Sunday, October 30, 2011

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard (Review)


Genre:Young Adult, Supernatural
Publication.Date  July 21st 2011
Pages:260
Published By:  Razorbill/Penguin
WebsiteMandy Hubbard |

Ripple - Goodreads
My review copy:Provided by the publisher (thank you!)
Where to get: Barnes and Noble | Amazon      | Book Depository

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she's ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?
(goodreads.com)


Then I killed him. I drowned him in the ocean just a few hundred yards away from my sweet-sixteen party.
If there were thirty minutes of every day that I could strike out of existence, it would be lunchtime.
And I dread the dusk. The second the moon rises in the night sky, begins the pull on the tides, I'm drawn to the water.
He knows what I am and he still wants me.


     Ripple by Mandy Hubbard is definitely not your typical mermaid book. With it's unique take on sirens, dark and eerie atmosphere, and absolutely beautiful setting, Ripple is a YA book that really stands out. Add to this a curse, a secret, a forbidden love and an unexpected danger and you'll get a really great, gripping story.

     Lexi is a siren. Not a mermaid, a SIREN. She's not like Airel in The Little Mermaid. Her legs don't turn into a fin whenever she comes in contact with water - they simply get covered in slick fish scales. And she has to swim every night, otherwise the pain gets unbearable. Lexi doesn't sleep at all, instead every night she drives up to the mountains, to swim in a glacier-fed lake in the middle of dense woods. She used to swim in the ocean, but not anymore. Not since the day she drowned her boyfriend, Steven. See, the thing about sirens is... they're cursed. Not only cursed to swim every single night of their life (starting on their 16th birthday), but also cursed to kill any man who is unlucky enough to be around to witness them swimming. They can't control it. It's like an uncontainable euphoria taking over them and all of a sudden they need to swim and sing the deadliest song of all. And they won't stop until you're dead.

     But Lexi is not a bad person at all. She doesn't even understand why this is happening to her. No one ever explained anything, her mother committed suicide 6 years ago, leaving Lexi alone with her grandma. Not wanting to endanger anyone else, Lexi ostracized herself - always keeping the distance from everyone, making it clear to people around her that she doesn't want anything to do with them. But in the end the Ice Queen act is just that - an act. Deep inside she longs for a friend, for someone to be there for her. She aches for someone to love her. So when Steven's best friend, Cole, starts acting like he actually cares about Lexi, she's both ecstatic and terrified at the same time. Could she possibly try and for once in her life be happy with someone? Isn't it risking too much? Will she end up killing Cole, just like she did Steven? Things get even more complicated when the new guy in town, a mysterious pretty-boy named Erik, tells Lexi that he knows her secret and he also knows how to break her curse. All she needs to do is trust him completely and give up everything else...

     Now, I know this book has been getting plenty of mixed reviews and unfortunately, from what I've noticed on Goodreads, a lot of them are on the bad side. I can only speak for myself here, but I really, genuinely, thoroughly enjoyed this read. I'm not much of a fan of happy-go-lucky mermaid stories, where everything is sparkly and shiny, and sure there is a bit of drama, but only a tiny bit, so that we wouldn't get too scared! I say no to sparkly mermaids, just like I say no to sparkly vampires. And I really don't understand where all this criticism is coming from. Is it because you did indeed expect a beautiful half-fish with a pure heart and only good intentions? This was a good book. The plot was certainly well thought-out, the narration - flawless (no unnecessary shifts, everything clear and understandable, and I actually felt Lexi's pain and how hard it was for her to make the decision), the characters are quite unique and well-drawn... Plus there was this whole curse thing, that to me was just absolutely fascinating. A lot of mystery, tension, a strong narrative-pull. Some great nerve-wracking turns in the action! Even the love/romance (*cough* make-out *cough,cough*) scenes were top-notch - for once I didn't get a kissing scene dull as those in Korean dramas, where people appear to be kissing through glass - closed eyes and pursed lips mandatory. So, let me ask you again, what's the problem guys?

     I'm not saying this was THE most phenomenal novel I ever read. There was a couple of things that I didn't like. For instance, I wasn't quite fond of the way Lexi treated Cole - that was really sucky and I'm sure everyone who read this book will agree. But hey, let's think for a moment: what would I do, if I had a curse like that and all of a sudden some insanely handsome and sweet guy shows up at my doorstep and announces that he's the answer to all my problems? I'm not so sure if it's all that easy. In fact, I think Mandy Hubbard did a really great job showing Lexi's pain, doubts and struggle.

     And the best part of this book for me was it's atmosphere. Just the setting alone did a lot in that department: small town surrounded by deep, dark woods... beautiful ice-cold lake... ocean... I could visualize all of it and the way I pictured this place was very similar to the town from Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma - not a hot, colorful place, where all days are filled with sun, but rather a darker, cloudier, colder place - more on the eerie and mysterious side. And I totally bought it. Call me a sucker for everything dark, but yeah, I bought it all.

      Not to mention that FINALLY - a stand alone novel! Don't get me wrong, I do love all the fantastic series that are coming out right now, but with so many of them out there (and even more on the way!), it's getting so damn hard to keep up! For once I got a book that I could read, enjoy, put on the shelf and don't stress about when the next part will be out and if I'll even remember what the first one was about by the time I'll get my hands on it. THANK YOU for that!

      The bottom line is: If you liked Imaginary Girls you will probably like this novel, too. If you like Young Adult novels that are more on the darker, more serious side - GO FOR IT! I say: approach this book with an open-mind, don't expect happy and splashy mermaids - and who knows? This might be your next favorite read!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

(Blog Tour) Mr.Fox by Helen Oyeyemi (review)

Genre:Adult, Contemporary, Magical Realism
Publication.Date  September 27th 2011
Pages:324
Published By:  HAMISH HAMILTON CA
WebsiteMr. Fox - Goodreads
My review copy:Review copy provided by the publisher (*Thank you!*)
Where to get: Chapters | Amazon





An exhilarating new direction for Helen Oyeyemi with a mischievous story of love, lies and inspiration

It’s an ordinary afternoon in 1938 for the celebrated American novelist St John Fox, hard at work in the study of his suburban home – until his long-absent muse wanders in. Mary Foxe (beautiful, British and 100% imaginary) is in a playfully combative mood. “You’re a villain,” she tells him. ‘A serial killer . . . can you grasp that?”

Mr Fox has a predilection for murdering his heroines. Mary is determined to change his ways. And so she challenges him to join her in stories of their own devising, and the result is an exploration of love like no other.

It isn’t long before Mrs Daphne Fox becomes suspicious, and St John is offered a choice: a life with the girl of his dreams, or a life with an all-too-real woman who delights him more than he cares to admit. Can there be a happy ending this time?

Mr Fox is a magical book, as witty as it is profound in its truths about how we learn to be with one another.
(goodreads.com)



And she walked away, and she walked away, and that was that, and that was that.
“And without further argument he unsheathed the sword and cleaved Miss Foxe's head from her neck. He knew what was supposed to happen. He knew that this awkward, whispering creature before him should now transform into a princess - dazzlingly beautiful, free, and made wise by her hardship.

That is not what happened.”



           
     In her latest novel, the acclaimed bestselling author, Helen Oyeyemi, takes us on a magical and utmost bizarre journey into the depths of one's imagination. Mr.Fox is a fascinating and inventive blend of stories, skillfully layered together to create a truly phenomenal work of fiction. Bursting with flavors, charming and thrilling at the same time, beautifully written - it's a novel one can't afford to miss out on. You haven't read literature, if you haven't read Helen Oyeyemi's books.

      I wasn't sure how to approach writing this review. After finishing Mr.Fox I sat a long time in silence, slightly light-headed and with no clue what to think about it. I still don't know to be honest. I feel like I need to read it again to fully grasp the message that's undoubtedly hidden between the lines. In fact, I think I'd need to re-read it not once, but a couple of times more. There are just so many details, so many nuances that are all to easy to miss, and I feel that I ought to collect them all to get the whole picture. There's so much going on on the pages of Mr.Fox, so many different stories are being told here, so many shifts - in narration, time, even reality! This is a novel that requires 100% of your focus and sponge-like brain to absorb all that.

      I won't even try to summarize this novel. There's no way I could do that without giving away too much. And in case of this novel, anything I'd tell you about the plot or characters would be way too much. The complexity of this novel totally overwhelmed me at first, I felt lost and confused. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, there was another shift in the narration, or the characters were all of a sudden someone totally different then before (and I don't mean that their mood changed or they behaved weird, they really turned into different people). Having read the whole book, I understand what was going on now. All the missing pieces are now collected and in the right places. The fog has lifted and there's a clear view ahead. But at the same time, I don't feel that my journey is over, quite the opposite - I want to go back and explore all the places I've previously missed. Now that I know, I desire to know more, to re-read this book and apply my knowledge in all the places that previously confused me. And that, my dear book lovers, makes this book even more wonderful to me. I love books that keep you coming back to them. There aren't many books like that out there and that makes Mr.Fox even more precious.

      One thing I definitely need to talk about is Helen Oyeyemi's writing style. If you had the pleasure of reading any of her previous books, you know that we're talking some serious awesomeness here. She's not talented. She's the definition of what talent is. Talent learned its meaning from Helen Oyeyemi. The way this woman takes an insanely difficult subject or idea and then builds a whole fictional world around it, connecting all the dots and leaving no loose ends - it's beyond phenomenal. Every word, every gesture, smile, movement, description - everything is assigned a role to play, a meaning. There's no coincidence in Oyeyemi's writing. I'm tempted to say that she painted a picture with her evocative language, but that wouldn't be 100% correct. It's not a single picture, it's more like a brilliant collage, a picture made of a thousand smaller pictures. Each and every single one of the small pictures tells a powerful and unique story.

      This book touched my soul, squeezed my heart, took me on a very emotional ride. I was amused, thrilled and heartbroken, all thanks to one 324-page novel. I'm glad I picked it up, it was absolutely worth it.




About the author

Helen Oyeyemi was born in Nigeria in 1984 and raised in London. She is the author of three novels: The Icarus Girl, which was completed before her nineteenth birthday; The Opposite House, which was nominated for the 2008 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award; and White is for Witching, which was nominated for a 2009 Shirley Jackson award and won the 2010 Somerset Maugham Award. She is also the author of two plays, Juniper’s Whitening and Victimese.

If you'd like a sample of Helen Oyeyemi's talent, here you can read one of her short stories:


Blog Tour Stops 
(make sure to visit them all!)

Tales of a Ranting Ginger http://www.talesofarantingginger.com/ Oct 24
Snowdrop Dreams of Books http://www.snowdropdreams.ca/ Oct 25
Just a Lil’ Lost http://justalillost.com/ Oct 26
In the Next Room http://inthenextroom.blogspot.com/ Oct 27
Evie Bookish http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com/ Oct 28
Florence in Print http://florenceinprint.wordpress.com/ Oct 31
A Bookworm’s World http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/  Nov 1
Krystal’s Stellar Book Blog http://www.stellarbookblog.blogspot.com/ Nov 2
The Indextrious Reader http://www.indextrious.blogspot.com/ Nov 3
Hands and Home http://www.handsandhome.ca/ Nov 4

    Thank you Bronwyn from Penguin Canada for organizing this fantastic blog tour! :)

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    About the Author
    Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
    She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
    You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

    Wednesday, October 26, 2011

    (Author Event) Evening with Stuart MacBride at Harper Collins Canada

    Yesterday (thanks to the fabulous Nicole from All I Ever Read) I had the pleasure of attending a fantastic author event organized by the wonderful people @ Harper Collins Canada: an evening with Stuart MacBride, a bestselling author of the series of crime novels featuring Detective Sergeant Logan McRae.

    It would be a major understatement to say that I had a great time. I had a FABULOUS time. Stuart MacBride was simply phenomenal and I loved listening to him talk about murder weapons, forensic evidence, best way to dispose of a dead body and a dozen other things, equally fascinating and engaging! And the best part? His disarming sense of humor that kept me grinning and cracking up throughout the whole evening. Seriously, I didn't want to leave! In fact, I don't think any of us, attendees, wanted to leave - it was so entertaining and nice to be there! Our poor hosts had to make sure we're following the schedule, otherwise we'd probably stay there overnight (there were yummy snacks and drinks provided, so I wouldn't mind at all!) and just chat away! 

    Highlights of the evening: 

    We started off with Harper Collins Canada presenting a fab Halloween cake, made and delivered especially for Stuart MacBride. Here's a pic!

    Isn't it gorgeous?
    Do you see the inscription on the grave stone? It says "Birthdays for the Dead", which is the title of Mr. MacBride's upcoming novel (more about it below!).

    And I'm not sure if you can see it, but the Death has a beard :) Exactly like Stuart's! What a nice touch! I wonder who thought about that?! I'd love to know if it had a ponytail, too! :D

    Anyhoo - let me just tell you, the cake was freaking amazing. Yes, we all got to try! I know, right? Pure awesomeness!

    Then we had Q&A with the fab author - lots and lots of hilarious jokes included! (Gotta love Scottish humor!) We got to learn a couple of very interesting things, like why he lives in the middle of nowhere (because he does!) and whether or not he has any plans to make his new novel into a longer series (that's certainly a possibility! so read it and make sure you'll let everyone know how much you love it!).

    After the Q&A, Mr. MacBride did a little bit of reading to us. He shared a story called "The Princess and the Pervert" - deliciously dark, but also very disturbing and even frightening at times. LOVED it. Especially read out loud by Mr. MacBride it made a huge impression on me (and I dare say on everyone else, too). 
    Here, you can read this short story @ Mr.MacBrides website : CLICK

    Next, we had a chance to learn how to dispose of a dead body without anyone ever finding it! How educational! haha :) No, seriously, I know the secret now, so watch out! :D This was the best part of the evening for me (don't judge me), especially loved the hilarious drawing by Mr. MacBride! I took a picture and will definitely put it up as soon as I can access my camera (which means in 4 days, when I'm back in Vancouver!) - patience!

    There was also a contest - to chose the best murder weapon. We all wrote down out propositions and Stuart picked two winners. I suck at that kind of stuff, so obviously I didn't win, but it's ok, because the winners - they totally deserved their prizes. Two best murder weapons: fiber glass in orange juice and (wait for it..) to make someone listen to Justin Bieber's songs for so long that he/she will finally kill himself/herself = brilliant! haha 


    And last but not least, book signing! Because Harper Collins Canada was so totally awesome, they gave everyone an ARC of Stuart's upcoming novel - "Birthdays for the Dead"!!!

    Thank you HP Canada, you guys rock! :D 

    And Stuart MacBride was gracious enough to sign the books for everyone :) yaaay~

    Can't wait to start reading it - check out the synopsis below!


    Birthdays for the Dead
    by Stuart MacBride

    Hardcover, 496 pages
    Expected publication: January 5th 2012 
    by HarperCollins 
    The gritty new standalone crime novel from the No. 1 bestselling author of Shatter the Bones and Dark Blood Detective Constable Ash Henderson has a dark secret! Five years ago his daughter, Rebecca, went missing on the eve of her thirteenth birthday. A year later the first card arrived: homemade, with a Polaroid picture stuck to the front -- Rebecca, strapped to a chair, gagged and terrified. Every year another card: each one worse than the last. The tabloids call him The Birthday Boy. He's been snatching girls for twelve years, always in the run-up to their thirteenth birthday, sending the families his homemade cards showing their daughters being slowly tortured to death. But Ash hasn't told anyone about Rebecca's birthday cards -- they all think she's just run away from home -- because if anyone finds out, he'll be taken off the investigation. And he's sacrificed too much to give up before his daughter's killer gets what he deserves!

    I had a wonderful time! Huge thanks to Stuart MacBride, Harper Collins Canada (especially Shannon and Cory!), Nicole and Angel for a fantastic evening! :) We should do it more often! :D

    Nic - I love you! Thanks for dragging me along! <3


    ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 


    Stuart MacBride was born in Dumbarton, but ran away to join the circus at the age of nine, where he specialised in wrestling bears for money (Going on to represent Great Britain at the Atlanta Olympics). In 1975 he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his revolutionary work on Irn-Bru, then went on to create the world's biggest ball of bellybutton lint. In 1989 he joined the secret intelligence service, but was later invalided out due to a back injury sustained while performing a reverse-overhead-piledriver on a grizzly bear. Now confined to his pyjamas, Stuart fritters away his time writing crime novels set in Aberdeen and lying to journalists.



    Other books by Stuart MacBride:


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    About the Author
    Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
    She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
    You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

    Monday, October 24, 2011

    (Blog Tour) Something So Right by Elyse Mady (Review+Interview+Giveaway)


    Genre:Adult, Romance
    Publication.Date  September 19th 2011
    Pages:161
    Published By:  Carina Press
    About Elyse MadyWebsite, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

    Something So Right- Goodreads
    My review copy:Review copy from Kismet Bog Tours (Thank you H&D!)
    Where to get: Amazon | B&N




       After having her heart broken, Lily Carver fled north to manage an upscale resort—and back to her longtime friend Sam Denning. Though she’s well aware of how hot Sam’s become, she refuses to risk her heart again. No matter how incredible his kisses make her feel…

    Sam’s been in love—and lust—with Lily since the summer they met. When he finally shows her how much he wants her, Lily can’t resist his seduction. But Sam’s a forever kind of a guy and she’s only interested in temporary, painless relationships.

    Lily thinks she can protect both their hearts with a short affair to let their passion run its course, something where they both know the rules and can explore the sparks between them without getting burned. But their best laid plans are put to the test by their undeniable attraction—and by a secret Sam’s been keeping from Lily that could ruin everything.
    (goodreads.com)









        
         Something So Right was a cute, enjoyable, short read. And that about sums it up. It's a fast-paced romance, with a decent amount of steaminess and sexual tension. It's one of those books that is fun to read on a long, cold evening, when you're sitting in your comfy chair, wrapped up in a blanket with a hot cup of chocolate in your hand. It makes a great experience. It's nice. Not exactly a mind-blowing piece of literature, but a decent short novel with a solid plot, likable characters and love that is both sweet and hot at the same time.

          Sam Denning and Lily Carver are long time best friends. Sam was always around to help whenever Lily needed him. They are both undeniably attracted to each other yet neither of them is willing to take the first step and actually turn their friendship into something even more meaningful. They both want it. Deep inside they know they are perfect for each other. They fantasize about each other (and trust me when I say, these fantasies will make your cheeks burn!), have fun together and support each other in times of need. What's sweeter than a romance that develops from an already wonderful and strong friendship? If only things were that simple! Lily was recently hurt, she carries a lot of baggage and she's can't seem to be able to put the past behind her. She's damaged and unwilling to throw herself into yet another potentially hurtful relationship. There are no obvious reasons to believe that Sam would treat her with anything else than love and respect, but we all know how it works: once bitten, twice shy. Not to mention that it never even crossed her mind that Sam could possibly be interested in her or return her feelings in any way. Unfortunately, the same goes for Sam. He doesn't want to make a move, because what is she doesn't like him back? He could lose his best friend and he certainly doesn't want that! And so we're stuck in a loop, with two people who love each other and don't really know what to with that. What will happen to these two? Curious? Read Something So Right and find out for yourself. It's definitely worth it. There's a lot going on on these 160 pages, more than you could imagine!

          What I liked the best about this story? Sam. He was so fan-freaking-tastic! So sensitive, caring, supportive, loving, warm, cheerful.. Not to mention totally gorgeous! A perfect man in every way! Where do you get a guy like that?! Lily, on the other hand, well, she went through a lot and didn't quite know how to deal with all that. She wasn't exactly my favorite heroine. I didn't like the way she acted and some of her decisions were simply hard for me to understand, but in the end I kind of got where it was coming from. I wished she was a little bit more open and trusting and wouldn't be so consistent in pushing Sam away or determined not to assign meaning to whatever was happening between the two of them. I mean, yeah, I get that you went through some heavy crap and you're having trouble getting over it, but cut the guy some slack. He's not just any random guy met on the street, he's your best friend. Someone who was always there for you! And he's so freaking hot! :)

          But these are just minor annoyances, nothing that would make me want to throw the book out the window or shred it to pieces with gardening scissors. I genuinely liked Something So Right. It was a charming, sweet little read. It's not the most beautiful love story ever, nor is it some sort of life-changing, heart-wrenching epic romance, but it doesn't aspire to be one at all. It's a simple, cute love story, filled with some cheek-reddening scenes and vivid, realistic descriptions. The plot is solid, the characters are believable, the storytelling is smooth - I don't know about you guys, but in my world that makes a pretty awesome book!
    I'm excited to read more of Elyse Mady's books and I'm definitely going to be picking one up soon!


    And now, my beloved readers, it's time for an interview with the fabulous writer! Please give a warm welcome to Elyse Mady!

    E: Evie
    EM: Elyse Mady
     
    E: Welcome to Bookish, Elyse! I'm very excited to talk to you today~
    EM: And I’m thrilled to be here! Thanks for letting me visit.
    E: Can you tell us who or what inspired you to write "Something So Right"?
    EM: I don’t think there was any one ‘a-ha’ moment for this new book. It was more a case of writer’s question-itis. That’s the game writer’s like to play with themselves where they ask ‘I wonder what would happen if…” In this case, I started wondering about how men and women find love after leaving an abusive relationship. We all carry baggage into a new relationship – it’s a romantic novel stock in trade! – but what happens when it’s something really, truly devastating? How do you recover from that and learn to love (and perhaps even more critically) trust again?

    That’s where Lily came from. And once I had her, Sam was right there, telling me all about himself.

    It wasn’t an easy story to write. I wanted to respect the real life experiences of survivors of abuse and at the same time, let Sam and Lily find the happiness they deserved. I think I’ve done that. I certainly hope my readers agree.
    E: Are any of your characters based on people in your own life?  Which of them do you think is most like you?
    EM: My standard answer to this is ‘only the people I don’t like’ :) Then yes, the horrible person who gets run over by a dump truck in chapter 10? Drawn from life. Everyone else is an amalgam. There are certainly elements of each of them in me: for instance, in ‘Learning Curves’, Leanne is a grad student. I was a grad student when I wrote the book. In ‘Something So Right’, Lily loves licorice allsorts and ‘Roman Holiday’. Guilty as charged. But I wouldn’t say they’re me, so much as they’re parts of me.

    That said, it was great to write a story set in northern Canada. I’m Canadian and I like seeing the geography and the people and the culture in a book. That’s one of the printed word’s most important jobs, I think, to show readers from abroad new places and to show the readers who are from that country something of themselves, too.
    E: What's the most compelling part of writing to you, creating the story or getting to know your characters?
    EM: My characters come to me first. I tell people they walk around in my head and it’s true. They really do. Sometimes I feel like I’m the ‘mini-van’ for a whole load of people with relationship issues. They have arguments and memories and sexy encounters, with no regard for the fact that it’s my brain they’re tromping around in. Lousy houseguests but great fodder for me all the same:)
    E: Are you a plotter or a pantser?
    EM: A reformed pantser, I think. Before I published, I was very much an organic growth, write it out of order kind of girl. But once you sign on as a published author and have deadlines and schedules and promotional considerations and a whole apparatus waiting for your creative output, you have to write. I’ve gotten better (not perfect – better) at sketching outlines and trying to resolve plot points before I write myself into a corner through synopsis and the like. I still don’t write in order though. I quite often write the middle or even the end before I write the first chapter.

    My out of order writing aside, it’s a discipline. Agatha Christie said it so well when she wrote about being a professional writer. “There was a moment when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don't want to, don't much like what you're writing, and aren't writing particularly well.”

    That’s me. Writing is something I do, whether I want to or not some days, like going to the gym or filing your paper work. It doesn’t negate the creative flashes – those are still critical. Without them, your work is bland – but creative flashes and intuition have to be supported and nurtured. You can write one book with nothing but them. Twelve? Twenty? Impossible.
    E: What the strangest thing you've ever had a character do in a story?
    EM: Brandon, the hero in my last contemporary, was a male exotic dancer. That was an interesting research task, to be sure. Very…um…eye-opening?? But by and large the characters I write about are very real, even in the historicals. No tall buildings scaled, no transmogrification into exotic, hairy beast. Just their lives at a moment when they’re falling (or trying not to fall, in Lily and Sam’s case) in love.
    E: What’s next in line for you? Are you working on a new book now?
    EM: Yes, yes and yes. Finished my next historical, “The White Swan Affair”, which will be coming out in May, 2012. It’s great. It’s a Regency but based on a real life criminal trial that took place in 1810, so I’ve really enjoyed both the writing and the research involved. It’s been very absorbing.

    Then in the WIP pile, I’m in the early stages of a sequel to “Learning Curves”. I’ve had so many people want to know what happens to Leanne and Brandon that I’ve started writing a new story about Jeremy (the duped bridegroom) and his new love interest. She’s already one of my favourite new characters and she and Jeremy are fantastic together. We’ll get some glimpses of Lee and Brandon and it’s been so wonderful to revisit them.

    And I’m also about a quarter of the way through a prequel to “The Debutante’s Dilemma”. Georgiana’s story this time. And the man she falls so unfortunately in love with (and she does consider it a misfortune because they start off disliking each other intensely) is a wonderful stuffed shirt who thinks marriage and love are for the poor saps who couldn’t get out of their Almack vouchers fast enough. He’s wrong, of course, but lots of sexy sparks ensue.
    E: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
    EM:  Write. Write. Write. Your book has to be yours and not everyone will like it or think it’s a fit. You have to believe in what you’re writing because if you don’t, who will?
    E: Which of your favorite books would you recommend everybody to read?
    EM:  You want me to choose one? Geez, save the hard question for last. OK. So in keeping with the Can-Lit theme I’ve got going, I’m recommending Margaret Atwood’s haunting historical novel, “Alias Grace’. It’s about a real-life murder that took place in Canada in the 19th century. It stays with you after you’ve read it.
    fun random questions:

    - white or dark chocolate?
    Dark.
    - coffee or tea?
    Tea.  I don’t drink coffee at all.
    - favorite character?
    Anne Elliot from “Persuasion”
    - M&Ms or Skittles?
    M&Ms
    - guilty pleasure?
    My fabric stash.  When I’m not writing, I love to sew and let’s just say that my collection of fabrics is healthy.
    - ebook or printed copy?
    If it has words, I’m happy.

    Elyse, thank you so much for joining us today! 
    It was a great pleasure for me to read and review your book, I had a lot of fun!
    Looking forward to reading your next books!


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    About Elyse Mady - website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

    Elyse Mady is the author of “Learning Curves” and “The Debutante’s Dilemma”, both with Carina Press. Upcoming books include “Something So Right” (September, 2011) and “The White Swan Affair” (2012). She blogs at http://www.elysemady.com. You can also find her on Twitter at @elysemady and Goodreads.

    In addition to her writing commitments, Elyse also teaches film and literature at a local community college. In her free time she enjoys (well, enjoys might be too strong a word – perhaps pursues with dogged determination would be better) never ending renovations on their century home with her intrepid husband and two boys.

    With her excellent writerly imagination, she one day dreams of topping the NY Times Bestseller’s List and reclaiming her pre-kid body without the bother of either sit-ups or the denunciation of ice-cream.

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    ~GIVEAWAYS~

    Contest Info: Elyse is offering two give-aways for her tour!

    The first give-away is a daily one.  Each tour stop can give away an eCopy of either The Debutante’s Dilemma, Learning Curves or Something So Right to any of the commenters on the post.  Open internationally!

    To enter this giveaway please leave a comment on this post and tell me which book you'd like to win!
    You can find the info about Dilemma and Learning Curves below. 
    Open to everyone, as long as you're a follower of my blog.
    Please don't forget to include your email address!
    Ends: November 1st

    Leanne Galloway has no time for dating; her focus is on launching her academic career. Dragged along to her childhood frenemy Gillian's bachelorette party at a male strip club, she just wants to get through the evening—but she can't help interfering when Gillian sends a note to a sexy dancer proposing a hot hookup.Brandon Myles is working backstage at the Foxe's Den to fund his post-graduate studies in dance, but he's forced onstage when the headliner fails to show up. He feels a surprisingly strong connection with a quiet woman watching from a table full of tipsy bridesmaids, and he's delighted when she appears backstage after his set.
    After a scorching spontaneous encounter, Leanne and Brandon agree to go their separate ways. But they're both grad students on a small campus, and avoiding each other and denying their attraction won't work for long, especially when a jealous rival appears, determined to ruin both their academic careers.



    One woman in search of passion
    Miss Cecilia Hastings has achieved what every young lady hopes for during her first London season…in duplicate! She’s caught the eye of not one but two of England’s most eligible bachelors. Both Jeremy Battersley, Earl of Henley, and Richard Huxley, Duke of Wexford are handsome, wealthy and kind, the epitome of proper gentlemen. But Cecelia doesn’t want proper, she wants passion. So she issues a challenge to her suitors: a kiss, so that she may choose between them.
    Two men in love with the same woman
    Friends since childhood, and compatriots on the battlefields of Spain, falling for the same woman has set Jeremy and Richard at odds, and risks destroying their friendship forever. But a surprising invitation to a late-night garden tryst soon sets them on a course that neither of them could have anticipated. And these gentlemen quickly discover that love can take many forms…


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    The second give-away is a grand prize pack of a a gorgeous hardcover photography book about Muskoka history, a beautiful set of Group of Seven mugs, a set of note cards and some Canadian maple syrup!
    Comments from each tour stop also act as an entry into this grand prize give-away.  Open US/Canada.  See full contest rules here.


     If you're entering this giveaway as well, please mention that in your comment.
    Please also specify whether you're from US or Canada~

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    Tour Schedule:

    Tuesday, October 18th - Grace, Books Like Breathing
    Wednesday, October 19th - Rowena, Book Binge
    Thursday, October 20th - Sophia, Fiction Vixen
    Friday, October 21st - Cindy, Oodles of Books
    Monday, October 24th - Loretta, Between the Pages
    Tuesday, October 25th - Evie, Bookish
    Wednesday, October 26th - Jodie, Riverina Romantics
    Thursday, October 27th - Julie, A Tale of Many Reviews
    Friday, October 28th - Alyssa, Hesperia Loves Books
    Monday, October 31st - Janie, Colloquium
    Wednesday, November 2nd - Hikari, Imaginary Reads
    Thursday, November 3rd - Shannon, Cocktails and Books
    Friday, November 4th - Stella, Ex Libris

    Tuesday, November 8th -Grand prize announcement on Elyse MadyÆs blog!

    Thank You Kismet Blog Touring for organizing this fantastic blog tour and letting me be a part of it! :)
    Heather and Danny - you rock!!!


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    About the Author
    Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
    She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
    You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing
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