Blog Tour, Interview and Giveaway: Ask Again Later by Liza Czukas

Hello everyone and welcome to Reading with ABC's stop of Liz Czukas's Ask Again Later.  This blog tour is sponsored by Merp Squad, find more information about the rest of the tour here. 

About the Book

Title: Ask Again Later
Author: Liz Czukas
Published by: HarperTeen
Release date: March 11th, 2014

Despite what her name might suggest, Heart has zero interest in complicated romance. So when her brilliant plan to go to prom with a group of friends is disrupted by two surprise invites, Heart knows there's only one drama-free solution: flip a coin. Heads: The jock. He might spend all night staring at his ex or throw up in the limo, but how bad can her brother's best friend really be? Tails: The theater geek...with a secret. What could be better than a guy who shares all Heart's interests--even if he wants to share all his feelings? Heart's simple coin flip has somehow given her the chance to live out both dates. But where her prom night ends up might be the most surprising thing of all...

Find it: Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | TBD

Interview

1.     What sparked the idea of Ask Again Later?

Believe it or not, it was the main character's name.  I was reading a book to my son and the illustrator's last name was Hart, and for some reason that made me wonder what it would be like to be named Heart.  After that, she was a character in search of a story for a little while.  When the idea came to me that I'd like to see what happened if you could actually see both outcomes of a decision, Heart seemed like the right character for the job.

2.     If your fairy godmother granted you the wish of the perfect actress for play Heart in a movie, who would you choose?

Oh gosh, this is a tough one.  When she was younger, I could picture Ginnifer Goodwin in the role, but I'm talking way back, late 90s Ginnifer Goodwin.  Honestly, I'd love to see an unknown come into the role and make it her own.

3.     What’s your favorite quote from the book?

"A girl has to dream, or else sink into a self-pitying depression of epic proportions on prom night when she finds herself squeezed between two acquaintances of dubious quality in the back of a limo where she must keep a wary eye on her would-be make-out buddy for the night."

4.     I love the cover of Ask Again Later.  Is it what you imagined?  Are you happy with it?

Very happy!  I love bold, graphic covers.  I thought for sure when I wrote a book about prom night, I was going to end up with a pretty girl in a pretty dress on the cover.  There are some gorgeous covers out there like that, but that just wouldn't fit for Heart.

5.     I see from your bio in Goodreads that you like “disaster” movies.  Which one is your favorite and why?

Jurassic Park.  Hands down.  I saw that movie in the theater 9 times.  It's got everything I like about disaster movies--quippy one-liners, running away, implausibility, and best of all DINOSAURS!  Runners up include: The Day After Tomorrow, Twister, Volcano, and Independence Day.

6.     What’s your favorite food?

Chips and salsa, but only if it's good salsa.  I frequently make my own and eat it all in the same day before anyone else gets any.

7.     Do you listen to music when you write?  If yes, what’s your favorite?

Sometimes I do, but sometimes I have to turn it off to concentrate.  I have a playlist for most books and I listen to those songs in the car or while I'm walking my dog to get ready to write.  My musical tastes are all over the place!  It's hard to say what's going to be my favorite at any given time.

8.     Is there any YA book being released in 2014 that you’re dying to read?

So many!  I'm excited for Dear Killer, Isla and the Happily Ever After, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, and What I Thought Was True just for starters!

9.     What’s next for you?

I have another book coming out in December this year called Top Ten Clues You're Clueless.  It's another realistic YA, not related to Ask Again Later, but if you enjoy one of them, you'll probably enjoy the other.

About the Author

Liz Czukas is a freelance writer who lives outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ask Again Later is her first novel. She collects college degrees she doesn't use, types too loud, and always has a song stuck in her head. In high school, Liz did go to two proms but not at the same time.

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Giveaway

One annotated ARC of Ask Again Later + Swag

One finished copy of Ask Again Later + Swag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Merp Squad Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Mero Squad Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Blog Tour, Interview and Giveaway: Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes

Hi there gorgeous people!  Welcome to Reading with ABC's stop of the Olivia Twisted Blog Tour. This tour is hosted by Rockstar Blog Tours and you can find the rest of the tour here.

Title: OLIVIA TWISTED
Author: Vivi Barnes
Pub. Date: November 5, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 352
Find it: Amazon, Barnes& Noble, Goodreads

Olivia
He tilts my chin up so my eyes meet his, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips. I close my eyes. I know Z is trouble. I know that being with him is going to get me into trouble. I don’t care.

At least at this moment, I don’t care.

Tossed from foster home to foster home, Olivia’s seen a lot in her sixteen years. She’s hardened, sure, though mostly just wants to fly under the radar until graduation. But her natural ability with computers catches the eye of Z, a mysterious guy at her new school. Soon, Z has brought Liv into his team of hacker elite—break into a few bank accounts, and voila, he drives a motorcycle. Follow his lead, and Olivia might even be able to escape from her oppressive foster parents. As Olivia and Z grow closer, though, so does the watchful eye of Bill Sykes, Z’s boss. And he’s got bigger plans for Liv…

Z

I can picture Liv’s face: wide-eyed, trusting. Her smooth lips that taste like strawberry Fanta.

It was just a kiss. That’s all. She’s just like any other girl.

Except that she’s not.

Thanks to Z, Olivia’s about to get twisted.

Author Interview

1.      How did you come up with the idea for Olivia Twisted?

I grew up watching the movie Oliver!, which I loved. A couple years ago I thought how cool it would be to reimagine the story as a contemporary story from a teen girl’s point of view, calling it OLIVIA TWISTED. Then I thought about the general premise and felt pickpocketers wouldn’t be much of an update, so I decided on hackers.

2.      Was it hard to adapt the Oliver Twist story from a girl’s perspective?
No, probably because I feel much more connected to Olivia than I did to Oliver. Oliver was a victim of society, and while Olivia was certainly strongly influenced by external forces, I wanted her to be able to make her own choices as a teen might today.

3.      The cover for Olivia Twisted is very eye-catching. How did that came about?  Do you like it? (I love it!)

Thank you – I love my cover, too! Kelley York (multi-talented author of Made Of Stars) designed it—and I think she did a phenomenal job! Soon after I sold the story, I received a welcome packet from Entangled, including a cover art form with several questions about what I did and didn’t want on my cover. The Entangled team is wonderful about taking into consideration what an author envisions for the cover, and I was extremely pleased with it!

4.      How would Z describe Olivia?

This is Z’s response to your question: “Liv’s pretty, yeah, but I’ve known lots of pretty girls. What got me was the spark underneath the softness—the snap in those dark eyes that tells me she knows far more than she’s letting on. She’s a smart one, and no matter what crap I try to pull, she turns it right back around on me. I never know where she’s coming from, and surprisingly, I like that.”

5.      Are there any YA books that you are anxiously waiting for?

There are a ton! I am part of the OneFour KidLit group for books being published in 2014 (and some in late 2013, like mine), and there are amazing books coming out within the next several months! I’m looking forward to GILDED by Christina Farley, BEHIND THE SCENES by Dahlia Adler, THE PROMISE OF AMAZING by Robin Constantine, SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY by Julie Murphy, and so on and so forth! There are too many to list, so check out our site at http://onefourkidlit.wordpress.com/ for a full list!

I’m also looking forward to IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi, as I really enjoy a good dystopian novel! And I have a stack of books I’ve purchased over the last several months that I am hoping to read at some point soon.

6.      Do you listen to music while you work? If so, what type?

Oh, yes! I can’t write without music. I have a playlist for every book I write. The one for Olivia Twisted has a strange mix of Korn, Three Days Grace, and Godsmack as well as Sleepthief and Josh Groban. Eclectic, but I have to have the right song for the right mood/scene.

7.      What’s your favorite comfort food?

Dark chocolate. Also Talenti Gelato—Caribbean Coconut or Salted Caramel. Yum!

8.      What’s your favorite drink?

Diet Coke or wine – dry whites or light reds.

9.      What’s next for you?

I’m writing away but also dealing with the craziness of life that happens when you have three kids and tons of school activities. Right now I’m just working on staying sane.

10.  Anything else that you would like to add?

Here’s a bit of trivia: Z’s real name is actually the real name of the Artful Dodger in OLIVER TWIST. I’ve dropped a few other hints to the original story, such as when Z tells Liv, “It’s not like we’re pickpocketers.” Those were fun to do!

Olivia Twisted Trailer

About Vivi

Originally from East Texas (the accent comes out more often than not), Vivi now lives in the magic and sunshine of Orlando, FL with her very understanding husband and three kids. She’s an extrovert with awkward blogging tendencies. Her debut novel, OLIVIA TWISTED, comes out November 5, 2013 from Entangled Teen!

You can connect with Vivi on Facebook,Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, Webiste. Or visit the official Olivia Twisted site at www.oliviatwisted.com.

She’s represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg of Foreword Literary. 

Giveaway

Grand Prize: Signed copy of Olivia Twisted and an Olivia Twisted T-shirt US Only

Second and Third Prizes: 2 $10 iTunes Gift Cards US Only

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The Rest of the Tour

Week One:

10/28/2013- Fiktshun- Guest Post

10/29/2013- Book Briefs- Review

10/30/2013- The Cover Contessa- Guest Post

10/31/2013- Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews- Review

11/1/2013- Happy Booker- Interview

Week Two:

11/4/2013- Larissa's World- Review

11/5/2013- Kindle and Me- Guest Post

11/6/2013- A Bookish Escape- Review

11/7/2013- Reading with ABC- Interview

11/8/2013- Realm of the Sapphired Dragon- Guest Post

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Rockstar Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Rockstar Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Authors are Rockstars: Wendy Higgins

I am so excited to participate in the Authors are RockstarsTour and even more excited to host the always fabulous, author extraordinaire Wendy Higgins!

In April of last year I won an ARC of Sweet Evil from Goodreads, I had the book in my to-be-read list and I couldn't believe my good fortune.  I proceeded to devour the book in no time and it quickly made my list of the top ten books read in 2012.  I impatiently waited for Sweet Peril and I listen to the audio book (which is, by the way, really good) and I loved it even more!  Sweet Peril did not suffer at all from the 2^nd book syndrome; overall the Sweet series is SO GOOD! 

Stick around for a great Interview with Wendy and a fabulous Giveaway!  Let's show Wendy some love!

Wendy Higgins is a Rockstar because...

- She created Kaidan.  Sorry, but it had to go first!  Kaidan is one of my favorite male characters in YA because he fights so hard to be what he thinks Anna needs and deserves.  She gave him a British accent too!

- Even though there are many books out there about angels and demons, she made the world of the Sweet Trilogy fresh and unique.

- Wendy is a master of characterization; I really love all the characters in the series.  Good or bad, they all have depth and are distinctive of each other.

- The writing of these books is outstanding.

- Parents are not missing and uncaring for a change!  At least not Anna’s.

- She created some pretty swoon worthy lines.  Exhibit #1:

“A vibrant energy rushed through my body as the pieces slammed into place. Oh, dear Lord. I was in love with him.  And there wasn’t a thing on earth, in heaven, or in hell that could have stopped me.”

And here is Exhibit #2:

“I was more myself with you during those three days than I’ve ever been with anyone in my life. It’d be easier if I could be fake with you, but you bring out everything in me, little Ann. All of it.”

- Her Next book was inspired by leprechauns! (Need I say more?)

About Wendy Higgins

After earning a bachelors in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until becoming a mommy. Writing Young Adult (YA) stories gives her the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal, daunting, and exciting years before adulthood.

She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Evil is her debut novel.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Here is the Interview

Q: How did you come up with the idea for the Sweet trilogy?

A. I paid the imagination gods! LOL - just kidding. I don’t really have a good answer for this. It just came out of my crazy brain.  I think all elements of my life led up to it - my own teen experiences, friendships, crushes, heartbreaks, good decisions, bad decisions, the things I think are sexy and creepy, my spirituality, the books I’ve read, the teens I work with - everything!  It just bombarded my mind one summer.  It was awesome.

Q. Your books have a different take on the angel/demon lore.  What type of research did you do to write the series?

A.  I use a lot of traditional Biblical lore about angels and demons.  My research consisted of reading scripture passages which were horribly vague, and then making the rest of the details up to suit my purposes, hahaha.  I also read lots of stuff online about angel/demon mythology, which is fascinating to me.

Q. Kaidan is one of my favorite characters ever! How would Kaidan describe Anna and their relationship? (I can imagine the British accent :))

A. Aw, thank you! Kaidan would say that Anna is maddening, naive, and too adorable for her own good. He’d probably shiver at the word “relationship,” and say, “It’s complicated.” Then he’d grin.

Q. Can you give us a small peek about Sweet Reckoning?  Anything will be awesome!

A. Well, I can tell you that Anna is 18 and Kaidan is 19. The story takes place over the course of two crazy weeks. We see a lot more of Jay and a lot less of Veronica. And my favorite chapter title is “Impatient Freckles.”  :)

Q. Are there any YA books that you are anxiously waiting for?

A. Yes! Endless Knight by Kresley Cole (the sequel to Poison Princess)

Q. Do you listen to music while you work?

A. No. I need to have complete quiet while I write. But music helps my mood between writing sessions and keeps my mind in story mode.

Q. What’s your favorite comfort food?

A. French fries and Coke from McDonalds. Isn’t that gross?? I can’t help it. *sigh*

Q. What’s your favorite drink?

A. Coffee with coconut creamer.  Mmmm.  And water. Coke occasionally.

Q. What’s next for you?

A. Well, I’ve got my self-publication, SEE ME (an Irish YA fantasy) coming out October 1st, and my third book of the trilogy, SWEET RECKONING, coming out April 29th, 2014.  I have no other YA stories stirring around right now, and I’m really, really hoping to feel inspired soon.  I will feel lost without characters chatting loudly in my head.

Q. Anything else that you would like to add?

A. Thank you so much for having me!  *hugs*

About Wendy’s Books:

Embrace the ForbiddenWhat if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.
Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Giveaway

The giveaway is International, I will send the book from The Book Depository or Amazon, depending on the winner's residence (make sure that one of them delivers to you!)  There will be ONE winner and he or she can select one of the books featured above.

Please see my terms in the Rafflecopter widget of in "My Policies" above. Good luck!

**NOTE: On 9/3 Wendy emailed me to let me know that she will not be publishing See Me as expected, thus I removed it from this post and from the giveaway. Sorry!

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Blog Tour, Interview and Giveaway: Shadow of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Hi gorgeous people and welcome to Reading with ABC's stop of the Shadow of the Mark Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. I am so excited to be part of this tour because I love Carrier of the Mark (see my review here) and I have been anxiously waiting for the second book. Here is some information about this wonderful book:

Title: Shadow of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
Published: July 9th, 2013 by Harper Teen
Format: Paperback, 352 pages
Group Age: Young adult
Genre: Paranormal / Romance

Their love could destroy them all.Through the ages, Marked Ones have harnessed the powers of the four elements: Water, Fire, Earth, and Air. Much about the elements is shrouded in mystery, but one thing is certain: A relationship between two Marked Ones has the potential to cause widespread devastation.Megan and Adam—Air and Water—are determined to defy the risks.But the power that swirls inside Megan is growing in twisted ways. And the closer she is to Adam, the closer Megan comes to unleashing a dark force that could spell destruction for the entire Marked line.

Find it here: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Interview

1. What inspired you to include the elements in Carrier of the Mark?

It rains in Ireland. It rains a lot. I knew from the beginning that these books would be set in Ireland, and I wanted to tie in the weather, the rich landscape, and the amazing lore of Ireland in a fun and magical way. The elements were perfect for doing all of this and allowed me to explore a little of Ireland’s pagan history, which is utterly fascinating.

2. Which of the two books was your favorite to write so far? Why?

That’s such a difficult question to answer. I love them both for different reasons. Carrier of the Mark was my first book, my first love. It was where I met my characters and fell in love with them, villains and all. But in Shadow of the Mark I got to play with the developing characters, torture them a bit, push their abilities to the next level. I got to see some of the characters darker sides. There’s a lot more action in Shadow of the Mark, and I loved that feeling of anxiety I felt as the book came to it’s conclusion.

Guest Post/ Interview with 'B': The Creature From the Seventh Grade: Boy or Beast by Bob Balaban

Title: The Creature from the Seventh Grade: Boy or Beast by Bob Balaban
Published: September 13, 2012 by Viking
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Group age: Middle grade
Genre: Paranormal (?)

From award-winning actor-writer-producer-director Bob Balaban comes a hilarious new series, perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
If popularity were a score between one and ten, Charlie Drinkwater would be a zero. He's nerdy and unathletic, and to top it all off, he's suddenly morphed into a giant mutant sea creature sometime between first-period science class and third-period English.
Now Charlie's two best friends are treating him like a science project, there's a petition to get him kicked out of school, the cool kids are recruiting him for their clique, and for some reason his parents are acting like everything is perfectly normal. What's a slimy, scaly, seventh-grade creature to do?

In case you don’t know “B” is my middle son (I have three boys whose names start with A, B, and C); “B” is currently 12 and loves to read, the apple didn't fall that far from the tree in this case : ) However, he doesn't like to write, so I decided to interview him instead.  Enjoy!  

Can you give me a short description of what this book is about?  Try to not include spoilers!

The story is about a boy that had a monster grandmother and when he hits puberty, his family is waiting to see if he will turn into one as well.  Throughout the book he tries to make adjustments as his body changes.

Did you like the book? Why or why not?

Heck yes!  I liked it because the author makes the characters so real and it’s like he really remembers what it’s like being in middle school.

How long did it take you to read it?

I took me a while, because I read it when I could for about 30 minutes at a time.

Would you recommend this book to others?

Yes, because it’s really good.

What was your favorite thing about the book?

I love the characters and how the writing is contemporary, using slang and everything.

What was your least favorite thing about the book?

There’s nothing really bad about it.

Guest Post / Interview with ‘B’: Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (Al Capone at Alcatraz #1)

In case you don’t know “B” is my middle son (I have three boys whose names start with A, B, and C); “B” is currently 12 and loves to read, the apple didn't fall that far from the tree in this case : ) However, he doesn't like to write, so I decided to interview him instead.  Enjoy!  

Title: Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Published: April 20^th, 2006 by Puffin

Source: From School

Format: Hardcover

Today I moved to a twelve-acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turd and surrounded by water. I'm not the only kid who lives here. There's my sister, Natalie, except she doesn't count. And there are twenty-three other kids who live on the island because their dads work as guards or cook's or doctors or electricians for the prison, like my dad does. Plus, there are a ton of murderers, rapists, hit men, con men, stickup men, embezzlers, connivers, burglars, kidnappers and maybe even an innocent man or two, though I doubt it. The convicts we have are the kind other prisons don't want. I never knew prisons could be picky, but I guess they can. You get to Alcatraz by being the worst of the worst. Unless you're me. I came here because my mother said I had to.

Interview

1. Can you give me a short description of what this book is about?  Try to not include spoilers!

The book is about a kid that moves to Alcatraz because his father got a job there.  He has a sister with autism and the family is trying to put her into a special school that is very close to Alcatraz. The book is about his move and his new friends and his new life.

2. Did you like the book? Why or why not?

Yes, because it was so good that it was hard to put down.

3. How long did it take you to read it?

I guess five or six hours. 

4. Would you recommend this book to others?

Yes!  It’s a very good book and I want to read the sequel.

5. What was your favorite thing about the book?

Everything!

6. What was your least favorite thing about the book?

Nothing.

7. Anything else that you would like to add?

Peace out. 

There you have it guys!

'B' is 12 years old.  He is in 7th grade and loves to read, play X-Box and play with his little brother. His favorite books are manga, the Wimpy Kids series and the Origami Joda series.