Breathless Reads in Houston

L to R: Andrea Cremer, Marie Lu, Jessica Spotswood, Beth Revis, Mary Lindsey

So last Wednesday, I took off work early and drove down to Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston for the Breathless Reads Tour. Because I have my priorities straight.

Marie Lu and Jessica Spotswood listening to Beth Revis

Mary Lindsey (Shattered Souls) moderated, asking Jessica Spotswood (Born Wicked), Marie Lu (Legend), Beth Revis (Across the Universe and A Million Suns), and Andrea Cremer (Nightshade series) questions.

Andrea Cremer explaining string theory

Beth Revis snaps a pic of audience.

All four ladies were hilarious and brilliant. It was so much fun, from listening to Andrea Cremer discuss string theory, to Marie Lu turning bright red when Mary asked her about writing the steamy scenes and Marie said, "But my mom is in the audience!"

Blue Willow always puts on great events and I loved the chance to meet 4 authors whose books I love. It was also fun to say hi to Houston area writers and bloggers.

2012 Debut Author Challenge

So, I'm excited to participate in The Story Siren's 2012 Debut Author Challenge. I'm challenging myself to read at least 12 debut MG or YA books in 2012.

I'm most excited about two books debuting in February.

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

and Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Give Away! Because I'm a Slacker

Edit to update:  Thank you so much to those who participated in my little give away.  I really appreciate it.  The contest is now closed, random.org has chosen and the winners are...Kate and Amanda!!!
I'll email you for your addresses and send you your books. Thanks so much!

I want to blog, I really do.  It's just...I forget.  Or get busy.  Or it's been too long that I'm embarrassed to start again and all The Doubts creep in and tell me no one is listening anyway, so why bother.

But no more.  I have a plan.  We writer peoples need plans to conquer The Doubts and here is mine:  From now on, every week that I don't blog, I will give away a book to one of you.

Give Away!
Because I've been especially naughty and I'm just now starting this new motivation/punishment system, this week I'm giving away 2 BOOKS!

How to enter:
All you have to do is leave a comment.  Tell me which of the books I've reviewed so far (or their sequels) you want and why.  The contest is open until midnight CDT on Thursday 9/22/11.  On Friday I'll have random.org pick two winners.  Sorry, open to US only.

Easy, yes?  Yes.

Ok.  So of all the books I've reviewed, which one do you want?

Give aways!

Check out YA Highway's BEA Book Give Away.  There are at least 3 books on that list that I'm hankering for.

Free Book Contest!

Want to win some YA books? YA Highway is having a great holiday contest to win some of thier favorite books. Check it out.

2010 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

So, Reading with Tequila has this challenge to read books in 2010 that are recommended by book bloggers.

I think I'm going to go for Level III, and read 15 books from the list. Here are the books I plan to read from the extensive 2009 recommended list:

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

Good Omens - Neil Gaiman

Northern Lights - Phillip Pullman

Push - Sapphire

The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchett

Peeps - Scott Westerfeld

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

Star Girl - Jerry Spinelli

The Stand - Stephen King

Willow - Julia Hoban

The Truth About Forever - Sarah Dessen

The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

Holes - Louis Sachar

13 Reasons Why - Jay Asher

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

Anyone out there have any other recommendations????

Here are the books from the list that I've already read:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling
City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Graceling - Kristin Cashore
Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer

Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer

The Red Tent - Anita Diamant
City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

The Road - Cormac McCarthy
Queen of the Damned - Anne Rice
The Giver - Lois Lowry
The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft - Stephen King

Remember Me - Christopher Pike

The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - Michael Chabon

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling
A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libby Bray
Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer
Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
City of Glass - Cassandra Clare
Invisible Monsters - Chuck Palahniuk

Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides

The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan
Dress Your Kids in Corduroy and Denim - David Sedaris
Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk
Happiness Sold Separately - Libby Street

My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult

Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
A Ring of Endless Light - Madeleine L'Engle
Lamb - Christopher Moore
Marley and Me - John Grogan
The Yiddish Policeman's Union - Michael Chabon
Dracula - Bram Stoker

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

In Her Shoes - Jennifer Weiner

The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster

Watchers - Dean Koontz