Top Ten Books To Read on a Desert Island from Zoraida Cordova, author of The Vicious Deep

Today, as part of the Teen Book Scene tour, I have the pleasure of having Zoraida Cordova on my blog to talk about her top ten must have books when stranded on a deserted island. Ms. Cordova's novel The Vicious Deep will be out soon and is one I certianly can't wait for! So without further ado, here is Zoraida's guide:

Top Ten Books to Read when Stranded on a Desert Island: If you are going to be stranded, may as well find something to pass the time. Just make sure you plan ahead…

#1 would have to be HOW TO SURVIVE ON A DESERT ISLAND. Because, really, if I don't survive, I won't get to read #2-10.

#2 Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, obvi.

#3 A collection of fairy tales from around the world.

#4 The Harry Potter series, because I'll need a little hope to keep me going.

#5 Montana Sky by Nora Roberts. Don't you roll your eyes at me. Deserted islands get lonely.

#6 Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins because every word is beauty.

#7 Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown. Partly because I'd like the company of merpeople. Partly because I'd like to read it before I get stranded. But also because I can't say I want to get stranded with my own mermaids ;)

#8 Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 8 graphic novels. When facing the forces of darkness (strike that), nature, I'd ask myself, What Would Buffy Do?

#9 The Essential Neruda. Pablo Neruda was exiled to an island where he fell in love and wrote poetry. Maybe I'd get the same inspiration.

#10 A blank notebook, to write my own stories.

As I often ask myself "what would Buffy do" and love the Harry Potter series, I think I'm definitely going to use Ms. Cordova's list as a guideline.
 
Make sure to check out The Vicious Deep when it comes out May 1, 2012:

For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave. 

He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. 

Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth. 

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he's heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he's suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods. 

Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea...and now it wants him back.

Thanks to The Teen Book Scene for setting up this tour:

This or That with Jordan Dane, author of On Dark Wing

Today I have Nate from Jordan Dane's On Dark Wing to chat with us! I hope you all enjoy this Q & A This or That style and I hope it gives you some insight!

1) Live or recorded? Live. Always.

2) Love, money or fame? Love. Without it, the rest doesn’t matter.

3) Pen or pencil? Neither. I’d rather be outside.

4) Black, white or grey? White. Reminds me of snow and the mountains.

5) Being able to read minds or fly? Fly. I like being in my own head.

6) Now or then? Now. When I get old, I’ll think about ‘then.’

7) Being stuck with someone you hate or being alone? Alone. Life’s too short.

8) All or nothing? Wow. Tough one. Nothing, I guess. Having it all makes you lazy.

9) Answer or question? Question, always.

10) Night or day? Day

11) Noise or silence? Silence

12) Summer, winter, spring or fall? Tough one. Summer - I like all seasons in Alaska, but summer is killer.

13) See, smell, touch, taste or hear? Oh man. Brutal. I guess SEE. Can’t imagine not being able to see off the peak of a mountain ever again.

14) Call or text? Text, less commitment

15) Old or new? New, maybe.

Thanks so much for stopping by and answering some of my questions. I particularly love the answers to number 13. I knew that was going to be a tough one to answer!

Character Interview with Anita from Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler

Today I have the pleasure of having one of Ann Redisch Stampler's characters on the blog to answer some of my questions! Anita makes an appearance in Where It Began and is one of Gabby's best friends. You must check out this book! I've read it and it's wonderful.

Anita, welcome to the blog! Let's get started!


1) What do you think about Gabby and her accident?

It was a nightmare. One minute Billy Nash looks at her, the next minute she’s lost the ability to think. We all knew what he was like right from the start, there were so many rumors. You don’t want to believe all that gossip, but really, you know that cliché about where there’s smoke, there’s fire? Probably it wouldn’t be such a popular cliché if there wasn’t an element of truth to it.

My mother keeps telling me, you didn’t go to that party, you didn’t get drunk, you didn’t lie down with some terrible American boy. Stop beating yourself on the head with a mallet. This isn’t your fault.

But really, that first day Gabby couldn’t utter a single sentence without the word “Billy,” I wish I’d said something. There are so many times I could have said, “I don’t care if you don’t want to talk about it. Listen to me.”

Because maybe the accident was an avoidable nightmare. Just maybe.

2) Can you tell me a theme song to your life right now and why you chose that one?

“The Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and the Machine. I take is as meaning that you can leave the feeling of not being quite alive behind you, that the possibility of things being different and intense and happy is right there, even if the feeling of it is shocking to you. But you have to run with it.

3) What's your life motto?
Dig your well before you’re thirsty.

It’s something my grandmother says. I’m a planner, there’s no getting around it. It’s supposed to be a good thing, but it isn’t always.

4) What was your last text message?

I’ll be back by 10. I’m with Lisa in the library.

(And I guess something has snapped, because that’s not where I was.)

5) If you could go back and change one day in your life up until now, what would be?

I would tell Alain, this French man I met in India in the summer, how I felt about him. I know that nothing could have come of it, but why didn’t I tell him? Why did I walk out of that restaurant and leave him sitting there watching me leave, and not turn around? Why did I have to be so careful and so practical and so ridiculously in control of myself?

Thanks so much for hanging out on the blog for a while and telling us a little bit about you. A big thanks to Ann Redisch Stampler as well! As I said before, Where It Began is definitely something you need to check out if you love a moving contemporary novel! It was hard to put down.

Character Interview: Mia from The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

Today I've got Mia on the blog from The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams and she's answering some of my burning questions. Check out what she has to say about her favorite kissing scenes and see a playlist that describes her trip to China.

Around the World in 80 Kisses Smooch Stop #30

Mei, thanks so much for stopping by on the blog today!

Thanks so much for having me today . I’m a big fan of your blog!

1) Is there a particular movie, book or comic kissing scene that is your favorite?

I’m a huge fan of movie kisses, so yes, there are a few. For movies, the good-bye kiss at the end of I am Number Four. For book kisses, I love both of the kisses between Cricket and Lola at the end of Lola and the Boy Next Door.

2) What does going to China mean for you? Is there one place you feel like you have to go and visit?

This visit to China means so much. I’m really nervous because I feel like I’m betraying my adoptive parents, but I just want to know where I came from. Who gave me up for adoption? Did they ever regret it? Is being born in China why I always feel like I don’t quite fit in? I want to go to the orphanage I was adopted from.

3) Looking at your suitcase, what are three things you can't live without?

My guitar, my Chinese-English dictionary, my laptop.

4) What is the least text message in your phone?

911! Emergency Meeting at Yogurt Worxx stat. (from Piper, of course).

5) Can you give me a playlist of about five songs that describe your trip to China?

• Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran (I starved for the first half of my trip. Literally, starved)
• Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix (You have to read the story to figure this one out)
• Skater Boy by Avril Lavigne (Ode to Guiran)
• Steal My Kisses by Ben Harper (Self-explanatory, I think ;)
• Learning To Fly by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (I think this fits my whole trip to China)

6) What's your motto to live by?

Study Hard, Play Harder.

Thanks so much for having me!

Pleasure was all mine! So I want to know from the readers, what are three things you must pack when going on a trip?

Thanks to:

Book Review: The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams


Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Walker Childrens (January 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802723187
ISBN-13: 978-0802723185
Series: No
Source: ARC from The Teen Book Scene
Cover: I'm honestly not sure how this cover could be any cuter! I love that each girl has her own picture and they are all showing the personalities in them. I get a sense of who they are just by their little square. It perfectly fits the fun, flirty voice inside!
First Sentence: "She couldn't believe she was doing this."


Mini-review: Fun, flirty novel about the meaning of friendship with a fair amount of spine-tingling smooching!


Summary:

Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. And they've always agreed on one goal: to get out of tiny Paris, Texas, and see the world. The school's foreign exchange program seems like the perfect escape: Piper will go to the original Paris; Mei will go to China; Cassidy will go to Australia; and Izzy, unable to afford the program, will stay at home. To add spice to their semester away, and to stay connected to their best friends, the girls start The International Kissing Club, a Facebook page where they can anonymously update one another and brag about all the amazing guys they're meeting. After all, these girls are traveling abroad: amazing guys abound at every turn! But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return from abroad the same person you were. Will the girls' relationships-and their friendships-be able to survive?

Review: 


Fun, flirty and with a very liberal amount of kissing spread through out, The International Kissing Club is an adorable novel exploring the farthest reaches of friendship. Told in the third person following four best friends as they go their separate ways in the student exchange program, The International Kissing Club is an easy read with something for everyone.


The four friends in this novel are different from each other in all the best ways but love each other so fiercely that they can get through anything. Piper is the artist with a flair for the dramatics and more than a little boy crazy, Mei is the practical brainy star student, Cassidy is the sports guru and Izzy is the green friendly hippie. Following each of these girls around the world was a pleasure as they all had life lessons to learn. I originally thought I'd identify with Piper but I ended up really liking Izzy which is odd since I'm so not like her. I like how each character was stretched to their limit and forced to change in order to help them when the got back into town.


Ivy Adams is a pen name for three separate authors who came together to write this book. I always find author collaborations interesting so this was no exception. I could tell where one author started and the other ended. As a result, I felt like I got the best of each author in the prose. I've made it no secret that I'm not a fan of third person but this one was done well enough that it didn't bother me, I liked that the voice stayedconsistent throughout each chapter yet it was also tailored to the person the narrator was following. For instance, Mei's chapters had very sensible metaphors whereas Piper's were a bit more dreamy. The voice overall kept a fun light tone, even when the girls were learning some serious life lessons.


The plot was quite good. I couldn't figure out where the story was going until it finally got there. I do wish the chapters hadn't jumped around so much. One chapter Piper had landed in Paris (France) and in her next one she'd been there for almost four weeks. I felt like sometimes we were just told things instead of actually shown them which did get me a bit frustrated. For instance, Mei talks about these two mean girls but we only ever see them in a scene once and supposedly they terrorize her for the rest of her trip. Regardless, I really liked the concept for this book. The girls used a social media site to try to stay closer together and I liked that at the end of each chapter we got to see the Facebook page and some of its updates. It was definitely one of the highlights for me.


Germaine was deliciously evil. I couldn't believe what happens to poor Piper in the beginning of the novel and how Germaine is able to get the friends again. My biggest thing is that I wanted to see Germaine punished and she wasn't. I know in real life sometimes the bad guys win but I like my fiction to give the baddies a huge dose of their own medicine and I didn't see the happen to her. I really wish it would have. I dealt with her evilness only because I knew she had it coming but then she never got hers. It made me sad.


The destinations were glamorous which I loved and the kissing scenes were knock-your-socks off good! I really liked all the guys the girls kissed. I think my favorite smooch goes to Mei (though I could be biased as she is stopping by the blog a bit later on). I knew that some of the relationships had to end because they were all foreign exchange students but I didn't know which ones I wanted that to happen for. I liked them all so much! I also liked the humor in this story because they mention The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants which was what came to my mind when I read the summary for this novel.


The International Kissing Club utilizes a fun, flirty voice to tell a great story about the bonds of friendship and how far they can stretch. There's a character for everyone to identify with and plenty of sexy smooching to keep the pace going. While it did have a few snags for me, I have to say that over all I really enjoyed it. I'd defintiely "like" The IKC Facebook page any day of the week!

Rating:


Favorite Quotes:

And then every last coherent thought she had suddenly floated away when his mouth touched hers. Warm and gentle lips slanted across her own, easing all the tension from her body into the shifting sand beneath.--Pg. 135

One thing was certain--regardless of what Autumn or River thought, she certainly hadn't smothered him. She had more follow through than that. If she'd smothered him, he'd be dead by now.--Pg. 142 

"Hey, no one told you to strip," she answered indignantly./ "Well I couldn't let you get arrested on your own, could I? You wouldn't last a minute in a Chinese prison."--Pg. 218

And then, she kissed the pig.--Pg. 378

Around the World in 80 Kisses: Smooch Stop #8

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams is the story of four best friends: Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy--the misfits of Paris, Texas. Their whole lives, they’ve dreamed of escaping small-town life and seeing the world. So when Piper is the victim of an embarrassing prank that goes viral online, she gets the idea that the girls should escape via the school’s international exchange program, in search of fun, love and internet redemption.

Ivy Adams is the psuedonym for three friends and writing partners: Emily McKay, Shellee Roberts and Tracy Deebs. They shop, gossip and watch movies in Austin, Texas.

Leave a comment (with your email so we can contact you) to be entered to win the Around the World In 80 Kisses daily and weekly prize and also become eligible to win the Grand Prize, a Kindle Fire. For a list of all our Smooch Posts you can visit and earn more entries to win, visit us here.

Next Smooch Stop: Tuesday, December 6th at Mel’s Books and Info

Cover Interview with Leila Sales, author of Past Perfect

Look at that cover! Isn't it gorgeous? The moment I saw that cover, I was immediately intrigued and wanted to know more about this novel. Well, today Leila Sales is here to talk a little bit about what she thinks of the cover to her new novel Past Perfect. Please give her a big welcome!

1) Did you have any ideas about a cover before you saw yours? 

I knew I didn’t want it to look “goofy.” PAST PERFECT is about a modern girl who works in a living history village for her summer job. I didn’t want the cover to be, like, a girl in petticoats with sneakers peeking out. That felt goofy to me. And I didn’t want it to look like a historical fiction, or a book about time travel, since it is neither of those. I didn’t have ideas about what I wanted it to look like, but I had many ideas about what I DIDN’T want it to look like.

2) What was the first thought that popped into your head when you opened the file?

“My editor must have sent me the wrong file.” Seriously. The cover image is really cute, but it doesn’t reference anything about the events of the book. As far as we know, it rains once during the entire summer, and Chelsea does not go outside in it. I didn’t think the cover was bad-looking. I just thought it was a mistake.

3) What's your favorite thing about it?

I love how PAST PERFECT looks next to MOSTLY GOOD GIRLS. They have a similar appealing aesthetic, while still being clearly two separate books with two separate settings. I’ve spent a lot of time lining them up on my bookshelf next to each other. They are getting to be close friends.

4) If you could change one thing, what would it be and why?

I think Chelsea’s raincoat looks too heavy. The whole book, she talks about how unbelievably hot Virginia is in the summertime. The raincoat is stylish—like, I would wear the hell out of that coat—but I would wear the hell out of it in October. Not July.

5) Is the model how you pictured Chelsea?

All I say about Chelsea in the book is that she has brown hair and blue eyes, so I think the cover model looks right. I have brown hair and blue eyes, too, which has sometimes (like when I was working as a Colonial interpreter, and when I’ve visited England and Ireland) caused people to think that I am of Irish heritage. I guess brown hair, blue eyes, and pale skin is a classic Irish look. So that’s why I gave that look to Chelsea, too. (I'm so flippin' jealous of the going to Ireland thing)

6) Which other YA cover would by your cover's best friend? (i.e. which one is similar to yours or would compliment it?)

This is a really hard question! I’m kind of thinking the AUDREY, WAIT! hardcover. It, too, had a lone girl standing against a designed (instead of photographic) background, and it also had some hot pink going on. I don’t know, though—there are a lot of options out there! Can my cover be very popular and have lots of best friends? (Heck yeah, this cover can be the most popular girl in school!)

Thanks so much for joining us today. Before we go, I wanted to remind you what this novel is about!

Past Perfect by Leila Sales

All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.

Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….

Big thanks to:

Courtney King Walker's, author of On The Fringe, Tens List

Courtney King Walker is taking about her top ten Favorite Literary characters. I feel like you can learn a lot about a person by who they love.  I hope you enjoy!

Top Ten Favorite Fictional Characters:

10. Wesley, The Princess Bride

9. Ron Weasley, Harry Potter

8. Phoebe Caulfield, The Catcher in the Rye

7. Edmond Dantes, The Count of Monte Cristo

6. Minny, The Help

5. Dumbledore, Harry Potter

4. Enzo, The Art of Racing in the Rain

3. Holling Hoodhood, The Wednesday Wars

2. Scout Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird

1. Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables 

I know that I love Wesley. Growing up, he was my ideal man! I'm sure several Harry Potter characters would have made my list too!

Thanks so much Courtney for sharing your favorite characters to love with us today. Here's a refresher of just what to expect of On The Fringe:

On The Fringe by Courtney King Walker

Claire is struggling to overcome the murder of her childhood friend and secret crush, Daniel. Everyone else seems to be moving on with their lives, but she's still trying to cope. The fact that she finds herself alone and drowning on her 16th birthday isn't helping. 

Neither is thinking she sees Daniel's face in murky water as she mysteriously resurfaces. But something happened during those four and a half minutes that will make her realize it was not just her imagination. 

As Claire and Daniel try to grasp a possible reconnection, other grudge-holding beings have plans of their own. Now, the two of them have to decide if their fleeting relationship is worth the possibility of Claire being trapped on the fringe forever. 

Beautifully told, On the Fringe intertwines fresh ideas about devotion, revenge, and the consequences that come with life and death.

Big thanks to:

Guest Post: Michael Griffo's, author of Unwelcome, Tens List

I've got Michael Griffo, author of the Archangel Academy, on the blog today! We're talking Top Tens. I know i'm only supposed to pick one list but Mr. Griffo actually answered all three of my topic so I'm going to share two with you!


Top Ten Movies of 2011

Hanna – favorite movie of the year starring Saoirse Ronan!!!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Bad Teacher

Dream House – I haven’t even seen it yet, but I love Daniel Craig and it looks incredibly creepy!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 

Thor

X Men: First Class

Jane Eyre 

Bridesmaids

Cowboys and Aliens

Top Ten Thing Not To Do With Your Eyes Closed

Drive
Eat (You never know what someone will put on your plate!)
Watch a movie
Read
Cross a busy street
Go on a date (always good to see your date’s face)
Sit in class (your teacher might think you’re sleeping and that’s never good)
Dance (trust me, you’ll knock someone over – I have!)
Go to a museum
Kiss (try it, it’s fun!)


Thanks so much to Michael Griffo for sharing some Top Tens with us! If you haven't already, make sure to check out his novel Unnatural and the newest addition Unwelcome in stores!

Big thanks to:

Character Interview: Kat from Frost by Wendy Delsol

Today, I've got Kat from Stork and Frost by Wendy Delsol on the blog! We're here to talk a little bit about everything with Kat from her favorite myth as a child to which star she'd like to dress and why! In case you haven't read about Kat's adventures yet, Id suggest doing so. Hopefully meeting her will help make up your minds!

Kat, thanks for coming on the blog today!

Kat Leblanc here. You know, human Stork. My friend Amber over at Down the Rabbit Hole had some fun questions for me. So fun, I just had to share.

1) Kat, in your adventures, you hear a lot of stories. Will you tell us your favorite story/myth as a girl?

As a girl, I couldn’t hear enough or watch enough of Cinderella. The gown, the makeover, the dreamy prince. It’s a little embarrassing now, but I had some serious fan-girl stuff going on. I even crammed my foot into an empty pickle jar to simulate the whole glass-slipper experience. Like trouble, it was easier get in than out. And forget duct tape, it’s Vaseline that has 1001 uses.

2) You grew up around your French grandmother but had a lot of Nordic background there too. What is your favorite French word? Nordic word? Why?

Pamplemousse is French for grapefruit. Isn’t that a great word? And at least it’s distinctive. Our English word makes no sense; the tiny grape has nothing to do with the rock-heavy member of the citrus family.

A Nordic word, hmmm. My grandfather, my afi, once had a wiry-haired old dog named Igull, which he said was Icelandic for porcupine. That dog had a personality as prickly as its namesake, but he was a good guard dog and could howl the Ee-I-Ee-I-Oh of Old MacDonald Had a Farm.

3) What's your idea of a perfect day?

A year ago I’d have said it was shopping on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. But nowadays I’d have to say hanging out with my boyfriend, Jack. He’s the outdoorsy type and likes nothing more than a hike up some hill or through some state park. Given the right weather, this combination of fresh air, pretty scenery, and the buddy system does make for an ideal day.

4) You're designing a gown for your favorite actress. Who is the star, what does the dress look like and why did you choose the color/style you did?

So which under-a-rock dweller out there hasn’t heard that Jennifer Lawrence is going to play Katniss Eberdeen in the Hunger Games movie? When she walks the red carpet and picks up her first Oscar, I’ve got just the dress for her. Red, naturally. I’m thinking off-the-shoulder and hip-hugging with a flared, full-length swisher of a ruched hemline. And how cool would it be for one Kat to dress another!

5) If you could pick any fictional character in the world and get to spend a day in their life, who are you choosing and why?

Hmmm. Good question. I’m thinking Hermione Granger. It’d be fun to live at Hogwarts for a day. I think Harry would be fun to hang with, as would Ron. And I’d have a crack at both Hermione’s hair (I’m packing a flat iron) and robes (I’m bringing belts). Now that I’m on the HP subject, wouldn’t Dumbledore and my Hulda make a cute couple??? (I'm pretty much pretending it's so even though Dumbledore is gay.)

6) What's the last text in your cellphone?

U left the milk out again. (from my mom, of course)

7) I know you hate the whole "capping" thing for the Stork Society. If you could change it to some other magical way to communicate, what would the new message be?

Twitter, naturally. It’s not magical, but at least it’s bird themed. I’d just love to send Fru Grimilla an @ message, something along the lines of: @thepeacock Hey soul sistah, C U 2night 4 another gulls night out. Same time, same place.

Note regarding the little blue bird twitter icon: Has anyone else heard that his name is Larry? Larry? So not a good bird name. Come on Twitterverse, we can come up with something better than Larry. Is Tweety Bird copyrighted? 

Big thanks to Kat and Wendy Delsol for coming on my blog! Here's a brief bio about Frost:

Frost by Wendy Delsol

In this sequel to STORK, Katla Leblanc has to employ her grit, spirit, and special gifts to rescue the boy she loves.

After the drama of finding out that she’s a Stork, a member of an ancient and mystical order of women, and that her boyfriend, Jack, is a descendent of the Winter People able to control the weather, Katla Leblanc is delighted when all signs point to a busy and peaceful Christmas. That is, until the snowstorm Jack summons as a gift to Katla turns into the storm of the century, attracting Brigid, a gorgeous scientist who, in turn, attracts Jack. Between the school play, a bedridden, pregnant mother’s to-do lists, and keeping an eye on her aging grandfather, Katla doesn’t have time to question Brigid’s motives or deal with Jack’s increasingly cold behavior. But Katla’s suspicions mount when Jack joins Brigid on a research expedition to Greenland, and when the two of them go missing, it becomes clear that Katla is the only one who can save her beloved Jack from the Snow Queen who holds him prisoner. Adventure, romance, and myth combine in this winter escapade for teens who like a bit of fire with their ice.

Big thanks to: 

Interview & Giveaway: Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed In Blood

So first, it should be known that I screwed this post up. The wonderful Kendare Blake gave me this awesome interview where she answered my questions with book quotes (no easy feat I imagine) and I just forgot to post it. Because of that, we get a special after the date sort of thing going on here AND I'm giving away a finished copy of this super fabulous amazing novel at the end of the interview since I deprived you all of it on the original date.

I'd like to welcome the amazing Kendare Blake to the blog! Today, I'm asking some questions and she is answering them with book quotes! Hope you enjoy!

1) What is ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD about at its heart?

I don’t particularly like being a leader. I don’t have much practice at it, and I’m much more comfortable risking just my own skin. But this is it. There’s no time for excuses or second-guessing. In the thousand ways I pictured this going down, I could never have imagined it like this. Still, it’s nice that I’m not fighting alone.

2) What do you like to do for fun?

He hunkers lower as the food arrives, two plates of circular mystery, one deep fried and the other covered in small orange dots. “Try some,” he says.

            “What is it?”

            “Philadelphia roll.”

            I eye the plate skeptically. “What’s that orange stuff?”

            “Cod roe.”

            “What the hell is cod roe?”

            “Cod eggs.”

            “No thanks.” I’m so glad there’s a McDonald’s across the street. Fish eggs. Who the hell is this kid?

(I like to try new food.)

3) What is one thing you and Cas have in common?

She clears her throat and does her best to start, laying out the technical specs of last year’s party: who was there; what they were doing; why they came with this or that person. I guess she wants me to have a full and realistic picture. Some people need that, I suppose. Personally, I’m the type who likes to fill in the blanks and make it my own. It’s probably better that way than it really was.

4) What's the best way to cure the blues?

It’s what I’ve been missing, and I think Will was a blessing in disguise. This is what I’m after: this edge, this living on the balls of my feet. I can see everything in an instant: that Thomas is genuinely thinking about how to protect Carmel, and that Will is trying to work up the nerve to try something himself, to prove that I’m not the only one who can do this.

5) Cas takes over his father's business which is an incredibly dangerous vocation. If you hear a noise outside the house are you running out to investigate or running up the stairs to hide under the bed?

I’d like to leave now. I’d very much like to leave now. The hairs are up on the back of my neck and my teeth would chatter if I wasn’t clenching so hard. Given the choice between fight or flight, I would choose to dive out the window, knife in my hand or not. Instead I turn and pivot closer to my mom, putting me in between her and the open door.

Thanks so much to Ms. Blake for answering my questions! I love the answer to the last one. I'm not as brave as Cas and her but I'm glad there are people out there that would be willing to stick by me in an incident. Anna Dressed In Blood was a super fun read and one I think you should definitely check out. In fact, I'd like to give one of you a copy. 

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