Mundie Moms

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

The A-Word by Joy Preble; Blog Tour: Author Interview



Hello & Welcome to today's THE A-WORD blog tour stop! I'm so thrilled to have a friend, the lovely Joy Preble on the blog today. Before we talk about her newest release, here's a little bit about her book. 


Published by: SOHO Teen
Released on: May 6, 2014
Series: A Sweet Dead Life #2
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads

Jenna Samuels is about to turn fifteen. It's been almost a year since her stoner brother, Casey, bit the dust. Almost a year since he returned as her guardian angel, along with his "angel boss," Amber Velasco, the hot twenty-something former EMT. Almost a year since Casey and Amber used up their one-time-only angel power of flight to save...


 Hi Joy! Welcome back to Mundie Moms. I'm so thrilled to have you on the blog today to celebrate your release of The A-Word. What's one A-word you'd use to describe your book? 
Alluring! Also Awesome. And Attractive, since the cover is really pretty. 

The A-Word is the sequel to The Sweet Dead Life. Did you find it easier or harder to write the sequel, vs writing the first book in the series?
Honestly, having done a series before with DREAMING ANASTASIA, I find second books both easier and harder! They're easier in the sense that the world building has been established and I know the characters and their voices and I've fallen in love with the story and so I'm excited and honored to get to write another installment. But then it's harder because there's pressure. In the case of THE A-WORD, SWEET DEAD LIFE ha received some really stellar reviews and so I wanted to make sure that all those reviewers felt I'd done the characters and the plot arc justice. So it's nerve-wracking, for sure! But everyone still seems pretty fond of Jenna and Casey. I am so happy about that!

 What was one of your favorite moments from The A-Word to write, and why? (If it's a spoiler, can you tell us the chapter or page number)
I have so many: Jenna and Ryan's first kiss comes to mind. Because it's such a sweet moment and it's something she's waited for and it's coming juxtaposed against angel craziness and family craziness and all sorts of drama. That's always one of my favorite types of scenes to write-- the ones where you give readers what they want, but a million other tensions are lurking the background and so the stakes for a simple kiss are raised in this really juicy way! 

Through out the entire series, is there one character who has surprised you in terms of the choices they have made or the role the had in the story?
Well, yes. But if I say who, I will hint at something HUGE that happens in A-WORD! So let's just say that there is something that happens in the middle that is a game changer for everyone! 

Which of your characters would your teenage self had been friends with? 
Definitely Jenna! She is sassy and mouthy and fun and also smart and more thoughtful than you might think on the surface. My type of girl. I guess that's why writing her voice is always such a pleasure! 

Can you tell us a little bit about what you're working on next?
I'd love to! I just finished line edits for next year's FINDING PARIS, which will be out from Balzer and Bray/Harper Collins on 4/21/15. It's my first contemporary YA with no paranormal elements and it's also darker and twister and has a strong romantic element. Basically it's: a girl, a boy, a missing sister, some terrible and dark secrets, a road trip from Vegas to LA and places beyond, and a romance that I hope will break your heart into tiny, quivering pieces.

Thank you Joy for being on Mundie Moms!
Thanks for hosting me, Katie!

Just Call Me Ninja by Clare Haltom; Blog Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway


Hello & Welcome to today's JUST CALL ME NINJA blog tour stop. I'm thrilled to tell you a little bit about Clare's newest release and share an excerpt with you. First, a little bit about Just Call Me Ninja:


Just Call Me Ninja  Synopsis:
Sophomore Callista Trent is used to being the anonymous new girl. But when her mother’s nomadic job finally keeps her family in one place long enough to force Callista to settle in, she wants none of it. She doesn’t expect it to last, anyway—it never does.
She also doesn’t expect to stumble across a group of shinobi, modern-day ninjas who also happen to be high school students. Or for them to claim destiny sent her to join them. Or for the hot, harmonica-playing loner from her chemistry class to be one of the instructors.
For once, she starts to think that maybe she could belong somewhere. But she quickly learns her new friends aren’t running some casual karate school. And when Callista’s assigned to a dangerous mission they say only she can complete, she begins to suspect it wasn’t destiny that brought her to the shinobi at all but a carefully laid plan. Oh, and the worst part? The boy she thought she could trust may have known the truth all along.
Find the book via: Amazon | Goodreads

Read An Excerpt

A gray tabby peeked out from the kitchen doorway.
“Princess.” Who knew victory could be so ugly? The cat really did look like its embroidered picture. Callista held out the can of tuna and crept forward.
Twisting its head to peer at her with its one golden eye, the cat sniffed the air, then pivoted and disappeared.
“No, you don’t!” Callista dashed after it but came to a halt in a kitchen that appeared free from feline occupation. Crap. She walked around the center island twice and even crawled on the floor looking for gaps under the cabinets. Nothing.
There was another exit to the alley, but it was locked when she yanked on it.
She checked the room one more time. It wasn’t like there were many places he could have gone.
She eyed another door at the back of the kitchen. It was the only one she hadn’t tried. However, she was pretty sure it had been closed when she’d come in. She was also pretty sure Princess lacked the opposable thumbs necessary to turn the handle.
But she hated losing to a cat that had lost to a parakeet.
Sticking the pillow more securely under her arm, she twisted the knob and walked in. It was probably just a janitorial closet or supply—
The closet was surprisingly bright.
And filled with people. Kids from school. Half a dozen of them.
All staring at her.

Oh crap, this wasn’t a supply closet.

About The Author

Clare Haltom lives in sunny southern California. She can usually be found jumping over waves at the beach, eating Pringles salt-side down, and trying to avoid ninja assassins.
Find Clare via: Her Blog  | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 
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Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L Armentrout, Waiting on Wednesday



By: Jennifer L Armentrout
Published by: Harlequin Teen
To Be Released on: 10/28/14
Series: The Dark Elements Series #2
Pre-Order from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

I can not wait for this book!! I love Jennifer's writing, and this series is just down right awesome. I love, love, love it.  I completely fell in love with her Gargoyles/Demons in White Hot Kiss. I NEED THIS BOOK already. haha.

What book are you waiting on?

Harald Zwart No Longer Tied to the City of Ashes Movie


The Director of The Mortal Instruments City of Bones, Harald Zwart is reportedly no longer tied to the sequel, City of Ashes. Science Fiction (online) broke the news last night at that Zwart is officially not directing the next movie. This news appeared to have come out of left field, as fans have been patiently waiting for Sony to say something about the City of Ashes movie, which they've yet to do, except when filming, which was suppose to have already begun in Toronto, didn't happen. 

Normally I don't post things that aren't from a credible source, but this seems like a legit article to me, and I got it from a reliable source, Fangirlish, who kept me in last night's news loop. Here's some of what was reported. Per Science Fiction:

Fans of ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones‘ have been waiting to hear about the progress of a sequel after hearing about the second film being delayed due to low box office returns. While the original film did make a profit, it was at a slim margin which stalled the sequel’s progress. Initially, filming for ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes’ was scheduled to start in Toronto, Canada last September before being delayed to a 2014 production. Sadly now, we are getting a new stumbling block. It was just announced that the director of the first film, Harald Zwart (‘The Karate Kid’, ‘Agent Cody Banks’), is now out of the sequel’s creation.
While the studio has made no official announcements, as of this time Zwart stated that “The studio is still certain that they will make this movie, but it’s not me who directs it. I will focus on other projects in the future. Shadow Hunters was a great experience and it gave me a good window to show off.”
They go on to say that Zwart himself confirmed his leaving the production, and that Sony has yet to announce anything. The article also goes on to praise the support TMI fans had with the movie:
While the film may not have done well initially at the box office, the support has been terrific. Fans of the novels have done nothing but heap praise on the first film and have been clamoring for a sequel. Here’s hoping to a quick announcement and return to shooting as the film is supposed to be in the works this year!
Continuing read more what they had to say here. Is anyone surprised by this news? I for one am, especially since the studios have said nothing to fans who want the movie to be made. Let's hope that maybe now they'll tell us something. I'd love to know your thoughts on this. Please feel free to leave a comment, or join in the discussion here in the our City of Ashes movie forum

Cassie Reads from CoHF At Her Italian Stop!


Love this! Cassie reads the first few pages from City of Heavenly Fire at her Italian tour visit!

 

Awww.... Jace & Magnus. haha

GoodReads Interviews Cassandra Clare


Goodreads interviews Cassandra Clare! Check it out, a few weeks back Goodreads reached out to a few Cassie fans and asked them what they'd want to ask her. Well yesterday Goodreads posted their interview with Cassie, which she linked to here. Cassie talks about everything from City of Heavenly Fire, Magnus and more. Here is a teaser from their interview:

percabeth_4ever374: Cassandra, where did you come up with the idea of Shadowhunters and the whole complex idea of the Mortal Instruments world? Was it just one big inspiration or did lots of little things contribute to the making of the Shadowhunter world? Morg also wonders: What inspired you to write the Mortal Instruments series? Suzanne Collins said that she was flicking through the TV channels and morphed two shows together. What happened for you? 
It was a lot of smaller ideas that stacked up. One of my close friends was working in a tattoo parlor at the time, and being there gave me the idea for the rune system. I wanted to write something that would combine elements of traditional high fantasy—an epic battle between good and evil, terrible monsters, brave heroes, enchanted swords—and recast it through a modern, urban lens. So you have the Shadowhunters, who are these very classic warriors following their millennia-old traditions but in these urban, modern spaces: skyscrapers, warehouses, abandoned hotels, rock concerts. In fairy tales it was the dark and mysterious forest outside the town that held the magic and danger. I wanted to create a world where the city has become the forest—where these urban spaces hold their own enchantments, danger, mysteries, and strange beauty. 

Eliza: How do you come up with all the sarcastic comments that make the Herondale boys who they are? 
I am sarcastic, and some of my friends are sarcastic, so I'm well-equipped with a sarcasm incubation chamber. But then the characters themselves are also responsible. They each have their own senses of humor, and they come up with things that surprise me all the time!


People LOVE Magnus! We had a few different questions about him! Trevor O'reilly: What was the inspiration that led to the creation of Magnus Bane? He's an awesome character with his own attitude and eccentric personality that's always with him, no matter when or where he is.
Magnus came from multiple sources. Part of it was my desire to play with the idea of wizards and warlocks. We tend to think of them as Dumbledore types, very wise and old with long white beards. (In fact, sometimes people still say to me they picture Magnus as having a long scraggy beard, because he's a warlock!) So I was trying to get at the opposite of that. I wanted to create an ancient warlock mentor figure who was also a guy who threw parties, who wore glitter and leather pants, who hid his wisdom under a party-boy facade. I never expected him to grow so important, he'd have his own book, but I'm very glad he did. 

You can check out the full interview here. I highly recommend that you do. There are a lot more questions Cassie answers.



This is one of my fav pics of Cassie, and I was so excited to see it on Goodreads, as I took this of Cassie last year at the premiere for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie. 

City of Lost Souls Read-A-Long: Chapter 20


Hello & welcome to day #20 of our City of Lost Souls Read-A-Long. You can find out more about the read along and find the schedule here. There is no right or wrong way to participate. Your comments can be as long or as short as you'd like them to be. 

Today's discussion is about the Chapter 20: A Door Into The Dark

Chapter 20
  • First off, holy Shadowhunters this is getting crazy. Sebastian is truly worse than Valentine. I can not get over what has done to Clary, and what he promised to do to her. Not only that, he's literally wanting to raise hell. Way to go Clary! She is become so incredibly and strong in this book. I really wish she would have been able to accomplish the thing she attempted to do at the beginning of the chapter, except she couldn't, because it would have effected Jace. What are our over all thoughts with this chapter?
Please DO NOT POST SPOILERS. There's some fans who are joining the read-a-long who are reading Clockwork Prince for the first time. 


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