Verb Vixen

BLOG TOUR: TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES

I’m so excited to be part of the blog tour for Two and Twenty Dark Tales, a charity anthology from Month9Books that re-imagines classic Mother Goose nursery rhymes in a delightfully creeptastic way. I’ve previously reviewed the book and you can check out my thoughts on it here. I’m pleased to present for your reading pleasure an interview with Georgia McBride, author and publisher for Month9!

THE INTERVIEW:

1. Where did the idea of a compilation of dark version of Mother Goose tales come from, and how did you find the awesome collection of authors on this book?

I have always thought of Mother Goose rhymes in particular as being dark, and not necessarily comforting. As for the authors, I simply sent an email asking writerly friends I’ve made if they wanted to participate. I was pretty surprised by the response.

2. The stories in this book were creepy in a variety of ways. I think it’s perfect for the Halloween season. Which story in the anthology did you personally find the most scary or disturbing? Why?

It might sound self-serving, but I’ve read many reviews that say Little Miss Muffet, my story, was rather disturbing. Some have called it downright gross. That’s probably because my poem, Humpty Dumpty wasn’t featured in the galley version of the book. It is equally disturbing and extremely sad. Thinking about it chokes me up.

3. If there was a theme song for Two and Twenty Dark Tales what would it be?

Them Bones by Alice in Chains.

4. Month9Books has stated that there will be a charity anthology like Two and Twenty Dark Tales every year. How did you reach this decision, and can you explain the publication’s commitment to charity anthologies? Do you have an idea of what you’re going to do next?

Yes! Next year’s anthology is called Very Superstitious: Myths, Legends, and Stories of Superstition. Proceeds from sales of the first 5,000 copies will be donated to SPCA International. We will continue to publish a charity title annually. We believe we can make a difference, one word at a time.

5. Where do the proceeds for Two and Twenty Dark Tales go to? Can you tell us about this charity?

YALITCHAT.ORG, an organization close to my heart, that fosters the advancement of young adult literature around the world.

6. You currently wear many hats—author and publisher being two of those. How do you balance your various responsibilities, and which do you like the most? Why?

Balance is hard, but necessary. As a writer, I am responsible to myself, my agent, and in some ways, my family. As a publisher, my responsibility extends to Month9Books authors, their agents, their families, our staff, our distributor, our partners. It is a heavy weight, but I carry it gladly and with pride. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

7. What forthcoming release from Month9Books are you most excited for?

Is it wrong to say my own? Praefatio releases May 2013.

8. This is a free and open question. Tell us something original, unique, interesting. Whatever you want to share.

Hmmmm. I have size 10 feet. My fave super hero is Batman. I have a huge crush on Jared Leto. When I was in high school, I wanted to change my name to Stephanie. Don’t know if any of the above makes me original, unique, or interesting. 

Thank you to Georgia and Month9 for that awesome interview! Be sure to order your copy of Two and Twenty Dark Tales today! 

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Before you go, enter to win an ebook of Marcelo in The Real World by Francisco X. Stork using the Rafflecopter here.  

And be sure to check out the other tour stops for more interviews, guest posts and prizes!

BLOG TOUR: A Bad Day for Voodoo

I’m so excited to be part of the blog tour for Jeff Strand’s A Bad Day for Voodoo!  

Glad we covered that. Now, I want you to imagine you very worst day ever. Okay, now I’m going to need you to imagine that bad day getting worst by say, ohhh, x1000. That’s what A Bad Day for Voodoo is like; it is that level of bad day. 

It is humorous horror, if such a genre exists. There is a frantic pace to the plot and to the dialogue/writing. Both the pace and the story pretty much define action/adventure. Adam is perhaps actually dumber than a rock, while pragmatic and practical Kelley is a good counterbalance for him. Tyler meets them somewhere in the middle and has perhaps the most outrageous impulses I’ve ever read. When I think about the plot the only phrase I can come up with is “a ridiculous riot.” We’re talking voodoo dolls, zombies, crazy cabbies, gangsters, shootouts, guarddogs, and so much more. Frankly the book is worth the read just for the FAQ section which had me laughing out loud. I didn’t mind the “Intermission” either. If you’re okay putting reality aside for a little while, if you’re in it to laugh and to be caught up in the fun, then A Bad Day for Voodoo is a perfect read for you. 

Overall: A-

A Bad Day for Voodoo is out now from Sourcebooks! Get your copy now. Want to know more about the plot? Keep reading

Synopsis: Tyler was majorly mad when his teacher gave him an F on his final.  But he didn’t really believe one quick poke on a voodoo doll would make Mr. Chick’s leg explode.  He definitely didn’t think his best friend Adam, who gave him the doll in the first place, would blackmail him with a second doll made in Tyler’s image.  And then his car is hijacked…with the dolls inside. With a group of deadly car thieves, a suspicious cop, parents who demand that they come home “right this minute” and countless other obstacles, they’ll need to work fast to avoid the same gruesome fate as their teacher!There are some days you just want to crawl into bed and forget the rest of the world. For Tyler, that day was today.

About the Author: JEFF STRAND is a three-time nominee for the Bram Stoker Award, lives in Tampa, Florida, and doesn’t believe in voodoo.  But he thinks you should carry a doll around, go up to people you don’t like, and chuckle while you jab at it with pins, just to make them squirm.  Poke around his 

e-Galley provided gratis for review by Sourcebooks via Netgalley.

BLOG TOUR: WANT

I am delighted to be part of the blog tour for Stephanie Lawton’s Want. My review is directly below this so be sure to check that out as well as enter to win your own e-copy of Want. There’s some music links embedded in my review so make sure you listen to them at the appropriate breaks. And check back next week when I’ll be putting up a WANT photo tour of Alabama.

xoxo,

V.V.

WANT Review: Want is dark, twisted, gripping and psychologically fascinating. The book is a sensory experience centered primarily on music but including taste and color and other sounds as well. I was lucky enough to actually read this book while I was driving through Alabama and so I have a true appreciation for the setting now. When you get to Alabama this is the song that comes to mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C29Fs-WNIrg

Instead what you have is surprising and lovely and more like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFMNhx2-VDE

Mobile here acts as the gilded cage superficial and pretty on the outside but rotting within. The importance of appearance, of perception by the community and the negative consequences of social hierarchies are all fundamental to the story (think “A Rose for Emily”).  Honestly it is impossible for me to picture this story outside of the South. Now I wonder what is lurking behind all that sweet tea and southern charm. As for characters, our heroine is flawed but lovable and has two equally lovable men vying for her. The artistic geniuses (Julianne and Isaac) are both disturbing in their own ways and watching them battle themselves and each other throughout the book is like watching a train wreck. You know it is all sorts of terrible and tragic and cannot end well but dear god you cannot look away. There are so many tough topics that are covered that looking back I’m not sure how Lawton was able to accomplish it all! She manages to touch upon depression, mood disorders, abuse, pedophilia, self-mutilation, slander and suicide all in one plot line. I was uncomfortable the whole way through—a sign it was done well. Sarcasm provides moments of comic relief but never lets you fully come down from the emotional rollercoaster. There was something of Romeo and Juliet here as well, not the tragic lovers but definitely in the flawed action or inaction of the adults that surround them resulting in dire consequences. I will say the ending made me quite happy which was a necessity in my opion. Music fans, piano fans, Alabama fans, psychology fans, or fans of books like Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers or any Ellen Hopkins will definitely love this one. Overall: A

WANT to know more synopsis:

Julianne counts the days until she can pack her bags and leave her old-money, tradition-bound Southern town where appearance is everything and secrecy is a way of life. A piano virtuoso, she dreams of attending a prestigious music school in Boston. Failure is not an option, so she enlists the help of New England Conservatory graduate Isaac Laroche. Julianne can’t understand why Isaac suddenly gave up Boston’s music scene to return to the South. He doesn’t know her life depends on escaping it before she inherits her mother’s madness. Isaac knows he must resist his attraction to a student ten years his junior, but loneliness and jealousy threaten his resolve. Their indiscretion at a Mardi Gras ball—the pinnacle event for Mobile’s elite—forces their present wants and needs to collide with sins of the past. Will Julianne accept the help she’s offered and get everything she ever wanted, or will she self-destruct and take Isaac down with her?

WANT Author Bio:

After collecting a couple English degrees in the Midwest, Stephanie Lawton suddenly awoke in the deepest reaches of the Deep South. Culture shock inspired her to write about Mobile, Alabama, her adopted city, and all the ways Southern culture, history and attitudes seduce the unsuspecting. A lover of all things gothic, she can often be spotted photographing old cemeteries, historic buildings and, ironically, the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast. She also has a tendency to psychoanalyze people, which comes in handy when creating character profiles. On her thirtieth birthday, she mourned (okay bawled) the fact that in no way could she still be considered a “young adult,” so she rebelled by picking up Twilight and promptly fell in love with Young Adult literature. She has a love/hate relationship with Mardi Gras –where does all that money come from?–and can sneeze 18 times in a row.

WANT THE BOOK Giveaway: Rafflecopter here

WANT More Tour Stops: Be sure to check out the other tour stops since every stop has a e-copy giveaway!

July 15-Bookish Brunette-Guest Post

July 16-Wake Up At Seven-Interview

July 17-The Book Vortex

July 18-Hypable-Interview

July 19-Literary Exploration-Character Guest Post

July 20-Rumor Has It

July 21-Dreaming in Reviews

July 22-Ladybug Storytime-Guest Post

July 23-Pageturners Blog

July 24-Magnet4Books-Guest Post

July 25-Novel Thoughts Blog

July 26-BookandaLatte-Guest Post

July 27-BlookGirl-Guest Post

July 28-Parajunkee

July 30-GReadsBooks

July 31-Alluring Reads-Guest Post

August 1-Well Read Reviews

August 2-Sarah Reads Too Much

August 3-Book Brats-Interview

August 5-Girls in the Stacks-Podcast

August 6-The Readiacs-Interview

August 7-Great Imaginations

August 8-Book Twirps-Guest Post

August 10-MundieMoms-Guest Post

August 11-The Aussie Zombie

August 12-YA Sisterhood-Song Lyric Interview

August 13-The Story Siren-Interview

WANT LINKS:

Goodreads WANT: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13432653-want
Goodreads Stephanie Lawton: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5601445.Stephanie_Lawton
Stephanie’s Website: http://stephanielawton.com/
Stephanie’s Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/StephanieLawtonWriter
Stephanie’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Steph_Lawton
InkSpell Publishing Website: http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/

READING ROAD TRIP BLOG TOUR: Rhode Island

Ah Rhode Island, the little state that could. First to ratify the constitution and first in all our hearts, right? I went to school in Providence, Rhode Island and those four years were the best of my life so I am so happy to represent our smallest state of the Union in the Reading Road Trip Tour. IN FACT, I was just up in Newport, Rhode Island for the weekend doing some recon (or relaxing, whatever). Anyway the road trip allows us to give away a book that either takes place in the state OR by an author who is from the state SO I’ve chosen to giveaway INFINITE DAYS by Rebecca Maizel. 

Rebecca is from our lovely little state of Rhode Island. She graduated from Boston University and Rhode Island College Master’s program.  She teaches community college in Rhode Island and is currently studying to receive her MFA from Vermont College.  Her hotly anticipated sequel to Infinite Days, Stolen Nights is due out this fall. 

My Original Review of INFINITE DAYS from way back when:

This book was an addiction for me. I skipped meals, holing myself up with this book until I was done. Then, I read it again. I don’t know what I loved more the originiality of the plot, the ernestness of the characters or the thrill of danger lurking at the door. While romantic and paranormal, Maizel’s debut shines most for her heroine’s compelling desire to be human in every sense of the word. It is this heart-breaking, fragile humanity that may be her saving grace. 
I can only compare this first book to how I felt when I read Twilight and the first Harry Potter. Maizel has the brillian gift of creating characters you don’t just love despite their flaws, but characters whose story you NEED to hear creating a compulsion to listen and experience that story for yourself. 
There is no doubt that I am buying a copy of this book for myself and copies to give to all my friends. 

Overall: A++

Thank you to www.ilikethesebooks.com & www.iceybooks.com for hosting this awesome giveaway tour.

ENTER the RHODE ISLAND GIVEAWAY to win ONE of TWO copies of Infinite Days for yourself: rafflecopter here.  US and Canada only please.

Tour Schedule: Check out the schedule here for all the other tour stops where you can enter all the giveaways!

Spellcaster Music Blog Tour!

Thanks for stopping by the Verb Vixen stop of the Spellcaster music blog tour!  My review of Spellcaster went up yesterday, so check the post just below this one to get my thoughts on this sequel by Cara Lynn Shultz!

In addition to our awesome interview with mean girl Kristin from the books, you can enter to win an exclusive Spellcaster iPod Nano!

Now for some insight in to Kristin from Spellbound and Spellcaster:

1. Kristin, you seem particularly concerned with Brendan despite his clear lack of interest.  Why?

I’m positive that this is just a phase for Brendan. I’m the best thing around, so once he realizes that, he’ll come my way. Why wouldn’t he? He’s hot, I’m hot. He’s rich, I’m rich. What else is there, really? I mean, he totally needs a haircut, but I can look past the superficial to see that he’d look perfect with a proper haircut. Obviously, we’re a perfect match. Once he’s done making whatever statement he’s trying to make with his whole “I’m a loner” thing, he’ll come around.

2. Beyond your interest in Brendan, what motivates you to attack Emma?

First of all, you have no proof that I’ve done anything to Emma—anything that she didn’t deserve. But if you’re trying to get me to talk about what I don’t like about her, all you had to do was ask. It’s one of my favorite subjects. Here’s how I see Emma: She’s this random girl who just showed up out of nowhere, and thinks she’s just like, sooooo funny and sarcastic and clever when really, she’s just some loser with tacky shoes and big boobs and a rich aunt who paid her way into the school. Anthony had some kind of bug up his ass about her, even though he never admitted to me what it was. I don’t know what kind of mind games she played with him, but clearly she did. And then Brendan, out of nowhere, dates her? Who the hell is Emma to show up out of nowhere and get their attention? I was here first!!

3. What’s made you such an uber B*tch? Didn’t you watch Mean Girls like the rest of us?

I know what I want, I go after it, and I get it. And if someone gets in my way, well, tough for them. If that makes me a bitch, then I wear the title proudly. I really didn’t understand why everyone hated Regina George in that movie. If you ask me, they were all jealous.

4. Where do you want to go to college and what do you want to be when you grow up?

I don’t know if you realize this, but I was in commercials as a baby. I had the lead in the school play this year. I’ve got a lot of talent and I’m going to be a star. So I’m going to apply to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Or, I want to get on a reality show. There should be a Real Housewives show, but for fabulous high school students. I’d totally be the star of that. Or I want to be a Pussycat Doll when I grow up.

5. For someone so concerned with power, you let yourself be used and manipulated pretty easily in both Spellbound and Spellcaster.  Any response?

I don’t see myself as being manipulated. An opportunity came up for me to get revenge on someone I hate. If it had worked out, I would have come out the winner. And if you ask me, I’m still the winner.

Here’s my theme song. I feel like I could have written this song. I mean, it so accurately describes everything I want in life, and everything I’m going to get. Pussycat Dolls, “When I Grow Up”

Thank you Kristin for those insights into your character….AND NOW FOR PRIZES!

To enter to win a copy of Spellcaster a go enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway at Verb Vixen’s Facebook Page (under Contests and Giveaways)! Be sure you also click like since one facebook fan of Verb Vixen will also win a signed copy of book 1, Spellbound. Enter and Like here.

To win the iPod nano: At the end of the Tour a Rafflecopter will be up at the Tour Stops where you have to enter a question concerning one character of Spellcaster. Follow the Tour and you’ll be able to answer the question easily!  Open US/Canada.  See full contest rules here.

Monday March, 19th - My Cute Bookshelf

Wednesday, March, 21st - Mundie Mom’s

Friday, March, 23rd - VerbVixen

Monday, March 26th - Book and A Latte

Tuesday, March 27th -Book Birthday! Harlequin, Paranormal Blog

Wednesday, March 28th - Miss Page Turner’s City of Books

Thursday, March 29th - Read Me, Bookmark Me, Love Me

Friday, March 30th - writers write, right?

Monday April 2nd - Alice Marvel’s

Wednesday, April 4th- Paranormal Wastelands

Friday, April 6th - Fiktshun

Enter The Marked Blog Tour Contest!

Just a reminder you have 36 days left to enter to win a free signed Advanced Reader Copy of Inara’s Scott’s The Marked (The Talents Book 2)!

Just follow the rafflecopter instructions here.