Possess by Gretchen McNeil

Possess by Gretchen McNeil
"Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her over-protective mom, by Matt Quinn, the cute son of a local police sergeant, and by the eerie voices she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Unfortunately for Bridget, the voices are demons—and Bridget possesses the rare ability to banish them back to whatever hell they came from. Literally.

Terrified to tell her friends or family about this new power, Bridget confides in San Francisco’s senior exorcist, Monsignor Renault. The monsignor enlists her help in increasingly dangerous cases of demonic possession, but just as she is starting to come to terms with her freakish new role, Bridget receives a startling message from one of the demons. And when one of her oldest friends is killed, Bridget realizes she’s in deeper than she ever thought possible. Now she must unlock the secret to the demons’ plan before someone else close to her winds up dead—or worse, the human vessel for a demon king."- summary from Amazon

Possess is a really creepy, compelling, and mysterious debut. I absolutely loved it and found it hard to put down, which happened often since I'd be reading the book during my breaks at work and would have to force myself to put it away.

Bridget is a fun, sarcastic main character and I really enjoyed spending time with her, as well as with all her friends. It was nice having that balance between paranormal and normal since Bridget had to hide her power from pretty much everyone.

There are some interesting twists and turns and I liked reading about all the backstory of demons and this power to banish them. McNeil did a really good job with that; it never got info dumpy or anything like that. The climax of the book is basically edge-of-your-seat thrilling.

Overall, an awesome debut and I look forward to reading more from McNeil in the future!

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Populazzi by Elise Allen

Populazzi by Elise Allen
"Cara has never been one of those girls: confident, self-possessed, and always ready with the perfect thing to say. A girl at the very top of the popularity tower. One of the Populazzi.

Now, junior year could change everything. Cara’s moving to a new school, and her best friend urges her to seize the moment—with the help of the Ladder. Its rungs are relationships, and if Cara transforms into the perfect girlfriend for guys ever-higher on the tower, she’ll reach the ultimate goal: Supreme Populazzi. The Ladder seems like a lighthearted social experiment, a straight climb up, but it quickly becomes gnarled and twisted. And when everything goes wrong, only the most audacious act Cara can think of has a chance of setting things even a little bit right."- summary from Amazon

Wow. This book was a roller coaster ride. Climbing the Ladder is full of so many twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book- it had a clever idea, and it was FUNNY. Humor is the best way to get me to like a book and this novel is full of it. I was laughing at least one thing on almost every page. There doesn't seem to be many humorous books these days, so it's nice to find one that's really good.

I loved a lot of the characters in the book, but I especially enjoyed Cara's interactions with Archer and Robert (Star Wars Guy). Those were usually pretty funny and a joy to read. I will say though that Karl, the stepfather was NOT cool at all and I'm glad Archer set Cara straight on dealing with him. He needs to take some anger management classes or something. I do also wish that his behavior had been addressed and resolved but that didn't happen.

Cara's journey through the social tiers is handled so well and I wondered at how it would all end. Allen did a great job with the ending, and it's the most realistic way it could end. It's a happy ending, but it's not a perfect ending- everything isn't tied up in a bow, but things are looking up. I appreciated that.

Overall, an awesome debut read and one that's perfect to end summer with. So go grab a copy!! I can't wait for more from Allen!

FTC: Received e-galley from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman

Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman
"Bickering frenemies Meg and Shar are doing some serious damage at a midnight sample sale when the fashionistas find themselves arguing over a pair of shoes-with fatal consequences. One innocent bystander later, the girls are suddenly at the mercy of Hades, Lord of the Underworld himself. To make them atone for what they've done, Hades forces the teens to become special-assignment Sirens, luring to the Underworld an individual whose unholy contract is up.

Finding that delicate balance between their fashion addiction and their new part-time job in the eternal hellfire biz turns out to be harder than Meg and Shar expected, especially when an entire pantheon of Greek deities decides to get involved. Then there's the matter of the fine print in their own contracts..."- summary from Amazon

I love books that involve mythology of some sort because it's just a big interest of mine. This novel combined two of my favorite things- mythology and humor, thus becoming a favorite. Meg and Shar's story is fast-paced with quite a few twists and turns thrown in to complicate things a bit.

I really enjoyed both of these characters and liked seeing them learn to love each other throughout the book. Also, even though the book is co-authored and the story is told from both Meg and Shar's perspectives, it didn't feel like two people wrote this book. Bennardo and Zaman did a wonderful job making the voice and tone cohesive throughout.

The other great thing about this book is that the ending is an actual end despite there being two more books coming out in the future. The book is pretty self-contained and I'm interested to see where the authors take it next.

Overall, a really awesome book and, though it's set in winter, a perfect summer read!

Charlotte and Natalie will be signing copies of Sirenz at the PAYA Festival next Saturday, August 27, so if you're in the area, stop by!

FTC: Received finished copy at BEA (signed!). Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Author Interview- Victoria Schwab

1) How did you get the idea for The Near Witch?

The Near Witch evolved from two sentences thought up six months apart. One: "The wind on the moors is a tricky thing." The other: "There are no strangers in the town of Near." I was a second-semester senior at the time, writing an interdisciplinary thesis for my major, but I started setting aside two hours, from 9 to 11pm each night, to go to the coffee shop on the edge of campus and write this book. It became sanity and discipline and escape.


2) Tell us all about The Call/The Email for publication. Where were you when you got it? Did you do anything to celebrate the sale?

It happened in two parts, actually! I was in the middle of Colorado when I heard that my dream editor wanted to have a phone call with me. I'd decided to take a three-week road trip around the US after graduating, and had to stop in Denver and find a landline so my agency could arrange the conference call. Abby and I spoke for a long, long time about the project, our goals, our tastes in fiction, etc. etc. etc. She wanted to make sure we'd be on the same page/a good fit, and I love her for that. And then I had to wait another THREE WEEKS to get the official offer! I was sitting in my office, and my house gets HORRIBLE cell reception, so when the agency called, I was terrified the call would get dropped. I also was convinced they weren't calling about a deal (because minds are funny things) so I was shocked!


3) You ran a small tour with authors Myra McEntire and Beth Revis called From Ash to Nash. How did this idea come about? Can you tell us any funny anecdotes from the tour?

We actually had the idea at a massive writer's retreat in Branson, MO back in February! And the tour was AMAZING. We focused on small/overlooked indie stores from NC to TN, and had such a wonderful experience. There was only one major hiccup, and it led to an idea of its own, so it wasn't all bad! I'm...um...not sure any of our anecdotes are internet-appropriate :p


4) What is your favorite Jelly Belly jelly bean flavor (or flavors, if you're so inclined)?

Peach!! I always THINK I like the popcorn one, and then I eat it and am disgusted. For some reason my memory insists on lying to me repeatedly in the popcorn-flavored-jelly-bean department.


5) What book(s) are you currently reading, or are about to start?

On my bedside table right now (all have been started): Divergent, Mr. Peanut, A Million Suns, Dust, Myths of the Northmen, and Beauty Queens...


6) You were part of the YA Rebels. How did you get involved with that, and has there been a favorite moment or vlog from the many vlogs that you've done?

I was lucky enough to be invited on-board at the start! And what an adventure it was. The YAR truly helped get me out of my shell, taught me to be more comfortable on camera and to laugh at myself. I think the evil cupcake video ("Sugar High Goes Sickly Sweet") is probably the best example of that ;)


7) What are you working on now? Can you tell us anything about it?

My next project doesn't come out for awhile, but it's called The Archived. I'm not supposed to say much yet, but I will say that it's kind of like Buffy meets The Shining meets If I Stay. In a library.

The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls by Wendy Delsol

The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls by Wendy Delsol
"The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls, once a haven for unwed mothers, is now a bed-and-breakfast that houses three generations of women-and their many secrets...

In the early 1960s, Ruby, a spunky unwed teen mother was wooed and won over by the founder of the McCloud Home. Now, forty years later, the historic property has been converted into an inn that Ruby runs with one of her daughters, Jill. When Jill's fourteen-year-old daughter begins to search for the identity of her father, she sets in motion events that will test the bonds that bind mothers, daughters, and sisters.

Jill unwittingly aids the forces of upheaval when she agrees to host the wake of the town matriarch. As the guests-including the matriarch's handsome nephew and Jill's vivacious, irresponsible sister Jocelyn-return to the small town, the convergence of people and memories uncovers rivalries, sparks romance, recalls heartbreak, and reveals a shocking family secret, one that could separate the McCloud women forever or lead them to the renewal of their powerful, enduring connection."- summary from Amazon

I will be honest and say that I had no idea this was an adult novel until I got the ARC in my hands. It doesn't necessarily change anything but I guess I had to alter my mindset for the book. Delsol's debut Stork was a YA and so I assumed she'd continue doing only that. Well, I'm wrong and I'm glad I am.

Delsol did a really good job with this book and aside from being an adult novel, it also shows off a different side to her writing- it's realistic rather than paranormal like her Stork series. I loved reading about these characters and the Wayward Home converted into an inn. While there's a lot of secrets and not-fun confrontations, I liked being in this world and coming back to the book.

It was interesting too how Delsol told the story- while most of it is from Jill's perspective, there's the occasional chapters where it's told from Fee's perspective as well as going into the past to be told from Jill's mother Ruby's POV. I love multiple POVs in a book and this worked really well because I felt like when it came to the secrets going on, Delsol chose to show the reader rather than tell the reader.

Overall, just a fantastic adult debut and, now having seen two sides to Delsol's writing, I'm eager for more!

FTC: Received ARC from author. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Meandering Monday- Jon Skovron signing recap

The other day, I made the small trek to Richmond, VA to see Jon Skovron talk about and sign his new novel, Misfit, which I reviewed on the day of the signing. Susan of Wastepaper Prose and I had made plans to hang out with Jon beforehand at a really cool diner called The Village Cafe. It was an awesome time, even though I got a bit lost and arrived late. We chatted about a bunch of things- what we were reading, TV shows, the importance of blurbs on books (Jon was actually reading an upcoming book to give his first blurb to), among many other things.

When we finished at the cafe, we all took our separate cars over to Fountain Bookstore and the signing got started after a bit. It was a small turnout- 4 other people as well as Susan and I- but it was nice to have an intimate setting because there was some good back-and-forth talking and discussion of Jon's book and all the mythology behind it. I also found out that Misfit could be the start of a trilogy, though it stands pretty good on its own, in case the other two books don't happen.

Once the talk and QnA was over, Jon got ready to sign some books. I went up first and Jon was kind enough to give me several of the Misfit bookmarks and postcards he had brought to give out, so if you get a package from me, I'll be including those. They're really pretty and I love how Jon did them. After he signed my book, I chatted with Susan for a bit until the other people left. Susan was kind enough to take a photo of Jon and I, and Jon wanted to try a certain expression for the photo. He chose serious, but he doesn't seem to be doing a serious face; he may have still been telling me not to smile, lol.

After my photo was taken, I took one of Susan and Jon. They did two expressions- mean and then extremely happy. Obviously the one I'm showing is the extremely happy one. When that was done, we all got ready to head out; Jon and I had two hour drives ahead of us, and Susan had plans for the evening. But that didn't stop Susan and I from chatting for a few minutes at our cars about books and blogging. She was also kind enough to give me her extra copies of Without Tess by Marcella Pixley and Between the Sky and the Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore, both of which I'm really excited about, especially Jaclyn's because I loved Magic Under Glass and have been eagerly waiting to read this for over a year now (she told me about it at ALA last summer). All in all, it was a really fun day and I'm so glad I was able to go.


All photos courtesy of the fabulous Susan from Wastepaper Prose.

Misfit by Jon Skovron

Misfit by Jon Skovron
"Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She's changed schools too many times to count. The only family she's ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother--well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn't exactly help.

But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much.

Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school."- summary from Amazon

I loved Skovron's debut so much and was really excited to read his second book, which is a complete 180 from Struts and Frets, and this book is just as good. I loved how he created the demon world and backstory; it was really interesting to learn more about Jael's past throughout the book.

Jael was a wonderful main character and even though the story is told in third person, I felt connected to her. There wasn't a distance or anything like there can be with third person novels. Her romance with the cute skater boy was awesome to read and felt realistic, despite all the demon and paranormal stuff going on.

Overall, it's just a really compelling standalone paranormal story with some great characters (LOVED Jael's uncle Dagon- so funny!) and a fast-paced plot. A great sophomore effort from Skovron! Definitely a book to check out if you like paranormal, but if you prefer contemporary, please check out his amazing debut, Struts and Frets.

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Sleepless by Cyn Balog
"Eron DeMarchelle isn't supposed to feel this connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce his human charges to sleep. Though he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to do so. After all, becoming too involved in one human's life could prevent him from helping others get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia, a lonely girl with fiery red hair and sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. In the past, Eron has broken rules to protect Julia, but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't reach her. Eron's time as a Sandman is coming to a close, and his replacement doesn't seem to care about his charges. Worse, Julia is facing dangers she doesn't recognize, and Eron, as he transitions back to being human, may be the only one who can save her. . . .

Even once they've become human again, Sandmen are forbidden to communicate with their charges. But Eron knows he won't be able to forget Julia. Will he risk everything for a chance to be with the girl he loves?"- summary from Amazon

I really enjoyed this book, like I did with Balog's debut Fairy Tale. There's just something really engaging about the prose and the voice of her characters. Although I will say that I originally wasn't a big fan of Eron's chapters because they were a bit boring and teaching Griffin was a bit awkward to read about, but a few chapters in, I became really engrossed in both POVs. I think it may have been because Julia became more of an entity in Eron's chapters once he started becoming human. The voices are really distinct and it's fun to see both sides of what's happening.

I love that Balog used Sandmen because I've never seen it in any other YA (though I'm sure I'm just not educated enough, lol) so it made the book more original. The mythology behind it was really interesting and I liked learning about the craft of it. The ending seemed a bit abrupt in how quickly things turn around, but I'm not too hung up on it.

Overall, this is just a really fun, quick summer read and it's out in paperback now, which is even better! I look forward to reading Starstruck and anything else Balog writes.

Cyn Balog will be signing copies of her books at the PAYA Festival later this month, so be sure to stop by if you're in the area!

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit will go toward funding contests.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
"The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy."- summary from Amazon

For me, this book didn't suck me in right away. It took a while before I got invested in the characters and engrossed with the prose. Once I got into it though, the pages did fly by. When stuff starts getting revealed and magic starts happening, it becomes a thrilling adventure.

I loved the whole concept and story behind the Near Witch that Schwab used. It was an interesting tale and the connection to the moor was really cool. I did like Lexi as a main character- she was really spunky and smart, and I enjoyed reading her scenes with Cole (i.e. the mysterious boy). I did really hate some of the characters in the town of Near, like Tyler and Bo. Like, seriously; I wanted to punch them in the face.

I don't really know what else to say about this book. It was hard enough writing a review. It's a good book, but I wasn't as amazed by it as others were. I will definitely keep Schwab as an author to keep up with though because I did see potential and her next book sounds really interesting.

FTC: Received e-galley from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Meandering Monday

I'm getting ready for my first day of work, which is tomorrow (eep!), so just a few links today of stuff I've been participating in:

Emily's Reading Room has been running this really cool feature called Blogger Confidential, the idea for which she got from my friend Susan of Wastepaper Prose and her awesome Author Insight series. It's basically bloggers talking about blogging and reading issues! There's been three posts so far- an introduction of the bloggers, how we define success, and the latest, which is all about blogger behavior. There's still quite a few questions left, so keep checking back for new posts!

A wonderful new blogger Grace of Words Like Silver asked to do an interview with me and of course I said yes! You can read the interview now and see my thoughts on blogger entitlement, my reading style, blogger/publisher relationships and my cats, among many other things! While you're at it, check out the rest of the blog- it's really good!

Also, today's the last day to enter my Forever contest, where two winners will receive a copy of Forever by Maggie Stiefvater and a Forever keychain. I've been using my Forever keychain even though I only have three keys and I love it!! The contest ends tonight at 9pm EST!

Wish me luck on my first day!!

Sister Mischief by Laura Goode

Sister Mischief by Laura Goode
"Listen up: You’re about to get rocked by the fiercest, baddest all-girl hip-hop crew in the Twin Cities - or at least in the wealthy, white, Bible-thumping suburb of Holyhill, Minnesota. Our heroine, Esme Rockett (aka MC Ferocious) is a Jewish lesbian lyricist. In her crew, Esme’s got her BFFs Marcy (aka DJ SheStorm, the butchest straight girl in town) and Tess (aka The ConTessa, the pretty, popular powerhouse of a vocalist). But Esme’s feelings for her co-MC, Rowie (MC Rohini), a beautiful, brilliant, beguiling desi chick, are bound to get complicated. And before they know it, the queer hip-hop revolution Esme and her girls have exploded in Holyhill is on the line."- summary from Amazon

This was a really interesting read for me. I mean, where else are you going to read about an all-girl hip-hop group with a lesbian MC? The voice was done really well and sucked me into the book; there were some times where the dialogue seemed a bit like it was trying too hard though. I really enjoyed the inclusion of the group's lyrics (as well as the occasional lyrics from established rappers) and also footnotes (I LOVE footnotes!).

Aside from the music, I loved how Goode handled the whole lesbian aspect of the novel and there's some frank discussions in here. It's hard to find a good lesbian YA novel and I'm really glad this has been published. The romance in here is sweet but also realistic, which I appreciated.

I also loved the whole free speech part and the group's fighting back against the establishment, I guess, lol. I love stories where the underdog triumphs over the closed-minded people who are just plain wrong. The road to get there though with the closed-minded people in charge frustrates me because I want to just slap them and tell them how wrong they are. That's how I want to solve a lot of the problems in my life and in the world, lol.

All the characters were great and my favorite one probably has to be Ms. DiCostanza (I'm fairly sure that's her name), one of their teachers who's on their side. She was just plain awesome. And of course I loved the four main characters too.

Overall, this is just a wonderful, original contemporary that I think a lot of readers will enjoy. There is a lot of cursing though, so if that sort of thing offends you, maybe not the book to read.

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Fragment Friday- The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Fragment Friday is a monthly meme hosted here on this blog where you read an excerpt from either your current read or one of your favorite books and post it on your blog to share with others! It's a fun way to learn about new books or to hear a sample from a book you're dying to read. I only participate once a month and host the Mr. Linky, but other bloggers and readers can make vlogs every Friday as part of it. Please put all your Fragment Friday links from the last few weeks in the Mr Linky below. Next month, the Fragment Friday date will be September 2. Fragment Friday will now be held the first Friday of every month!

Here it is: Fragment Friday again! The Mr. Linky is below the video. Can't wait to see everyone's fragments! Today, I'm reading from The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab, which is out in stores now.



Hope you all enjoyed my fragment! Now link to yours!

Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman
"Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school--it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke--he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again."- summary from Amazon

I got this book randomly from the publisher but I'm so happy I got it because I've been meaning to read something by Littman. This book is really good and it makes me want to read more from her. The story is structured wonderfully, broken up into 3 parts. the first part is all about Abby getting to know Luke and then going to meet up (it's the longest section), the second part switches between the perspectives of Abby's little sister Lily, her best friend Faith, and Billy, a boy in her science class, as well as some police reports, and the third section deals with the aftermath of Abby being found.

It's hard to read this book because watching Abby fall under Luke's spell is just heartbreaking and can be a bit frustrating. I think that frustration comes from the reader already knowing she's going to be abducted but Littman does a good job of making the reader identify with Abby a bit- the start of high school being scary, feeling lonely, not being listened to, etc. All of us, I'm sure, has felt something that Abby went through that got her to be open to Luke's lies.

I almost cried a few times during the third part which isn't something that happens often when I read a book. That alone should show you how good this book is at conveying emotions and sucking the reader deep into the story. It takes a lot to get me to tear up (and even more to actually cry) so if an author can do that, kudos to them. I think the only other book to do that to me was Alive and Well in Prague, NY by Daphne Grab and that was over 3 years ago (June 2008).

Overall, just a fantastic book. Littman has written a riveting and emotional tale that should be devoured by many. As a side note, the author will be at the PAYA Festival later this month so if you're nearby, come on by to get a book signed!

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
"This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended-Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer-one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack-and the man-she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive."- summary from Amazon

I loved Nightshade and couldn't wait to read this novel. It started off a bit slow, which is hard to believe with that opening, but it happened. But after a while, I really got back into the story and the characters and the book seriously flew by. So much crazy stuff is revealed and there's quite a bit of action and of course romance.

I loved all the new characters that were introduced in this novel. They were all really fun to get to know (well, Ethan came around) and I enjoyed spending time with them, as well as the old ones. The ending was really unexpected and I simply cannot wait for Bloodrose, the final book. This series is simply amazing.

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Meandering Monday- PAYA Festival!

So last year, I went to the first ever PAYA Festival, which is all about bringing YA to PA and helping out their libraries, and it was started by Harmony, a fellow blogger. It was amazing and a ton of fun! I'm really hoping I can go this year but it really depends on a lot of things, so we'll see what happens.

If you're anywhere near PA, definitely consider going. There's going to be a writing workshop, book signings, food, raffles, and a ton of book-ish people to mingle with! Here's a partial list of the authors:

Josh Berk (Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin)
Cyn Balog (Fairy Tale, Sleepless, Starstruck)
Jeri Smith-Ready (Shade/Shift)
A.S. King (Dust of 100 Dogs, Please Ignore Vera Dietz)
Dianne Salerni (We Hear the Dead)
Shannon Delany (13 to Life/Secrets and Shadows/Bargains and Betrayals)
Shelena Shorts (The Pace/The Broken Lake/The Iron Quill)
Ellen Jensen Abbott (Watersmeet, The Centaur's Daughter)
Alissa Grosso (Popular)
Jennifer Murgia (Angel Star/Lemniscate)
Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman (Sirenz)
Sarah Darer Littman (Purge, Life After, Want to Go Private?)
Amy Holder (The Lipstick Laws)
Keri Mikulski (PrettyTOUGH series)
Chelsea Swiggett (Rae)

and there may be a few others joining in too! If you want to RSVP and learn more about it, go to the Facebook page and look around! It will be happening on Saturday, August 27 from 12pm-3pm in West Chester, PA. Check the Facebook page for the exact location.

To prepare for the festival, I'm reviewing a book from the festival every week in August until the festival is here. So keep an eye out for those- they should be happening every Thursday! If I forgot anything, leave your question in the comments and I'll answer it there (and update this post).