4 Signed Copies (2 of each) will be given away on February 6, 2009
Guess what! We nabbed an exclusive interview with Gallagher Girls author, Ally Carter! In this podcast, Ally shares her top secret stories about how the Gallagher Girls novels came to be! Listen here!
The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school—that is, if every school teaches advanced martial arts in PE, chemistry always consists of the latest in chemical warfare, and everyone breaks CIA codes for extra credit in computer class. So in truth, while the Gallagher Academy might say it's a school for geniuses what they really mean is spies. But what happens when a Gallagher Girl falls for a boy who doesn't have a code name?
Cammie Morgan may be fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti), but the Gallagher Academy hasn't prepared her for what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without him ever being the wiser, but can she have a regular relationship with a regular boy who can never know the truth about her? Cammie may be an elite spy in training, but in her sophomore year, she's doing something riskier than ever—she's falling in love.
Cammie Morgan may have a genius IQ and attend the best school in the country, but as she starts the spring semester of her sophomore year there are a lot of things she doesn't know. Like will her ex-boyfriend even remember she exists? And how much trouble did she really get in last semester? And, most of all, exactly why is her mother acting so strangely?
All Cammie wants is a nice, normal semester, but she's about to learn her greatest lesson yet—that when you go to a school for spies, nothing is ever as it seems.
About the Author:
Ally Carter is a writer living and working in the Midwest. She loved school so much she kept going...and going...and going...until finally she had to graduate. Now she has degrees from Oklahoma State University and Cornell University and a house and a job and other very grown-up things. Her life is either very ordinary or the best deep-cover legend ever. She'd tell you more, but...well...you know...
5 Signed Copies will be given away on January 30, 2009
This week our exclusive author interview podcast is on FBF Teens!
Listen to author Beckie Weinheimer talk about her experiences growing up in a strict fundamentalist religion and how it shaped her main character and her novel. Listen here!
Synopsis:
Kate was raised in the Church of the Holy Divine--it's influenced everything in her life from her homeschooling to her ugly handmade clothes. But ever since the death of her nonreligious father, Kate has suspected there's more to life than memorizing Bible passages.
Taking advantage of a move to a new town, Kate--to her devout mother's horror--quits the Holy Divine. She replaces it with the cross country team at her public school, her father's beloved book collection and services at a tradional Christian church. But these new diversions don't bring all the answers she's looking for. And as Kate struggles to come to terms with her father's death and her mother's blind allegiance to the Holy Divine, she discovers there's a big difference between religion and faith--and that the two don't always go hand in hand. Viking Books 2007
About the Author:
Beckie Weinheimer lives in New York City with her husband. She has two adult daughters. When she isn't writing or emailing she likes to take walks in the wooded park near her home, listen to books on her Iphone, watch movies with her husband, shop at local green markets, street fairs, and hunt for bargain clothing. She loves to travel and swim in very cold oceans. She finds cleaning to be therapeutic! Need your tub scrubbed?
We're giving away 5 signed copies on January 23, 2009!
Synopsis:
What happens when two besties...become full-blown worsties?
Avalon Greene Rules the fashion scene at her sunny SoCal middle school with a diamond-clad fist, giving props to classmates for their fashion-do's and calling them out for their most unfortunate clothes-pas. She's determined to host the social event of the season—a soiree in honor of her forever-friendship with Halley! Unfortunately, Halley's new look is one thing Avalon just can't celebrate.
Halley Brandon Just back from art camp, Halley can't wait to share her funky new style with her best friend, Avalon. But when Avalon cries fashion foul, Halley realizes her best friend's true colors may clash with her own. Has their ultra-fabulous friendship finally gone out of style?
From sharing custody of their puppy, Pucci, to drawing up a list of who gets which friends, Avalon and Halley discover what happens when you battle the person who knows everything about you—and isn't afraid to use your secrets to get what she wants.
Also check out the next book in the Frenemies series: Faketastic. In stores now!
Read Free Book Friday's exclusive interview with Frenemies and Faketastic author, Alexa Young!
1) Okay, let’s be honest here. Have you personally ever had a frenemy? If yes, can you tell us what caused you to go from best friends to worst enemies?
Of course. In fact, I haven’t just had a frenemy, I have had FRENEMIES, plural! In my experience, the closer the friendship, the more intense the feelings. When you care that deeply about someone, the tiniest things can cause upsets. For instance, if I’m just casual friends with you, it’s not going to bother me if you flake on our plans for the weekend. But if you’re my BEST FRIEND, I need you there…I want you there…I can’t live without you there! Cancel on me and suddenly it’s World War III! I’m pissed. I’m hurt. I’m angry. And I’m going to make you pay! I know that sounds kind of crazy, but I think really close friendships can be as complicated as, if not more complicated than, romantic relationships. As for what caused the rifts and/or led to breakups? Oftentimes, like Halley and Avalon in the series, my closest friends and I simply became different people (or maybe we never had enough in common to begin with!). Sometimes that meant we just drifted apart—hanging out with different people and exploring different extra-curricular activities or taking different classes at school—and other times, it meant out-and-out hate. I recall a few specific friendships that have gotten ugly when guys entered the picture—especially when my friends were dating…um…LOSERS! Of course, I was a total late-bloomer, so a lot of the time I felt incredibly inferior and insecure around my friends who were doing things before me (like dating and all that that entails). Instead of being excited for them or finding ways for us to grow as friends, I would put up a wall and/or judge them harshly for doing something different. I know that sounds horrible—and in some ways it was. But sometimes—if, say, the friend ditched me so she could go hook up with her boyfriend—I think I was justified in being upset. Right? Right?!
2) Halley and Avalon are both fashion OBSESSED! Did you have to do a lot of research to learn about the trends or are you a secret fashion junkie yourself?
Honestly, familiarizing myself with the world of fashion has been one of the biggest challenges for me in writing this series. Sure, I read the magazines and I LOVE UsWeekly’s Fashion Police and some of the fashion-forward TV shows, but let’s just say I spend a lot of time shopping online for Halley and Avalon. It’s actually become pretty fun—like playing dress-up with dolls. I get to shop for clothes for my characters without having to actually pay for them!
3) What's your strangest writing quirk or habit? Something that would make all of us go, "huh?" Hmmm. I guess the strangest thing is that I MUST write at my computer, in my home office, without any distractions. I’m not one of those artsy creative writer types who can head off to remote locations with my laptop, surrounding myself with the sights, sounds and smells of the world around me—the beach, the local Starbucks, whatever. In fact, I can’t stand laptops. I need my desktop! I also find I have a much easier time writing when I’m barefoot. Actually, I’m more comfortable doing most things when I’m barefoot. Totally odd, I know, but ever since I started working from home, I stopped wearing shoes. I only wear them when absolutely necessary—like when I go out in public.
4) I have to throw in one non-writing related question. If you could choose one dessert or snack food that you could eat as much as you want of (and never gain an ounce!) what would it be?
Chocolate. Preferably dark chocolate. With almonds. But really any chocolate will do.
5) Is there more in store for Halley and Avalon after Faketastic? Any chance they’ll end up on the big screen? Or even our small Plasma/LCD flat screens?
I’m just wrapping up book three in the series—GLAMNESIA—wherein the girls head out of town for some Fashion Week fun. So, they’re meeting models and designers and even getting to live their dream of doing a little designing themselves (it’s all very Project Runway!)—all while trying to keep from killing each other. I would love to see the series wind up on TV (more than as a movie, I think). It hasn’t been optioned yet, but I’m patiently waiting for that call! :-)
About the Author:
Alexa Young is the author of Frenemies and the recent release, Faketastic. She grew up in the same town as the Julie Cooper character of The O.C., also known as Riverside, California. Now she lives and writes in Los Angeles. Visit her website at: www.AlexaYoung.com
We're giving away 3 signed copies on January 16, 2009
Synopsis:
Brittany Ellis is a popular girl from the wealthy side of the Chicago suburbs who appears to have the perfect life. Alex Fuentes seems to be your typical bad-boy, from the wrong side of town, involved in a dangerous Latino gang. Like star-crossed lovers in modern times, Brittany and Alex are brought together despite having all of the odds stacked against them—different races, social statuses, friends, lifestyles, families, and neighborhoods—and they come to learn the raw reality that nothing in life is ever as it seems, while falling fast in love. As they fight to break the stereotypes that define them, they face tough challenges: pressure from peers to stick to their own “kind,” disapproval from their parents, and perhaps most dangerously for Alex the entanglement of gang life and his desire to break free from those perilous ties.
Book Trailer:
Simone has produced an amazing Book Trailer/Rap Video for Perfect Chemistry. Take a look!
Check out Free Book Friday's exclusive interview with author Simone Elkeles!
1) Okay, I have to ask about the trailer first because everyone is talking about it. It’s definitely not your average book trailer. It’s a rap video! Where did you get the idea to do that?
In the 90’s I was a big fan of the hit television show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air with Will Smith and I loved the rap theme song. It was entertaining, funny, and told the backstory of the character. I’d had book trailers done for two of my books, but they were just still pictures with words and music. For Perfect Chemistry, I wanted to do something to have my book trailer stand out. I didn’t want it to be like any other book trailer out there, and I needed something funny that would grab teens’ attention and hopefully be viral. A rap video was the perfect solution! So I hired Chris LoDuca (a Chicago director), and he helped me hire a cast of actors. The rap was mostly written by Chris, with a little bit of tweaking from me. It’s definitely a parody of my book (Brittany and Alex are portrayed in the rap as stereotypes), but it’s funny and I’ve gotten many emails from teens who love the rap and have even downloaded it to their iPods. You can watch it and download it from my website at www.simoneelkeles.net and I’ve also posted it on YouTube. The “making of” video outtakes are really funny, too.
2) I read on your website that PERFECT CHEMISTRY has been a passion project of yours, working on it off and on between other projects for five years! Why is this story so special for you?
Perfect Chemistry was the first teen novel I ever wrote. A lot of energy and effort and research went into the book. I sold How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, How to Ruin my Teenage Life and Leaving Paradise…but I still had Perfect Chemistry (then titled Zero Tolerance) that I’d been working on for five years on and off. When an author has worked for so long writing a novel, the characters are a part of their life. That’s why it was so important for me to sell it and share it with the world. I knew teens would go crazy for Perfect Chemistry, and from the response so far (within two weeks Barnes & Noble had to double their initial order at my publisher because they’d almost sold out) has been incredible. It’s a beautiful classic romance like West Side Story or Romeo and Juliet…but it’s contemporary and different at the same time.
3) What’s the first thing you do when starting a new book?
I stare at the blank screen and wonder how in the world I’m going to fill up 300 or 350 blank pages with my words. Then I just start writing Chapter 1. I don’t use an outline, I just write. I kind of “meet the characters” as I’m writing their scenes, and sometimes what my characters do surprise me. Yeah, I know that’s strange but all writers are at least a little bit weird.
4) What’s the first think you do when finishing a new book?
Oh, that’s easy. I go out for sushi to celebrate! Then I think about the next book I want to write.
5) Which fictional character do you have a secret crush on?
I guess I have a crush on all of my main male characters I’ve created (I guess it’s only natural because I’ve spent the most time with these “guys” than any other fictional characters). Avi from How to Ruin a Summer Vacation/How to Ruin my Teenage Life because he’s so tough and wants to protect Amy and he loves her despite her being a drama queen and have a bunch of faults. Caleb from Leaving Paradise because he’ll stick up for Maggie in front of the bullies and loves her even though it’s forbidden and she’s not a typical beautiful girl on the outside…in fact she’s quite plain. And Alex in Perfect Chemistry because he’s such a tough guy on the outside but on the inside he’s a guy who will do the right thing for the girl he loves. And he’ll risk his life to be with her, even if it means he might die. I’m a total romantic, so any romantic character (who has to be tough – I only like type A personalities in my fictional male characters) I pretty much fall for and have a crush on. From the fan mail I get, my readers feel the same way and wish my male lead characters were real people. Oh, how I wish I could really bring them to life
About the Author:
Simone Elkeles is an award winning author of teen novels. Critics and fans alike adore her stories for their realistic depiction of teenage angst and drama. Her first three YA novels, How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, How to Ruin my Teenage Life, and Leaving Paradise, earned her a gamut of honorable distinctions including the 2008 RITA finalist, 2007 Book Sense pick, 2008 Illinois Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English, 2007 top ten teen book pick for YALSA, and a 2008 Notable Teen Read by AJL, among many others.
For more information about Simone and her novels please visit: www.SimoneElkeles.net
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That's right. Each week, we feature a new young adult author with an exclusive author interview podcast or written Q&A and host a drawing to win free signed copies of his/her book.
All you have to do to enter to win each week is sign up using the entry form on the left sidebar. Winners are chosen at random and posted on the site every Friday morning. Hence the name, "Free Book Friday!"
Free Book Friday was created by Jessica Brody, author of two adult novels and her brand new young adult novel, THE KARMA CLUB, about three girls who decide to take Karma into their own hands by getting revenge on the ex-boyfriends who broke their hearts. To view the award-winning book trailers and read excerpts, visit her website at:
www.JessicaBrody.com
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Although everyone is welcome to enjoy the content on our site, for the time being, the free book giveaways are limited only to those with US and Canadian mailing addresses as FBF pays for all shipping costs.
Guess what! We nabbed an exclusive interview with Gallagher Girls author, Ally Carter! In this podcast, Ally shares her top secret stories about how the Gallagher Girls novels came to be! Listen here!
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