Paperback Release Giveaway: Who R U Really? by Margo Kelly

Today we are excited to be celebrating the Paperback Release of the Young Adult Thriller: WHO R U REALLY? by Margo Kelly

Nearly a year has passed since WHO R U REALLY? by Margo Kelly came out in hardback, and now, Merit Press (the YA imprint of F+W Media) is publishing a paperback version of the young adult thriller! Its official release date is September 4, 2015, and to celebrate, we’re giving away FIVE signed paperback copies! For a chance to win one, simply follow the steps below in the Rafflecopter.

Here are a few of the exciting things that have happened since WHO R U REALLY? debuted as a hardback:

Won 1st Place in the YA Category for the Idaho Author Award

The Department of Homeland Security took notice:

DHS invited Margo to partner with the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign, which is the global cyber security awareness campaign to help people stay safer and more secure online.

Librarians have applauded the story:

“This book is sure to spark a dialogue between parents and teens as well as tell an appealing cautionary tale to a younger audience and would be a good addition to any middle school, high school, or public library.” The Idaho Librarian

“With all the different trending social media out there, this book is intriguing because the story centers around a naive yet strong-willed girl who falls into the trap of an internet predator. … You will definitely want to read this book to find out what happens!” The Dallas Public Library

Industry experts have had positive things to say:

"This tense thriller offers useful lessons." --The Horn Book Guide

"Based on actual events, the story should be required reading for all teens." --VOYA Magazine

"Kelly shows us just how terrifying, dangerous and unknown the world of online gaming can be--especially for a young teen.... The book is well-written and the story believable and engaging...I strongly recommend this book." --The Idaho Statesman

Who R U Really?
by Margo Kelly
Publisher: Merit Press
Release Date: September 18th 2014


Synopsis:

When Thea discovers a new role-playing game online, she falls under the spell of Kit, an older boy whose smarts and savvy can’t defeat his loneliness and near-suicidal despair. As Kit draws soft-hearted Thea into his drama, she creates a full plate of cover stories for her parents and then even her friends. Ripped from a true-life story, Who R U Really? willscare you as Thea’s life spins out of her control.

Margo Kelly is a native of the Northwest and currently resides in Idaho. A veteran public speaker, Margo is now actively pursuing her love of writing. Who R U Really? is her debut novel, published by Merit Press. The Department of Homeland Security has partnered with Margo to promote online safety. Margo welcomes opportunities to speak to youth groups, library groups, and book clubs. For more information, visit her website: www.margokelly.net

Win (1) of (5) signed paperbacks of Who R U Really? (US only)

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Release Day Blitz: Who I'm Becoming (FireNine Series #4) by Shanora Williams

Who I'm Becoming (FireNine #4)

by Shanora Williams

Release Date: August 15th, 2014

Synopsis:

Montana Delray is the most laid back of the popular rock band, FireNine. He’s goofy, charming, blatantly honest, talented, a massive flirt, and extremely handsome. The girls literally throw themselves at him, and he accepts it. He loves the attention. The fame. The parties. His single life.

With so many women to choose from, it’s not in his nature to chase after just one, but when Lauren Harkin enters his life, that all changes. 

Lauren is smart, sexy, confident, and knows exactly how to get under his skin… and although he hates to admit it, he loves it. He wants her in every way possible, but she doesn’t want anything to do with him. Famous FireNine rocker, Delray isn’t the kind of guy Lauren needs to bring into her life. After having her emotions tampered with repeatedly, she refuses to give into someone who will most likely take her for granted and make things worse.

But with much effort and some sexual manipulation, Montana and Lauren come to an agreement neither of them can resist. As their fling carries on, though, everything intensifies, and once they realize it true fear sets in. 

Soon they come to the realization that they care for one another more than intended, and they both know caring for someone other than themselves means opening their hearts. 

The reality they face with each other is totally unexpected and becomes their biggest fear… and neither of them is ready for it.

WHO I'M BECOMING

by S. Q. Williams

I pressed the button to my floor and it opened several seconds later. Silence crept between us but it wasn’t an uncomfortable one. It was sort of… nice. After taking nearly decades to find the hotel key in my pockets, I stuffed it into the lock of the door and stumbled inside, laughing at my own idiocy.

She followed in behind me, and I flipped the light switch. A dim light illuminated above her head and she smiled. “Well… you’re here,” she breathed.

“I am,” I said.

“Do you… need anything?”

“Nope…”I paused. “Well maybe just for you to stay.”

She let out a girlish giggle. “Montana, you know I can’t stay.”

“Why not?” I asked, stepping in.

She dared a step as well, angling her head and locking eyes with me. Bringing her hand up, she ran it across my cheek and a faint smile appeared on her lips. “Because it would be wrong of me to sleep with you.”

My dick pulsed. Her voice was smooth and seductive. It was sexy as hell with that accent. “Why would it be wrong?”

“It’s a long story. Just know it would be.”

“Don’t beat around the bush, Princess.”

She smirked. “I’m not. Maybe when you’re sober…”

I laughed, throwing my head back. “I guess that’s never then.”

“Well, then I guess we’ll never have that experience, huh?” She was teasing the hell out of me. Her voice. Her body... so warm and close. Fuck.

What made it worse was how she turned around and walked away, swinging her plump ass in those tight blue jeans. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Big show, right?”

“Yes,” I whispered. I couldn’t stop staring.

“Good…”She opened the door.

“Wait,” I called before she could make it out.

She lifted both brows, glancing over her shoulder. “Yeah?”

I walked towards her, licking my lips. “Tell me your name. I need to know it.”

She lowered her head, biting a smile. “If I tell you my name will you take it easy for the rest of the night?”

“I will… for you, Princess.”

She paused, batting her mascaraed eyelashes while running her eyes up and down the length of my body. Her smoky eyes then met mine, she stepped back, and a warm hand pressed against my chest. She stood on the toes of her high-heels and whispered, “Lauren Harkin. Don’t forget it,” she murmured. “Because if you do, I won’t tell you my name again… you’ll just have to suffer with not knowing the name of the woman that, in every way, intrigues you.”

My eyes stretched.

And she smirked.

And it was right there, in that moment, when she had me. It was in that moment when I realized I had to have her. I had to get her up under me. I had to dick her down at least once. She was begging for it, and my body wasn’t denying it. I wanted her and I wanted her something serious.

 

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author Shanora Williams considers herself a wondrous, down-to-earth author who’s all about romance, paranormal, and the historical fiction. Coffee and Oreos are her addiction. Reading is a necessity. Whenever she isn’t writing or reading, she’s most likely spending her time with family and loved ones, or watching hit TV series’ on Netflix.

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Interview with Skylar Dorset

The Girl Who Never Was (Otherworld #1)
by Skylar Dorset
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: June 1st 2014

Synopsis:

THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS is the story of Selkie Stewart, who thinks she’s a totally normal teenager growing up in Boston. Sure, her father is in an insane asylum, her mother left her on his doorstep—literally—when she was a baby, and she’s being raised by two ancient aunts who spend their time hunting gnomes in their Beacon Hill townhouse. But other than that her life is totally normal! She’s got an adventurous best friend who’s always got her back and an unrequited crush on an older boy named Ben. Just like any other teenager, right?

When Selkie goes in search of the mother she’s never known, she gets more than she bargained for. It turns out that her mother is faerie royalty, which would make Selkie a faerie princess—except for the part where her father is an ogre, which makes her only half of anything. Even more confusing, there’s a prophecy that Selkie is going to destroy the tyrannical Seelie Court, which is why her mother actually wants to kill her. Selkie has been kept hidden all her life by her adoring aunts, with the help of a Salem wizard named Will. And Ben. Because the boy she thinks she’s in love with turns out to be a faerie whose enchantment has kept her alive, but also kept her in the dark about her own life.

Now, with enchantments dissolved and prophecies swinging into action, Selkie finds herself on a series of mad quests to save the people she’s always loved and a life she’s learning to love. But in a supernatural world of increasingly complex alliances and distressingly complicated deceptions, it’s so hard to know who to trust. Does her mother really wish to kill her? Would Will sacrifice her for the sake of the prophecy? And does Ben really love her or is it all an elaborate ruse? In order to survive, Selkie realizes that the key is learning—and accepting—who she really is.

Click here to learn more about the Otherworld

THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS is about a girl who thinks she’s totally normal but finds out she’s half-faerie-princess, half-ogre, and that she’s destined to lead a coup d’etat to overthrow her evil mother. Her life gets pretty complicated pretty quickly, as you might imagine.

Selkie is a Boston teenager who feels young and old all at once. She is smart and capable and determined, but she doesn’t see herself that way at all and considers herself to be flailing about without a goal. But I think that’s the best thing about Selkie: Even when she’s confused and feeling overwhelmed, she just keeps on going. She gets a lot of crazy stuff thrown at her and she never feels like she has any idea what she’s doing, but she also never lets that stop her from doing *something.* And all while keeping a wry and self-deprecating sense of humor to boot!

The opening image of Selkie’s story, about a man walking in to find a strange woman asleep on his couch, came to me in a dream. Eventually, I figured out that this was the story of Selkie’s parents, and that I wanted to write about Selkie herself. I didn’t do *specific* research, but her story was influenced by the city I was living in at the time. Every little odd Bostonian quirk somehow found its way into Selkie’s story. Every time I learned a new little fact about New England history, it was fun to work its way into the story I was telling.

I think the most difficult part of the book to write was the ending. I wanted to get it just right. There are a lot of swirling emotions and also important plot points all at the same time, and I wanted to hit that balance. My favorite part of the book to write would be a spoiler to tell all of you but suffice it to say it involves cuddling in the rain. ;-)

I think they need to know that it’s a truly awful place that has terrified all of the supernatural creatures in the kingdom with a cruel and capricious rule. Also, it’s a place that dislikes remembering and forces you to forget. And to realize how bad that is, all you have to do is think of your favorite memory and think of having it taken away from you.

I stayed up all night writing the climactic scenes of the book, and I still couldn’t sleep even when I was done and ended up giving up and just sitting in bed, re-reading what I’d written.

The Otherworld is populated mainly by faeries, ogres, gnomes, and goblins. If I had to be one, I admit I’d probably be a goblin, because they like to cause mischief and have fun.

Never trust a faerie!

I actually listened to one album over and over and over again while I was writing the book, and it was Andrew Belle’s The Ladder. I highly recommend discovering it if you haven’t already. The one song I think describes the whole story the best is “Oh My Stars” from that album:

Oh, my my

Oh, my stars

Everything we see is ours

Or it could be

If you would try

I wish you would

I wish you might

Oh, if everything you’ve said to me’s been true

Then all my stars are leading me to you

It’s been magical! Which is probably a clichéd way to describe having a fantasy book published, but it’s so apt. Sometimes I feel like it’s all happening to someone else, or like it’s just another story I’ve written in my head, how wonderfully this has all turned out. J

BE STILL MY HEART on the big screen thing. But casting is always the hardest question from me because I’m always like, “Who’s that girl who’s in the thing? It would be her.” But here’s what I think currently:

Can I get Claire Holt (from “The Vampire Dairies” and “The Originals”) to play Selkie with an American accent? And Torrance Coombs (Bash from “Reign”) to play Ben.

I can tell you that it’s AWESOME. Does that count?

I can also tell you that it involves lots of new characters and all of the old ones, kisses and quarrels, subways and bells. And a spangly silver-and-black coat.

The key to happiness is finding a tea or coffee beverage that is readily available to you at all times.

Skylar’s first story was a tale of romantic intrigue involving two feuding factions of squirrels. Think “Romeo & Juliet” but with bushy tails and added espionage. She was seven.

Since that time, Skylar’s head has been filled with lots of characters and lots of drama. She is delighted to be able to share some of it with all of you now, because, honestly, it was getting pretty loud and crowded in there.

Skylar is a born-and-bred New Englander, which is why Boston was a natural setting for her debut novel, THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS. Skylar shares her home with a cardboard cutout of the Tenth Doctor, lots of Mardi Gras beads from the time she spent living in New Orleans, and a harp she’s supposed to be teaching herself to play. She’d like to get a dog.