Goodie Basket (8): Weekly Book Haul and Recap

Goodie Basket...is a weekly feature hosted here at Word Spelunking that showcases all the goodies (books, bookish things, reviews, interviews/giveaways/guest posts, blog tours, etc) that popped up in the Goodie Basket that is Word Spelunking each week.

In my mailbox this week...

For Review

ARC Deity (Covenant #3) Jennifer Armentrout

Spencer Hill Press

sent from the pub for review

ARC Cursed  Jennifer Armentrout

Spencer Hill Press

sent from pub for review

If you didn't know already, I'm a HUGE Jennifer Armentrout fan and cannot wait to read both books above ^^^

Scary School #2: Monsters on the March 

Derek the Ghost 

Harper Collins

sent from the author for review

Scary School #1 was one of my favorite MG reads last year so I was super stoked to read the second one. And it's awesome!

Gifted

Anna and the French Kiss Stephanie Perkins

The loverly and sweet Lisa at Dizneeee's World of Books sent this to me as a RAK gift!

EBOOKS

For Review

eARC  Chaos (Agents of Evil #2) Megan Duncan

sent from author for review and blog tour

I've already read this and it's very good and quite thrilling!

eARC Through To You Emily Hainsworth

Balzer+Bray

sent from pub for review via Edelweiss

eARC  Breathe (Breathe #1) Sarah Crossan

Greenwillow

sent from pub for review via Edelweiss

eARC  Mystic City (Mystic City #1) Theo Lawrence

Random House

sent from pub for review via Netgalley

Purchased

Evertaster Adam Glendon Sidwell

Future House Publishing

purchased from Amazon

BIG thank you's to Spencer Hill Press, Derek Kent, Lisa, Megan Duncan and Harper Collins for all the awesome bookishness!!!

Weekly Recap

Blog Tours / Guest Posts / Interviews

• So Close To You Blog Tour: interview with Rachel Carter
• Interview: author Natalie Dias Lorenzi
• Guest Post by Andy Gavin

Giveaways

• Win my ARC of Flying the Dragon

Reviews

• Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias Lorenzi
• Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson (I LOVE this book!!!)
• Team Human by Justine Larabalestier & Sarah Rees Breenan

Week To Come

Blog Tours / Guest Posts / Interviews / Giveaways

• Burn Mark Blog Tour: author interview, review, giveaway

Reviews

• Scary School #2: Monsters on the March by Derek the Ghost
• Evertaster by Adam Glendon Sidwell
• Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer Armentrout

Fun Stuff

• Fairy Metal Thunder Read-Along and Scavenger Hunt Week #1

LEAVE LINKS TO YOUR HAULS/RECAPS IN THE COMMENTS :)

R.A.K June Wrap-Up

To learn more about R.A.K be sure to visit Book Soulmates

I always enjoy participating in Random Acts of Kindness! I just wish I was able to send out more R.A.K gifts in June...

SENT

I sent an ARC of For Darkness Shows the Stars, by Diana Peterfreund, to Lisa from Dizneeee's World of Books

RECEIVED

And the awesome Lisa sent me a brand new hardcover copy of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. 

THANK YOU so much Lisa!!! I've been wanting to read this book for a looooong time :)

I look forward to participating in R.A.K in July and clearing my shelves of some ARCs!

Review: Team Human by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan

TITLE: Team Human AUTHORS: Justine Larbaletier & Sarah Ree Brennan PUB:HarperTeen                          PUB DATE: 7/3/12 FORMAT: ARC, 344 pgs SOURCE: from pub for review

Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternityOn top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.Acclaimed authors Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan team up to create a witty and poignant story of cool vampires, warm friendships, and the changes that test the bonds of love.

THREE WORDS: An Unexpected Gem


MY REVIEW: It’s no secret that when it comes to vampires, I’m a picky fan. I like my vamps traditionally vampy: nocturnal, bloodthirsty, fangs out creatures (no sparkling!). And when it comes to Team Human and Team Vampire, I’m ALWAYS on Team Human! So, Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan was the perfect vampish read for me.

Mel may live in New Whitby, the vampire city, but that doesn’t mean she’s actually friends with any vampires, or has ever even met one. No, in New Whitby, humans stay in their part of town and vampires stay in theirs and Mel wouldn’t have any other way, thank you very much. But when a hot, centuries old vampire enrolls at her high school and her BFF Cathy falls for him, Mel’s Team Human stance becomes even fiercer. She does everything she can to show Cathy that having a vampire for a boyfriend is not ideal and turning into a vampire is an even worse idea! Mel also gets caught up in a mystery surrounding her other BFF; a mystery involving vampires cops, zombies and heartache. Oh, and then there’s her whole kinda-romance with Kit, a human raised by vampires. Yeah, Mel’ senior year is turning out to be anything but boring.

There is definitely no shortage of vampire books in YA, but Team Human is a refreshing, smart and witty take on the cliché. Part satire and part poignant exploration of humanity, the authors have created a shining gem among the mundane. Full of laugh-out-loud, tongue-in-cheek and acerbic humor and social commentary; a suspenseful mystery and a truly awesome heroine, this is one book for vampire lovers and haters alike!

This book had me reading into the wee hours of the morning, simply unable to put it down. The authors have impressively weaved together so many facets (humor, mystery, romance, social commentary) into a tight, highly entertaining and well-written story that clicks and flows effortlessly. The humor and satirical aspects are probably what most readers will remember and understandably so: they’re fantastic! The authors have taken so many clichés found in vampire novels (vampire-human insta-love, the adoration of vampires, the superiority of vampires and vampire culture) and inserted them into the story in a way that pokes fun at these devices, while, at the same time, offering thought-provoking exploration why they do and do not work and why they are so popular.

The way the students flock to the new hot vampire, Francis, and adore him is over the top in the best way possible. I found it so ironic that Francis is supposed to be so smart and yet, even though he’s over a century old, he’s completely ignorant when it comes to humans. And I love all the wacko-doodle craziness underneath the refined, posh exterior of many of the vampires; it’s such a smart juxtaposition of clichés and the unexpected. But the story isn’t all fun and fangs; the authors subtly explore the explosiveness of prejudice, the consequences of making fast assumptions and the pain of growing up.

The authors have also crafted a wonderful heroine with Mel. Mel is such a realistic and relatable character! I love her sarcastic humor, her courage, her unwavering determination to stand her ground, her love for her friends…and did I mention her humor? Because it’s awesome! I love that Mel isn’t afraid to ask the questions that everyone is thinking: Is immortality really worth giving up your humanity? What really makes vampires so appealing? And she has the guts to say what no one else will: Francis is hundreds of years older than Cathy, which is gross NOT hot! (this is one of my biggest pet peeves in YA supernatural novels).

And the romance between BellaCathy and EdwardFrancis is intentionally insta-love and cheesy and pretty gag-worthy in the best way possible. The stark differences between Cathy and Edward’s insta-kinda-creepy-love and Mel and Kit’s natural, progression toward organic feelings are fascinating and profound.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the real story within Team Human is dominated more by the mystery Mel is trying to solve and the changing friendships among our young characters than by the vampires and romance.  Mel’s investigative journey into the disappearance of a friend’s father is fun and full of twists, while the sometimes fragile relationship between Mel and Cathy is so relatable and realistically depicted.

There’s definitely a certain level of predictability to the ending, but I didn’t mind this at all! I must mention how much I liked how the authors organically and effortlessly included young LGBT characters into the mix without making their sexuality define them.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This book turned out to be such an unexpected, enjoyable read. The authors have perfectly blended satire, humor, romance and mystery to create a fun, refreshing and often poignant story. Team Human is a delightful MUST read!

MY RATING

Find the authors

Justine Larbeltier: Website / Goodreads 

Sarah Rees Brennan: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase: Amazon / B&N

Guest Post and Giveaway: Author Andy Gavin

Pastor John Parris: The Warlock

by Andy Gavin 

One of my primary goals with The Darkening Dream was to develop a strong sense of merely seeing "the tip of the evil iceberg." So the book has a lot of villains, some working together, but each with their own quirks and agendas. I knew early on that I wanted one of these to be a warlock and a minister. For me, Parris represented the human villainy in the story. While he clearly dabbles in the supernatural -- hey, warlock! -- he isn't like al-Nasir in being wholly a creature of darkness.
What makes real people evil? Self interest certainly goes a long way, but I looked further into the twisted nature of the psychopathic serial killer. To do what he does, Parris had to be a deeply warped individual. As a local pastor he is a member of the community, but his role is aloof enough that people just write him off as a bit touched. He was raised by his crazy religious, repressed, and abusive grandmother. So severe was this upbringing that his adult pathology is devoid of all empathy. He can put on an external show, but his own fears and desires are all he really knows.
And he's a deeply lonely individual who connects with but one other -- and that other happens to be a domineering succubus moonlighting from hell. But that's okay, as in private Parris is only comfortable playing the bottom. Nothing like a human/demon BSDM relationship to spice things up.
I even wrote 10,000 words of flashback showcasing grandmother Grace and Parris' 1893 meeting at Harvard Divinity with his future demonic lover. But these scenes were left on the cutting room floor (although I might put them on the website sometime) because they are backstory, which really doesn't have a place in fast paced fiction. Still, they were pretty cool and their removal made Parris decidedly less sympathetic. Plus they contained one of my favorite magical rituals in the book: a deadly curse tablet baked from the excrement of the victim (courtesy of an ancient Roman book on witchcraft).

My Parris is descended from Samuel Parris (to the right) who was the Puritan minister in Salem during the witch trials. Following in his ancestor's footsteps, John Parris is the leader of what amounts to Salem's Puritan church, by 1913 called the Congregationalist church. Witchcraft and ministry are both threads that run deeply in his family.
Pastor Parris does a lot of magic in the book and I heavily researched his particular old-school brand of witchcraft (he's a ritualist, specializing in sympathetic magic powered by humors) and his complex conceptualization of protestant hell. For in the world of The Darkening Dream, hell is whatever inferno you believe in. His glyph (above) shows the tools of his trade: knives for bloodletting, bowls for mixing, and the flame -- gateway to below.
But how does any of this connect to my plot?
Parris is both a competent thaumaturge and through his demon lover he has one foot grounded in hell. When al-Nasir, my ancient vampire, is sent west to find something of great importance he seeks the services of this dubious man of God. For powerful things are guarded by powerful magics and dead flesh works no spells.
But Parris is no fool. The undead are not to be trusted. Still, when a vampire offers the lost grimoire of Dr. Faustus in return for help, who cares if a handful of innocents have to pay the price?
For information on developing the look of Parris' icon.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A Vampire Novel with Actual Bite!

Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.
1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal?
No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be her very soul.


Long-time readers of dark historical fantasy (Tim Powers, Guy Gavriel Kay, Katherine Kurtz) will appreciate the weaving together of mythology, occult, and religion, while younger readers and fans of HBO dramas (True Blood, Carnivàle) or urban fantasy (Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher) will be drawn to the twisted imagination, graphic action, and romantic tension.

The Reviews Are In
"A vampire novel with actual bite." ~The Kirkus Reviews
"A gorgeously creepy, strangely humorous, and sincerely terrifying tale." ~Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"Mr. Gavin has brought something refreshingly new to a genre now suffused with poorly-concealed bodice-rippers which have more in common with Fabio than Bram Stoker: depth. His big baddies are scary, not romantic interests, and the added religious lore is complex and engaging. Don't expect another Twilight -- the story can get downright creepy, so be prepared for a return to the old horror sensibilities of supernatural fiction." ~Amazon Review
"With Mr. Gavin's video-game pedigree, I was expecting something aimed squarely at the 18-25 year old fanboy contingent; what I got in The Darkening Dream was something wholly unexpected: A period novel with a female protagonist, a crash-course on Judaism in the colonial years, and multi-layered series of plot arcs featuring a crazy cast of natural and supernatural characters populating turn of the century America." ~Amazon Review
"…A perfect blend of mystery, magic and myth. A grown-up Grimm's fairy tale... emphasis on grim." ~Amazon Review

Read the first two sample chapters here.

Get your 99 cent copy of The Darkening Dream today on Amazon only.

The Darkening Dream is a chilling new dark fantasy novel by Andy Gavin, creator of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter. The book has received rave reviews and is on sale for only 99 cents on Amazon Kindle from June 25th-29th! Download your copy here:  Get your 99 cent copy of The Darkening Dream today on Amazon only.

In addition, Andy is doing a big giveaway, including a $100 gift certificate to Amazon, signed copies of his books, video games, posters, and more!

**Please note that this giveaway is NOT sponsored or run by Word Spelunking. I will NOT be choosing winners. Good luck!!!**

Tweet, like, follow, share, blog and grab a copy of his book to enter.

The Darkening Dream Rafflecopter Giveaway

About the Author

Andy Gavin is an unstoppable storyteller who studied for his Ph.D. at M.I.T. and founded video game developer Naughty Dog, Inc. at the age of fifteen, serving as co-president for two decades. There he created, produced, and directed over a dozen video games, including the award winning and best selling Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter franchises, selling over 40 million units worldwide. He sleeps little, reads novels and histories, watches media obsessively, travels, and of course, writes. Find out more here.

Tatted Thursday (12): Children's Book Inspired Tats

Tatted Thursday... is a weekly meme hosted here at Word Spelunking that features literary inspired tattoos .You can easily  participate by grabbing the picture above (or making your own) and posting your tattoo finds.

This week's tats are inspired by Children's Books:

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Stuart Little by E.B. White 

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne 

Whaddya think of these tats?!

Leave your thoughts or links in the comments :)

ARC Review: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

TITLE: Tiger Lily                         AUTHOR: Jodi Lynn Anderson PUB: HarperCollins                     PUB DATE: 7/3/12 FORMAT: ARC, 304 pgs SOURCE: from pub for review

Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .
Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.
Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up

WATCH THE TRAILER

THREE WORDS: Bittersweet, Eloquent, Breathtaking

MY REVIEW: Meeeep! This book has given me so many thinks and feels. I’m a tidal wave of thoughts and feelings, yet I’m reduced to nonsensical Meeping. Jodi Lynn Anderson’s Tiger Lily is SO good that it has rendered me speechless and reduced to simple Meeping…meepmeepmeep!

Everyone knows the story of Peter Pan and Wendy, the boy who didn’t want to grow up and the girl who almost made him change his mind. But what about Tiger Lily, the native girl with the crow feathers in her hair? This is her story. The story of how this brave girl, an outcast in her own community, fell in love with the mysterious and feared Peter. Tiger Lily doesn’t believe in happily ever afters or true love, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting these things with Peter, especially when her impending marriage to a horrible man looms near. But this love story isn’t a happy one and is interrupted by pirates, Englanders and Wendy Darling.

The story of Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, Wendy, Tiger Lily, Captain Hook, Tink and company is one many readers know well and there are many versions of this story, both written and on screen. And everyone is bound to have their favorite version (when I was little my favorite was the television musical starring Mary Martin!), but Jodi Lynn Anderson’s retelling (which could also be called a prequel) offers readers a completely new and refreshing take on this well-known story. And in this retelling, it is the character of Tiger Lily that takes center stage.

Tiger Lily is a beguiling tale full of adventure, romance, beauty and thought-provoking situations. Anderson has taken a well-known and much beloved story and, using her endless imagination and impressive use of words, has crafted a whole new chapter in the world of Neverland and has captivatingly depicted a character that has rarely had a chance to shine. And she has done this without marring the original essence of J.M. Barrie’s story. Tiger Lily’s story and character has been brought to life with the utmost thoughtfulness and exquisiteness that she deserves.

Told from Tinker Bell’s point of view, readers are given an honest and thrilling glimpse into the love story of Tiger Lily and Peter Pan from an outsider who truly loves both parties involved.  Perfectly and languidly (in the best possible way) paced, Tiger Lily flows effortlessly and offers both exciting scenes of peril and quiet moments of utterly breathtaking and heart-aching beauty. There is such a fantastical loveliness to Anderson’s writing. Even when the story is dark and breaks your heart, it does so with eloquence.

The Neverland Anderson depicts is lush and vivid, striking and startling, enchanting and forbidding. This world is filled with mythical creatures (fairies, mermaids, etc), but the true magic is found less in the fantastical and more in the characters explored. And Anderson’s characters are superb! I haven’t been this compelled and enthralled by a group of characters in a long time.

Tiger Lily isn’t often given a huge role in most Peter Pan adaptations and she is usually depicted as a spoiled Indian princess who is in love with Peter and jealous of Tink and the Wendy Bird. But Anderson has given Tiger Lily such well-crafted layers and dimension. She is a fascinating mix of fierceness and vulnerability, compassion and distance, courage and fear. This is a heroine that will enthrall, enrage and excite readers, possibly in the span of a single page!

And of course, Tiger Lily falls for the mischievous Peter Pan. Peter is a fun, impetuous, frustrating and witty character. Their innocent, yet intense journey of first love is simply stunning; so full of fire, magic, heartache and honesty. From the quiet moments they share under the stars to their adventures together against the pirates to their sweet, quick kisses, I was spellbound by this romance. And of course, we all know this love story cannot have a happy ending, not with one Wendy Darling around…I won’t go into details, but tears were shed and curses were uttered by me.

One of the most engaging characters in this book is the one who can’t even speak- Tink. Tinker Bell is often depicted as a jealous, mean little thing and she certainly can be, but in Tiger Lily she’s given such depth and complexities.

This book isn’t all about Tiger Lily and Peter’s romance though. Anderson offers some very thought-provoking exploration surrounding the white Englanders who come to Neverland and try to “civilize” the Natives.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: There’s so much more I could say about why I LOVE this book, but I won’t go on and on. Just know that Tiger Lily has wow’d, moved and enraptured me completely with its superbly crafted story, irresistible characters and bittersweet loveliness. An absolute MUST read! 

MY RATING

Find the author: Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Book Depository

Jodi Lynn Anderson is the New York Times bestselling author ofPeaches, The Secrets of Peaches, Love and Peaches, the popular May Bird trilogy, and Tiger Lily. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and an endless parade of stray pets.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (36): The Lives We Lost

"Waiting On" Wednesday...is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm excitedly waiting on....

First, the virus took Kaelyn’s friends. Then, her family. Now it’s taken away her home.

But she can't look back—the life she once had is gone forever.

A deadly virus has destroyed Kaelyn’s small island community and spread beyond the quarantine. No one is safe. But when Kaelyn finds samples of a vaccine in her father's abandoned lab, she knows there must be someone, somewhere, who can replicate it. As Kaelyn and her friends head to the mainland, they encounter a world beyond recognition. It’s not only the “friendly flu” that’s a killer—there are people who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the vaccine.  How much will Kaelyn risk for an unproven cure, when the search could either destroy those she loves or save the human race?

Megan Crewe's second volume in The Way We Falltrilogy is an action-packed journey that explores the resilience of friendship, the ache of lost love, and Kaelyn’s enduring hope in the face of the sacrifices she must make to stay alive.

The Lives We Lost

(Fallen World #2)

Megan Crewe

2/12/13

Disney-Hyperion

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, The Way We Fall. Megan Crewe certainly created a chilling and captivating post-apocalyptic world and I cannot wait to see what happens next for the characters.

What are you waiting on this week?!

Leave links in the comments

So Close To You Blog Tour: Interview With Rachel Carter

I'm very excited to have the So Close To You Blog Tour stopping by today! The author of this new YA novel, Rachel Carter, has been kind enough to answer a few of my questions...

Q1. What three words best describe your book So Close To You?

Time-travel. Government-conspiracy. Romance. (I’m totally cheating with hyphens here!)

Q2. Pitch your book to a reluctant reader in one sentence…c’mon, really sell it!

Buy my book or I’ll curse your family. Too scary? Okay, how’s this: If you like real-life conspiracy theories, mysterious boys named Wes, and time traveling to the 1940’s, then read So Close to You!

Q3. Grab a copy of So Close To You and answer the following:

・         Favorite chapter?

・         Favorite page?

・         Favorite character?

Chapter 16. 

Page 313.

Character: Mary. I named her after one of my sisters, but based her personality on the other one.

Q4. You wake up and find yourself in a time machine and there are two buttons that say PAST and FUTURE (no dates or any way to choose a specific place/time). You have three seconds to push one before the whole things explodes….which do you push? Where/when do you hope you end up?

The past. For sure. No way would I go to the future; I’d be too afraid of ending up in some apocalyptic dystopia! (I might read too many YA novels.)

As for what era, I’d be fine with anything post-Middle Ages. No plague for this girl.

Q5. What made-up world from any book or movie or tv show would you love to be transported to?

Frell, from Ella Enchanted. I remember being so caught up in that world when I was a young teen, and wishing so desperately that I had a Prince Charmont to make out with.

Q6. I’m a self-proclaimed TV junkie and must ask: what’s the one show you refuse to miss?

 I am obsessed with TV - I can’t pick just one! I watch Sons of Anarchy, The Vampire Diaries, The Bachelorette, True Blood, Game of Thrones, etc, etc. I’m still in mourning over Veronica Mars.

Q7. You open your fridge/cupboard: what three foods/beverages/goodies will you always (or hope to) find?

Hope to find: chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream icing, fresh watermelon, and my mom’s chicken pie. Actually find: yogurt, a rotting yam, and a half-drunk bottle of seltzer. I’m not much of a grocery shopper.

Q8. What’s the one book you think everybody should read at least once? 

 I used to think One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as it is such a great blend of character, romance, pacing, and lushly descriptive language. But I recently read John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, and I still haven’t managed to stop crying. It’s been three months of tears. Any book that can move me so much would have to be essential!

Q9. In a hundred years how do you hope people will fill in these blanks: Rachel Carter was such a__________. I’ll always remember her_________.

 Rachel Carter was such an all around awesome person. I’ll always remember her multiple Pulitzer Prize winning novels and that time she saved a bunch of kittens from a house fire.

Q10. If you were to bake a So Close To You cupcake what would it taste/look like and what would you call it?

Let’s see…it needs to be delicious and time travel-y. How about a timeless vanilla cupcake with a swirl of something weird and sparkly. Like funfetti. And chocolate icing to hide what’s happening underneath. Now that’s a metaphor!

Thank you so much Rachel for answering my questions!!!

Lydia Bentley has heard stories about the Montauk Project all her life: stories about the strange things that took place at the abandoned military base near her home and the people who've disappeared over the years. Stories about people like her own great-grandfather.
When Lydia stumbles into a portal that transports her to a dangerous and strange new reality, she discovers that all the stories she's ever heard about the Montauk Project are true, and that she's in the middle of one of the most dangerous experiments in history.
Alongside a darkly mysterious boy she is wary to trust, Lydia begins to unravel the secrets surrounding the Project. But the truths behind these secrets force her to question all her choices--and if Lydia chooses wrong, she might not save her family but destroy them . . . and herself.

So Close To You releases July 10, 2012

Find the author: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Book Depository

Rachel Carter grew up in the woods of Vermont. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont and Columbia University, where she recently received her MFA in nonfiction writing. Rachel has been a teacher, a nanny, a caterer, and a bellhop. She is currently at work on her next book in Brooklyn, NY.