Interview: YA Paranormal Author J. Meyers

Intangible
Author: J. Meyers
File Size: 722 KB
Print Length: 349 pages
Publisher: J. Meyers
Released: January 29, 2012
Available on Amazon

SUMMARY: Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.

INTERVIEW WITH J. MEYERS
Brenda: Intangible is an amazing YA paranormal read. I've heard you've had a wonderful response to it, so I'm hoping we can look forward to a second book in the future. Can you tell us when and if we'll be getting another story?

J: Oh, wow! Thank you so much for the compliment. :-) The response has been incredible and overwhelming--I feel really blessed, in all honesty. And, yes, there is a book two coming. I'm working on it right now and hoping it'll be out by the end of the year (fingers crossed!). And I have to say that I'm really, really excited about the story in book two.

Brenda: I loved the way you handled Sera's first relationship with a guy. This is such an exciting, yet stressful time for teenagers. Did you have to think a lot about how you would handle it in the story?

J: I wanted this to be a clean read--something that I'd be totally comfortable with my kids reading (and I'm really picky about that)--so I already knew there wasn't going to be any sex in it. And for Sera, for a first relationship, it doesn't make sense (to me) for it to go that way anyway. At least not that quickly. So I didn't have to really figure much out for this book. With every character I wrote, I put myself in their shoes, tried to look through their eyes, feel their reactions based on their life experiences. And with Sera there were many things I could relate to--one of which was the first relationship as a teen girl and being consumed, giddy, surprised, and also not ready for some aspects.

Will there be more advanced relationships in subsequent books? Probably. But only when it makes sense for the characters. At the same time, I'm not writing romance, so if there is more romantic action it's still not going to be a focus of the story, just a plot point. It's important to me to write books that anyone can enjoy and that any parent isn't going to cringe that their daughter or son is reading. I want to stay true to what characters would really do, but also keep it appropriate for my youngest readers. My 9 year old wanted to read the book, and while he isn't quite in my target audience age range yet, I wasn't worried at all about the content being inappropriate for him. It was really nice to be able to say yes to him reading my book. :-)

Brenda: Time for a mom moment-- I loved that you explored Sera's temptation to use her gift in a negative way. I felt like there were a few "lessons" to be learned from the story, but yet you were subtle about it, so as to avoid any "eye rolling" from teens. Were you thinking about any of this as you were writing?

J: No, actually, I wasn't. I was just exploring Sera in all her imperfections. She's a good person, but she's not *all* good. She makes bad decisions sometimes, she does things she shouldn't do out of anger/frustration . . . just like we all do.

Brenda: When I read the description of Marc with his red hair I immediately thought of Shaun White and it stuck in my head. Did you have inspiration for your characters?

J: Not really. (But I can totally see Shaun White as Marc now that you say that!) There's a little bit of me in every character, and I'm sure little pieces of people I know, but no one character was based on any one specific person. I don't even have any celebrities pictured in my head as any of my characters. (You know, except for Shaun White now.) They are each unique creations.

Brenda: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I'm really looking forward to whatever story you come out with next.

J: It's been a real pleasure, Brenda! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the story, and can't wait to share book two with you! Thank you! :-)

MY THOUGHTS ON INTANGIBLE
Intangible is a compelling, fast paced, read with rich characters that jump off the page into the reader's mind and heart. I found myself wishing I'd had friends like Fey, Luke and Sera when I was in high school. Fey is protective, witty, mysterious and beautiful, yet she doesn't let it go to her head. Luke is good looking, loyal, smart, and caring. Sera is kind, smart, couragous and compassionate. I enjoyed the unfolding of their secrets and personalities as the story progressed. The three of them are the heart of Intangible, but that doesn't mean the other characters we meet aren't crucial to the story as well.

Intangible is set in a world where vampires, elves and magic exsist, but are unknown to most humans. Luke and Sera are 17 year old twins who have special talents that they've kept secret their entire lives until events unfold that expose what they can do. They experience heartbreak, loss and betrayal while trying to figure our how they figure into the supernatural world they've discovered. I loved the author's take on the paranormal. The story was at times heart wrenching, but never without hope.

To learn more about J. Meyers and her books visit here:

http://www.jmeyersbooks.com/

You can also read Intuition, a 22 page short story that takes place before the events in Intangible for free. The normal price is .99, so be sure to take note if it's still free when you go to the page. Available from Amazon

YA Review: Angelfire

Angelfire
Author: Courtney Allison Moulton
Young Adult Title
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Released: February 15, 2011

Summary: First there are nightmares. Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her. Then come the memories. When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

I asked to review Angelfire because I was fascinated by the blurb for the book. It's the first in a series but didn't have the feel of some "first" stories. The main characters, Ellie and Will, are complex and fascinating. Will is mysterious, protective, brooding, and sexy without meaning to be. His personality is calm and steadfast, but yet he is powerful and will stop at nothing to protect Ellie. She is a typical teenager with school pressures, relationship drama and parental struggles. Once she discovers what she has to fight to protect her world, those pressures don't seem so difficult. In some ways she reminds me of Buffy during the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer minus the snarky vampires. I really enjoyed the interaction between the characters.

Ellie and Will's relationship is complicated and the author made my heart go out to both of them as the story revealed more and more about their past. Issues of trust and honesty are explored, as well as a theme of doing what is right for the greater good rather than personal needs.

Angelfire is fast paced and full of kick butt action, romance, angst, mystery and suspense. I recommend it to fans of Melissa Marr, Maggie Stiefvater, Karen Kincy and Claudia Gray.

Mom notes: This book is for mature teens, 16 and older. Though there aren't any sex scenes there are references to sex and drinking. It fits with the context of the scenes and shows the life Ellie and her friends have as Seniors in high school, but I wouldn't recommend it for younger teens. Over all the story is one of making the right choices, and while there is a rough relationship between Ellie and her father, her mom is a good parent who's trying to understand her daughter. I really appreciated that they talked over things, even when Ellie couldn't confide the entire truth.

About the Author
Courtney Allison Moulton lives in Michigan, where she is a photographer and spends all her free time riding and showing horses. She has always loved reading about ancient mythologies, studying dead languages, and telling scary, romantic stories. Angelfire is her debut novel.

You can learn more about Courtney on her website:
http://www.courtneyallisonmoulton.com/

Soul Screamers: My Soul to Keep

My Soul to Keep
Soul Screamers, #3
Author: Rachel Vincent
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Harlequin
Released: 6/1/10

Summary: Soul Screamers is a young adult urban fantasy series narrated by teenage bean sidhe (banshee) Kaylee Cavanaugh. Join Kaylee as she tries to balance a normal high school experience with the threat of the Netherworld, a terrifying, hidden world full of reapers, hellions, and countless other mythical monsters out to possess her, body and soul.

My Soul to Keep is a book every teenager should read, especially if they are in a relationship, or considering one. I remember the hormone induced urges as I became aware of my sexuality. When you combine that with wanting someone to love that will love you back, things become intense and confusing. It's no wonder that our teenage years are some of our toughest.

I loved the character of Kaylee as she struggled with school life, her friends, her boyfriend, her father and her supernatural issues. Things are tough enough but when a supernatural drug starts ruining her classmates lives she knows she has to do something about it. She's compassionate, tough, and she's willing to face her fears to do what is right. I love that she holds on to her virginity, even though a part of her wants to give in to her feelings for Nash. Every teenage girl should view her virginity as Kaylee does, as something precious that should only be shared when it's right, not because of peer pressure, or a need to keep a boyfriend happy. Once you lose it, you can't get it back. That message alone is so important. My Soul to Keep has many important underlying themes in a face paced, action filled plot that literally keeps the reader in suspense through most of the story.

Addiction is something so many teenagers and adults struggle with at some point in their life. Some are lucky, and stop themselves before hitting rock bottom. Others can't stop, and hurt themselves and the people they care about before they ask for help. Whether it's drinking or drugs, addiction ruins lives. For those who are watching someone they care about go through an addiction it can be agony. We can't make them stop, but we can refuse to aide them in their addiction. All of this is weaved into the story of Kaylee and her friends in a fast paced, suspenseful and emotional manner.

Don't get me wrong, My Soul to Keep is a well written, paranormal romance with rich, complex characters. The author has weaved the life lessons among the story so there are no lectures or public service announcements. Rachel Vincent has instead given us a story about love, trust, loyalty and friendship that we won't soon forget. Whether you are 15 or 50, you will love her storytelling and the characters she has created.

Reading the Series
I emailed Rachel to make sure I was getting the order of the stories and the books correct. My Soul to Lose and Reaper happen right around the same time and are perfect reads to start the series if you haven't already. I loved both of them, but Reaper is especially good.

Soul Screamers Stories
1. My Soul to Take (2009)
2. My Soul to Save (2009)
3. My Soul to Keep (2010)
4. Neiderwald: Enthralled anthology (2011)
5. My Soul to Steal (January 2011)
6. If I Die (Fall 2011)

Novellas & Shorts
1.Fearless: Kiss Me Deadly Anthology (2010)
2.Free Prequel: My Soul to Lose (2010)
3.Free Short: Reaper: Tod's Story (2010)

Once you read anything in the Soul Screamers series, you'll want to read everything you can get your hands on. This is a Young Adult series, but I loved it as much as any paranormal adult read.

~Brenda

Review: The Dark Divine

The Dark Divine
Author: Bree Despain
Released: December 2009
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Format: Digital and Print
Available at: Indie Bound, Powell's Books, Barnes & Noble

Summary: Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held. The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

I bought The Dark Divine because I had heard so many good things about it. I was glad I had avoided spoilers because it really increases the suspense in the book as the secrets unfold. I enjoyed this book for many reasons. First, the main character, Grace Divine, is wonderful. She's a pastor's daughter, but yet she doesn't blindly follow the church. She asks hard questions, and her faith is her own, not something she has because others have forced it on her. She's strong, compassionate, loyal and she's not afraid to speak her mind.

I also love that the author gave Grace loving, supportive parents who aren't perfect, but they are approachable, and listen to what their children say. One of my big pet peeves about many YA novels is the lack of supportive adults. Yes, there are bad parents out there, but there are more good parents who try to listen and understand their teenagers.

There are elements of romance, suspense and action in The Dark Divine that keep the reader glued to the pages, but it also has some lessons that are crucial to everyone, not just teenagers. Do we have to earn love? If we make mistakes are we no longer worthy of being loved? The romance is touching, and the relationship between Grace and her brother is fascinating. She adores him to the point of thinking he can do no wrong, but as the story goes on she must admit he isn't perfect and may have faults.

Other themes running through the book include forgiveness, sacrifice, and jealousy. I would recommend The Dark Divine for teens 14 and older. Fans of Twilight will love this book without fail, but also those who enjoy Maggie Stiefvater and Claudia Gray will like it as well. This story entertains, but also causes the reader to think about what they might do in Grace's situation. I love books that stir up things up and make me think about things.

The next book in the series, The Lost Saint will be released on December 28th, 2010. I'm not posting the blurb from it because it has a huge spoiler for the first book. The cover is just as stunning as The Dark Divine, and should be another great read.

You can visit Bree at http://www.breedespain.com/index.html for more information and to sign up for her free newsletter and her blog.

Review & Interview with Jackie Morse Kessler

I received an ARC of Hunger, Jackie Morse Kessler's new young adult novel. As soon as I finished reading her book, I emailed asking if I could do an interview. You can read my review after the interview with Jackie. Hunger is an important book for parents and teens to read, and make available. I would love to see it in every high school library.

Brenda: I just finished Hunger, and loved it on two levels, one as a reader and another as a mom. I have a daughter who is ten, so we are just getting into self image issues. I loved the story itself, and the lessons it taught.

JK: YAY! My big hope for HUNGER is that it reaches its audience.

Brenda: When you were writing Hunger was it difficult to keep the "voice" of the main character and not get into lecture mode? I thought you did a great job with that aspect.

JK: Thank you! Once I figured out who the main character was, and what the purpose of the Horsemen was, the story just flowed. (Then again, it’s been percolating for the better part of ten years.) The only active restraints I had when I was writing HUNGER was not to describe what Lisa looked like physically or to give her actual weight. But everything else, including the voice, just came naturally while writing.

Brenda: I don't want to give spoilers, so I'll try to word this carefully. Will we see Famine again in the other books of the series? I know the second book, Rage, is coming out in 2011. I'm guessing we will see Death again:)

JK: Yes, Famine plays a role in the next book, RAGE. And Death has a bigger part in that book as well. (It’s like he says to Lisa in HUNGER: Death and War have always worked well together. **grin**)

Brenda: I know you write urban fantasy as well as YA, did you have to get into a different frame of mind to write YA? I have 16 and 17 year old sons, and sometimes it's like being in the midst of an alien drama.

JK: At first, I didn’t know whether the protagonist of HUNGER was going to be a teen or a little older. But when I finally “discovered” Lisa, everything just happened. I didn’t try to channel my inner teen as much as I remembered being in the eating-disorder mindset, because Lisa’s in the throes of the disease: so much of what she thinks about, and what she does, involves food. Writing HUNGER was very cathartic.

Brenda: I love the Post Mortem feature on your blog, and noticed you started it quite awhile before the release of Hunger. Have you had fun with Death interviewing other author's characters? I can't imagine he's not a huge hit with the girls, despite his brooding nature. (Read Post Mortem here.)

JK: Thanks again! I have to get back to doing the interviews; I got a little side-tracked over the past few months. It’s a blast getting to work with other authors. As for Death, well, the characters who aren’t terrified of him seem to like him. (He’s really not so bad, once you get past the whole Grim Reaper aspect.)

Brenda: This last question is off topic...I know you have two children, so one mom to another, what is the most surprising thing you have found about raising kids?

JK: How they listen to everything we say! I discovered that I talk back to drivers when I’m in my car when, one day after school the Tax Deductions were in the back seat, and when we were in traffic, Tax Deduction the Elder belted out, “COME ON, PERSON!!! DRIVE!!!” Heh. Whoops. (Of course, the listening goes only so far. When I tell the Tax Deductions to clean their rooms, suddenly they get so focused on whatever it is they’re in the middle of that they just don’t hear me. I suppose it’s selective hearing.)

Brenda: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions, and for writing such a fun, but profound book. I think it will make a difference to many teens and their families.

JK: Thank you so much, Brenda! You have no idea how thrilling it is to read that. And thank you for taking the time not only to read and review HUNGER but also to come up with the interview questions.

THE REVIEW

Hunger
Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Graphia
Released: October 18, 2010

Summary: Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

I asked to review Hunger, and received an digital copy from the publisher. I was intrigued with the premise of a 17 year old anorexic girl being given the mantle of a Horsemen of the Apocalypse as Famine. I truly hope that parents, friends and relatives of a loved one with an eating disorder will purchase this book. The author has captured the mind set of a young woman with such a poor self image that it brings her to the brink of death. Before she can take that final step, Death delivers a package to her in the guise of a delivery guy, and later appears to her as the lead singer of a grunge band. Former lead singer, I should say, since he committed suicide. Death is witty, hip and has brooding down to an art. He doesn't mince words with Lisa, the main character, and she proceeds to live her normal life, not giving up the dangerous eating and exercise habits, while testing out the powers bestowed on her as Famine.

I don't want to give spoilers because that ruins the book for the reader, but I love that the author doesn't end Hunger with any easy magical fixes. Life isn't easy, and Lisa learns that life and death is not the same for everyone. Sometimes we need to look outside ourselves and the voices that tell us our life sucks.

The writing in Hunger is teen friendly, which in my mind means that teens will identify with the thoughts of the characters in this book. I thought the parents were portrayed as loving but frustrated, as they try to understand what is going on with their daughter. Though there are important lessons experienced, this book is not a public service commercial or a lecture on eating disorders. Hunger is a novel that will appeal to teens and adult fans of YA, even if they have not experienced anorexia in their own lives. It's a mix of urban fantasy, teen romance and a tale of love and friendship.

Mom Notes: If you are a parent with kids, whether they are toddlers, teens or preteens, you should read Hunger. It gives the reader a true sense of what goes on in the mind of a teen with self image issues. ALL teens have these issues in varying degrees, whether their parents realize it or not. The best thing we can do for our children is to be prepared, listen and talk with them, not AT them. I would recommend Hunger for ages 13 and older.

Hunger is available on Amazon. You can also find out more about the series here: http://jackiemorsekessler.com/blog/

A portion of proceeds will be donated to the National Eating Disorders
Association.

NEXT IN THE SERIES
Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler will be released in April of 2011 from Harcourt Graphia.

Sixteen-year-old self-injurer Melissa Miller exchanges her razor blade for the sword of War, one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

A portion of proceeds from Rage will be donated to the organization To Write Love On Her Arms.

If you would like to keep up with contests for Jackie's books, and the interviews on Post Mortum visit the author's blog: http://jackiemorsekessler.com/blog/

Release Day Review: Waking the Witch

Waking the Witch
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Pub. Date: July 27, 2010
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Hardcover, 320 pages

Summary: The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at 21 she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town as a favour to one of the agency’s associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.

I requested a review copy of Waking the Witch in time for the release because I had heard good things about it, and was fascinated when I heard it was a crossover to Young Adult. I've read one other Kelley Armstrong book, that I bought and I have her first book, Bitten, on my shelf. I mention this because I felt Waking the Witch was a fine choice for a stand alone novel if you haven't read Ms. Armstrong's other books.

Foremost, I would classify Waking the Witch as a solid mystery novel. We have three murders, numerous suspects, small town cops, one big city detective plus our PI and main character Savannah, trying to sort through all of it for truth. The story is a fast paced, action filled read. I finished it in less than 24 hours because I couldn't put it down.

The main character Savannah is smart, independent, caring and she's a smart ass. Who wasn't at 21 years old? I thought her struggle to do what is right vs. her first instincts fascinating. For the romance fans reading this review, there is some sexual tension, as well as a relationship in Savannah's life that will leave readers wanting to know more.

Is Waking the Witch a "crossover" YA novel? Yes, I think you could say that, keeping in mind that the subject matter is for mature teens and there is some rough language. This would be a great book club choice to be read with young women and older women sharing their thoughts. There are instances of infidelity, betrayal, and choices made for the wrong reasons. There are also examples of unconditional love, friendship, loyalty and belief in ourselves. Yet, these lessons come wrapped in a cool, twist filled plot with magic, mayhem and murder.

I recommend Waking the Witch to fans of Claudia Gray, Kat Richardson, Patricia Briggs and Chloe Neill. Today is the release day in the United States, so pick up a copy online or at your local bookstore.

~Moonsanity

Radiant Shadows Contest & Review

Radiant Shadows
A Wicked Lovely Book
Author: Melissa Marr
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Harper Collins
Available at Indie Bound, Powell's Books, Barnes & Noble

Summary: Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers. Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.

Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

I was sent a copy of Radiant Shadows for review after having read and reviewed the first book in the series Wicked Lovely (review here). In some ways, I enjoyed this book even more than I did the first one. Devlin is a fascinating other worldly character who struggles to understand human emotion as he gets to know Ani. She, on the other hand, is learning about her fae side, and what that means. In many ways they are opposites, and yet they need each other. Melissa Marr has this extraordinary voice in her writing that somehow makes me feel as if I'm in the world she's created and part of it. Though the characters are foreign to me, I can relate to them and feel their emotions along with them. Her books really are breathtaking.

Radiant Shadows, for me, was about acceptance, forgiveness of others and ourselves, and learning to appreciate the differences in those around us. We are not all the same and that makes life so very interesting. I loved that Devlin and Ani both had to look inside themselves for the solutions to problems within their worlds. This book is a love story but it's also filled with action, adventure and magic, which makes it so much more.

I've already picked up Ink Exchange which has many of the characters that are in Radiant Shadows, so I can get to know them better.

I did want to mention, as I did with Wicked Lovely, that the books in this series are more mature than some Young Adult titles. I would recommend it for teens perhaps 15 and older.

MELISSA IN PERSON
Melissa is going to be at these locations this summer. If you live in the area stop by and be sure to take picture!

Saturday, June 19
2 pm Borders Bookstore
Fredericksburg, Virginia

June 25-27:
American Library Association Conference
Washington, DC

Saturday, June 26
7:00-9:00 am
Harper Collins Fiction Breakfast

Saturday, June 26
2:00-3:00 pm
Signing in Harper Collins booth

Sunday, June 27
8:30-10:00 am YALSA Coffee Klatch

RADIANT SHADOWS CONTEST
The publisher has graciously allowed me to give away one hardbound copy of Radiant Shadows. I will be on vacation much of June, so the contest will end on July 1st, 2010. My question:

Do you like characters in a book to be either completely good vs. totally evil, or can they have shades of grey?

Please leave your answer in a comment, and if your email is not on a Google profile leave it in the comment so I can get hold of you. The contest will run until 7/1/2010 when I will use the handy random number generator to pick one winner, and email them plus post it on the blog.

Thanks! ~Moonsanity