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Weekly Roundup (4) + Book Haul! (vlog)
WINNING!
It’s been two weeks since my last vlog. Two wonderful weeks of #winning!!
THANK You to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the review copies received this week. Also a HUGE thank you to Lisa Burstein, Elizabeth Richards, Diana Peterfreund, Gina Damico, Susanne Winnacker, HarperTeen, YA Books Central, Sourcebooks Fire, IceyBooks, Penguin USA and Colleen Houck for all the items won/gifted! Whew!
Blog Links Mentioned in this Video:
- Pretty Amy Blog Tour: Review + Interview + Giveaway
- Book Review: Angel Eyes Blog Tour
- Waiting on Wednesday: Days of Blood and Starlight
- Book Review: Creatura
- Make it a Movie Monday (15) Crewel Buzz Tour + Giveaway!
- Coming Soon: June 2012
- Tiger’s Curse Author Event Coverage + Giveaway!
Books Mentioned:
For Review:
Scorch by Gina Damico (ARC)
The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle (ARC)
The Suburban Strange by Nathan Kotecki (ARC)
Blind Spot by Laura Ellen (ARC)
Sons of the 613 by Michael Rubens (ARC)
Purchased:
Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein (Paperback)
Won:
The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker (Signed)
Tiger’s Voyage by Colleen Houck (UK Version, Signed)
Die for Me by Amy Plum (Paperback)
Until I Die by Amy Plum (ARC)
The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington
+ LOTS of Swag!
Bloggers Mentioned in this Post:
Hafsah from IceyBooks and YA Books Central
Make it a Movie Monday (14) First Comes Love
This meme is a way to discuss the books that have made their way to film, or to talk about the books we wish would be made into a movie. You are open to talk about any book out there in any way that you want. For example: Who would you have play the leads in the movie? Who would direct? Animated or live action? Etc. For more info about how to include your own Make it a Movie Monday (MiaMM) on your blog, click here.
This week my meme will focus on First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky. I am having a blast creating my favorite book couples here on the blog, and my pairing for the lead characters in First Comes Love is no exception. Even if you have not yet read the book, or haven’t even considered it yet, perhaps the couple below will convince you otherwise.
(Psst! I’ve interviewed the author and am giving away an ARC of First Comes Love here!)
First Comes Love
By Katie Kacvinsky
May 8, 2012
Ages 14 and up
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Reviewed: ARC (from publisher)
Author’s Website
Hardcover | Kindle
Like his name, Gray is dark and stormy. Dylan, a girl always searching for what’s next, seemingly unable to settle down, is the exact opposite: full of light and life. On the outside, they seem like an unlikely couple. But looks can be deceiving and besides, opposites attract.
What starts as friendship, turns into admiration, respect and caring, until finally these two lone souls find they are truly in love with each other.
But staying in love is not as easy as falling in love. If Dylan and Gray want their love to last, they’re going to have to work at it. And learn that sometimes love means having to say you’re sorry.
Jenna’s First Comes Love Dream Couple:
Gray – Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, King Kong, The Adventures of Tintin)
Jamie Bell is not the most handsome man, but neither, I think, is Gray. He is an English actor with a great talent. I think he could pull of the dark and brooding character who slowly but sure falls in love with Dylan’s sparkling personality quite well. I’d love to see him in a baseball cap with his ears sticking out. That would be a sight!
Dylan – Zooey Deschanel (Bridge to Terabithia, New Girl)
I don’t care how old Zooey is (she’s 32) – she is the ideal “real-life” example of the quirky attitude and the adorable look that I envision Dylan would possess. Plus, if you have ever seen her in the new FOX TV series, New Girl, you would probably agree that she could easily pull off a young, college-aged character. Zooey is certainly what I envisioned when reading about Dylan.
Thanks for reading my MAKE IT A MOVIE MONDAY!
Let me know in the comments below what you think of my pairing above!
Enter to Win an ARC of First Comes Love!
First Comes Love: Interview + Love in Bloom Giveaway!
This week, Making the Grade is taking part in the Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop. As part of the Hop, we are giving away an ARC of First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky. In addition, we have an exclusive interview with Katie Kacvinsky right here on the blog for you to enjoy! To view the interview and to enter for your chance to win the giveaway please continue reading below:
This hop ends on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at midnight.
First Comes Love
By Katie Kacvinsky
May 8, 2012
Ages 14 and up
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Reviewed: ARC (from publisher)
Author’s Website
Hardcover | Kindle
Like his name, Gray is dark and stormy. Dylan, a girl always searching for what’s next, seemingly unable to settle down, is the exact opposite: full of light and life. On the outside, they seem like an unlikely couple. But looks can be deceiving and besides, opposites attract.
What starts as friendship, turns into admiration, respect and caring, until finally these two lone souls find they are truly in love with each other.
But staying in love is not as easy as falling in love. If Dylan and Gray want their love to last, they’re going to have to work at it. And learn that sometimes love means having to say you’re sorry.
THE INTERVIEW:
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m a loner, but I’m also a people person. I’ve lived all over the place (my record is moving nine times in two years). I love people watching. I love doing random things, like wearing a prom dress to go grocery shopping. I like to keep people guessing.
Wow, sounds a lot like my life! What do you do when you’re not writing? (For fun, that is!)
When I’m not writing or reading or daydreaming, I’m usually outside. I live in Oregon, close to the coast, and close to rainforests and amazing hiking trails. It’s a great place for loners because there are so many desolate spots to explore.
I also love sports. I’m a diehard NCAA basketball fan and an NFL fan, and in the summers I love going to minor league baseball games. Every morning my husband and I listen to sports talk radio. I was on the crew team in college, and I played sports growing up, so I have a huge respect for athletes and how hard they work to succeed.
What are you currently reading?
I just started Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Regarding First Comes Love: Are there any events in the book that you yourself have experienced?
Not really any specific events, but I have experienced how frustrating it is to fall in love with somebody when you know timing is going to get in the way. Since I’ve moved around so much, most of my relationships ended because of distance (not because I stopped caring). At some point, you need to say, “Okay, this guy is amazing and I’m not going to let him go.” At some point you need to work to make a relationship last.
Which character do you find that you relate to more, Gray or Dylan or both? And why?
I relate to both of them equally; I can understand where each of them is coming from because I’ve been in both of their shoes.
What was your favorite chapter (or part of the book) to write and why? (Spoiler free, of course!)
I loved writing about Gray and Dylan’s “first time.” I especially loved writing it from the male perspective; I was cracking myself up the entire time. A lot of writers skip around the sex or just “infer” that it happens, maybe to avoid criticism, or because it’s simply awkward to write about, but I couldn’t do that in this book. I treated it as honestly and emotionally as I could.
If there is ONE THING you would like readers to know about First Comes Love, what would it be?
It’s a story about a relationship, pure and simple. If you’re looking for post apocalyptic zombie invasions, this is not the book for you.
Can you reveal anything about your next book, Middle Ground (the sequel to Awaken)? *eye wink*
I’m so excited for Middle Ground. It’s darker than Awaken, but I think it’s more psychologically interesting, and I think the changes Maddie and Justin are forced to work through will make their characters really fun to write in the third (and final) book of the series.
Do you believe in “love at first sight”?
I would have to say no. I believe in “lust at first sight” (I’ve experienced that one many times) and I think you can instantly click with people, but love is trickier. You need to understand a person’s weaknesses as well as their strengths, you need to accept their flaws, you need to go though some hard times together to really love and appreciate them, and that takes time.
Chocolate or vanilla?
Mmm, both please.
Pepsi or Coke?
Neither. I’m a full out coffee girl.
Tom or Jerry?
Tom. He never gives up, even if Jerry plugs his tail into an electric outlet.
Is there anything more you would like to say to fans?
If you’re my fan, then I pretty much love you and I would love to pick you up and spin you around in circles. I once tweeted that writers need readers like fish need water. You keep us floating. So, if you’re my fan, then, THANK YOU.
Oh, one last thing, I am mailing people free autographed bookplates if they buy First Comes Love during the month of May (or if they preordered it before May). To find out how to get one, visit my blog post.
Thank you for visiting Making the Grade, Katie!
Enter to Win an ARC of First Comes Love!
This giveaway is OVER. Congratulations to Ashley Evans, who won the ARC of First Comes Love! You have been emailed. Please respond to the email within 72 hours or a new winner will be selected. Thank you to all who entered and commented below!
Making the Grade 