Day Twenty Four - All About Brodi Ashton ( Everneath)

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Debutante Profile

Name - Brodi Ashton

Debut - Everneath 

Genre - Paranormal Romance

Blog - HERE

Facebook - HERE

Twitter - HERE

Because of two parents who were Greek myth geeks, I grew up thinking the latest fashion trends were inspired by Aphrodite, and a good conversational opener was, “So, which mythological character do you most resemble?” Despite these social shortcomings, I found a great husband who’s always my first reader. We live in Utah with our two young boys, who still have no idea why I'm at the computer all the time.

I received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Utah and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

Dream Debutante Dress -  I chose this dress because I wore pants to my actual prom, and if I had the chance to do it over again, I'd go all out frill! No subtlety anywhere! 

Notes from a YA Debutante

I’m so excited to be a 2012 Debutante! So I thought I’d make up a list of 10 little known facts about me.

1.     Yes, Brodi is my real name. No, I’m not a boy.

2.     My husband can tell the kind of day I’ve had by the number of empty Diet Coke cans by my computer.

3.     The first book I ever wrote was about an alien who lived in Idaho. EVERNEATH is not that book.

4.     I might be the only person in the world addicted to Good&Plenty.

5.     I have a technique for reading revision letters from my editor that involves several intricate steps, like running around the island in my kitchen and shouting battle cries like “Tally Ho!” and “Vive L’Emerpeur!”

6.     I also have a technique for pouring Diet Coke so it’s perfect, involving several intricate steps like running water over the ice in the cup before I introduce the Diet Coke, thus preserving the integrity of the bubbles.

7.     I have absolutely no technique for cleaning my house or cooking regular dinners.

8.     It’s a good thing my husband didn’t marry me for my technique.

9.     Okay, #8 came out wrong. ( Bookie's NOTE : Bahah)

10.  98% of everything that comes out of my mouth is wrong!

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Bookie's Note: Our very last debutante of 2012!!! It's Brodi Ashton and she's awesome!!! I'm sure everyone's heard of Everneath! I mean look at the cover! Honestly, I LOVE your '10 things about me' - you're very funny and I don't pay tis compliment often but you might, MIGHT be funnier than me :P Hehe Everyone, TOMORROW is the last day of the Debutante Event so PLEASE come back for the finale!

Badass Bookie xx

Day Twenty Three - All About Pretty Crooked + Giveaway

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Book Profile

Name - Pretty Crooked ( Goodreads )

Author - Elisa Ludwig

Genre - Contemporary/Thriller

Release Date - 13th of March 2012

Available - The Book Depository

Willa’s secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones.

Yet Willa’s turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her “friends”—known to everyone as the Glitterati—without them suspecting a thing is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she’d thought it’d be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are ostracized just for being from the “wrong” side of town, is way more fun than she’d expected.

The complication Willa didn’t expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, Valley Prep’s most notorious (and gorgeous) ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her: evening the social playing field between the haves and have-nots. There’s no time for crushes and flirting with boys, especially conceited and obnoxious trust-funders like Aidan.

But when the cops start investigating the string of thefts at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could Aidan wind up being the person that Willa trusts most?

The Insider's Scoop

25 Facts about Me by Willa Fox

Age: 15

Hair color: Blondish-brownish with an auburnish glow.

Eye color: Hazel

Height: 5’2”. Maybe 5’2½” on a good day

Hometown: Right now? Paradise Valley, AZ, but I’ve moved, like, dozens of times.

Personal style: Thrift store chic meets Neiman Marcus with a little Zooey Deschanel thrown in for good measure.

Best trait: My sense of righteousness

Worst trait: I tend to get a little too caught up in my sense of righteousness.

Favorite food: My mom’s no-bake cashew cookies

Career aspirations: Poet, psychologist and/or burglar

Coffee, tea or hot chocolate?: Tea

Favorite movie: Rififi. If you’ve never heard of it, you need to remedy that.

Favorite artist: My mom, Joanne Fox

Favorite color: Indigo

Astrological sign: Taurus, baby. Mess with the bull and you get the horns.

Favorite music: Old-school hip-hop. Also Beach House, Marnie Stern and Dum Dum Girls.

Favorite pickpocketing move: The Ronaldinho, but I haven’t tried it yet (swear!). You’ve gotta hug someone to make it work.

Dream boy: A brain, a badass and biceps, wrapped up neatly with a bow, thanks.

Favorite object in the world: My vintage Schwinn. I tricked it out myself with a crushed velvet seat, chrome fenders and a headlight, because I like to ride in style.

Person you most admire: Probably my mom, and maybe my best friend Cherise as a close second

Fashion obsession: Shoes. You can never have too many shoes.

Favorite sport: If biking doesn’t count, then shopping. I can work up a sweat at a good sale, believe me.

Dogs or cats?: Never lived anywhere long enough to have a pet, but if I had my choice I would probably get a monkey. Or maybe a dog named Monkey.

Goal you’d like to achieve this year: Survive my first year at Valley Prep with a decent GPA and no jail time.

What would you most like to change about the world?: Easy. I would get rid of the bullies.

~Giveaway~

If you're craving to read Pretty Crooked after that fantastic 'Fact About Me' from Willa well, Elisa's being a doll and offering to give a lucky some a chance to read it before it's March release! ONE (1) SIGNED ARC of Pretty Crooked for one of you! The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. PLEASE leave a comment to support Elisa's!

Rule of Entry -

- International

- Ends 23rd of February 

- Must be 13 or older

- Optional Entries :

   * Leaving comment on either of Elisa's's posts +1 each

   * Tweeting Giveaway +1

   * Putting Giveaway on Sidebar +2

   * Follow Badass Bookie +2

   * Placing 2012 Debutante Event Button on blog +3

Day Twenty-Two - All About Elisa Ludwig

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Debutante Profile

Name - Elisa Ludwig

Debut - Pretty Crooked

Genre - Contemporary/ Thriller

Website - HERE

Facebook - HERE

Twitter - HERE

Elisa Ludwig has been writing since the age of nine when she issued The Elisa Bulletin to friends and family (for a price). She studied writing at Vassar College and Temple University. A freelancer, she writes about food, travel and many other topics. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and her cat, Beau (a.k.a. Bread). PRETTY CROOKED is her first novel, the first of a trilogy, and a lifelong dream. She’s represented by Leigh Feldman at Writers House.

Dream Debutante Dress -  I’ve chosen this dress in honor of the heroine of PRETTY CROOKED trilogy, Willa Fox, who is a connoisseur of vintage clothing. We both love this colour. ( NOTE : I love it! The colour is definitely unusual but the vintage design is just beautiful!)

Notes from a YA Debutante

You know what’s hilarious? My fourth grade autobiography (okay, those three words are hilarious in and of themselves), in which I wrote that I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I grew up, but if whatever it was didn’t work out, I could “always fall back on writing.” Like the writing would be so easy. Like publishing fiction was such a sensible and predictable career path. Go on with your bad self, nine-year-old me.

I was kind of a broody and rebellious teenager (see here) but mainly I spent a lot of time observing what went on and writing in my journals. I also read everything I could get my hands on, from the YA greats like Paul Zindel and Judy Blume to Sweet Valley High to my dad’s Kurt Vonnegut paperbacks to the sad-girl porn of Go Ask Alice and I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. There were some New Agey spurts, a brief obsession with Tom Robbins, many Sassy magazines and a long stretch devoted to poetry in there, too. Always, I was looking for evidence of life outside of my little world, and a glimpse of what other possibilities were out there.

One of the reasons I’m drawn to writing YA fiction is that I still have a lot of observations I want to make about what’s it like to be in that bizarro, in-between world of almost grown-upness. Lots of things have changed between then and now but a few things haven’t: a) I am still 5’3” and waiting for a growth spurt; b) I still love to dive into a book; and c) I still have a little bit of a rebellious streak—I’ve just channeled it into Willa Fox for the time being.

And I guess whatever I planned to do didn’t really work out, because here I am, “falling back” on this crazy racket. I feel really freaking lucky. Thanks for having me!

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Bookie's Note: Let's give it up for Elisa Ludwig! You know Elisa, I get imagine you as a broody and rebellious teen :) You're too much for a sweetie! I think everyone reads Judy Blume at least once in their life! You make writing YA sound insightful and deep while when I think YA I think a chance to write boys that are too good to be true ;) Hehe, anyhow come back everyone tomorrow!

Badass Bookie xx

My Bookshelf Growth Spurt ( A Year in Books)

So instead of doing IMM ( which I only do every fortnight anyway!) I'm posting a bookshelf tour! On January 6th 2011, I posted on my blog about my new bookshelf ( View Post - HERE! It looked a little like this -

This is Maurice :)

This was Maurice last year, she looks a little empty right? Over the course of a year and a bit, my bookshelf encountered a little ( read HUGE) growth spurt. Maurice could no longer hold all my books and therefore I had to buy Maurice a companion - Theodore. Now Maurice and Theodore look like this - 

Maurice on the right and Theo left :) They're BFFL's!

A closer look -

Maurice

Theodore

Maurice and Theodore are YA Fiction Shelves - They have a friend called Felicity who is a MG/School Fiction shelf, Felicity resides in another room. She will not be featured in the following bookshelf tour. 

THE BOOKSHELF TOUR ( A closer look inside Maurice and Theodore*) 

So most people have a very logical way of organising their bookshelf - I DON'T! As long it looks good than that's fine with me :) I like my shelves to look neat so I always, ALWAYS organise it by size ( even if it means separating series!) Anyway, I'll get on with it

*Click on pictures for a closer look :)

Maurice Row #1 and #2 - 

Row #1 are all vampire related books, mainly black covers ( which is why I keep them all together - it looks good :P). The books include Morganville Vampires series, Heather Brewers Vampire Chronicles, Twilight Saga, an incomplete Vampire Academy series + Bloodlines by Richelle Mead :)

Row #2 are all hardcovers. Some are signed and some are not.It's organised by colour :P Some of the books include (signed) Enclave by Ann Aguirre, Hex Hall series, Paranormalcy series, Hourglass, Unearthly and A Need So Beautiful among others! 

Maurice Row #3 and #4 -

Row #3 are all standard size paperbacks ( except for Epic Fail and Sirenz at the end). I've tried to keep the colour co-ordinating going. The left side are mainly blues and the right are blacks and navies! You can enlarge to see the titles! 

Row #4 are a random assortment of hardbacks and massive paperbacks. Again, tired to keep it colour co-ordinated and failed but at least all the books are in descending heights!

Maurice Row #5 and #6

Row #5 are also paperbacks. Few ARCs thrown into the mixture. 

Row #6 are a random assortment again! As you can see their is a gap - on the left are all the books that I need to trade and on the right are some paperbacks and ARCs!

That's Maurice! 

Theodore Row #1 and #2 -

Row #1 - Random assortment of books. The colour scheme is again at work but it doesn't really look like it's been co-ordinated! I've tried to keep series together!

Row #2 - My proudest row! Again I've tried the colour co-ordination and it's SORTA worked this time! As you can see purple, blue,yellow, orange, pink, red, dark green, navy/dark blues, browns and blacks!

Theodore Row #3 and #4 -

Row #3 - ARCs/ Large Paperbacks and EXTRA Large Paperbacks. Few 2012 YA Debuts in there!

Row #4 - Standard paperbacks. 

Theodore Row #5  and Row #6 -

Row #5 - THE REALLY RANDOMS ( There are Aussies YAs, Adult novels and mini paperbacks!)

Row #6 - Not really featured because it doesn't hold books. It holds my two swag boxes, packaging for mailing books, postage stamps, PR releases ( YES I CAN KEEP THEM - I love them :P) and notes from nice bloggers!

And that's a cut!

Badass Bookie xx

Day Twenty One - All About Born Wicked + Giveaway

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Book Profile

Name - Born Wicked (Goodreads)

Author - Jessica Spotswood

Genre - Historical Fantasy

Release Date - 7th of February 2012

Available - The Book Depository

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

The Insider's Scoop

Character Interview -

I'm interviewing Miss Maura Cahill, age 15, my protagonist Cate's younger sister. 

Maura: Excuse me, that's quite aggravating. I'd rather not be defined as Cate's sister. I am my own person in my own right. I'm twice as interesting as Cate. 

Me: Yes, of course you are.

Maura (blue eyes snapping): Don't be condescending. I'm twice as clever as Cate, too. She barely even reads.

Me: Well, she has other interests. Gardening. Keeping you out of trouble.

Maura: Keeping me out of trouble is not her responsibility. I don't care what she promised Mother. I am perfectly capable of looking out for myself. Besides, she's not protecting us--she's stifling us.

Me: To be fair, you could be in a great deal of trouble if the Brothers found out you're a witch. 

Maura: I know that! Don't you think I know that? I have no desire to be put on trial and thrown into the asylum. I'm careful.

Me: Cate says you're not careful enough. That you do magic whenever her back is turned. 

Maura: Cate's jealous that I'm a much better witch than she is. If it were up to her, we'd never learn practice magic. We'd never learn anything about the history of witchery. It's almost as though she's actually taken the Brothers' ridiculous sermons to heart, and now she thinks using our magic is wicked! 

Me: But you don't feel that way?

Maura (twirls a red curl around her finger): No. Absolutely not. Magic makes us extraordinary. It gives us power. Cate might be content to marry Paul McLeod and have his babies and waste away in this stupid little town for the rest of her life, but--

Me: I think you'd be surprised.

Maura: But I was made for more than that. I'm going to travel the world and have adventures, and no one's going to stop me.

~Giveaway~

For Jessica's Giveway, she has offered (1) ONE Signed Finished Copy of Born Wicked! This giveaway is open to US/CAN residents ONLY ( Sorry! but there other giveaways open to everyone on the blog!) Please leave a lovely comment for Jessica's posts to show support!  Rules are below!

Rule of Entry -

- US/CAN ONLY 

- Ends 21st of February

- Must be 13 or older

- Optional Entries :

   * Leaving comment on either of Jessica's posts +1 each

   * Tweeting Giveaway +1

   * Putting Giveaway on Sidebar +2

   * Follow Badass Bookie +2

   * Placing 2012 Debutante Event Button on blog +3

Day Twenty - All About Jessica Spotswood ( Born Wicked)

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Debutante Profile

Name - Jessica Spotswood

Debut - Born Wicked

Genre - Historical Fantasy

Website - HERE

Blog - HERE

Twitter - HERE

Jessica Spotswood is the author of BORN WICKED, the first book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles, coming Feb. 7, 2012 from Putnam. She likes reading stories about independent girls who still get in a fair amount of swoony kissing, so that's what she tries to write. She lives in Washington, DC with her playwright husband and a cuddly cat named Monkey.

Dream Debutante Dress - GORGEOUS Jessica! You sure know who to pick them!

Notes from a YA Debutante

Author Journey

When I went to college, I knew that I wanted to be a writer. I had always wanted to be a writer. I wrote three sprawling historical fiction romances in high school; I was the darling of my English teachers, The Writer of my high school class. But in college, there were oodles of other writers, wordsmiths who wrote stunning poetry and piercingly funny plays and gorgeous, thoughtful literary fiction. In comparison, I felt like my romances were stupid and girly and childish. Instead of feeling proud of my writing, I started to feel sort of ashamed. I still took creative writing classes, but the magic had gone out of it; I was always thinking about potential readers and their potentially snarky critiques. 

Then I fell in love with theatre, especially dramaturgy--analyzing scripts, researching past productions and historical details.That's what I went to grad school for. I loved working with playwrights on new plays, finding the places of greatest potential in them and trying to help draw that out. I loved the creative collaboration. Working in the background felt safe--but eventually I also started to feel invisible. I was always on the outside, looking in, not quite part of the cast. Actors were not always terribly interested in or grateful for the research I lovingly compiled. Directors weren't sure how to use me. I questioned my place in the rehearsal room all the time. And I missed creating something of my own. By the end of grad school, I was miserable and depressed. I couldn't find a job in theatre. More than that--in my heart of hearts, I didn't want to. But admitting that, after spending three years in grad school--that was hard.

I coped by rereading my favorite books: Anne of Green Gables. Emily of New Moon. Little Women. Christopher Pike and Lois Duncan. Jane Austen. Then I started reading current YA. Vampire Academy. Wicked Lovely. And yes, Twilight. I remember writing a scene, an argument between two girls, at work one afternoon, and emailing it to my best friend, asking if she thought it was interesting, if it made her want to read more. 

Thank God, she wrote back an enthusiastic yes. 

I wrote a few chapters. I took a month off to dramaturg a friend's play. It took me awhile to admit that writing was what I wanted to do, maybe had always wanted to do, in a deep-down terrifying kind of way. It was scary in the way that things you really, really love are scary.  I accepted that--and accepted that, yeah, I wanted to write about finding yourself and falling in love and kissing. 

And you know what? I don't give a flying eff if it's girly. 

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Bookie's Note: We're down to our last three debutantes! Boo, the event is nearly over :( Everyone, welcome our tenth 2012 Debutante, Jessica Spotswood. I can't think of anyone who doesn't know who she is! It's must be a hard journey, like you said so many other aspiring writers out there! Even I want to be a writer, tough but you made it ;) And to everyone else, come back tomorrow!

Badass Bookie xx

Day Nineteen - All About Never Eighteen + Giveaway

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Book Profile

Name - Never Eighteen ( Goodreads )

Author - Megan Bostic

Genre - Contemporary

Release Date - 17th of January 2012

Available - The Book Depository

Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.


Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.

But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

The Insider's Scoop

Character Profile

Character: Scott McPhee

Age: 21

Austin, the main character in the story played soccer with Scott McPhee in high school.  He was senior to Austin’s freshman.  Scott had it going on, popular, beautiful girlfriend, and a full ride scholarship waiting for him after graduation.  Oh, and he was gorgeous — tall, with dark wavy hair, blue eyes, olive skin, and a strong jaw.  His body was to die for, six pack abs, nice butt, muscular thighs, the result of having played soccer his entire life. He dreamed of playing in the World Cup one day.

Something happened that year, something that would change everything for Scott.  He became a different person overnight, literally.  It was weird, because the night before he’d been just fine.  In fact, the soccer team had won a game in the semi-finals and was out celebrating.

He became quiet and sullen.  His grades dropped.  Eventually, he quit soccer, dropped out of school and lost his scholarship and his girlfriend.

Scott harbors a secret.  He tells no one what happened.  Now he flips burgers for a living and spends his free time drinking, getting stoned and playing video games.  Eventually, he will more than likely drink himself to death and no one will ever learn the secret that burdens him to the point that he gave up on life.

~Giveaway~

For Megan's Giveway, she has offered (1) ONE Signed ARC + Swag + Austin's Playlist! You lucky ducks, seriously these debutantes are completely SPOILING you! Megan is willing to ship INTERNATIONALLY to open to everyone! Please leave a lovely comment for Megan to show support!  Rules are below!

Rule of Entry -

- International

- Ends 19th of February 

- Must be 13 or older

- Optional Entries :

   * Leaving comment on either of Megan's posts +1 each

   * Tweeting Giveaway +1

   * Putting Giveaway on Sidebar +2

   * Follow Badass Bookie +2

   * Placing 2012 Debutante Event Button on blog +3