Summer of no regrets interview

Welcome to the next stop on the The Summer of No Regrets tour! Today I have an interview with the author Katherine Grace Bond. To mix it up a little she had to give twitter sized answers (140 characters or less!) I think she accomplished the goal admirably!! What do you think?

What would your ideal “summer of no regrets” look like?

Books. Movies. France. Castles. My husband. Maybe I’d be in a movie filmed in France. We’d sing a lot. And my French would become PERFECT. 

If you were a celebrity in hiding where/how would you hide and why? 

In a treehouse. I’d escape by hot air balloon because people would be under the tree begging me to read their novel manuscripts.   

Which character from the book would you most like to spend a day with and why?

Luke. He has to be so strong all the time. I’d ask him to tell me his troubles, and if he wanted, I’d make him pancakes.   

Do you have a favorite place to write or any writing “rituals”?

I have some actual rituals involving candles and icons. Then I novel in my alcove or a coffeeshop or the woods (until...mosquitoes!)

What do you like best about writing teen characters?

In some ways I still am a teenager, though I don’t look like one. The voice feels natural. It’s not hard to recapture age 16.  

Thanks to Katherine for taking the time to condense her answers :) Be sure to check out The Summer of No Regrets when it releases on May 1st! 

The day Brigitta accidentally flings herself into the lap of a guy she's never met, her friend Natalie is convinced he's Trent Yves, egotistical heartthrob-in-hiding. When the boy, who calls himself Luke, is nearly eaten by a cougar, Brigitta finds herself saving his life, being swept into his spectacular embrace and wondering if she wants Natalie's fantasy to be true.
As the two spend the summer together raising orphaned cougar cubs, Brigitta still can't be sure of his true identity. But then again, since her grandparents' death, her father's sudden urge to give away all their possessions and become a shaman, and her own awkward transition from girlhood into a young woman, she isn't sure of anything. What is the truth? More importantly, can she accept it?

In My Mailbox (57)

In My Mailbox

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs.

No video this week! I only have one book to share with you this week but I'm super excited about it!

Burn For Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

The start of a brand-new young adult trilogy about three very different girls who overcome their differences and band together to seek revenge on those who have wronged them, uncovering a supernatural secret about what brought them together and why in the process. Each book will rotate back and forth between the perspectives of all three characters.

Thank you Simon & Schuster!!

Wentworth Hall Giveaway

Have you guys heard about Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame yet? It's set to release May 1st and it looks amazing! Check it out:

 About the Book: And you thought there were secrets in the Abby . . .
The Darlington family of Wentworth Hall, an elite British family, fills their time by caring for their extensive estate, and looking over their shoulders as they struggle to keep up an elaborate charade to hide their scandalous secrets of illicit romances, and bitter betrayals.

Wentworth Hall is a lush historical novel by debut author Abby Grahame, which is spot-on perfect for fans of Downton Abbey!

 Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey? I know you're hooked now! And you're in luck. Simon & Schuster has an excerpt up here for your reading enjoyment. 


Not only that, the super awesome Simon & Schuster is providing TWO copies of the book for me to giveaway. Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter. US only. Must be 13 years or older.  




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Shine

Shine

Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Pages: 416
Series: Shade, book three
Source: borrowed from the epic Lynn

About the Book: Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.

As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart.


My Thoughts: Oh my goodness! Talk about starting things off with a bang! I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride just in the first two chapters! Ohmystars do I wish I could go in to more detail but that would spoil it for you. All I'll say is that I was on the edge of my seat and it really set the tone for the book. 


Aura and Zachary are separated for much of the book. We really get to see Aura step it up and fight for what she believes in. And when they are finally reunited?!? Can we say steamy?!?! I loved it! 


Of course the DMP is as shady as ever. I liked learning more about the organization and their questionable actions. I'm a sucker for evil cooperations/government agencies! I so enjoy seeing the "little guy" working to overthrow them. 


I love it when a series I adore has a fabulous ending! Shine really wrapped up everything I needed to know while still leaving room for me to imagine the future for the characters I loved. I was just so very satisfied by this book and the series finale. 

Hey! That's Jeri Smith-Ready!

I almost forgot!! Simon & Schuster sent me a paperback copy of Shine! However, since my other two books in the series are hardcover I pre-ordered Shine :) Sooooo, that means a giveaway for you! I saw Jeri Smith-Ready at the RT conference and she gave me a signed bookplate to include as well. To enter use the rafflecopter widget below. Thanks!


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Waiting on Wednesday (54)

Waiting on Wednesday

Black City

by Elizabeth Richards

Release Date: November 13, 2012

Published by: Putnam

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection, that causes Ash’s long dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong. When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

How cool is that cover Also, I need to know what a Darkling is! 

Insurgent

Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Pages: 525
Series: Divergent, book two
Source: borrowed from Anna the Great


About the Book: One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.  


My Thoughts: First things first... if you haven't read Divergent stop reading this RIGHT NOW and go pick up a copy. Also, fair warning... there may be Divergent spoilers ahead (but no Insurgent spoilers!) 


Insurgent picks up right where Divergent left off. In my mind this is the only way to do cliffhanger endings. I hate it when a book ends at a critical point and the next book picks up months later and you have to learn what happened through flashbacks or something and it all just makes me very angry eyes!!! Grrr! Phew. Sorry for the mini-rant. All that to say, Veronica Roth does it up right! I highly recommend going back and re-reading the last few chapters of Divergent to get back in the swing of things. You really hit the ground running with Insurgent and I loved every second of it!


I'm really at a loss as to what to say without giving to much away. Insurgent delves deeper in to the world of the factions and the things that divide them. Secrets are revealed and relationships are tested. We learn so much about the characters but also realize that there is much left to learn. I was totally engrossed in the book. All 525 pages. I literally could not put it down! Fans of Divergent will not be disappointed! 

Hey look! It's me with Veronica Roth!!

Bitterblue

Bitterblue

Author: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Pages: 545
Series: Seven Kingdoms, book three
Source: Borrowed from the lovely Michelle


About the Book: Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart. (from goodreads)

My Thoughts: I have a special place in my heart for these books. Graceling and The Hunger Games were released around the same time. I read them one right after the other soon after they were published. I fell in love. They had a huge influence in getting me back in to reading YA and also fantasy. As you can imagine, I've been waiting for Bitterblue for what seems like ages! I can honestly say I was not disappointed in the least. 


Bitterblue starts with a prologue that takes place shortly before the events in Graceling. It then jumps to about eight years after Graceling ended. Katsa and Po defeated King Leck. Po's father (Bitterblue's uncle) helped to set Bitterblue up to rule her kingdom as a very young queen. Bitterblue has not changed much since then. She still relies on the advisors her uncle set and doesn't question much. She is very limited in her knowledge and easily manipulated by those around her. I loved watching this change throughout the story. Bitterblue really comes in to her own and starts to trust herself. Her country has a lot of healing to do after her father's reign of horrors. Bitterblue herself has much to overcome. Bitterblue is learning about her city, her people, and herself. She finds that you cannot just forget the past and only look forward. 


This really the crux of the story. If you go in to it expecting the romance of Graceling and Fire you'll be disappointed. There are some romantic undertones but Bitterblue is still young and just learning who she is and how to rule to the best of her abilities. I don't want to go in to too much detail but I will say this.... yes, I wanted more romance. Still, the more I thought about it the more it made sense to me. She needs time to grow up. The guy that most of the "romantical moments" occur with may not be the best guy for her in the end. You don't have to end up with your first romance. I actually have someone else in mind for her :)


My very favorite thing was the way Bitterblue brought Graceling and Fire together. I expected many connections to Graceling since it is set so soon after. Fire was much more closely related than I thought it would be and I loved it! The series really just came together for me. 


Bitterblue was everything I hoped it'd be and more. I loved seeing beloved characters from the first two books and learning more about Bitterblue and her people. Even if you're not a fan of fantasy I highly suggest checking this series out!

In My Mailbox (56)

In My Mailbox

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs.

This week comes to you in three parts. I went to the Romantic Times conference and picked up a number of books. Also, these books cover two weeks worth :)

Part One:

Books I borrowed, purchased, or received from publishers:

Raw Blue by Kristy Eagar - Thanks Melanie (and Jen for bringing it to RT!)

The List by Siobhan Vivian (Thanks Scholastic!) 

Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready  (Thanks Simon & Schuster)

Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame (Thanks Simon & Schuster)

Eve by Anna Carey

Part Two:

Books I bought at RT:

Beautiful Chaos by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Last Breath by Rachel Caine

The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Part Three:

ARCs and finished copies from RT:

Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Rift by Andrea Cremer

Venom by Fiona Paul

The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

Everneath by Brodie Ashton

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont

Shadowspell by Jenna Black

Sweet Vemon by Tera Lynn Childs

Romantic Times Re-cap

I don't even know that I can begin to express how awesome the Romantic Times conference was. I got to spend almost a week hanging out with YA authors and bloggers and just talking about YA lit. Can we say, "perfection"?!?!? From Wednesday to Friday there were daily panels. I pretty much only attended the ones pertaining to young adult literature. The YA track was so well run (Props to Melissa Marr!!!) The moderators did a great job staying on topic and the panelists were so interesting to listen to. It was really just all around fabulous. Saturday was teen day and fan day so there was a HUGE signing with a section of the room dedicated to YA authors. Then there were some panels, author speed dating, and author readings. To cap the event off there was a super fun YA party with all the authors in attendance. If I went in to everything it would be too much and take too long. Instead I will burry you in photos! 

On the first day you get a ticket to go in to the goody room. it is a room FULL of books and you get to take up to a certain number. There was just a stack of Bitterblue and no one was taking it!!! I freaked out. I've already read it but I had to grab a copy. I ended up giving it to Sarah Rees Brennan in exchange for a $100,000 IOU ;)

On Wednesday night there was a YA slumber party. It. Was. AWESOME!!! I mean, just look at the goodies covering the table!!! Plus we got a swag bag with all kinds of other awesome stuff. The authors were introduced and we got to chat with them. Then they played a round of author truth or dare (so fun!) They also gave away a bunch of door prizes! At the end there was a slipper contest. I embarrassed my self greatly by pretending to ride an invisible horse (I had on cowboy boot slippers! It seemed like an okay idea at one in the morning. I blame Lynn and Kristi.) but it was worth it. I won a kindle donated by the awesome Ann Aguirre!!  

Awesome YA banners were everywhere! 

Kristi, Vania and I went to a local Italian restaurant recommended by the hotel staff. We were a little leery at first. It was located in a strip mall and had a questionable appearance. When we got inside it looked a little better. The only other people there were quite a bit older and we're pretty sure they were Mafia. That has to mean the food is good, right? We ate so much food! Seriously. Appetizers, soup, salad, entree, and THREE desserts. But oh my starts were they good! When we were done we realized we'd been talking and eating for THREE HOURS! I love hanging out with awesome people!!

The author speed dating during Teen Day was super fun. Basically attendees sat at a table and got to chat with a YA author for three minutes and then the authors would switch tables. It was fun to see so many authors in an hour and get to ask questions or just talk. I'm not really sure why Sarah Rees Brennan is up on that chair but,  let me tell you, she was a hard act to follow! Best three minute date ever ;)

On Wednesday night, before the YA slumber party, Kristi and I drove over to Naperville for a pre-pub event with the fabulous Leigh Bardugo. Her book Shadow and Bone comes out in June and it is awesome. Like, you NEED to read it! Kristi and I couldn't stop raving about it. They had extra ARCs at the event so I got a few and brought them to authors at RT because I want EVERYONE to read this book! Also, Leigh is super nice and did a great job talking about the book and answering questions. It was much fun!

Pictures stolen from Jen who got them from Jamie :)

Friday night was the Spring Into the Future book signing at Anderson's Bookshop. Not only were there four great authors but a ton of bloggers as well! The authors were Veronica Rossi, Anna Carey, Tahereh Mafi, and Cynthia Hand. They talked a bit about their books and then took questions. There were so many people there! It was great!!

We like to be silly :) Some of my favorite ladies!

And, just in case you're interested... a slideshow of pics with authors :)

Awesome Authors - photo slideshow

Yeah, basically I just spent the whole week FREAKING OUT on the inside while trying to play it cool. I didn't want to scare the authors too much ;)

Morganville Vampires Blog Tour

So, this past week when I was at the Romantic Times conference I got to meet Rachel Caine. If you've ever read the Morganville Vampire series (or any of her adult books) you can probably imagine how excited I was. Apparently I was so busy trying to act like a normal person and not freak out that I forgot to get a picture with her! #fail


Today starts the "12 Days of Morganville Madness" blog tour in anticipation of the twelfth book Black Dawn. Now, I was too slow in checking my email to actually be on the tour but I still wanted to tell you about it. Also, her publisher knew that those of us who weren't on the tour were still super excited so they gave us a prize pack to give away as well. How awesome are they?!?! The prize pack includes Glass Houses (book one) and a super cool bookmark for Black Dawn (book twelve)!


Blog Tour Information:
At each stop a different book from the series will be featured :)


April 20: Glass Houses at Page Turners Blog
April 21: The Dead Girls' Dance at A New Kind of Ordinary
April 22: Midnight Alley at Book Splot Reviews
April 23: Feast of Fools at Hobbitsies
April 24: Lord of Misrule at Book Monster Reviews
April 25: Carpe Corpus at My Overstuffed Bookshelf
April 26: Fade Out at Miss Vain's Paranormal Fantasy 
April 27: Kiss of Death at The Story Siren
April 28: Ghost Town at Awesomesauce Bookclub
April 29: Bite Club at Confessions of a Bookaholic
April 30: Last Breath at Literal Addiction
May 1: Black Dawn release day at Mundie Moms

About Book One:

From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.
College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

About Book Twelve:

In Last Breath, the rain brought a new and dire threat to Morganville and its vampires... their ancient enemies, the draug. Now, the vampires are fighting a losing war, and it will fall to the residents of the Glass House: Michael, Eve, Shane and Claire, to take the fight to an enemy who threatens to destroy the town, forever.
Lovers of Morganville, rejoice: Black Dawn takes the intrigue, romance and nail-biting suspense of the series to its highest level yet!

Giveaway:
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Waiting on Wednesday (53)

Waiting on Wednesday

The Friday Society

by Adrienne Kress

Release Date: December, 2012

Published by: Dial

Set in London at the turn of the last century, the novel follows the stories of three intelligent and very talented young women, all of whom are assistants to very powerful men: Cora, lab assistant to a member of parliament; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant to a martial arts guru; and Nellie, a magician's assistant. The three young women’s lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It’s up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder—and the crimes they believe may be connected to it‐‐without calling too much attention to themselves.

Told with Adrienne Kress's sharp wit and a great deal of irreverence, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike--well, relatively ladylike--heroines poised for more dangerous adventures.

How fun does this look?!? The short excerpt I read in the Penguin catalog was very clever and made me want to read more, more, more!

Top Ten Tips for New Book Bloggers

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature run by the lovely crew at The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Tips for New Book Bloggers

I am by no means an "expert" book blogger. I make mistakes all the time. The following tips are just my guidelines and things I've learned. Take what you will away from it!

1. Be Kind: This is basically my number one rule for life. In all you do, in all your dealings with others, strive to be kind and keep it classy! In book blogging I think it is easy to forget that the author of the book you're talking about could very easily see your post. I'm not saying don't write negative reviews (but it's totally okay not to!). Just don't be cruel or demeaning. I wrote a whole post about this so I'll stop there.

2. Find Your Purpose and Style: There is no one right way to blog. My posts tend to be more conversational and less "strict" review. Other blogs focus on the different critical elements of a story. My purpose in blogging is to promote young adult literature and authors. That's why I tend to stay away from writing reviews of books I really didn't like (Also, there are very few books I really didn't like and I don't want to waste any more time on them!) Figure out why you're blogging and what you hope to accomplish. (If the answer is, "To get free books!" please step away from the computer.) Once you know your purpose, find the style that is comfortable for you.

3. Proof-Read: Please, please, please proof your posts! I know that I've made typos and such but for the most part I really try to make sure my posts make sense! If I cannot figure out what you're trying to say or there is no punctuation in your post I will not be coming back to your blog. Try reading your post aloud before you publish it. I always re-read my post after it goes live as well. For some reason I find more mistakes that way!

4. Quality Over Quantity: This is a terrible week for me to say this since I've yet to post a review but don't post just for the sake of posting. If I go to your blog and it's all memes, cover reveals, and tour posts I'm probably not going to be spending much time there. Make sure you have reviews and/or discussion posts in there as well! Try to add something new to the discussion already going on about the book.

5. Pace Yourself: This kind of goes along with the last one. When I first got on NetGalley and was accepted to tour sites I signed up for all the things!!! A month or two down the road I was totally overwhelmed! Add to that any requests you start to get from publishers or marketing groups and it can get really crazy. Keep a calendar or some other way to track the books you've requested or tours your on. It's so easy to burn out!

6. Join Twitter: I'm probably biased on this one. I'm on twitter all the time! Still, it's been a great way to connect with bloggers, authors, publishers, and others in the book community. I've learned so much and made many great friends :)

7. Comment, comment, comment: Another great way to get involved in the community is to comment. I'm not talking about, "Hi! Nice post. Check out my blog at _________." That's annoying. Leave authentic comments. Don't just spam other bloggers!

8. Don't Require Followers: This is another one of my pet peeves. It's also something I did when I started blogging because I saw other people doing it. If you have a contest and you require followers you are not actually building up a following. Many people will never be back. Have quality content. It's much better :)

9. Be Real: Readers and authors can tell when you're being fake. Just be real. Some of my favorite blogs are smaller ones where the person running is just.... real. They aren't posting to gain followers or get free stuff. They're talking about the books they loved (or didn't) in an authentic way. This is far more engaging than the person posting as though they're begging for friends!

10. Read Other Blogs: Find blogs you love and keep up with them. I always get great ideas and book recommendations from others. Having said that, remember to give credit where credit is due. If you get an idea from someone else and plan to use it send them an email letting them know and then credit them for the inspiration. Share the love and promote other blogs. It makes our community great!! 

The Springsweet Giveaway

Woo Hoo! The Springsweet finally here!!!

Okay, so technically it doesn't release until tomorrow. Still, I've seen pictures of it already on shelves in bookstores. I bought a copy at Romantic Times this past week so I know it's out there! The finished copy is so pretty y'all!


If you've read my reviews of Saundra's books Shadowed Summer, The Vespertine, and even my review of The Springsweet (from way back in December) you know I LOVE her writing! Like, a lot. She transports her readers to the time and place of her books. You really feel as though you can see the events as they unfold. And the language... oh my stars. So beautiful. Really, you have to read it. 


I am such a fan that I decided to do a giveaway in honor of The Springsweet's release. The winner will get a copy of The Vespertine, a signed copy of The Springsweet and one of the incredibly gorgeous bookmarks that has The Vespertine on one side and The Springsweet on the other. I'll probably throw some other YA related swag in there too :) To enter simply use the rafflecopter widget below. US only. Must be 13 or older (or have parental permission.)

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Lexapros and Cons Guest Post

Welcome to the next stop on the Lexapros and Cons Blog Tour! I have a fabulous guest post from the author Aaron Karo. But first, a little about the book...

Chuck Taylor’s OCD has rendered him a high school outcast. His endless routines and habitual hand washing threaten to scare away both his closest friend and the amazing new girl in town. Sure he happens to share the name of the icon behind the coolest sneakers in the world, but even Chuck knows his bizarre system of wearing different color “Cons” depending on his mood is completely crazy. 
In this hilariously candid debut novel from comedian Aaron Karo—who grew up with a few obsessions and compulsions of his own—very bad things are going to happen to Chuck. But maybe that’s a good thing. Because with graduation looming, Chuck finds himself with one last chance to face his inner demons, defend his best friend, and win over the girl of his dreams. No matter what happens, though, he’ll have to get his hands dirty. (from goodreads)

One of the aspects of Lexapros and Cons that caught my eye was the fact that the main character has OCD. I was really interested in reading about him and how it affects his life. Aaron Karo is here to talk a little more about this aspect of the book. Thank you Aaron!

CDO

 
            An old joke about OCD is that it should be called CDO – that way the letters are in alphabetical order. But for people who struggle with OCD, order, or lack thereof, is probably the most important issue in their life. As is the case with Chuck Taylor, the protagonist of Lexapros and Cons. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is really putting a cramp in his style.
            Lexapros is my first YA novel, and when I started working on it a lot of people asked me if it was going to be an “issue” book. First, I Googled issue books to find out what that even meant. Then, I answered a resounding No. In my opinion, Lexparos isn’t really “about” OCD. I fancy it more of a comedic, coming-of-age love story. It just so happens that the main character has OCD. Chuck is generally more concerned with winning over his crush, Amy, than he is about working on overcoming his symptoms. In fact, the latter only occurs in an effort to accomplish the former.
            The reason I really liked using OCD, something I struggle with as well, as the backdrop for the novel is because the symptoms can be so varied. For instance, when you think of OCD, you think of the very well known symptoms: washing hands, making sure everything is neat and in order, and making lots of lists and counting. Those are definitely some prominent OCD symptoms, but they are only the most overt ones.
            Some of Chuck’s toughest struggles are over the less well-defined, “internal” symptoms. He is in a constant state of anxiety. He has trouble sleeping. Basically there are a lot of things wrong with Chuck that outside observers – including his best friend, his parents, and his psychiatrist – don’t even realize. To me it’s those internal battles that make for the most entertaining conflict.
            Another interesting aspect about writing a character with OCD is that many people don’t realize that OCD sufferers are fully aware of what is going on. In other words, someone who counts to 100 before going outside because she’s afraid the house will burn down is fully cognizant that what she’s doing is “crazy” and has no connection whatsoever with the house possibly burning down. But she does it anyway because it makes her feel better. Hence the vicious cycle of obsession and then compulsion. So it was important to me for Chuck to make clear that he knows his actions are bizarre and pointless, but he just can’t help it.
            Lastly, a few times in the book, a character says to Chuck, “I have a little OCD, too.” This is another crucial aspect that I wanted to touch on, which is that everyone “thinks” they have OCD. Sure, everyone has their little tics or things they triple-check, but as Chuck will tell you, that doesn’t mean you actually suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder. In fact, those with OCD hate when you say that, because they think it diminishes their suffering. 
            Chuck was a difficult yet thrilling character for me to write. He is very firm about what he considers OCD behavior, who he reveals it to, and when they can judge him. In essence, he has very strict rules about his condition. You might even say he’s a little OCD about it. 

In 1997 Aaron Karo wrote a funny email from his freshman dorm room that eventually spawned his celebrated column "Ruminations," the humor website Ruminations.com, and three books: "Ruminations on College Life," "Ruminations on Twentysomething Life," and "I’m Having More Fun Than You." Also a nationally headlining comedian, Karo has performed on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," and his one-hour special "Aaron Karo: The Rest Is History" premiered on Comedy Central in 2010. "Lexapros and Cons" is his first novel.

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Aaron Karo on Twitter

You totally want to read the book now, don't you? Thanks to the publisher I have a copy to give away! Open to residents of the US and Canada. Must be 13 years or older to enter. Fill out the form below: 


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Monday 4/9                 http://www.wastepaperprose.com/

Tuesday 4/10               http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/

Wednesday 4/11          http://www.yalibrariantales.com  

Thursday 4/12             http://www.hilarywagner.blogspot.com/

Friday 4/13                 http://www.yabibliophile.com/

Saturday 4/14             http://www.stackedbooks.org/

Monday 4/16               http://www.lettersinsideout.net/

Tuesday 4/17              http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com

Wednesday 4/18         http://ladysbookstuff.blogspot.com/

Thursday 4/19            http://booksake.blogspot.com/

Friday 4/20                http://chickloveslit.com/

Saturday 4/21            http://hauntedorchid.blogspot.com/