Young Husky sitting
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New Releases 3/23/13-3/29/13 plus Giveaway of IMPOSTER by Jill Hathaway

by Jan Lewis

THIS WEEK’S GIVEAWAY

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Impostor
by Jill Hathaway
Hardcover
Balzer + Bray
Released 3/26/2013
What if a killer took control of you?

Vee Bell’s gift (or curse) of sliding – slipping into the mind of another person and experiencing life, briefly, through his or her eyes – has been somewhat under control since she unwillingly witnessed the horrific deaths of her classmates six months ago.

But just as things are getting back to normal, Vee has a very bizarre experience: she loses consciousness and finds herself in a deserted area, at the edge of a cliff, with the broken body of the boy who took advantage of her on the rocks below.

As Vee finds herself in stranger and stranger situations with no memory of getting there, she begins to suspect that someone she knows has the ability to slide and that this slider is using Vee to exact revenge on his or her enemies.

Purchase Impostor at Amazon
Purchase Impostor at IndieBound
View Impostor on Goodreads

LAST WEEK’S GIVEAWAY WINNERS

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Meridian Trilogy Winner – Michelle M.

Speed of Light (Meridian #3)
by Amber Kizer
Hardcover
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Released 11/13/2012
Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra, an angel infused human, destined to transition souls into the next world. Together with Tens Valdes, her soulmate and Protector, they’ve made a home in Indiana, making sure the dead safely enter the light and aren’t stolen by the Dark, known as the Nocti.

Upon rescuing Juliet Ambrose from her terrible childhood, Juliet has become vulnerable without her Protector and grasps at any hope to find her parents, even when it’s offered by a proven Nocti, Ms. Asura. Juliet is now faced with the horrible choice between uncovering her past and having a future.

Meanwhile, time may be running out for the hundreds of thousands preparing for the festivities surrounding the Indianapolis 500 car race. As centuries of secrets are revealed, the battles will pit Light versus Dark. Not all with survive as Meridian, Tens, and Julie join forces to try to thwart a potential tragedy.

Purchase Speed of Light (Meridian #3) at Amazon
Purchase Speed of Light (Meridian #3) at IndieBound
View Speed of Light (Meridian #3) on Goodreads

* * * *

Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 )
by Amber Kizer
Hardcover
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Released 7/12/2011
Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra, the half-human, half-angel link between the living and the dead. She has the dark responsibility of helping souls transition safely into the afterlife. If people die without the help of a Fenestra, their souls are left vulnerable to be stolen by the Aternocti, a dark band of forces who disrupt the balance of good and evil in the world and cause chaos.

Having recently lost her beloved Auntie, the woman who showed her what it meant to be a Fenestra, Meridian has hit the road with Tens, her love and sworn protector, in hopes of finding another Fenestra. Their search leads them to Indiana, where Juliet, a responsible and loving teenager, works tirelessly in the nursing home where she and several other foster kids are housed. Surrounded by death, Juliet struggles to make a loving home for the younger kids, and to protect them from the violent whims of their foster mother. But she is struggling against forces she can’t understand . . . and even as she feels a pull toward the dying, their sickness seems to infect her, weighing her down. . . .

Will Meri and Tens find Juliet in time to save her from a life of misery and illness? And will Meri and Tens’ own romance weather the storms of new discoveries?

Purchase Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 ) at Amazon
Purchase Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 ) at IndieBound
View Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 ) on Goodreads

* * * *

Meridian (Meridian #1)
by Amber Kizer
Hardcover
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Released 8/11/2009
Half-human, half-angel, Meridian Sozu has a dark responsibility.

Sixteen-year-old Meridian has been surrounded by death ever since she can remember. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders would burrow into her bedclothes and die. At her elementary school, she was blamed for a classmate’s tragic accident. And on her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family home, and Meridian’s body explodes in pain.

Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she’s a danger to her family and hustled off to her great-aunt’s house in Revelation, Colorado. It’s there that she learns that she is a Fenestra, the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos

Purchase Meridian (Meridian #1) at Amazon
Purchase Meridian (Meridian #1) at IndieBound
View Meridian (Meridian #1) on Goodreads

* * * *

Everafter (Kissed By An Angel)
by Elizabeth Chandler
Hardcover
Simon Pulse
Released 3/19/2013

Winner – Rosi H.

The sweeping saga of Ivy and Tristan comes to a breathtaking conclusion in this final book of the all-new arc in the New York Times bestselling Kissed by an Angel series.
It seems the odds are forever against Ivy and her fallen angel. Tristan is still trapped in the body of an accused murderer, and as the two star-crossed lovers try to clear his name, they must battle the dark forces that would keep them apart and destroy them both. The danger is especially great for Tristan since, as a fallen angel, death would mean losing his soul. It’s up to Ivy to save the one she loves and, hopefully, find a way for the two of the them to be together for all eternity.

Purchase Everafter (Kissed By An Angel) at Amazon
Purchase Everafter (Kissed By An Angel) at IndieBound
View Everafter (Kissed By An Angel) on Goodreads

* * * *

Meant to Be
by Lauren Morrill
Hardcover
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Released 11/13/2012

Winner – Tiffany J.

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It’s one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she’s queen of following rules and being prepared. That’s why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that’s also why she’s chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB (“meant to be”).

But this spring break, Julia’s rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she’s partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

Purchase Meant to Be at Amazon
Purchase Meant to Be at IndieBound
View Meant to Be on Goodreads


No Man’s Land
by S.T. Underdahl
Signed Paperback
Flux
released 11/8/12

Winner – Vivien P.  

Dov Howard is 16 years old and perfectly comfortable in his role as “family failure,” the kid who doesn’t stand a chance of living up to his older brother, Brian. As if being a straight-A student and football star aren’t enough, Brian has also become a military hero after his National Guard troop gets deployed to Afghanistan. When the family receives word that Brian has been seriously injured, and a mysterious new girl, Scarlett, joins Dov’s not-so-merry band of misfits, life as Dov knows it changes forever.

When it becomes clear that Scarlett’s wounds are much more than superficial, and a broken version of Brian arrives back on the home front, Dov finds himself suddenly and deeply immersed in the pain of others. As things go spiraling out of control, will Dov take the easy way out, as he’d always done in the past, or will he be able to step up to the plate and truly be there for the people who need him most?

Buy NO MAN’S LAND on Amazon
Find NO MAN’S LAND on Goodreads

IN STORES NEXT WEEK WITH AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

* * * *

Shadow on the Sun
by David Macinnis Gill
Hardcover
Greenwillow Books
Released 3/26/2013
Durango has always relied on Mimi, once his tough-as-nails squad leader, she is now the bitingly sarcastic artificial intelligence flash-cloned to his brain. Mimi is the only reason he is alive.
Durango has always looked out for his devastatingly beautiful and brave second-in-command, Vienne, now wounded, crushed, missing. Vienne is the only reason he wants to live.
Durango hasn’t always despised his father. But he does now. Lyme wants Durango to be the Prince of Mars, and he’ll stop at nothing to realize that dream. He’ll sacrifice anything and anyone in the name of domination. Even Mimi. Especially Vienne.
Lyme forgot one thing. You don’t want to mess with Durango.

Purchase Shadow on the Sun at Amazon
Purchase Shadow on the Sun at IndieBound
View Shadow on the Sun on Goodreads

* * * *

Going Vintage
by Lindsey Leavitt
Hardcover
Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Released 3/26/2013

When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, she swears off boys. She also swears off modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to “go vintage” and return to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat on you online). She sets out to complete grandma’s list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. But the list is trickier than it looks. And obviously finding a steady is out . . . no matter how good Oliver (Jeremy’s cousin) smells. But with the help of her sister, she’ll get it done. Somehow. Lindsey Leavitt perfectly pairs heartfelt family moments, laugh-out-loud humor, and a little bit of romance in this delightful contemporary novel.

Purchase Going Vintage at Amazon
Purchase Going Vintage at IndieBound
View Going Vintage on Goodreads

MORE RELEASES IN STORES NEXT WEEK

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Period 8
by Chris Crutcher
Hardcover
Greenwillow Books
Released 3/26/2013
In this full-length novel from Chris Crutcher, his first since the best-selling Deadline, the ultimate bully and the ultimate good guy tangle during Period 8.

Paul “the Bomb” Baum tells the truth. No matter what. It was something he learned at Sunday School. But telling the truth can cause problems, and not minor ones. And as Paulie discovers, finding the truth can be even more problematic. Period 8 is supposed to be that one period in high school where the truth can shine, a safe haven. Only what Paulie and Hannah (his ex-girlfriend, unfortunately) and his other classmates don’t know is that the ultimate bully, the ultimate liar, is in their midst.

Terrifying, thought-provoking, and original, this novel combines all the qualities of a great thriller with the controversy, ethics, and raw emotion of a classic Crutcher story.

Purchase Period 8 at Amazon
Purchase Period 8 at IndieBound
View Period 8 on Goodreads

* * * *

Wasteland
by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
Hardcover
HarperTeen
Released 3/26/2013
Welcome to the Wasteland. Where all the adults are long gone, and now no one lives past the age of nineteen. Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan’s post-apocalyptic debut is the first of a trilogy in which everyone is forced to live under the looming threat of rampant disease and brutal attacks by the Variants – hermaphroditic outcasts that live on the outskirts of Prin. Esther thinks there’s more to life than toiling at harvesting, gleaning, and excavating, day after day under the relentless sun, just hoping to make it to the next day. But then Caleb, a mysterious stranger, arrives in town, and Esther begins to question who she can trust. As shady pasts unravel into the present and new romances develop, Caleb and Esther realize that they must team together to fight for their lives and for the freedom of Prin.

Purchase Wasteland at Amazon
Purchase Wasteland at IndieBound
View Wasteland on Goodreads

Jan Lewis

Jan Lewis writes YA fantasy of the contemporary and traditional varieties. She lives in Oklahoma with a husband, two kids, two cats, a dog, and a mother. Instead of unpublished, she prefers to call herself pre-published. While she enjoys drafting, her heart is truly in rewriting and editing. She loves ladybugs, fairies, blue roses, cats, musical theater, and pretty much all things geek.

Post © Jan Lewis and/or Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.
Posted: Mar 22, 2013
Category: Imported from AYAP
Tags: New Releases | YA Fiction Giveaways

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The first slide is an animation of a science/magic room in a castle. A cartoon character of a mad-scientist looking man in in the foreground says: “Hello! Dr. Frankenstein here to say, Well Done on kid lit zombie week! I’m an expert at reviving the dead, and let me assure you, with a little spark, you can bring dead projects to life. Especially if you dig up parts from other dead things. I’ll even let you have a sneak peek at my laboratory’s store room to consider potential parts for your dead project. If you see something with a yellow glow, that means you should click it. Have fun!”

He points to the right side of the screen and a new scene slides in of a castle science/magic storage room. There are various cartoon Frankenstein body parts scattered around. Some of them have a yellow glow. If you click on them, the images below appear (I’ve added alt text to them, so I hope it works).

The Heart of your story is the main character. The protagonist is the beating core that truly brings your story to life. If your MC doesn't make kids (and their grown-ups) care within the first few pages, your story will flatline. </p> <p>Your main character needs to be:<br /> • Relatable enough for kids to see themselves<br /> • Unique enough to stand out in the slush pile<br /> • Active enough to drive the story<br /> • Memorable enough to survive multiple readings at bedtime</p> <p>Where do you find this amazing donor heart? It might be the very thing you loved so much about the manuscript you want to revive. It might be the younger sister from your shelved YA novel. Or maybe it’s the hilarious kid you blogged about meeting at a school visit. Find a character beating with potential and place it in the center of your story.<br />
The Brain of your story is the theme or central message. The theme is the big idea that controls everything else. Picture books are more than stories - they're tiny life lessons disguised with humor and heart.</p> <p>But your theme needs to be:<br /> • Subtle enough not to trigger the dreaded "didactic" rejection<br /> • Clear enough for a four-year-old to grasp<br /> • Universal enough to speak to both kids and adults<br /> • Fresh enough to prevent agents and editors from responding with "Not another sharing/bedtime/first-day story!"</p> <p>Check your other dead manuscripts to see if there is a recurring theme, something that really seems to be speaking to you. Find the bit of poetry you scribbled on the back of a receipt to see what theme inspired it. Reread the pep talk you texted your critique partner at 1am. Pick the theme that will drive your story, giving it purpose, direction, and deeper meaning.<br />
The Legs of your story is the plot. Not to be confused with a grave plot.🤪 The plot is what keeps everything upright and moving, as well as providing support for all the other elements. You have very few words to use in a picture book, so you need to do a lot with each plot point.</p> <p>In general, your plot should:<br /> • Hook readers fast<br /> • Build tension that a child can follow<br /> • Create page turns that feel natural<br /> • Wrap up in a way that satisfies</p> <p>You can borrow a plot twist (a leg) from one manuscript and the opening (the other leg) from a different manuscript. Consider if the subplot of the middle grade novel you trunked would work better as a picture book. Or maybe your Facebook post about a disastrous camping trip could become a story for kids. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you have your storyline.
The Arms of your story are the side characters.
The Torso of your story is the setting. Setting helps a story breathe and connects all the elements of the story. It isn't just where your story lives, it's what makes your story ALIVE. It's the difference between "this happened in a park" and "this happened in that park, the one with the twisty slide that burns your legs and the creaky swing that sounds like a baby crying.”</p> <p>Your setting should:<br /> • Make your character's world feel real<br /> • Contain your story in a way that makes sense to young readers<br /> • Connect different scenes and moments organically<br /> • Give your illustrator enough room to add visual subplots</p> <p>Half-finished manuscripts are a great place to dig up settings, since you worked out the place details before the plot petered out. Or maybe you had to cut a second fantastic location from your chapter book. You can also revisit the detailed caption from your Instagram carousel documenting your tour of that delish candy shop. Disinter a robust setting that can house all of your story's vital organs.

After you press the Click When Done circle button, the lights flash with the sound of electricity buzzing. Then the screen goes black and lightning zaps across the screen with the sound of thunder.

The screen then lights up to show the storage room, and all the Frankenstein pieces have been assembled into the whole monster. An upbeat song plays in the background. Then a speech bubble pops up with the words, “I’m alive! I’M ALIVE!” Then the screen goes to black. 

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