Sara Wolf signs Bring me Their Hearts

First of all, Sara Wolf is hilarious, and very good at reading her book aloud. She was just such a joy to listen to, and you can tell where her characters get their snark. She handing out candle in a little vile that looked like it should contain a blood sample, which is a pretty appropriate pairing for a book called Bring me Their Hearts.

I always enjoy hearing about how much or little authors have a part in their covers, and this cover is just beautiful. On the hardcover the letters are raised and metallic gold, I’m in love! Sara did mention that she originally wrote Zera, the main character, that wasn’t skinny and typical, but unfortunately most of that was edited out of the book, and clearly not portrayed on the cover. I appreciated her sharing this, because I think it is so important that main characters aren’t all the same (i.e. some unrealistic “ideal” that society has).

Sara also spoke about how she wanted her main character to be the monster, not the princess. I really appreciate this as well. Zera doesn’t have a heart and has to eat raw bloody meat to survive, pretty zombiesque. And then the whole undead part is pretty vampy. Sara was hilarious trying to combine to two, which lead to the repeated use of Zampire/Zompire, because it’s obviously much better that Vombies/Vambies.

Overall, it was just a complete pleasure hearing about Sara Wolf’s author process and Bring me Their Hearts. I also ended up purchasing her contemporary series, Lovely Vicious (I’ll link them below).

Synopsis:

Zera is a Heartless – the immortal, unageing soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.

Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a Prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum; if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy her heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.

Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him – every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him – until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The Prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.

So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.

Winner takes the loser’s heart.

 

Goodreads

Order a signed copy here Call to make sure they still have signed copies

Amazon order here.

Other Books:

Goodreads Lovely Vicious Series

Series on Amazon

  

Author Signing: Jeff Sweat signs Mayfly

Jeff was really nice, and his wife and children were in the front row supporting him. He’s from Los Angeles, and this is also where his book takes place, but in a more apocalyptic setting. The book sounds very interesting, and I’m interested to see what kind of adventure it is.

Synopsis:

Jemma has spent her life scavenging tools and supplies for her tribe in the their small enclave outside what used to be a big city. Now she’s a teen, and old enough to become a Mama. Making babies is how her people survive—in Jemma’s world, life ends at age seventeen.

Survival has eclipsed love ever since the Parents died of a mysterious plague. But Jemma’s connection to a boy named Apple is stronger than her duty as a Mama. Forced to leave, Jemma and Apple are joined in exile by a mysterious boy who claims to know what is causing them to die. The world is crumbling around them, and their time is running out. Is this truly the End?

Goodreads

Order a signed copy here Call to make sure they still have signed copies

Amazon order here.

 

Author Signing: Danielle Mages Amato & Robyn Schneider

It was interesting because both of the author’s books deal with a teen girl that has lost her brother, but in very different ways (synopses below). Robyn Schneider is super quirky and full of energy. Danielle works at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and loves Shakespeare. They were both kind and fun, and I’m really looking forward to diving into their books!

Danielle Mages Amato

Synopsis:

Megan Brown’s brother, Tyler, is dead, but the cops are killing him all over again. They say he died of a drug overdose, potentially suicide—something Megan cannot accept. Determined to figure out what happened in the months before Tyler’s death, Megan turns to the things he left behind. After all, she understands the stories objects can tell—at fifteen, she is a gifted collage artist with a flair for creating found-object pieces. However, she now realizes that her artistic talent has developed into something more: she can see memories attached to some of Tyler’s belongings—and those memories reveal a brother she never knew.

Enlisting the help of an artifact detective who shares her ability and specializes in murderabilia—objects tainted by violence or the deaths of their owners—Megan finds herself drawn into a world of painful personal and national memories. Along with a trusted classmate and her brother’s charming friend, she chases down the troubling truth about Tyler across Washington, DC, while reclaiming her own stifled identity with a vengeance.

Goodreads

Order a signed copy here

Amazon order here.

 

 

Robyn Schnider

Synopsis:

Rose Asher believes in ghosts. She should, since she has one for a best friend: Logan, her annoying, Netflix-addicted brother, who is forever stuck at fifteen. But Rose is growing up, and when an old friend moves back to Laguna Canyon and appears in her drama class, things get complicated.

Jamie Aldridge is charming, confident, and a painful reminder of the life Rose has been missing out on since her brother’s death. She watches as Jamie easily rejoins their former friends–a group of magnificently silly theater nerds–while avoiding her so intensely that it must be deliberate.

Yet when the two of them unexpectedly cross paths, Rose learns that Jamie has a secret of his own, one that changes everything. Rose finds herself drawn back into her old life–and to Jamie. But she quickly starts to suspect that he isn’t telling her the whole truth.

All Rose knows is that it’s becoming harder to choose between the boy who makes her feel alive and the brother she isn’t ready to lose.

Goodreads

Order a signed copy here (call to make sure the still have signed copies in store)

Amazon order here.

 

Happy 25th Birthday to Mysterious Galaxy!

May 12, 2018

I’m lucky enough to have the BEST indie bookstore so very close! Mysterious Galaxy has amazing events and such a strong book community. Their 25th anniversary was a day full of awesome authors, giveaways, and a BOOK DRAGON CAKE! Here are a bunch of pictures so you can pretend you lived through this magical day with everyone!

I MEAN SERIOUSLY,

LOOK AT THIS CAKE!

The Young Adult Author Portion

Jason Porath

(Author of Rejected Princesses)

He signed his new book Tough Mothers just in time for Mother’s Day!

!!! BRITTA LUNDIN !!!

Author of SHIP IT

Okay, so I stalked the Disney tent at Yallwest for this book, and just couldn’t get my hands on it. Luckily, Britta came to my local indie for their birthday and I got to buy the BEAUTIFUL hard cover. Plus, I got to meet Britta, and tell her how excited I was for her book!! I’m sure I sounded a bit like a stalker, but the FANGIRLING just couldn’t be contained! There will be a review coming for this book with pictures of the awesome hardcover that is hidden under the dust jacket.

D.J. MacHale

(The Library Series)

And this wonderful human being was a writer on Are You Afraid of the Dark? I mean, I grew up on that show, so I had to buy his books!

Matt Harry

(author of Sorcery for Beginners)

Matt brought his sons, and I was lovin’ the Floss moves. Haha.

Unfortunately, I had to head to work and missed the amazing events that were later in the afternoon, but if you want to see them click here and it will take you to the event on Mysterious Galaxy’s Website. Also, you can explore the upcoming events here, because there are SO MANY EXCITING EVENTS!

Stephanie Garber – Legendary Launch Party

THIS LAUNCH PARTY WAS AMAZING!!

First of all, I loved Legendary, so I was already beyond excited for this event. And then when I got to the event (two hours early), they were setting up and my excitement just flew to the next level.

The setup:

 

Then Stephanie started handing out goodies and announced the games had begun, and I was just in heaven. Not to mention that the Starbucks inside the Roseville Barnes and Noble made a Legendary inspired drink! And this was all before Stephanie even started talking about her amazing book.

The Starbucks Drink:

The Discussion Starts:

 

Stephanie was in conversation with Kristin Dwyer (an aspiring writer and Adrienne Young’s critique partner), and she did a wonderful job. She asked great questions, made a few fun jokes, and wore black for our new book boyfriend Dante.

 

They talked about the evolution of Legendary, which was scrapped multiple times, and had multiple endings. Stephanie also spoke about how her writing is really influenced by music, and that her Tella inspiration started with Taylor Swift songs, but changed to Bishop Briggs songs, which makes since after you read Legendary! Someone asked her what she would do if she could go into the world of Caraval, and she said she would find Legend. Kristin said she would find Dante. Let’s talk about that after you read the book!

While Stephanie couldn’t give details, Caraval is being optioned to become a movie! Also, there will be a third book in the series, Finale!  Which I am beyond thankful for, because the ending of Legendary almost ruined me. I need resolution NOW!

Also, Stephanie is the SWEETEST ever, and it was such a pleasure to meet her. I definitely found a new auto-buy author!

What goodies were handed out:

Red Caraval Bag

Caraval Map Coloring Poster with Colored Pencils

Legendary Chocolates and Bookmark

The Games & Prizes:

Tell the woman in the top hat that Legend sent you (it was Stephanie’s mom, how sweet is that?) and receive a sticker that is good for one mask.

Find one of the Golden Crowns hidden throughout the Barnes and Noble Bookstore, and pick a mystery foreign edition book!

YES, I did get both, and I’m not convinced I could win Caraval.