Author Interview: Judith Graves (UNDER MY SKIN)

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Today on My Overstuffed Bookshelf, I would like to introduce you to author Judith Graves!! She is the author of the new and upcoming book Under My Skin. Judith was kind enough to stop by here for her blog tour and answer some questions for us! Here we go!

To start off can you tell the readers a little about yourself?

You betcha! I’m a Canadian author, co-president of the Class of 2k10 (www.classof2k10.com – a group of debut YA and MG authors) and lately my life has been all about promoting my soon-to-be-released YA paranormal, Under My Skin.

Can you tell us a little about your new or current releases?
Eryn McCain, the main character in Under My Skin, isn’t your typical emo kid. She’s troubled, sure, with a messed up home life. And, yeah, she used to cut herself. But not because she was depressed or wanted attention. Eryn discovered blood. Warm. Alive. For a while she gave into its pull. Cutting was a release for the beast waiting under her skin. But she has that under control. She’s reined in her wolven side. Or so she thinks. When her parents disappear and are likely dead, Eryn has to find new ways to cope with the increasing strength of her wolven half. She doesn’t have access to the drug her father had been feeding her since birth—the only thing that stifled her abilities. To top it off, all this has made her dangerously unpredictable—even to herself. Eryn is beginning the change—but thanks to her father’s chemical manipulations—she doesn’t know what she’s changing into. Not exactly the best time to strike up a friendship with a crew of teen hunters tracking her kind…no matter how hot their tall, dark, and dead-wrong-for-her leader, Alec Delacroix, might be.
For more about the book, see the Under My Skin book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s3kQ4nnSEk

When you’re not writing, what kind of books do you like to read? Do you have any favorite authors that are must reads?

I read a lot. I work as a library technician in an elementary school, so I’m always surrounded by books – picture books, middle grade fiction, non-fiction, and then I read YA and adult fiction as well. One of the coolest things about being in the Class of 2k10 is getting a sneak peek at the amazing debut novels our class has produced. We have this nifty program called “Readers of the Last ARC” where we pass an ARC copy of our book to the class (signing them along the way). I loved Kitty Keswick’s Freaksville. A snarky, fun werewolf tale. Kitty is the other co-president of the class and another Leap Books author – she’s also a writing buddy and great friend – I’m so glad we’re on this crazy ride together.

What are 3 things that are “must haves” for you when you sit down to write a new book?
1. A coil notebook – but it has to have the right attitude/artwork for the story or I won’t write in it. 
2. A finepoint black pen. 
3. Tunes. The louder, the better.

List your favorites:
Snack- Chocolate chip cookies
Drink- Chocolate milk
Perfume- Something chocolately
Candy- Chocolate
Color- Chocolate Brown

Favourite dog breed – Chocolate lab
Are you seeing a pattern here, or is it just me?

I am a fly on your wall today. What would I see in the day of Judith?

Today is a writing day. The wall would be shaking quite a bit as I would be banging my head into it. Not to worry, that’s how I come up with unusual plot twists.

Where can we purchase your books?

Under My Skin is currently available for pre-order on the Leap Books website (www.leapbks.com)

 Do you have a blog or website that your readers can keep up with you and your books?
My website: www.judithgraves.com  
My blog with Kitty Keswick: http://wolfychicks.blogspot.com
Class of 2k10 website: http://www.classof2k10.com/
Thanks for letting me hang with you Amy!

FLIRTING WITH FOREVER by Gwyn Cready

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FLIRTING WITH FOREVER
Author: Gwyn Cready
Source: Publisher
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Pocket; Original edition (March 30, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1439107246
  • ISBN-13: 978-1439107249
SYNOPSIS:
Art historian Campbell Stratford is about to make a name for herself with her scandalously sexy tell-all “fictographies” of famous seventeenth-century artists, but she’s more intimately familiar with her subjects than her eager readers can imagine. Thanks to a time portal she accidentally discovered, she has caused quiet a stir in the Great Beyond.

To save their reputations, the Guild protecting the dead artists convinces playboy Peter Lely, portraitist to the king, to sabotage Cam’s latest project. A few hours posing on Sir Peter’s modeling chaise leads to a night of seductive passion–then Cam returns home and discovers his betrayal. But before she can turn her angry pen on her lover, Sir Peter makes a surprise visit to the future and transforms Cam’s twenty-first-century life into chaos of classic proportions…

MY THOUGHTS:
This was a new author to me and I must say, the plot was a little different for me as well.  It has a bit of historical romance, contemporary romance and science fiction time travel all in one book.  The humor was nice mixed with the romance and the book flowed okay for me. 
I am still not sold on the whole time travel plot, but it was an okay read for me.  It sparked my interest enough to see what the next book the author brings to the table. 
MY RATING:


 
Perfect For Rainy Days From the Library!

NIGHTLIGHT : A PARODY by The Harvard Lampoon

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NIGHTLIGHT : A PARODY
Author: The Harvard Lampoon
Source: PBS
  • Paperback: 160 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage (November 3, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0307476103
  • ISBN-13: 978-0307476104
SYNOPSIS:
About three things I was absolutely certain. First, Edwart was most likely my soul mate, maybe. Second, there was a vampire part of him–which I assumed was wildly out of his control–that wanted me dead. And third, I unconditionally, irrevocably, impenetrably, heterogeneously, gynecologically, and disreputably wished he had kissed me.

And thus Belle Goose falls in love with the mysterious and sparkly Edwart Mullen in the Harvard Lampoon’s hilarious send-up of Twilight.

Pale and klutzy, Belle arrives in Switchblade, Oregon looking for adventure, or at least an undead classmate. She soon discovers Edwart, a super-hot computer nerd with zero interest in girls. After witnessing a number of strange events–Edwart leaves his tater tots untouched at lunch! Edwart saves her from a flying snowball!–Belle has a dramatic revelation: Edwart is a vampire. But how can she convince Edwart to bite her and transform her into his eternal bride, especially when he seems to find girls so repulsive?

Complete with romance, danger, insufficient parental guardianship, creepy stalker-like behavior, and a vampire prom, Nightlight is the uproarious tale of a vampire-obsessed girl, looking for love in all the wrong places. 

MY THOUGHTS:
Okay, I admit that I want to read anything Twilight related. I AM one of those people. I was so excited to finally get this book through PaperBackSwap. 
At first, I was enjoying the humor. As I continued to read it though, it just got stupid.  Yes, there were some funny parts, but not enough of them to really keep me interested or to make this book entertaining.  I found most of it just stupid and nonsense.  I understand that it was suppose to be a parody, but with the lame writing and the use of big words that didn’t fit with this type of book, it got old by the second chapter. 
If you are a Twilight follower like me, then I recommend saving your money.  Check it out from the library if you can’t find anything else to read.  The only thing that I did like was the cover. 

MY RATING:


 
I did not enjoy this book.

THE SENATOR’S DAUGHTER by Debbie Wallace

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THE SENATOR’S DAUGHTER
Author: Debbie Wallace
Source: Contest win
  • Paperback: 188 pages
  • Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press (2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1593747136
  • ISBN-13: 978-1593747138
SYNOPSIS:
Most women kidnapped on the eve of their wedding would be devastated, but not Sophie. She’s thankful for being rescued from marrying a millionaire she doesn’t love. Besides, her abductor is a gorgeous hunk who makes her feel anything but frightened. His masterful touch sends a river of fire through her blood that releases the vixen in her. She surrenders to an afternoon of passion, only to wonder when it’s over, how will she ever be able to leave Brent for the arms of another man? 
Brent can’t believe he let Senator Adams talk him into kidnapping his daughter. Now he has a hellion on his hands, who’s as clever as she is beautiful. He tries to convince himself she’s not his type, but every time he touches her he can’t deny the rush of sensation that leads straight to his loins, then to his heart. Soon he begins to question; can he let her go when it’s over? 
MY THOUGHTS:
The author has come up with a great plot and story with characters that are great! The spark is there between them and the romance between the two is touching and hot.  I loved both of the characters and the author did a wonderful job with the details.  The story flowed very nicely, and the plot was suspenseful and romantic. Even though Brent is the kidnapper, he is still sweet and caring of Sophie. He doesn’t push her around and I was happy with the ending.
A great quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next!
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!