Girl Against the Universe: Seven Days Seven Giveaways Blog Tour

Hi everyone! Girl Against the Universe releases in paperback on June 6, 2017 and I’m so excited about that I decided to do an entire blog tour of giveaways to celebrate! In the story, main character Maguire creates a list of seven challenges to help her overcome her fears. This week, I posted seven fun challenges for you around the blogosphere, which are also seven chances to win a shiny GATU paperback :D

Some of the contests require you to have a Twitter or Instagram account, but others just require you to leave a blog comment. These contests are all international, but due to shipping costs, US winners will receive signed copies sent by me and INT winners will receive their books from Wordery or The Book Depository, with signed bookplates mailed separately.

All contests will end on May 31, 2017. All winners will be contacted via Instagram, Twitter, or email as well as posted on my blog in early June. If you’re going to enter a Twitter or Instagram challenge, be sure your account is set to public during the contest period so I will be able to see your entries and contact you if you win. 

My editor and I updated the sales copy for the book to help it better reflect the mental health and therapy components, as opposed to making it sound romance-centric. Here's the new description:

From the author of The Art of Lainey and Liars, Inc. comes a fresh, contemporary story about a girl coping with PTSD and the boy who wants to help her move on from the past. Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen or Jenny Han.

Sixteen-year-old Maguire knows the universe is against her. No matter how many charms she buys off the internet or good luck rituals she performs each morning, horrible things happen when she's around. Like that time the roller coaster jumped off its tracks. Or the time her brother, father, and uncle were all killed in a car crash--and Maguire walked away with barely a scratch. 

Despite what her therapist tells her, Maguire thinks it's best to hide out in her room, far away from anyone she might accidentally hurt. But then she meets Jordy, an aspiring tennis star who wants to help her break her unlucky streak. Maguire knows that the best thing she can do for him is to stay away, but it turns out staying away may be harder than she thought.

If GATU were a gif, it would be this one :)

Ready to start winning? I tried to create challenges that not only promoted GATU's paperback release, but were also fun to complete and benefited the literary community. After all, who doesn't need recommendations for thoughtfully written mental health novels? Who couldn't use an inspirational quote or a fun haiku to brighten their day? You can enter one contest or all seven. I'm not expecting more than ten entries for most of these, so if you want a free signed copy of the novel, this is an excellent chance to score one. Note: if you already have a copy, these make great gifts :D

Challenge #1:
Bookstagram a mental health novel you felt was well done.
Requires Instagram. Read blog post for full details.

Adventures of a Book Junkie

Challenge #2:
Tweet or Instagram one of your favorite inspirational quotes
Requires Twitter or Instagram (but not both.) Read blog post for full details.

My Bookish Itinerary

Challenge #3:
Write a haiku about luck, tennis, dolphins, or burritos :)
Requires a blog comment or Twitter (but not both.) Read blog post for full details.

Mary Had a Little Book Blog

Challenge #4: 

Share a book that made you feel happy or empowered after reading.
Requires Instagram or Twitter (but not both.) Read blog post for full details.

The Forest of Words and Pages

Challenge #5: 

Make like Maguire and share one of your own fears, plus two strategies for working on it. Requires blog comment. Read blog post for full details.

Xpresso Reads

Challenge #6:
Share the luck! Or your lucky charms anyway :)
Requires Instagram or Twitter (but not both.) Read blog post for full details.

In Love With Handmade

Here's one of my good luck charms with my next release :)

Which brings us to:

Challenge #7:
Share the first six challenges.
Today's challenge is an easy-breezy Rafflecopter, with points for tweeting and retweeting.

Below it is a bonus Rafflecopter because I promised a bonus giveaway with this tour. Remember, all challenges go until the end of the month, so there's still plenty of time to enter as many times as you want :) 

Questions? Put 'em in the comments.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DOUBLE BONUS GIVEAWAY: Don't miss a chance to win a copy of The Art of Lainey too :)

VICARIOUS Pre-order Incentive!!

Are you planning to buy Vicarious? If so, you might want to order early and take advantage of this awesome pre-order incentive :D Everyone who orders a new hardcover or e-book, from any store or website, by Aug 14th (so yes, if you ordered last week or 6 months ago it counts) is eligible to receive 2 signed bookmarks, a signed bookplate, a magnet, and 2 Vicarious-themed stickers. Bookmarks by Julie Heidbreder. Stickers designed by Ri from Hiver et Cafe :)

This incentive is international. In order to get your free goodies, you need to email your mailing address to pstokesbooks [at] gmail [dot] com subject: VICARIOUS pre-order, and include a photo, scan, or screenshot of your order confirmation or receipt. Lovely international peeps: It helps me a ton if you type out your address on multiple lines like my super-clueless self should address the envelope. Also, don't forget to include your postal code if that's something you're not used to using. Please allow four to six weeks for arrival.

BONUS: Enter to win a painted tote + ARC of the sequel!

Once again the lovely Becca Fowler from Pivot Book Totes has created an awesome giveaway tote for me. Sorry. The lighting does not do it justice here, but rest assured it is a thing of immense beauty and fine detail work :D I mean, look at that water! One lucky pre-orderer will be chosen at random to receive this painted tote plus one of the very first ARCs of the sequel (available this fall.)

Wanna try before you buy? Click here to read the book description and first three chapters of Vicarious or if you have a Net Galley account you can read the first 109 pages here. Dying to read the rest? Buy links are available on the countdown widget in my sidebar :)

The Great Girl Against the Universe Release Party!

If you know me, you know I usually launch my books on Twitter. It's a reduced-anxiety, high-inclusivity way to do things. But I'm trying something different this year to further reduce the stress of the actual party and make things even more inclusive. On May 15th at 7 a.m. Pacific (10 a.m. Eastern), I'll be officially starting The Great Girl Against the Universe Release Party. It will be held on my author Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/pstokesbooks.

You do not have to "like" my FB page to come to the party. However, if you do not have your privacy settings configured in a way that I can see your comments, I won't be able to answer any of your questions or choose you as a prize-winner. Even if you do "like" my page, it's still possible that your privacy settings will prevent your comments from being seen. If you want to participate, try to figure this out beforehand, because I don't use my FB personal profile page and I won't be able to tell you how to set yours during the party.

Srsly. I have no idea ;)

So why FB? Because once you get over forty people at a Twitter party, it becomes impossible for me to keep up. I just watch question after question scroll by at high speed, feeling like I can't possibly answer them all, dashing out hurried, typo-filled tweets in an attempt to stay caught up, getting completely exhausted in the span of ninety minutes, and spending the rest of the evening thinking about all the things I wish I'd said, if only I'd had five seconds to think. I find it hard to meaningfully interact with anyone. I find it hard to appreciate your contest entries. In short, Twitter release parties are not fun for me these days. 

How am I going to make this FB party fun? Well for starters, it's taking place over two days, which means you can ask me all the questions you want and I don't have to sprint to answer them. It also means you can participate without having to skip church or stay up until 3 a.m. If you're busy on Sunday, you can stop in on Monday, or vice-versa. I want as many people as possible to be able to participate.

#AwkwardFaction Come be awkward with me!

So how's it going to work? Well, in Girl Against the Universe, Maguire and her therapist develop a list of seven challenges for her to work through as she tries to get over her fear of being bad luck to people around her. I thought it would be fun to host a party with seven challenges for you, and seven prizes :) I will release one challenge every hour, starting at 7 a.m. Pacific on May 15th. Then, these challenges will remain open for people to participate in until 7 p.m. Pacific on May 16th. All of the challenges will be listed on Facebook, but some of them might require you to have a Twitter or Instagram account. I am going to mix it up so be ready for anything ;)

Uh-oh. A black cat crossed your path ;)
Wait, who brings a cat to a hockey game?

Prizes will include:

• Girl Against the Universe mini-swag packs (bookmarks and magnets)
• The last GATU ARC
• Special four-book swag pack, including LAINEY pin buttons, LIARS book charm necklace, GATU bookmark charm, and VICARIOUS magnets
• LIARS, INC. shark's tooth necklace
• Finished copies of GATU
• Your choice of any Paula Stokes book, including an ARC or pre-order of VICARIOUS
• A $25 B&N gift card (alternate prize for INT winner)

What do you have to do to win? It's a secret :D You'll have to drop by the party to see for sure what the challenges will be :)

Between challenges, I'll be posting other cool stuff that you might want to check out too, like excerpts and info on upcoming books, and sign-up sheets for people to request ARCs. I'll also announce the winners of the Great GATU Graphics Contest and the winner of the pre-order grand prize.

Release Party Logistics:

• You must be 13 or have a parent's permission to participate.
• US and international participants are welcome.
• Don't forget to properly configure your FB privacy settings so I can see your entries.
• If you have questions prior to the start of the party, you can post them in the comments here.
• If you have general questions the day of the party, there will be a GENERAL QUESTIONS post that you can comment on.
• If you have specific questions about one of the challenges, comment on that specific post so I see it right away and know which task you're stuck on.
• Some of the contests will have random winners, but in the event that I am choosing a winner for something, my decision is final. I will try my hardest to be accurate and fair.
• You will have until 7 p.m. Pacific on Monday May 16th to complete as many of the challenges as you want.
• Winners will be announced by 9 p.m Pacific on Monday May 16th, AKA GIRL AGAINST THE UNIVERSE's official East Coast book birthday!
• I will have a form for winners to fill out for easy prize claiming

I'm so excited to share Girl Against the Universe with the world! I really hope you stop by the release party and join me in celebrating my hopeful, heartfelt, extremely-orange new novel :D

Ten reasons to check out The Art of Lainey for $1.99!!

Order from: *HarperCollins*   *Amazon*   *Barnes & Noble*   *iTunes*   *Kobo Books*
                   

                     *Chapters-Indigo*   *Amazon.ca*

EEEEEEP! I am so excited that The Art of Lainey is getting an e-book sale in preparation for this month's release of Girl Against the Universe. 

If you enjoyed GATU, I think you will also like LAINEY! Main character Lainey is snarkier than Maguire, but she grows and changes throughout the story--yay, character development! In a lot of ways I think LAINEY displays some of my best writing. It truly is the book of my heart and I took so much care to craft unique settings and fun characters.


Click here if you want to read the beginning. FYI, you have to drag the pages from right to left to keep reading. (I had trouble navigating the Overdrive site the first time I tried.)

Here's the basic story info, in case you're not familiar:

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—no reasons, no warning, and in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but with help from her friend Bianca, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.

And that’s when the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, they're sure they can use the book to lure Jason back into Lainey’s arms. So Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous. After a few "dates", it looks like her plan is going to work! But now her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game.

What's a girl to do when what she wants is totally different from what she needs? How do you figure out the person you're meant to be with, if you're still figuring out the person you're meant to be?


Here's what some other smart people think of the novel:

“Refreshingly honest, sweet and romantic. The love story is everything readers want—perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins, but with an edge.” --Romantic Times Book Reviews

"Stokes does a good job with the sports subplots as well as the familial relationships. Lainey is a driven athlete who focuses on her passion, which is a refreshing change of pace." --School Library Journal

“A mesmerizing journey of discovery, navigating that slippery line between what one wants and what one really needs. Romance, wit, and highly relatable characters join forces to create one addictive story.” --Rachel Harris, New York Times bestselling author

Just for fun, my top ten reasons why you should read The Art of Lainey:

10. It might help you understand The Art of War (or make you want to read it, if you haven't read it yet.) Note: once you read The Art of War, you will start applying it to everything.

 9. The character of Trinity. That is my favorite name out of ALL the names, so you can bet she's made of win. Also, Trinity's cat shoes, which I own :)

 8. Sporty girls! Warning: this book might make you want to kick around a soccer ball or go for a run.

 7. Ms. Creant's House of Torture (and Pancakes.) I think that name speaks for itself.

 6. Book-boy Micah is a punk-rock baker with a tattoos and a mohawk. So basically, imagine if Peeta were actually hot. Heheheh I am so #TeamGale! :D #SorryNotSorry

 5. The strong female friendship between Lainey and Bianca.

 4. Lainey's wonderfully wacky parents who are present throughout and do parental things like talk about birth control and give their daughter a curfew.

 3. Laugh out loud moments. When you mix a preppy jock with a rocker boy and fold in a cast full of coffeeshop misfits, hilarity is bound to ensue. 

 2. Girl power. This is not the story of Lainey picking a boyfriend. This is the story of Lainey picking a Lainey. There might be two boys, but this is not a love triangle book.

 1. Character development. Yes, Lainey is flawed and yes, trying to scheme warlord-style to win back your boyfriend is probably a bad plan. But sometimes you have to do the wrong thing before you can even figure out what the right thing is.

 0. Bonus! Once you're finished reading LAINEY, you'll want to read the 100-page, Micah-flavored,prequel novella called INFINITE REPEAT and the totally free and so adorable you might spontaneously explode into glitter short story/epilogue NEW MUSIC.


Ready to invest that coffee money in hours of giggling and swoons? Score a copy of The Art of Lainey for just $1.99 from these retailers. Sorry. Deal may not be available in all countries.

• HarperCollins
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• iTunes
• Kobo Books
• Chapters-Indigo
• Amazon.ca

Wanna spread the word with one of these pre-made tweets? Micah says he'll love you forever if you do ;)

Looking for a story of self-discovery, friendship, romance, and...torture breakfast food? LAINEY is $1.99! www.authorpaulastokes.com

Falling in love has never been so fun (or affordable!) The Art of Lainey is just $1.99 all week. www.authorpaulastokes.com

Got a thing for punk-rock bakers? You will after you read The Art of Lainey :D Get an e-copy for just $1.99! www.authorpaulastokes.com

Giveaway Round-Up!!

Hi :) I don't think I've ever done this before, but I've got several giveaways going on, for different books, in different places, sponsored by different people. It's chaos, I tell ya! :D I decided to gather all the links into one spot for those of you who love to win free books, which is all of you, right? Here you go:

1. Win all of my books! Ends 3/31 (US only)
This one is the mother of all contests, sponsored by Paper Lantern Lit and me, hosted by PLL on their Twitter. In honor of the re-release of Venom as Venomous Kiss, you can win e-copies of all of my work-for-hire books written in collaboration with PLL under the pen name Fiona Paul, plus signed physical copies of all of my solo books. All you have to do to enter is follow @paperlanternlit and @pstokesbooks and retweet this tweet.

2. Win one of my books + a $25 gift card. Ends 3/31 (INT)
This one you have to work for. It's for graphic design types. I'm looking for a great sticker I can use to help promote Girl Against the Universe. Check out the details! If you've never designed for print but like making quote/image pairings, drop by back the blog in a couple of weeks because I'll be doing a social media graphic contest then.

3. Win Girl Against the Universe. Ends 3/28 (US only)
This is a HarperTeen sponsored ARC giveaway on Goodreads.

4. Win a signed paperback of Liars, Inc. Ends 3/31 (US only)
This is a Goodreads giveaway sponsored by me in honor of Liars, Inc.'s bookaversary :) Liars, Inc. turned one year old on March 24th. I wanted to make this INT--I really did--but paying $20 to send a book that most people worldwide can buy from The Book Depository for $15 didn't seem like a good use of my promotional budget. So I'm sticking to my rule where I pay INT postage mostly to send ARCs. Never fear, more INT contests coming, like this one...

5. Win a signed ARC of Girl Against the Universe. Ends 4/9 (INT)
Check out my guest post over at Pop Goes the Reader and enter to win a signed ARC while you're there. Jen and I are sharing our thoughts about overused and potentially harmful mental illness tropes in movies, TV, and books.


Want more? Upcoming contests include:

6. Win a signed ARC of Girl Against the Universe (INT)
    Win a pre-order of GATU/Vicarious (INT)
Have you entered the YA Scavenger Hunt before? It runs from 3/29 to 4/3. One lucky winner will get a signed GATU ARC as part of a 20-book prize pack. I'll also be running a secondary contest for a pre-order of GATU or Vicarious. Oh and my bonus content is a non-spoilery, swoony phone conversation between Jordy and Maguire <3 See you then!

7. Win a finished hardcover copy of Girl Against the Universe (INT)
Do you like to make quote/image pairings or fan art that can be shared on social media? I'll be running a contest starting on 4/4. Details here on the blog.

First Day of Winter VICARIOUS ARC Giveaway (INT)

Hi :D Happy holidays! If you're still shopping, check out my holiday gift ideas over on the EpicReads blog. There are things you can buy now and still have in time for Christmas.

Today is the official release day for the Liars, Inc. paperback. I'm proud to say that Liars, Inc has received more positive trade reviews than any other book I've written :)

Check out the official Liars, Inc. website for more info about the book, buy links, and fun extras like quizzes and top ten lists. EpicReads also has a post about why fans of How to Get Away With Murder will enjoy Liars, Inc. If you've seen the show, you'll want to check out the post just for the adorable #Coliver GIF.

But I know, I know, none of that is why you're here. You're here for the giveaway, right? Book people...so predictable ;) So today is the first day of winter (for me, anyway--happy summer to you Southern Hemisphere dwellers), and because the main character in Vicarious is named Winter, I thought it'd be fun to give away an ARC. I actually thought about renaming her, because back in 2012 when I was writing the first draft of this, I knew that bestseller Marissa Meyer had a forthcoming book with an MC named Winter. But it's hard to rename a character after you've known her for a while, and I ultimately decided that no one would get my knife-throwing, bridge-jumping stunt girl confused with Snow White :) Plus she has a Korean name too :D [Fun fact: her Korean name actually means "sky."]

It's a snowflake, because Winter. Yes, I continue to excel at graphics ;)

If you've ended up here but don't know if you really want a free signed ARC of Vicarious [spoiler: you do], I'll let these awesome authors try to convince you:

"Reading this book is like tiptoeing through a minefield. Blindfolded. In other words, I'm in love." -Victoria Scott, author of Titans and Fire&Flood

"A mind-bending thrill ride with a female protagonist who’s as smart as she is strong. Readers will love Winter!" -Lindsay Cummings, author of The Murder Complex and The Death Code.

Need more info? Click here for my books page and scroll down to read the official cover copy.

And now for the giveaway: I only have two or three more Vicarious ARC giveaways planned in the next six months, and at least one of those will be for newsletter subscribers only. So if you want a signed ARC, make this Rafflecopter your beotch :) The question for leaving a blog comment is about your favorite YA main character name. Hopefully that'll be a fun one for people to answer :) Happy holidays!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

They Call Me Alexandra Gastone $1.99 Sale Blitz

Hi lovely peeps! I am going to be away from the internet for a few days because I am going back to St. Louis to celebrate Birtsgivingmas, AKA Thanksgiving + my mom's birthday + Christmas, all handily rescheduled into one week when I can actually afford to fly ;)

I thought I'd leave you with some info about a great deal on a great book! I read THEY CALL ME ALEXANDRA GASTONE because the author seemed really cool and because I'm a sucker for spy-girl books, even though they sometimes end up disappointing me. I'm happy to report this book was not a disappointment in the least. It's well-written, compelling, realistic (despite featuring a fictional country, and do you know how hard that is to pull off?), and even brings the feels at the end. If you're a fan of the TV show ALIAS or books by Ally Carter, you should definitely give this one a go.

When your life is a lie, how do you know what’s real?

Alexandra Gastone has a simple plan: graduate high school, get into Princeton, work for the CIA, and serve her great nation. 

She was told the plan back when her name was Milena Rokva, back before the real Alexandra and her family were killed in a car crash.

Milena was trained to be a sleeper agent by Perun, a clandestine organization from her true homeland of Olissa. There, Milena learned everything she needed to infiltrate the life of CIA analyst Albert Gastone, Alexandra’s grandfather, and the ranks of America’s top intelligence agency.

For seven years, “Alexandra” has been on standby and life’s been good. Grandpa Albert loves her, and her strategically chosen boyfriend, Grant, is amazing.

But things are about to change. Perun no longer needs her at the CIA in five years’ time. They need her active now.

Between her cover as a high school girl—juggling a homecoming dance, history reports, and an increasingly suspicious boyfriend—and her mission in this high-stakes spy game, the boundaries of her two lives are beginning to blur.

Will she stay true to the country she barely remembers, or has her loyalty shattered along with her identity?

Get TCMAG for just $1.99 on Kindle!

Here's the author, T.A. Maclagan to tell you more about the book:

T.A.: I was thrilled to learn that Amazon selected my debut novel, They Call Me Alexandra Gastone, as a $1.99 Holiday Deal for the month of December. That said, there are A LOT of books on sale right now, so the competition is stiff. As such, you might be wondering why you should buy mine over others. 

First, let me spark your interest with a few reviews…

"...the intersection of action, espionage, and drama makes for solid...entertainment: readers will gladly sit back and watch Alexandra navigate the obstacle course that comes with playing her role too well. It's a strong debut for New Zealand author Maclagan." --Publisher's Weekly

"Death-threats, global takeover, double-agents, hidden files and a blown cover--by the time you get to the shocking conclusion of this cliff-hanger, you won't know who to trust..." --Girls' Life

"An intricate, debut spy thriller...readers will keep turning pages, and the surprise ending will have them anxiously awaiting a sequel." --Booklist

"A solid debut that has both heart and smarts. Clever, solidly paced, and power-packed with a killer voice. They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is a blast to read. A perfect balance of mystery, romance, and betrayal. Bring on the sequel!" -- Lindsay Cummings, author of The Murder Complex

Now let me tickle your interest just a little bit more…

As both a woman and an author, I love butt kicking female characters who are strong but not invulnerable. I like morally complex characters who struggle through life, love and whatever horrible situation they’ve been put in and who ultimately come out the other side tougher than before. Alexandra Gastone is just such a character, so if you love the likes of Buffy, Katniss, Tris and Clarke, then pick up a copy of Alexandra Gastone for the bargain basement price of $1.99!

There’s a $15 Amazon gift card up for grabs today as a thank you for stopping by, so check out the rafflecopter below! And if Alexandra Gastone sounds right up your alley, check out my dream movie cast or my blog post on the top 10 butt kicking females who influenced Alexandra Gastone!

Click here for the Rafflecopter where you can enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card!

Giveaway: GET DIRTY (or any Gretchen McNeil book!)

Hi guys! Man, last week was pretty brutal. It should have been some straightforward copy-edits for Vicarious [See pretty cover in sidebar! Click pretty cover for chance to win an ARC!] but somehow I got sucked into this writer vortex of complex revisions and re-verifying technical stuff and second-guessing everything and biting my nails down to the nubs. And then there were doctor appointments and vet appointments and I don't even know what. And all that stuff made me anxious, which made everything worse. So my apologies because this giveaway is going up late. But hey, it's still officially summer and I'm going to leave this contest going until the first day of fall.

I love Gretchen McNeil :-) I "met" her as part of the Apocalypsies group when I was writing as Fiona Paul. I met her in real life at BEA 2012 and she is every bit as cool as her books. What I like best about Gretchen's books is their compulsive readability--for me her stories are full of high-stakes tension and her prose is thoughtful and descriptive without slowing down the narrative or leading me into a dense metaphor jungle and leaving me there to die. (Have I mentioned I'm not much for flowery prose? ;D)

Next year Gretchen is going to be branching out into other genres, but she'll always be one of my favorite YA mystery writers. For this giveaway you can choose the featured book, GET DIRTY, or any of her other mystery books.

“If you’re a Pretty Little Liars fan, it’s safe to say you’ll love Get Even.” –Bustle.com

Here's the official GET DIRTY flap copy. [NOTE: It's a bit spoilery for GET EVEN.]

The members of Don’t Get Mad aren’t just mad anymore . . . they’re afraid. And with Margot in a coma and Bree stuck in juvie, it’s up to Olivia and Kitty to try to catch their deadly tormentor. But just as the girls are about to go on the offensive, Ed the Head reveals a shocking secret that turns all their theories upside down. The killer could be anyone, and this time he—or she—is out for more than just revenge.

The girls desperately try to discover the killer’s identity as their personal lives are falling apart: Donté is pulling away from Kitty and seems to be hiding a secret of his own, Bree is under house arrest, and Olivia’s mother is on an emotional downward spiral. The killer is closing in, the threats are becoming more personal, and when the police refuse to listen, the girls have no choice but to confront their anonymous friend . . . or die trying.

Here's more about Gretchen:

Gretchen McNeil is the author of the standalone YA

horror novels POSSESS, TEN (2013 YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, a Romantic Times Top Pick, a Booklist Top Ten Horror Fiction for Youth, a finalist for Washington state’s 2015 Evergreen Young Adult Book Award and Vermont’s 2014-2015 Green Mountain Book Award, and was nominated for “Best Young Adult Contemporary Novel of 2012″ by Romantic Times) and 3:59, as well as GET EVEN and GET DIRTY, part of her mystery/suspense series Don't Get Mad, all with Balzer + Bray for HarperCollins. In 2016, Gretchen will publish two novels: RELIC, a YA horror novel, with HarperCollins/EpicReads Impulse on March 8, 2016, and in the fall, I’M NOT YOUR MANIC PIXIE DREAM GIRL, her first YA contemporary, with Balzer + Bray. Gretchen also contributed an essay to the Dear Teen Me anthology from Zest Books.

Gretchen is a former coloratura soprano, the voice of Mary on G4's Code Monkeys and she sings with the LA-based circus troupe Cirque Berzerk. She is repped by Ginger Clark of Curtis Brown, Ltd.

Here's Gretchen sharing more info about GET DIRTY:

1. Describe your book in ten words or less. 

"The Breakfast Club with a body count."

2. What is/are your favorite thing/s about the story? 

I love the idea of four very different girls who support each other instead of tearing each other down, and who come together to accomplish something bigger than themselves. (That sounds so cheesy...)

3. What was the most difficult part of the writing or publication process? 

 GET DIRTY was my fifth book but my first ever sequel and I found the process of writing it incredibly difficult! Apparently, I'm a stand alone novel writer at heart.

4. If this book became a movie, what song would play during the credits? 

Going along with my answer to #1, "Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds

(I'll just leave this here in case anyone doesn't already have 

that song stuck in their heads. You're welcome.)

5. Free play: ask and answer any question you wish people would ask you but they never do. 

 I actually rarely get asked who my favorite character is! Favorite book, yes. Favorite character, no. And that's an easy one to answer because, hands down, it is Ed the Head from this series. He is...amazing.


Ed the Head is definitely...memorable ;-) And now for the GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for participating in my #SizzlingSummerMysteries incentive. Have a great autumn (or spring!)

Giveaway: NIL or NIL UNLOCKED

Hi guys! This week's #SizzlingSummerMysteries giveaway is an island mystery! *cue hula dancers* *bonus points if Thad is one of them* The winner of the Rafflecopter below can choose from NIL (highly recommended if you haven't read it) or NIL UNLOCKED.

Truth time. I have not read NIL Unlocked yet and normally I do not pimp books I haven't read. But, I've read NIL and loved Thad it, and all accounts say this book is even better. A 4.29 rating on Goodreads? You'd have to add the ratings for all my books together to get that, and we all know how awesome they are ;) Plus it's Lynne Matson who is pretty much the most epic person ever. So I feel completely comfortable pushing this book in your face like MYSTERIOUS ISLAND. WILD ANIMALS. ROMANCE. DEATH. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT, PEOPLE? And maybe whoever wins it can buddy read it with me, because it's sitting across the room in a box with all the other Southeast Summer Book Bash books that I bought in June. We will just not talk about the box of unread books I bought in March. Or December. #IHaveAProblem.

Instead, let's talk more about NIL UNLOCKED!

Here's the official flap copy:

"This is a fast-paced, tension-filled story with engaging characters and a strong romantic plot." -VOYA

On the island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die. Rives is now the undisputed Leader of Nil City, but keeping the City united is tougher than ever.

Raiders have grown bolder, supplies are dwindling, and non-human inhabitants have taken a turn toward the deadly. New arrivals cause rifts within the City, putting the Search system at risk, and calling everything Rives knows into question. Desperate for answers, he teams up with the only other person searching for them: Skye, a new arrival with a mysterious past of her own. Soon the duo find themselves locked in a desperate race to save all the residents of Nil—and possibly destroy the island forever. But at what cost? And who will pay the price?

Here's more about Lynne:

I love books--both reading and writing them. When I'm not reading or writing, you can find me hanging out with my husband and four sons. At any given time, at least one of the 6 of us is up to no good.:)

My books: NIL and NIL UNLOCKED are out now; NIL ON FIRE ends the trilogy in May of 2016. Join the #NILtribe...we have cool snacks :)

Paula: IDK...I went to one NIL Night and the snacks were kinda healthy ;)

Lynne was too busy battling angry pandas writing NIL ON FIRE to answer my questions, so instead I will bring you: FIVE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT NIL/LYNNE MATSON

1. One of the early titles for NIL was DAYWATCH, but for some people that conjured up uncomfortable images of David Hasselhoff in swim trunks.

2. Lynne Matson is one of the nicest people EVER. If you read NIL and were wondering if anyone could possibly be as nice as Charley, yes they can. Lynne is just as lovely and kind as her MC. [NOTE: This does not mean that Charley = Lynne now or Charley = Lynne in high school. Authors are not their characters and it makes us a little crazy when you assume we have all the same thoughts and feelings as our fictional creations.]

3. Lynne is also a total speed demon with a major lead-foot. Do not get into a cross-country race with her, because she will beat you easily (unless she runs out of gas--apparently she hates to stop for it.)

4. Lynne has a possessed cell phone that auto-corrects randomly and has bestowed nicknames upon half of the YA Valentines. Lynne is Princess Zloty. I am Panda. Kristen Lippert-Martin is K-Snap. 

5. Lynne is a huge supporter of YA literature. I've done a fair number of events and I've never seen anyone buy more books than Lynne. She buys they for herself, for her family, for giveaways, for Christmas presents. If you ever go into a bookstore and the YA shelves are mostly bare, that's probably because Lynne Matson was in the neighborhood. LOVE YOU LYNNE!

I borrowed this picture of Lindsay Cummings, me, and Lynne
from Lynne's blog. Yay Southeast Summer Book Bash 2015!

And now, let the winning begin. I changed up the blog comment question to match this week's island theme :D

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I've got one more of my favorite #SizzlingSummerMysteries to give away. See you next week!

Giveaway: IMPOSTER

It's time for another #SizzlingSummerMysteries giveaway! This week I'm proud to feature one of my very first published author pals, Antony John, and his Hollywood mystery, Imposter. Antony is kind of a mysterious guy so you won't find him hanging out online much. (Rumor has it he's actually the ninth doctor, but I don't watch Doctor Who so I don't know if that's something that could be keeping him busy ;D)

So there have been a scad of YA books set on Hollywood sets lately, but all the ones I can think of have been romantic contemporaries. This is a great Veronica Mars type mystery featuring a guy's guy (you know how I like those) as the main character. I was lucky enough to read early and later drafts of Imposter, and I'm pleased to say it is a clever mystery that will keep you guessing, with romantic and family subplots that add to the story without overshadowing the narrative. And the prose here is absolutely stunning. I think I must have marked a passage on almost every page that I wanted to scrawl down in a notebook because it was so carefully crafted and insightful.

Here's the official flap copy:

Perfect for fans of Veronica Mars, this Hollywood thriller explores the blurred lines between Hollywood glamour and reality. 

Seth Crane has hit rock bottom. His mom recently died, his dad had a stroke and is out of work, and he just lost out on a commercial role. So when a producer shows up at his community theater production and offers him the lead role in an Indie film with major Hollywood buzz, it seems like the answer to all Seth’s problems.

Seth gets swept up in the Hollywood glamour right away, staying in a fancy hotel, going to the best parties, doing press conferences, and falling for the beautiful starlet Sabrina Layton and then his costar Annaleigh. But things suddenly start popping up in the tabloids—things Sabrina and Annaleigh told him in confidence and that no one else could know—and the line between the film and reality starts to blur. Nothing in Hollywood is what it seems, and Seth has to decide just how far he’s willing to go for fame, money, and to protect the people he loves.

Here's more about Antony:

Antony John was born in England and raised on a balanced diet of fish and chips, obscure British comedies, and ABBA's Greatest Hits. In a fit of teenage rebellion, he decided to pursue a career in classical music, culminating in a BA from Oxford University and a PhD from Duke University. Along the way, he worked as an ice cream seller on a freezing English beach, a tour guide in the Netherlands, a chauffeur in Switzerland, a barista in Seattle, and a university professor. Writing by night, he spends his days as a stay-at-home dad—the only job that allows him to wear his favorite pair of sweatpants all the time. He lives in St. Louis with his family.



Here's Antony sharing some insights about his seventh novel:

1. Describe your book in ten words or less.

For a young actor in Hollywood, reality and fiction blur.


2. What is/are your favorite thing/s about the story?

I’m a total sucker for twisty thrillers (which is why I loved LIARS, INC.), and IMPOSTER has twists galore. I also love taking tropes — and when it comes to books and movies about Hollywood, there are so many to choose from — and subverting them. Basically, I like keeping readers perpetually unsure and unsettled, because I’m a terrible, evil person :) [Paula: It's true, he is. And the worst part is that he's evil in a British accent, so he kind of tricks you into thinking he's this charming fella!]

3. What was the most difficult part of the writing or publication process?

Halfway through the editing process, I switched to a new editor who had a different vision for the book. This required a lot of rewriting. On the bright side, this turned out to be the greatest part of the writing experience too, as her ideas were awesome. Now it’s impossible for me to imagine the book any other way.


4. If this book became a movie, what song would play during the credits?

Hmm, tricky one. If we were trying to play up the twisty thriller / noir vibe of the book, we could go classic with “Windmills of Your Mind” (preferably the moody Dusty Springfield version). Alternatively, we could focus on the blurring of fiction and reality in Hollywood, in which case I’d vote for “City of Delusion” by Muse.

5. Is this book your attempt to vicariously experience life as a Hollywood actor?

Uh, yeah. I came really close to stardom in my elementary school’s nativity play, but it’s tough to make that transition from child actor to Hollywood icon. Now that I’ve written all about it, I’m kind of glad I didn’t get to experience it in real life. Writing books seems much less stressful . . . and safer too!

I totally played a goose in my middle school's presentation of Charlotte's Web, so I'm right there with him. I almost got to be Charlotte but the girl who beat me out actually looked like a spider. But wait. There's something more stressful than writing books? *brain explodes*

Allons-y! Get click-a-lickin on the Rafflecopter so you can win this book. Antony has a signed ARC to give away if the winner has a US address, and because I don't want my foreign friends to miss out, we'll hook the winner up Book Depository style if you're outside the US. Apologies to those of you who live outside of the TBD shipping area. If we had lots of $$ we'd hook you up, I swear. <3

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Because Antony was kind enough to mention LIARS, INC., I'll leave this here for one more week :D  --> ICYMI: Check out an interview with Parvati from Liars, Inc. and enter to win a copy of my latest mystery over on In Love With Handmade. See you next week for another giveaway! :D

Giveaway: THEY CALL ME ALEXANDRA GASTONE

Hi guys! This week's #SizzlingSummerMysteries giveaway is an espionage mystery! They Call Me Alexandra Gastone  is (to quote ALA Booklist)  "an intricate debut spy thriller." It was written by T.A. Maclagan, a lovely author I met on Twitter, and a girl whose last name I spell wrong about 75% of the time.

I love spy-girl books, but I'll admit I generally don't hold them to very high standards. I mean, come on, a teen girl juggling high school with working for a government agency--a girl who is usually skilled at disguises, languages, weapons, martial arts and yet can't manage to handle her love life? Yeah, to me a lot of YA spy thrillers are fun, but implausible. So imagine my surprise when this book turned out to be incredibly realistic from the very beginning. This is an intelligent, well-researched espionage book. The main character, Lex, is balanced and believable throughout the entire story. I felt like I was reading a YA written by Tom Clancy. It is the first book of a duology and does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but not without resolving the major storyline. if you like spy thrillers, I highly recommend TCMAG.

Here's the official flap copy:

When your life is a lie, how do you know what’s real?

Alexandra Gastone has a simple plan: graduate high school, get into Princeton, work for the CIA, and serve her great nation.

She was told the plan back when her name was Milena Rokva, back before the real Alexandra and her family were killed in a car crash.

Milena was trained to be a sleeper agent by Perun, a clandestine organization from her true homeland of Olissa. There, Milena learned everything she needed to infiltrate the life of CIA analyst Albert Gastone, Alexandra’s grandfather, and the ranks of America’s top intelligence agency.

For seven years, “Alexandra” has been on standby and life’s been good. Grandpa Albert loves her, and her strategically chosen boyfriend, Grant, is amazing.

But things are about to change. Perun no longer needs her at the CIA in five years’ time. They need her active now.

Between her cover as a high school girl—juggling a homecoming dance, history reports, and an increasingly suspicious boyfriend—and her mission in this high-stakes spy game, the boundaries of her two lives are beginning to blur.

Will she stay true to the country she barely remembers, or has her loyalty shattered along with her identity?

Amazon| Barnes & Nobles| iTunes| Kobo| Goodreads

Here's more about Tiff:

T.A. Maclagan is a Kansas girl by birth but now lives in the bush-clad hills of Wellington, New Zealand with her Kiwi husband, son and four pampered cats. With a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Ph.D. in anthropology, she’s studied poison dart frogs in the rainforests of Costa Rica, howler monkeys in Panama and the very exotic and always elusive American farmer. It was as she was writing her ‘just the facts’ dissertation that T.A. felt the call to pursue something more imaginative and discovered a passion for creative writing.They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is her first novel.

Here's Tiff telling us more about her debut novel:

1. Describe your book in ten words or less.

Espionage thriller. Twists and turns. Kick-butt heroine with depth.

2. What is/are your favorite thing/s about the story?

As a big fan of strong female characters like Buffy and Veronica Mars, I love that Lex is that type of female lead. She’s both physically strong and mentally resourceful while also being realistically vulnerable. She’s not a ‘can do no wrong’ badass. She can and does get hurt but she’s strong enough to make it to the other side of everything life keeps throwing at her.

3. What was the most difficult part of the writing or publication process?

Nailing the lead character of Lex was the hardest part. As a spy for the ‘other’ side, I had to walk a fine line in order to make her likeable as well as believable. In my early drafts she was coming across as distant and afraid to engage in her relationships, which made it hard for the reader to connect with her. With the help of my agent, we eventually found what I hope is the perfect balance.

4. If this book becomes a movie, what song would play during the credits?

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons. It has an espionage feel to it and is all about a life coming apart at the seams.

5. Who are the authors/writers who have made you want to get in the writing game?

I’m a huge fan of Steve Hamilton, the author behind The Lock Artist. His characters have killer voices and he’s a masterful plotter. Joss Whedon and Rob Thomas—the minds behind Buffy and Veronica Mars—have also been big influences. I love their whip-smart dialogue and the way they develop their characters. I think shows like Buffy and Veronica Mars are very empowering to women, which I love.

Paula: OMG. Anyone who likes Buffy and Veronica, will probably also like Liv Moore from iZombie. I also feel compelled to point out that U.S. peeps can watch some iZombie and the entire series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Hulu right now. Okay, enough jibber-jabbering by me. Get your Rafflecopter on already ;)

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BONUS GIVEAWAY--ICYMI: Check out an interview with Parvati from Liars, Inc. and enter to win a copy of my latest mystery over on In Love With Handmade.