Huge Author Event this July At Fandom Fest

If you are in the Louisville, Kentucky area from July 22-24, there is a great event going on at Fandom Fest featuring many popular authors (Julie Kagawa, etc). It involves the debut of a large new literary track at Louisville's Fandom Fest/Fright Night Film Fest, featuring over 100 author guests participating in a host of panels, workshops, readings, signings, and more. It is a tremendous opportunity for aspiring writers and readers alike. There will also be celebrity guests at the event. If you want to learn more about the event, you can read the detailed article below. Feel free to spread the word about this event.

For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 23, 2011

Fandom Fest Brings Large New Literary Track to Louisville Amid Major Expansion of Fright Night Film Fest

Marquee celebrities like Hollywood legends John Carpenter and Henry
Winkler will command great attention at the Fandom Fest/Fright Night Film
Fest weekend July 22-24, 2011, in Louisville, KY. Alongside the wide
array of premium Hollywood and media personalities, an incredible
opportunity beckons for writers, gamers, readers, artists, filmmakers, pop
culture fans, costuming enthusiasts, and many more.

Fandom Fest represents a bold expansion of the popular Fright Night Film
Fest, establishing several new tracks, genres, and a host of activities
catering to pop culture, science fiction, steampunk, anime, costuming, and
fantasy. The event builds upon Fright Night Film Fest’s strong horror
legacy, growing from its inception in 2005 to become the third largest
genre festival in the United States.

Fandom Fest’s brand new Literary Track alone features over a hundred
participating authors, covering over 55 expert panels, 20 workshops, and a
large number of live readings, author signings, and book launches. From
the current state of publishing, to intensive writing workshops, and
workshops in topics like self-publishing and e-Book development, the
panels and workshops of the Literary Track have something to offer
attendees from all levels of experience. As a comprehensive learning,
networking, and career development opportunity, Fandom Fest’s 2011 content
is unprecedented in its region.

Major press authors such as Julie Kagawa (The Iron Faery Series), Molly
Harper (Jane Jameson Series), Eric Wilson (Fireproof, Jerusalem’s Undead
Trilogy), Shirley Damsgaard (The Ophelia and Abby Mysteries), Michael
Williams (one of the first DragonLance novelists), and Maurice Broaddus
(Knights of Breton Court) are just a few examples of the well-established,
award-winning authors from all across the United States who are attending.

Editors and publishers of many levels round out the impressive list of
track participants., The Literary Track’s sponsor is Belle Books/Bell
Bridge Books, who also happen to be sponsoring the prestigious
Dragon*Con’s 2011 Writer’s Track. The main genres being featured at
Fandom Fest are primarily fantasy, horror, and science fiction, but the
Literary Track programming caters to writers of any genre, with panelists
from spheres such as mystery, romance, and even erotica.

The new gaming track unveils an array of panels, tournaments, special
guests, and much more, debuting yet another new section of the event.
Tabletop role-playing games, video games, board games, and even Live
Action Role Playing are scheduled throughout the weekend with a strong
team of gaming hosts. Attendees include representatives of highly
regarded game companies/publishers such as DriveThruRPG, Pinnacle
Entertainment Group, SilverMeet Studios, Hex Games, Beautiful Brains, and
Blackwyrm Publishing.

A multitude of vendors will fill the concourses of the Fern Valley Hotel
and Convention Center at Fandom Fest. Gaming stores, publishers, authors,
crafts, production companies, memorabilia dealers, actors, artists, and
much, much more will be available for convention attendees to browse and
buy one-of-a-kind items from.

Even the live music portion of the event advances with a concert from
international rock act Bella Morte, whose frontman, Andy Deane, is also a
horror author appearing on the Literary Track. Fast rising heavy
metal/hard rock prospect ZeroKing is slated to open for Bella Morte.

From gatherings of cast members from popular franchises like Revenge of
the Nerds, Enter the Dragon, Jem, and The Walking Dead (including Tony
Moore, artist and co-creator),to icons such as Margot Kidder (Lois Lane in
the Christopher Reeve Superman films), Kane Hodder (Jason Vorhees in
several Friday the 13th installments), and Larry Drake (Dark Night of the
Scarecrow, Dr. Giggles, and Darkman), the list of attending film and media
guests contains something for everyone. For the thousands in attendance,
there will be more than enough to choose from in regards to programming,
events, activities, parties, and celebrities.

Best of all, standard weekend passes are just $45 dollars, which is much
less than the cost of genre events which are a small fraction of the size
of Fandom Fest/Fright Night Film Fest. In value, content, and
affordability, Fandom Fest/Fright Night Film Fest is poised to become one
of the top events of its kind in the United States.

For further information on the 2011 event, please visit www.fandomfest.com
or www.frightnightfilmfest.com

Direct Links related to Literary and Gaming Tracks:

Literary Track Guests: http://www.fandomfest.com/literary-guests/

Literary Track Programming: http://www.fandomfest.com/literary-track/

Gaming Track Guests: http://www.fandomfest.com/gaming-guests/

Gaming Track Schedule and Programming: http://www.fandomfest.com/gaming/


-ELISE

Blogoversary Winners Announced!!!

Here are my one year blogoversary winners, chosen by random.org.
(For those of you who did not win, feel free to enter our other giveaway going on right now for a finished copy of Spellbound. Click HERE to enter giveaway.)

The Winner of a finished copy of Divergent is......#332

#332 Is Sierra!!!!!


The Winner of the Divergent Themed Swag is.....#16

#16 is Vivien!!!!!


The Winner of Two Surprise YA ARCs + some swag is.....#372

#372 is Leiden Madchen


The Winner of a Massive YA Swag Pack is..... #5

#5 is Vivien!!!!!

Congratulations to all of the winners!!! I have sent you an email already.

Book Tour: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz + Giveaways

Title: Spellbound
Author: Cara Lynn Shultz
Release Date: June 28, 2011
Publisher: HarlequinTEEN
Pages: 384
Source: NetGalley

Synopsis (via Goodreads): What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.



Roshini's Review:

Spellbound has left me gasping for more from Cara Lynn Shultz! She has proven that her writing is truly magical just like the character herself in the book.

If you’re looking for an incredible read, I would recommend this book to all of you any day! It has the right amount of everything! Romance, action, magic, and everything else in between.

When I first heard about the book, I didn’t know what to expect. It had a nice cover and the title had a nice ring to it, but what about the story? All my doubts were erased the second I started the book! The book was a coaster that took me zipping through the pages in loopdy-doops and high speeds. Spellbound showed me how powerful true love was. Two lovers, resurrected, only to find that they will die if they fall in love again.

The characters in the books were something else. Cara put so much detail into them that you could probably conjure a picture perfect image of them with her descriptions! Emma’s determination and
perseverance to stay with her love is admirable. I fell in love along with the heroine. Let’s just say I’m….captivated with Brendan!

The novel itself is wonderful! It revolves around a unique theme that is hard not to forget. I’m DIEING to get my hands on another book by Cara!

Cover Thoughts:

I love the cover! The bridge with who I’m guessing is Emma near it adds immeasurable beauty to it. I also love the font of the title.

Giveaway Time!!!

Spellbound Giveaway

One Winner Will Win A Finished Copy Of Spellbound!!
Rules: Giveaway Open to US/Canada Only
You must be 13+ to Enter Giveaway
Ends July 3rd

How To Enter: Leave a comment below along with your email.
Extra Entry: +1 GFC Follower (leave GFC Name)

Ipod Nano Giveaway!!!

• In order to enter to win a iPod nano including the Spellbound Playlist and covered in a GelaSkin of Spellbound's cover art, you must collect the pink highlighted words the text messages between Brendan and Emma that are provided each day at the individual tour stops. The daily words can be joined together in sequential order to create the winning secret message. Once you've constructed the winning secret message, you will need to enter that message on Spellbound's tour home page.
• No purchase, affiliation, status as follower to a certain blog or any other association is required to enter.
• Full rules for the contest can be found at the Spellbound tour home page
• Winner of the iPod give-away will be announced on Cara's homepage on Tuesday, July 5th.

Your TEXT for today:



Check out these other sites for the other text clues:
June, 13th - The Page Turners / Character Interview , Brendan

June 14th - Candace's Book Blog / Guest Post

June 15th - Baffled Books

June 16th - Hooked To Books /Guest Post, Playlist

June 17th - Truly Bookish

June, 20th - Paranormal Opinion

June 21st - Mission to Read /Interview with Cara

June 22nd - Reading Angel / Character Interview, Emma

June 23rd - Miss Page Turners

June 24th - Books At Midnight

June, 27th - Pure Imagination

June 28th - (Spellbound Book Birthday!) - The Unread Reader special Guest post

June 29th - Bookish Delights

June 30th - Mimosa Stimulus / Guest post

July 1st - writers write, right? /special Guest post


Thank You Kismet Book Touring!!!

Review: Bull Rider By Suzanne Morgan Williams

Title: Bull Rider
Author: Suzanne Morgan Williams
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Publication Date: May 2010

Age Group: Young Adult
Format: Paperback
Pages: 256
Source: Review Copy From Publisher
ISBN-10: 1442412526
ISBN-13: 9781442412521

Synopsis (via Goodreads): All it takes is eight seconds....

Cam O'Mara, grandson and younger brother of bull- riding champions, is not interested in partaking in the family sport. Cam is a skateboarder, and perfecting his tricks — frontside flips, 360s — means everything until his older brother, Ben, comes home from Iraq, paralyzed from a brain injury.

What would make a skateboarder take a different kind of ride? And what would get him on a monstrosity of a bull named Ugly? If Cam can stay on for the requisite eight seconds, will the $15,000 prize bring hope and a future for his big brother?

Review: Powerful. Poignant. Uplifting. Emotional. Beautiful. Told with authenticity and sincerity, Bull Rider makes a very bold statement that will last much longer than the requisite eight seconds in bull riding. Suzanne Morgan Williams is truly a masterful storyteller when it comes to understanding and capturing the dynamics of a family, especially when faced with hardships. Never taking away from the honor, dignity, and bravery of serving one’s country, Bull Rider provides a touching and impeccably realistic outlook on the life of an injured soldier and the extraordinary extent that a family will go to, to try to help him recover. Bull riding plays a very special role in trying to help heal Ben, the injured soldier.

This deeply moving story is something that many people can relate to, not just families of war veterans who have faced difficult circumstances due to a war injury or people who are familiar with bull riding or are fans of it. The author meshes two honorable yet dangerous actions - serving in the Iraq war and bull riding - to create a one of a kind story that is thrilling, adventurous, suspenseful, heartwarming, and full of hope. I thought the comparison of trying to ride a bull, which is very difficult to do, to trying to ride life’s challenges and see them through, was very touching and relevant to the storyline.

This book gives light to the unfortunate reality of how a serious injury can devastate a family, but at the same time, also bring them so much closer together in order to pull through as a family. You get to see the stages, both the ups and the downs, that their family goes through when dealing with Ben’s brain injury and paralysis. It shows how having a supportive family is essential when trying to overcome something like this and how hope, faith, and sometimes luck in the most unlikeliest of places is needed (if you read the book you’ll find out what the unique lucky charm is!).

The plot is paced well and the characters are well put together. Both Ben and Cam are strong characters full of courage and heart. Cam is really an inspiration to his brother Ben through bull riding and tries to motivate and encourage him when he’s down. Cam’s mom is tender yet stern. His grandmother provides much needed comic relief at all the right times. And Cam’s father and grandfather keep the strong backbone of a rancher’s life alive.

I loved Bull Rider! Satisfying and meaningful from beginning to end, Bull Rider is sure to capture your heart, as it did mine. This book is one heck of a ride! I savored every minute of it. This is one of the best inspirational stories I’ve read in a while!

5 STARS!!!

Cover: The cover fits the book perfectly. It captures the intense nature of bull riding and how strong and powerful the bull is. It exemplifies honor and courage. The red, orange, and black hues really sharpen the cover and makes it stand out in a bold way.


- ELISE

Born Wicked: Cover Revealed!

The cover was revealed! For more information and a giveaway, visit Jessica Spotswood's blog. I personally think the cover is absolutely gorgeous! What do you think?

~Sarah

Review: I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler

Title:I'm Not Her

Author: Janet Gurtler
Release Date: May 1st 2011

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 320
Source: Bought

Synopsis (via Goodreads)

“For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel envy…”

Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. Yet the smiles of her picture-perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn’t hold it together, who will?

Review: This book really blew me away. The writing was amazing and I would have to say this could be one of the best books I've read in a while. While I thought this was a pretty predictable book, I really enjoyed it. The plot was pretty crystal clear the whole time but there were certain points where it kind of got foggy. I really liked the characters in this book. Towards the beginning of the book, Kristina kind of irritated me. But then she got where she didn't. Tess, Clark, and Jeremy were some of my favorites. This book made me laugh and cry but other than that its worth it to read! The way the book ended was only a little satisfying. I wanted more than I got! Like I said, the writing in this book is just amazing. This book was an amazing debuet for Janet Gurtler and I can't wait for her next book, If I Tell!


Rating:

Cover Thoughts: I feel like the cover could have been a bit better but I like it!


~Sarah

Review: Possession by Elana Johnson

Title:Possession
Author: Elana Johnson
Release Date: June 7th 2011 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 416
Source: Bought

Synopsis (via Goodreads) 

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even thinkabout kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself. 

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn. 

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Review: 

This was an amazingly well written book that I started to love the second I picked it up off of the shelf at Borders. The plot in this book twisted A LOT. At one point I would try to figure out what was going to happen but after a while, I quit trying! This book always kept me guessing. And I read it in one day. And it takes a good book for me to not be able to put it down. This isn't a super short book either. I fell in love with Vi and Jag in this book. They seemed to fight quite a bit but made a super cute couple! From the moment they met, you just knew. They would be so madly in love and then the next day Jag would leave Vi stranded in the woods... An amazing relationship don't you think? This book surprised me a lot. And keep in mind when reading this that the characters are sometimes not who you think they are. The ending in this book made sense at certain times and others not. The last two chapters in this book made me very VERY mad. I really wanted to throw the book on the ground and stomp on it. That's how mad I was. I won't spill anything about the ending but just be prepared for anger! This was a pretty good book that I reccomend reading! 

Rating:

Cover Thoughts: I really like the simplicity of this cover. In a way it is significant. Its like Vi is sort of trapped inside her society... Pretty cover!

Review: Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

Title: Rage
Author: Jackie morse Kessler
Release Date: April 8th 2011 Publisher: Harcourt Graphia
Pages: 213
Source: Library



Synopsis (via Goodreads)

Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different.

That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control.

A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation,Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.

Review: 

This book was just wow. It was really just an amazing book! At first I wasn't sure about it because of Missy being all cut, cut, cut. But then I decided this isn't what I was expecting. Over the course of the book, I really fell in love with some of the characters. Death and Missy (of course!) were my favorites though. I have to say the characters were A+. It was easy to be able to get mad at them for the stupid things they did! Great characters make a book all that more enjoyable. With this one, I couldn't really predict what was going to happen. The plot wasn't extremely foggy, but foggy enough that at times you just didn't know. The writing in this was phenomenal! Everything was described in a way that I really felt like I was there. And believe me, I really wished I could have been. I felt like Missy becoming War was pretty fitting. At first I was a bit skeptical about it but as the book progressed, it just really all came together. And I really loved Ares too. I thought it was adorable how Missy was the only rider that had ever thanked him for his services and how he really came to love her and she came to love him. Overall, this was an excellent read that I would reccomend to anyone. 

Rating:

Cover Thoughts: I really liked the significance of the sword on the cover. Really pretty!

~Sarah

Title for Divergent Sequel Announced

If you liked Divergent by Veronica Roth, then you'll like this news. Veronica announced the title for the sequel of Divergent on her blog. It's the perfect title!

Check out her blog HERE to find out what the title is.

Reveiw: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Title: Where She Went
Author: Gayle Forman
Release Date: April 5th 2011
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 264
Source: Bought

Summary (from Goodreads)

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.
Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future–and each other.
Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Review: I absolutely loved this book! I liked that it was told from Adam's point of view. Well, most of the time. Sometimes it got extremely irritating and I wish it could be told from both Mia's and Adam's view. I didn't really like the way Adam acted I guess, in the novel. I thought he kind of sounded desprate for Mia and to find true love and all that. Which I really didn't like. But then when he met Mia again, the book really started to finally come together. I really thought that she wouldn't want to see Adam and that alot would really just drop off at that point. But surprisingly it didn't. The end of the book left me wanting more. I didn't feel like the plot did anything spectacular as for being unpredictable and all. And after two books I came to love the characters. I hope there is going to be a third book but I'm thinking there won't be. Gayle Forman really wrote an amazing book here. If you loved If I Stay then you'll love Where She Went even more.

Rating:


Cover Thoughts: I feel like the cover could have been better. The Mia on the cover doesn't look the same as the one I pictured in my head.

~Sarah

Tour: Interview and Giveaway, The Apothecary by Samantha Jillian Bayarr

AUTHOR BIO
Samantha Jillian Bayarr founded Livingston Hall
Publishers in 2002. Named for her great, great grandfather,
Edward Livingston Hall, who owned a publishing house
in the 1800's, until his passing; Samantha resurrected this
legacy as a way of honoring him for passing onto her his
love for the written word.

Working in the production aspect of publishing has
provided her with the expertise needed to produce, develop
and design books from the inside out. When it came time
to publish her own work, her experience in the field lent
her the ability to produce several genres such as: Urban
Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult Fantasy, Time Travel
Romance, Chick Lit, and Amish Romance.
Her first book, Little Wild Flower, an Amish Romance,
was borne from her up-close encounters with the Amish
community she lived near in Indiana until 1995 when she
moved to Florida.

Please visit:

www.LivingstonHallPublishers.blogspot.com

to win FREE books and see all upcoming titles.

THE APOTHECARY

56,000 words

When Claire Mayfield suddenly finds herself the new heir
of a property that has lain vacant for over one hundred
years, she becomes leery of the rumors of the hauntings
from the three young children who were said to have
been murdered there. With a little encouragement from
Ben, the lawyer who breaks the news of the inheritance
to her, Claire agrees to explore the manor, but only on
the condition that Ben accompanies her. Finding her
attractive, he accepts the challenge, and the two embark on
an adventure that will forever change their lives.

Despite a few distractions and bumps along the way, Claire
discovers her great uncle, Dr. Blackwell's, apothecary and
traveling medicine show from the late 1800's, and even
stumbles upon clues that could help her solve her ancestor's
one hundred-year-old murder-mystery—all with a little
help from a mischievous young girl who has been dead for
over one hundred years.

Link to Buy the Book:

AMAZON

INTERVIEW with Samantha Jillian Bayarr
1. What was your inspiration for the book and its characters?
I was looking at a one hundred year old picture of three
children that I’d found in an antique store. These children were
neatly dressed, probably from a very wealthy family, but they
looked very unhappy. The only clue I had to their lives were their
first names and ages, which someone had written on the back of
the cardboard frame with a quill pen. The frame boasted a large
photography studio in New York, and I wondered if they had just
been visiting, and where they might have lived.
As I began to wonder about their lives, each thought turned my
curious side toward their expressions. There was something in those
somber faces that gave me the idea to reinvent their past, and make
it whatever came to my mind. Within minutes, I decided their father
was a doctor. But deciding the photograph was probably taken late
1800’s to early 1900’s, I decided their father, Dr. Blackwell, was also
an apothecary. That became the title of the book, but they needed
a reason for the sorrowful looks on their faces, so I gave them one.
Twenty minutes later, I knew the book from start to finish, including
all the characters and where they fit in the story. From that point,
all that was left to do was to write it.

2. What is the one place you can just plop down and write?
You can’t see it from my office picture, but there is an
oversized chair that goes with the striped footstool you can see,
and I sit there a lot with my laptop. When it’s not too hot (I live
in Florida), I love sitting on my patio in the shade with my laptop,
while the birds chirping and my wind chimes provide perfect
background effect for writing.

3. What was the worst criticism and best compliment you have ever received?

No one likes criticism, and everyone loves compliments. I
try not to let either of them effect me too strongly. In the end,
my opinion of myself or my work is the only one that counts
anyway…everything else is just background noise.

4. What is the one question you are sick of answering?
I never get sick of questions. Mostly because I ask a lot of
questions myself. Asking questions is sometimes the only way we
learn about a subject or another person, and I love learning new
things (and new people).

5. What is your favorite type of sweet and what flavor?
Chocolate, without a doubt.

6. If you were not an author or didn't get the chance to be one, what would be your next career options?
To me, there is no other option! Up until a year ago, I was a
Paralegal (I always wanted to be a lawyer, but after working in the
field, I changed my mind). Before that I was a licensed Real Estate
Agent. No matter what I was doing in life, either college or a job, I
would daydream of being an author. Now that I’m a successful Indie
author, I will never give it up. It’s in my blood!

7. If you could have dinner with any person in history, living or dead, who would you meet? Why did you choose this person?
Leonardo Da Vinci. He was so versatile and multi-faceted and
highly intelligent as an artist and scientist, and as a person, that I
feel I could really learn a lot from him. Yes, there is a lot to learn
from his work, but sometimes getting something straight from the
source is priceless.

Thank you so much Samantha for joining us to answer these questions!

Giveaway Time!

Samantha has given me the chance to host a giveaway for her book!

THANKS A BUNCH SAMANTHA!

Here is the next stop in the tour:

June 11 – Getting Naughty Between The Stacks http://gnbstacks.blogspot.com

ROSHINI