Debut December: Wrap-Up & Giveaway (SCARLET by A.C. Gaughen)

These giveaways are over.
Did you guys like Debut December? I hope so! I had a lot of fun setting it up and running and everything and what have you.

Reminder: You have until midnight tonight to enter all of the giveaways!
Here are the links, in case you haven't entered already:

• Tokyo Heist by Diana Renn
• 10 Book Librarian Exclusive Giveaway
• A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont
• Fracture by Megan Miranda
• Shadow's Edge by Maureen Lipinksi
• Contemporary Mini-Pack

You do have to be a follower of WORD to enter those giveaways, though. (Unless you're a librarian entering the library one.)


But you don't have to be a follower to win a copy of Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen!

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

If you stuck around at all for Debut December, all you have to do is fill out the survey below to be entered to win. I'll close the survey in a week and choose a winner then. (You can also fill out the survey without entering the giveaway, which you should do, because I love feedback.)

Quick Recap:
You have until midnight to enter all of the other Debut December giveaways.

[1] copy of Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen up for grabs
[1] winner in the U.S./Canada only
ends January 7

How To Win:
[mandatory] Fill out the Debut December survey!

Debut December Guest Post: Kristi from The Story Siren

First off, thanks so much Nicole for letting me stop by! It’s so great to see all these debuts! 2012 is going to be a FABULOUS year!

I love debut novels. Love, love, love them!

That’s why I took over the Debut Author Challenge from a fellow blogger. I was a participant in the challenge before I was the host. I was lucky enough to be able to take over the challenge after that first year and I haven’t looked back!




I have my favorite authors. You know... the ones that I’ve been reading for years and I’ll probably always read their books.

On the flip-side, I absolutely love discovering a new author and falling in love with their books. I think a lot of readers feel that way and that’s why I wanted to continue promoting debut authors and why ultimately I go so crazy with the Debut Author Challenge. Thankfully I do have some help this year!

I’m going to plug the challenge just a few more times here! If you haven’t signed up yet, you should! There are over 650 readers participating! And I’m hoping this year will be the best so far. If you want to sign up, you can do so here.

Debut books are an overwhelming presence on my reading pile. This year so far alone, I’ve read 58! I’m hoping to get a few more before the first of the year. There is something about the unknown that makes a debut a little more exciting than all the other books on the shelf.

This year, I’m particularly excited for... well... honestly almost all of them.

What 2012 debuts are you dying for?

Debut December: Upcoming Books (8)

And here's the last set of featured books for Debut December! There's a lot to look forward to this year, ain't there?


Lies Beneath
Author: Anne Greenwood Brown
Release Date: 12 June 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

How does Anne Greenwood Brown summarize it?: "Lies Beneath is about a dysfunctional family of murderous mermaids on Lake Superior who seek revenge against Jason Hancock, the man they blame for their mother's death. The mermaid sisters charge their brother Calder with the task of getting close to Hancock by first getting close to his family. When Calder screws everything up by falling in love with Hancock's daughter Lily, he must figure out how to love the daughter while simultaneously plotting her father's murder."



Pushing the Limit
Author: Katie McGrarry
Release Date: August 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

In Pushing the Limits, two teens, brought together by their court ordered therapist, work together to learn the secrets of their case files, but neither foresaw the shattering consequences of the learning the truth regarding their families or of falling in love.

How does Katie McGrarry summarize it?: "What would you do to regain normalcy in your life? Convinced they can find normal by learning the truth, Noah, a down and out foster kid, and Echo, a once-popular girl turned social outcast, plot to break into their therapist's office so they can learn the secrets hidden in their files. On the surface, the pair have nothing in common, but they soon discover they have emotional wounds that the other can understand. Of course, the two share a crazy attraction that refuses to go away!"






Silver
Author: Talia Vance
Release Date: Fall 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

Beauty is pointless when no one's looking.

Brianna Paxton has been invisible to guys since the eighth grade. She’s pretty enough, it’s just that no one bothers to look. There’s almost nothing that can’t be explained with science, and Brianna has a theory: she’s missing the pheromone that attracts people to one another. Brianna’s theory is shot to hell in one frozen, silver moment, when time stops and Blake Williams not only sees her, he recognizes something inside her that she’s been hiding from even herself.

Before Brianna fully understands who and what she is, she accidentally binds her soul to Blake. Forced to find a way to reconcile forbidden love and her bloody heritage, Brianna discovers that there's nothing pointless about her, and Blake may be in the most danger of all.

How does Talia Vance summarize it?: "Silver is a paranormal romance rooted in Irish mythology. The story is loosely based on my own tortured path to romance with my real life love interest (now husband) who I first met when I was sixteen, but with magic, murder and an ancient feud. "



The Vicious Deep
Author: Zoraida Córdova
Release Date: 12 April 2012

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Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king.

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all.

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

How does Zoraida Córdova summarize it?: "This is the story of Tristan Hart-- swim team captain, heartbreaker, and after a freak storm in Coney Island, a merman and prince of the Sea Court. Part urban fairytale, part adventure quest, The Vicious Deep follows a reluctant hero fighting to piece his worlds back together before the underbelly of the sea can pull him under."


Mermaids, mermaids everywhere! Are you a mermaid person or will you be sticking to something less watery?

Debut December Guest Post: Suzanne Lazear (INNOCENT DARKNESS)

What is steampunk?

Steampunkers party like it’s 1899--and what happens when Goth’s discover the color brown. Steampunk is set in a world where steam and natural gas, not coal and electricity is still the primary power source. It’s a world abounding with airships, gas lamps, gears, cogs, and brass goggles and populated with mad scientists, philosophers, adventurists, and air pirates. HG Wells and Jules Vernon are huge inspirations for Steampunk. Examples include League of Extraordinary Gentleman, Boneshaker, and the Parasol Protectorate series.

Even though there’s a heavy 19th century influence and feel to Steampunk, there could still be extraordinary technology all done with 19th century materials and in 19th century styles. There can be Steampunk airships, space ships, computers, and brass robots. In my book, Innocent Darkness I have flying cars and hoverboards.
Technology may have simply evolved differently, like in Innocent Darkness where the technology came out of the “American Renaissance”–or maybe a natural (or unnatural disaster) caused society to “regress.” Though Steampunk stories traditionally lack the dystopian/anarchist elements that cyberpunk has.

Steampunk stories can be set in the past, in the future, or on another planet. They can be set in Victorian London, the Wild West, Asia, another world entirely – you are only limited by your imagination. Innocent Darkness takes place in an alternate version of Victorian Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Faerie.




Steampunk Stories can be alternate histories, mysteries with hard-boiled detectives or cozy Victorian ladies, they can be gothic, or horror, or sweet romance. They can be bodice rippers, erotic, or “tame.” Steampunk stories can even feature the supernatural or paranormal elements. My book has Steampunk Faeries!

It is all in the setting, the language, the gadgets, and the characters–who could speak like Victorian ladies or fast-talking American teenagers. Noli, my main character prefers botany and fixing flying cars to balls, which in her world is a bit problematic.

With Steampunk, there’s really a great opportunity to be creative and make amazing worlds ranging from gritty to opulent—which is why I like it so much. Its basis is 19th century in nature, but it’s also fiction so you can do incredible and imaginative things. The variety of Steampunk stories is only limited by the imaginations of those who write them.

Let the adventures begin.

Suzanne Lazear’s young adult Steampunk dark fairytale, Innocent Darkness Book 1 of The Aether Chronicles, will be released from Flux in August of 2012. Visit her website at www.suzannelazear.com. She’s also part of the Steampunk group blog Steamed!

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.

Debut December Giveaway: Catching Jordan & Reunited

This giveaway is over.

Both Hilary Graham and Miranda Keneally, authors of super fabulous contemporary debuts, are giving away a copy of their book to one lucky reader! (Well, they're doing it separately. I just happened to, you know, pair them up for a mini prize pack.)

Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends.

Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3.

But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books.

Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show.

Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van know as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there.

But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

How To Win:
[mandatory] follow WORD using Google Follower (sidebar) or
[mandatory] follow WORD using the subscribe button (sidebar)
[mandatory] fill out the form below
[+2] post a Debut December button on your blog
[+1] Tweet/post/Facebook/Tumblr the link to the giveaway

Quick Recap:
[1] copy of Hilary Graham's Reunited up for grabs
[1] copy of Miranda Kenneally's Cathing Jordan up for grabs
[1] winner in the U.S. or Canada
ends on December 31 at midnight

Debut December: Upcoming Books (7)

I hope you all enjoyed Brave New Worlds week as much as I did! Now we're back to a general assortment of books, including some steampunk, some historical, some contemporary...


Butter
Author: Erin Lange
Release Date: Fall 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

A boy everyone calls “Butter” is about to make Scottsdale High history. He’s going to eat himself to death live on the Internet – and everyone will watch.

He announces his deadly plan to an army of peers and expects pity, insults or even indifference. Instead, he finds morbid encouragement. When that encouragement tips the scales into popularity, Butter has a reason to live. But if he doesn’t go through with his plan, he’ll lose everything.

How does Erin Lange summarize it?: "Christmas is over, and New Year's Eve is right around the corner. Most of us are planning where to party and who to kiss at Midnight. But one obese teenage boy is planning his own death. On New Year's Eve, a boy everyone calls Butter will eat himself to death live on the internet. At least, that's the plan. But this morbid suicide plot has earned Butter a few fans - maybe even a few friends. Now he wants to live, but if he doesn't go through with his plan, he could lose everything. He has a decision to make, and the countdown to Midnight is already ticking away..."


Innocent Darkness
Author: Suzanne Lazear
Release Date: 8 August 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

Wish. Love. Desire. Live.

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.

How does Suzanne Lazear summarize it?: "Hot. Steampunk. Fairies."






Cracked
Author: K.M. Walton
Release Date: 3 Janurary 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

Sometimes there's no easy way out.

Victor hates his life. He has no friends, gets beaten up at school, and his parents are always criticizing him. Tired of feeling miserable, Victor takes a bottle of his mother's sleeping pills—only to wake up in the hospital.

Bull is angry, and takes all of his rage out on Victor. That makes him feel better, at least a little. But it doesn't stop Bull's grandfather from getting drunk and hitting him. So Bull tries to defend himself with a loaded gun.

When Victor and Bull end up as roommates in the same psych ward, there's no way to escape each other or their problems. Which means things are going to get worse—much worse—before they get better…

How does K.M. Walton summarize it?: "Cracked is serious and touching, heartbreaking and hopeful. It tells the story of a bully and his victim in alternating points of view. I thought it would be interesting for readers to see the effects of bullying from both sides. I taught middle school for ten years and I never encountered a bully who didn’t have his/her own junk to deal with. That anger and rage has to stem from somewhere."


Crewel
Author: Gennifer Albin
Release Date: 16 October 2012

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Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

How does Gennifer Albin summarize it?: "Crewel is really a mish-mash of things I love: Old Hollywood, exotic cuisine, smoke and mirrors, and plenty of kissing. Adelice, the 16 year-old heroine, is entirely her own person in a society that tries to choose everything for women, so it's a world that you both want to live in and escape from, and I hope readers will love it as much as I do."





The Wicked & The Just
Author: J. Anderson Coats
Release Date: 17 April 2012

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Cecily longs to return to her beloved Edgeley Hall, where her father was lord of the manor. But now he has completely ruined her life. He is moving them to Caernarvon, in occupied Wales, where he can get a place for almost nothing, since the king needs good strong Englishmen to keep down the vicious Welshmen. At least Cecily will get to be the lady of the house at last—if all goes well.

Gwenhwyfar knows all about that house. Once she dreamed of being the lady there herself, until the English came and destroyed the lives of everyone she knows. Now Gwenhwyfar must wait hand and foot on this bratty English girl who has taken what should have been hers.

While Cecily struggles to find her place amongst the snobby English landowners, Gwenhwyfar struggles just to survive. And meanwhile the Welsh are not as conquered as they seem. Outside the city walls of Caernarvon, tensions are rising ever higher—until finally they must reach the breaking point.

Fun fact about this cover: It's one of Nicole's favorite covers of all of the debut novels - she loves silhouettes!

Debut December Guest Post: Susan Dennard (Something Strange and Deadly)

For this guest post, I had no idea what to write about...so Nicole suggested I write what I know. Sadly, I don’t know much. My education is so absurdly specific, that it literally has no universal appeal.

Don’t believe me?

Um, okay. Here are the two things I am well-versed in: fish and writing.

Oh, you say, but those two things are so different. Surely that makes for an interesting tale.

No, it doesn’t. They are merely two very separate things I have done in my life. Like, if we made a Venn Diagram, it’d look like this:

Since neither of these subjects are of any interest to the average person (trust me: I have seen more glazed-over eyes than you can even conceive of), I thought I’d talk about something I don’ t know much about at all…

And that is: the zombie apocalypse.

I KNOW—you did not see that topic coming, did you? Well, my friend, you should learn to think faster because otherwise, you’re gonna be zombie food.

Admittedly, I don’t know much about surviving the zombie apocalypse… yet, but I WILL know (when it hits, of course). I’m gathering supplies on a regular basis. My pantry looks something like this:

And my attic:

And my poor husband isn’t allowed to throw out any nonperishable foods…

“NO!” I cry. “We will need that three-year-old single piece of uncooked lasagna when the zombies come!”

Needless to say, he doesn’t understand. But you see, he hasn’t obsessively read books like Max Brooks’s World War Z, Ilsa Bick’s Ashes, Carrie Ryan’s Forest of Hands and Teeth. Nor does he stay up late watching The Walking Dead or I Am Legend…or playing far too many hours of Resident Evil.

My point is, I think I actually might know what I'm talking about (kinda? sorta?). And as such, I’ve come up with 5 things the world will need when the zombie virus hits.*

*Note: not all of these items have been invented yet. I AM SO GONNA MAKE THEM. And then we can add a third, unrelated circle to the Venn Diagram: INVENTOR.

5 INDISPENSABLE LIFE-SAVING GADGETS FOR THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE:

1. An axe with water purification handle: One end is for ZOMBIE DEATH (the sharp end) while the other end lets you make that foul sewage safe for afternoon tea.
2. Zombie-seeking, night-vision goggles: Don't let darkness creep up on you! Keep these goggles on, and you'll be safe the whole night through. (Laser beam add-on not included.)
3. L'eau des Morts: Gotta make a quick trip outside? A spritz of this perfume, and you'll be masked from zombie senses...just make sure you're back to a fortified location within ten minutes.
4. Screamers: Need a distraction? Gotta make a run for it? Throw one of these fist-sized alarms (complete with delayed detonation!), and you'll have every zombie in a quarter-mile radius shuffling full-speed to the sound.
5. Really, really, really good sneakers: Look, you're probably gonna be running--like, a lot. The worst thing you could do is injure your knee or develop shin-splints due to poor arch support or low quality tread. Invest in some good sneakers, and those rotting piles of corpse won't stand a chance.

So what about you?

What do you have prepared for the zombie apocalypse? And, what are your favorite zombie books/movies/games? (It's for research, people, research.)

Debut December Guest Post: Erica from The Book Cellar

Debut December, what an exciting month! Each year, starting in summer I already am getting excited for the next year’s debut books coming out. I love reading debuts, as there is just such charm about them. Each year, I also feel I get more and more excited for the next year’s debuts. This year is definitely one of those cases, as 2012 is a year for quite a few debut fantasies! Fantasy is just about my favorite genre – so 2012 shall be a good year. I wanted to talk about some of the fantasy debuts I am most excited for next year that haven't already been featured!


Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: This fantasy that is inspired by Tsarist Russia, how cool is that? Getting past that, everything about this one sounds brilliant. It looks like there’s drama, a quest, intrigue, and so much at stake! I can’t wait for this one.

Alina Starkov doesn’t expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, all she’s ever been able to rely on is her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they’ve been sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. She is torn from everything she knows and whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes that she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the Sun Summoner. Only her power can destroy the Fold. Overwhelmed by luxury, envied as the Darkling’s favorite, Alina struggles to keep her wits about her without Mal by her side. But nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her mastery of her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha—and the secrets of her heart.

Above by Leah Bobet: This is one of my most highly anticipated books of 2012 in general. It is fantasy with what sounds like a hint of dystopian edge, all mixed with some mystery. Plus, have you seen the cover? How gorgeous!

Matthew has loved Ariel from the moment he found her in the tunnels, her bee's wings falling away. They live in Safe, an underground refuge for those fleeing the city Above--like Whisper, who speaks to ghosts, and Jack Flash, who can shoot lightning from his fingers.

But one terrifying night, an old enemy invades Safe with an army of shadows, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends escape Above. As Matthew unravels the mystery of Safe's history and the shadows' attack, he realizes he must find a way to remake his home--not just for himself, but for Ariel, who needs him more than ever before.

Shadows Cast by Stars by Catherine Knutsson: This book sounds so intriguing to me. It sounds so unique and different, and like Above, sounds to have a dystopian edge to the world of fantasy. I am curious to see how the storyline will play out.

Two hundred years from now, blood has become the most valuable commodity on the planet - especially the blood of aboriginal peoples, for it contains antibodies that protect them from the plague that is ravaging the rest of the world.

Sixteen-year-old Cassandra Mercredi might be immune to the plague, but that doesn't mean she's safe. Government forces are searching for those of aboriginal heritage to harvest their blood. When a search threatens Cass and her family, they flee to the Island, a mysterious and idyllic territory protected by the Band, a group of guerilla warriors, and by an enigmatic energy barrier that keeps outsiders out and the spirit world in. And though the village healer has taken Cass under her wing, and the tribal leader's son into his heart, the spirit world is angry, and it has chosen Cass to be its voice and instrument...

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks: This is another one of my most highly anticipated books for the new year. I love books with mermaids, and it sounds like this one takes quite an original take on the issue. Add in the beautiful cover, and it sounds like we have a winner!

Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange – is it attraction? – and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of – a human who can communicate with fish.

What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either – and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings.

This is only the beginning of fantasies coming out next year! If you love fantasy too, make sure to check out the 2012 MG/YA Fantasy Challenge! All the information can be found on this page here. It is going to be a fun year of fantasy.

Debut December: Upcoming Books (6)

How are you liking Brave New Worlds week, hmm?


Glitch
Author: Heather Anastasiu
Release Date: 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

Seventeen-year-old Zoe Gray is a cybernetically-enhanced teenager living in an underground society when her internal hardware begins to malfunction. She slowly realizes that her body is changing, that she’s developing powerful telekinesis, and that she’s not alone. Even though getting caught could mean reprogramming, or worse, deactivation, Zoe begins to seek out other glitchers in society, including a dreamer named Adrian who can see the future, a boy named Max who can mimic others' appearances, and a girl named Molly with x-ray vision. They work together to plan their escape, but soon learn there is another powerful faction at work whose ambitions could threaten all their carefully laid plans.

Unraveling
Author: Elizabeth Norris
Release Date: April 24 2012

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Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, Janelle knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her reincarnation, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI-agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

The Glimpse
Author: Claire Merle
Release Date: June 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

In a near future mental illness has skyrocketed out of control, and society is divided by genetic testing into those who will become ill—the Crazies—and those who won’t—the Pures.

Seventeen-year-old Ana Barber has been mistakenly raised in the community with the Pures. Really she’s a Sleeper which means one day she’ll go psycho, or schizo, or suicidal like her mum. When the authorities discover the truth, there’s only one thing standing between her and banishment to the city and that’s her romance with Jasper Taurell. Jasper, a rich boy from an influential family, wants to be with her despite her genetic defects. If she joins with him before she turns eighteen, she’ll be allowed to stay with the Pures until her illness manifests. But four weeks before their big day, Jasper disappears.

How does Claire Merle describe it?: "Raised on lies. Torn by love. Running from her destiny. But 17-year-old Ana can't run away from herself. And as she searches for her betrothed in the crazy City beyond the walls of her home, she finds far more than she bargained for. Like a wooden puppet in a fairy tale, the strange, dark place brings her to life and teaches her to love like she's never loved before."



What ones are you looking forward to, hmm?

Debut December: Fantastical Fantasy Covers

What, you didn't think I was going to last all of Debut December without being a cover whore at least once, did you?

Brave New Worlds week is the PERFECT week for me to go gaga over some of next year's covers. Though not all the debuts have covers yet (but boy, am I excited to see some of them), I can still go flailworthy over some of the gorgeous covers we have so far!



Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Maybe it's because I'm a dork who is absolutely obsessed with masks, but gah! I love this one so much! There's something very striking about the model they chose - she has very strong features; it draws you in. The mask is oh-my-god-gorgeous. I want it as a mask of my own. (I'd find something to match it, I swear.)

I'm not a big fan of the font and the placement of the title, but I think that's just because I love the background image too much to really think about how it should actually look!




Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

I like how this cover is dark, but it doesn't play on the "sad girl in pretty dress" syndrome that's seemingly everywhere. Instead, she's in a dynamic pose, seemingly in control of the surroundings around her - and it's mostly a silhouette, with just the hint of lighting; the focus is on the background, where the lightning is flashing down.

I love the simplicity of the font for the title on this one; it fits really well in with everything!



Article 5 by Krisen Simmons

Anybody who knows me knows I adore Tor and all of their covers because they always tie into the story - ninety nine percent of the time, it's an actual scene from the story itself. And besides that, they're gorgeous.

And Article 5 seems to be no exception, which makes me ridiculously happy. Besides, look at how they incorporated the title! It's awesome!




Above by Leah Bobet

I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it.

It's perfect. The fonts, the colors, the model, the wings, the silhouetted town. Definitely my favorite cover of all of the debuts, and the one I want most as a poster.



What do you guys think, HMM?

Debut December: Upcoming Books (5)

Did you enjoy that interview with Jodi Meadows? She was fun to talk to, that's for sure.

And now, here are some more super awesome sci-fi and fantasy books you have to look forward to!


Through To You
Author: Emily Hainsworth
Release Date: 20 November 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

Seventeen-year-old Camden Pike is grieving for his dead girlfriend until he discovers she's still alive in a parallel reality. The only problem is, she’s hiding some very dangerous secrets that have life-or-death repercussions in both worlds.

How does Emily Hainsworth summarize it?: "Through To You is a book about choices and it addresses a concept many of us wonder about. Would my life be different if I had turned left instead of right? Would I be a different person if I'd made another choice?"




Struck
Author: Jennifer Bosworth
Release Date: 8 May 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities, populated by millions of homeless. Downtown is a wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the attendees drawn to the destruction by a magnetic force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power in the wake of the disaster, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing prophecies. They know she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the worse storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but he’s hiding a more sinister truth. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must unleash the full horror of her strength to save them all.

How does Jennifer Bosworth summarize it?: "Struck is an apocalypse sandwich. The bread is the earthquake that destroyed Los Angeles, and a worse earthquake that the fanatical prophet of The Church of Light predicts is yet to come. The meat, cheese, condiments, etc are a teenage girl addicted to lightning, not one but two creepy doomsday cults, an enigmatic love interest who has, to quote the book 'the kind of hair you want to touch without permission,' and a traveling rave called 'the Rove' that moves to a different abandoned building in destroyed downtown LA every night. The finale will leave you electrified. That's a promise."


The Other Side
Author: Susannne Winnacker
Release Date: 1 May 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life. 98,409,602 seconds since the heavy, steel door had fallen shut and sealed us off from the world

Sherry has lived with her family in a sealed bunker since things went wrong up above. But when they run out of food, Sherry and her dad must venture outside. There they find a world of devastation, desolation...and the Weepers: savage, mutant killers.

When Sherry's dad is snatched, she joins forces with gorgeous but troubled Joshua - an Avenger, determined to destroy the Weepers.

But can Sherry keep her family and Joshua safe, when his desire for vengeance threatens them all?

How does Susanne Winnacker summarize it?: "In The Other Life the apocalyptic events haven’t happened decades or centuries ago. Sherry was in a bunker with her family while everything changed outside and when she's forced to leave, she is thrust into a world she knows nothing of. She and the reader discover it together, have to learn about the dangers, brave them together. Sherry doesn’t have an advantage over the reader – they’re in this adventure together."


Are you as excited as I am for all three of these titles?

Debut December Interview: Jodi Meadows (Incarnate)

Jodi Meadows is a member of the Brave New Worlds group and is an absolutely lovely human being who happens to own many ferrets. Her upcoming novel Incarnate, being released by HarperCollins in January, was featured on December 18 - but hey, it's silly not to give you all the summary again!

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Nicole: Welcome to WORD and Debut December, Jodi! What's it like being an Apocalypsie?
Jodi Meadows: Being an Apocalypsie is awesome! It's wonderful, having so many other writers in the same place. It's a support group and a cheer squad all in one.

N: Wanna know what else is awesome? The fact that you have a room in your house just for your pet ferrets. Are any named after book characters?
JM: At one point, I had seven ferrets. (I. Know.) So they really needed their own room. I moved my computer into the ferret room so I could hang out with them (they sleep a lot, so they're only occasionally distracting).

The ferrets have been named for many things. A couple were after towns, one was named after my mother-in-law, and other names just came to us. We've had Don Diego de la Vega (Zorro!), Bobby (after Bobby from SUPERNATURAL), Todd (a wraith from STARGATE: ATLANTIS), and Kaylee (from FIREFLY). We also had a Simon, but he wasn't named after Simon from FIREFLY.

N: Oh, I love FIREFLY! Do any ferrets pop up in Incarnate?
JM: Sort of! During the masquerade, someone dresses up like a ferret. And Ana mentions a bunch of weasels playing in the brush at one point.

N: Speaking of Incarnate, can we talk about that gorgeous cover!? Or maybe I'm biased. I do love mask-like things.
JM: Ohh yes. I love masks too. I love the prettiness, the symbolism, the prettiness... oh, I mentioned that already.

I could not be more thrilled that the art department went with the mask for the cover of Incarnate. It's perfect!

N: here are dragons in Incarnate. I love dragons. Please tell me the dragons aren't evil?
JM: I suppose the dragons' alignment depends on your perspective, huh? I, for one, LOVE the dragons.

N: Dragons are always good to me. Even when they're the 'bad guys', I'm rooting for them.

How did you come up with the specifics of the reincarnation system in Incarnate? Wouldn't it be difficult for a Newsoul to fall in love with a... um... Soul, given the life difference?
JM; I knew from the start I wanted to write about a world where everyone was reincarnated, except for one person, so before I started the story, I sat down and made a ton of notes about what life in that society might be like. I tried to imagine how they'd behave, feel toward one another, whether or not they could LEAVE (and risk being reborn to someone they didn't like!?), and how issues like crime and murder might be affected. I mean, they can kill someone and get in trouble, but the victim would just come back. It'd be more of an annoyance than anything!

So I started with things like that, and moved on to how it would be for someone new to fit into all of that. People get scared when their routine breaks, and when Ana was born, another soul didn't come back. Fear + grief = trouble for Our Heroine.

N: Would you like to live in Heart?
JM: No way! Some of the walls have heartbeats. That's totally creepy.

N: Speaking of hearts, it's near the holidays - what gift do you want the most?!
JM: I want people to buy my book! And I want a pony. (One of those things will be easier.)

Debut December Giveaway: Shadow's Edge

This giveaway is over.

Remember the super spiffy list of features yesterday? Remember the last one on the list by Maureen Lipinski?

Well, if you don't, here's a quick refresher on the summary of her debut novel, Shadow's Edge.

Sixteen-year-old Leah Spencer didn't mind being a natural-born Shaman to the Créatúir. Until she broke Rule #1 and traveled to the Other Realm, where she quickly lost time. Like, a whole year of time. She missed out on everything—holidays, school, her sixteenth birthday, the boyfriend who ditched her. So Leah swore to leave all things magical behind her and lead the life of a normal high school girl.

But when a mysterious dark force starts offing the Créatúir, both Light and Dark, Leah must choose between her new life and "getting all CSI" on the Other Realm murder spree. With the help of her three sisters (each with their own magical gift), and three gorgeous guys—who may or may not be part of the evil magic—Leah must vanquish an ancient dark force that is connected to her family in unimaginable ways.

Sounds awesome in a high-fantasy kind of way, right?

Well, the lovely people over at Flux have been kind enough to donate two finished copies of the book for one of two of you lovely followers! Yes, you can WIN this lovely debut!

All you have to do is...

How To Win:
[mandatory] follow WORD using Google Follower (sidebar) or
[mandatory] follow WORD using the subscribe button (sidebar)
[mandatory] fill out the form below
[+2] post a Debut December button on your blog
[+1] Tweet/post/Facebook/Tumblr the link to the giveaway

Quick Recap:
[2] copies of Shadow's Edge by Maureen Lipinski up for grabs
[2] winners in the U.S. or Canada
ends on December 31 at midnight

Debut December: Upcoming Books (4) & Brave New Worlds

Welcome to Brave New Worlds week!
I know, you're confused. You thought this month was about the Apocalypsies! The super awesome debut authors and their shiny new books! Don't worry, it is.

The Brave New Worlds group is one division of the Apocalypsies - except instead of being contemporary and historical and paranormal, they're entirely made up of fantasy and sci-fi books.

Why, yes, this IS what heaven looks like, folks!

Here's the first handful of what you have to look forward to next year in those realms!


Article 5
Author: Kristen Simmons
Release Date: 14 February 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested don’t usually come back.

17-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. That life in the United States used to be different.

In the three years since the war ended, Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And what’s worse, one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

How does Kristen Simmons summarize it?: "In the three years since the war ended, Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs—like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes—and how to pass the random home inspections by the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes by Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved. It's from my jacket copy. I'm not so good at being concise!"



Level Two
Author: Lenore Appelhans
Release Date: Fall 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

In Level Two, the liminal place between our world (Level One) and heaven, Felicia spends her days reliving her memories from the security of her pod—until she gets broken out by Julian, a boy she met on Earth.

How does Lenore Appelhans summarize it?: "I had the original spark of the idea for Level 2 back around 7-8 years ago after an argument with my grandmother. I thought about an afterlife system that would reward and justify my particular choices in life. It was the ultimate "revenge" fantasy. I went to Pompeii in June 2010 with my friend/critique partner Ann and had a epiphany in the shower - what if a dystopia existed in the afterlife? We went out to dinner and the details of the story flowed out of me over a fabulous tuna and onion pizza. Ann asked me a ton of great questions and I wrote the first scene that night!"


Incarnate
Author: Jodi Meadows
Release Date: 31 January 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

How does Jodi Meadows summarize it?: "Incarnate! Made with music, mitts, and masquerades."





Shadow's Edge
Author: Maureen Lipinski
Release Date: 8 January 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

Sixteen-year-old Leah Spencer didn't mind being a natural-born Shaman to the Créatúir. Until she broke Rule #1 and traveled to the Other Realm, where she quickly lost time. Like, a whole year of time. She missed out on everything—holidays, school, her sixteenth birthday, the boyfriend who ditched her. So Leah swore to leave all things magical behind her and lead the life of a normal high school girl.

But when a mysterious dark force starts offing the Créatúir, both Light and Dark, Leah must choose between her new life and "getting all CSI" on the Other Realm murder spree. With the help of her three sisters (each with their own magical gift), and three gorgeous guys—who may or may not be part of the evil magic—Leah must vanquish an ancient dark force that is connected to her family in unimaginable ways.

A note on Shadow's Edge: Though Maureen isn't an 'official' member of the Brave New Worlds group, her books Is fantasy - so how could I not include it? Especially with a title like the Shaman involved.


Stormdancer
Author: Jay Kristoff
Release Date: 2012

Add it on Goodreads!

A DYING LAND
The Shima Isles are verging on the brink of environmental collapse; decimated by clockwork industrialization and the omnipotent mechanoids of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, land choked with toxic pollution, wildlife ravaged by mass extinctions.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima's imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary beast, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows thunder tigers have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a hidden gift that would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

How does Jay Kristoff summarize it?: "In a land ravaged by mechanization and deadly pollution, sixteen year old Yukiko saves the life of the last griffin in existence. With her father accused of treason and the country edging closer to environmental catastrophe, the pair must overcome their differences and rise to challenge the might of a clockwork empire.

And if THAT sounds difficult, let me assure you it's not as difficult as summing up Stormdancer in a couple of sentences. So, I've included visual aids to help everybody out..."






Any other sci-fi and fantasy fans being awesome and excited for these!? I know after Jay Kristoff's fantastic pie chart, I'm definitley excited for Stormdancer...