Showing posts with label RAZORBILL CANADA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RAZORBILL CANADA. Show all posts

Thursday, April 23, 2015

The Truth Commission by Susan Juby


Title: The Truth Commission
Author: Susan Juby
Publisher: Razorbill Canada
Release Date: April 14, 2015
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo
Open secrets are the heart of gossip—the things that no one is brave or clueless enough to ask. That is, except for Normandy Pale and her friends Dusk and Neil. They are juniors at Green Pastures Academy of Art and Applied Design, and they have no fear.

They are the Truth Commission

But Normandy’s passion for uncovering the truth is not entirely heartfelt. The truth can be dangerous, especially when it involves her brilliant older sister, Keira, the creator of a bestselling graphic novel series, who has left college and come home under mysterious circumstances, and in complete silence.

Even for a Truth Commissioner, there are some lines that cannot be crossed…

This dryly funny, knife-sharp novel, written as “narrative nonfiction” by Normandy herself, features footnotes, illustrations, and a combination mystery/love story that will capture readers from the first page.

When I first heard about Susan Juby’s The Truth Commission, I was seriously intrigued. It didn’t sound like anything else out there, while at the same time appealing to the contemporary nerd that I am. Though the style did take some getting used to, The Truth Commission is definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Everyone has secrets. It’s a fact. It’s what leads to so much gossip. And though people know others are keeping secrets, most of the time, they prefer guessing and gossiping than actually asking the truth. But Normandy, Dusk and Neil have had enough of all the secrets and all the guessing about people’s secrets. The three of them make it their mission to seek out the truth, no mater what. And that’s how the Truth Commission is born. At first, it all goes well and Normandy, Dusk and Neil get a high from asking for the truth point blank. But sometimes, as the three soon discover, there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed even when on a mission to uncover the truth.

I’m not going to lie, The Truth Commission kind of threw me when I first started reading. I knew from what I had been told by others that this wasn’t a typical book, but it still took some getting used to. This book is fiction, but it was written as if it were a work of creative nonfiction written by the main character. Confused, yet? Because I was a little confused when I first started reading. For the most part, you can read this book like you would any other book. But because it’s written as if it were nonfiction, there are footnotes thrown in to the mix. At first it felt like right when I was getting into the story, I would get pulled out because I had to go read a footnote. And it’s not like I could skip the footnotes, because they did add to the story, often providing background information about some of the characters and events. Once I got used to them, they didn’t bother me in the least. In fact, there were times when I was looking forward to reading the footnotes because of the insights that Normandy provided in them. Beyond just the different format for the story, The Truth Commission went a lot deeper than I thought it would. Based on the synopsis, I knew that there were definitely going to be some issues brought up throughout the story, just not to this extent. And that was most definitely not a bad thing. The fact that the story went deeper is what led me to love it as much as I did.

Normandy was a really fun character. Though t the same time, she was also sort of the author. She has such a fun voice, and she wasn’t afraid of being completely and brutally honest with her reader (truth is kind of a recurring theme with this book, in case that wasn’t obvious). It just made it interesting to read a story where the main character and narrator doesn’t hold anything back. Now if she had been as honest with the people in her life as she was with her readers, she could have avoided a lot of the problems she ran into. But then there wouldn’t have been a story, so maybe not. Other than Normandy, the other characters also felt completely fleshed out. I could easily picture them all. And they were all so fun and quirky and unique. I loved reading about Neil and his obsession with 70s movies and fashion, Dusk’s determination to be exactly the opposite of what her parents wanted her to be. And don’t even get me started on Keira. There is so much I could say about her, but that would mean spoiling one of the major twists in the story so I’ll stay quiet. 

Susan Juby’s The Truth Commission was an absolutely fantastic read. It’s completely different from other contemporary YA stories out there in the best way possible. If you’re looking for something a little different and a little offbeat, I can’t recommend this one enough.

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Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Blog Tour - The Art of Getting Stared At by Laura Langston


Title: The Art of Getting Stared At
Author: Laura Langston
Publisher: Razobill Canada
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Indigo
Sixteen-year-old Sloane is given the biggest opportunity of her life—a chance for a film school scholarship—but she has less than two weeks to produce a video. She also has to work with Isaac Alexander, an irresponsible charmer with whom she shares an uneasy history.

Then comes a horrifying discovery: Sloane finds a bald spot on her head. The pink patch, no bigger than a quarter, shouldn’t be there. Neither should the bald spots that follow. Horror gives way to devastation when Sloane is diagnosed with alopecia areata. The autoimmune disease has no cause, no cure and no definitive outcome. The spots might grow over tomorrow or they might be there for life. She could become completely bald. No one knows.

Determined to produce her video and keep her condition secret, Sloane finds herself turning into the kind of person she has always mocked: someone obsessed with their looks. She’s also forced to confront a painful truth: she is as judgemental as anyone else…but she saves the harshest judgements for herself.

On a personal note...

Before I get to my review of Laura Langston’s The Art of Getting Stared At, the people at Razorbill Canada asked that I share one thing that I wish I could tell my high school self about body and self image. It hasn’t been all that long since I’ve been in high school (I graduated 5 years ago), so I thought this would be pretty easy to do, but it’s not really the case. 

Looking back, I had a pretty good high school experience, but like everyone, I had my insecurities and my concerns with self-image. I was an athlete in high school, I ran track and cross-country from grade 7 all the way until I graduated, so I wasn’t concerned with body image as I was with self image. As cliché has it is, I would tell my teenaged self not to worry so much about what other people think and to just be happy. In middle school, I was the girl who always had her nose in a book and didn’t really have all that many friends. Once I got to high school, I had a good group of friends but I always seemed to end up hanging out with the guys more than the girls. Because of that, I would find myself questioning why I had more in common with guys than with girls. I would worry that I wasn’t being enough of a girl, that there must be something weird going on with my if I didn’t really get along with girls. And what other people would think about the fact that I was always hanging out with guys.

In hindsight, there were better things I could have spent that much time thinking about. But at the time, that felt like such a big concern. So that’s what I would tell my teenaged self, to stop focusing so much on what other people might think about who I hang out with, and instead enjoy the fact that I have the great friends I do have. Those friends turned out to be some of my best friends today, and for that I couldn’t be more thankful. 

And now for the actual review...

When I first heard the premise for Laura Langston’s The Art of Getting Stared At, I was intrigued. It seemed like it had the potential to be a powerful book about our ongoing concerns and insecurities when it comes to self and body image. After reading it, I can safely say that this is a book with a strong message that rings loud and clear.

Sloane has always had one goal: to go to film school. When a video she produced goes viral on YouTube, Sloane gets the opportunity of a lifetime. If she produces another video, in the hopes of getting a film school scholarship. She will do anything to get that scholarship, even if it means working with Isaac Alexander, the boy with who she shares an uneasy history. But just when it seems like her dreams will be coming true, Sloane discovers a bald spot on her head. Soon, Sloane gets diagnosed with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder causing her to lose all her hair. Though she always prided on not worrying about her looks, Sloane become horrified at the idea of people finding out she is going bald. Determined to hide her condition from everyone at school, does what she has to in order to finish her video and keep her diagnosis a secret. But when everything falls apart, Sloane faces a difficult decision: give up on everything she’s ever hoped for, or accept her fate and finish her video.

When I started reading The Art of Getting Stared At, I knew what the story was about, I just didn’t know exactly how the subject matter would be dealt with. I’ll be honest and say that at first, I thought this story would revolve mostly around Sloane having to deal with being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. But the story ended up being a lot more than that. Sure, a lot of it was focused on Sloane coming to terms with everything that was happening to her. But it was also about how different people deal with their respective setbacks and how society puts so much emphasis on appearances. For that reason alone, The Art of Getting Stared At was a powerful book. It really showed than even when we try not to focus on the way we look just to make a point, it’s still focusing on appearances. Whether we want to or not, no matter how hard we try, we can’t seem to get away from appearances. Throughout the book, Laura Langston contrasts the idea of appearance with the idea of beauty and shows that though we often associate one with the other, the two aren’t one and the same. Over the course of the book, that idea is embodied in Sloane and how she deals with her alopecia diagnosis and that’s what made her such an interesting character to read about.

Sloane was a very interesting to read about. In many ways, I was a lot like her when I was in high school. She was someone who prided herself on not worrying about what people thought of what she looked like, but when it came down to it, she was just like everyone else. Once she found out that she was most likely going to lose all her hair, she became focused on what people would think, on what she would look like with all her hair gone. Over the course of the book, it was interesting to see her growth, and how she was slowly coming to terms with her diagnosis. A lot of that came from support in places she didn’t expect it. It really enjoyed seeing her relationship with her Kim, her stepmother, as the two of them figured each other out and realized that there was a lot more to the other than they originally thought. The other person who ended up being really there for Sloane was Isaac and I wish I could have seen more of him, because I feel like there was so much more to him than I got to see. But from what I did get to see, Isaac was just the person that Sloane really needed.

Laura Langston’s The Art of Getting Stared At is the kind of book in which everyone can find something to relate to. But it’s also a book with a fantastic message about body and self image that should be read by everyone, regardless of what they think of appearances.

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Saturday, May 10, 2014

Blog Tour: Unspeakable by Caroline Pignat - Guest Post

Today I have the pleasure of taking part in the blog tour for the recently released Unspeakable by Caroline Pignat. I've been really excited about this book for a while, and after having recently met Caroline and heard her talk about her book, my excitement level only went up. So today, I am happy to have Caroline here on the blog to talk about what it was like to do research for Unspeakable.


I love researching. It feels like a treasure hunt. I usually start with kids’ non-fiction books, for a quick overview of the subject. Then, I review as many novels/movies as I can that are also set in the period to help me get a feel for the time. For UNSPEAKABLE, I watched Titanic (obviously) and also Downton Abbey for a sense of that time period and the relationships between servants and the elite.

Then the real work began.

I read countless survivor accounts, stewardess diaries, and stoker testimonies. I studied ship diagrams, naval terms, and sailing itineraries. I always keeps LOTS of notes because I can’t remember things. Every novel I’ve done has a huge binder of research, countless photos, websites and files on Scrivener and sometimes, like for UNSPEAKABLE, I make a visual board:


I also researched the archives of the Museum of Canadian History. They’d acquired a lot of artifacts from the Empress of Ireland for an exhibit to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking. It’s great to speak to experts who are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the topic. I usually have a ton of very detailed and specific questions from my research and I am thrilled when they have answers for me.

Overall, I usually spend about six months to a year researching before I feel confident enough to create that time and place in my story.

Be sure to be on the lookout for my review of Unspeakable in the coming weeks!

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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Blog Tour - A Fool's Errand by Maureen Fergus


Title: A Fool's Errand (The Gypsy King #2)
Author: Maureen Fergus
Publisher: Razorbill Canada
Release Date: October 8, 2013
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Chapters Indigo
More action. More romance. More intrigue. Get ready to dive into the exciting follow-up to The Gypsy King!

In the final moments of The Gypsy King, a truth was revealed to Persephone and Azriel--one that could change everything forever. For her. For him. For them. For the entire kingdom.

But trapped in a windowless castle chamber with soldiers battering at the door, it seems impossible to believe that they'll even survive. Indeed, they are a heartbeat from death when Azriel boldly bargains with the Regent Mordecai: release them and they will seek out the mythical healing Pool of Genezing. Mordecai agrees but warns that if they do not return with proof that the pool exists, he'll make those dearest to them suffer--and he'll start with King Finnius.

Persephone has never needed Azriel's teasing warmth as much as she needs it now, but she is finding out there is a price to pay for having broken past promise. Together, they set off on a journey that will take them into the fattest corners of the kingdom. Danger will ever lie ahead and behind them; they will battle men and beasts alike. Will Persephone and Azriel survive these perils? And will this quest see their romance grow cold--or will it burn hotter than ever?

*****Contains spoilers for the first book*****


Ever since I started blogging, I've been finding myself reading more and more fantasy, a genre I had previously stayed away from. It was just never something I enjoyed. But it's books like Maureen Fergus' A Fool's Errand that make me want to keep giving fantasy a try because, every once in a while, I find myself getting completely engrossed in the story.

Having lived her life as a slave and servant, Persephone never expected to discover she was King Finnius' long-lost twin sister. This new revelation changes everything. Not just for Persephone, but for everyone around her. In an effort to save her brother, herself and those she has come to care about, Persephone sets off on a quest to find the mythical Pool of Genezing for the Regent Mordecai. Along the way, things changed between Persephone and Azriel, in a way Persephone can't quite explain. The one thing she is sure of is that she needs Azriel by her side, it's the only way she can make it through this.

So fantasy. Never something I was really into before I started blogging. I know I say this pretty much every time I review a fantasy book, but it's the truth. I'm always worried whenever I pick up a book knowing that it's a full blown fantasy story--worried that I'm not going to enjoy it. But with A Fool's Errand I didn't have any of my regular apprehensions, probably because it's the sequel to a book I've already read and enjoyed. A Fool's Errand picks up right where The Gypsy King left off. Right from page one, I was in the thick of the action and there wasn't something happening. Though it admittedly took me a few pages to get my bearings and remember what exactly had happened at the end of the first book, it made it really easy to get into the story. Like with The Gypsy King, there is a lot happening in A Fool's Errand. There are multiple stories to follow, questions that need answers, mysteries that need to be solved. And that all makes the story that much more interesting. The fact that there was always something happening helped to keep me engrossed in the story. That, and I wanted answers to certain questions as much as some of the characters did. Wanting to see Persephone and Azriel's relationship blossom also helped.

I have to admit that I liked Persephone more in A Fool's Errand more than I did in The Gypsy King. After everything that happened in the first book, she felt more genuine and there was less lying on her part. I loved seeing her struggle with how she felt for Azriel. I obviously knew what it would all lead to, but I still really enjoyed seeing it all come together. And I'll admit that, much like Persephone, I, too, might be a little bit in love with Azriel. There's just something about him. He always seems full of mischief while at the same time being fiercely loyal and willing to do anything to protect Persephone. And in all honesty, compared to some of the other men in the book, Azriel seems like he is a stellar human being. Mordecai on the other hand is a despicable human being. There really isn't any other way to describe him. Every time he does anything all I really want to do is cringe…when I'm not completely creeped out by him. I'm really hoping that he finally will get what's coming for him in the next book.

Maureen Fergus' A Fool's Errand was what I hoped it would be: an action-packed, engrossing story with just the right does of romance. It's books like this one that are slowly convincing me that fantasy might be something I want to be reading more of. Now I just can't wait to see what happens in the next book!


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Monday, September 23, 2013

Blog Tour - Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl by Emily Pohl-Weary


Title: Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl
Author: Emily Pohl-Weary
Publisher: Razorbill Canada
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Chapters Indigo
Sometimes Living in the Big Apple Really Bites!

Eighteen-year-old rock start Sam Lee isn't like other girls. She's the super-talented bass player and songwriter for an all-girl indie band and an incurable loner. Then one night after a concert in Central Park, she's attacked by a wild dog.

Suddenly, this long-time vegetarian is craving meat--and the bloodier, the better. Sam finds herself with an unbelievable secret and no one she trusts to share it. And so begging the endless lies to cover up the hairy truth…

When a new girl gang appears in the city--with claws and paws--Sam suspects there's a connection to her own inner beast. Trapped in a tug-of-war between her animal and human selves, forced to choose between the guy who sparked her carnal appetite and the one who makes her feel like a normal teenage girl, Sam has to unravel the mysteries of the werewolf world before her bandmates, her mother, and the media catch up to her.
Q & A with author Emily Pohl-Weary

How do you go about doing research for your work?

I don't think I do anything particularly special! For me, research usually just involves wandering around the neighborhoods my character frequents, which in this case means New York's Lower-East Side and Brooklyn (which I absolutely love). I talk to people who live there, smell things (eww!), listen to the sounds. Hmm. Now that I think about it, maybe my research process is to make like a fish and swim in my book's ocean. Really immerse myself. I listen to a soundtrack that gets me into the right headspace for writing. I read a ton--on average three novels a week, though I try to avoid anything too similar while I'm writing a book--and watch teen movies/TV shows to analyze plot twists and dialogue and get fashion ideas.

Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl from start to finish--what process did you go through while writing this book?

My writing process is a combination of haphazard writing spurts, chronic tinkering, and intense outlining. With Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl, I wrote about 50 pages in a rush, then sat back and thought about where it was headed, and wrote up detailed notes that would get Sam from point A (the attack in Central Park) to point B (the end, which I won't spoil). Then I wrote and wrote and wrote and stressed and outlined and wrote and re-outlined and wrote again. Repeat that for a couple years. Once I finished a draft, I asked a bunch of writer/reader friends to give me feedback. I edited again for several months, then gave it to my agent Alison MacDonald at The Rights Factory, who is an incredibly shrewd editor. And all of this was before the publishers bought it and started their own intensive editing process. Sometimes I think it's miracle that anyone books are finished. So much work goes into them.

What are some tips for writing a story with paranormal elements?

Keep everything as realistic as possible--the way characters talk, move, think, respond, live their lives--then toss in completely unreal things, but treat them like they're normal. For Sam Lee's world, I really wanted to put myself into the head of a girl who lives in a hectic, crowded city but is terrified that her inner monster will escape. I mean, for Sam it's a monster, but for the rest of us, there's usually a secret of something we've done/that has happened to us that we really don't want strangers knowing about. Rather than fixating on the magical elements of the story, I held onto the feeling of having to hide something awful. Oh, and what it would be like to be a rising indie rock star with less and less privacy!


Review

I didn't really know much of anything about Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl by Emily Pohl-Weary when I first started reading. I didn't have many expectations, but it I did, they would have all been met. The story was fun and engrossing, exactly what I needed it to be.

Despite being in the spotlight with her band, Sam Lee has always been a major loner. So while biking home through Central Park one night after a show, Sam finds herself alone facing down two wild dogs and fearing for her lie. And so she gets bitten, but instead of going to the hospital, she gets back on her bike to go home. And the next morning, everything feels different. Sam finds herself craving foods she's never craved, and wanting to hurt people for no reason. Add to that, two boys being for Sam's attention and a new and mysterious girl gang, and Sam finds herself having to deal with a lot more people than she can handle. So much for being a loner.

I didn't know what to expect from Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl, but I certainly didn't expect what I ended up getting: an engrossing story that completely grabbed my attention. I didn't actually expect to enjoy the story as much as I did. This was just a fun story. I loved getting to know the characters, seeing Sam start to realize just how much her life was changing and come to terms with that fact. What I really enjoyed about the story though, was that despite the paranormal elements, it felt like I was reading a contemporary story the whole time. Sure, being turned into a werewolf isn't exactly realistic, but that aside, the story didn't feel paranormal at all. And I think that had a lot to do with my enjoyment of the story.

It may have taken me a few chapters to warm up to Sam, but once I did, I really liked her. I really enjoyed seeing her come out of her shell more even when I could totally relate to wanting to be alone. It was just great to see her learn to trust new people and open up to them. As far as her love interests were concerned, Harris rubbed me the wrong way right from the start. There was just something about him that was off for me, I can't really explain why. Though admittedly the same could be said about Marlon, but Marlon I definitely came around to. Once I got to know him more, I realized that he really had good intentions and that he really cared about Sam. Harris just came across as a jerk.

Emily Pohl-Weary's Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl took me by surprise. If you're not usually into paranormal stories, I recommend you give this book a try. Just like me, you might be in for a surprise.

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Blog Tour: Creeps by Darren Hynes - Guest Post

Today I have the pleasure of having Darren Hynes, author of Creeps, on the blog to talk about the process of writing this particular book. Be sure to keep reading to also find out more about the book and the book writing process.



About the book:
Fifteen-year-old Wayne Pumphrey wishes he were courageous enough to actually send the heartfelt letters he writes to friends and family. He also wishes his father would drive on the right side of the street, his mother would stop packing her suitcase to leave, and his sister would stop listening to Nickelback. But most of all, he wishes that Pete "The Meat" would let him walk to school in peace. After all, how many times can one person eat yellow snow?


Then one morning, while facing Pete and his posse, Wayne is rescued by Marjorie, the girl with a dead father and a mother who might s well be. Together, the two of them escape Pete's relentless bullying by rehearsing for the school play, and an unlikely friendship is formed. As they grow ever closer to one another, they begin to dream of escape from their small town and resricted lives. But Pete now has plans for both of them--and after a moment of sudden violence, nothing will ever be the same again for Wayne, Majorie, or Pete himself.


Creeps from start to finish – what process did you go through while writing this book?

- I started writing Creeps in 2008. At the time, the story had nothing to do with bullying. It was more a coming of age novel: a boy from a dysfunctional family who tries to make sense of his life against the backdrop of a cold northern town. I wrote and wrote and had several hundred pages completed until the realization struck that I didn’t have much of a story. Something was missing and I had no idea what. Later in that same year I spent a month at The Banff Writing Studio where I’d hoped to find a reason for continuing with Creeps instead of it putting aside. After the month was over I put the manuscript away in frustration and went back to work on a novel that I’d previously tried to get published but hadn’t been successful. I spent a year revising, Flight and sent it out and it was finally accepted for publication and released in 2010. Not long after, I was talking to my fifteen-year-old nephew via Facebook and he told me about a girl who’d pretended to like him and when he’d admitted to liking her back, she posted how gross he was and how she would never date someone like him. I was devastated, angry, disappointed in the human race. The story stayed with me for weeks and weeks and then one morning I felt compelled to take out my abandoned Creeps manuscript. As I was looking it over I had a thought: what if, Wayne, my main character, was a victim of bullying? And what if the story was more about how he copes and finds a way to move forward, and how he comes to love and accept himself for who he is? For the first time since I’d started writing the novel I felt like I had a hook, a reason for writing it.

- The new draft of Creeps became a sort of homage to my nephew, but, later, it became a story for anyone who’s every felt alone or different. I was quite inspired by Radiohead’s song: Creep throughout the writing of the novel. The lyrics really spoke to me and I found a way to sneak the song’s message into the narrative of my novel. The song became a sort of anthem for my two main protagonists.

- It wasn’t easy to write the bullying scenes, and I struggled with how far to go. Although the story focused on a fifteen-year-old, I had no idea I was writing a Young Adult novel. I was just writing what I felt I needed to write. My biggest challenge, I think, was finding humour in the story. Not to make it too maudlin. That’s why Wayne, although terribly bullied, tries to rise above it – find hope and optimism and not dwell too much on his situation. That tack will not please everyone, but it was the direction I felt I needed to follow.

- Once the story kicked in, and I became more familiar with the characters, the writing of the novel came quickly. I was living in Hamilton at the time and I would often write on the bus to Toronto. I spent a lot of money on coffee and lattes because I lived in cafes, which is where some of my best writing gets done. I generally wrote in the early mornings – my peak time creatively. I got to know some people in the course of writing the novel that were victims of bullying and they were kind enough to share their stories with me. I soaked up documentaries and books on the subject and combed the papers and the Internet for stories like the one I was trying to write. And, while not a victim myself, I was certainly witness to episodes of bullying when I myself was in high school. I remember one small boy who’d had his glasses broken by a punch in the face and it was winter and even now I can still see how cold the boy’s hands were and how his nose was running and how defeated he looked. Those images stay with you.

- After about a year, I had a draft of Creeps I was fairly happy with. Still, I put it away for a few weeks and then went back at it for some serious revisions, which took another six or seven months. Then I sent out some queries to a few agents and was shocked when Westwood Creative Artists requested the whole manuscript. A little over a month later, Westwood took me on, and a month after that, I had a book contract with Penguin.

- I was lucky enough to work with a wonderful editor at Penguin and we spent close to a year readying the book for publication. In fact, everyone at Penguin was extremely welcoming and helpful and I felt very supported there.
- So, the seeds of Creeps were planted five years ago. A lot of time was spent going in circles and working on other things and trying again and then giving up and then trying again. I’m learning now that that is part of my process. I tend to write a lot of stuff, which ultimately gets thrown out. I have to flail about and pull my hair out before something comes. But once I find that thing, the writing takes on a life of it’s own and it becomes very exciting.

- I hope people find something in Creeps that speaks to them. I certainly learned a lot from writing it – namely that there should be room for everyone.


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Saturday, July 13, 2013

Blog Tour: Belladonna by Fiona Paul - Guest Post


Today I have the immense pleasure of hosting author Fiona Paul as part of her Canadian blog tour for Belladonna. I absolutely loved Venom so I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this tour. Be sure to keep reading for your chance to see an exerpted scene from main character Cass's journey from Venice to Florence and to find out more about the book and the author.

Fiona: Happy Saturday! Today I'm starting with an exclusive excerpted scene taken from Cass's journey from Venice to Florence:

    They had broken down near a crossroads, but both streets were completely bare of traffic. Open meadows stretched around ten, with tree-covered hills off in the distance.
    Marco cursed. "And only an hour outside of Florence."
    The driver knelt beside the fallen axle. "We can't move on until the damage is repaired."
    Just then, Cass heard a howl from the trees. She turned toward the noise and saw a pack of wild dogs across the field—four of them in total, slinking around the periphery of the tall grass.
    "Marco," she said, her throat tightening. "Dogs."
    Marco turned. "They won't bother us, Signorina Cassandra," he said. "We're too many. Dogs are cowards."
    The largest dog lowered its haunches to the ground, and the others followed its lead. But Cass couldn't shake the feeling they were watching her.
    Waiting.
    She stared back, not wanting to appear afraid, until the rhythmic drumming of hoofbeats drew her attention. A carriage was approaching from the direction of Florence. She watched the cloud of dust draw near, realizing it wasn't a carriage after all. It was an old wooden cart pulled by a short, squat horse. Two men in leather doublets were perched on the back of the cart, their boots dangling almost to the ground. Another man straddled the horse. When he spotted the disabled carriage, he slowed the horse to a walk and pulled up near the side of the road. Cass headed toward them to see if they could offer assistance. Too late, she realized what the cart was carrying.
    Bodies. 
    She stopped right in the middle of the road, hugging her arms around her waist. The scene brought her back to the night she had discovered Falco's secret. But these men weren't robbing graces. Apparently, they were going to dig them.
    The two men in leather doublets jumped off the back of the cart with their shovels and traipsed across the field. One of them pounded a wooden cross into the ground while the other began to dig. The third hovered close to the cart, glancing occasionally at the linen-wrapped bodies, as though he thought they might walk away.
    Cass wondered why they would be taken so far outside of the city to be buried. Curiosity outweighed her fear, and she started across the road again. Madalena followed her.
    "Be careful." The man—the driver—positioned himself between the girls and the cart.
    Cass glanced down at his hands. He wore a plain silver band around his thumb. "Are they…infected?" A ripple of fear moved through her. Luca's own father had contracted the plague from one of his servants. He had died in less than a week. 
    "Oh, they are infected all right," the man said. "With the Devil's own affliction."
    Cass struggled to understand his thick Florentine accent, but she was pretty sure she had heard him right. She leaned back from the bundle. With one hand, the man delicately parted the burial shrouds around the first body's face. The dead girl looked like her, with freckled skin and auburn hair.
    And she and a brick jammed into her mouth.
    "They are vampires," he said grimly.

Fiona: I picked this passage to highlight for four reasons:
1. It is creepy and awesome!
2. Seeding is important. Everything from the dogs to the girl with the brick in her mouth will become important again later, and it's more believable to readers if they see these things woven into the narrative, not just inserted for the first time where the plot demands them.
3. When it comes to travel, less is more. Editor's notes: Unless something relevant happens on the trip—as is the case here—best not to subject readers to endless descriptions of carriages, boats, seas, roads, mountains, hotels, etc. (Who, me?) Actually she said it nicer than that, but the meaning was clear :)
4. Never discount any random factoid you come across while researching, especially if you are writing a trilogy. A Paper Lantern intern discovered this cool article while putting together some information about Renaissance Venice: 
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2009-03-13-italy-vampire_N.htm
"Probably not useful," she said, "but interesting." This article became the basis for major plot point in Belladonna and that intern went on to become an editor and then leave to do even greater things. (She's currently a superhero). Thanks, B!



About the book:
Cassandra Caravello is trying to forget Falco, the wild artist who ran off with her heart, as she grows closer to her strong, steady fiancé, Luca. But Luca seems to have his own secrets. When he's arrested by soldiers in the middle of the night, Cass's life is once again thrown into chaos. She must save Luca, and that means finding the Book of the Eternal Rose--the only evidence that will prove he's innocent.

So begins her journey to Florence, a city haunted by whispers of vampirism, secret soirées and clandestine meetings of the Order of the Eternal Rose. And home to Falco, who is working for the Oder's eerily stunning leader, the Belladonna herself.

Can Cass trust her heart to lead her to the truth this time?


Nothing is as it seems in this seductive thriller, where the truth may be the deadliest poison of all.


About the author:
Fiona Paul is a writer and registered nurse from St. Louis, MO.



If you missed it yesterday, be sure to check Read My Breath Away for a deleted and annotated scene from Belladonna. And if you want more, be sure to check out Book Nerd Canada on Monday for a special interview! 

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Friday, May 31, 2013

Blog Tour - The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen


Title: The Moon and More
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository
Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby? 

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.

If you've been reading this book for any length of time, you have probably heard me say at some point just how much I love Sarah Dessen. And I was so excited at the prospect of having a new book of hers to read. Almost immediately after receiving my copy of The Moon and More, I started reading and I couldn't have been more happy to be back in the world of Colby.

Emaline thought she had a plan: she was going to go off to college with the boy she has been dating since first starting high school. Everything was all set. But the summer before all that is set to happen, things change and suddenly everything Emaline knows is falling to pieces around her. She wanted to have one of those summers where she can be someone completely different, like the people she sees renting the properties where she works. The only thing Emaline couldn't have predicted was that at the end of it all, what she so desperately wants to get away from is what will make her want to stay with everything she is familiar. 

I will apologize in advance if this seems to be turning into an ode to Sarah Dessen and her books, but here it goes anyways. Here's the thing about Sarah Dessen and her books, they make the absolutely perfect summer read. But they aren't all just fluff and fun times in the sun. Often there is something more going on with the story and the characters and that is typically what makes me love these stories so much. With The Moon and More, I felt like I could relate to the story in a way that I can't always relate to other stories. That feeling of leaving home for the first time and being excited about it, but also kind of afraid of what the unknown holds. This story was very much about that. The main character, Emaline, was really excited at the prospect of leaving home, but at the same time she wants to hold on to everything that feels familiar around her. And that aspect of her story, and the greater story, is something I could really relate too and I'm sure I wasn't the only one. What I really enjoyed about The Moon and More as well was that it didn't really follow the same pattern that typical Sarah Dessen stories do. There were those elements to the story that I have come to love, but the way it all played wasn't necessarily what I expected to happen but it was something I enjoyed seeing. I can't help but come back to the fact that Sarah Dessen knows what she is doing. She knows what works in her stories and that's what makes it so I keep loving her books, even after having read so many of them. And The Moon and More was everything I hoped it would be.

Like I've already said, I could relate to Emaline's story and for that reason I could also really relate to certain aspects of her character. When I was getting ready to leave for college, I may not have been dating the same boy since the start of high school, but I could definitely relate to the part where you are eager to move on to the next part of your life while at the same wanting to hold on to everything that is familiar. For me, that made Emaline really likeable and made it so I really liked her. She was one of those characters that I found myself taking a liking to her right from the beginning and so throughout the story I was eager to see what would happen to her, the decisions she would make about the different aspects of her life. And those aspects of her life got pretty complicated after a while. Sure, the whole Luke vs. Theo part of things was mostly her own doing, but there wasn't all that much she could do about the situation with her father. And her father kinda annoyed me. I could see why he was doing what he was doing and could understand where he was coming from, but that didn't make him any more likeable to me. But Benji I loved. In some parts of the story, it felt like he kinda stole the show. But I also loved the side of Emaline that he brought out. I think it was a side of her personality that even surprised Emaline herself at times. The other thing about Sarah Dessen books is that more often than not, I can't help but fall a little (or a lot if that person is Wes) with her love interests. But with The Moon and More, that didn't really happen on the same scale I thought it would. Sure, I liked Luke and his familiarity just like I liked Theo and his newness. But beyond that they didn't necessarily impress me that much. But that's okay because in the end, I almost wanted Emaline to end up alone, because that would mean that she would be able to actually be herself and do what she wants to do. And that's what I wanted for Emaline.

So this is my ramble-y way of saying that I absolutely love Sarah Dessen and The Moon and More. If you have loved Sarah Dessen's books in the past, you won't want to miss out on this one. It may not have been exactly like I thought it would have been, but that didn't stop me from loving it just as much as this author's other books. 

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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Blog Tour: The Gypsy King by Maureen Fergus


Title: The Gypsy King (The Gypsy King #1)
Author: Maureen Fergus
Publisher: RazOrbill Canada
Release Date: January 22, 2013
Source: eARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Chapters Indigo
A runaway slave with a shadowy past, sixteen-year-old Persephone has spent four long years toiling beneath the leering gaze of her despise owner and dreaming of a life where she is free to shape her own destiny. Then, one night, a chance encounter with a handsome chicken thief named Azriel changes her life forever.

Sold to him for a small bag of gold coins, Persephone soon discovers what she already suspected: namely, that Azriel is not what he seems. And when she realizes that he believes Persephone has a special destiny--she is determined to escape him and his impossibly broad shoulders.

But things are no longer as simple as they once were. Torn between her longing for freedom and her undeniable feelings for the handsome thief with the fast hands and the slow smile, Persephone faces the hardest choice she will ever have to make. And no one least of all her--could have imagined the shocking truth her decision will reveal. 

In the past I was never really one for a full on fantasy story. I had nothing against urban fantasy, but there was just something about regular old fantasy that just didn't really click with me. But for whatever reason I have been finding myself reading more and more fantasy lately, even surprising myself with how much I'm enjoying the stories. This was the case with Maureen Fergus' The Gypsy King. While it took a bit for me to get into the story, once I did I found myself greatly enjoying it.

Though she is not happy with it, the life of a slave is all Persephone has known. As far as she can remember, she has always been at the service of someone else. But that doesn't mean she does so without protestation or without escape attempts. Those attempts have got her chained up, something which makes defending herself against a mysteriously handsome chicken thief difficult. Things become even more mysterious when that same chicken thief shows up the next day, dressed like a nobleman and asking Persephone's owner if he could buy Persephone. Now free from her owner, Persephone is to sure what is going to happen. And much less what is going on with the mysterious Azriel.

I'm a little new to the whole fantasy bandwagon (kinda late I know), but I'm finding that I'm enjoying fantasy as a whole a lot more than I have in the past. Maybe it has to do with me maturing or something like that. But regardless, that has allowed me to really enjoy The Gypsy King by Maureen Fergus. While it did take me a while to get into the story--which might be because at first I was only able to read sporadically--once I did, I found myself getting completely wrapped up in the story and the characters. There is a lot going on in this book and that means a lot of facts that need to be kept straight but that's what made the story so interesting. The fact that there was always something happening and that there were so many layers to the story is what kept me reading. There are also a lot of question that need answering throughout the book and all those questions have not been answered. I can only hope that they will be answered in future book.

Persephone was an interesting girl. She was the complete opposite of the image you typically have of a slave. But that's what made it so I wanted to read her story. While I liked her most of the time, the one thing that bothered me the most about her was how much time she spent lying. In some cases the lying made sense and it was a means to an end, especially when she needed protection. But whenever she would lie to Azriel I would kinda get annoyed with her. There was definitely a lot going on with Azriel and it took me a while to get a clear read on him. But that didn't stop me from liking him very early on in the story. What I especially liked was how his relationship with Persephone developed. There was always so much going on and it felt like their relationship, especially their potential romance, was put on the back burner because of it all. But that also made it so the romance progressed at a more normal pace--something that shouldn't always be taken for granted when reading YA. 

Maureen Fergus' The Gypsy King made me realize that I should spend more time reading fantasy because I always end up enjoying those stories more than i expect. But beyond just making me love fantasy, The Gypsy King was written in a way that made it so I got all wrapped up the story and the characters, and that is always a clear sign of a good book.

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Sunday, December 9, 2012

Blog Tour: The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress


Title: The Friday Society
Author: Adrienne Kress
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: December 6, 2012
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository
An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns--and the heroines who use them all.

Set in turn of the century London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligence and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It's up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder--and the crimes they believe may be connected to it--without calling too much attention to themselves.

Set in the past but with a modern irreverent flare, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike--well, relatively ladylike--heroines poised for more dangerous adventures.

A steampunk story about kick-ass girls? Count me in. The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress was a fantastic and fun story about three girls who definitely weren't afraid of much and didn't let anything stand in their way. I am such a sucker for books about girl power and this one ended up being right up my alley.

Cora, Nellie and Michiko had never met each other but one fateful night brought them together, and from then on their paths kept on crossing. Together they decide to solve a mystery the police hasn't deemed important enough and each brings something different to the table. Cora, an inventor's assistant can solve any problem thrown her way and can organize like no one else. Nellie, a magician's assistant can pull off just about any trick. Michiko, a Japanese fighter can can herself out of any tricky situation with the help of her katana. Together they form quite the formidable trio. And there is little that together they cannot face. And all in an almost lady-like fashion.

So I love Steampunk stories. And I love stories about kick-ass girls. So basically The Friday Society  by Adrienne Kress was the perfect book for me. And once I started reading the story really didn't disappoint me. It always felt like there was something happening and often whatever was happening was quite the adventure. And if that wasn't enough, there was just the right amount of humour in The Friday Society. I often had a smile on my face while reading, if I wasn't actually laughing out loud, which actually happened on many occasions. I have to say that those chapter titles had an important part to play in why I was often smiling while reading. They were totally appropriate for the story and fit right in with everything else that was going on.

So like I've said before, this story is about some pretty kick-ass girls. Before I get into each of the girls specifically, let me just say that I loved the way each of the girls was introduced. Every time one of the girls was introduced there seemed to be an explosion. And that wasn't even the craziest thing to happen to any of the girls. Each of them brought something different to the table. Cora is quite the intelligence and resourceful young woman. Despite her modest background, she has managed to make so much for herself, especially considering the times she is living in. Nellie isn't afraid to tell it like it is, and she often had me laughing on multiple occasions with the way she talked. And Michiko, she was quiet and reserved but she was a fantastic fighter. Together they made quite the unlikely trio and I think that's what made them so endearing. They were just so unexpected that they basically worked. And they were a lot of fun to read about.

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress was a fantastic read. Though I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from it, it was also one that took me by surprise. It wasn't long before I found myself being unable to flip the pages fast enough. You can be sure that I will be looking out for more by Adrienne Kress in the future.

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday (65)


For those who don't know, Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers showcase books they are particularly looking for to. For the next few weeks, I'm going to be doing this a little differently. Like I did last year, each week I will be talking about books that are coming out early next year from different publishers. Up this week are January 2013 releases coming for Penguin/RazOrbill Canada.


Just One Day by Gayle Forman
January 8, 2013
A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay.

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there's an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem's story--Just One Year--is coming soon!
Do I even have to explain why I am beyond excited to read Just One Day by Gayle Forman? This story just sounds like something that will completely suck me in and I know from reading Gayle Forman's other books that my heart will inevitably be breaking while reading this book. But it's not like that's going to stop me from reading Just One Day.



Rise by Andrea Cremer
January 8, 2013
The sequel to Rift and the prequel to the New York Times bestselling novel Nightshade.

Everything Conatus stands for is at risk. Hoping to gather enough resistance to save their order, Ember and Barrow attempt a desperate escape. But fate offers little mercy. When their mission is exposed, the couple face relentless pursuit by the supernatural horrors that act on the commends of Eira's ally: the mysterious Bosque Mar. A shocking revelation forces Ember out of hiding, sending her back into the heart of dark magic at Tearmunn keep, where she must convince her old friend Alistair of her love or face dire consequences. Ember's deception offers the only chance for the resistance to succeed, but what she discovers in the shadows beneath the keep will shatter her world and bring about the Witches's War.

Richly sensual and full of magic, action and danger, Andrea Cremer's fifth book set in the Nightshade world is an edge-of-your-seat page turner.
I still have to read the first Nightshade prequel, Rift, but that is not stopping me from being excited about the release of the sequel. Rift is on my to-read pile for the Christmas holidays, that way I will be ready for Rise when it comes out in January. And I just know this book will look pretty on shelf what with the shimmery cover and everything.



The Gypsy King by Maureen Fergus
January 2013 (RazOrbill Canada)
A runaway slave with a shadowy past, sixteen-year-old Persephone has spent four long years toiling beneath the leering gaze of her despised owner and dreaming of a life where she is free to shape her own destiny. Then, one night, a chance encounter with a handsome chicken thief named Azriel changes her life.

Sold to him for a small bag of gold coins, Persephone soon discovers what she already suspected: namely, that Azriel is not what he seems. And when she realizes that he believes Persephone has a special destiny--she is determined to escape him and his impossibly broad shoulders.

But things are no longer as simple as they one were.

Torn between her longing for freedom and her undeniable feelings for the handsome thief with the fast hands and the slow smile, Persephone faces the hardest choice she will ever have to make.

And no one--least of all her--could have imagined the shocking truth her decisions will reveal.
It wasn't until I went through RazOrbill Canada's Winter 2013 catalogue that I discovered Maureen Fergus' The Gypsy King. But then I read the summary for the book and it sounded like something I would definitely be interested in reading. I'll just have to wait for January to see what this one is all about. 


So these are the Penguin/RazOrbill Canada January 2013 titles I'm looking forward to. Just from preparing all these posts I know that my wallet will be in pain come the new year, but that doesn't stop from being excited about all of these titles. Once again, January 2013 can't come soon enough!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Breakaway by Michael Betcherman


Title: Breakaway
Author: Michael Betcherman
Publisher: Razorbill Canada
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon.ca / Chapters Indigo
Sixteen-year-old Nick Macklin's life has been divided in two. Before and After. Before his father when to jail, and After.

Before, he was an A student and a talented hockey player who loved his girlfriend, Sherry, and had the greatest dad in the world--a man who not only was there for him after his mom died of cancer, but who was also a star player for the Vancouver Canucks. Then the bottom fell out. His father was convicted of murder and given a life sentence for a crime Nick is convinced he didn't commit.

Now living with his dad's agent, Nick is motivated solely by a burning desire to seek justice for his father. Who framed him? And why? Drifting further away from everything and everyone who matters, he spends his days roaming the city, looking for a bald man with a limp--the man his father swears planted the evidence that led to his conviction. Finding him is like looking for a needle in a haystack--until Nick stumbles on a very real clue, an eye-opening revelation that just might get his father out of jail forever.

In all honesty, I hadn't heard of Breakaway by Michael Betcherman until I was offered the chance to be part of the blog tour for the release of the book. The summary caught my attention, especially since it's more of a boy book, which in my opinion there just aren't enough of in YA. All that to say that once I started reading, I read the entire book in one sitting. It was that good.

Nick Macklin thought he had a great life. At least that was until his father was accused of a crime he didn't commit and was sentenced to life in prison. Now Nick doesn't care about anything but finding the one person who could prove his father's innocence. But finding a bald, limping man in Vancouver might as well be the same thing as looking for a needle in a haystack. At his father's request, Nick stops his search and stats focusing once more on school and rejoins his hockey team. And just when he's not looking anymore, Nick might be on the verge of finding out just who framed his father for murder.

I honestly had no expectations when I started reading Michael Betcherman's Breakaway since all I had to go off was the synopsis on the back of the book. Despite that I was still looking forward to reading the book, mainly because the entire story focused on a boy and was told from his perspective even if it was in the third person. There's just not enough "boy" books in YA and whenever I find one I just kind of jump on it and read it. Ultimately, Breakaway did not end up disappointing me. Once I started reading, I just couldn't put the book down. I just had to find out who had framed Nick's father. All along I had my suspicions but I was dying to know if I was right. Beyond that, the story itself was captivating, it drew me in right from the start. It also helps that I'm a sucker for any story that has mystery or revolves around crime in one way or another. All that to say that I pretty much loved this book. 

I loved Nick. He was a great character and I loved getting to know him better as the story moved forward. I could definitely some sort of evolution in his character. When the story first started, Nick was solely focused on finding who had framed his father, not really caring about anything else and thinking that doing that would solve all his problems. But eventually he understood that there might be more to life than just proving his dad's innocence, no matter how important that was. But Nick wasn't the only interesting character in this book. Granted he was kind of integral to the story, I loved that a parent was actually part of the story and played an important role. Nick's dad took me by surprise. I loved finding out about him in the flashbacks Nick had. He just wasn't what I expected and I really appreciated that about him. And Nick's friends of course were interesting just because they were all so different from one another--I'm not going to lie, I smiled when I saw that one of them would be going to my university.

Michael Betcherman's Breakaway was a fantastic read. It took me completely by surprise and it is one of those books that I will definitely be recommending in the future. And if you're looking to find a book for a boy, then I strongly recommend you send Breakaway their way.

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