Waiting on Wednesday

Renegade by J.A. Souders (Fall 2012)

Goodreads Description:

"Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law. 

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. Her memories have been altered. Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. And the person she knows as Mother is a monster. 

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all."

Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame (May 2012)

Description:

"It’s 1912, and the Darlingtons of Wentworth Hall have more than just the extensive grounds to maintain. As one of Britain’s most elite families, they need to keep up appearances that things are as they have always been…even as their carefully constructed faÇade rapidly comes undone.
Maggie has a secret. And she’s not the only one…the handsome groom Michael, the beautiful new French nanny Therese, the Darlingtons’ teenage houseguests Teddy and Jessica, and even Maggie’s younger sister Lila are all hiding something. Passion, betrayal, heartache, and whispered declarations of love take place under the Darlingtons’ massive roof. And one of these secrets has the power to ruin the Darlingtons forever.

When scandalous satires start appearing in the newspaper with details that closely mirror the lives of the Darlingtons, everyone is looking over their shoulder, worrying their scandal will be next. Because at Wentworth Hall, nothing stays secret for long."

Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan (May 2012)

Goodreads Description:

"Eliza dreams of being a playwright for the king’s theater, where she will be admired for her witty turns of phrase rather than her father’s wealth. Beth is beautiful as the day but poor as a church mouse, so she must marry well, despite her love for her childhood sweetheart. Zabby comes to England to further her scientific studies—and ends up saving the life of King Charles II. Soon her friendship with him becomes a dangerous, impossible obsession. Though she knows she should stay away from the young, handsome king, Charles has a new bride, Queen Catherine, and a queen needs ladies in waiting. And so Zabby, Beth, and Eliza, three Elizabeths from very different walks of life, find themselves at the center of the most scandal-filled court that England has ever seen."

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger (May 2012)

Goodreads Description:

"Whitley Johnsons dream summer with her divorce dad has turned into a nightmare. She’s just met his new fiancee and her kids. The fiancee’s son? Whitley’s one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin’ great. 

Worse, she totally doesn’t fit in with her dad’s perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn’t even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she’s ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn’t “do” friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn’t her stepbrother... at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together. 

Filled with authenticity and raw emotion, Whitley is Kody Keplinger’s most compelling character to date: a cynical Holden Caulfield-esque girl you will wholly care about."

Top Seven Books I'd Give A Theme Song To

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen: "2 am" by Anna Nalick
The song lyrics were practically written for Diana and Henry.


Incarnate by Jodi Meadows: "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence
Ana was such a broken person before she met Sam--but he was able to bring her to life

Glow by Amy Katheen Ryan: "Blow" by Ke$a
First of all, Glow and Blow sound very similar :). Secondly, there are a few places that are "about to blow" in the novel.

Uneathly by Cynthia Hand: "Angel" by Akon
This book is about angels who glow and fly high in the sky. If you know the lyrics to
"Angel," you know why this is a perfect fit.

Vengeance by Michelle Madow: "Better than Revenge"
Chelsea is about as angry as this song. Given Madow's love of Taylor Swift, this is probably the unofficial theme song for the novel.

Rumors by Anna Godbersen: "Rumors" by Adele
Aside from the obvious title correlation, both the song and the book involve a man caught between two women.

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten: "Man Eater" by Nelly Furtado
This novel is about a group of women who go around breaking hearts.

In My Mailbox (33)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

Endure (Need) by Carrie Jones

Transcend Time Book 3 Title Hunt

Welcome to the Title Hunt for the Final Transcend Time Novel!

Welcome to the Transcend Time Saga Title Hunt! The title hunt is the reveal of the title for the final novel in the Transcend Time Saga. Each of the bloggers participating in the hunt have been given a letter. Hop around to the blogs participating to hunt for the letters. (And remember that two of the letters are used twice, so the title is eight letters long.) 

Once you've unscrambled the title, go to Michelle Madow's blog and use the title name to enter the giveaway for a voucher for an advanced e-copy of the final Transcend Time novel! (She is giving away a voucher because the novel is planned to be released at the end of the year, and she hasn't finished writing it yet! This voucher will ensure that you will receive an advance e-copy once they are available). 

Your clue for this stop is:

T

I hope that Lizzie and Drew are able to withstand whatever Chelsea throws at them and that Lizzie and Chelsea make up. I also wouldn't mind if Chelsea and Jeremy got together J.  If you haven't read  Remembrance (Transcend Time, #1) yet, it's available for 99 cents through April!

Guest Post & Giveaway: The Earthquake Machine

Author bio:

Mary Pauline Lowry has worked as a forest firefighter, screenwriter, open water lifeguard, construction worker, and advocate in the movement to end violence against women. Due to no fault of her sweet parents, at 15 she ran away from home and made it all the way to Matamoros, Mexico. She believes girls should make art, have adventures, and read books that show them the way.

Top Ten Reasons You Should Read THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE

(or why your parents won’t want you to read it)

1. It’s an adventure story that features a brave and brazen female protagonist.

2. The main character Rhonda runs away from home and travels alone into interior Mexico.

3. It’s an honest (and disturbing) tale about a young girl’s sexual awakening.

4. It shows how women can be awesome criminals.

5. Even though it’s not a traditional love story, it’s full of passion and longing.

6. It pushes the BOUNDARIES between YA novels and adult coming-of-age novels.

7. The Queen of Teen Fiction says: “The writing is fantastic and the story is completely unique and unforgettable.”

8. Imaginative Adventure says: “Where this book blew me away was the writing. Lowry's writing style is so beautiful and textured, describing otherwise uncomfortable scenes with poeticism…”

9. It’ll allow you to experience what it’s like to walk through the Mexican jungle alone at night while tripping on peyote.

10. It’s like nothing you’ve ever read before; and it’s all about Girl Power!

  

The Earthquake Machine

"The book every girl should read,

and every girl’s parents hope she’ll never read.

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda’s world, but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda’s life is her family’s Mexican yardman, Jesús. But when the INS deports Jesús back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation.

Determined to find her friend Jésus, Rhonda seizes an opportunity to run away during a camping trip with friends to Big Bend National Park. She swims to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and makes her way to the border town of Milagros, Mexico. There a peyote- addled bartender convinces her she won’t be safe traveling alone into the country’s interior. So with the bartender’s help, Rhonda cuts her hair and assumes the identity of a Mexican boy named Angel. She then sets off on a burro across the desert to look for Jesús. Thus begins a wild adventure that fulfills the longing of readers eager for a brave and brazen female protagonist."


Contest Rules:

• Open Internationally (this is an e-book giveaway) 
• Must be 13+ to enter
• Everyone may enter, even if you are not a follower
• Winner will be notified via email
• A new winner will be chosen if a response is not received within 48 hours
• Contest ends March 1, 2012

Allegiance Blog Tour & Giveaway: Team Steldor

The blog tour for Allegiance is a tournament between Steldor and Narian, as well as Hytanica and Cokyri. I've decided to support Hytanica in this battle, and guess which man I'll endorsing. That's right—Steldor! I am firmly on Team Steldor J

The Virtues of Lord Steldor

Steldor is sweet, charming, and caring. He and Alera would make a great couple, if only she could be more open to him. Hytanica does not have a culture that treats women as equals. Women are punished physically and husbands are permitted to force them into bed—additionally, they are supposed to be seen not heard.

Alera is nothing like a Hytanican woman. She is strong willed, interested in politics, and very assertive. Instead of treating her like an incompetent and inferior person, Steldor updates Alera on political matters, lets her attend meetings, and overtime comes to respect her opinions. Additionally, Steldor never once forces himself upon Alera despite the culture he grew up in. He also never, ever hits her—even though he is expected to by cultural standards.

You can feel Steldor’s love for Alera leap off the pages of Allegiance. He will do anything he can to make her happy. Steldor is also a great match for Alera because he is strong, intelligent, and stubborn. They are nothing if not equals, and reading about their constant battle of wills is really endearing. Additionally, his ability to lead must be commended. Steldor is the youngest King in the history of Hytanica, but he has successfully captured the hearts of his citizens and earned their admiration long before he became King.

In honor of the tournaments I have one copy of Allegiance to give away. Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget. Open to US/Canada.  See full contest rules here.

Allegiance

Author: Cayla Kluver
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Source: For Review
Goodreads Description: 

"Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn't help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive. 

An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return... 

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge. 

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn...."

***

I loved every second of Allegiance. I wasn’t really sure what to expect after the surprising way that Legacy ended, but from the very beginning of the novel, I was captivated. Allegiance starts out with a deep-dive into Steldor and Alera’s relationship. We see them interacting as a married couple, as Steldor continues to wait for Alera to accept their relationship and return his love.

Steldor was my favorite part of the novel, he was so sweet! He was romantic and caring, and yes he has his faults—but considering the culture he grew-up in, he is actually extremely considerate of women. Steldor does not hit his wife, and he does make an attempt to listen to her thoughts and opinions. Since he grew up in an environment where women are supposed to be seen and not heard, as well as physically disciplined, I think Steldor should be commended for his inclusion of Alera in political matters and his refusal to strike her. The entire time I was reading Allegiance, I was dying for Alera to accept Steldor. He loves her so much, and he is trying so hard to make her love him too. He really is a caring person and I think he would definitely be able to make Alera happy.

The war-torn back-drop to Allegiance made for a heartbreaking read. There was tragedy left and right, and I was in tears for a good majority of the novel. While Allegiance is very character driven, it still has a pretty exciting plot. There is a ton of romance, plotting, and violence going on to keep the attention of readers who need more action in their novels. Personally, the extra-dose of tragedy was all I needed to add some more magic to the world that Cayla Kluver has created.

Allegiance was a lot more exciting than Legacy for two reasons. First of all, the battle with Cokyri is more intense than ever—leading to a lot of action and drama. The romance is also a lot more intense than it was in Legacy. I suspect that there will be a lot of debate over who Alera is better off with—Steldor or Narian. This is a perfect series for fans of fantasy and character-driven plots. I’m not really sure what direction Sacrifice, the final book of the series, will head in—but I am anxiously awaiting the chance to read it and find out!

Vesper

Author: Jeff Sampson
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Source: Purchased
Goodreads Description: 
"A compelling debut novel in which a teen girl must figure out who's causing a rash of murders in her small town--and what's causing her to turn into a monster. Ideal for fans of 'Heroes' and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.'"

***

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into Vesper. It seemed like the kind of book I would enjoy, so I decided to give it a shot. The plot reminded me a lot of “Heroes,” and I’m really curious to see where the rest of the story will be going

The main character, Emily, starts to develop mysterious powers, which cause her to act like an entirely different person.  The story starts out with an interrogation, and throughout the interrogation the story unfolds. There was not a whole lot of action, adventure, or romance—the story really focuses on the Emily’s struggle to figure out what is wrong with her.

Vesper really sets the stage for the Deviants series. There are a lot of unanswered questions that I am sure will be resolved in the rest of the series. I expect that this series is going to be perfect for fans of “Heroes” and paranormal young adult literature.

In My Mailbox (32)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have)

Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Source: Purchased
Goodreads Description:

"2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time."

***

I LOVED Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have). This book was just filled with awesomeness. From the very first page, my attention was captivated and I was hysterically laughing. This has never happened to me before, but just go pick up the book and read the first 3 paragraphs—you’ll see exactly what I mean.

Ten Things We Did was romantic, funny, and sweet. It’s the story of two girls who feel more-or-less abandoned by their parents and wind up living in a house by themselves at 16. The text is disjointed, which makes the story feel more like a conversation. We get to hear April’s thoughts, history, and important events as they occur to her in a sensibly randomized fashion. What do I mean by that? You know when you’re telling a story, but you realize half-way through that the person you’re talking to needs to hear a different (but related) story to understand the one you’re currently telling? Well, that happens in this book a lot. Since it’s exactly how I tell stories, I loved it!

April and Vi get into some awesomely funny and a bit wild situations without adult supervision—at some points it made me reminisce about my college days because they were quite similar (note: I said at points—I was much more tame than these girls!) I really want to comment on the romance, but I can’t really do so without giving away spoilers, so let’s leave it at this: cute, sweet, innocent, and romantic—as well as uber complicated.

Ten Things We Did is one of those books that you’ll end up loving even if you don’t usually read contemporary novels. It’s wild, fun, and light-hearted, but it still contains intense emotions because of family problems, relationship drama, and personal issues. I loved everything about it—particularly the writing style and I can’t wait to read more from Sarah Mlynowski.

Balthazar

Author: Claudia Gray
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Source: For Review
Format: ARC
Goodreads Description:

"Haunted by memories from his first days as a vampire, Balthazar has spent hundreds of years alone—without allies, without love. When he emerges from his isolation to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, Balthazar has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Having learned of Skye’s powers and the remarkable effect her blood has on vampires, he plans to use her for his own evil purposes. As they stand together to fight the evil vampire, Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by Skye...just as Redgrave realizes that he can destroy Balthazar once and for all by taking her for his own. 

In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart."

***

Balthazar was my favorite character from the Evernight series, so I was really excited to read a story from his point of view. If you’ve read Evernight, you know that Balthazar is charming, sweet, and gentle. We never really found out much about his past because he doesn’t like to discuss it, and because Evernight was really about Lucas and Bianca.

Claudia Gray brings the same magic to Balthazar as she did the rest of the Evernight series. What I loved most about the novel is that it brought me closer to my favorite character and explained more about Balthazar’s history, emotions, and train-wreck relationship with his sister, Charity. I also loved the romance—I don’t think you could really have a Claudia Gray novel without romance. Skye and Balthazar were really sweet together and their relationship progressed naturally (no insta-romance here!). Had it been any other way, it would have felt forced and unrealistic.

Overall, Balthazar is a wonderful story for fans of both Claudia Gray and the Evernight series. The romance was extremely well-paced and the deeper delve into Balthazar provided answers to questions I’ve been wondering about since I read the Evernight series. Even though this is slated to be a stand- alone novel, I have to wonder if another story may be in the works. The story was open-ended enough that I still have plenty of questions about what will happen to Balthazar and Skye. Hopefully Claudia Gray will surprise us with a sequel announcement—or another stand-alone featuring Charity J.

Bloodrose

Author: Andrea Cremer
Publisher: Philomel
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed 
Goodreads Description:
"Calla has always welcomed war. 

But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is."

***

I have been anxiously awaiting Bloodrose since I finished Wolfsbane because Wolfsbane ends on a romantic cliffhanger. My absolute favorite part of this series is the love triangle between Shay, Calla, and Ren. It is so well written and intense. Many YA readers have strong opinions on who Calla should be with—including myself. While I didn’t get the romantic satisfaction I was looking for in Bloodrose, it was still packed with action and adventure and wrapped the series up nicely.

Like Wolfsbane, Bloodrose takes place over a few short days. However, there is a lot that happens and it had me constantly turning the pages. Once the action starts, it doesn’t really stop until the book ends—it’s simply one quest after another. We don’t really unravel any additional mysteries because those were all revealed in Wolfsbane. The only additional things we find out are character motivations.

Even though Bloodrose was hard to put down and really fast-paced, I can’t help but be a little disappointed. What I loved most about this series was the love triangle—and it more or less disappears in this novel. Calla basically makes up her mind at the beginning of the novel, and even though there are certain lapses from her initial decision, she sticks to it. It got rid of almost all of the romantic tension in the novel because we knew she had made her choice. As if that wasn’t bad enough—holy love triangle cop out at the end! I don’t want to say what happened because that would flat out ruin the book, but arghhh….I was not pleased. I wasn’t sad. I was just sitting there staring at the book saying “you’re kidding me right?” Way to take the extra easy way out after Calla already made a decision anyway.

Even though I was disappointed with the love triangle in Bloodrose, I still highly recommend this series. Both Nightshade and Wolfsbane were incredibly well-written. The series takes place in a unique world shrouded with mystery and the love triangle is just unbelievably well done. If you’re a fan of paranormal romance, fantasy, or mystery this is one series you don’t want to miss.

I Heart YA Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the I Heart YA Giveaway Hop. Michelle Madow, Fictional Distraction, & myself are celebrating Valentine's day by spreading some book love! Click on all of the links on the list to enter the giveaways!

I am going with a romance theme for this giveaway. I loved all of the romances in this stories and I think you will to! The winner will get to pick one book of their choice from the following options:

Contest Rules: 

• Open Internationally (as long as The Book Depository ships to you) 
• Must be 13+ to enter 
• Everyone may enter, even if you are not a follower 
• Winners will be notified via email 
• A new winner will be chosen if a response is not received within 48 hours 
• Contest ends February 20, 2012

Glow

Author: Amy Kathleen Ryan
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Format: Audio book Source: For Review
Goodreads Description:
"What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue? 

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them... 

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth. 

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside."

***

Glow was really intense. I knew going into the story that this was going to be an action-packed adventure, but I was completely unprepared for the roller coaster of horrors that these children go through. Without delving too deeply into the plot, I can tell you that the majority of adults that the children knew die. As a result, the novel reminded me a lot of Lord of the Flies because the children reacted in similar ways to the lack of civilization.

There is far more to the plot than a lack of adult supervision—all of it tragic, however. I just cannot get over how intense the novel was. Of all the horrors I’ve read characters go through, Glow is probably on my list of most tragic. What is amazing to me is how Amy Kathleen Ryan captures the emotions of the children throughout their experiences. I have absolutely no idea how I would feel in their positions, and the fact that Ryan is able to paint such an emotionally compelling experience for the reader is commendable.

I am dying to know what happens in Spark, the next novel. Ryan has created a unique world full of heartbreak, action, adventure, and courage. Glow took me on one of the most intense emotional roller coasters I have ever been on while reading a novel. The prose was fantastic, and the novel is both character and plot driven.  I am anxious to see the romantic and political decisions that the children make while left to their own devices as they attempt to rebuild society and regain a sense of normalcy.

In My Mailbox (31)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Vampire's Kiss by Veronica Wolff

Guest Post & Giveaway: The Scary Path to a Book Deal

By Derek Taylor Kent (AKA Derek the Ghost)

My name is Derek Taylor Kent (AKA Derek the Ghost).  I recently received a three-book deal for my YA horror-comedy series Scary School, which came out June 21, 2011 (scaryschool.com). How this came to be is a bit of a horror-comedy itself.

March 1994. At the age of 15, I undertake writing an epic illustrated fantasy series. It’s an ill-conceived cross between Dr. Seuss and Lord of the Rings, but I spend six long years trying to get it published. Nothing ever comes of it.

April 2005. Painfully abandoning the illustrated book series and inspired by Harry Potter, I spend a year writing my first novel: Scary School, Book 1: My Homework Ate my Dog. After completing the first draft, I submit it to a few agents and publishers. All rejections.  

Confused, I gave the manuscript to readers. I receive notes that suggest a heavy rewrite. Reluctantly, I spend months doing exhaustive rewrites, but I had to admit the book was greatly improved.

Early 2007. I feel the book is ready to submit once again. But I had a relentless day job and my spare time was filled with other projects. My Homework Ate My Dog goes on the backburner.

Another year passes.

July 2008. There’s a brief window of time off from my day job. I decide that it’s time to go full-out toward finding an agent or a publisher. If it doesn’t happen, it will probably be the end of my YA writing aspirations. 

The task before me is daunting. I have the Guide to Literary Agents and the Children’s Marketplace books. It would take me a year to reach out to every agent and publisher, and I only have a window of a couple weeks. So, I hire an assistant. His job is to send out packages to every single YA lit agent in America. I spend my time focusing on online querying.

Responses start coming in. I’m getting bites. About one in every ten I sent out is asking to read my manuscript or sample chapters. Most are rejections, but if you have a 10% positive response rate to your query, you know that you probably have something good.

August 2008. Eric Myers from the Joe Spieler Agency requests sample chapters. A week later he requests the complete manuscript. On September 20, 2008, Eric Myers is my agent. He is very enthusiastic and has a great track record.

December 2008. Every publisher my agent has submitted to has passed.

The only glimmer of hope is from a junior editor at HarperCollins who says that she “really likes my writing and the humor of the book, but what I was expecting from a book called Scary School: My Homework Ate My Dog was not what I got. I was hoping for a light, funny book about a Scary School for a young audience.”

She was exactly right. My title was screaming: silly/funny book for 8-year-olds, but I had given her a darker Harry Potter fit for 12-year-olds.

The editor concluded with: “I do feel there is a market for a Scary School book series for a younger audience should he feel inclined to write it.”

There it was. A bite from a publisher. The only problem was my “bite” felt like an orca whale. I’d have to write a whole new book for her, and I’d have to write it fast so she didn’t forget about me or buy another book in the same genre.

I sequester myself and complete the first draft of a new book series, just called Scary School.

The first draft is done by January 2009. I send it to my agent.  He’s a little shocked that it’s not a linear story like My Homework Ate my Dog, but we agree to send it to HarperCollins as is.

March 2009. The junior editor writes back: “This is exactly what I was hoping for. I love it! I think we really have something here!”

A few weeks later HarperCollins offers me a three-book deal for Scary School.

I dance around my apartment and weep with joy.

The advance is not enough to quit my day job, but it’s enough to create a website, hire a publicist, and print thousands of Scary School T-shirts.

As I write this, I am exactly one week away from the Scary School release date on June 21, 2011. I had to wait another two years before it was scheduled for release.

It was agony.

Over that time I have self-published what is now called Rudy and the Beast: My Homework Ate My Dog!  There’s still an issue with the title, but I won’t surrender it. I also self-published an illustrated book called Simon and the Solar System.

This year, I finished a new YA novel called Principal Mikey about a kid who becomes principal of his school. I think it’s my most well-written novel and is absolutely hilarious.

No bites so far.

Derek has generously offered a giveaway of Scary School for one lucky winner. The US giveaway is a choice of an e-book or a hardcopy. The international giveaway is e-book only.

Goodreads Description:

"You think your school's scary?

Get a load of these teachers:

"Ms. Fang," an 850-year-old vampire
"Dr. Dragonbreath," who just might eat you before recess
"Mr. Snakeskin"--science class is so much more fun when it's taught by someone who's half zombie
"Mrs. T"--break the rules and spend your detention with a hungry "Tyrannosaurus rex"

Plus

Gargoyles, goblins, and Frankenstein's monster on the loose
The world's most frighteningly delicious school lunch

And

The narrator's an eleven-year-old ghost

Join Charles "New Kid" Nukid as he makes some very Scary friends--including Petunia, Johnny, and Peter the Wolf--and figures out that Scary School can be just as funny as it is spooky"

Contest Rules:

• Open Internationally (as long as the Book Depository ships to you, check here) 
• Must be 13+ to enter
• Everyone may enter, even if you are not a follower
• Winner will be notified via email
• A new winner will be chosen if a response is not received within 48 hours
• Contest ends February 18, 2012