Waiting on Wednesday (73) - Perception by Kim Harrington

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: March 1, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Point

Summary (from Goodreads):

When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.

I raved about Clarity in my review when I read the novel earlier in the year, and since then, I've been so excited for the release of its sequel, Perception! I'm looking forward to seeing how Clare will unravel this latest mystery in what sounds to be another suspenseful novel. And we can't forget the boys either, now can we? I'm still undecided between Gabriel and Justin... I can't wait to see what will happen!

Book Trailer! - Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

The official full-length book trailer for Clockwork Prince, the highly anticipated second novel in The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare, was unveiled earlier today over at EW's Shelf Life! The voiceover was read by actor Ed Westwick and if you'd like read in full what he's saying, you can find it on Cassandra Clare's Tumblr blog.

Enjoy the book trailer! I haven't posted my review of Clockwork Prince yet, but this trailer really does capture the novel so well! My heart is seriously torn between Jem and Will...

Release Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Summary:

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

In My Mailbox (52)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week. 

This week I got...

Received for Review:

• ARC of Revived by Cat Patrick
• ARC of The Rivals (The Mockingbirds #2) by Daisy Whitney
• Winter Town by Stephen Emond
  

Thanks so much to Hachette Book Group Canada for sending these novels for review! 

It looks like my new ARC of The Rivals will match the cover of my first book, but I was also getting used to the new cover as well... I read Cat Patrick's Forgotten a few months ago and really enjoyed it, so I'm hoping the same will be true for Revived. And Winter Town sounds like a great contemporary novel with a bit of quirkiness and romance.

Even though Chapters/Indigo had a sale this weekend, I didn't buy any more books since I bought quite a few last week. It may not always be the case, but I do show self-restraint sometimes... 

And I'm sorry the blog was so quiet this week! I was so busy with schoolwork that I was too exhausted to even think about writing a review... and I didn't have much time for reading either. For just a little heads-up, my final tests and exams are approaching, so if the blog seems quiet again, it's because of school. I can't wait for Christmas break so I can build my new bookcase and read books for fun again!

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always... Happy Reading! 

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Title: Shade (Shade #1)
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Release Date: April 5, 2011 (paperback, first published May 4, 2010)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 336
Source: Bought

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.  

My Thoughts:

I can still remember seeing a copy of Jeri Smith-Ready’s Shade in bookstores when it was first released last year and finding myself reading the plot summary, vaguely interested, but ultimately setting the book back down. There have been so many times since then that I’ve picked up the book intending to buy it only to back out at the last moment. But after hearing tons and tons of praise lately for the novels (and a certain character named Zachary), I finally cast away my doubts and began reading Shade! 

Jeri Smith-Ready has created a fantastic world that is similar to our own in so many ways, but also different in retrospect. It’s almost difficult to describe, but when I first began reading the book, it felt more like a contemporary novel with the paranormal aspects in the background. With the exception of being able to see and communicate with ghosts, like everyone else born after the Shift, Aura is a relatively normal teenage girl who loves her boyfriend and hanging out with her best friend. It’s not until Aura tries to dig deeper into the mysteries of the Shift that the supernatural aspects really surface to the forefront of the novel. 

Shade features a very unconventional love triangle. When Aura's musician boyfriend Logan suddenly dies, her heart is shattered; his return as a ghost leaves her clinging to hope she can still be with him, even if they can’t actually touch anymore. In the back of her mind, she knows nothing can really happen with Logan anymore, but she doesn't want to truly lose him for good. And then there’s the gorgeous Zachary, a new student who immediately befriends and helps support Aura in her time of grief. He’s irresistibly sweet with his Scottish accent and more importantly, he’s alive. Whereas Logan came across as self-centered and ambitious for fame, Zachary was the opposite. You could tell he was hiding something from Aura though, which left me eagerly flipping the pages to uncover his secrets. In any case, I’m Team Zachary!

My only regret after reading Shade was not picking up a copy of Shift, the second novel in the trilogy, as well because now I can't immediately jump into reading it right away! I'm looking forward to learning more about the origins of the Shift and, of course, seeing some more of Zachary in the next book! I may have been late into starting the series... but it's definitely safe to say I'm hooked! Shade most definitely exceeded my expectations.

Waiting on Wednesday (73) - A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: March 20, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Summary (from Goodreads):

Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance...

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.

I haven't read Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy, but I'm definitely thinking that A Temptation of Angels will be the first novel I'll read by the author! I've seen this book featured on so many WoW picks, so I know I'm definitely not alone in thinking A Temptation of Angels sounds like a wonderful new spin on angel mythology. And with a mix of historical fiction and romance as well, I'm wondering how I could possibly not like the novel. I'm definitely very excited for this one!

In My Mailbox (51)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.

In the past two weeks, I got...

Received for Review:

• ARC of Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer
• ARC of Dead to You by Lisa McMann
• Dearly, Departed (Dearly #1) by Lia Habel
• ARC of Embrace (The Violet Eden Chapters #1) by Jessica Shirvington
• Glow (Sky Chasers #1) by Amy Kathleen Ryan ~ my review
• Inheritance (Inheritance #4) by Christopher Paolini 
• The Predicteds by Christine Seifert 
• Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman
• ARC of Tempest (Tempest #1) by Julie Cross

Thanks so much to Bookurious, Random House Canada, Raincoast Books and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending these novels for review! I'd also like to extend a warm thank you to Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman for sending me their novel Sirenz along with some fun swag!

Won:

• Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

I was so surprised to learn that I had won a signed copy of Lauren Oliver's Liesl & Po through a Twitter contest hosted by The Savvy Reader / HarperCollins Canada. Thank you so much! And if you're not already following them, you should absolutely do so over at @SavvyReader! 

Bought:

• The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa
• Saving June by Hannah Harrington
• Shade (Shade #1) by Jeri Smith-Ready
• The Shadow Reader (McKenzie Lewis #1) by Sandy Williams
• Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi ~ my review

The third time was the charm as I was finally able to buy The Iron Knight this week! I cannot wait to see how the Julie Kagwa will end the Iron Fey series. (And my heart still hasn't recovered after reading The Iron Queen...) 

And I just had to buy Shatter Me as well, especially since my ARC version doesn't have the cover; the book is so shiny! I've been hearing tons of praise for the Shade series, so I bought the first book. Why did nobody tell me to read it sooner? I really enjoyed it! I also already read The Shadow Reader and it's a great adult urban fantasy novel with faeries! I was also happy to see Saving June in stores early and I'm looking forward to reading it as well.

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week as well? 

And as always... Happy Reading! 

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: October 18, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 416
Source: ARC provided by publisher 

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary:

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

My Thoughts: 

For a long while now, I've been stumbling to formulate words that could possibly describe Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races. Every time I began to write a sentence, I would immediately delete everything and start over from scratch. But I've come to the realization that no matter how hard I try to rearrange my words, I'm sure I will still fail to capture what an extraordinary novel Maggie Stiefvater has crafted in her first standalone novel. 

There's a certain elegance to Maggie Stiefvater's prose which is truly her own style. Her words flow so seamlessly that you barely notice the pages eagerly turned as the story progresses. And in The Scorpio Races, she sweeps you away into a world that's at once enticing and exhilarating... but also frighteningly dangerous and cold at the same time. I was utterly fascinated by the capaill uisce, these ferocious water horses who were drawn to the Scorpio Sea in mysterious and magical ways. They’re incredibly deadly and wild creatures, and while they continue to be drawn to land as November approaches, they’re still only a heartbeat away from being beckoned back to the turbulent waters whence they came from. 

I would have thought the actual Scorpio Races would have been longer, but really, Maggie Stiefvater emphasizes the challenges which both Puck and Sean needed to face in order to even make it race day. They both enter the races for very different reasons, but in the end, their goals are the same: freedom. Puck was courageous and brave to stand up for her family, and no matter how unfair life had been to her, she pulled herself together when it counted and carried on. Sean’s strong, quiet demeanour may have hid his sweet heart… but it was his love for riding with Corr, his capall uisce, which had my heart completely reaching out to him. The relationship that unfolds between Puck and Sean builds with a slow-burning intensity, but showcased how they were such a well-matched pair...

You'll be hard-pressed to find another novel as original and beautifully written as Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races. Everything leads up to an ending which will leave your heart pounding in your chest and absolutely nervous to see who will win… and who will fail. Even if you’re not a fan of horses in novels, I’m quite sure it won’t stop you from absolutely enjoying The Scorpio Races! 

Thanks so much to Scholastic Canada for providing this review copy!

Waiting on Wednesday (72) - Black Heart by Holly Black

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. 

Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Summary (from Simon & Schuster Canada's website):

Cassel Sharpe knows he's been used as an assassin, but he's trying to put all that behind him. He's trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He's trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he's trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he's been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what's right and what's wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what's a con and what's truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

I'm not sure how many of you are aware yet, but Holly Black's Curse Workers series is getting a completely new look! The old cover featuring Cassel and Lila has been replaced by this lovely purple and black cover which features some pretty cool artwork.

I really was a fan of the old covers, so I'm sorry to burst your bubbles if you were also attached to the old ones, but I think it's interesting to see how the covers have been changed so much! With the old ones, you could easily get a dark crime noir vibe from the cover alone... but I really do love the purple colour, so I'm oddly conflicted. The obvious downside to the cover change is that my first two books won't match... but I'm sure it won't change the fact that Black Heart will be a great read!

I'm eager to see how Holly Black will finish the Curse Workers trilogy. I hope everything will work itself out in the end because Cassel's life was not looking too fun towards the end of Red Glove. I can't wait to read it! 

Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition

I was recently contacted by both Sourcebooks and Serendipity Literary Agency to help spread word about the Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition! I'm going to repost the information they sent to me in their email below... but it sounds like a great opportunity if you're a YA writer!

 

No query? No pitch? No problem!

Serendipity Literary Agency, in collaboration with Gotham Writers' Workshop, is hosting its Third Annual Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition for a chance to win a one-on-one consultation with one of New York's leading YA literary agents! 

If you've written a novel for young adults—or have an idea for one that you would like to write—we invite you to enter our contest. Simply submit only an enticing title along with the first 250 words from the opening of your original YA novel.

GREAT PRIZES
The Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to submit an entire manuscript to YA literary agent Regina Brooks and receive a free, 10-week writing course, courtesy of Gotham Writers' Workshop, plus a collection of gourmet teas from Possibiliteas.

The Top Five Entrants (including the Grand Prize winner) will receive a 15-minute, one-on-one pitch session with Regina Brooks, one of New York’s premier literary agents for young adult books. They will also receive commentary on their submissions by editors at Scholastic, Disney, Harlequin Teen, Random House, Viking, Roaring Brook Press, Sourcebooks, and Kimani Tru and receive a one-year subscription to The Writer magazine.

The First 50 Entrants will receive a copy of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks.

 

Enter to win here on Gotham Writers' Workshop. Hurry contest ends November 30, 2011.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: November 15, 2011 (paperback)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 352
Source: ARC provided by publisher 

Overall: 5 Stars 

Summary:

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. 

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now. 

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. 

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

My Thoughts:

Shatter Me is undoubtedly one of the most hyped novels of the year, and for good reason, because it’s well worth the high praise in every single way! Even though I set some very high expectations, Shatter Me still managed to go above and beyond my wildest dreams, shattering them within the very first few pages. I was immediately captivated by the way Tahereh Mafi completely breathed life into every aspect of Shatter Me. I couldn’t imagine the thought of setting this riveting book down for even a moment! 

For 264 days, Juliette has found herself in solitary confinement, thrown into a cell to waste away by The Reestablishment because society considers her to be a monster. Inexplicably, terrible things happen when Juliette touches a person… and during her isolation, she’s tried to keep her sanity by watching the world wither away outside her window and writing her thoughts in her notebook. Juliette finds the simplest joys in the beauty found in nature and yearns for the touch of another human being, even though she knows that can never happen… not if she doesn’t want them to get hurt. She’s kindhearted and so much stronger than she realizes, and while humanity has turned their backs on Juliette, she still refuses to return the favour in kind. As for Adam, the incredibly gorgeous and swoon-inducing romantic interest, let’s just say he melted my heart and I still don’t think it has quite recovered. The chemistry between Juliette and Adam leaped right off the pages, and I fell for him just as hard as Juliette did! 

I loved how Tahereh Mafi so easily twisted our views of Warner. While Juliette considered her abilities a curse, Warner recognized the power in her touch and wished to use it to further The Reestablishment’s cause. In so many ways, Warner is a reflection of what Juliette could so easily be if she let thoughts of revenge get the best of her. He was dangerous and certainly unpredictable, but despite everything, I felt sympathy for him because he was all alone, desperately trying to hold onto Juliette, although in a rather obsessive way. There’s a depth and complexity to Warner’s character that you simply don’t often find in a villain, and I have a great appreciation for that. 

As if well-developed characters and an amazing storyline weren’t enough, Tahereh Mafi’s gorgeous writing style also left me wide-eyed in complete awe. Her use of strikethroughs were a clever device, revealing Juliette’s innermost thoughts which were just as chaotic as the crumbling society she lived in. Every page of Shatter Me was filled with the loveliest of metaphors, drawing the grandest of comparisons and painting a vibrant image of a world which was simultaneously hopeful of a better future and frightening at the same time. 

Tahereh Mafi has sure made a powerful entrance in the YA writing scene with her debut novel! I already have a feeling Shatter Me will prove to be one of those everlasting novels I’ll find myself reading over and over again, and each time, only falling in love with the novel even more. It’s easily one of the best books of the year… and I’m highly anticipating the second novel in this pulse-racing trilogy which promises to only get even more exciting from here. Shatter Me is an absolute must read for everyone!

Thanks so much to HarperCollins Canada for providing this review copy! To learn more about Shatter Me, you can find more information about the book on HarperCollins Canada's website, "like" their Facebook page, and visit The Savvy Reader!

A Book Blogger Etiquette Guideline

Welcome to my personal version of what I'm deeming to be a guideline for Blogger Etiquette. I hope to also provide insight to a few particular topics and answer some general questions about blogging...

I would never proclaim I'm an expert by any means, so please consider these words my own personal rants/thoughts. I'm hoping they can be informational and when I feel there's a better source to describe the point I'm trying to make, I will provide the links. Why try to explain something when there's someone who can obviously do a way better job than myself, right?

There are hundreds and hundreds of books blogs... and I'm only one small fish in a very great sea of them. But sometimes, I truly shake my head at the lines some bloggers cross, perhaps without even realizing it. New bloggers can be excused for their naivety for only so long... but what about those older bloggers who should probably know better by now too?

Like many things, blogging is one of those experiences where you continuously learn new things everyday. It's about helping to build a network – a community, if you will – where readers, fellow bloggers, authors, and even publishers can connect and share their love of the written word.

We're friendly folks and love welcoming newcomers to the fold. But we can also be tight knit and protective when the time comes. And when I needed someone to talk to when I was younger, it was reading and this diverse community which saved me from being too alone.

Which is why it really hurts when I see friends I've become close to online hurt by others. I don't like to involve myself in drama... but it's getting more and more increasingly difficult not to say anything. And I also passed my own rite of passage not long ago when I discovered my work being plagiarized. It's. Not. Cool. At this point, I'm considering it a rite of passage, but it has also helped to inspire me to write this post.

Anyways, here are my two cents. I'd appreciate any insight you provide in the comments and hopefully it will be helpful for some of you!

I want to begin writing a book blog... but I don't know where to start!

If you're a beginner and need advice on how to build a better blog, then you MUST visit these sites below for help. When I first began blogging, I didn't have a clue what I was doing, so I did plenty of research beforehand. I think it's really important that you make an informed decision and keep in mind that blogging also takes up many hours of time. And if you're only blogging for free books, then you're obviously getting into it for all the wrong reasons.

• The Story Siren's "Building a Better Blog" ~ FAVOURITE/BOOKMARK this page, my friends. It will be your friend in times of doubt. You'll find everything from Kristi's own version of Book Blog Etiquette and Blog Tips to Author Interview Requests and Reviewing... and everything in between! She's my complete role model for book blogging!
• Parajunkee View's "Book Blogging 101" ~ Another excellent resource to find information on book blogging on a wide variety of categories from general questions to "behind the blog" aspects as well!
• Presenting Lenore's "New Book Blogger FAQ" ~ A great post to get you brainstorming what memes you may be interested in participating in, the type of content to write, etc.
• Small Review's "Tips and Tricks" ~ I haven't personally used any of the tips here yet, but if I need some help with more technical aspects in the future, I'll definitely be checking out this page. You can find everything from how to make a blockquote (mostly commonly those coloured boxes you see on posts), making buttons, etc.
• Have you wondered how bloggers can leave their links in their comments? You can find a nice, quick tutorial on Pure Imagination where you'll be able to find the answers.

What is an ARC and who do I contact to get one?

An ARC (or Advanced Reader Copy) is an uncorrected proof of a novel bound together by a publisher for promotional purposes. It's much more expensive for a publisher to create and mail out these copies because there is a limited print run... but in exchange for their efforts, they hope that book bloggers and professional reviewers can help spread the word about these novels by giving an honest opinion. There's nothing like word of mouth, right?

Again, if you're new to blogging, I wouldn't focus on trying to get review copies right away because the central focus of book blogging isn't about getting free books. I wouldn't say there's a specific number of followers you need before requesting, but you should definitely have several months (6 months seems to be the general rule of thumb...) of blogging under your belt and have consistency in your posting. If you're only posting memes without actual content, your blog isn't going to be a great promotional tool, now is it? It's important to keep in mind that this is an industry, and what we consider "free books" doesn't have the same meaning for publishers and authors whose jobs depend on selling their product. Reading is fun... but keep in mind that publishing is a business too. (You can read the Waxman Literary Agency's view on ARCs from this standpoint as well.)

It's another reason why selling ARC's and downloading illegal copies of books are completely unacceptable, and if one of us sees it... you can bet we'll be reporting it. While I look upon authors like they're cool celebrities, the truth is that they're not all billionaires like J.K. Rowling and it's important we support them as much as we can. Receiving early copies of novels is an absolute privilege... and don't forget that.

• Authors: They generally do not like being contacted for review copies. They usually only receive a certain amount of copies of their novels, which they either keep for themselves or pass onto family/friends... or give away later in contests during self-promotion. Unless they specifically said it was alright to contact them for review copies, it would be best not email them at all. However, some authors pass on these requests to their publicists, so it's always safest to read their contact page on their website first.
• Publishers: Since we're axing contacting authors, it's best to go straight to the source. On each publisher's website, they should have somewhere on their site a page/section dedicated to contacting their publicity department in acquiring review copies for promotional purposes. It's not always easy to find, so using your favourite search engine could save you some time by finding it directly, depending on the keywords you enter.

How do I contact a publisher? What do I include?

I'm generally a shy person and the first time I hit the enter button with my very first request for a book, I was kind of terrified because of the waiting game which would be played afterwords. I still can't get over being nervous whenever I request a book, which isn't all too often mind you, but still...

So I'm now going to direct you to All Things Urban Fantasy where I think their "Wherefore ARC Thou?" posts may also be particularly useful because they definitely were for me in getting a general sense of what I should include in my initial email.

• Wherefore ARC Thou? Part 1 ~ General ARC Resources
• Wherefore ARC Thou? Part 2 ~ Some various publisher's weigh in their opinions of when they prefer a blogger to contact them, but pay particular attention to the "What To Include When Requesting An ARC" section of the post. There's a very general example of what you may wish to consider including when contacting a publisher.
• Wherefore ARC Thou? Part 3 ~ ARC Protocol

And, of course, you can find a whole publisher series on The Story Siren with answers pertaining to ARC's and reviews! The publishers asked were all American, but they can be easily applied to publishers here in Canada and abroad as well.

Like I said in the beginning of my post, there are TONS of book blogs, so don't expect that publishers will come to you. Be polite, respectful and courteous when contacting publishers too! And don't be greedy by asking for a billion books to be sent to you... because that probably won't happen. Being a book blogger doesn't equate to being fully entitled to free books.

In short, what you need to include when contacting a publisher is:

• your full name
• short introduction about your blog and yourself
• blog stats (number of followers, how long you're been blogging for, page views, visitors)
• title of book and author
• other sites you possibly post your reviews on
• your mailing address

Social Networking and Online Communities

There's nothing I love more than conversing with others about my love of books! Here are some online communities hosted by various publishers you may like to join for opportunities to chat with other avid readers, complete book-related activities, enter contests, and more:

• Bookurious - Sponsored by Random House Canada, it's a site dedicated especially to Canadian teens! (Although that certainly won't stop older avid readers from joining too.) They have fairly regular giveaways which are easy to enter, take part in fun discussions, write blog posts and plenty more!
  
• PulseIt - This is a great site run by Simon & Schuster where every month, they upload two of their latest releases for you to read online which are then available for approximately two months for your enjoyment! They also have random draws to win books every month for active members too, join in Roleplays on their Message Boards, and more!
• Random Buzzers - Essentially the American counterpart of Bookurious, it's run by Random House for teens as well! They have lots of giveaways where most of the time entering is a simple as completing some sort of activity, you can chat with authors on their Buzz boards, write reviews, and more!
• Figment - A community for aspiring authors to upload their work and receive helpful comments in giving them advice on how to improve their writing. You can also discuss books in their forums and take part in author chats as well!

~ Twitter

It's really important to be interactive with the book community, and it will also help to gain followers and make new friends too. I don't really use Facebook for my blog, but Twitter is an excellent social networking site as almost everyone uses it. It's also an easy way to stay updated with the latest bookish news too.

However, there are downsides to Twitter as well and these are some things I don't like to see when following someone:

• Using Twitter to tweet about giveaways without adding content of their own. I want to follow you to hear your own thoughts/opinions! (Of course, some people really do only use Twitter for that purpose, but they don't go around asking for followers at least, so I certainly won't hold that against them.)
• Similarly, people who only tweet their blog link over and over again. You're not promoting... you're spamming. Big difference.
• People who obviously don't know the definition of a SPOILER. Just because you know the detail of a book/movie/show, doesn't mean others will too... especially if it's still very recent.
• Tweets where people hound you to follow them back. If I want to follow you, I'll follow you. Don't pressure me.
• People tweeting publishers to beg for review copies without even using proper punctuation or grammar. It's essential to maintain professionalism in such a request, and you're not doing yourself any favours by showing a complete lack of courtesy. Like I previously mentioned above, it's not always easy to find the contact email right away... but you MUST put the effort into finding one if you're so intent on receiving copies. Tweeting to ask publishers for contact information should never be your first option.
• Do not excessively whine when a publisher doesn't send you a novel. Let me repeat myself when I say receiving review copies is an absolute privilege... and I'm grateful whenever a publisher spends the time and money mailing me their novels.
• Conversely, do not brag when publishers send you tons of novels. It's always fun to be excited for new books and you're helping to spread the word about these books, for sure... but don't take it to the point where it feels like you're rubbing it in someone's face that you have something when others do not.

~ Goodreads 

You don't necessarily need to join Goodreads but I would suggest you have an account because it's the most up-to-date for getting information on books and you can add them to bookshelves there too. You should always double-check the release dates and plot descriptions with those found on the publisher's, author's or bookseller's websites to ensure accuracy, but in any case, it's a useful resource. You can also join various groups, create lists, etc. there too.

Similar to using Twitter though, it also has some annoying downsides:

• There are Goodreads users who obviously don't understand that sending dozens of the same group invitations and giveaway notices for their blogs are really just spam messages that clutter my inbox. Moderation, people. MODERATION. I ignore all of these messages, and frankly, I'm less likely to care what you're even talking about in the first place.

Plagiarism and Blogger Integrity 
Once again, I'm going to be directing you to several posts by bloggers who can eloquently put into words what I cannot:

• The Story Siren on Plagiarism 
• Steph Su Reads on "Plagiarism in the Blogosphere"
• The Compulsive Reader's "Just a Reminder: Paraphrasing is Plagiarism"
• Persnickety Snark's advice on how to avoid blogger conflicts 

Simply put, plagiarism is wrong. You're taking someone's thoughts and opinions, and then claiming them for your own without any sort of credit to the original source. You need to find your own voice to express yourself.

When you copy someone's paragraph, make a few tweaks, and then post it for yourself... that's plagiarism. When you paraphrase someone's sentence or two, that's still plagiarism. It's not something to be taken lightly and you will eventually be caught. 

~ I think someone has copied my review/blog feature/layout, etc... what should I do?
It really does sadden me when an older blogger has their blog features and layouts completely replicated by newer bloggers who come along. And the maddening part? When these same new bloggers have the nerve to insinuate they're the ones actually being copied.

Honest mistakes do happen though, so I wouldn't be too quick to jump to conclusions. I'm sure there are individuals who don't mind shrugging their shoulders and moving on if it's not too big a deal for them. But if you wish to act, I think it's best to politely reach out the blogger first and make it known that you feel your work has been copied. You can also suggest that there own post remains... but that you simply wish to receive credit where it is due.

That's actually scary for me because I'm afraid of confrontation, but if you wish for it to be stopped, you're going to have to say something. But also, sometimes there's really not that much you can do which really sucks... especially when it feels the other party is unresponsive. 

And if you're not sure if it's okay to post something, it's always better to simply ask! If you're planning to write a post that's similar to another blogger's content (for example, a certain event theme), it's always best to get permission beforehand, if you're able to, so you're not stepping on anyone's toes afterwords...

In any case, I really like Parajunkee's answer in relation to a question regarding have a meme stolen, which you can find in her Book Blogging 101: More Comments and Stolen Memes post. Ideas really can be similar and it doesn't necessarily mean you're being copied in all cases. Just make your own content the best it can be so it shines!

~ Does this also apply to posts such as those for book trailers and cover reveals? 
No, not necessarily. Everyone is entitled to post such content on their blogs as publishers and authors appreciate the word about their novels being spread. When other bloggers post similar content such as this, that's not plagiarism or a case of one blogger copying another, as that content isn't truly ours to begin with. However, it is plagiarism when you're stealing someone's words/thoughts from the post and then claiming them to be your own.   

Personally, I always try to link back and source where I found such information to cover my bases, whether it be via a previous blog post, tweet, Facebook, etc.

~ Is there such a thing as having too many giveaways? 
If you really like to enter giveaways, then I'm sure you're shaking your head as a "no", but I really do feel that too many is not a great thing... given the context, of course.

If a publisher is hosting several giveaways through your blog, I can hardly raise a complaint. However, if you're continuously hosting giveaways on your own terms to the point where it feels like you're "buying your followers", I can't say I'm very impressed. It's more essential to post content about books, and these followers aren't necessarily the loyal type who will continue to return to your blog and read it. 

Don't sell yourself short by thinking that just because you're not hosting a giveaway, it doesn't mean no one will follow you. Just a thought.

*****

I think that's about everything I wanted to sort of share my opinion on...

If you read this long post, thank you so much... and I look forward to hearing your opinions, whether you agree or disagree with what I've said. Like I mentioned in the very beginning, blogging is very much a learning experience! And, hopefully, you will find some of this information helpful as well.

I'm not usually one to share my opinions so openly like this, so I'm actually rather nervous to see what the response will be like...

Waiting on Wednesday (71) - Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. 

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen 

Summary (from Goodreads):

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in SWEET EVIL. 

Anna, a tender-hearted Southern girl, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip forces Anna and Kai to face the reality that hope and love are not options for their kind. When it’s time for Anna to confront her demons, will she choose to embrace her halo or her horns?

Before I started blogging, I was really active on the Inkpop Community. And when I say really active, I actually mean it probably reached an addictive level. I was lucky to get an early invite to the site before it opened to the public, and it was so much fun reading the different short stories and poetry, and leaving comments with my thoughts on them. In between reading, blogging, and school these days, I don't have so much time anymore to visit the site anymore (here's my profile page anyways)... but for months and months, my proud achievement was being a top 20 trendsetter on the site.

Anyways, I'd been on the site for awhile when I stumbled across a new project called Angel Prophecy. And when I began reading the novel, I literally couldn't stop until I was finished because I was captivated by the story and how something so well-written couldn't possibly already be published. It was also the first novel I read in its entirety on the site, and after that, it had me trying to find other stories on the community that were just as good.

Well, awhile ago, I got my wish to finally see Angel Prophecy published when it was announced that HarperTeen would be publishing Wendy Higgin's Sweet Evil (previously known as Angel Prophecy), following in the footsteps of Leigh Fallon's Carrier of the Mark, which had also been discovered on the Inkpop Community.

And while I'm sure Sweet Evil has seen many revisions since its original version posted on the Inkpop Community, I know it can only get better from there. Because if I already loved its earlier version, I'm sure I'll love it just as much now with its changes!

I'm really excited for Sweet Evil's release... and I sure hope you are too!

Book Trailer! - Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

The official book trailer for Tahereh Mafi's much anticipated debut novel Shatter Me was unveiled yesterday at MTV's Hollywood Crush. However, only American residents could watch it there, but Tahereh Mafi posted the YouTube version on her blog today... so now everyone can watch it too!

I haven't posted my review of Shatter Me yet, but when I do, it will only have gushing thoughts! I LOVED Shatter Me and it's easily one of the best books I've read all year. In fact, I just re-read it again the other day and it's still unbelievably amazing the second time around. Enjoy the book trailer!

Release Date: November 15, 2011
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Summary:

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

1st Annual Book Blogger Meet-Up!

On Saturday, November 5, almost 40 Ontario book bloggers descended onto the Duke of York in downtown Toronto to get together in a fun afternoon to chat about books, blogging and our shared passion for reading!

Before I continue, I must first give a shout-out to my fellow Ontario Blog Squad ladies! 

Jen ~ Lost in the Library

Mel ~ He Followed Me Home... Can I Keep Him? 

Wendy ~ A Cupcake and a Latte

Christa ~ Hooked on Books

Jackie ~ My Ever Expanding Library 

Nicole ~ All I Ever Read...

Angel ~ Mermaid Vision Books

We've been planning this event for several months, having online chats to discuss details, exchanging hundreds of emails, and plenty more to organize everything... and Saturday was the day when everything finally came together!

Even though the event wouldn't begin until 2:00 p.m., all of us gathered at Nicole's office just after 10:30 a.m. to organize the special surprise we had in store for every person in attendance. I had so much fun teasing everyone on Twitter that we had a secret... 

We had some incredible support from Canadian publishers for this event and I know I'm not speaking for myself when I say how thankful we were for their generosity.

Simon & Schuster Canada sent along copies of the much anticipated Fever by Lauren DeStefano!

Hachette Book Group Canada provided novels for everyone as well, including upcoming 2012 releases such as A Midsummer's Nightmare and Belles, and gave us Twilight Saga lanyards too!

Scholastic Canada provided us with copies of Cleopatra's Moon, iBoy, First Day on Earth, and The Scorpio Races.

Penguin Canada provided some cool anticipated 2012 releases such as Bloodrose and Born Wicked along with a few t-shirts and plenty of bookmarks for everyone to definitely take more than one! We decided to have a raffle during the meet-up to give away their books...

Chapters/Indigo was also very kind to give us cute tote bags. Kobo provided swag such as stickers, buttons and t-shirts to be given away as well. And one very cool surprise which we had never imagined? They generously provided a Kobo Touch E-Reader to be given away!

Shannon from HarperCollins Canada also provided us with various anticipated 2012 releases such as Pandemonium, Incarnate and Everneath! And how cool was it that Shannon had a sticky-note for every single novel with her thoughts on them too? She also gave us signed bookplates by Lauren Oliver and Veronica Roth along with bookmarks, but they're not included in the picture below.

Random House Canada sent out goodie bags filled with a book, mug, pen and various bookmarks. (And it's lucky they gave us those bags so we could put the other books in them too!)

It was so much temptation not to crack open one of the books and begin reading it right away! There must have been almost 200 novels in Nicole's office, which we sorted into the goodie bags to be given away. When we were finished, we loaded the bags into Jen and Jackie's cars before making our way to the Duke of York. And let me tell you, I'd never been so grateful that there were eight of us carrying the bags over after we'd parked because they were so heavy!

When we arrived, we were happy to see that some eager people had already arrived for the event! I had met some of the bloggers before at previous signings, but it was fun having the change to speak longer with them about our favourite books! And to those whom I hadn't met before, I loved getting the chance to finally meet them in person! In between eating the yummy appetizers which Jen generously provided for everyone to snack on (thank you again!), I tried my best to make my across the room and chat with as many people as I could.

I was so excited to meet Laura and Cathy, whom I feel like I've both known forever because I've been chatting with them on the Chapters/Indigo Online Community since before I started blogging. (Cathy! I hope you'll be able to stay longer next year so we can chat some more!) Laura, Simone, and I also had a chance to chat about our hopes/fears for the upcoming City of Bones movie. (Remember ladies, we're not panicking just yet about the weird portal we all read about.) I also had a fun time catching-up with Sara again and seeing her excitement that she now had a copy of Fever. And it was so sweet having the chance to meet Danya, whom I might not have had the chance to meet if not for her internship in the city since she's normally from across the country!

I also had a chance to chat about the upcoming Hunger Games movies with Laura and Simone, as well as Paul (our lone male at the event!) and Gwenyth... and we all pretty much agreed that it's so far so good for the movie! Weren't those recently revealed posters for the characters just amazing? And it was so much fun meeting Ashley and Audrey, two bloggers I've been chatting online for ages with as well but who I hadn't been able to meet until that day.

I kind of lost track of time afterwards, but I would say that around halfway through the event, we quieted the room so we could have some trivia questions and raffle away some of the books we didn't include in the goodie bags with tickets we had provided to everyone. And can you believe my luck? I actually won a Razorbill t-shirt and Nina LaCour's The Disenchantments! For a moment, I was second-guessing myself that I'd heard my ticket number being called! And for the grand finale of the giveaways at the event, the Kobe E-Reader went to Hayley after Sara passed on initially winning it, since she already owned one...

After that, I found myself on the other side of the room chatting with Carol. And then Chandra kindly listened to me completely fan-girl over Rachel Vincent's novels as we discussed her latest book Blood Bound and her amazing Soul Screamers series. (And yes, Chandra, I will definitely read Jeri Smith-Ready's Shade series someday soon!) I was also really happy to meet the incredibly sweet Lindsey from Random House Canada, who we were fortunate to have join us for the event! Lindsey also helps to moderate Bookurious, a great Canadian online community which you should definitely check out if you haven't yet done so!

Thanks so much to Michele, who took the picture below for me of the Ontario Blog Squad:

From Left to Right: Liz (me!), Wendy, Christa, Mel, Jen, Jackie, Nicole & Angel

Needless to say, I had an AMAZING time at the first annual Book Blogger Meet-Up! It was so much fun getting the chance to meet so many fellow book bloggers and I'm already looking forward to another meet-up in the future! (You can check out the books and swag I received at the event on my recent IMM post.)

If you would like to keep updated for future Ontario meet-ups or for bookish-related news in the province, please follow the Ontario Blog Squad blog or follow us on Twitter!

If you would like to check out more recaps of the event, please visit this post on the Ontario Blog Squad blog. And if you attended the event and wrote a recap post of your own, please link up your posts to that link too. If you were unable to attend the event, we'll also be having giveaways there as well with the chance to win some great novels!

I am already looking forward to helping plan out next year's event! It's safe to say that the first Book Blogger Meet-Up was a great success!