Blogger Invitation: LDS Booksellers Association

The LDS Booksellers Association (LDSBA) would like to extend an invitation to LDS Bloggers to attend various events associated with their annual Convention, Aug. 7-10, 2012 at the South Towne Exposition Center in Sandy, Utah. For those interested in attending, please review the information on this site: http://ldsretailers.blogspot.com/2012/06/lds-bookseller-association-convention.html.

Choose up to $50 in merchandise from GoneReading! Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop!!

Welcome to the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Katie @ Mundie Moms

June 29th to July 5th

My Giveaway

Choose up to $50 in merchandise from GoneReading!  This site is perfect for book lovers!!

Browse their selection of reading-themed merchandise, including their adorable t-shirts, bookmarks, book journals and hundreds of other products for book lovers.  Not only do they have great merchandise, but they donate 100% of their after-tax profits to fund libraries in the developing world.  Check out their philanthropic mission!

And most appropriately for our Freedom to Read Giveaway, GoneReading products always ship free to U.S. Armed Forces serving abroad.  Simply select “U.S. Armed Forces” as the destination country and enter your APO/FPO address as the shipping destination.

TO ENTER:
The only requirement to enter is that you subscribe to their email list (signup form is at the bottom left hand corner of every page on their website).  Subscribers can opt out at any time, and they never rent, sell or release your email to anyone.  You can expect 1-2 emails per month with new products and news about GoneReading. Open Internationally.



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Each of these blogs is hosting a giveaway as part of this giveaway hop.

Blog Tour: Author Interview Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt

Welcome back to author Lindsey Leavitt

Lindsey Leavitt is a former elementary school teacher and present-day writer/mom to three (mostly) adorable little girls. She is married to her high-school lab partner and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is the author of the PRINCESS FOR HIRE series and SEAN GRISWOLD’S HEAD.She also feels weird writing about herself in third person.

http://lindseyleavitt.com/



Interview

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
Past! And I would take vaccinations and antibiotics with me, and all I would ask in return would be to name all their children and children’s children LINDSEY LEAVITT, thus taking over the world before I was even born.

What is one book everyone should read?
To Kill A Mockingbird. I don’t think there is another book that better explores humanity and redemption, and I love that it’s an adult book with children as central characters. 

Night owl, or early bird?
Night owl by nature, but the older I get, the less stamina I have. I used to write into the wee hours of the night, now I’m lucky if I can make it to midnight, maybe one if I’m on a crazy deadline. I am awful at waking up in the morning, no matter how much sleep I’ve had. I even set two alarm clocks and usually have my kids come jump on me.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? 
Absolutely! I have a book coming out in spring 2013 called GOING VINTAGE, about a girl who, after her boyfriend cheats on her with an online wife, gives up modern technology and lives like it’s 1962, accomplishing goals her grandmother set at 16. It was a VERY fun book to write and I’m so excited for the release. Beyond that, I’m working on another contemporary story that releases in 2014. I can’t say much about it now, because I don’t know much ☺ I also have another mid-grade idea that I would love to dive into once I have the time. That might be awhile.

Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt


Desi Bascomb is a princess substitute prodigy--she's the fastest employee ever to advance to level three in the Facade Agency, and the youngest to ever be a full-time sub. But now with all eyes on Desi, the only thing she wants is a moment alone to talk to Reed, who's a Facade legacy and secretly a sub for princes As Desi trains for her new role, she spies more than a few cracks in Facade's perfect appearance. But uncovering the agency's dark past might require more than a princess sub can handle by herself. Desi is no damsel in distress, but sometimes a girl needs a knight in shining armor

Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop Sign Ups

Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop

July 27th to August 1st

Hosted by Colorimety & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Hop Rules 

You must host a giveaway on your site, you are responsible for obtaining a prize for giveaway and taking care of the shipping charges. 

You must giveaway something a reader, author or blogger would enjoy. 

Your giveaway post must include the hop image & linky (or links to the hosts' sites if you can't get the linky to work). 

Please only 1 mandatory entry - Keep it simple!  No long list of things for people to do to enter.

Your post must be live by 12:01 EST on July 27th. (That is 9 pm July 26th if you live in California) 

The giveaway must be specifically for this hop. 

Your site must be family friendly - no erotica or 18+ sites. Your site & giveaway must be free of steamy images and book covers. If it would embarrass me to have my teenagers see it, it can't be on your site. 

It is your responsibility to check the linky on July 27th to be sure you are still on the linky and that your link is accurate. Please send me a direct link to your post when it goes live. 

If you are using Rafflecopter set it to begin on JULY 26th and to end on AUGUST 2nd. Do not use the point values +4, +5, +10 + 25, etc.

To sign up to host a giveaway add your blog to the linky with your shipping info in parenthesis following your blog name (US), (US/Can) (Int).  If you forget I will assume your giveaway is open to US only and add (US) after your name. 

Author Interview & Book Giveaway: The Secret Spies and the Cat Lady Killer by Lisa Orchard

Welcome to Author Lisa Orchard

Lisa Orchard grew up loving books. Her debut novel “The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer,” is a suspenseful thriller about young girls thrust into a situation and the choices they make. The setting is Harrisburg, a small town in Michigan, much like the town where Lisa grew up. Many of her characters’ adventures stem from her exploits as a young teen. After graduating from Central Michigan University with a Marketing Degree she spent many years in the insurance industry, pining to express her creative side. The decision to stay home with her children gave her the opportunity to follow her dream and become a writer. She currently resides in Rockford Michigan with her husband, Steve, and two wonderful boys. Currently, she’s working on the second novel that stars the same quirky teens, and she hopes to turn the Super Spies into a series. When she’s not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, running, hiking, and reading.

 
http://www.lisaorchard.com/ 

https://twitter.com/#!/lisaorchard1

Interview: 
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book?
I would say you should read my book because it’s very suspenseful and will keep you turning the pages, along with the fact that there are life lessons included in the story that everyone should learn.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
Yes, the second book in the Super Spies series will be available sometime this summer, and it’s a doozie!

Night Owl or Early Bird?
This question makes me laugh, because before I had kids I was a “died in the wool” Night Owl. But since having kids I’ve had to become an Early Bird because they just won’t let me sleep in!  LOL!

Tell us the most rewarding experience you’ve had since being published.
This one is a toughie because I’ve had so many! But the one that stands out in my mind would have to be my first 5 star review from someone I didn’t know. When I was first published I received 5 star reviews, but they were from my friends and my MOM! J And I appreciated them, but I knew they would give me a good review because they’re my family and friends. So, when I got my first 5 star review from someone I’d never met, I knew my story was good. J That was an awesome feeling! J

What is your favorite quote?
I have no idea who the author is, but this quote inspires me.
“It’s impossible,” said Pride. “It’s risky,” said Experience. “It’s pointless,” said Reason. “Give it a try,” whispered the heart.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Hot chocolate! I love it! J

Nickname?
My nickname when I was younger was Bone. LOL! My friends from my teen years still call me that today! J I used to run X-country and I was pretty thin in High School, the name just kind of stuck.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would love to live by the ocean. I love being by the water and hearing the waves breaking on the shore. It is very peaceful for me.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a writer. I started writing stories in fifth grade and that feeling never went away. LOL! Since I decided to stay home with my kids, I’ve been able to devote my time to this dream.

Summer or Winter?
I would have to say Summer, I love warm weather, planting flowers and hiking in the woods. I also love the beach.

Skittles or M&Ms?
I would choose M&Ms! I love chocolate!

If you could have any super power what would you choose?
This is an interesting question. Hmmm….I think I’d choose the ability to read people’s minds. Then I would know what the criminals were thinking and I could stop them before they hurt anyone.

If you could be one of the Greek Gods which would it be and why?
I would choose to be Athena, because she is so wise and strong.

What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?
The best advice I have ever received was “Keep Writing.”

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
I would have to say my husband’s egg sandwiches! They are the best!

This book opens in a small town in Michigan where fifteen-year-old Sarah Cole is stuck spending the summer at her Aunt and Uncle’s with her sister, Lacey. She’s not happy with the situation until she befriends a girl named Jackie. The three girls stumble upon the ruthless murder of a reclusive neighborhood woman. One of the officers investigating the crime believes the girls are responsible for her death. Fearing that this officer will frame them for the murder, the girls organize their own detective squad. They become the Super Spies and start their own fact-finding mission.  The Super Spies can’t understand why anyone would want to murder the “Cat Lady” until they start digging into her past and discover a horrible crime that happened thirty years ago. They uncover a connection between the two crimes and attempt to bring this information to the police, only to be reprimanded for meddling in the inquest. Not only are the girls upset by the admonition, but they also struggle with the fact that their exuberant investigating could provide a legal loophole allowing the killer to go free. To make matters worse, the police don’t even believe them. Frustrated by this turn of events, the Super Spies realize it’s up to them to snare the Cat Lady killer, or die trying…

Giveaway Details
1 Ebook of The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer
Ends 7/6/12


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Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Royally BeSwitched by Molly Snow

Welcome back to Author Molly Snow

Molly Snow, Founder of BreezyReads.com, wrote BeSwitched when she was just sixteen. As a bestselling author’s personal assistant at age twenty, she decided to do what her boss did and self publish. At age twenty-three, BeSwitched made its debut. Snow is married to her high school crush, has a set of silly twin boys and a bob-tailed cat named Meow-Meow.

http://mollysnowfiction.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/molly_snow

Favorite places to travel?
Royally BeSwitched takes place in 1700’s France and what an adventure that is, but I like to be pampered--must have indoor plumbing--so I would choose a cruise every time. I have gone on three cruise getaways and am going on my fourth excursion come December... Woohoo!

Favorite music?
I am a total dork for Hanson. The song they are mostly known for is Mmmbop, but I didn’t even know that song when I first saw them on an ABC Dick Clarke special. I recently went to one of their concerts where I actually got to meet the three of them. Oh my goodness, Zac Hanson has grown into a total hottie and I love their latest music. You can see pics of me with them on my blog... heheh

Favorite smell?

Febreeze! LOL

Write a Haiku about your book:
Lonely Souls Cat-Switch
Make New Friends and Snag Hot Guys
Black Magic is Bad
(Okay, I never said I was a poet ;p)

Black or White?
Black cats

Print or Ebook?
Ebooks on my iPad. Oh, and my ebook BeSwitched Witch is FREE on Amazon.com is June 21-22, so download it! Amazon offers the Kindle App so you can download to almost any device, too :)



Cats or Dogs?
Cats >^..^< Just look at my books :) Surla would be so upset with me if I were to say dogs.

What is you favorite way to spend a rainy day?
Kissing in it.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and love it! Would you like a copy of The Book of Mormon, because that is also free by talking to some missionaries? ;-) Put it on your To-Be-Read list.

Royally BeSwitched


Hexed from a small suburb in the U.S. back to 1700's France, a magical black cat, Surla, and her human crush, Jax Morreau, have no idea what troubles await them during the last great era of castles and swordsmanship.

When Jax’s distant relatives, a lowly maidservant and a prince, miss their chance at love, evil gains a stronghold in the Morreau Kingdom. It’s up to the duo from the future to reset the course of love before it’s too late. Surla, the cat, will do anything, including switch bodies with the maidservant, to clean up the royal mess.

Giveaway Details
1 copy of Royally BeSwitched
Open to US only
Ends 7/6/12


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Author Interview & Book Giveaway: A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

Welcome to Author Kody Keplinger

Kody Keplinger was seventeen when she wrote her debut coming-of-age novel, THE DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend), which has since been optioned to Vast Entertainment and Wonderland with McG (Charlie’s Angels) to direct. Kody newest book, A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHTMARE, is the perfect beach read. Her main character, Whitley, is filled with authenticity and raw emotion, and is definitely Kody's most compelling character to date: the most cynical character you will ever truly care for.

Website:
http://kodykeplinger.com/

Interview:
What is your dream cast for your book?
I think about my "dream cast" way more often than I should, and with this book more than any, my view of the characters is very specific. Whitley was written specifically with Willa Holland in mind - not that I think/thought the book would ever be a movie, but something about Willa (who played Kaitlin on the later seasons of THE OC) really inspired Whitley's whole character.  Nathan would be a young Drake Bell, or maybe even Zac Efron.  Bailey is totally Elle Fanning. And if I could pick ANYONE to play Greg, Whitley's dad, it would be George Clooney.  Why? Mostly just so I can stare at George Clooney.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?
I soundtrack every book I write, but A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE is my first book with 2 soundtracks.  I have one for the whole book and one for Whitley in particular, who has a specific taste in music (no songs released after 1999).  There are tons of songs I could pick here, but I'd say "Wonderwall" by Oasis, one of Whitley's favorite songs, is kind of a weird/perfect theme for the book. As far as characters, Whitley's song is totally "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett. Or "Again I Go Unnoticed" by Dashboard Confessional. Or "Orphans" by Jack's Mannequin. Okay, okay. I'll stop now. There are a lot of great songs I could pick!!!

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
I'm not sure if it's coming out this year or not, but Joss Whedon's adaptation of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is at the top of my must-see movies list.  I adore anything he works on, and the idea of Joss and Shakespeare combined makes me ecstatic! Plus, have you seen the IMDB page? It's a stellar cast. That movie is going to blow our minds.  I can't wait!

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
Oh wow. This is the hardest and coolest question I've ever been asked. Hmm. . .
Maybe THE GIRL IN THE PINK HIGH TOPS.  Colorful, but mysterious!

In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with?
Um JK Rowling of course!
I dream big.
But some others that I'd kill to co-write with would be John Green, Stephanie Kuehnert, David Levithan, Sarah Dessen, and Elizabeth Scott.

Favorite quote from a movie?
"I want my pink shirt back!" - or basically any quote from Mean Girls.

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

Whitley Johnson's dream summer with her divorcé dad has just turned into a nightmare. She’s just met his new fiancée and her kids. The fiancée’s son? Happens to be whatshisname, Whitley’s one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin’ great! Worse, she totally doesn't fit in with her new country‑club perfect stepfamily, so she acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn'ʹt even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't "do" friends), and a smoking‑hot guy who isn't her stepbrother...at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.

Giveaway Details
5 winners will each receive a copy of A Midsummer's Nightmare
Open to US only
Ends 7/6/12


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Guest Post & Book Giveaway: The Color of Snow by Brenda Stanley

Welcome to Author Brenda Stanley

Brenda Stanley is the former news anchor at her NBC affiliate KPVI in Eastern Iadho. Her writing has been recognized by the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Hearst Journalism Awards, the Idaho Press Club and the Society for Professional Journalists. She is a graduate of Dixie College in St. George, Utah, and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Brenda lived for two years in Ballard, Utah, within the Fort Duchesne reservation where the novel is set. She and her husband live on a small ranch near the Snake River with their horses and dogs. 

Links:
The Color of Snow GoodReads page:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13456512-the-color-of-snow
Brenda Stanley's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/brenda.baumgartnerstanley
Brenda Stanley's Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/myauthorlife
Brenda Stanley's Website:
http://www.brendastanleybooks.net/


Guest Post by Brenda Stanley

The Color of Snow has been described as dark or mysterious.  I feel most of my writing fits this description because I enjoy looking at the strange and unusual things in life.  My novel will definitely make some people uncomfortable.  I like to look at situations and issues and try to figure out how people will react.  For years I was a crime reporter, so I enjoy investigating stories and learning about the parts of life most people try to hide.  When I wrote The Color of Snow, I was working on a story about a young girl who went missing years ago and has never been found.  I started thinking about what would happen if she were to suddenly show up now.  I loved putting myself in Sophie’s shoes and seeing things for the first time.

Sophie’s relationship with Damien is both intense and tempered.  Her father has raised her to believe that she will destroy anyone who truly loves her, so she is torn between her love for Damien and her fear of causing him harm.

The story changes between what is going on with Sophie and what happened in her parent’s past that brought her to where she is.  I wanted readers to experience the often isolated feeling of living in a vast rural area, but also the mental confinement of a small town.

Mental illness, teen pregnancy, religious intolerance, and racism are all big parts of The Color of Snow.  I like my characters to face challenges and see them grow from them.  It is not only the conflicts with the other characters that keeps the story going, but also those within the person’s own mind.

I wanted Sophie to be unusually beautiful so that people treated her strangely and therefore made her feel even more alien when she is first discovered.  She has transformed from a tragic kidnapping victim to a mythical ghost from the past and this makes her transition into her new life even more difficult.

My ties to the Mormon Church go back to my great-great grandparents.  I was raised in the teachings of the Mormon religion and even though I am no longer a member, I have many friends and family who are still very active in the church.  My descriptions of the Mormon culture are how I view it and how I feel someone who has never been exposed to it might see it.  I think there are a lot of people who are curious about the Mormon religion and have misconceptions.  I feel I’ve been both candid and fair in my portrayal.

Color of Snow

Can a troubled young girl reenter society after living in isolation?
When a beautiful 16-year-old girl named Sophie is found sequestered in a cage-like room in a rundown house in the desolate hills of Arbon Valley, Idaho, the entire community is shocked to learn she is the legendary Callidora--a baby girl who was kidnapped from her crib almost seventeen years ago and canonized in missing posters with portraits of what the fabled girl might resemble. Authorities soon learn that the cage was there to protect people from Sophie, because her biological father believes she is cursed.
Sophie is discovered after the man she knows as Papa, shoots and injures Damien, a young man who is trying to rescue her. Now, unsocialized and thrust into the world, and into a family she has never met, Sophie must decide whether she should accept her Papa’s claims that she is cursed and he was only trying to protect others, or trust the new people in her life who have their own agendas. Guided by a wise cousin, Sophie realizes that her most heartbreaking challenge is to decide if her love for Damien will destroy him like her Papa claims, or free her from past demons that haunt her mind.

The Color of Snow Excerpt 

Malad, Idaho, early spring 2009

Spring had spread across the fields and pastures. Cottonwood trees fluttered their newly sprouted greenery, and purple asters covered the rolling hills. The snow had melted and Stephanie and I started taking the horses on rides up the valley. It was incredibly liberating to roam and wander without fear.

There was a trail leading from the foothills up into the forest, and once we were in the midst of the wild spruce and lofty pines, the noises of cars and life around the ranch disappeared. The sound of hooves on early spring dirt was solid and steady. The breeze was still crisp, but the sun reached down and warmed our shoulders. For almost an hour we rode in silence. We both were in awe of the day and the splendor that was ours alone to enjoy.

At the top of the hill, the trail opened up to a small plateau and a blue mountain lake. I gasped at the incredible beauty of it. I smiled at Stephanie and she nodded in acknowledgement. Her eyes were bright and her freckles seemed to glow in the sunshine. The horse she rode was a black mare my grandfather was going to sell. Stephanie loved the white diamond-shaped patch on her forehead, and scolded him for even thinking about selling Black Bean. My horse was an old buckskin gelding named Clyde. He lumbered along and rarely went faster than a slow trot, but for a beginner like me he was perfect.

Stephanie turned her horse down the hill and toward the lake. “Do you want to go swimming?” she called back.

“I don’t know how,” I answered.

She giggled as she reached the water’s edge. “You don’t need to. The horses do it all.” Her hair was pulled into two short pigtails and they bounced with each step of her horse.

I waited and watched as she urged Black Bean into the water and out into the lake. As the water got deeper, the splashes became larger around its legs as it pushed forward, and soon they were floating along smoothly.

“Come on!” she yelled, waving me in. She had her legs pulled up on the sides, trying to avoid getting completely soaked. They were pale and freckled like her face, and seemed to make up most of her body. Stephanie wasn’t much taller than I, but her legs and arms were long and made her look gangly and even thinner than she was. She waved so hard she almost fell off the horse, and started laughing as she steadied herself.

It looked like fun, but I was terrified. The water was immense and dark. The largest amount of water I had ever been in was my own bathtub. I wondered what would happen if I fell off in the middle. Stephanie and Black Bean were in the center of the lake and they looked like a serene harmonious duo.

I gave Clyde a slight nudge and he walked to the shoreline. The water lapped as I waited and watched Stephanie continue to beckon. She looked like she was having a marvelous time and wasn’t worried in the least. I patted Clyde and prodded him with the heels of my sneakers. He seemed unconcerned as he clopped loudly into the water. I took a deep breath and told myself to keep looking forward and it would be okay. Clyde had no hesitation, which helped ease my fear.

The sun beat down on us and made splashes of water light up as Clyde moved forward into the water. The splatters that hit my exposed skin were freezing and made me realize how cold it would be if I did fall in. I fixed my eyes on the opposite shoreline and put my faith in Clyde. The horse had a wide back, and as we got deeper into the lake, I curled my legs back the way Stephanie did and clung to his mane. We were riding bareback that day, because Stephanie didn’t want to spend time putting on saddles.

I held my breath as we got further away from the shore and closer to the very center of the lake. At one point I looked down, staring deep into the abyss. There was no bottom, and I felt my stomach turn, knowing I would surely die if I left Clyde’s back.

As the horse rhythmically propelled us along, I began to feel a sense of buoyancy and freedom. When we crossed the center point and were on our way to the other shore, my confidence turned to elation. I started to breathe again and smiled at what I had accomplished. I sat up straight, closed my eyes and imagined I was flying, gliding along on my winged unicorn, soaring through clouds and racing the wind. When I opened my eyes, I giggled at my foolish imagination, but couldn’t help beaming at what an amazing adventure it was.

When the horse’s hooves made contact with the lake bottom and we started to emerge from the water, I wanted to burst from relief and joy. “That was the most wonderful thing ever!”

Stephanie was sitting on a large tree limb that had fallen while her horse munched on fresh new grass beside her. “I didn’t think you’d do it. I’m proud of you.”

“It was so scary, but then it was so amazing.” 

“I’m glad you liked it, because that’s how we’re getting back.”

We led the horses to a shaded area and tied them loosely to a tree so they could rest and graze. Stephanie leaned back against a tree and looked out at the incredible view of mountain-lined lake and clear blue sky.

“This is where I go when I can’t stand life anymore. The first time I came here, I tried to kill myself. I stole my dad’s gun and had it all planned out. Then I sat here and looked around at all this and thought...who would care? I’m nothing and no one would miss me, so why do it? That’s when I decided to live for me. I do what makes me happy now and screw the rest of them.”

“You were going to kill yourself. Why?”

Stephanie took a deep, labored sigh. “I didn’t see the point in living. My mom was dead and my dad married that crazy bitch.” She shrugged. “I don’t really fit in anywhere. Even at school, the kids hate me.”

I shook my head. “I don’t believe that. There is no reason to hate you.”

Stephanie scoffed. “You say that because you don’t know any better. You don’t know what normal is. That’s why we get along. I’m a freak, but you’ve never had any friends, so you don’t know how weird I am.” She smiled.

“I’ve had friends,” I protested.

“Really? I thought you were kept alone at that house all the time.”

I nodded.

Stephanie raised an eyebrow. “So, did your dad kidnap kids and bring them home for you play with?”

My eyes went large, but then Stephanie laughed and I realized she was joking. I paused for a moment, trying to pick my words carefully.

“Don’t worry about me telling anyone. Remember, we’re best friends, so you should be able to tell me anything. I’ve never told anyone that I was going to kill myself.”

I looked at her with a mixture of love and concern. “I had two friends. I met them when I was eleven. Their mother worked with my father and they came to our house one day. That’s how they knew I lived there. They lived over the hill from us and they came over while Papa was at work and we played in my yard.” I stopped and smiled at the memory.

“You had to hide them from your father. Why?”

“He was afraid that if people knew I was home alone all day, they would come and take me away.”

“Didn’t it drive you crazy to be alone all the time?”

I shrugged. “Not really. When I met Donny and Damien I was much happier. I didn’t know what it was like to have friends before I met them, so I didn’t realize what I was missing.”

She studied me. “Isn’t Damien the kid your dad shot? Why’d he shoot him? Did he catch him with you?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you just tell him that you two were friends and that it was no big deal?"

“I tried to convince him, but...there is a lot you don’t understand.”

Stephanie gave me a disappointed curl of her lip. “And I won’t be able to understand if you keep everything a secret.”

I stayed silent.

“Sophie, I’ve already told you something that I never told anyone. I trust you because we’re friends. That is what friends do. They trust each other and they tell each other things. Do you think I won’t believe you?”

“No, it’s not that. And I do trust you, but there are things that will sound strange, and I don’t want you to think I’m a monster.”

She laughed. “You are the opposite of a monster. You’re friendly and kind. People would love to be near you.”

I ran the word through my head several times. I wondered if the statement had validity, because if it did, it explained some of the things Papa told me that seemed unimaginable.

“So, what is this big dark secret? You say your father didn’t kidnap you or treat you badly, so why did he keep you locked up in that house hidden away from the world?”

I thought it was inconceivable that the two of us were best friends. Stephanie had just confessed that she had almost ended her life and now I was about to tell her how I had ended my mother’s and one of my friends. My fears of being ostracized and treated like a disease were still at the surface, but the thought of releasing some of the weight with a person I trusted was like having a balloon inflating inside me ready to burst. I felt my secret was slowly killing me, and the only way I could get relief was to talk about it. I was still scared that once it was out, it would sprout wings and fly out of control.

“I’ll tell you, but you have to swear you’ll never tell anyone else.”

“I swear. I swear on my stepmother’s grave,” she giggled.

I looked at her, worried that she wasn’t in the right mind frame to hear what I had to say. My face must have showed it, because Stephanie quickly lost her smile and leaned forward. She put her hand on my shoulder. “God, Soph, I was just kidding. You look like I just cursed her dead.”

I gasped and put my hand to my mouth. I felt an icy chill go down my back and my heart jumped.

“What?” she asked.

“It’s what you said. That is why I had to hide all those years.”

“What I said? How could that be? I wasn’t even around.”

I was speechless and stunned. Just hearing the word made me dizzy. I put my face in my hands and rocked back and forth, trying to steady my nerves and my thoughts.

“Sophie, what’s wrong with you? You’re not making any sense. I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.” 

I stopped rocking, and looked up at her. “I’m so afraid to say anything.”

“You have no reason to be afraid. I’m not going to tell anyone. You’re my only friend!” She smiled. “You’ll go crazy if you keep it all inside.” 

“But what if you don’t want to be friends after I tell you?”

“That’s crazy.” She sat up on her knees and squared her body to mine. She held my shoulders and made me look at her. “Here, think about this. Imagine I’m the one telling you this big secret. If that were the case, would we still be friends? Sophie?”

I realized I had drifted off. I blinked as I came back and smiled. I had no reservations about how I would react if she were the one telling it. Stephanie would be my friend regardless of her secrets and I knew that she felt the same. So with the same strength I had mustered to lead my horse into a deep dark lake, I pushed forward and decided to reveal what had shaped my entire life. It would either knock me into a cold, deep abyss, or I would cross it and end up gaining the confidence I needed to take even more risks in my life. I was willing to take that chance. I suddenly realized that I had no idea where to start. It struck me as funny, and I stopped and smiled to myself.

“You’re a tease!” she yelled. “Come on, out with it.”

“I don’t know where to start. There is so much to tell.”

She leaned back against the tree and put her arms behind her head. “We have all day. They don’t expect us until dinner and I brought food in my backpack. Spill it!” 

I took a deep breath. “There is something terrible that happened a long time ago and it’s the reason Papa and I had to hide all those years.” 

“Did he kill someone?” she asked, both horrified and intrigued. 

“No,” I said firmly. “It’s not something we did, but something that was done to us.”

Stephanie lowered an eyebrow. “What?” 

“A curse.” 

Her eyes shot wide open, but she gave me a sideways grin. “A curse?” 

“Yes. We had to hide away because Papa says we are a threat to the people who love us.” 

She cocked her head to the side. “How?” 

I looked at the ground and felt my face flush. “I’m not sure, but some of them have died.”

Stephanie reeled back. “They died? How?”

I shrugged. “Papa says it’s the reason my mother died and Donny. He says we’re the reason.” 

Stephanie shook her head. “You said he didn’t kill anyone.” 

“It’s not us. It’s the curse that kills them.” 

“How did they die?” 

“Donny died when a dirt cave collapsed on him.” I felt a heavy lump in my stomach. “I don’t know how my mother died. Papa never talks about it.”

“Sounds to me like your father gave you a line to keep you in line. There is no such thing as a curse.”

I felt rejected and embarrassed. It had taken every ounce of trust I could muster to tell her and now she brushed it off. “Yes there is.”

She furrowed her brows. “Did you push that kid into the cave?”

I shook my head. “No!”

Stephanie sat up straight. “Do you think that other kid was shot because of this curse, too?”

I lowered my eyes. “Yes.”

She sat in silence, looking as if she was deep in thought. Several times she began to talk and then stopped. She stood up and walked in a circle. “That doesn’t make sense. If you say the curse kills people who love you, then why am I still alive? And what about your grandparents? Why aren’t we all dead?”

“I’m not sure. Sometimes it scares me. I don’t want to hurt people, but I don’t want to be alone. Papa was trying to explain it, but then we got caught. I’ve tried to figure it out, but without Papa, I can’t. There’s more to it, and he’s the only one who knows.”

“Who put the curse on you?” I shrugged.

“Papa said it was done a long time ago, before I was born.”

Stephanie lowered her brow. “If you weren’t even born, why would anyone want to curse you?”

“It was placed on our family for something Papa did. He said it was done out of anger. He said he didn’t believe it at first, but when my mother was killed, he knew we had to hide or more bad things would happen. He said if anyone found out about the curse, I would be taken away. He hid us away for our own good. He didn’t want the curse to hurt anyone else. I didn’t know about it until after Donny died. Papa felt it was his fault for not warning me sooner.”

Stephanie looked at me in awe. She hadn’t moved a muscle or changed her facial expression in the slightest, as though my story had struck her dumb. I started feeling awkward and worried that I had said too much, but before regret set in, she took a seat beside me and put an arm around my shoulder. “So, what are you going to do? If you think you’re cursed and you’re putting other people at risk, how are you going to live?”

I thought for a moment. “I don’t know.”

“That’s crazy, Sophie. There is no such thing. I think he told you that just to keep you from running off. He knew that if people saw you they’d find out who you were. That would threaten him.” She scratched her head; pulling at the hair in one of her pigtails, making it crooked. “He makes it sound very convincing.” She sat back with a start. “He must have seen the newspaper article that ran the sketch. That’s why he took all the mirrors out of your house. He didn’t want you to discover who you really are. On the other hand, this is so strange, because if he really thought you were cursed, a lot of this stuff he did makes sense. That’s totally wild.”

I thought about the mirrors. I remembered the expression on Damien’s face when he realized all the mirrors in my house had been taken down or destroyed. I still had aversions to them, and rarely gave in to the temptation. They were everywhere at my grandparents’ home, but I did my best to avoid them, knowing that God watched and judged what I did.

“When I tell you that I love you, does it scare you?” she asked.

I contemplated her question, knowing I had thought about it many times before. “It used to, but for some reason I’m not worried anymore.”

“I think I know why.”

“Tell me.”

“Sophie, I don’t believe in curses or superstitions. I think the more you’re out in the normal world, you’ll realize all the stuff you’ve been told is not real. There is no such thing. All this stuff you father told you isn’t the truth. You’re not cursed.”

What she said completely deflated me. I had trusted her with my deepest, darkest realities and now she said that what I harbored and lived with my entire life was just a lie.

“You’ll never be happy if you live in fear like this. You’ll have an awful life if you never let anyone love you. I think it’s terrible what he did. He’s the one that’s cursed you with stupid superstitions. It’s not real. There is no such thing as a curse.”

I was shocked at what she said and felt the need to scoot away, fearing God would strike her down with a bolt of lightning. “You don’t believe in God?”

“No. And I don’t believe that how I live my life will determine how I spend my death. I believe that you do the right things for this life, not for some afterlife. Everyone around here is so worried about what’s going to happen to them when they die. It’s stupid. When my mom died, people actually told me that God needed her in heaven and that’s why he took her home.” She gave a disgusted smirk. “Why would God take someone’s mother away? My mom died because cancer cells overtook her body. It had nothing to do with God, and it had nothing to do with curses or prayers or any other hocus-pocus that everyone tries to fill your head with.”

I was still uneasy.

“You were worried about telling me your secret because you thought I would be afraid of you. And it turns out, you should be afraid of me.”

“Why?”

“Because I am a bad influence. That’s why I’m not allowed at the school. I asked questions and talked about things that made everyone nervous. The other kids told their parents that I didn’t believe in God and that I attacked their precious religion. That’s the reason I no longer go to school.” She smiled and pulled me close. “I’m worse than you. You may lure them in with your beauty and then kill them off, but I threaten their beliefs and their chances at eternal life. We make quite a pair.”

Being close to her was a comfort, even though I was still concerned about what she said. I cared about her and felt her statements against God would come back to haunt her.

“I know you aren’t just going to believe everything I say. It’s all been drilled into your head for so long, it will be hard to change what you believe, but I want to show you something that will hopefully help you get over all this. We’re going to do an experiment so I can prove that there is no such thing as a curse.”

I didn’t like the idea and was apprehensive.

“You don’t have a choice,” she said, with a defiant lift of her eyebrow. “You are my best friend, my only friend in this world. I love you as if you were my sister. Nothing fatal has happened to me yet and nothing will. I’ll prove to you that you are not cursed.”

I felt funny having her tempt fate for me.

“I was planning on killing myself anyway, so this isn’t a big sacrifice. Quit looking like that,” she chided. Stephanie put her finger to her mouth and feigned deep deliberation. “Hmm. If you have the power to kill people, then let’s work on how we can use it to bump off my stepmother!” She fell back against the soft forest floor in wicked laughter.

“Stephanie!”

She giggled with delight.

I couldn’t help but smile, even though she had made me out as toxic. She had heard what had kept me hidden and silent for years and was still my best friend. She had accepted what I said. She made light of it in a way that made me feel like nothing I told her would scare her away. Stephanie was intriguing and confusing, but I had no reservations that she was loyal and trustworthy. I had given her the secret of what I feared and what had formed my life. She had the power to destroy my world by exposing my enigma, yet I felt assured she would guard it, regardless of her own doubts about its truth.

She stopped laughing and leaned over to her backpack. She pulled out a bag of chips and a bottle of soda, and offered them to me. I took a handful of chips and we sat in silence for a while as we passed the bottle back and forth. “I think you saved me.”

I looked at her strangely, smiled, and shook my head.

She smiled back. “You did. Now the hard part is going to be saving you.”






Giveaway
1 ebook of The Color of Snow
Ends 7/4/12


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Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Night Buddies & the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare

Welcome to Author Sands Hetherington

Interview:
If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?

Your first question's a tossup.  Visiting the past is much more inviting to me than visiting a complete unknown like the future, but getting to read next year's newspaper would certainly be fascinating and so empowering!

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?

Lincoln, Cleopatra, Jesus, Hitler and Stonewall Jackson.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

The power to get all the other powers.  Or, if this is too immodest, I guess flying. (Lifting locomotives and seeing through walls doesn't sound like that much fun.)

Pet Peeves?

Bicyclists riding side-by-side on the road, telephone pitches, drivers on cell phones almost hitting me.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

It's a well-done, imaginative story that kids really do enjoy.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

The second book in the Night Buddies series comes out this fall.  It is much longer than the first, with lots of new characters and cool episodes.  I hope to do several more just like it.

What inspired you to want to become a writer?

It was definitely a foxy student English teacher who gushed over a ninth grade poem I'd written.  Her name was Ellen, but she was an older woman and spoken for.

If you could jump into a book, and live in that world ... which would it be?

The Odyssey.  At least till I get there.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Two pieces, really.  #1: Read.  #2: Set up a writing schedule and have the will to stick to it.

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why?

Definitely Hermes.  He gets to fly around on such interesting errands and doesn't seem to get caught up in palace squabbles.

What's the craziest writing idea you've had?

The reason why my crocodile character is red.

Favorite places to travel?

Countries with ancient sites, Greece especially.

Favorite music?

Nineteenth century piano.

Favorite sport?

Basketball.

Favorite quote from a movie?

"Women find me attractive, but I never give them my essence."  (The general in Dr. Strangelove.)

Do you prefer a bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one?

Definitely a big expensive one!  Doesn't everybody?

Links:
http://www.facebook.com/NightBuddies
http://www.nightbuddiesadventures.com/

Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare by Sands Hetherington

When pineapple cheesecakes start disappearing from the world's only Pineapple Cheesecake Factory across town, Crosley, a zany red crocodile, enlists the help of young John Degraffenreidt to straighten things out. In this adventure-fantasy, the unlikely pair sneaks out of John's house by becoming invisible, thanks to the I-ain't-here doodad Crosley uses from the bunch of whatchamacallits hanging on his belt.
On the way to the subway they get better acquainted, and John finds out the wacky reason Crosley is red, and also what happens if he gets any water on him. They get on the Night Folks Limited train and ride all the way to the Cheesecake Factory where they meet the giant manager, Big Foot Mae.
There is danger ahead, but the Night Buddies must stay with their "Program" (the Night Buddies word for Adventure) if the world's supply of pineapple cheesecakes counts for anything. And it surely does, especially to Crosley who is totally goofy about the things and never seems to get his fill.

Giveaway Details:
1 copy of Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare
Open to US only
Ends 7/4/12

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Got Great Giveaways 6/20

Got Great Giveaways is a weekly feature hosted here on I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.  This feature will be posted each week on Wednesday.

I love book giveaways.  Enter enough book giveaways and you are going to win them.  Just be sure to follow the giveaway entry rules so you have a valid entry and don't get disqualified.

To win a giveaway you've got to be able to find it and enter it.  Thus I created Got Great Giveaways!  If you are hosting a giveaway on your blog or come across a great giveaway you want to share please link it up here.

Got Great Giveaways? Book Giveaway Link Up Rules:
Giveaways must be book related (books, gift cards to stores that sell books, swag, etc.)
Please do not link up to Blog Hop Giveaways that are hosted on this site.
Link directly to your giveaway post.
Please include as much info as possible such as the genre, book title & ending date of your giveaway, shipping info, etc.

Example: Young Adult - In The Forests of Night by Kersten Hamilton ends 5/28 (US)

You are welcome to grab the code for this linky and add it to your site, just be sure to mention it is for book related giveaways only so it doesn't get spammed with unrelated giveaways.
BOOK & BOOK RELATED GIVEAWAYS ONLY - others will be deleted.


Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts.  So whether you are shopping for books, movies, clothes, games, electronics, music, food or any of the myriad of other things amazon sells, simply use my affiliate link to shop. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site. My Affiliate Link: http://www.amazon.com/?tag=iaarnaw-20.

Interviewed by Author Molly Snow

Typically I interview authors but today things are switched around and I'm being interviewed by an author.

Visit author Molly Snow's blog to read the interview I did with her a few weeks ago:
http://mollysnowfiction.blogspot.com/2012/06/interview-with-i-am-reader-not-writer.html

Welcome to the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop

The 2nd Annual Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop will take place from June 20th to 26th!
Thanks to Uniquely Moi Books for co-hosting.

Please be aware that my post is up early.  This hop officially starts on Wednesday!  The latest word on my son is that he will be transferred up to the University of Utah tomorrow and I will be going with him if that is how things play out.  I have no idea if I'll have internet access on anything but my phone so I'm posting early.


I'm keeping this really simple!

The winner can have their choice of any of Marcia Lynn McClure's currently available titles or a $10 Amazon Gift Card.




My Giveaway: 
Your choice of anyone of Marcia Lynn McClure's currently available titles or a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card.  
MLM Paperback open to US only, MLM Ebook open Internationally.  Gift Card will be sent from Amazon.com.

Inspired Kathy's favorite books »

Each of the following blogs have signed up to host a giveaway as part of this hop.  But please be aware that this hop does not start until WEDNESDAY! Come back then to start hopping when all the giveaways will be live.
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