Viral Nation Blog Tour {Interview and Giveaway}

I'm so excited to have the Viral Nation Blog Tour stopping by today! Below you will find my interview with author Shaunta Grimes and an awesome giveaway. Also, be sure to check out my review of the fantastic Viral Nation...

Viral Nation

(first in a series)

by Shaunta Grimes

July 2, 2013

Berkley Trade

After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.

Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.

When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.

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What three words best describe VIRAL NATION?

Beware the Company!

Can you give us your best one sentence pitch to convince readers (especially reluctant readers) why they should VIRAL NATION a try? 

Viral Nation is a book about a group of misfit kids who figure out an epic secret, and accidentally start a second American Revolution.

Grab a copy of VIRAL NATION and answer the following: 

Favorite chapter?

The prologue. I wrote it as a short story for a fiction work shop, and it started everything. It changed my life.

Favorite page? 

This is hard! Page 117 has my favorite kiss.

Favorite character? 

Another tough one. I think I'd have to say Clover though. She was my favorite to write.

Flip to a random page and give us a 1-2 sentence teaser: 

From page 136: Their father stood there, tall and lean, an older, colder version of West. He held a book he’d taken from the low, overstuffed shelf that ran along one wall, under the big windows that looked out over the backyard. The book was a novel. A mystery that belongedto him.

Where did the idea for VIRAL NATION come from? Were you inspired by any specific books/movies/pop culture? 

I was definitely inspired by books, movies, and pop culture. For instance, the only TV show my husband and I watch together it The Walking Dead. That show made me start wondering how I thought people would really respond post-apocalypse. Would it be every man for themselves, or would people band together? I was also inspired by one of my favorite television shows, which was canceled way too soon and was written by Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), Jericho. Viral Nation came together when several ideas kind of merged. I wanted to write about how people respond in crisis, how a nation might rebuild itself, and about a generation that was born at or after the apocalypse.

You don't see many YA heroines who are autistic, but your character Clover is. Why did you choose to create and write about an autistic heroine? What sets her a part from other YA heroines? 

The simple answer is that my son has autism and I was very inspired by the relationship between him and his older sister. I think Clover is different from other YA heroines because she processes information differently, she sees the world from a different angle. I think she's an odd mix of tough and fragile.

Time travel plays an important role in VIRAL NATION...if you could time travel, when and where would you go? 

I would go into the future. Maybe beyond my own future, because I don't think I'd like to know how or when I die. Maybe meet my great-great-grandkids or just check out how things change. It's crazy to think just how much things have changed since I was a kid in the 80s—what would things be like 50 years from now?

If you could “borrow” any character from a book or movie or tv show to write about, who would you pick and what would you do with them? 

Do I have to pick one? I'd dance with Johnny Castle, solve a mystery with Nancy Drew, just hang out with Jo March. This list could go on forever.

Fill in the blanks: 

I'm really awesome at ___.

Making peanut butter frosting. I'm not kidding. Yum.

I'm really embarrassed to admit that ___. 

I can't stop myself from watching at least a few minutes of The Notebook if I see it on when I'm channel surfing.

My first literary crush (author or character) was ___. 

Definitely Johnny from S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders. Sixth grade.

The best thing I've ever eaten was ___. 

My grandma's Shepherd's Pie. I've tried to recreate it, and it's just not the same. 

The last great book I read was ___. 

I just finished The Book Thief and was totally blown away.

If you were to create and bake a cupcake inspired by VIRAL NATION, what would it look and taste like, and what would you call it? 

I think it would be carrot cake made with honey. It would be rustic, but delicious. Since Mrs. Finch would probably make it, maybe I'd call it Bird Food.

Shaunta Grimes

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter

Shaunta Grimes has worked as a substitute teacher, a newspaper reporter, a drug court counselor, and a vintage clothing seller. No matter which direction she strays, however, she always comes back to storytelling. She lives in Reno with her family, where she writes, teaches, and perpetually studies at the University of Nevada.

Win a copy of Viral Nation!

Thanks to Shaunta and her publisher, I have one copy to give away to one winner.

DETAILS

-US ONLY

-will end 7/12

-must be 13+, one main/free entry per person

-winner will be emailed and must claim prize within 48 hours

-I am NOT responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen prizes (prize is being shipped out directly from pub)

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Review: Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes

Viral Nation

by Shaunta Grimes

7/2/13

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Format: eARC

Source: Netgalley

After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.
Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.
When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.

I received an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Sixteen year old Clover, a highly functioning autistic teen, and her older brother, West, live in a post-apocalyptic U.S. Sixteen years earlier, a virus wiped out most of the world's population and now survivors live in walled cities (there are fifty in the U.S.), and must rely on a daily dose of meds to keep the virus from returning. This miracle cure was brought back from two years into the future and distributed by the Company, and now the Company controls the country, its rations; jobs; and rules. Clover earns a coveted spot at the Waverly-Stead Academy, but when she refuses to part with her beloved service dog, Mango, she is denied entrance into the Academy and is instead drafted as a Time Mariner, where she is sent two years into the future to bring back news and information. But when her brother's life is endangered, they must go on the run, go up against the powerful Company, and maybe even start a revolution.

Shaunta Grimes' Viral Nation is an innovative, highly entertaining read with a great mix of post-apocalyptic, dystopian, and sci-fi elements. There's so much about this book that I really liked- from the fresh premise, memorable heroine, and smart storytelling, Viral Nation kept me thoroughly enthralled.

The post-apocalyptic/dystopian setting and premise is shocking enough to be interesting and entertaining, but never feels unbelievable or illogical. The way the U.S and its people, government, and structure react and change because of the catastrophic virus makes total sense; this is a bleak and highly controlled future world that could actually happen. This believable premise, along with Grimes' complex and well thought-out world-building, make for a truly captivating story. From the very first pages of the prologue I was hooked, and the unexpected twists and thought-provoking material kept the storyline fresh and kept me intrigued from beginning to end.

Clover is a memorable and refreshingly different kind of YA heroine. Her autism clearly sets her apart from other YA heroines, but in ways that may surprise readers. I'm always for heroines and heroes who are different and unique in ways that often leave them ignored or looked over and are given the chance to shine. These kinds of heroines are especially important and needed in YA, so that's one reason why I loved Clover. But I also loved the fantastic way Clover is depicted and used in Viral Nation. Clover's autism has an organic and logical purpose for the storyline and isn't simply used to make her stand out. And the author's thorough knowledge about autism and autistic children gives Clover a wonderful authenticity. But her autism doesn't define Clover either; her intelligence, courage, resilience, and curiosity make her such a likable and believable heroine. One of the most important relationships in the book is between Clover and her service dog, Mango, and Grimes does a great job of creating such a deep, loving, and profound bond between these two.

I only had one real issue with Viral Nation, an issue that kept me from giving it 5 cupcakes, and that issue deals with the time traveling aspects of the story. The actual idea of only being able to time travel two years into the future and back, and its purpose to the story, were cool, however, the mechanics behind the time traveling and its effects were a bit confusing and lacking. This issue obviously didn't keep me from really enjoying the rest of the book though.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Viral Nation is an entertaining and addicting debut with an unforgettable heroine. Shaunta Grimes is a fresh new writing talent who has definitely gained a fan in me. I will impatiently be awaiting book two!

MY RATING

Add Viral Nation on Goodreads

Purchase

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Shaunta Grimes

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Shaunta Grimes has worked as a substitute teacher, a newspaper reporter, a drug court counselor, and a vintage clothing seller. No matter which direction she strays, however, she always comes back to storytelling. She lives in Reno with her family, where she writes, teaches, and perpetually studies at the University of Nevada.

Camp Boyfriend Blog Tour {Guest Post and Giveaway}

I'm so excited to have the Camp Boyfriend Blog Tour stopping by today! Below you'll find a fun, yummy guest post and awesome giveaway...

Camp Boyfriend

by J.K. Rock

7/2/13

Spencer Hill Contemporary

The summer of her dreams is about to get a reality check.

They said it couldn't be done, but geeky sophomore Lauren Carlson transformed herself into a popular girl after moving to a new school halfway across the country. Amazing what losing her braces and going out for cheerleading will do. Only trouble is, the popular crowd is wearing on Lauren's nerves and she can't wait to return to summer camp where she's valued for her brain instead of her handsprings. She misses her old friends and most of all, her long time camp-only boyfriend, Seth. This year she intends to upgrade their relationship to year-round status once she's broken up with her new, jock boyfriend, Matt. He doesn't even begin to know the real her, a girl fascinated by the night sky who dreams of discovering new planets and galaxies.

But Matt isn't giving her up without a fight. As he makes his case to stay together, Lauren begins to realize his feelings run deeper than she ever would have guessed. What if the guy she thought she was meant to be with forever isn't really The One? Returning to Camp Juniper Point was supposed to ground her uprooted life, but she's more adrift than ever. Everything feels different and soon Lauren's friends are turning on her and both guys question what she really wants. As summer tensions escalate, Lauren wonders if she's changed more than she thought. Will her first big discovery be herself?

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Get signed copies by calling  Anderson's Book Shop in Larchmont, NY:  914-834-6900

Camp Cookbook – the S’mores edition

by J.K. Rock

Camping is more fun when there is good food. As much as we love canoeing, swimming and hiking through the mountains, the best part of the day is getting back to the campfire for a cookout with friends and family.

At Camp Juniper Point, the characters eat in a dining hall most of the time. But every now and then they do special hikes or canoe trips that take them away from the cabins to tent in the woods and make supper from scratch. The kids always look forward to these outings and you’ll see as you read deeper in the series how much the experiences teach them! But we thought it would be fun to share some of the recipes our campers would make on a cookout.

Brownie S’mores

Yes, we’re starting with desert first. Because nothing says “Camping Out” quite like S’mores! We all know that traditional way of cooking s’mores. But this is a twist on an old favorite. Bake a pan of brownies at home. Cut them and store them for your trip. Once you arrive at the cookout, toast the marshmallows as per usual. But instead of graham crackers and chocolate, laying the toasted marshmallow on a brownie split in half. Cover with the top half of the brownie. Voila. Chocolatey-marshmallow deliciousness.

Caramel Apple S’mores

You can also try layering a toasted marshmallow between slices of apple prepped with a little bit of peanut butter. Sticky, ooey gooey yumminess. If you want to have even more fun with the peanut butter and marshmallows, you can make Peanut Butter Marshmallow Taffy, which simply calls for ripping and mushing up two marshmallows with your fingers, pulling the stickiness from hand to hand until it’s smooth (your fingers will be sticky all night, but isn’t that part of what makes camping fun?). Add a little bit of peanut butter to the sticky marshmallow and keep pulling it, taffy style, until you have an edible treat to eat straight from your fingers.

Turtle S’mores

If you’re more of a traditionalist, you can make a s’more the regular old way with a graham cracker and chocolate. But for a different twist, try adding a caramel and some crushed pecans in the mix. Soooo good. The whole square caramels are big, so rip one in half to share with a friend and it will be perfect size.

You can also make Cookie S’mores with any cookies you happen to have available. Or German Chocolate S’mores by bringing a bag of coconut marshmallows to the campfire with you. It pays to test them all and find your favorites. If you won’t be at summer camp this year, see if you can have a backyard sleepover and try out the recipes then.

In Camp Boyfriend, Lauren misses out on s’mores a few times because the campfires provide the perfect opportunity to sneak off with a certain boy for a few minutes alone. And let’s face it, that First Kiss of Camp is sweet enough to make up for missing out on marshmallows. Thanks so much for hosting us today and we’d love to know what kinds of campfire treats are your favorites?

J.K. Rock

Website / Goodreads / J's Twitter / K's Twitter / Facebook

 Joanne and Karen Rock- writing sisters-in-law- formed a partnership to pen YA novels as J.K. Rock. Their debut book, Camp Boyfriend, is available July 2, 2013 from Spencer Hill Contemporary.

Prior to joining creative forces, Joanne Rock began her career as an author of adult romance for various Harlequin series. Published in twenty languages and twenty-seven countries, Joanne writes both contemporary romance and medieval historicals in addition to the occasional romantic suspense. She is a three-time RITA nominee and Bookseller’s Best finalist.

Karen Rock sold her first adult romance to Harlequin’s new Heartwarming line. The Forever Wish (September 2013) is an uplifting tale of love against the odds during the hero’s battle with cancer. In addition to writing, Karen is an eighth grade English teacher who has written and published screenplays for production by school theater departments. She is a regular blogger at Cynthia Leitich Smith’s popular “Cynsations” blog. Together, Joanne and Karen write Young Adult stories that don’t back down from real issues. Whether their characters are falling in love at summer camp or facing the consequences of tough life choices, the authors enjoy helping them navigate those challenges. Their “Camp Boyfriend” books are romantic dramas with a strong emphasis on teen friendships and self discovery. Fun, warm-hearted and emotional, the series includes Camp Boyfriend (July 2013), Camp Payback (April 2014) and Camp Forget-Me-Not (August 2014).  

During the Camp Boyfriend Blog Tour you have the chance to win two awesome prizes:

Daily Blog Prize

Camp journal, pen, bookmark, friendship bracelet, and I < 3 Camp temporary tattoos- colors and styles may vary

Grand Prize

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols, Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles,The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt, That Summer by Sarah Dessen, Always You by Kirsty Moseley, an autographed Arc of Wait For You by Jennifer Armentrout as J.Lynn and autographed copies of Camp Boyfriend and Camp Kiss along with I < 3 Camp temporary tattoos, a I < 3 My Camp Boyfriend t-shirt, a Cam Boyfriend bookmark and friendship bracelets- puppy not included :)

You can enter below (or at any of the blog tour stops)

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