Over the last week, I hosted a writing conference with a few of my closest and brightest friends. during a live chat, the subject of Pinterest came up. I am totally in every possible way completely enamored with Pinterest. Thing w   as, my friend Dustin isn't convinced. I mean-- sure he thinks it can be used for fun, but he doesn't see the marketing potential. And so, he's called me out. In a rap battle of sorts. Seeing as how I've never actually been in a rap battle, and chances are this is pretty much the closest I will ever come to one... I AM SO IN. (He also called out my Keep Reading >>>

There are books that make you laugh, there are books that make you cry, and there are books that make your life better just for having read them. That's how I feel about Elana Johnson's SURRENDER.   MAN! LOOK AT THAT COVER-- It's freakin' gorgeous, right? I read this book. I read this book before it ever had a cover, before it was ever sold to a publisher, before it was ever... well, a book. It was amazing then, and when I read it again, it was even more amazing, more chilling, and more-- well, just more. I love it so much that I want to give it away to you guys! But Keep Reading >>>

I am freaking out about next week. You know what happens next week? POSSESSION by my good friend Elana Johnson comes out!! (And I am flying to Utah for her Launch Party) I'm so happy for her--it's awesome to see your friend's dream come true. And you guys know me--when I'm happy, I like to give things away! (And apparently I like to get on planes-- there better not be snakes.) So: help me show Elana some love and celebrate her book's release! All next week, we're hosting a mini-love-tour for Elana and POSSESSION--with prizes every single day. We're pulling out all the stops: there's Keep Reading >>>

Hello Bookanistas! It's Thursday and that means all over the internet authors are going wild for YA books. Me? I'm laughing, I'm crying-- I'm throwing a book across the room in frustration and then running after it because I just couldn't put down Hannah Moskowitz's Invincible Summer. It's a story of a boy and his love of the beach. That sounds so simple, right? WRONG-- It's complicated, it's twisty, and it's sand between your toes gritty. Sometimes you read characters that are so real you feel like you know them. This is exactly that kind of story. Anyone who doesn't read it is Keep Reading >>>

I know I know.. I've been so busy lately that I'm pretty much just bringing you book reviews. BUT, at least they're great books, right? Today we're talking about The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green. I mean, how can you not love it. It's pink AND it's secret! (Oh, and there's a magic 8 ball... dang I my magic 8 ball. I wonder if my mom still has it.) What really made this book rock for me was the main character. She's deceptively normal, and I LOVE that about her. I also loved the way the story didn't leave anything behind. That's always one of my favorite Keep Reading >>>

Sometimes books are more than just stories on the page. Sometimes they make you laugh, sometimes they make you cry, and sometimes they make you think. Beth Revis' Across the Universe is exactly that kind of book. And now, you can go the website and explore the ship before you read it. The ship is so crazy cool--plus, there's the solar light. Ahh! That's their sun! And, today you get to read it. The coolest part? The first 111 pages are free from 11:11 this morning until 11:11 this evening! Ahh! That's Beth! Look at her being all awesome and loving her story so much! Keep Reading >>>

Okay, me fail--I was supposed to post this yesterday. Heck, I was supposed to post all sorts of things this week, but again with the fail. Le sigh. Anyway... I don't want that to take away from the awesome that is Across the Universe by Beth Revis. This book. Wow. This Book. THIS BOOK! Yes, it's like that. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to throw it across the room-and that was all in the first chapter. No, seriously. It's HANDS DOWN the best first chapter I've ever read. So, I'll pause while you go read it. Finished? Yeah--best first chapter EVER, right? So, Keep Reading >>>

It's Bookanista time! Woohoo! My favorite day of the week! And this week brings all sorts of win with Kody Keplinger's debut THE DUFF. I love/hate this author so very VERY much. Love because this book is what all contemporary YA should be. It's honest, real, and heartbreaking while still bringing the funny, loving, and caring that all of us strive to write. And the Hate? Dude--Kody wrote this book at seventeen. Let me just say that again for full effect. SEVENTEEN 1 - 7 ! It's the story of a girl whose home life is less than perfect (but not so flawed that it makes her Keep Reading >>>

I have a little something special for you guys today. Today is the first launch of the new book review bloggers - The Bookanistas: Books are the New Black. I know what you're thinking... what the heck are Bookanistas? Well, rest easy, because I am here to explain: We're a group of writers in all different stages of the publishing process that review super special books we that knock our socks off. The cool part is, because we're writers too, and we know how tough this crazy business can be, we will only be posting positive reviews. Because, dude- no one wants to read a review Keep Reading >>>

For those of you who are new around here, I occasionally review books. And, since I know how much work goes into writing one--I only like to talk about the stories that made me fall in love with them. Who doesn't love a book that rocks, right? A couple of weeks ago, my twitter feed was all abuzz with one story. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins.  Well, I headed out to my local bookstore to pick it up--because everyone told me it was the kind of story I'd fall in love with. And let me just tell you--they were right. When you read YA Paranormal stories, you assume that most of the time Keep Reading >>>