Young, author of Frenemies and Faketastic

I’m very excited to be touring the fabulous Linda Gerber and her new book DEATH BY DENIM.

Here’s what it’s about:
Aphra Connolly is being chased by some very dangerous people. She knows her survival depends upon staying far away from love interest Seth, and listening to her mom’s lectures on the finer points of anonymity and survival. But how is a girl supposed to live under the radar and not think about her boyfriend when she’s in Paris—the most romantic city in the world? When her mom’s contact in Paris is found floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed in his mouth, Aphra realizes that she will never be able to stop running unless she confronts the situation head-on. Sneaking away from her mom, Aphra tracks down the criminal mastermind in Italy, only to unwittingly reveal Seth’s location. And her mistake has just put them both in mortal danger. . . .

Now for the questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
To be honest? The title. With this series, I came up with the first title – DEATH BY BIKINI – myself, but my publisher suggested the next two titles, based on the locations I had proposed. When I said the third book would go international and be set in Europe, I was kind of surprised when the title they came up with was DEATH BY DENIM. Great, I thought. Now I have to figure out how to kill someone with denim without using the methods in the first two books (strangulation would have been so easy, right? Or maybe poison in the fabric that would leech into my victim’s skin…) As I researched the denim in Europe, looking for ideas, I discovered a really cool connection that steered the plot in a whole new direction.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I write YA and romantic suspense/mystery because it’s what I love to read.

What is your writing process like?
Sit at desk, stare at screen, ponder, procrastinate…
Seriously, though, my “process” is constantly evolving. For instance, I never used to outline, but I’ve learned to because I sold several books on proposal. I’m also trying harder to resist self-editing before the first draft is done. This is surprisingly hard for me!

What are you working on now?
I’m just getting ready to dig into the revisions for my paranormal YA that will be out next year. At the moment, it’s about two trance-writing sisters who have to learn to trust their gift – and each other. We’ll see what revisions do to that concept!

What do you do when you’re not writing?
At the moment, when I’m not tethered to the desk, I’m outside. The weather is finally getting nice so my favorite afternoon activity is to sit in the shade of our big trees in the backyard with a great book. I might even start to make a dent in my TBR pile!

Who do you like to read?
So many authors! My list of YA and MG faves is pages long… with new names being added all the time. For instance, I just read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (I know, I am seriously behind) and now I’ll have to grab everything else he’s written. I also just discovered Cassie Clare. Again, behind, I know, but I bought her books when she was here signing with Lisa McMann (another favorite) and I’ve enjoyed City of Glass so far. Out of the YA realm, I tend to go with thrillers by Lee Child, Barry Eisler, Brad Meltzer and Lisa Unger. And I’d probably really like Richard Castle if he were real!

Early praise for DEATH BY DENIM:

“Starting with a heart-pounding chase scene… Gerber weaves in some major cultural landmarks as Aphra races through Paris and then Italy on a mission to expose the would-be assassin and rescue her love interest, Seth. Taut suspense… along with interesting tips of the espionage trade, will propel readers to the neat ending.” – Booklist

“Death by Denim, the third book in Linda Gerber’s fun, action-packed, and suspenseful series, is just as riveting as its prequels. Gerber’s style is not only modern and down to earth, but cunning and intelligent as well… Aphra is an engaging and lively narrator whose bravery and smarts readers will admire. Equal parts action, romance, and mystery, Death by Denim is a fun-filled and engrossing read that will appeal to fans of Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series.” – The Compulsive Reader

“Gerber does not disappoint with this exciting novel from her Death by… series. Gerber’s strength is by far in creating such a thrilling and fast paced plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. …Death by Denim is a wholly enjoyable read, full of action, romance, and international flair. Fans of Death by Bikini and Death by Latte, the earlier installments in this series, won’t want to miss Death by Denim. Teen girls in particular looking for a fast and fun mystery to devour will enjoy Gerber’s Death by… series.” – The Book Muncher

“Nancy Drew meets “Alias” in the latest fast-paced, murder-mystery romance.”
- Paddyfield

*** Top Choice Award – Flamingnet Book Reviews ***

Praise for the series:

“Will capture mystery fans.” – Booklist

“Strong writing and plenty of plot twists.” -The Providence Journal

“Fast-paced, fun, and maybe just a little scary.”-YA New York

Just “the right amount of intrigue, suspense, humor and romance.”-Flamingnet Book Reviews

“Five enchantments.”-Enchanting Reviews

“Refreshing read.”-Simply Books

Bio

Linda Gerber recently returned to life in the Midwest after four years in Japan, where she served as the Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Her books include SASS: NOW AND ZEN, SASS: THE FINNISH LINE and the YA mysteries DEATH BY BIKINI, DEATH BY LATTE and DEATH BY DENIM. She currently lives and writes in Dublin, OH, blissfully ignoring her husband, kids, and one very naughty puppy.

Check out the launch part at Linda’s website 14th 15th and 16th May for the chance to win some fabulous prizes.

I’m very excited to be touring Torched by April Henry. I love the sound of her book and can’t wait to read it.

About the book:
When Ellie’s parents are busted for growing marijuana, the FBI gives her a choice: infiltrate the Mother Earth Defenders (MED), a radical environmental group, or her parents will go to jail. At first Ellie is more than willing to entrap the MEDics, but the more time she spends undercover—particularly with Coyote, the green-eyed MEDic that she can’t stop thinking about—the more she starts to believe in their cause. When talk turns to murder, Coyote backs out, but Ellie is willing to risk everything to save her family—even if it means losing Coyote and putting her own life on the line.

And now for the interview:

What inspired the plot for your book?
Earth Liberation Front has long been active in the Northwest. The FBI considers them domestic terrorists. I was driving to work one morning, listening to the news, and the broadcaster said, “The FBI says they have been unable to infiltrate ELF.” And I thought, what else are they going to say? Yeah, we have someone who is working there undercover? And then I started thinking that most Elves are young, and FBI agents have to be at least 23, and they might need an informant.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I like the fast pace of mysteries and thrillers.

What is your writing process like?
I write 2-5 hours a day, often including weekends. I usually start by re-reading and tweaking what I wrote the day before. I’ll try to move on to the next section of the story, but if I get stuck, I “treat” myself by skipping ahead to a different section.

What are you working on now?
The Girl in the Mini Cooper, about a pizza delivery girl who is kidnapped. Everyone thinks she’s dead, her body dumped into the river. Everyone but two of her coworkers, who team up to find her.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I run, slowly, five miles four days a week. I love to cook. I like to talk to my teenager, who can always make me laugh. And of course, I love to read.

Who do you like to read?
Susan Beth Pfeffer. I am a complete fan girl. I’m really looking forward to next book in The Hunger Games series. I also love Scott Turow. I And I just read my first Michael Marshall, called The Intruders, and it was so fun!

About the autho:r
April Henry knows how to kill you in a two-dozen different ways. She makes up for a peaceful childhood in an intact home by killing off fictional characters. April had one detour on her path to destruction: when she was 12 she sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to noted children’s author Roald Dahl. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children’s magazine.

By the time she was in her 30s, April had come to terms with her childhood and started writing about hit men, drug dealers, and serial killers. She has published six mysteries and thrillers, with five more under contract. Her books have gotten starred
reviews, been on Booksense (twice!), translated into four languages, short-listed for the Oregon Book Award, and chosen as a Quick Pick by the American Library Association.

April writes for both teens and adults. This month Face of Betrayal will be published. It’s the first in a new series for adult mystery series co-written with FOX legal anaylst Lis Wiehl.

What others are saying:
Kirkus: “Romance and big explosions … the thrills and action will keep readers interested as she navigates her way between terrorists and self-centered Feds.”

Booklist: “The contemporary mix of politics and thrilling action will grab teens, not just environmentalists, as Ellie must decide how to save her parents and save the earth. Romance adds to the conflict as she falls in love with gorgeous MED member Coyote, who is both an activist and an ardent pacifist. Both the MEDs and the FBI have good guys and bad guys, and this suspenseful story will spark discussion about what it means to fight for right “by any means necessary.”

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books:
“Henry keeps a number of slick tricks up her sleeve, and when the plot takes off with a MED tree sit to stop clear cut logging, a cascade of treachery and betrayal is unleashed that should keep the pages flying. This is a far cry from the more whimsical take on environmentalism of Hiaasen’s Hoot, but readers who cut their teeth on that amiable escapade may want to explore the ethical implications of wielding vandalism and violence to achieve a worthy end.”

School Library Journal:
“Educators and environmentalists will appreciate the similarities between Ellie’s adventures and the exploits of Julia Butterfly Hill, as it will allow them to engage in a discussion about endangered species, corporate responsibility, and logging.”

Teens Read Too:
5 stars
“Torched is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. The book starts with a prologue that puts readers in the thick of the action, and things don’t slow down from there.”

Links:
April’s Website

This is the one GCC tour I’ve been hanging out to do. I’m SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to be touring my very good friend, and CP, and neighbor (we live only 20 mins from each other) Amanda Ashby, and her totally fabulous, amazingly funny book ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEWBURY HIGH. And check out the awesome cover.

If you comment on my blog and then send an email to Amanda telling her where you’ve commented, you’ll be entered into her contest to win a copy of the book. How cool is that????

So here’s what it’s about:

Tomorrow is prom, and all Mia wants to do is cast a love spell on her date Rob Ziggerman to keep him away from cheerleading goddess Samantha and save him all to herself. But somehow she ends up inflicting a zombie virus onto her whole class instead. At first Mia loves all the attention her classmates are giving her; treating her like a queen, compliments galore, and all the chocolate a girl could want. But then zombie hunter hottie Chase explains they are actually fattening her up. Why? Because in twenty-four hours, Mia will be the first course in their new diet. That’s what being the ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEWBURY HIGH means. She’s sure she and Chase can figure something out, especially when the alternative means that her classmates and teachers will be feasting on her bones. But in the meantime, she’s suggests that no one wear white to tomorrow night’s prom, because she has a feeling that things could get very messy.

And now for the interview. All comments in italicis are mine!!! Well if you can’t comment on what your CP has to say when can you?????

What inspired the plot for your book?
Actually it was you Sara – though I know you won’t remember (for anyone who isn’t aware – Sara’s memory is like a sieve apart from when it comes to important things like what time her fav TV shows are on or what she wants to have for lunch next week!!!!!) excuse me???? I don’t know what you mean . The thing is that I used to always threaten my cps (aka you being one of them!!) that if all else failed I could always write a book called I Was a Killer Zombie Bride. However, the more I joked about the more I realized that it might actually fun to really write a zombie book. Of course if this logic really works then one day Sara will be writing a book called Space Motel, since that is what she constantly threatens to do!!!

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
Hahaha, again, Sara I totally blame you!! When I was first trying to write chick lit books Sara kept suggesting that I try doing a young adult story but I kept ignoring her and in the end she got so sick of me not listening that she eventually wrote one. Not long after that I got the idea for my debut book YOU HAD ME AT HALO which was about a dead girl getting kicked out of heaven. However, when I tried to write it as chick lit, the heroine was soooo stroppy and annoyed with being dead that I suddenly realized she was only sixteen. From that moment I knew I loved writing young adult books – though in one of those weird twists of fate, Halo ended up being sold on the basis that I made my heroine older and turned it into a women’s fiction novel. I did that but for my next book I knew I wanted to go back to young adult books again because they were just so much fun to write. I’m not the sort of person to say I told you so…. but…….

What is your writing process like?
Can of worms alert coming up because asking me to talk about my process is never a pretty sight!! I can vouch for that. The truth is that no matter how much I try and plan, it just never works out that way and end up rewriting it so many times in order to try and find the ‘real’ story. This in turn tends to turn me slightly insane for long periods of time until suddenly the story all clicks together and I look back on at all and wonder why I made such a fuss. Then I start my next book and the crazy happens all over again!!!

What are you working on now?
I’ve just finished another young adult book about a girl who goes to a prestigious slaying school and suddenly starts to see invisible killer fairies that no one has ever heard of before. Unfortunately due to a small incident which totally wasn’t her fault – she’s become the girl who cries wolf’ and so no one believes her about the invisible killer fairies and she is forced to try and fight them on her own. While I’m waiting to get my edits for that one I’m working on a mid grade book which is lots of fun and has a very feisty heroine who gets herself in all sorts of trouble!!! You can say that again!

What do you do when you’re not writing?
When I’m not writing I’m either thinking about writing, reading, watching television, hanging out with my kids and husband or working at my weekend job at the library. And spending hours on the phone to me

Who do you like to read?
Right now I’m all about the House of Night series by PC Cast and Kristin Cast. And who introduced you to it??? Apart from that I read a lot of young adult books, chick lit and also fantasy books. Some of my all time favorite authors are: Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Jill Mansell, Janet Evanovich, Raymone E Feist, Ursula LeGuin, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Anne McCaffrey.

Bio
Amanda Ashby was born in Australia and has spent the last ten years dividing her time between England and New Zealand. When she’s not moving countries, she likes to write books (okay, she also likes to watch television, eat chocolate and sit around doing not much, but let’s just keep that between ourselves, shall we?). She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two young children. Her debut adult book You Had Me at Halo has been nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice award. This is her first book for young adults. Visit her on the web at www.amandaashby.com.

Reviews
“Zombie Queen of Newbury High is a delightfully fun, fresh, and funny read! Amanda Ashby creates a highly likeable heroine in Mia Everett, who, despite her best intentions, turns her classmates into zombies. And with prom quickly approaching, she must find a way to undo it before, well before she gets eaten! Never again will you look at prom, your classmates, or even zombies in quite the same way! ~Alyson Noel, New York Times Bestselling author of Evermore
“Zombie Queen of Newbury High is a delicious treat! Who knew zombies could be both fun and funny? It’s Zombilicious!” — Michelle Rowen, author of Bitten & Smitten
“Zombie Queen of Newbury High is where popularity can turn you undead (with an unsettling appetite) and Prom will be a little dangerous this year. Amanda Ashby moves into the YA world with snapping prose and an entertaining high school mix of teen crushes, popularity drama, and a zombie squad. Zombies beware–you’ll love to follow the twists and turns of this fresh and fun novel!” — Kelly Parra, author of Invisible Touch
“Amanda Ashby’s book, Zombie Queen of Newbury High, is filled with twists, turns and humor, sure to totally draw you in. I loved the fact that this read was more than your typical high school teen love story. If you’re like me and can’t get enough of books filled with mystery, suspense, with a dash of relatable relationship and friendship probs on the side, I def recommend picking up your own copy—you won’t regret it!” -Jami Katz GirlsLife.com Book Club

“Amanda Ashby writes a very entertaining and quick read about a teenage protagonist who has to fix the catastrophic problem she created – or else she’ll never be able to enjoy the ball with Prince Charming. Many readers will be able to relate to Mia and her quirky ways, and others will simply fall in love with her witty humor. And if that doesn’t work, there are always hunks Rob and Chase. ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEWBURY HIGH deserves the five stars. This is a very original story that isn’t too far-fetched that teenage readers can’t relate at all – it’s the perfect mix of reality and imagination.” 5 stars teensreadtoo

“…full of humor, romance and suspense, and her characters are well-developed and a joy to get to know. Five Stars.” – Bitten By Books

“Feel-good, fun and utterly lovely – if you’re a Buffy/Angel fan, or a zombie, or both, or neither, don’t miss this one! Highly recommended.” – Chicklish