2011 POC Reading Challenge

POC Reading Challenge: Committing to reading books written by and about people of color. I did sign up for this in 2010 and to be honest, I'm a bit ashamed with how I did. I am determined to do better for this year and have already gotten started. To sign up yourself, click on the picture. Here are the levels:

Level 1: Read 1-3 POC books
Level 2. Read 4-6 POC books
Level 3. Read 7-9 POC books
Level 4. Read 10-15 POC books
Level 5. Read 16-25 POC books

 I will go for Level 4 this time!

2011 Audio Book Challenge

Did I tell you guys that I'm addicted to audio books?? Well now you know! I tried one back in the summer, thinking it would bore me to tears but I was actually enjoying it. It definitely adds something to the story if there's a good narrator.  Anywho, Teresa from Teresa's Reading Corner is hosting the 2011 Audio Book Challenge and I've decided to participate this year. Here are the different levels:

• Curious-Listen to 3 Audio Books
• Fascinated- Listen to 6 Audio Books
• Addicted- Listen to 12 Audio Books
• Obsessed- Listen to 20 or more Audio Books

I've decided to go for Addicted but I'm hoping for Obsessed since I can usually knock down 1 or 2 audios a week.

Pam Bachorz on Writing Dystopian YA

Please join me in welcoming Pam Bachorz, author of the new release Drought. She's here to chat with us about writing a dystopian YA novel.

Thanks for having me! I can't say I ever set out to write a dystopian book. I really just write what fascinates me and freaks me out. Ever since I was small, I've tended to be fairly suspicious of--and cautious of--authority. I will admit I like to keep a certain amount of control in my life. Less kind people might deem me a control freak. So of course my ultimate horror is to lose control at the hands of authority: to have someone else in charge of my thoughts, my freedom, my very destiny.

Coming up with ideas isn't usually the hard part , for me. It's corralling them--taking a big, BIG idea and finding the right characters and plot to serve it. I've got some story ideas that I'm dying to write, but until I can get the mechanics figured out, or find the right plot, I've got to keep them tucked away. Their time has not come!

It's awesome that dystopian stories are getting so much buzz these days. I think it gives new notice to sci-fi and fantasy concepts that otherwise might have found a smaller audience. But I'll bet you that most of those authors just wanted to write a great story. I know that is what I set out to do!

Here's a little about her:

Pam Bachorz grew up in a small town in the Adirondack foothills, where she participated in every possible performance group and assiduously avoided any threat of athletic activity, unless it involved wearing sequined headpieces and treading water. With a little persuasion she will belt out tunes from "The Music Man" and "The Fantasticks", but she knows better than to play cello in public anymore. Pam attended college in Boston and finally decided she was finished after earning four degrees: a BS in Journalism, a BA in Environmental Science, a Masters in Library Science and an MBA. Her mother is not happy that Pam's degrees are stored under her bed.

Pam draws inspiration from the places she knows best: she wrote CANDOR while living in a Florida planned community, and set DROUGHT in the woods where she spent her summers as a child. She currently lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband and their son. When she's not writing, working or parenting, Pam likes to read books not aimed at her age group, go to museums and theater performances, and watch far too much television. She even goes jogging. Reluctantly.

Thanks so much for stopping by Pam! Check her out at these spots:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Hidden by Tomas Mournian

 Publication Date: February 1, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

When Ahmed's parents send him to a residential treatment center known as Serenity Ridge, it's with one goal: to "fix" their son, at any cost. But eleven months of abuse and overmedication leave him desperate to escape. And when the opportunity comes, Ahmed runs away to San Francisco. There, he moves into a secret safe house shared by a group of teens. Until they become independent at eighteen, the housemates hide away from authorities, bound by rules that both protect and frustrate. Ahmed, now known as Ben, tries to adjust to a life lived in impossibly close quarters with people he barely knows, all of whom guard secrets of their own. But even if they succeed in keeping the world at bay, there's no hiding from each other or from themselves. And there's no avoiding the conflicts, crushes, loneliness, and desire that could shatter their fragile, complicated sanctuary at any moment. .

My Two Cents:

One Word: Powerful. This novel takes the reader to places they may not be ready to go. It is definitely not for the faint of heart...or cry babies like me. The characters, not just Ahmed/Ben but the secondary characters that are runaway GLBT teens are one of a kind. They are in your face, fighting for the spotlight type of characters. They refuse to be judged and they demand respect. I don't like them all but I can't help but care deeply about what happens to each of them. They each come with their own heart wrenching story.

The drugs, the sex, the abuse;it's all there. No sugar coating and glamorizing this life for these teens. The author keeps it all the way real with us readers. It shows when a teen's "coming out" can go horribly wrong. There's no long heart to heart conversation about how they're loved no matter what. We see the ugly side, where teens are sent away to be "fixed" only to get broken.

I loved that the story just continued to move. There weren't really any stagnant areas. This novel is one of the most original plots I've read in a long time. Thank you Tomas Mournian for doing your own thing. If I ever see a gay Arab I will not be shocked. I recommend this book for teens 17 and up. There is a lot of strong adult content on every page.

Rating:

Chopping it Up with Sara Bennett Wealer +Giveaway

Today we have the pleasure of being joined by debut author Sara Bennett Wealer!  Here's a little about her:

Sara Bennett Wealer grew up in Manhattan, Kansas (the "Little Apple"), where she sang with the choir and wrote for her high school newspaper. She majored in vocal performance at the University of Kansas before deciding she had no business trying to make a career as an opera singer. She transferred to journalism school, where nobody cares if you can hit a high C or convincingly portray a Valkyrie.
Since then, Sara has been fortunate to make her living as a writer. She started as a beat reporter, then went on to work in public relations and advertising--even theme park design. Sara lives in Cincinnati with her husband and daughters, and she still sings when her schedule allows--most recently with the May Festival Chorus, the official choir of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

1. How would you describe your high school years?

Looking back, I’d say they were a whirlwind, though when I was going through them the time seemed to creep by. I had some great opportunities in high school and had some wonderful experiences—especially with music. Socially, I remember feeling really awkward quite a bit of the time. I hadn’t really grown into myself so I sort of ricocheted from hanging with the in crowd to sticking with just a few close friends. I’m not sure how people saw me—If I had to guess, I’d say I was sort of the smart girl with a bit of drama geek thrown in.

2. Which character would you say you identify with the most?

It’s funny because I see a bit of myself in both Brooke and Kathryn. Brooke is a little more like I am today—she knows what she wants, she knows her talents, and she’s driven to succeed. Kathryn’s probably more like I was in high school – quiet, studious, a little shy even though she loves to perform.

3. What in your opinion would be the greatest rivalry of all time?

Sue Sylvester from “Glee” vs. Heather Chandler from “Heathers.” I’m going to assume that everybody here knows about “Heathers.” If you don’t, then you need to watch it this weekend.

4. Brooke and Kathryn loved singing. Do you have any special talents other than writing?

Singing! Although my voice is WAY out of shape these days. I’m afraid to sing along with the radio! I also am a top-notch, grade-A worrier!

5. What are your top 3 YA reads?

I loved Libba Bray’s “Great and Terrible Beauty” series. I’m a big fan of Sara Zarr. And… dang there are WAY too many great YA books out there. Every other book I pick up becomes one of my top reads.


6. Are you working on anything currently?

I’m revising an older novel that I’ve never given up on, hoping to transform it into something that someone will want to publish. I’ve also got three other ideas for new novels vying for my attention. I love them all and can’t decide which one to write first!

Thanks so much for stopping by Sara! To learn more about Sara and Rival check out the links below:


Website
Blog
Twitter

Now on to the Giveaway!! Enter to win this beautiful Star necklace exactly like the one Brooke wears in the novel!

Rules:

• Open to US residents only
• Must be 13 or older
• Contest Ends 2/23

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Publication Date: February 15, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

My Two Cents:

As I was reading this book I continuously kept saying "poor Kathryn". She really was just minding her own business and all of a sudden she's being invited to the sleepover that would change her life. Her and Brooke hit it off immediately because of their shared passion for singing. They were like two peas in a pod. Then, over a misunderstanding and plain old jealousy they become enemies.

I can't say I was crazy about Brooke. One minute she didn't want to be popular and just wanted to sing and swim. The next minute when it's convenient for her, she uses it to her advantage. Once Brooke feels that Kathryn betrayed her, she devotes her time to destroying her. For the longest time mousy little Kathryn is pretty much afraid to breathe too loud. Brooke turned the whole school against her. When is enough enough? Sooner or later the most mousy person has to stand up for themselves. I also love that the author didn't make the romance aspect extremely predictable. It was completely unexpected.

My favorite element in this book is the fact that these girls have real extracurricular activities. Brooke enjoys singing and swimming. Kathryn sings and she works on the school newspaper. I'm glad to see this since the arts are becoming a big part of schools.The author shows that not only teens have to deal with the pressures of honing their skills but also the normal sucky high school things on top of that. I can definitely relate, having danced my whole way through high school.

This was a fun, light read. This book is a mix between Glee and Mean Girls! I would recommend to any teen in the arts.

Rating:

Chopping it Up with Stacey Jay

Today we are joined by Stacey Jay to talk about her newest title The Locket. In case you missed my review you can check it out here. Here's a little about her:

Stacey Jay is a recovering workaholic (or at least working hard at recovering) with three pen names, two small children, and a passion for playing pretend for a living. She’s been a full time mom-writer since 2005 and can't think of anything she'd rather be doing. Her former careers include theatre performer, professional dancer, poorly paid C-movie actress, bartender, waiter, math tutor (for real) and yoga instructor.

In her very limited spare time, Stacey enjoys cooking elaborate dinners and eating them very, very slowly, dressing up in costumes with her sons, and dancing like a total freak who all but the coolest of her friends are embarrassed to be seen with. 

1. Tell us about The Locket in 10 words or less. 

One girl. Two boys. One very scary piece of jewelry. 

2. If you could rewind time what special moment in your life would you want to experience again? 

When I was not-quite-fifteen, I went to Greece, Turkey, and Romania with my best girlfriend and her family. We were there for three weeks and it was, without a doubt, one of the most amazing times in my life. I would love to go back and relive all the adventures we had. 

3. We usually get zombies and things that are creepy from your previous books. What can we expect in this one? 

“The Locket” isn’t creepy, I wouldn’t say, but there is definitely a horror element. It’s a slower build to the scary, but I’m hoping that—by the last few chapters—my readers will be as freaked as they were by my flesh-hungry zombies.
 
4. You've had quite a few careers in the past. What made you gravitate towards writing? 

I’ve always loved telling stories—I was very into writing and acting growing up—but as an actor I was rarely in charge of what story was being told. As a writer, I get to say who, what, where, and why, and I like that. I like being the boss. Or at least…more of the boss. Sort of the boss…sometimes. Lol.

 
5. What YA book are you currently reading? Any recommendations? 

I just finished BEASTLY by Alex Fllinn last night. It was a fun, fairy-tale inspired read. I’m getting ready to start FIRE by Kristin Cashore tonight. I can’t wait! I’ve been so strapped for reading time this year, and I’m way behind on my TBR pile.

6. Do you believe in fate? 

I believe in mystical opportunities, but I don’t think anything is predetermined. As human beings, we have free will and the capacity to shape our life journey and that’s a huge gift. Way better than fate.

Thanks so much for stopping by Stacey! To learn more about her check out the links below:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook