Today we have a guest post from Kathryn Erskine…

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
–To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee

It’s a phrase my mother often said to us growing up, To Kill a Mockingbird being one of her favorite books. She said that if nations’ leaders followed that wisdom, there’d be more understanding in the world. It’s one of my favorite books, too, but I wasn’t actually thinking of it while writing my story about Caitlin, a young girl with Asperger’s, who has lost her brother, her key to understanding the outside world. I had created a family with a widowed father, an older brother who worked hard to be good and please him (he was even a Boy Scout on the leadership fast track), and a girl on the autism spectrum who saw the world without filters which, as it often does, can lead to behavior that appears awkward and rude. Caitlin’s voice tugged at me, her fresh, frank voice, reminding me of something. When I realized that she reminded me of Scout in Harper Lee’s novel, I was struck by my story’s similarities — a widowed father, the “good” older brother who tried to teach his sister to behave properly, and the young girl who spoke her mind. That’s when I decided Caitlin’s brother would nickname her “Scout,” because his sister reminded him of the character in the movie and the book. Of course, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is much younger than Caitlin, which is why she hasn’t yet developed those societal filters. In Caitlin’s case, it’s because of her Asperger’s. I realized other similarities, too. Like To Kill a Mockingbird, my novel is also about tolerance and understanding. Walking in other people’s shoes is something literal and foreign to Caitlin but in practicing that wisdom she begins to understand her world a bit better. When we take that walk with Caitlin, hopefully, we do, too.

Thanks Kathryn!

To find out more about Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird and to download some book club notes about the book visit www.usborne.com/mockingbird

Today we are blog tour hosts for Cynthia Hand’s latest novel Hallowed, the sequel to Unearthly. Here are Cynthia Hand’s Top 5 Picks in Paranormal Romance

I have a problem with the term “paranormal romance.” Barnes and Noble had just changed their shelving system when I sold Unearthly back in 2009, and when I found out that my book was going to be shelved under paranormal romance, part of me cringed a little. Maybe even a lot. I had always described my book to people as an urban fantasy, meaning that it takes place in present-day times but also has fantastical elements. I was comfortable with being the writer of an urban fantasy. The word “paranormal” to me seemed limiting, like to be classified as paranormal the characters have to be some kind of mystical sparkly creatures, vampires or werewolves or (gulp) angels, which doesn’t leave room for a whole lot of other creative ideas. And the word “romance”—well, that conjured up a cheap paperback novel with either a sexy flower or a scantily clad couple in some sort of aloof-yet-passionate embrace, the kind of book that you let fall open and it lands on. . . heaving bosoms and fluffy stuff like that. I admit I did read romance novels when I was a teenager, mostly because I was curious and mystified by the idea of romantic love and (glances furtively around, whispers) sex. *Note to teens. Do not read romance novels to learn about (glances furtively around, whispers) sex. Trust me. This would be like watching soap operas to learn about how to build a solid marriage. Shakes head.* I always had a couple stealthily-purchased romance novels stashed in secret locations in my room, lest my mom start poking around. But write romances? Heck no! No heaving bosoms for me, thank you very much.
Ahem. So. Me and the term paranormal romance were not friends. Which was a problem, since my book really is a paranormal romance. It doesn’t matter than PR is not what I intended when I set out to write Clara’s story. I have to be honest. There are special sparkly creatures in my books. And there is romance, i.e. hot guys, and kissing, and even a heaving bosom now and then. I don’t write the term “heaving bosom” of course; my wording is usually something like “my breath catches” or “my heart pounds in my chest”. Same diff.
Sigh. I remember the day I wrote the big kissing scene in Unearthly. It came out pretty smoothly, truthfully. I was feeling a bit flushed myself at the end of the writing day. So I cut and pasted the scene to my writing partner, Joan, to see what she thought. Great! I remember her saying. It’s not too Harlequin? I asked. She said something like, It’s very swoony, but it’s good. Later my agent would pick that specific passage as a teaser to send the editor who acquired my novel for HarperTeen. An example of my fine writing, she called it. The kissing scene? I thought with an involuntary twinge of my eyelid. O-kay. . .
It worked out for me. Clearly. But for the longest time I wasn’t really comfortable being the writer of romance novels, even with the term “paranormal” in front of them, which was supposed to change the meaning into something for teens and non-adult-entertainment-oriented. People kept asking me for tips on how to write PR, and I would try to change the subject, maybe something about tips on how to write about setting. But I could not avoid the fact that Unearthly was, indeed, PR. Another anecdote: when I got my ARCs of Unearthly, I gave one to my friend Corbett Phibbs, and when I saw him again later, I was all on pins and needles to know what he thought (since he is a character in the book, after all), and he quirked an overgrown white eyebrow at me and said, “Oh yes, it was wonderful.” My heart lifted. “So romantic,” he said. My heart sank.
I’m glad that I’m over my aversion to the term now. Mostly. (eyelid twinge). I can embrace my genre with pride. And what got me over it, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. Other books that could be found on the PR shelf. Specifically, I fell in love, again and again and again, with other novels that were classified as paranormal romance. Fantastic books. Books where I was lost in their worlds, charmed by their creativity and their world-building, drawn in by their characters, their stories, their sense of fun. If these rock-star writers were in the PR section of the bookstore, well, then I could be proud to be there too. It was that simple.
That was the loooooong setup to the following list: my top 5 paranormal romances. It’s an important list to me, because these books helped me to become at home in my own skin, in a writerly sense. And because, quite simply, they rock.

1.Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. This book to this day makes me feel slightly chilled to think about. It’s simply a beautifully written book. I love the shifting perspectives between the two main characters, how you can see their feelings for each other develop from both sides, and the tension between them as things start to simultaneously heat up and cool off.

2.Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. This is one of the first books I read when I started to read YA again, and I totally love it. I thought Marr created such a rich, beautiful world, and her characters really yearn for things. That’s all characters truly need in order to build a great story—a yearning, a deep desire for something—something that we as readers can yearn with them about.

3.Rampant by Diana Peterfreud. This book begins with a scene where the main character is making out with her boyfriend and he pressures her to have sex and then gets stabbed by a killer unicorn. Hello, awesome! I heart this book through and through, and loved the sequel as well. One thing I particularly enjoy about this is that the story revolves around the notion that the main character is a virgin, and will only keep her powers if she remains a virgin, but it still manages to build a warm and realistic romance, thus proving once again that love and sex are two very separate entities.

4.Firelight, by Sophie Jordan. This is a book about a girl who is secretly a dragon, who falls in love with a dragon hunter. Juliet meets Romeo, if Juliet could fly and breathe fire. This book is hot. I love how the main character literally heats up when she sees the hot guy, and the love scenes are very (cough) believable and passionate and easy to get caught up in. And I liked the sequel, Vanish, even more because I am a huge fan of the dragon-boy rival, Cassian. (fans self). Whew.

5.Paranormalcy by Kiersten White. This book made me laugh out loud so many times! The voice of the main character is hi-larious and the character is so strong and independent and fierce, but also a believable teenage girl. Evie is my hero, and Kiersten White is my savior in a world where they aren’t making any new Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes. It’s that good. I also appreciate how fresh the romance is in this book, how the love interest in literally invisible, how he can change his appearance to suit his moods, and how Evie is ultimately attracted to what’s inside of him, figuratively speaking.

Thanks Cynthia!

You can follow the blog tour tomorrow by heading over to Serendipity Reviews: http://www.serendipityreviews.co.uk/

Today we are taking part in the Opal Moonbaby blog tour and have a guest post from author Maudie Smith…

Writers under my skin

Some writers, I find, have a way of getting under your skin and staying there.

The first writer to do this for me was probably Dr Seuss. We were big Seuss fans in my house. The rhythms and rhymes of his language lend themselves brilliantly to being read aloud again and again. His strange and slightly spooky characters such as Sam I Am of Green Eggs and Ham fame and the eponymous Cat in the Hat have stayed with me. I think the books we learn more or less by heart when we are very young instil in us an instinctive grasp of how stories work. That’s something I cling to now when I’m writing and wondering if I’m heading in the right direction. I try to trust that the structure and workings of story are somehow inside me. The story will come out right in the end. It’s almost a mantra, like Horton’s in Horton Hatches the Egg. “I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent!”

I used to be an actor and I love dialogue. I’ve always liked ‘doing the voices’. Anyone passing by my open window when I’m working on a scene could be forgiven for thinking there was a madwoman in the house. I suppose that love of dialogue is the reason I liked Catherine Storr’s books so much. Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf is full of wonderful and very funny conversations between down-to-earth, pragmatic Polly and the wolf who is so desperate to eat her.

I was one of those children who thought there was a monster in the cupboard most of the time and that’s another reason why Storr’s books appealed to me. The big black wolf is quite scary, continually turning up at Polly’s door, trying to find ways to get in and eat her. No one but Polly seems to notice him much but Polly always manages to be one step ahead of him, seeing through his plans and thwarting them just in time. You don’t want the wolf to get Polly but you actually start to feel quite sorry for him. He has just the right blend of scariness and silliness.

This might be where my love of mixing fantasy and reality began. Mrs Pepperpot helped with that too. I adored the way this resourceful little party managed to get herself out of difficult fixes each time she was inconveniently reduced to the size of a condiment container. I loved to see how, out of necessity brought about by her shrinking, she used ordinary objects differently.

This was also the main attraction of The Borrowers. Chests of drawers made from match boxes, walls papered with old letters – all that paraphernelia ‘borrowed’ from the human world really captured my imagination and held onto it. Opal Moonbaby, the alien character in my book isn’t small but she does have a different take on the trappings of human life. She juggles food rather than eats it; she likes books for the way the print is so well-trained, standing in such straight lines, and she definitely doesn’t have the hang of the usual way to operate a shopping trolley.

Other childhood favourites were Frances Hodgson Burnett, Lewis Carroll, Nina Bawden, Richard Adams, Noel Streatfield, Elizabeth Enright, E Nesbit, Joan Aiken and C S Lewis. All of these great storytellers contributed to my love of a satisfying yarn. If I were forced to single out one book I would choose E Nesbit’s Five Children and It. The weird and magical psammead was a wonderful addition to the Victorian world of the ‘ordinary’ children; both worlds were quite alien to me though and I lapped up this story and the ones that followed.

Roald Dahl wasn’t part of my childhood but I’ve been lucky enough to read all his books to my own children and his darkly comic, straight to the point style is often in my mind when I’m writing. Not all modern young readers will put up with the leisurely pace and lengthy descriptive passages of some of the older classics. I think Dahl put up a literary signpost pointing us all in a new direction, calling for a new contemporary style of story-writing that engages closely with its reader and never patronises them.

I’m still being influenced by writers now; I don’t think it’s something that ever stops. Michael Morpurgo, Jill Murphy, Jacqueline Wilson, Andy Stanton, Eva Ibbotson, Michelle Paver, Catherine MacPhail, David Almond, Tanya Landman, Lauren Child, Patrick Ness…..and that’s only the children’s authors. The list just goes on growing. I only hope my skin can accommodate them all!

We have two copies of Opal Moonbaby to give away. Just retweet this post or leave a comment to enter. Open to UK only. Closes 27th January at 5pm

You can follow the Opal Moonbaby blog tour tomorrow by visiting www.chicklish.co.uk

Opal Moonbaby is available to buy now: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Opal-Moonbaby-Maudie-Smith/dp/1444004786/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326232541&sr=8-1

Tell us a little bit about yourself
I’m a mom of three kids, wife to an awesome husband, and now a former gymnastics coach turned writer/stay-at-home mom. I love reading more than any other hobby or activity. But I also enjoy running, swimming, roller blading and years of ballet have made it virtually impossible for me to walk across a smooth kitchen floor in my socks without attempting a few pirouettes. Listening to music is must for me at almost all hours of the day, but I’m completely tone-deaf and no amount of voice lessons could improve my efforts.

How did you begin writing and what was your journey to publication like?
My writing journey began in May of 2009 and it started with scenes from a story in my head. I wrote them in random order in a small notebook, before deciding to start typing and creating a bigger plot.

I finished my first novel and starting submitting it to literary agents by the August, 2009. Really, I only did it for fun at first. Just to see what would happen. I sent tons of query letters and then dove into a totally new book. I had many requests for more material and also MANY rejection. I kept writing and having friends and family read chapters and sometimes entire manuscripts. I didn’t do much editing or rewriting in that first year. There were so many stories I wanted to tell that moving on to the next project was very easy for me.

By April of 2010, I had completed seven young adult novels…each one very different and showing some kind of growth from the last. Then an editor who requested my very first novel got back to me with a couple rejections and suggestions before asking me if I was willing to do a complete rewrite and work on a true YA time-travel story with him. Of course, I said yes. And it was such a blast to bounce ideas and create something totally new. By June of 2010, I not only had an agent, but a three book deal with St. Martin’s press and studios interested optioning TEMPEST for possible film adaption. It was quite a wild ride.

Tell us about Tempest and your inspiration for the book
My inspiration for TEMPEST comes from the very basic love story. Two characters who are very different, meeting and falling in love. If I compared TEMPEST to a big pot of soup, the love story would be broth. Then of course, time-travel would be the main ingredient…like the noodles. After I had that established and I began writing it, it was like tossing random items from the fridge into the soup and hoping it creates a brand new dish that many people would like. A little government thriller. A dash of family drama and emotion. A pinch of mystery. It sounds kind of silly, but that’s really how it happened. In layers, one idea at a time.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on a third draft of book 2 and a first draft of book 3 pretty much at the same time. I go back and forth between the two depending on when I get edits from my agent or editor on the second book.

What do you like to do outside of writing?
Reading! I love GLEE and a few other regular shows that I watch. I have different volunteer projects that I work on and that’s really enjoyable because being a full time writer means no co-workers and it’s nice to be around people that aren’t related to me sometimes.

Thank you Julie for the opportunity to do this interview!

Tempest is published on the 5th January. You can order a copy here

You can find Julie on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FansOfJulieCross
and on Twitter: @JulieCross1980

Tell us a little bit about yourself

Hello. I’m Gill Lewis. I live in the depths of Somerset, surrounded by dairy farms and cider orchards. My husband and I are both vets and we have three children 13, 11 and 8. We have an ever increasing menagerie of pets, many of which are rescued animals. Our latest addition is a huge pup with a taste for mince pies and Christmas cards. I’ve always been fascinated by animals. As a child, I could be found in the garden looking for bugs and beetles or catching newts from a neighbour’s pond. It seemed natural that I went on to study to become a vet after leaving school. I was lucky to be able to work as a vet in many different countries, although it was always the wildlife that I was drawn to. I think it was this, and the stories of the people who live alongside these animals that inspired Sky Hawk.

Tell us about your debut novel Sky Hawk

I had the idea for Sky Hawk on a freezing New Year’s Day while looking at an empty swallows’ nest in the eaves of our garden shed. I wondered where the swallows were? Were they swooping in African skies? Could children in Africa see the swallows that my own children had watched all through the summer? I began to research about bird migration and I became fascinated by websites following ospreys fitted with satellite transmitters. I began to wonder if an osprey could connect children across different continents. And so the idea for Sky Hawk was born. The story follows two Scottish children, Callum and Iona, who forge a deep bond of friendship after discovering a pair of ospreys nesting on Callum’s farm. Their friendship is challenged by prejudice against Iona and her family from the local community. But when Callum and Iona find one of the ospreys injured, they do all they can to save it and keep it safe. Events take a tragic turn and it is the journey of the osprey that brings communities together, challenges prejudices and changes Callum’s world forever.

How did you begin writing?

At school I was a real daydreamer and loved writing stories, but my handwriting was very messy and my spelling was so shocking that I never even thought I could be a real writer. It wasn’t until after my children were born that I rediscovered writing. I used to tell my children stories on long car journeys and make up bedtime stories. I loved creating characters and worlds in my head. I wrote several picture books and stories. I had one picture book published, but found it very difficult to find a publisher for my other work. I eventually went on a writing course where I really learned to craft my writing and shape a rather baggy first draft into a novel.

How long did Sky Hawk take to complete?

Sky Hawk took nine months from thinking of the idea to the complete manuscript. The actual writing time was much shorter. I spent much time researching about ospreys and Gambia and learned an awful lot about fly-fishing too.

What are you working on now?

I’ve just finished White Dolphin, my second novel, which comes out next May 2012. There is an environmental theme running through this book too, about the fragility of the marine life around our coastline. But the heart of the story is about a girl called Kara who is desperate to find news of her missing mother. When an injured dolphin is washed up on the beach, it seems to hold the clues Kara is looking for. Researching this story was great fun. I got to go out on boats looking for dolphins and also learn to sail a dinghy in rough Cornish seas.

What do you like to do outside of writing?

Our family holidays are often centered in wild places where we look out for wildlife. Last summer, we were very fortunate to be able to travel to Scotland to see Roy Dennis, (the UK osprey expert) fit a satellite transmitter to an osprey sponsored by the UK, US and foreign publishers of Sky Hawk. You can follow Ozwold’s incredible journey on the osprey diary on my website; gilllewis.com

I also love swimming. I mull over my story ideas as I swim. It’s a great way to relax. I have a secret desire to swim the English Channel, but I’ve heard it’s a bit chilly and I’m put off by the thought of huge tankers and meeting a Portuguese man-o-war.

Thanks Gill for this great interview!

Sky Hawk has been shortlisted for the Red House Children’s Book Award. To vote, visit www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk

You can find Gill Lewis on twitter: @GillLewis and at her website: www.gilllewis.com

Sky Hawk is out now to purchase..

Today we have a real treat for our Between fans. Jessica Warman has written us a spin off piece, so enjoy….!

The airport was a madhouse. It was December 27, so this was no real surprise, but Caroline Michaels had somehow convinced herself that it wouldn’t be so bad this year. She was wrong. It took an hour and fifteen minutes just to get her boarding pass. When she finally reached her gate, they were already boarding the plane.

Her seat assignment was all the way in the back. For a few brief, hopeful moments, she thought the seat beside her might be unoccupied. But at the last second, a frazzled-looking young woman hurried down the aisle, her gaze trained at the empty spot directly beside Caroline. And it got worse: the woman was carrying a baby. It wasn’t that Caroline didn’t like children; it was just that she didn’t like being crammed into a tiny aircraft with a hundred strangers at 30,000 feet, especially when the tiny person directly beside her could very easily scream for the entire trip, or puke on her, or both.

Caroline didn’t normally enjoy talking to people on airplanes. But she felt sorry for this woman, who was obviously overwhelmed to be traveling alone. Besides, it was a short flight. What was the harm in chatting for an hour or so?

“Were you visiting family in the city?” She asked, closing her magazine.

The woman nodded. Her baby was sleeping for the moment. “Sort of. We spent Christmas at my in-laws’ in Connecticut. My husband had to take a later flight.”

“What town? I’m from Connecticut, too.” She hesitated. “I’m Caroline, by the way.”

“I’m Hallie.” They shook hands around the baby, who didn’t stir.

“I’m sure you’ve never heard of it,” Hallie continued. “It’s a little town called Noank.”

Caroline’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding, right? I’m from Noank.”

Hallie laughed. “Get out.”

“I’m serious. Born and raised. You said your husband’s parents live there?”

“Yes.” She paused. “Maybe you know them? Claire and Steven Wilson?”

Caroline almost choked on her gum. “Richie’s parents? You’re married to Richie Wilson?”

Hallie grinned, her cheeks flushing. “Yep, sure am. Did you go to high school with him?”

“Well, yeah. We were friends, too. Wow… Richie Wilson. What’s he doing with himself nowadays?”

Caroline listened as Hallie told her all about Richie’s adult life: He was a high school English teacher. He and Hallie had been married for almost five years. They’d met in college. Caroline didn’t even realize that Richie had gone to college; he’d just sort of disappeared right after graduation. Of course, he had his reasons for not keeping in touch – they all did. But Caroline didn’t think now was the most appropriate time to dredge up the nightmare that had caused their group to scatter so many years ago, each of them trying to find some way to forget what had happened to the Valchar family. Instead, she made polite, superficial conversation with Hallie for the rest of the flight. She even wrote down her phone number and email address for Hallie to pass along to Richie, despite her certainty that he would never try to get in touch.

The baby finally woke up when the plane landed. She immediately started to cry.

“Well… it was nice meeting you.” Hallie flashed one last smile. “I’m sure Richie will be in touch.”

Right, Caroline thought. “Nice to meet you, too,” she said. And she shifted her attention to the baby, giving her a little wave. “It was nice meeting you – oh, you never told me her name.”

Hallie hesitated. It was only a slight pause, but Caroline felt it.

“This is Elizabeth.”

Thanks, Jessica! Remember, Between’s out this month, and we’ll soon be bringing you our review of it & a fab giveaway!

Today we hear from our author in residence, Jessica Warman…

Tell us a little about yourself: 

I’m 30 years old.  I’ve been married for 10 years, and we have two daughters, ages 4 and 6.  I am a terrible homemaker; I can’t cook at all, I’m lousy at doing laundry (imagine a lot of bleeding colors and shrinking), and I don’t even attempt to do any ironing.  I love ice cream; I eat it every single day, always with sprinkles on top, and I don’t feel a bit guilty.  (Life is short!  If I want ice cream, I’m going to eat ice cream!)  I’m an odd kind of introvert: I really enjoy social situations, but they leave me emotionally exhausted, and it often takes me a day or two to fully recover.  Outside of part-time work in college, I’ve never had a job aside from writing.  I would love to own an enormous, slobbery dog (preferably a Saint Bernard, which I would name Marcellus), but my husband won’t stand for it.  I don’t think skinny jeans look good on anyone.

Who were your favourite authors when you were younger?

As a kid, I was absolutely OBSESSED with Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitter’s Club series.  I belonged to the fan club and everything; I think I still have my BSC sleeping bag and matching pillowcase stashed away somewhere.  I also LOVED Roald Dahl – I used to read “Matilda” over and over again.  When I got a bit older, I read pretty much everything I could get my hands on.  YA literature wasn’t nearly as big when I was a teen as it is now, so there were way fewer choices – I mostly read the classics.  JD Salinger was my favorite writer for years; I think I’ve read “Catcher in the Rye” at least 20 times.  I fell in love with F. Scott Fitzgerald in high school when I read “The Great Gatsby,” which remains my all-time favorite love story.  Hemingway was (and still is) a favorite of mine, especially his short stories (specifically “Hills Like White Elephants” and “Indian Camp”).  And I think every teen should read “Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut.  It’s magical.

Tell us about Between

BETWEEN tells the story of Liz Valchar, a spoiled, pretty, popular girl who somehow ends up dead on her 18th birthday.  She is joined in the afterlife by Alex Berg, another boy from her high school who was killed a year earlier, and whose death remains a mystery.  Though they weren’t friends in life, the two of them form a strong bond as they are forced to work together to uncover the circumstances that led to their deaths.

What are you working on now?

I’m in the process of revising my fourth novel, which doesn’t have a title yet.  It’s a thriller about identical twin sisters with a unique bond.  When one of them disappears, it is up to her remaining twin to figure out what happened.  The book will be out next year, and I’m REALLY excited about it –  I’ve had such a blast writing it, and I can’t wait to see how readers respond!

What do you enjoy most about writing?

Everything!  I absolutely love my job.  I feel so lucky that I get to do what I love for a living.  I think the best part of the writing process is when I become so totally engrossed in a project that I can’t think about anything else.  I love getting up in the morning and starting to write, only to realize later that four or five hours have passed in a blink.  I love getting to know my characters inside and out, learning all the details of their lives and histories, even if those facts don’t end up making it into the book.  I really enjoy all the other aspects of my job, too – going to conferences and interacting with other writers and readers, responding to emails I receive from fans – it’s all wonderful.  I never wanted to be anything besides a writer, and the fact that I’m actually able to do it is a dream come true.

What do you get up to when you’re not writing?

I read a LOT.  It’s definitely my main form of entertainment – we don’t even have cable television in our house.  My life is really pretty busy with writing, promotion, and taking care of my kids, but I always make time to go running.  I’m a distance runner, and it is an absolute passion of mine.  Running is like meditation; it calms your mind and dissolves stress like nothing else that I know of.  Aside from those things…  well, I can tell you that I’m a beer lover.  But not in an excessive way – I love good, strong craft beers with complex flavor, the kind of beers that you drink slowly in order to savor every last sip.  To me, the alcohol content is quite secondary; I drink beer because it’s delicious, not because I want to get drunk.  Aside from all that, I don’t do much else – I don’t really have time!

Thank you for the opportunity to do this interview!  It was fun!

Jessica’s book, Between, is out this month, and here for you to buy now…

Today we’re taking part in the Angel Fire blog tour….

Behind the Scenes: A note from the editors of Angel Fire

Rebecca Hill and Stephanie King, the two editors who worked with L. A. Weatherly on Angel Fire, sequel to the 2010 smash hit Angel, reveal an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the editing of Angel Fire.

Rebecca Hill, Fiction Director at Usborne Publishing:

Authors say that delivering a book to their editor is a nerve-wracking experience, but what about us editors? What happens when we open an email and read the words: “Here’s my finished manuscript”?

Well, my first reaction is excitement; especially when the manuscript is a long-awaited book that forms part of a bestselling trilogy, like Angel Fire. But along with the desire to stop what you’re doing, grab the manuscript and do the thing you enjoy most – READ – there’s also a small flicker of nerves. Will I love this book as much as I hoped? How has the author developed the story? Is the protagonist still engaging? And, will it deliver an ending that leaves me begging for more?

So the first part of an editor’s job is to read. (Now you know why we all love our jobs so much!) For those of you who already have Angel Fire, you’ll know it is 712 pages long. It took three solid days, equipped with lots of pencils, Post-its and paper, but I couldn’t put it down and had to remember to make notes – it’s so easy to get swept up in the moment.

At Usborne Publishing, two editors read every manuscript, so the next stage was to sit down and talk about the book. (Can this possibly be called work, I hear you ask?) Stephanie and I went through all our notes, looking at the manuscript as a whole and asking each other the big questions: Is the plot working? Do the characters feel real? Are there times where the pace dips, or where we’d like more explanation?  And then…we read the manuscript again. We always try and read every first draft twice, as once you know the plot, a second read can reveal things you missed first time around. Then with all of our thoughts consolidated and jotted down, Lee came into the office to talk through everything.

Stephanie King, Fiction Editor at Usborne Publishing:

Once Lee had our editorial notes we waited with baited breath to see what changes she would make to Angel Fire. Occasionally Lee rang to chat through a query, as once she began revising, new questions and ideas cropped up. The second draft arrived a few weeks later, and Rebecca and I prepared for another blissful three days reading. Lee’s first draft was stunning, but it was fantastic to see how she developed it, turning an excellent book into something exceptional.

With the major editorial points concerning plot, pace and characterization addressed, it was now time for Usborne’s Sarah Stewart to copy-edit it. This involves looking carefully at each word and every line, buffing and polishing the manuscript to ensure it is clear and consistent. For Angel Fire we also checked all the Spanish, and, following her whirlwind trip to Mexico City, Lee tweaked some sections to make every last detail authentic.

Lee then approved the copy-edit, resulting in an incredibly fun to-and-fro as Lee agreed, adjusted or politely declined the suggested amendments. With Angel Fire the most fascinating changes were subtle tweaks Lee made to some of the book’s key scenes, where conversations between Willow, Alex and Seb were gradually honed until they were absolutely pitch-perfect.

Once a manuscript has been copy-edited, it is then laid out by a designer as a “proper” book. Rebecca and I always knew that Angel Fire was going to be BIG, but actually holding the layouts for the first time was a total buzz! The manuscript was then proofread by two different readers, who picked up those last silly spellies, rogue apostrophes, repetitions and terrible typos! Corrections were sent to Lee one last time, she put the finishing touches to a few scenes, and…PRINT!

I don’t think I’ll ever get over the heart-pounding moment when a book is sent to the printers, fingers crossed that it’s perfect and mistake-free. I also really missed Willow and my daily chats with Lee. But above all, it was just SO exciting to know that soon, Angel Fire, would be out there for readers to enjoy. We hope all you Angel fans will love it as much as we do!

Thanks! You can follow the tour to it’s next stop on Thursday 20th – ‘L.A. Weatherly’s Rules for Writing’ over at www.cherrymischievous.com. Angel Fire’s here for you to buy now…

It’s October, and we have a new author in residence with us – welcome to Jessica Warman! We’ll soon be bringing you our Q&A with Jessica, a guest post and review of her new book, Between, and a giveaway! Watch this space…

In the meantime, Jessica shares with us her 5  favourite reads…

5. Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

This is probably my favorite Vonnegut novel – which is saying a lot, because they’re all incredible.  The writing style is unique and incredible; it’s casual and hilarious and profound all at once.  The book is an easy read on the surface, but there’s so much more going on: insights about everything from religion and spirituality, to human nature, to the question of whether or not evil actually exists… I could go on and on.  I loved every last word.

4. Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

I’ve read this book probably two dozen times at least.  For years it was my all-time favorite.  While its place on my list has slipped a bit, I still think it’s a great example of masterful characterization and voice.  Holden Caulfield will always have a special place in my heart.

3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This is a magical, heartbreaking book that everyone should read at least once in their lives. If you don’t know what it’s about, I won’t ruin it for you, but I will say that it’s the kind of book that has the power to change the way a person looks at the world.

2. FRACTURE by Megan Miranda

I just read this a few weeks ago, thanks to an advance copy from my publisher; the book doesn’t come out until January 2012.  This is Megan Miranda’s first novel, and it is a gorgeous book.  The story is fascinating, the writing is beautiful, and the characters are incredibly well-drawn.  There were so many instances while reading this when I could easily picture the scenes unfolding in my mind.  Maybe my favorite YA of all time.

1. Everything that has ever been written by David Foster Wallace (His books include A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, Consider the Lobster, Broom of the System, Girl with Curious Hair, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, and Infinite Jest.)

David Foster Wallace’s books are thick and difficult and definitely intended for adults, but regardless of your age, it’s a name I think you should be familiar with.  Wallace, who died a few years ago, was the most gifted writer of the past hundred years.  I realize that’s only my opinion, but it’s also the opinion of plenty of other people who have  fallen (hopelessly, deeply) in love with the way he was able to arrange words into sentences into books in a way that I honestly didn’t think was possible prior to reading his work.  It’s simply magical.  Wallace had the ability to see into every part of the core of human nature and deconstruct it, making sense of humanity’s idiosyncrasies with such ease that his observations somehow seem like they should be obvious.  They’re not; I say this because no other writer (who I know of) exists who is able to interpret the essence of reality with the same agility.  His books are not easy reading by any means, but they’re worth every ounce of effort.

There’s just no possible way for me to choose only one of his books for the top position on this list.  Truth be told, if I were being completely honest, the entire list would have been comprised of Wallace books.  They are unflinchingly honest, tragic and hilarious all at once, and by far the most cerebrally engaging writing that I’ve ever read in my life.  He gave this world an incredible gift, and the idea that he’s no longer here to share his thoughts with the world makes me feel incredibly sad – not only for him, and for myself, but for all of humanity for the rest of time.  When I think of the phrase “literary genius,” his is the first and only name that comes to mind.  His work makes everything else that has ever been published seem like it was written by a group of monkeys in a room full of typewriters.  And the monkeys are wearing blindfolds, and they’ve been drinking margaritas all day long, and they’re typing using only their toes.

Read his books. They will enrich your life in more ways than you ever thought possible.

Thanks, Jessica! You can find out more about Jessica at her website here.

Today we are taking part in the Jack Christie Adventures blog tour, and have an extract from the latest book, Day of Vengeance, followed by our review of it, and a giveaway!

Jack found it unnerving that he knew what was about to happen. The app had showed it all. In a few minutes, a number of large, open-top, six-wheeled vehicles would drive up the Champs-Elysées towards him. In the front seat of the first car would sit Adolf Hitler – leader of the Third Reich. He would be absorbed by the grandeur of Paris and satiated by the blood of conquest. The entourage would almost completely circumnavigate the Arc de Triomphe and would then proceed directly down Avenue Victor Hugo before arriving at the Palais de Chaillot for the Führer’s first view of the Eiffel Tower. Hitler would be inspired by his visit to Paris and, as a result, would instruct his favourite architect, Albert Speer, who was accompanying him, to resume building work in Berlin.

Except now Jack knew that, if Jean-Yves, Marianne, Ours and Patrice carried out their plan, Hitler would never see the Eiffel Tower and would not leave Paris alive.

Jack could just see Angus further down the Champs-Elysées. Angus had his head turned away from Jack and in turn was looking even further down the avenue to where Sophie would be. The three of them were spread out along the avenue, Jack at the Arc de Triomphe, Sophie about halfway down and Angus in between. As soon as Hitler’s motorcade passed Sophie, she would signal to Angus, who would signal back up to Jack. Jack would then signal to Ours and Patrice, who were waiting opposite in Avenue de Friedland to make their move. Jean-Yves and Marianne waited on Avenue Foch as backup. The circular plan of grand avenues arranged around the mighty Arc de Triomphe made for a natural arena to target the motorcade and would allow an easy escape.

Although Jack could not see it, far away down the Champs-Elysées, Sophie had already spotted the Führer’s motorcade rumbling towards her. She immediately took a red scarf and wrapped it around her neck. Angus saw the signal. He took a white cap from inside his jacket and put it on. The motorcade drove towards him. Although he was far away, Jack could clearly see the white hat on Angus’s head. He waited for a few seconds, then, sure enough, he spotted the motorcade rumbling into view. Jack took a large blue handkerchief from his pocket and put it to his nose. Red, white and blue. There was no turning back now. Across the street, where Avenue de Friedland joined the Place de l’Étoile, Ours mounted his 100cc Peugeot motor scooter and revved the engine. Patrice got up behind him, riding pillion. He reached inside his leather jacket with one hand to check his revolver. In ten seconds the leading car would be moving into the Place de l’Étoile and around the Arc de Triomphe. Ours would drive his scooter right up to the side of the leading car and Patrice would fire at point-blank range at the Führer in the passenger seat.

Jack knew that he should do what he had been told and, having given the signal, disappear quickly to make his way back to the rendezvous. But the scene before him had a curious, hypnotic momentum. It was too much for him just to walk away. The Mercedes sedan was a great lump of a car – more like a military vehicle, and, as it moved near, Jack found himself staring, dumbfounded. It was then, finally, sitting up high in the passenger’s seat that Jack saw him. The Führer. Adolf Hitler. He wore a dark, leather overcoat and a high, peaked army cap – like the one Gottschalk had worn at Bonaparte’s. He was staring up at the great bulwark of the Arc de Triomphe, and then, for no explicable reason he lowered his gaze and looked towards Jack, standing by the road a few metres ahead. For a split second, their eyes met. Hitler’s eyes were unblinking. Jack tried to understand what they communicated. He remembered what he knew about the Führer. He had survived the First World War and had hacked his way through the confusion of post-war Germany to grasp control of the most powerful country in the world. Through a pernicious blend of nationalism, racism and risk taking he had harnessed an undercurrent of bitterness amongst many Germans. His bullying demands had, for many years, appeared reasonable and had been rewarded by good people inside and outside of Germany. They had the power to resist him but they were too scared to act in case they unwittingly unleashed a second war – that might be even worse than the First World War. It was only now, with nearly the whole of Europe under Nazi control, that these good people had started to understand the true horror that had been unleashed. Here was the man responsible for millions of deaths. And that was exactly what those eyes communicated – death.

Aah, we want to read on..! If it’s tempted you, too, the links to get your copy are at the bottom of this post, so don’t worry! And here Bookbabbler Jonathan reviews it for us…

Day of Vengeance by Johnny O’Brien

Schoolboy time-traveller Jack Christie is thrown back to 1940s Nazi-occupied France. With the Battle of Britain and the German Vengeance programme underway, the Second World War is at a crucial point. Jack and his best friend Angus take a more senior role in VIGIL’s attempts to prevent intervention in history, attempting to stop the Revisionists from their highly volatile nuclear plan to stop the war. With spitfire dogfights, jeep races and thrilling chases, the boys have their most hair-raising adventure yet, including involvement in an assassination attempt on Hitler himself. Just as all seems lost, Jack’s father returns and a nuclear disaster is averted in the nick of time.

Jack Christie and his friend Angus work for VIGIL who own of one of the only two time travelling machines in the world. They have already been on two time travelling adventures for VIGIL. Their enemies, the Revisionists, try to change time for what they call good, but VIGIL know this could have unforeseen effects and change the present. Jack’s dad used to work for the Revisionists but has stopped now. No-one knows whose side he’s on.

After the Revisionists launch an attack on VIGIL Jack and Angus have to make their way to their school which is the VIGIL headquarters. But the Revisionists succeed in taking over VIGIL, and Jack and Angus only narrowly escape by travelling back into the past to the beginning of the Second World War. They meet their old enemy Dr.Pendelshape who is the head of the Revisionists and is planning on using advanced technology (for 1940) to end WWII early. Should they help or stop him or will it all go terribly wrong?

This book is good because it has a lot of historical information at the back of the book and also some within the book though most of the characters are fictional. I enjoyed the book but I but I wish it was longer (it has only has about 200 pages), but I guess other people might like short books. Also it was good because there was lots of action and I especially liked the amazing stunts Angus did. I would rate this book 9/10.

Thanks, Jonathan, and thanks to Templar Publishing for sending us a copy to review and sharing the fab extract with us! You can follow the tour over at Bookster Reviews tomorrow, and can visit the Jack Christie Adventures Facebook page now. Thanks to the team at Templar Publishing, we have a set of the Jack Christie Adventures books to giveaway to one lucky Bookbabbler now. To enter into the competition, comment on this post or retweet it (UK only), and we’ll pick a winner at 7pm on Monday – good luck all! You can buy all three of the books here now…