ArmchairBEA #4 YOUNG ADULT

Our final genre of discussion is one that we know is a popular one these days: books for the younger crowd, from middle grade to young adult. If you do not normally talk about this genre on your site, maybe you want to feature books that you remember impacting you during this stage in your life. If this is where you tend to gravitate, maybe you want to list your favorites, make recommendations based on genres, or feature some titles that you are excited to read coming later this year.

I'm in a bit of a slump when it comes to Young Adult lately, so I'd defiantly love some recommendations. But here are some of my all time favorites in the genres I love!

YA Paranormal Romance

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

YA Fantasy

She's been chosen to fight the elusive enemy among us....
Phoenix Germaine has been trying to earn back her mother's trust after going into rehab and kicking Onadyn -- the drug of choice for New Chicago teens. But when a party in the woods turns into an all-out battle with the most ferocious aliens Phoenix has never seen, she's brought home in what appears to be an Onadyn-induced state. Hello, reform school.

Except, what her mother doesn't know is that Phoenix has just been recruited to join the elite Alien Investigation and Removal agency, where she'll learn to fight dirty, track hard, and destroy the enemy. Her professional training will be rigorous and dangerous, and the fact that one of her instructors is Ryan Stone -- the drop-dead gorgeous, nineteen-year-old agent she met in the woods that night -- doesn't make things any easier. Especially when dating him is totally against the rules....

Wildly imaginative, action-packed, and thrilling, Red Handed launches Gena Showalter's stunning new alien huntress series.

YA Contemporary

A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

When I was fourteen, I made a decision. If I was doomed to live in a trailer park next to an airport, I could complain about the smell of the jet fuel like my mom, I could drink myself to death over the noise like everybody else, or I could learn to fly.

Heaven Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family, while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as trash, but she’s the one who negotiates with the landlord when the rent’s not paid. At fourteen, she’s the one who gets a job at the nearby airstrip.

But there’s one way Leah can escape reality. Saving every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial banner-advertising business at the airstrip and also offers flight lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she’s ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rate flight lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.

By the time she’s a high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true... but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons: golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they’re determined to keep the banner planes flying.

Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business—until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers—and the consequences could be deadly.

ArmchairBEA #3 Giveaway Day!

I'm pretty sure this is the one day everyone loves to spread some book giveaway love! I have three awesome titles to choose from, and I hope you guys like what I have picked out!

US Giveaway Only
One lucky winner can choose One of the follow best sellers and releases this week!! I chose them since they are favorite authors of mine that I'm so excited for their latest releases in their series!

ArmchairBEA #3 Novellas/Short Stories

Novellas/Short Stories
Now it is time to give a little love to those little stories in your life. Share your love for your favorite shorts of any form. What is a short story or novella that doesn’t get the attention that it deserves? Recommend to readers what shorts you would recommend they start with. How about listing some short story anthologies based upon genres or authors?

It's really hard for me to get into short stories because they always feel unfinished or I'm dying to read more and just feel sad that it ended.

But what I do love about some novellas is that they tie bigger stories together, characters that didnt get enough attention get their own story.

Some of my favorites include: Laurell K. Hamiltons Micah, Lauren Christina's Beautiful Bastard novella series, Samtha Young's On Dublin novella series and more.

But one of my major favorites, that gave me insight into one kick butt lead heroine, was Sierra Deans The Secret Guide to Dating Monsters.

The series as a whole is fantastic, but the novella grabbed my attention write away, with the writing, humor, lead characters persona and the world building.

If you haven't read this series yet, I'd say give the novella a try and go from there. See the blurb below!

BLURB:

Are blind dates supposed to be this bloody?

A Secret McQueen Story
They say it's impossible to find a man in New York City. Secret McQueen needs to find two in one night. Of course, it’ll mean pulling off the impossible—find and kill a displaced rogue vampire without disrupting the first promising date she’s had in ages. As a werewolf hybrid used to walking a fine line of survival in the vampire world, though, Secret eats impossible for breakfast.

Somewhere between hello and the first round of drinks, Secret makes her move. Her target, Hollywood’s biggest star, shouldn’t be hard to spot. Just look for swarms of fans. Except every time her vampire liaison, Holden, helps keep her mission on track, her date runs further off the rails.

Either Holden has a hidden agenda, or he knows more than he’s letting on about her quarry. One way or another, Secret is determined to get her man, and meet Mr. Right. Or die trying.

ArmchairBEA #2 Author Interaction

Author Interaction

Over the years I have met so many wonderful authors in person, from Rachel Caine, Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Keri Arthur and many more. But the most memorable would have to be the fabulous Patricia Briggs last year.

I had a chance to interview Patricia Briggs for my blog last year before her appearance to our local bookstore. She was the sweetest person over the phone, as well as answered all my questions thoughtfully. I later met her and thanked her in person at her signing.

Below are some of the questions from the interview, which focused on last years release Frost Burned.

Phone Interview

SNR: It's been a while since River Marked and Fair Game released, what is your process of getting yourself back into Mercy's world?

PB: Mercy is a really strong voice, I never have trouble getting back into the next book. She's not me but its like a very good friend of mine. It's like sitting down and talking with her.

Jess is becoming a more prominent character in the series, have you thought about a spin off for her?

PB: Well, I haven't at this point. It makes sense of her turning into a major character with Adam and Mercy living together now. She's a much more major part of Mercy's life than she was before. I certain could, I have kind of tentative place for a short story for her. The project I'm working on right now is a book of short stories, some are previously published and four or five are new. It's not going to be in that book, those stories I have already mailed out. But I could see her going out and getting involved in things that shes not up to. So probably not a full series following her but a short story where shes the protagonist.

SNR: The short stories that you mentioned, can you tell us a little more about what to expect in that?

PB: Sure, we thought it would be a good idea to collect all the short stories in the Mercy world, because, quite frankly its a pretty good scavenger hunt to find them all. I was originally going to put Alpha and Omega in that, but when we brought out Cry Wolf in hardback where we included Alpha and Omega in that. I thought that is was not appropriate to stick in in an anthology. I decided to put more original fiction in this one instead. The stories that are pretty much done are of Samuel's story and how he met Ariana, which brings Bran back in at the beginning and we find out a little bit more on how they became werewolves and things like that. Which should be fun. Its not a happy happy story cause we all know its not going to be right? But it's got a lot of information that fans have been asking about, so I thought I would let everyone in on some of the things I know about Samuel and Bran.

Another story is Ben's story, he's not ready for a happy ever after yet. But I tell people a little bit more about what really happened in London and he doesn't come out a shiny and clean choir boy in it. He's making progress, he's got a lot of time to make his change thanks to being a werewolf.

Also a Tad story, why he's changed so much since Mercy saw him last. If you haven't read Frost Burned yet, Tad comes on stage as a major player. I've known a lot about him for years but just never found the right place to bring him in.

Also going to do a Kara and Asil story. Kara is the girl from Blood Bound, where her father the reporter, is trying to find someone to help him with his daughter who was changed into a werewolf at a very young age. I've had a lot of fans asking about her over the years. I kept saying the next Alpha and Omega, the next Alpha and Omega. Then Fair Game jumped way ahead, so I have to do something for her and that's going to be a short story with Asil. Because he was absolutely the scariest person I could think to pair her with. (I can't wait for this anthology!! More Bran, Sam, Tad, Asil!! Yes please!)

SNR: Is there are chance that Mercy and Anna might meet in a future book?

PB: Well they know each other and they like each other quite a bit. I know it sounds a little freaky, in order to have the world hold together then I have to make up parts so I know how everyone is related to each other. I could say no no no, since its too many major characters, though I could see one coming in as a side character. That is more probable. Doing a book where they are both in the main plot, you've got Adam, Mercy, Charles and Anna that four protagonist. If I was a big fantasy writer it wouldn't bother me at all, its just a lot more juggling. Anna would fade into the back ground and I don't like that since I like her a lot. At this point maybe just one would come in as a side character.

SNR: With the graphic novels, what was the process with seeing from the beginning and adding faces to your characters. (Besides Mercy on the book covers)?

PB: It was kind of an interesting process. I had a really hard time getting them to actually have the artist draw the werewolves like "werewolves" not like man with a hairy face. They sent me sample art that was really well done, but it was like a woman coyote mix of Mercy and it was horrible. The artist was very good but it was not Mercy. Once we had a couple of good writers that started working with me, everything started to move along a lot better. We got an artist (Tsai) who was amazing, he was the one who generated most of the characters. Emily Woo took over and she worked with us a lot, getting the characterization pretty close to right. I'm aware, that I see people in my head and try to convey that to the artist on what they look like just doesn't work. Even if they captured those people right, that wouldn't be the people the fans have in their head. So at some point in time I just sat back and said that this is acceptable. What I really like is that we lost the sex kitten Mercy early on, that's not the first thing you notice about her in the comics, it made my heart a bit happier. ( We chat a little more about Adams appearance and how we picture him.)

SNR: How many more will we see in graphic novels?

PB: Homecoming did very well and was in the New York Times for three weeks at the top. The second Moon Called didn't do very well. We had some discussion on why that was and what to do about it. Ultimately we are doing one more with Nick (Dynamite Comics). It will be from a story outline that I gave them, so a new original story. Also Penguin Publishing and Random House , are starting out publishing graphic novels and I think they are going to take some of the original short stories in the anthology and put them into a graphic novel. We want to make sure the readers are getting something that they'll enjoy. (I was doing a happy dance at this point! Can't wait to see more of Mercy's world in Graphic Novel.)

SNR: How many more mercy books or even in the alpha and omega series will there be?

PB: I promise to stop writing them when I get bored. So far that's not an issue. I'm working on the next Mercy book which is called Night Broken it will come out this time next year. Then I'll do another book in the Mercyverse, maybe Alpha and Omega or might be something completely different. Then another Mercy book. After that its the end of the contract, that said I have no intention of stopping either series. I'm having a ball, I like these characters, they are really fun to write. I have no trouble finding story lines for them, I have no trouble sitting down and writing them. If I ever get to that point where I don't think I can do them justice, I may jump back into writing tradition fantasy again and then come back and hit them fresh. ( We chat a little bit more about Mercy and how much I have enjoyed them and how happy I am to hear that we have a lot more Mercy ahead for the fans. Briggs says "Thank you very much, I love playing with my imaginary friends and book tours are a fun way of meeting the friends of my imaginary friends. We have a laugh and talk about the signing that night and say out goodbyes until then.)

ArmchairBEA #1: INTRODUCTIONS & LITERATURE

Introduction

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? Where in the world are you blogging from?

My name is Kristen and I've been blogging for 4 and a half years. I started blogging while my husband was on deployment, it was a great reading community that kept me occupied while he was gone. Since then I've stuck with it. I'm blogging from the beautiful sunny California.

What genre do you read the most? 

I read Paranormal Romance the most, I love reading it because of the intense romance but also the clever plot lines based around, vampires, werewolves, fae, magic and more!

What was your favorite book read last year? What’s your favorite book so far this year?

One of the best books I read last year was Bronze Gods by A.A. Aguirre. So far this year, would be Night Broken by Patricia Briggs.

What book would you love to see as a movie?

I would love to see the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs be turned into a movie. I love the idea of a coyote shape shifter being raised and protected by a wolf pack. The story lines are always clever and intense.

Literature

What do you think of when you think of literature? Classics, contemporary, genre, or something else entirely?  Feel free to share a list of your favorites, break down your favorite genre, feature your favorite authors, and be creative about all things literature in general.

This is a hard one, but I think of literature as genre first, because there are so many books out there that have different focuses.  Below are a couple of my favorite genres and titles!

Paranormal Romance Favorite

Urban Fantasy Favorite

New Adult Favorite

Young Adult Favorite

ArmchairBEA: Children's/Young Adult Literature

Today's Topic:

Our final genre focuses on the younger crowd: children's picture books and young adult literature and everything in between. What are the top 5 (or more) books that every child should have on his shelf? If you are an adult who reads YA, why do you keep going back for more? If you are not a reader of these books, think back to your childhood and share your favorites from your younger years.

Young Adult:

I have been a big fan of Young Adult since R.L Stine books, remember Fear Street? My big sister and I use to read them together while home alone. These were such scary but addicting books that I didn't care if I couldn't sleep that night after reading it, I was going to finish that book.

If you have never read an R.L. Stine book I highly recommend them, not matter how long ago they came out, there still amazing. For the kiddos give them a goosebumps books because they are scary but good for the little ones to understand.

The cycle of Young Adult books is huge right now and my main reason for coming back to new YA titles is all about the authors. Some really fantastic authors are popping up and creating such amazing worlds, characters and their writing just pulls you in.

3 Favorites for Young Adult books:

(I have so many but I'll stick with 3)

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
In a world where people born with an extreme skill—called a Grace—are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of the skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

Why? The world that Cashore created is phenomenal, I was sucked into this world of magic, suspense and romance with such wonderful characters.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

Why? Because Who wouldn't want to fall in love in the City of Lights? I loved the romance, humor and wonderful characters. Perkins writes in a way that makes you fall for her characters and never want to put the book down.

Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Why? Because even though I have had enough vampire-ish type books this title took me by surprise. I loved the Greek mythology connection, the vampire type villains and of course I always look for characters that keep my interest and mix in some really great romance. 

Armchair BEA: Genre: Non-Fiction In All Its Forms

Today Topic:

Today we are talking non-fiction books! Non-fiction books are a very broad category, ranging from autobiographies and biographies to historical figures or events to even travel books. It is really hard to narrow down the possibilities for this quick introduction to the genre!

I probably haven't ever really read through an entire Non-fiction book before, I find them not interesting and half the time like Im suppose to be studying for a test when I do read one. I know there are a lot of wonderful stories out there but this genre isnt my cup of tea. 

However... the one I do own that I have skimmed through and loved, is about the fabulous Audrey Hepburn, whom I adore and love all of her movies.  

What about you? I'm curious as to anyone who may recommend a Non-fiction that may catch my interest. I'm always happy to try something new.

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M:

Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman

BLURB:

Audrey Hepburn is an icon like no other, yet the image many of us have of Audrey--dainty, immaculate--is anything but true to life. Here, for the first time, Sam Wasson presents the woman behind the little black dress that rocked the nation in 1961. The first complete account of the making of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. reveals little-known facts about the cinema classic: Truman Capote desperately wanted Marilyn Monroe for the leading role; director Blake Edwards filmed multiple endings; Hepburn herself felt very conflicted about balancing the roles of mother and movie star. With a colorful cast of characters including Truman Capote, Edith Head, Givenchy, "Moon River" composer Henry Mancini, and, of course, Hepburn herself, Wasson immerses us in the America of the late fifties before Woodstock and birth control, when a not-so-virginal girl by the name of Holly Golightly raised eyebrows across the country, changing fashion, film, and sex for good. Indeed, cultural touchstones like Sex and the City owe a debt of gratitude to Breakfast at Tiffany's.

In this meticulously researched gem of a book, Wasson delivers us from the penthouses of the Upper East Side to the pools of Beverly Hills, presenting Breakfast at Tiffany's as we have never seen it before--through the eyes of those who made it. Written with delicious prose and considerable wit, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. shines new light on a beloved film and its incomparable star.

BEA Armchair: Genre Fiction

Todays Topic:

If you’re a reader of genre fiction do you have a favourite author or series? And what keeps bringing you back for more fantasy/sci fi/horror etc? And if you don’t read one (or more) of these genres what is it that deters you from those sections of the bookstore? I’m also curious to hear why you think these genres often don’t get the recognition they deserve.

Below are my three favorite series or titles for the genres: Horror, Science Fiction and Romance. I loved these book and have read them again and again. For me I always need a bit of romance for each of these genres, but the characters must be extremely powerful (aka make me want to connect to them). These three authors are fantastic character writers and I continue following them through any series that they write. These Genres are the only ones I read besides, new adult, urban fantasy and paranormal romance. I feel they always should get the recognition because there are so many wonderful books in these genres.

Horror:

BLURB:
With all the vampire, werewolf and faerie books out there, it's easy to become numb to all things supernatural. The antidote? Darkhouse introduces two real and unforgettable characters, Perry Palomino & Dex Foray, amateur ghost hunters who are "attractive, relatable and oddly heroic," "flawed but loveable," "slightly crazy" and just the most endearing pair to ever tackle the paranormal...just don't call them normal.

Darkhouse is a thrilling and sexy new take on concepts like Supernatural and The X-Files, bringing a breath of fresh air to a genre that has been inundated with the dead.

***Darkhouse and the Experiment in Terror series is a horror/romance for mature audiences only. Readers who are easily offended by harsh language should think twice about reading it.

Romance:

BLURB:
A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers. 

When I was fourteen, I made a decision. If I was doomed to live in a trailer park next to an airport, I could complain about the smell of the jet fuel like my mom, I could drink myself to death over the noise like everybody else, or I could learn to fly.

Heaven Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family, while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as trash, but she’s the one who negotiates with the landlord when the rent’s not paid. At fourteen, she’s the one who gets a job at the nearby airstrip.

But there’s one way Leah can escape reality. Saving every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial banner-advertising business at the airstrip and also offers flight lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she’s ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rate flight lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.

By the time she’s a high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true . . . but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons: golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they’re determined to keep the banner planes flying.

Science Fiction:

BLURB:
How can a sexy marketing manager join forces with an Alpha Centauri male in Armani to save the planet-using hairspray, a Mont Blanc pen, and rock n' roll?

Easy...

She's Touched by an Alien 

Marketing manager Katherine "Kitty" Katt steps into the middle of what appears to be a domestic dispute turned ugly. And it only gets uglier when the man turns into a winged monster, straight out of a grade-Z horror movie, and goes on a killing spree. Though Kitty should probably run away, she springs into action to take the monster down.

In the middle of the chaos a handsome hunk named Jeff Martini appears, sent by the "agency" to perform crowd control. He's Kitty's kind of guy, no matter what planet he's from. And from now on, for Kitty, things are going to be sexy, dangerous, wild, and out of this world.

{Armchair BEA} Topic: Beyond the Blog

Happy Thursday for ArmchairBEA! Today’s topic is “Beyond the Blog” Has blogging opened up opportunities for you beyond getting free, advance copies of new books? Has it helped you get offers to write or review elsewhere (maybe even for pay)? Have you gotten invites to special events or places you might not have been to otherwise? 

For me blogging and reviewing are all about the love of reading and discovering new authors. I for one don't accept offers or use any affiliates to help pay for my site or books that I giveaway. Sometimes I do think about doing the affiliate program with amazon, which I did have but as of now it comes out of my pocket and I don't mind that. I work as a graphic designer as my full time job and my blog is my hobbies and something fun I do on the side.

I do write, but just for fun and for me to read. When I was younger I use to write a lot of fanfiction, but school and life came and I had to set that aside. I do love to read others fanfiction and still enjoy writing short stories on the side.

Outside the blog I feel I've made some great connections with authors, bloggers, readers, and publishers. All have been wonderful and people who have made me enjoy blogging that much more. I enjoy the community that has grown around me since I started blogging and cant wait to meet many more.

{Armchair BEA: Day 3} Positive "real life" experience with books

{Today's suggested writing topic: We'd love for you to share a positive "real life" experience with books! Either by way of your own partnerships in your community, a book signing you went to or possibly even a get together with fellow book bloggers. }

Well I've had some really great positive experiences with books! I worked for Borders Books and Music for five years. This is where I began my new love for more genres and authors. I started to discover them but shelving and getting ARCs to read to help promote our best sellers. Not long after a became a supervisor, Twilight came out and I read it and really enjoyed it. Soon after I began promoting it, the craze started and everyone wanted a copy. The YA genre boomed and I became in charge with organizing events and merchandising the area with books that I would recommend. I really miss working for the company but it got me started with recommending on my blog and becoming apart of such an awesome community.

Now I got to a local book store called Mysterious Galaxy for signings and big release events. I have met so many authors such as Cassandra Clare, Gini Koch, Holly Black, and many more there.

Also I got to Comic Con where I have met the author and gotten lots of wonderful ARCs, which helped me discover some fantastic new series. Last year I met Andrea Cremer, Tahereh Mafi, Marie Lu, Laurell K Hamilton, and many more. Along with going to the Publishing panels, I had a wonderful time. This year I'll be going again and I cant wait to see who I meet and new books to find!

Lastly I will be attending ALA later this month, where I already know some bloggers who I'm going to meet up with. This will be my first time attending and I cant wait experience this big event!

{Armchair BEA} Best of 2012

Todays post topic is to pick a few of our favorite reads in 2012 or some that were looking forward to reading. Here are some that I have already and loved!

Pure by Jennifer Armtrout {Goodreads}
Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep {Goodreads}

Blood Kin by M.J. Scott {Goodreads}

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo {Goodreads}
On Demon Wings by Karina Halle {Goodreads}

Books I have that I cant wait to read:

Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate {Goodreads}

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols {Goodreads}

So Close to You by Rachel Carter  {Goodreads}

Outpost by Ann Aguirre {Goodreads}

What have are you favorite reads of 2012?

{BEA Armchair} Introduction

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? Hey fellow bloggers! My name is Kristen and I run the blog Seeing Night reviews. Besides blogging and reviewing I'm a graphic designer for a eLearning Company and book cover designer on the side. I have been blogging for 4 years but took a break a re-opened SNR about a year and a half ago. I got into blogging while working for Borders Books and Music and enjoyed recommending to customers books that I enjoyed. I wanted to connect with more readers like me and thus I came into the blogging community.


What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012? My favorite book this year that I have read in Pur by Jennifer Armentrout. This is the second book in her Covenant series and I cant get enough of her characters. Plus the intense action, mythology and romance hooks me everytime.


Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.What is your favorite feature on your blog (i.e. author interviews, memes, something specific to your blog)?
I'm a huge comic book nerd. I grew up around my dads comic book store back in my home town and have loved them ever since. My dad and I make a trip every year to San Diego (where I know live) to go to Comic Con. This year will be our 12th year going.
My Favorite meme or feature on my blog is author guest post. I love meeting new and current authors and learning about their characters, writing and just their love of creating the worlds were get sucked into.

Where do you see your blog in five years? I see my blog hopefully still kicking, reviewing, recommending and talking about the books that I love. I don't see myself ever not reading since I've been a book addict for my whole life.


Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read? I can't really choose a post at the moment because I love them all especially my reviews, I just want to help recommend books. But if anything I hope that everyone would enjoy my author guest post and my reviews.


If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?  I would love to have a dinner chat with author Jennifer Estep. Her series are the Mythos Academy series and the Elemental Series that are my top young adult and adult books that I read. I have chatted with her a couple times about reviews and had her as a guest for her first book in the Mythos series a year ago.  Or I would love to have dinner with her lead character in her Elemental series Gin. She a kick butt assassin who helps everyone.


What literary location would you most like to visit? Why? I've actually never been to New York. Not only does it have a huge library that I want to visit but it also is the location for Sleepy Hollow, once of my favorite classic stories.


What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years? My whole reason for blogging was to connect with readers who love books just as much as I do. I have met so many great blogger friends and chat with them on a daily basis. At the moment I just hope the community keeps growing and keeps doing what were doing, recommending so great books and authors.


Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How? I actually started reading more Young Adult books but still hold on to my Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Science Fiction genres. 

BEA Armchair Blogging about Blogging Day 5

• How do you utilize social networking in relation to your blog? What may be the pros and cons of doing so?

I use social networking to connect with fellow bloggers, authors and publishers. I feel it benefits to be connect and updated with all the latest new about blogs and books. Pros are just what I said. I don't really feel there are cons you are getting your name out there for your blog and meeting some really great people.

• Share some of your favorite blogging technical tips.

Tips:

Communicate: Not be shy connect with people, ask questions and get advice from other bloggers. I joined a conference (BBPcon) and met some really amazing publishers, authors and bloggers. They answered questions about the good and the bad. How we should communicate with publishers and more. It helped build up the courage to chat and get connected.

Enjoy Reading: You read and blog because it's something you enjoy. Don't make it stressful and have fun with it! If you feel overwhelmed take a breather. :)

Don't Be afraid of your own opinion: As a blogger and reviewer this is something your doing for yourself. When writing a review be yourself say how you felt, let those who read your reviews know how you feel but make sure that they know this is your own opinion.

• What are your tips for balance life and blogging?

Balancing blogging and life might be difficult sometimes because we all love reading, chatting and posting about the latest reads. But make sure you get out of the house and get some fresh air. As I said before don't let the fun go out of reading. 

BEA Armchair Nurturing Book Blogging Relationships Day4

Todays post about a relationship you’ve formed with a particular publisher, author, blogger, or bookstore. Or you could give us your best tips on working with publishers and authors, like how and when to ask for ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies), dealing with review requests, etc. Kristi from The Story Siren did a whole series on publishers interactions, what has been your experience? Is there something you wish someone would have told you?

What about other bloggers? How do you connect with them? Is there a secret? What about authors? How do you maintain a friendship with an author when you're a book blogger? Do you partner with an independent bookstore? How is that experience? What are your tips to other bloggers who want to do the same?


For me I can't really single out any publishers or authors because they have all been wonderful and such great people to communicate with. The publishers have been very welcoming to bloggers and as a reviewer it's really great to be able to interact with them. As for authors it's the same both published and indies they are amazing writers and have worked hard to write the books that we love to read and I have met so many that I love to chat with through twitter and they all know who they are :)

For the fellow bloggers I have met a ton!! There are some fantastic reviews and awesome people who I enjoy chatting with on twitter and blog hopping. I want to point out some bloggers who I talk to everyday in the skype world. As Angela @ Reading Angel said over on her blog for her post she called us all Skype Sisters lol.

These girls we chat about anything and everything and of course books books and more books. I'm so happy to have met them all and have blogger friends who have the same love for books as I do to chat with everyday. You all are amazing!


Check out there amazing blogs!
Angela - Reading Angel aka my birthday buddy lol
April - Shelf Confessions
Bex - Kindle Fever
Amanda - Letters Inside Out
Heather - Book Savy Babe
Lisa - Alive on the Shelves
Jennifer - The Bawdy Book Blog


I think the best tip I can give is something I've learned along the way of blogging is communicate. Talking with bloggers, authors and publishers is all about keeping contact for me and say hello once in a while on twitter. Who doesn't love to have someone say hi :)

BEA Armchair Books Fellow Blogger Interview Day3

My Blogger Interview is with Tezza from Spade High Reads Blog.
You can find Tezza on :
Twitter: @SpadesHigh
Facebook: Spades High Reads
Goodreads: Tvaleros

Bio:
"Avid Reader. YA Fanatic. Mum to a Beautiful 18mo. Wife to a Military Member. Shopaholic.Coffeholic.&.Book Reviewer."

Both Tezza and I are Military wives so it was pretty awesome to get to interview someone who loves to read and has a husband who serves. (:

Me: What is your favorite genre to read in YA?

Tezza: I would say my favorite YA genre so far would be Paranormal. I’m not really into anything erotic (adult), but I like to read Paranormal-Romance as well.

Me: What do you love about blogging and reviewing books?

T: The great thing about blogging and reviewing books is that it’s a great outlet to express your thought and emotions on books, and you get to share it with whom ever takes the time to read it.

Me: How do you like living in California? I’m a fellow Californian too!

T: I can’t say much really. I’ve been raised here all my life but sometimes the erratic weather does get on the nerves. LoL

Me: Who are some of your favorite authors/titles?

T: A non-YA author would be Michael Swanwick. He makes wicked dystopian-fantasy novels…and as of recent I enjoy Cassandra Clare (who doesn’t), P.C. Cast, and Andrea Cremer (aren’t you excited for Wolfsbane!?)

Me: Does your little boy ACE get to read your books with you?

T: He doesn’t read yet, BUT he does however know how to treat books. He doesn’t rip them or tear out the pages =)

Me: Which book title can you read over and over again and wont get tired of?

T: The Iron Dragon’s Daughter By Michael Swanwick Rated 18+ though. ^_^

Me: What upcoming titles are you most excited about?

T: I am eagerly awaiting Wolfsbane By Andrea Cremer

Me: What are some of your favorite shows on television?

T: Oh my goodness, I am so fond of Supernatural!!! Dean is so swoon worthy **drool** LoL

Me: Do you have any favorite hobbies besides reading that you like to do?

T: I enjoy spending as much quality time with my son, and watching cartoons… I’m 25 years old and I’m still proud to say that I still watch cartoons. Is that bad? ;)

Me: Which character in a book you love would you like to meet?

T: Jace from The Mortal Instruments… Oh my Oh my who would not want to meet him **big grin**

 Thanks for having here today and doing the interview. I hope to see you more often on the bloggersphere!

Yay Tezza thanks for stopping by!