Guest Post By ELLIE JAMES - SHATTERED DREAMS: Lessons Learned

Shattered Dreams: Lessons Learned

Ellie James, author of Shattered Dreams featuring teenage psychic Trinity Monsour, joins us today to preview a few big lessons coming out of her YA thriller, Shattered Dreams.

Life as a psychic can be rather bizarre, especially when you’re sixteen and living in the most haunted city in America, when everyone in your life was a stranger six months before, when secrets lurk around every corner and every now and then you have these….dreams. Dreams you don’t understand. Without time- or place-stamps. Dreams that terrify.

Dreams that come true.

Oh, yeah, and the wrong guy has a way of showing up at exact the right moment.

1.     Not all dreams end when you wake up.

2.     The truth can be far more dangerous than a dare.

3.     Being on the outside looking in is sometimes far better than being trapped on the inside.

4.     Seeing things that aren’t there doesn’t always mean you’re crazy.

5.     A smile can be the most dangerous disguise.

6.     Nothing is random.

7.     Sometimes when you close your eyes, you can see far better than when they’re open.

8.     Silver is far more than a color.

9.     Just because you don’t remember something doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

10.  Opening your eyes in the wrong guy’s arms isn’t always…wrong.

11.  Morgues aren’t fun places.

12.  The soul remembers.

13.  Once open, some doors can never be closed.

14.  Only a coward lets fear stand in their way.

15.  A single kiss can change everything.

About Shattered Dreams

The firstborn daughter, of the firstborn daughter, of the firstborn daughter, sixteen year old psychic Trinity Monsour has a connection to the Other Side. She knows secrets and truths she shouldn’t, feels emotions that do not belong to her, and see events that have yet to happen. They come to her as glimpses, shadowy, disjointed snapshots that flicker through her dreams. Some terrify: a girl screaming, a knife lifting, a body in the grass. But others--the dark, tortured eyes and the shattering kiss, the promise of forever--whisper to her soul.

They come without warning. They come without detail.

But they always mean the same thing: The clock is ticking, and only Trinity can stop it.

Find Ellie James on Twitter @EllieJamesMDB

http://extracts.quercusbooks.co.uk/shattered-dreams/

Welcome,Caller Blog Tour - Shelley Coriell On Cover Making

Author Shelley Coriell on the Magic of Cover Making

In my debut contemp novel WELCOME, CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE – I describe my main character, Chloe, as a sixteen-year-old radio talk show host with a huge collection of vintage shoes and “red-orange hair, as soft and wavy as a handful of poppy petals.” That’s it. Nothing else.

Chloe, who is strong, self-confident, and comfortable in her own “skin” – is such a different YA protag, and her story is very different than many YAs on shelves today. As most authors are prone to do, I worried (okay, obsessed) over what kind of cover I would get, especially with the limited physical description I gave. I knew a girls-in-gowns type cover wouldn’t fly, and I couldn’t visualize a half face or random body part.

So imagine my shock when I first saw the cover comps from the design team at Amulet who absolutely nailed Chloe and her story. Like Chloe, all of the cover comps were different, bold, bright, and in-your-face. And that mouth is spot on. I can hear her say, “Welcome, caller, this is Chloe. What’s on your heart tonight?”

 

(Photos courtesy of Amulet Books/Abrams)

Early on, the Amulet design team decided to use a real girl on the cover, not an illustration, something that thrilled me as an author. This is a contemporary YA about a real girl with real problems. The book surprises many people in that it isn’t “light and fluffy” as the people in Chloe’s world deal with serious issues such as Parkinson’s and drug addiction.

Amulet performed a model search, thumbing through hundreds of portfolios looking for a teen-aged, red-headed model who could also pull off the vintage vibe that runs through the book.

They found teen model Taylor Adkins in Atlanta, Georgia, and flew her to New York for an audition. After meeting her, the design team knew she was the perfect “Chloe.” Taylor flew

a second time to New York where designer Maria Middleton, photographer Jonathan Beckerman, and the Amulet team worked their magic.

Middleton said they hired two talented hair and makeup artists and solicited some great vintage clothes from fashionistas in the office. “Viola! Chloe!”  

(Photos courtesy of Jonathan Beckerman)

I have since met Taylor, who is doing a number of book signings with me across the United States, and the crazy thing is, she’s just like Chloe: upbeat, funny, and genuinely kind hearted.

Your turn, now. Let’s hear about your cover “loves.” Give a shout out to some of the best YA covers you’ve seen in the past year, especially those that “nail” the story.

To learn more about young adult author Shelley Coriell and Chloe’s high school radio world, visit www.shelleycoriell.com

I read this book earlier this year and adored it - You can find my review HERE

Be sure to check out the Abrams & Chronicle Facebook page for some awesome 'Chloe' related Giveaways

Guest Post - Sara Grant DARK PARTIES Theme Song

I've kind of been obsessing over Dark Parties since December last year.  I'm not gonna lie, the cover really got me to start with.  How cool does that look??  The more I then found out about it, the more I needed this book in my life.  I got it and loved it as I knew I would, and then was asked to be a part of Sara's blog tour - I was thrilled to be asked!  And the subject is RIGHT up my street!!!

Theme Songs

The 45 record played a significant role in my upbringing. I was five when my grandma gave me my first 45 – Playground in My Mind. Until then, my parents controlled the music in the house. We only had maybe a dozen record albums – most of which were Christmas themed. But this 7-inch vinyl disc was all mine.

If you’d set the arm a certain way on the old record players, it would play your favourite 45 over and over and over again. Getting ready for school, I’d select one song and let it repeat. I’d soon know every word of the lyrics and probably had – on special occasions – a few signature dance moves to accompany the song. I must have driven my family insane.

When I’d save enough of my allowance money, I’d walk down to Palmer Electric on Main Street in Washington, Indiana. They sold household appliances and, for some strange reason, records. They had a display of 45s. I can remember standing there for ages trying to decide which record to buy next. It was agonizing to only choose one.

Allie McBeal (an American comedy drama from the late 90s) introduced me to the idea of a theme song. Dr Tracey Clark instructed Allie to get a theme song, a song that she could play in her head to make her feel better. My theme songs have evolved over time. I admit that when it comes to theme tunes I lean a little bit to the cheesy side. I supposed for me that’s what a theme song is all about – a life-affirming message.

Sara Grant

I still have the same 45-record mentality. I get one song and play it over and over and over. Now I typically use earphones so no one has to listen. But there’s nothing better than unplugging the earphones, blasting the song as loud as your stereo – and tenancy agreement – will allow.

Here are a few of my favourite theme songs over the years. If you’ve read, Dark Parties, you may be surprised at the light tone of these selections, but it’s this levity that lets me write from a dark place. I defy you to listen to any of these and not be in just a little better mood than you were before.

Tide is High by Blondie

Ah, unrequited love. I was in high school. M.L. declined my invitation to prom, which meant I didn’t attend my junior prom. I played this – what I’d now call a ‘stalker ballad’ – to remind me that I’d eventually get my man. And, yeah, a few years later, we dated.

“The tide is high but I’m holding on. I’m gonna be your number one. I’m not the kinda girl who gives up just like that.”

You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban (definitely not the Westlife version.)

This song represents my parents. I am very lucky to have two loving parents who always support me.

“I am strong when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up to more than I can be.”

One Girl Revolution by Superchick

This girl-power song from the Legally Blond soundtrack is just too much fun.

“I wear a disguise. I’m just your average Jane. The super doesn’t stand for model, but it doesn’t mean I’m plain. If all you see is how I look you miss the super chick within. And I christen you Titanic. Under estimate and swim.”

Watch Me Shine by Joanna Pacitti

I used to run half marathons. This was on my race day soundtrack. For the last mile of my first race, I listened to this song again and again. I’d been training for four months. I’d just lost 100 pounds (that’s 7.2 stone). Crossing that finish line was a huge milestone in my life.

“Better watch out. Going for the knock out. And I won’t stop til I’m on top now. Not gonna give up til I get what’s mine...I’m taking over so watch me shine.”

Defy Gravity from Wicked by Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth

I love the theatre. Growing up, I was in every school play and musical. I was an acting major in college for one whole semester. (Then I realised I just wasn’t that good.) I’ve seen Wicked the musical several times. It’s got a major feel-good factor. If I’m ever feeling defeated, this is the song that I select and press ‘play’.

“I’m through accepting limits cause someone says they’re so. Some things I cannot change but til I try I’ll never know.”

The Climb by Joe McElderry

This is more of my life philosophy than a song. Yeah, X Factor is one of my guilty pleasures. It’s probably the song that best represents my journey to publication. It’s been a long, rocky climb. I wrote my first story for children 20 years ago when my niece Megan was born. I got my first book deal the year she turned eighteen. So much of the writing business is about figuring out how to keep the faith. It’s about learning and trying and failing and trying again.

“There’s always gonna be another mountain. I’m always gonna want to make it move...Ain’t about how fast you get there. Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb.”

So what’s your theme song?

What a great guest post!!!  And such wonderful sentiments behind the song choices.  I actually did a guest post myself a while a go, where I picked my theme songs and it was rather cheesy at times too, but hey cheese is GOOD!!!

You can find my review for DARK PARTIES Here

Many Thanks to Sara And Indigo for the post

Guest Post - Kirsty Murray INDIA DARK Where Did The Idea Come From? AND GIVEAWAY

 I heard about Kirsty Murray's Book 'India Dark' towards the end of last year.  To me it had the most fascinating plot, real history, Performing children, exotic locations and mystery.  I couldn't help wondering where the ideas for this story could stem from, so when the people at Templar gave me the opportunity to ask Kirsty just that I had to take them up on it.......

Kirsty Murray

District YA – Where did the idea for the book come from?

India Dark is based on a true story. In July 1909, twenty-nine children, members of a theatre troupe called Pollard’s Lilliputian Opera Company, boarded a steamship in Australia to begin a two-year world tour.  Eight months later, the tour ended in scandal in South India when twenty-four of the children walked out on their manager, refusing to travel or work with him ever again. The novel closely follows the true history of that tour..
I first came across the story of the Pollards’ in 2001 when I was working on my novel Bridie’s Fire. In that book, the main character, Bridie, joins a tent theatre  company on the Australian goldfields. I did a lot of research on early Australian theatre companies so I could write Bridie’s story, including interviewing a theatre historian and archivist called Peter Freund who works at Her Majesty’s theatre in Ballarat (on the Victorian goldfields) At the end of the interview, Peter opened a drawer in his desk and drew out an essay entitled ‘Children Half Price – An account of the demise of Pollard’s Lilliputian Opera Company.’ “Someone,” he said “Should write a children’s book about these kids.”

I don’t think Peter had read a lot of children’s fiction because the true history was way too dark and sexy to be an ordinary children’s novel. In a couple of thousand words, his essay outlined a true story that I would later spend years researching, sweating over and eventually turning into an 80,000 word YA novel.

Piecing the story of the Pollards together was like assembling a jigsaw puzzle where half the pieces were missing. Unbelievably, there are almost no secondary sources (history books) about the Empire theatre circuit in Asia. From the 18th Century, British and later Australian theatre troupes toured every corner of the British Empire. When I first heard about the Pollard’s, I thought they must have been unique. But as I began to study some of the primary sources (newspapers and theatre magazines) I discovered the Pollards were only following the example of countless other performers and theatre companies. There were dozens of troupes that toured British territories in Asia, India and South Africa. It was a lucrative route for many companies as audiences in colonial outposts were hungry for European, British and English-speaking entertainers. Australian companies were particularly keen on touring South Asia as it was so close to home. Not every troupe was made up exclusively of children but child troupes were economical to tour as the children’s wages were low and the kids were also cheaper to feed, house and theoretically easier to control.
Poesy Swift and Tilly Sweetrick, the narrators in India Dark, are wholly invented characters though much of what they say and do is based on the experiences of real girls who were members of the Pollard’s troupe.  I decided to ficitonalise the story – to change the names of the players and the troupe - because I knew I could never be sure of every detail to be able to confidently declare it straight ‘fact’.  There were so many conflicting versions reported in the press of what exactly happened during the eight months the kids toured Asia. Even the number of children involved was complicated. Twenty-nine left Melbourne but three disappeared en route.

In the end, fiction is the most powerful way to tell the truth about people’s lives. 

I'd love to say a huge Thank you to Kirsty for writing this post and to Templar for giving me the chance to ask my question.


You can find my review of India Dark HERE

Templar have Kindly Offered to give one of you guys a copy of the book!!  All you have to do is fill out the form below - Good Luck!!

Guest Post - C.J. Daugherty Top Ten School Based Books, Movies / TV Shows

I was very fortunate enough to meet the wonderful author of 'Night School' C.J. Daugherty or Christi as we became to know her at Atoms bloggers event back in November.  Let me tell you she is one of the nicest people I have had the privilege to meet.
Shortly after our meeting Atom asked if I would like a guest post from Christi on my blog.  My answer - HELL YEAH!!!  So this is what we agreed on - Hope You ENJOY!!!

Fun with pretend schools By C.J. Daugherty

I find books and films with school settings irresistible. There’s something wonderful about places where kids outnumber the adults in an enclosed environment. It’s like you can sense a low-grade anarchy simmering just below the surface.

Or was that just my school?

Given all of that, when I sat down to write my first novel, what other setting could I possibly choose?

Here are the books, films and TV shows set in schools that most influenced me when I started writing.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)

Oh Buffy (and Willow and Spike)… How I love thee. There’s not much to say about this series that you don’t know already, so I’ll just say that I was influenced by all of it. It’s funny, charming, quick and brutal. Every piece of dialogue Joss Whedon writes is a masterclass for authors. When I need dialogue inspiration, I turn on some Buffy and just absorb the world he creates.

My So-Called Life (TV series)

The short-lived TV series that introduced a teenage Claire Danes to the world, MSCL was the first to look frankly at the world inhabited by ordinary fifteen-year-olds. It also embraced their halting, sometimes wonderfully weird speech patterns, their complex relationships and loyal friendships. It was slow moving, frustrating, funny and beautiful.

Fallen, by Lauren Kate (Book series)

Set amid a world of humans and angels, the first book in this series by Lauren Kate takes place in a beautifully described reform school called Sword and Cross. I loved the world that Kate created – I could get completely lost in it. I was reading this when I first started thinking about creating a school world of my own, and a couple of astute readers have noticed a tiny touch of the Sword and Cross moodiness in my writing.

Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer (Book series)

I think Stephanie Myers captures the awkward transition young people have to deal with when transferring into a new school where everybody already knows each other. I had to do exactly that as a teenager. Those first months when you don’t really know what anybody else is talking about are brutal -- but also kind of thrilling. That sense of being the outsider was something I used a lot in Night School.

Vampire Diaries (TV series)

I’m addicted to this series set in an American high school populated with vampires, werewolves and witches. I particularly like the characters who are meant to be bad, especially Damon, Katherine, and Klaus. The writing is so well nuanced that, even when they do horrible things, they’re also charming and funny so you like them anyway. And, as a writer, let me tell you. That? Is REALLY hard to do.  

Pump up the Volume (film)

Oh, I might as well just admit it -- I love a rebel. Christian Slater stars in this raucous film about a shy new kid at a high school (spot the theme!) in a suburban neighbourhood. He likes the kind of alternative art, music and books you don’t get in shiny suburbs, so he runs a pirate radio station to spread the word to the locals about all they’re missing. So they try to arrest him. It’s genius. And the soundtrack is wicked.

Freaks and Geeks (TV series)

This short-lived US TV series set in an American high school comes closer than any other ever has to my own real school experiences. Its honesty is sometimes painful to watch but it’s also quite touching. And the clever main character who pretends to be less intelligent in order to make cooler friends? That was totally me.

Heathers (Film)

More Christian Slater! This 1980s art-house film about snobby girls in a high school (all of whom are named Heather), and the dark and dreadful things that happen to them courtesy of Slater and Winona Ryder is both baffling and wonderful. Its dark, subversive humour is a huge influence on me.

Breakfast Club

I can sing every song on the soundtrack to this 1980s movie set in a high school on a Saturday when a group of students who don’t know each other are serving an all-day detention sentence. Thrown together, the popular girl, geeky boy, creepy girl, athlete and loser are forced to talk to each other for the first time, and they kind of fall in love with each other. I adore this film.

Say Anything

John Cusack, Ione Skye and that guy who played Frasier’s dad star in this classic romantic comedy that just kills me. Fast-talking Lloyd Dobler does poorly in school but is in love with beautiful super genius Diane Court. She’s not at all interested in him despite the fact that he’s JOHN CUSACK. And then there’s this scene *sniffle* where he holds this boombox above his head *grabs tissue* and plays a love song… *SOBS*  Anyway. You have to watch it. It’s awesome.

Thanks Christi for such a wonderful post.  I LOVE 95% of these and the others I am going to buy immediately - Thanks for the tip!!!

You can my review of Night School HERE