WeHo Fun! Part 1 of 4

In this first post I want to thank the whole reason I was able to be an interviewer as the West Hollywood Book Fair! Her name is Leigh Purtill (or C. Leigh Purtill on her books). Months ago I got an email from her asking me if I was up for interviewing on a stage at the book fair. The people person in me went "HELL YES" and the deep down Ashley went "OH MY GOD. That means people will be watching me. Uh...". Of course there was no way I was turning down this opportunity though, so off I was.

When we got to L.A. I was so nervous. It was almost to the point that I needed some anxiety medicine but I was trying to beat my fear unmedicated! As soon as I met Leigh I knew it would all be okay! She was so sweet and it really calmed my nerves.

I feel so lucky to have got the chance to meet her. Her personality really shone through and I am now ecstatic to read her books! So I just wanted to take a minute and say, THANK YOU Leigh!

West Hollywood Book Fair

Today is the day of the West Hollywood Book Fair. I will be there and if your in the area you should come too!

9th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair
Sunday, September 26, 2010

10AM to 6PM

West Hollywood Park
647 N. San Vicente Blvd.

FREE Parking at the Pacific Design Center at 8687 Melrose Ave.

Here is the site: http://www.westhollywoodbookfair.org/?page_id=1824

WeHO and Disneyland

Today I start my journey (about 16 driving hours) to West Hollywood to interview Alexa Young, Allison Burnett and Jay Asher. I will also be visiting Disneyland again while down there! So in honor of my Disney trip I want to know what your favorite ride is at Disneyland or California Adventures????

WeHo Bookfair

I think I mentioned a few months ago that I was asked to be an interviewer at the West Hollywood Book Fair. When asked who I wanted to interview I chose Alexa Young, Jay Asher, and Allison Burnett. I am super excited and currently working on some interview questions. So if any of you have any questions you want answered comment away. The other exciting thing about the Book Fair is that Molly Ringwald is gonna be there. I WANNA MEET HER :) Anyways, just wanted to let you know that Next Friday I leave for the fair AND DISNEYLAND until the following Wednesday. I will try to have posts set through then.

A Question for all...

I feel like I am in a reading slump and I want an awesome book. Those of you who read my reviews know what kind of book I like sooooo..... Recommend away, please :)

Back Home

I fly into Oregon late tonight (like 11:30). Cant wait to read all of the comments and emails you guys have left me! I will try to get back to you by Sunday at the very latest if you emailed me!

Texas!!!

Just wanted to let you all know I am in Texas until the 10th. There will still be posts, because I worked hard to get them done in advance so please keep reading and commenting. If you are in the Austin or San Antonio area please email me with the subject TEXAS if you want to meet up for lunch or coffee. This includes bloggers, fans and authors :)

If you MUST get a hold of me email me with URGENT in the subject.

All other emails will only get answered IF I end up with some free time.

Why I didnt blog yesterday...

Hey guys... Since you all are use to me blogging almost every day I wanted to let you know why there was no review yesterday or today. My grandpa passed away of old age/bladder cancer yesterday morning at 2 am. He has been on hospice for two months and things have progressively got worse for him. So I needed some time but I will be back in the review and blogging business tomorrow. For those of you who already knew and have sent your support you are much appreciated.

Working with books?

So I just needed to share some exciting news with you guys!

I got a job and today is my first day.

Where will I be working, you ask?

Just this little place... called THE LIBRARY!

Reviews? Oh My!

A lovely author friend (who is mentioned on this list) forwarded this email to me. It listed the top 20 best reviewed YA books for the first quarter of 2010! I thought I'd let you know which one's I've had the chance to review and what they were rated on the list! Congrats authors!!!

#1 Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder (I have met her a few times and she is lovely!!!! Congrats Lisa)

#6 The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor

#14 By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

#17 In A Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

#18 Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison

#20 Firespell by Chloe Neill

Bloggers

Today I thought I would offer some advice to bloggers based on what I have been seeing a lot of in new bloggers these days.

1) If you have under 50 followers your primary goal should be reviewing books you have and getting more followers. This is not the time to start hounding publishers for ARC's.

2) If someone gets and ARC before you (even if you were promised a copy) calm down. There is no need to flip out. A lot of the publisher's I have talked to send based on merit. It is more important for the bloggers with a bigger following to get a copy of the book than the person who has 20 followers. I myself dont have as many followers as some and I just feel grateful for every book I get.

3) If you want a book ask the publisher. Authors get tired of request after request AND they only get a limited supply of books. The difference would be if you know an author personally.

4) If you are confused ASK! Us older bloggers (I've been blogging for 2 years) are not scary. We love answering your questions and sharing the love of reading. If you need help please contact us!

Anyways that's all I wanted to say for now :) LOVE YOU ALL!

If you have any questions comment or email me at princessashley9@gmail.com

Important News

If you want to be a writer check these out:

SPRING & SUMMER CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP INFO - SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Saturday April 24th from 2-5 pm - Creative Writing Workshop for Teens at Cornerstone Bookstore in Salem, MA

Geared for teens, 13+, students will work to develop, nurture, and improve their writing craft in a fun and supportive group. We will work on such literary devices as setting, character, voice, point-of-view, dialogue, and plot. We will discuss how closely these devices are linked in creating believable stories. We will learn from other writers by examining their styles through excerpts. We will also practice these styles through group and individual exercises. Students are encouraged to be creative and ready to try new things.

Please bring a notebook and pen. The cost for this workshop is $75. Scholarships are available for those with financial need. To apply for a scholarship, please submit a typed explanation, in 300 words or less, as to why you would like to take this course. Submit this writing sample to Cornerstone Books, Salem, MA, along with your name, telephone number, and e-mail address by April 15. Please note: the scholarship will cover the full cost of the course. For more information: http://www.cornerstonebooks-salem.com/events/

4-Day Creative Writing Workshop for Tweens at the Spirit of 76 Bookstore in Marblehead, MA

Dates: July 13, 15, 20, and 22
Time: 4-5:45pm
Cost $200

Geared for 9-12 year olds, students will work to develop, nurture, and improve their writing craft in a fun and supportive group. We will work on such literary devices as setting, character, and plot. We will discuss how closely these devices are linked in creating believable stories. We will learn from other writers by examining their style through excerpts. We will also practice these styles through group and individual exercises. Students are encouraged to be creative and ready to try new things. Please bring a notebook and pen.

Scholarships are available for those with financial need. To apply for a scholarship, please submit a typed explanation, in 300 words or less, as to why you would like to take this course. Submit this writing sample to The Spirit of 76 Bookstore, 107 Pleasant St., Marblehead, MA 01945, along with your name, telephone number, and e-mail address by June 15th, 2010. Please note: the scholarship will cover the full cost of the course.

4-Day Creative Writing Workshop for Teens at the Spirit of 76 Bookstore in Marblehead, MA

Dates: July 13, 15, 20, and 22
Time: 6-7:45pm
Cost $200

Geared for teens, 13+, students will work to develop, nurture, and improve their writing craft in a fun and supportive group. We will work on such literary devices as setting, character, voice, point-of-view, dialogue, and plot. We will discuss how closely these devices are linked in creating believable stories. We will learn from other writers by examining their styles through excerpts. We will also practice these styles through group and individual exercises. Students are encouraged to be creative and ready to try new things. Please bring a notebook and pen.

Scholarships are available for those with financial need. To apply for a scholarship, please submit a typed explanation, in 300 words or less, as to why you would like to take this course. Submit this writing sample to The Spirit of 76 Bookstore, 107 Pleasant St., Marblehead, MA 01945, along with your name, telephone number, and e-mail address by June 15th, 2010. Please note: the scholarship will cover the full cost of the course.

For more information: http://hugobookstores.com/category/events/event-spirit

The instructor: Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of several popular young adult novels, including Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, Project 17, Bleed, and the bestselling Blue is for Nightmares series, which has sold well over 500,000 copies worldwide. Stolarz's titles have been named on numerous award lists, including the Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers list, the Top Ten Teen Pick list, and YALSA's Popular Paperback list, all through the American Library Association. She is currently working on the Deadly Little Games, the third book in the Touch series, as well as Do You See, the third book in The Amanda Project. For more information, visit Laurie's website at www.lauriestolarz.com.

Important News from an author

Angela Morrison has told me that you can now buy Beth's Song on Itunes.

For those of you who devoured Sing Me to Sleep, she has now posted an epilogue to her site. This was cut in the editing process but her daughter encouraged her to bring it back. Check it out!

Exciting News!

I got an exciting email I wanted to share!!! Here it is.

Dear Ashley,

My name is Carrie Gellin and I work at Sourcebooks, Inc., publisher of Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens: A Reading Journal for Young Adult Book Lovers by Rachelle Rogers Knight. (www.bibliobabe.com).

Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens offers more than 2,400 award-winning and notable reading suggestions in many genres, cross-referenced to help parents and teens chose the right books for them. This unique journal sold out its first print run, attracting readers with recommended lists of fiction, manga, historical fiction, romance, westerns, crime novels, and poetry, as well as nonfiction sections focusing on biography and autobiographies.

Congratulations! Books Make Great Lovers is featured in Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens. It is listed in the Resources section under “Young Adult Literature Blogs.”

If you would like to let your website visitors to know about this exciting news, feel free to post about it on your site or in your newsletter. The links to the book are below if you want to post these. Also, please contact me to receive a complimentary copy of the book.

You can encourage your visitors to check out Rachelle’s website.

Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.

Again, congratulations and thank you for being a part of this great project!

Best,
Carrie

Young Writters Conference

You can now register for The 2010 Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Conference!

This year's conference will be held June 14-June 18, 2010, and promises to be an exciting week. Our new venue in Sandy, UT, is large and full of light. And we're working with the wonderful bookstore
The King's English! As usual, we have an amazing, award-winning faculty, too.

Our faculty includes:
Rick Walton and Cheri Earl--who will team-teach the Beginning Class www.rickwalton.com
Bonny Becker--who will teach a Picture Book class www.bonnybecker.com
Kristyn Crow--who will teach a Picture Book class www.kristyncrow.com
Mike Knudson--who will teach a Chapter Book class www.mikeknudson.com
Kevin Hawkes--who will teach the Illustration Class www.kevinhawkes.com
Emily Wing Smith--who will teach the Beginning Novel Class www.emilywingsmith.com
Ann Dee Ellis--who will teach the Contemporary Novel Class www.anndeeellis.com
Alane Ferguson--who will teach an Intermediate/Advanced Novel Class www.alaneferguson.com
Sara Zarr--who will teach an Intermediate/Advanced Novel Class www.sarazarr.com
Brandon Mull--who will teach a Fantasy Class www.brandonmull.com
Dave Wolverton (Dave Farland)--who will teach a Fantasy Class www.davidfarland.net

Editors and Agent:
Jennifer Hunt from Little, Brown
Kate Angelella from Simon and Schuster
Mary Kole from Andrea Brown Agency

Thursday Afternoon Presenter:
Mary E Pearson (The Miles Between, The Admiration of Jenna Fox, A Room on Lorelei Street, Scribbler of Dreams, David v. God)
www.marypearson.com


If you can't spend the whole day with us, look into attending the afternoon sessions.
Additional speakers will include Will Terry, Guy Francis, Ally Condie, Jennifer Grillone, Kirk Shaw, Matthew Kirby, Sydney Salter

For more information, and to register, please go to www.foryoungreaders.com

Some Important Info

Hey guys! I wanted you to know a bit that's going on in my life in case I miss a few posts these next few weeks. I am a sophomore in advanced math and this year it got super hard for me! I have finals coming up so I need to study my butt off for Algebra 2 and Chem. I am a more abstract thinker, not what happens when I mix blank with blank.

Also I need to do well because next year I will be going to the community college. I will finish all of High School in that one year and move on to college the next! It'll be tough but I'm done with High School.

Anyways wish me luck these next few weeks... AND as I turn 16 on January 11th :)

Silver Phoenix

Hey guys! I am currently in a contest that involves getting the word out there about Cindy Pon's new release!

No one wanted Ai Ling. And deep down she is relieved—despite the dishonor she has brought upon her family—to be unbetrothed and free, not some stranger's subservient bride banished to the inner quarters.
But now, something is after her. Something terrifying—a force she cannot comprehend. And as pieces of the puzzle start to fit together, Ai Ling begins to understand that her journey to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams isn't only a quest to find her beloved father but a venture with stakes larger than she could have imagined.
Bravery, intelligence, the will to fight and fight hard . . . she will need all of these things. Just as she will need the new and mysterious power growing within her. She will also need help.
It is Chen Yong who finds her partly submerged and barely breathing at the edge of a deep lake. There is something of unspeakable evil trying to drag her under. On a quest of his own, Chen Yong offers that help . . . and perhaps more.

I know you all wanna read it now :) Also, do me a favor and add her on FB. If you do let me know. Her FB is http://www.facebook.com/cindy.pon?ref=name

Woo Hoo

Today is the start of my garage sale and I'm selling about 80 million books so wish me luck. I no longer have room on my bookshelves so I had to do some serious cleaning out :(

Ughhhh

So I am behind on reading. I promise to get some reviews to you this week but the past few days have beeen HECK. Sorry guys :(

Sorry

I have been horrible at posting this week. My computer went wacko and I had no desire to figure out how to blog. Starting tomorrow it'll get better. Thanks for hanging in there.

Remember to enter the follower contest