Author Interview: Andrea Cremer

Andrea Cremer is the author of the soon-to-be-released book, Nightshade. Nightshade is the first book in a new and exciting series about werewolves. Andrea was amazing enough to let me interview her this month for the Ultimate Reviewers Challenge. Check out our interview and don't forget to enter the challenge... an ARC of Nightshade is included in my prize pack and you don't want to miss your opportunity to get your hands on this book!

Synopsis:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?



What are your must haves when writing?

Coffee, coffee, and coffee.


Describe Nightshade in three words.

Seductive, thrilling, addictive.


What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your book?

At ALA someone asked me if Calla was born a wolf or human (since Guardians shift back and forth at will). I hadn't really thought about it - and I'd say it could go either way.


Who was your favorite character in Nightshade or who was the one you identified with the most?

They're all favorites - the character I identify with the most is Ansel, who is loosely based on my younger brother. Since my brother and I are a lot alike I really to that character.


What is a typical day in the life of Andrea Cremer like?

It really depends. During the school year my schedule is based around the classes I'm teaching. Right now, however, I'm on sabbatical so my days revolved around writing instead. I usually get up around 9 a.m. stumble through my apartment until I get coffee. Then I check email and blogs and twitter. After that I usually turn to writing whatever project I'm working on and I'll write through the afternoon, taking breaks to walk the dogs or eat. When my husband gets home we'll make dinner together, hang out, and play World of Warcraft. When I'm feeling motivated I also do yoga and go for runs.


What's next for you?

I just turned in Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) and once I have my editorial letter I'll work on revisions. Then it's onto Book 4, which doesn't have a title but is a prequel to the Nightshade series.


A HUGE thank you to Andrea for taking the time to answer my questions and for donating an ARC of Nightshade for the Ultimate Prize Pack! I have read Nightshade and absolutely loved it. To read my review, please click here.

(Credit for the photo of Andrea: Gina Monroe)

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

Synopsis:

YOU WANT MY SOUL AND MY BOYFRIEND?

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can’t just pretend nothing happened. But “complicated” doesn’t even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn’t just an ordinary girl. She’s a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people’s fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn’t above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

I DON’T THINK SO.

Release date: January 1, 2011

*squee* I'm a couple books behind in this series but what I have read so far, I have loved! What are you waiting for? Leave me a link! *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (18)

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, borrowed, or bought this past week:

Won:
Take Me There by Susane Colasanti
Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti
Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr (signed)

I won these books as part of a prize pack for being voted Friendliest Rather on the Rath&Ruins forum on the Wicked Lovely website. The award was part of The Marr Awards which were awards voted on by fans of Melissa Marr's work. Check out The Rath if you're a fan of the Wicked Lovely Series, you won't be disappointed!

Borrowed:
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
The Duff by Kody Keplinger
(both from my amazing brain twin, LENA!)
Intertwined by Gena Showalter from the fabulous KAREN!
Why Men Love Bitches by Sherry Argov from my BFF, Cheryl.

Definitely a good week, made it nice coming home from vacation! So what did you get this week? Please leave me a link so I can check it out! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

Synopsis:

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch an object and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case — but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother — who has supernatural gifts of his own — becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Release date: March 1, 2011

Wow. This one sounds AWESOME. I can't wait to read it! What are you waiting for? Leave me a link! *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Dead Beautiful

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon.

All of a sudden I felt an incredible urge to feel something more: pain, happiness, it didn't matter. In front of me the water was tenuously still, as if the night air were weighing down on it with immense pressure.

And then I saw something rise to the surface. It was round and long, and had what looked like a train of tattered clothes hanging off of it, lolling in the ripples of the water. Its surface was a sickly white. pg. 22

I'm definitely intrigued by this book so far! I JUST started it, can't wait to get further in. Leave me a link to your teaser! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* Clockwork Angel

Synopsis:

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

*squees uncontrollably* I am in love with Cassie Clare’s books. Seriously. In LOVE. I adore The Mortal Instruments Series and am unbelievably happy that she’s writing more books in it. And now? I’m also completely in love with The Infernal Devices. This new series is set in the same Shadowhunter world that The Mortal Instruments is, just quite a bit in the past. And Clockwork Angel, the first book in the series, will NOT disappoint you.

Clockwork Angel follows Tessa, an American girl who has just arrived in London, as she is thrust into a world that she never knew existed. She learns that she herself is part of this world thanks to an amazing ability she has... the ability to transform into another person. Unfortunately, she learns about her ability by being kidnapped and tortured by the Dark Sisters, two very scary and cruel women. Tessa ends up being aided in her escape by the Shadowhunters, gifted human warriors who fight evil.

Tessa stays at the Institute with the Shadowhunters so she can help them figure out what is going on with the clockwork creatures and the mysterious person behind it all, the Magister. In exchange, the Shadowhunters will help Tessa find her brother. Included in this group of Shadowhunters are Will and Jem, two teenage boys that Tessa finds herself drawn to as she delves deeper and deeper into their world.

I really can't say much else of the plot without spoilering and THAT would be a travesty because this book is AMAZING. I was completely engaged in the story and literally had to pry the book from my fingers at times. Cassie Clare has done it again! I don't think I realized how much I had missed this world until reading this book.

Things I can tell you: This book is action-packed! Definitely no yawning while reading this one. And the boys? RAWR. Two delectable choices. Though I am firmly on one side of the fence, I adore the other boy as well and when does that happen? The writing is beautiful and I love the descriptions... I literally felt as if I were there at times. And if you like mystery and intrigue, this one is for you! I have NO idea where the story is headed next and I love that. And Will? Wow. He is so intriguing and interesting, I have GOT to know what has happened in his past. I'm drawn to characters with layers and man, does he have some! All of the characters were great, really. I felt bonded to all of the Shadowhunters we meet. And who doesn't love Magnus? My only complaint is not more of him!

This book is a seriously great read. It will stick with you after you're done. I can't stop thinking about it and feel tortured that it's going to be so long before book two comes out! You MUST add this to your TBR pile if you haven't already. It releases August 31st so what are you waiting for? Pre-order!! You won't regret it! *XOXO*

Better Know a BLOGGER: Meet Taylor... The Library Lurker!

Your Name: Taylor

Name of your blog? The Library Lurker. Check it out here!

Started when? January 2010

Number of followers? 166

What do you review? YA Fiction of all kinds.

How did you get the name for your blog? Well, I get most of my books from the library and I'm there a lot. When I was brainstorming ideas for a name, The Library Lurker just popped into my head. I did a search to see if anyone had used it for a book blog before, because surely it must have been taken, but the only link was to a blog that no one had ever posted on.

How would you describe your blog? My blog is a reflection of me. The colors that it is (bright green and purple) are two of my favorites. I don't have a ton of clutter on my sidebar because I like all of the focus to be on my actual posts and don't like things messy in real life. I have a loose schedule for my weekly post outlines because I can't stand not having a plan.

What kind of blogger are you? Very organized or fly by the seat of your pants? I'm a little bit of both. Like I said above, I have a loose outline of what I'm going to post in the near future, but if I think that something unscheduled is worth posting I won't hesitate to.

What is your favorite review or post from your own blog? Definitely my opinion post My Thoughts on Size in YA. It's the first time that I've ever really expressed my opinion about something like that on my blog, and I was proud of myself for actually posting it. I'm generally pretty reserved, so putting my opinion out there for others to criticize was huge for me.

Your favorite blog? I like all of the usuals (you know the ones!), and I also really like Katie's Book Blog, she's so nice! Erika of Moonlight Book Reviews started a little bit after me, and her blog is great! But really, any book blog is my favorite blog. I just love reading about books.

What are you reading right now? I'm planning on starting The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting once I get done with all this bloggy stuff. I'm really excited to read it!

Can you give me a picture of either your TBR pile or your bookshelves? This is my TBR bookshelf! That does include the books on top, but the books on the floor I've read, one pile is for giveaway/trade/sell, the others I'm keeping. Now I just need to go sign up for the event!

Taylor: Thanks again!

A HUGE thanks to Taylor for letting us interview her! Be sure to check out her site here. And if YOU would like to be featured on Better Know a BLOGGER, please email me at nflkaren(at)gmail(dot)com. Thanks! *XOXO*