FFBC Tours: Welcome to the club, The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo by Drew Weing

The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo

by Drew Weing

Publisher: First Second 

Release Date: September 13th 2016

Genre: Comics, Graphic Novels, Paranormal, Horror, Children

Synopsis:

Charles just moved to Echo City, and some of his new neighbors give him the creeps. They sneak into his room, steal his toys, and occasionally, they try to eat him.

The place is teeming with monsters!

Lucky for Charles, Echo City has Margo Maloo, monster mediator. No matter who’s causing trouble, Margo knows exactly what to do—the neighborhood kids say monsters are afraid of her. It's a good thing, because Echo City's trolls, ogres, and ghosts all have one thing in common: they don't like Charles very much.

Follow the The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo by Drew Weing Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Drew Weing lives in Athens, GA with his wife, cartoonist Eleanor Davis, and too many cats. He makes comics for print and online, among which are the nautical graphic novel Set to Sea, the infinite canvas webcomic Pup, and the early reader comic Flop to the Top, which he co-authored with his wife.

Win a Graphic Novels Prize Pack: (US ONLY)

- Win a copy of THE CREEPY CASE FILES OF MARGO MALOO by Drew Weing

- Win a copy of BERA THE ONE-HEADED TROLL by Eric Orchard

- Win a copy of VARMINTS by Andy Hirsch

- Win a copy of FRIENDS IS FRIENDS by Greg Cook

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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)

[Ends 9/4]

a Rafflecoptergiveaway

Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible.

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Kissing in America by Margo Rabb

Kissing in America
by Margo Rabb
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 26th 2015
Rate: Enjoyed it (3,5 stars)

Synopsis:

I loved romances because when you opened the first page, you knew the story would end well. Your heart wouldn't be broken. I loved that security, that guaranteed love.

In real life, you never knew the ending. I hated that.

Sixteen-year-old Eva has never been in love. But when she meets Will, everything changes. With him, her grief over her father's death fades, and she can escape from her difficult relationship with her mother. Then, without any warning, Will picks up and moves to California. So Eva—with the help of her best friend, Annie—concocts a plan to travel across the country to see him again. As they leave New York City for the first time and road-trip across America, they encounter cowboys, kudzu, and tiny towns without stoplights. Along the way, Eva and Annie learn the truth about love and all its complexities.

Kissing in America is truly a heart-breaking story that will inspire you with every page and make you read a truly amazing teenage experience around America through Eva's point of view.

Let's start this review saying that the previous title Margo's book had, Cures for Heartbreak, was more accurate than the actual one. Kissing in America is not your book if you're looking for a summer romance with butterflies and rainbows and a very happily ever after. Kissing in America is Evie's story about believing in love even after she has all the reasons to just give up, to trying to survive to the loss of her father and being the only romantic person left in her house.

What I liked about the story was Annie. She's what I like to call a true teenager. She has problems, she falls in love, does impulsive things, talks and dreams about boys, has it's ups and downs with her mother... Like a said, a true teenager. Plus, she has a literary side that I truly loved. Her love for literature made me put post-its all over my ARC to remember where they were. 

The story starts a bit slow to my liking, but we had to understand Annie's surroundings, her situation and what Will meant to her. So I could pass it up. There are some way funny moments that made me laugh out loud, but the author had the ability to also combine heart-breaking and romantic moments. 

See an example:

I wanted to text my mom: I would shoot myself, but instead I'll go poison myself because Janet would find that a nice sanitary way to die.

"Let's just say it doesn't look like the most comfortable thing on the planet. Their penises are four feet long."
"I'm not planning on having sex with an elephant."

"The story was a fantasy, but the feelings were real, I thought as we got back on the bus. That yearning, the sparks, the enormity of love - I felt those exact things with Will."

"Grief isn't like a map you can follow. It's not a simple route with a destination. Sometimes you loop back and find yourself in the exact same place you left."

Overall, Kissing in America was a good read and it was a different read from all the romance stories I had been reading. Kissing in America was more about healing and discovering that you can survive a break up. That you can learn from your experiences and mistakes and that everything can happen. It was truly an adventure.

Maia Mitchell as Eva

Gregg Sulkin as Will

Ariel Winter as Annie

Winona Ryder as Eva's Mom

Tina Fey as Eva's Aunt

Follow the Kissing in America AUDIO TOUR that Epic Reads is hosting. You can win lots of prizes and hear excerpts from Margo Rabb's book. Click on the banner below to start following the AUDIO TOUR!

Follow the Kissing in America by Margo Rabb Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Margo Rabb's stories have been published in The Atlantic Monthly, Zoetrope: All Story, Seventeen, Best New American Voices, New Stories from the South, New England Review, One Story, and elsewhere, and have been broadcast on National Public Radio. She received grand prize in the Zoetrope short story contest, first prize in The Atlantic Monthly fiction contest, first prize in the American Fiction contest, and a PEN Syndicated Fiction Project Award. She grew up in Queens, New York, and now lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and two children. A complete list of her published work can be found here.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY for a chance to win a SOUVENIR from EACH CITY!

Rules & Conditions

ENTER NOW THE GIVEAWAY