ASPEN cover reveal!

I'm beyond excited right now to share with you a fantastic cover of one of my favorite people ever. 

Check it out: Aspen by Rebekah Crane.

Release Date: January 2014

Category: YA contemporary

Publisher: In This Together Media

About the book

One quiet night in Boulder, Colorado, Aspen Yellow-Sunrise Taylor made a mistake.

In the next instant, her life changed forever.

Aspen doesn't want to remember when Katelyn Ryan, a sleek-haired popular soccer player, crossed the yellow line in her car and smashed into Aspen's. But forgetting is pretty hard- because Katelyn may have died - but she didn't leave. Her ghost is following Aspen around, and heading into senior year, it's kind of a problem. Especially when Katelyn's gorgeous former boyfriend Ben appears to be the only person at school with a clue as to how Aspen feels.

Popularity, college, Homecoming Court, hot guys - none of these things ever mattered to Aspen. She's been busy trying to rein in her giant mass of blonde curls, keep her stoner mother Ninny away from Toaster, her mom's awful bongo drumming boyfriend, and prevent her best friends Kim and Cass from killing - or kissing - one another. But with Ben sitting next to her in Physics looking all too gorgeous, Katelyn's spirit dogging her steps, and her obsessive snow-globe collecting therapist begging her to remember all the things she wants to forget, Aspen is thrust into a vivid, challenging world she can't control … and doesn't want to.

A darkly funny, emotionally gripping story of opening up, letting go, and moving on, ASPEN is about the best-worst accident of your life ... and what comes next. 

Giveaway

Rebekah is celebrating in style! She's giving away a ton of goodies! Check 'em out!

10 eARCs of ASPEN!

1 tie-dye shirt from Moe’s Broadway Bagels in Boulder, CO (an actual restaurant in the story!) 

2 Grateful Dead bumper stickers! Groovy!

5 Friendship bracelets because WHY NOT?!

1 hacky sack! Rad!

3 flower stickers you can stick to your laptop or desk or wherever! Peace, man!

Just enter the Rafflecopter below and you’re on your way to getting some awesome swag!  The giveaway closes a week from today. 

Enter to win here!

About Rebekah Crane

Rebekah Crane fell in love with YA literature while studying Secondary English Education at Ohio University, but it wasn't until ten years and two daughters later that she started to write it. Inspired by her past students, growing up in Cleveland with its fabulous musical theater community, and music of all kinds (particularly the Avett Brothers), she created PLAYING NICE. It is her first published novel, but having an unbridled imagination, it's not the only fantasy world she's lived in (just ask her husband). ASPEN, her second YA creation, is set to release in January 2014. She now lives in Colorado, where the altitude only enhances the experience.

Twitter: @RebekahCrane

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playingnicebook 

Tumblr: http://rebekahcrane.tumblr.co

Waiting on Wednesday: Weather Witch by Shannon Delany

Waiting on Wednesday is an awesome weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Basically, we fan-girl (or fan-boy) over an upcoming release. This one was SO easy for me.

Weather Witch by Shannon Delany

Weather Witch release date: June 25th, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
What's it about according to Goodreads: In a vastly different and darker Philadelphia of 1844, steam power has been repressed, war threatens from deep, dark waters, and one young lady of high social standing is expecting a surprise at her seventeenth birthday party–but certainly not the one she gets!

Jordan Astraea, who has lived out all of her life in Philadelphia’s most exclusive neighborhood, is preparing to celebrate her birthday with friends, family and all the extravagance they might muster. The young man who is most often her dashing companion, Rowen Burchette, has told her a surprise awaits her and her best friend, Catrina Hollindale, wouldn’t miss this night for all the world!

But storm clouds are gathering and threatening to do far more than dampen her party plans because someone in the Astraea household has committed the greatest of social sins by Harboring a Weather Witch.

Shannon is also doing a call for anyone who might want to get involved. Find out how you can help spread the word about Weather Witch! 

What do you think? What books are you excited for?

In the mail... Flat Out Love by Jessica Park

In the mail...

Friday I was delighted to come home from work to find a package waiting for me on the doorstop. It was from Kristen Jett. She'd recently read "Flat Out Love" by Jessica Park and completely loved it.

In fact, she loved it so much that she immediately bought me a copy, sent it to my house, and informed me that though she just finished this book, she was considering reading it again right away.

Needless to say, I'm beyond excited. I recently finished "Easy" by Tammara Webber. It's an NA (new adult) novel dealing with some pretty heavy issues. It's a book I wouldn't normally read based off of the description. But I read it. It was amazing. Engaging. Informative. 

I was wondering how in the world I would be able to read something after it. It's always a terrible feeling when you've read an incredible book, only to be followed up by something mediocre. It's a letdown. But something tells me that I wont be disappointed with "Flat Out Love."

Thank you so much for the book Kristen!!!

Have you guys read this? Did you like it? What other NA novels would you recommend?

Happy New Year's Eve!

Happy New Years!

We made it through 2012. We survived two Ends of the World, bath salts, and Honey Boo Boo. Damn. We are resilient. And since silver and gold glitter always make me thing of New Years, here you go.

And here.

Now that glitter is out of the way, here are my New Year's resolutions.

New Year's resolutions:

1. I will read more. Last year I read around 70 books. Then again I did join Goodreads late, so this number could be higher. Either way, whatever number of books I read, I will always think I need to read more.

2. I will do more things that make me happy. I am a slave sometimes to technology. I need to shut down more and focus on friends and family. That said, I need to clarify something in #3.

3. Don't neglect my social media. I know #2 mentioned shutting down my electronic devices more, but I can still do that and get even more blogging/tweeting done. It just means that I can't waste hours on Pinterest looking at glitter gifs or reading TMZ.

4. Lose weight. 2012 was the first time I'd ever had a normal desk job after working previously in my life as a retail slave, camp counselor, waitress, hostess, and misc. office bitch. This means more sitting for me which means that I'm not as trim as I used to be. I need to get out more!

5. Spend more time with my family. My brother and mother both live in Colorado and we see each other 1 to 3 times a year or less. Even my family that lives nearby, sometimes I can go weeks without talking to them because I'm busy. No. This isn't right. I need to be there. I can't live without my family.

6. Help more writers. I remember how lost I was when I first started writing. I needed help. I didn't have anyone. I'm here writers. I'm here for you.

7. Write more. I'm not just talking about blogging because between all of my blogs and blogs I contribute to Pen & Muse, Brazen Reads, YA Stands, Let's Get Nerdy, Thursday Night Book Club, Season Qs Academy, my secret poetry blog that shall remained mysterious, and the blog I'm trying to get off the ground 365 Days of Kindness, I actually do write a lot. But I'm talking about actually writing my WIPS and giving them the love and devotion that they deserve. Write more. This should actually be my number one.

8. Stop hating e-readers. Meh. Actually. Scratch that one. I love to hate them.

9. Read more than just YA. YA is my passion but it's also important for me, with running Pen & Muse, that I'm well versed in all genres. 

10. Go to more conferences for writing and reading. I'm still afraid of flying but I don't let it stop me.

11. Pay off my credit cards.

I'm trying to think of more but those are the biggest ones. I hope I can do at least some of these and make it happen. 

What about you? What are your New Year's resolutions?  Did you meet your goals from last year? I'd love to know in the comments below! 

Epic Reads Plea

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving break! I know I did. My brother came down from Colorado and of course, shenanigans ensued. He left yesterday via plane and I returned to my online world. Imagine my excitement when I found this awesome opportunity from Epic Reads!

I want to be an End Is Here Newbie. When you are chosen one to be their EIHN, you read books in a series and chronicle your reading journey. Once you read your series, you share the love!! Because we all know that there's nothing better than finding an amazing new series to indulge yourself with. I was actually teetering between shocked and ashamed that I'd never read any of the books on their series list. I couldn't believe it. I read A LOT! 

They wanted something awesome. A drawing or genius design of sorts to display how qualified and amazing I am for this spot. The only problem? I can't draw to save my life. The good news. I have the skills to save us all in the course of a Zombie Apocalypse. 

I've watched hours and hours of Legends of the Hidden Temple -> +20 strategy points

I love Chuck Norris -> +5 Bad-ass points.

Spotted Waldo in EVERY one of his books -> +30 keen eye.

I did, however, try anyways at drawing something amazing. This is what it looked like after hours of labor:

I know, I know. You don't have to say it. Just know I tried. I also made one more to try and redeem myself:

Anywho, I hope all of you are having a happy Tuesday. And if you're interested, check out the site I listed above. Epic Reads has more than one opening. Good luck! 

And remember, the #1 rule of any zombie invasion is cardio.

Jolene