Health, Reading, Etc.--Or, Something Called "Life"...

Happy Friday Everybody,

I apologize for the lack of posts for Wednesday and Thursday. I still have to sit down and brainstorm blog ideas. Last week and this week family members have been sick and I'm fighting allergy/health issues of my own (nothing serious, just annoyances).

I'm working on finishing an ARC for an official blog book review in March (I have THREE for March. I've finished 2 of the ARCs and this is the last one). Then I have another official blog book review to schedule in April and I have to read that book, too.

These are some good stories that are coming out, folks! I'm excited to talk about them, but it has meant that I've been very busy, too (if not for an official blog review, but to look up when something is coming out so I can be sure to read it when it's released).


I'm also in the process of brainstorming for a WIP (Work In Progress). The manuscript is started, just have some ideas to play around with--plus some other things working in the back of my mind.

Pandemonium, Lauren Oliver's sequel to Delirium comes out on February 28, 2012 (not next Tuesday, but the following). Delirium was a truly unique novel (you can read about my impression of the novel here).  I interviewed author Lauren Oliver in November of 2011.  Pandemonium looks like it's going to good!


What's going on in your world?


Have A Fantastic Friday!

Winner And We're Not Done Yet...

Happy Thursday All,

I'm posting this kinda late in the day, but I couldn't be on the computer very long earlier because I had another obligation in my personal life (a good one, I promise, nothing bad) so I decided to wait until I had talked to the winner of yesterday's drawing and was done with my other obligation to post.

The winner of yesterday's December Days Blog Giveaway was Sarah!

Congratulations, Sarah! Lauren Oliver will mail you your copy of DELIRIUM soon.

Tomorrow is yet another giveaway...you're gonna have to come back and see who the author is and what book it is.

Next week I have THREE, count 'em, THREE giveaway days. Three different authors, three different books.

So, keep coming back, because tomorrow is a giveaway day and next week is THREE (and I'm not saying which days!)

Have A Thrilling Thursday!

Love Is In The Air...And In The Giveaway Novel!

Happy Wednesday Everybody,

****THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR THE NEXT DECEMBER DAYS BLOG GIVEAWAY HAPPENING LATER THIS WEEK. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED!****

No, you're not seeing things! That is, in fact, the December Days Blog Giveaway day!

You're in for a treat. YA author, Lauren Oliver is going to give to one lucky winner a signed copy of her thought-provoking and fascinating dystopian novel, Delirium:

Lena is looking forward to being cured and safe from the deliria. Days before receiving the cure, she contracts it...she falls in love.

It's a fascinating read, everybody!

And here's how you can try to win a signed copy of this incredible novel (please read the instructions carefully):

One entry per person. I'll be closing the contest at 10:30 p.m. Central Time:

1.  You can comment on this post. Please leave your first name and an email address. If you do not leave an email address you will be disqualified. (I need an email address so that I can contact the winner and give them information on how to claim their prize).

2.  If you want to keep your email private, then email me at bethany.averie@yahoo.com (Some people have other email addresses of mine--please note that if you email me your entry, you must send it to bethany.averie@yahoo.com since I am not accepting contest entriest sent to any other email address--it's just easier to have entries at a central location).

I'll announce the winner in Thursday's post!

Have A Wondrous Wednesday!

Spotlight On Author: Lauren Oliver

Happy Friday Everyone,

I'm delighted to introduce November author interview to you, Lauren Oliver. I read her YA Dystopian novel, Delirium, and it was very thought provoking, imaginative, interesting, and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Me:  In Delirium love is viewed as a disease. What made you decide to write a dystopian YA dealing with that possibility?


Lauren:  The idea for Delirium came from an essay I read by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, in which he wrote that all great books were about love or death. The next day I was thinking about that quote--particularly about how and in what form a modern love story could be told--while I was on the treadmill at the gym. I was simultaneously watching a news story about a flu outbreak that had everyone freaking out about the possibility of a pandemic, and I was kind of marvelling that people so easily go into panics about reports of these diseases, and at some point the two trains of thought--love, and disease--just sort of combined in my head.


Me:  What sort of "teasers" can you tell us about the sequel(s) for Delirium and how many books will be in the series?


Lauren:  There are two sequels to Delirium—Pandemonium, which comes out March 2012, and Requiem, which comes out March 2013. I don’t want to give too much away, but I can say that Pandemonium takes place in two difference time frames, while Requiem gives voice to two narrators.


Me:  What other genres do you write, or do you stick with YA Dystopian?


Lauren:  I’ve written in a bunch of other genres. Before I Fall, my first book, was YA contemporary; my first book for middle-grade readers, Liesl & Po, just came out in early October. I have a second middle-grade book coming out next fall, and I also write adult stuff. So I’m definitely all over the map.


Me:  What's your favorite Season of the year?


Lauren:  Fall! I love the changing trees…and my birthday is in November.


Me:  What advice do you have for aspiring authors/writers?


Lauren:  Read and write as much as you can! Carve time to do both every day.


Me:  What drew you to write YA Dystopian novel(s)?


Lauren:  Oh, I didn’t intend to write YA, or dystopia. All of my books begin with character and theme; the genre and audience kind of emerge organically from the story. I just go where the ideas lead me!


Me: What's your favorite Holiday?


Lauren:  Christmas or Passover! I’m half-Jewish and half-Catholic, so I get to enjoy both.


Me:  What's your solution to writer's block?


Lauren:  Writer’s block, I think, is what happens when you give in to the feeling of not wanting to write or not having anything to say; so the solution is simply to resist giving in to that feeling—to resist the resistance, in other words. If you can force yourself to write even a sentence—even a sentence that’s bad, ungrammatical, or nonsensical—you’ll find that more sentences emerge from it.


Me:  Are you a "pantser" or a "plotter" type writer? (Do you outline or do you just go with whatever inspiration comes?)


Lauren:  It’s kind of a combination of both, and it somewhat depends on the book. Usually, I write about 5,000-10,000 words to see whether the world and the characters take hold of me, whether it’s a book I feel I’ll be able to commit to for the next year. Then I sit down and try to generate a rough outline, a general sense of the large conflicts and tensions. As I continue writing, I keep working the outline as well, and revising both as necessary.


Me:  What's on the horizon for you and your novels (what do you have coming up)?


Lauren:  Right now I’m working on the last book in my Delirium trilogy, Requiem. After that…who knows!


Me:  Anything else you'd like to add?


Lauren:  Just thank you for having me!


Thank you, so much, Lauren Oliver, for agreeing to appear on my blog! I can't wait to read Pandemonium. Best wishes on your future releases :-)


Have A Fantastic Friday, Everyone!

Hang On, We're In For a Ride

Happy Thursday Everyone,

I had trouble with this site earlier, so I'm posting a little later in the day than I normally would...

I'm going to verbally jump up and down for a moment here, so just bear with me. Finally, finally, finally! Tess St. John, one of my illustrious Critique Partners, is starting to release her Romantic Suspenses! Yesterday she released onto Amazon Kindle and Barnes &Noble Nook Don't Let It Show. This looks good and if it's anything like what I've read of her other work, it's going to be awesome!

Okay, now that you've seen me be total fan girl (not the first time, right?) I can get into today's discussion:

Yesterday I finished reading Lauren Oliver's Delirium. Can I just say, WOW? This dystopian novel took me on one wild ride. Even when there wasn't any running or looking over one's shoulder I had this feeling that any minute someone was going to jump out and yell "Boo!" (metaphorically speaking, of course).

Delirium asks the question:  "What if society/government thought love was a disease and had found a "cure" for it?"  People react in a myriad of ways in this novel. Some resist ("sympathizers"/"invalids"/"resisters") and some are forced to comply and others just go ahead with the procedure on their own--those are the "cureds". The idea is without the "disease"--the "deliria"--people are able to live happy, rational, and secure lives. The fear of being "infected" before you're "cured" is perpetuated by the "New Religion" and the "Book Of Shh"--all put out by the government, scientists, and those in the medical field associated with administrating the "cure". 

I found the book utterly intriguing and totally unforgettable. It's one of those things that you have to take a step back and digest before moving on to the next book on my reading list.

The second book in this series, Pandemonium, is due to release in March of 2012. So far the series is slated to be a triology and it looks like it promises to be quite the adventure.

My impression: the book is intriguing and thought provoking.  It took me out of my "comfort zone" so to speak and had me contemplating its question and deciding that I'm very glad that the government/scientists don't have a "cure" for love and that I'm free to love my husband, offspring, friends, and family to my heart's content.

Anyway, if you haven't already, pick up a copy of Tess St. John's Don't Let It Show (from what I understand this novel will eventually go into print, but I don't have an exact date at this time). Also, you might want to check out Lauren Oliver's Delirium for yourself. She's got quite the imagination.

What books have you read that just stick in your mind--ones that maybe took you out of your comfort zone, or ones that you just can't forget because you loved them so much?

Have A Thoughtful Thursday!