Blog announcement 5/5/14

Hey everyone!

You're probably wondering what this "announcement" post is about. No, I am not stopping blogging--I love books, authors, this community, and you so much to do it--if that's what you're thinking. But I just wanted to inform you, my lovely readers, that I will be on a month-long blogging hiatus, starting today.

I know I've been having hiatus for the past several months, but I hope this would be the last one. I will be preparing for my board exams that will happen in May 24th and 25th and I wanted to concentrate in studying. I won't be reading any books for this month and won't be writing and posting any reviews, memes, giveaways, or feature post except the pre-scheduled posts and blog tour I previously signed up on. (You can also see a note above regarding this.)

I will see--or, write--you all on the last week of May, just in time for my second blog anniversary (May 27th). Can you imagine how time flies?! It's been TWO YEARS! And as usual, I have giveaway(s) for you. :)

Expect a jam-packed June and July for my summer reads and review, and two book signing events! For now, enjoy my previous posts and ongoing giveaways (Plus One tour, Camp Payback release party, then soon: Camp Payback tour giveaway).


Let me also take this opportunity to share Celebrating Debutantes 2014 news!
If you're a YA/NA/MG debut author of 2014 and want to join us in this fun event, please SIGN UP HERE. If you're a bookworm like me and you already have 2014 debut favorites or anticipated debut authors, feel free tell them about this event and make them sign up as well. If you're both, feel free to spread the form to all debut authors!

Learn more about Celebrating Debutantes here.

Oh, and one thing you're free to grab and share, Celebrating Debutantes 2014 banner and button!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://michelletheescapist.blogspot.com/p/celebrating-debutantes.html" title="Celebrating Debutantes 2014"><img src="http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt52/chimHEARTdanger/CD2014button1_zps50916474.jpg" alt="Celebrating Debutantes 2014" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

And for the upcoming second blog anniversary!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.michelletheescapist.blogspot.com/" title="The Escapist"><img src="http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt52/chimHEARTdanger/2ndbutton-Copy_zps6541100f.jpg" alt="The Escapist" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

That's all for now. See you all on May 27th! ♥♥♥






Love,

What's Cool? Tahereh Mafi, Ransom Riggs, and Veronica Rossi book signing!

What's Cool? is an anytime meme where I feature all the Cool stuff I got
(mostly books and swag), Cool events, and blog announcements! 

Last Saturday, April 26th 2014, bookworms unite again for a huge and exciting signing event hosted by National Bookstore. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Shatter Me series, Tahereh Mafi, and her husband Ransom Riggs, author of New York Times bestseller, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children came back to Manila for second-time book signing together with another New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Veronica Rossi--author of Under The Never Sky trilogy.

*You can click the photos to enlarge them.

So my original plan was to arrive at the venue by 8 am (registration starts at 10) because I heard there are lots of people by that time on the last signing event I've been to. But I have to take care of my four-year old sister and then there was traffic so I arrived by 10. Here's what it looked like when I arrived:

Right side view.

Left side view.

I KNOW, RIGHT? CRAZY.

I also heard the early birds arrived by 2 am or earlier than that. I mean, crazier. O_O
But at least these early birds got awarded and been sent to the stage to meet, take a picture, and hug the authors. Lucky, lucky birds.

So I arrived 10 am and guess what number I am? 525! It was really crazy. Later on when the venue got more crowded, I saw someone holding a ticket with number 1,200+. After I saw her number, I thank God I'm at least half a thousand earlier than her.

My books that are waiting to be signed.

(I have already got Shatter Me and Unravel Me signed last year. I haven't read Ransom Rigg's books.)

When the time got nearer, the crowd got more anxious and more excited to the point that they went wild when someone turned on the mic and say, "mic test." LOL The same thing happened several times and I am telling you, everyone was waiting like a town is waiting for a rain after years of nothing. I feel like I'm on a concert. Especially when they came out.

Screams, jumping, cheering, clapping, banners, and cameras. Everyone went wild. Including me, of course. And the authors are obviously awed that they took their cameras and took a photo/video of the crowd. It was just sad I can't see my face there because I'm at the back and I have to jump to see the stage. :3

Look at Tahereh's arm on Ransom's back. SWEET!

And because I'm at the back and then they seem to have a problem with their mic and the sound of speaker couldn't quite reach where I was and everyone's excited and so happy, I couldn't hear what they're saying *cries out of frustration* even if I strained. The. Best. That. I. Could. Do. I wished then that I have Aria's (Under The Never Sky main character) ability so I could hear them even without effort.

Oooh but here's a bit that I heard.

I learned by then (JUST THEN) that Tahereh and Ransom are married. It shocked me big time.

Last year, when they first visited Manila for a book signing event, I thought they were married. And then someone said to me on Twitter that they're just friends and I think she also said/I read somewhere that one of them is married. So just imagine my face when everyone's teasing them last Saturday especially when Ransom kissed Tahereh when the crowd chanted it. I just assumed they were sort of an author love-team. 

The same day I learned that they're actually married since September 2013 and it also proved how much I've been living under the rock for the past year. I couldn't believe I missed this news. :O

While everyone's kinikilig, the interviewer was asking Tahereh how was it having a husband that is also a writer (or something like that. I told you I can barely hear them). Tahereh's like (not her actual words, but almost what she meant), "It was actually lovely. You know, having to work with someone you love." *crowd: awww* while *she looked at him dreamily* "I love his books. I was so excited while he's writing [Hollow City] and everyday I would ask him, 'Did you write new words today? Can I read them?'"

Tahereh also said that they're writing side-by-side. And I feel like I could hear every fan sigh including.. *coughs* me. Seriously, if we can, we'd melt into puddle right there.

The signing starts so me and my friend ate and wandered around the mall while waiting for our number.
Check out this view from a floor above.

When we came back, I was talking to a girl when my friend called my attention saying the person in front of us in our line earlier was already at the stage. I freaked out and we ran at the line. I was afraid we wouldn't get our books signed and meet the authors. Thank God they still let us in.

Here's my convo with Veronica Rossi:

Me: Hi. Welcome to the Philippines!
Veronica: I'm sorry, I didn't heard...?
M: I said, welcome to the Philippines. 
V: Oh, thank you! I thought you said, "I finally saw my twin".
Me: *laughs*
V: You know, coz we're like twins..
*and then she's talking and I don't know what I'm doing because I'm already fangirling XD*
AND THEN I ASKED FOR A HUG!
Me: I love your books. 
V: You do? Thank you!
Me: Yeah, I blog about them too.
V: Oh so you're a blogger?
Me: Yeah.
V: I should have known--so that's why I liked you instantly! I automatically like bloggers. 
Me: I like you, too.
*done signing my books*
Me: Thank you!
V: Thank you too. Nice meeting you, twin!
Me: *laughs* Nice to meet you too!

--- Longest conversation ever with an author, not to mention they're doing it [signing] fast because there are still hundreds of people! Veronica is just so nice and lovely and so talkative. (Haha) Love her too much!

Me with my twin. Uh, I mean, Veronica Rossi.

Me with Tahereh Mafi. I also hugged her!

(Excuse my haggard face. Oh, because you know, I've been fighting with heat and exhaustion for 12 hours already. XD)


CHECK OUT MY SIGNED BOOKS!

Thank you so, so much to the wonderful authors we met--Tahereh Mafi, Ransom Riggs, and Veronica Rossi! I'm looking forward in reading more from you (this is the time where I beg Tahhereh to write more of Warner. PLEASE???) and meet you again. Huge thanks also to National Bookstore for bringing us awesome authors. Can't wait to meet more! ;)

The day might be so hot and tiring, but it was worth it. 


*All photos are taken by me.

***

Have you been into this signing? Or at any signing? Met authors somewhere lately?

Share your Cool stories (or links) below! :)

Blog Tour (Review + Giveaway): Plus One by Elizabeth Fama

Welcome! We're on the second day of Plus One blog tour by Elizabeth Fama

hosted by Oops! I Read A Book Again Tours. Check out my review below!

Full tour schedule here.

Plus One

by Elizabeth Fama

Genre: YA, dystopian, sci-fi, romance

Published April 8th 2014 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository

Local purchase: National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):

Divided by day and night and on the run from authorities, star-crossed young lovers unearth a sinister conspiracy in this compelling romantic thriller.

Seventeen-year-old Soleil Le Coeur is a Smudge—a night dweller prohibited by law from going out during the day. When she fakes an injury in order to get access to and kidnap her newborn niece—a day dweller, or Ray—she sets in motion a fast-paced adventure that will bring her into conflict with the powerful lawmakers who order her world, and draw her together with the boy she was destined to fall in love with, but who is also a Ray.

Set in a vivid alternate reality and peopled with complex, deeply human characters on both sides of the day-night divide, Plus One is a brilliantly imagined drama of individual liberty and civil rights, and a fast-paced romantic adventure story.

My Thoughts:

I was instantly captured by Plus One's cover, and the blurb didn't failed to impress me as well. There are lots of YA books now and still to come and I'm looking for something that I never heard of--something new. And when I saw Plus One, I think this might be it.

At first, I was completely lost because I couldn't get into Sol's character/head (or is that me and my stressed mind? LOL). But after a little patience, I dived in to her shoes and understand her situation and their world. I understand her need to kidnap her brother's baby so that Poppu--their grandfather--can at least hold her (he's blind) before he dies, but it didn't stopped me from thinking it was a reckless idea.

I loved the idea of dividing people into Day and Night. I never read a book with the same concept before and this differentiates Plus One from other books. The technology was also a really good thing in this book. The characters are easy to adore. Poppu wasn't much into the scene but since Sol always talked about him, my heart learned to love and wept for him as well.

The story about the "desk partner" isn't new to me since it was similar to Faking Normal except they're drawing (and sometimes write) here, instead of only writing. That desk story alone is a big give away of who's who and what will happen next--but it didn't stopped me from loving the romance. It was really sweet and wonderful because it wasn't an insta-love, there wasn't a love triangle, and the story didn't revolve around them despite on what you might think on the cover. The love story was simple but adorable, so cute, and so not irritating. I feel like it was too soon to say the L word, though.

What I didn't expected was this kidnapping thing goes on until the end of the book. It was like where the story revolved around. And one more baby and a fake one. Although the main issue is political, I didn't felt it because of the drama and babies. I wished their world was emphasized more since it was the highlight of the book but at the same time, I'm glad it didn't turned out like other dystopian novels.

Plus One has it all: moving story, likable characters, adorable romance, adventure, fresh concept, and even beautiful, beautiful writing. It was my first time to read a book from Elizabeth Fama and I'm impressed. If you're interested in all these, then this book is for you.

*Thank you so much Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), Netgalley, and Dianne of Oops! I Read A Book Again for this opportunity and review ecopy!

Rating:

About the Author
Elizabeth Fama is the author of Plus One (FSG, 2014), Monstrous Beauty (FSG, 2012), a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection and Odyssey Award honor winner, and Overboard (Cricket Books, 2002), an ALA Best Books for Young Adults. She is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger, Inc.

Find her: Website * Twitter * Tumblr

GIVEAWAY!

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Book Feature + Guest Post + Giveaway: Camp Payback by J.K Rock

Hey y'all! Today we're celebrating the release day of Camp Payback by J.K Rock!

Camp Payback is the second book from Camp Boyfriend companion series.

Check out the book and the giveaway below!

Camp Payback

(Camp Boyfriend #2)

by J.K Rock

Published April 29th 2014 by Spencer Hill Press (THAT'S TODAY!)

Blurb (Goodreads):

Alex has big plans for camp this year, starting with making it the best summer ever. Having fun and breaking some rules will get her the payback she wants against her parents and her ex-boyfriend. Because of his disgusting texts, she's headed to a super strict all-girls school in the fall. Then she meets Javier and revenge doesn't seem nearly as important as getting to know the troubled loner determined to keep a low profile at camp. But Alex's trouble-magnet personality and Javier's need to stay in the background don't mix nearly as well as their irresistible chemistry. With her home life eroding under her feet and her last year of summer camp speeding to a close, Alex wants to make her mark on the world and squeeze every bit of fun out of her time with Javier. Too bad her old plans for revenge turn back on her just in time to ruin everything. Will she lose Javier too?

Guest post

Alex’s Makeover Blog Post

By J.K. Rock

In Camp Payback, one of our heroine’s biggest challenges is learning how to deal with her parents’ blog, “Wholesome Home” on parenting. Alex has been the poster child for “what not to do” too many times, and this summer, she’s had enough.

For example, before she goes to camp, she needs to do TV appearance with her family and her mom chooses her clothes to be super conservative. And she’s never had makeup. Ever. Well, at least not that she can wear around her hometown. Thankfully, at camp, all bets are off on her look and she can do what she wants. So when her father asks her to submit a blot post feature on the Wholesome Home blog about dressing appropriately as a teen, you can imagine she would struggle with what to say…

Dressing Appropriately

Thanks, Dad, for giving me a chance to voice my opinions on the Wholesome Home blog! I’ve learned a lot from you and mom about dressing appropriately and I’m happy to share what I know.

First, it’s important to dress according to who you are and not who other people want you to be. If jeans and boots are your thing, you shouldn’t force yourself into dresses and sweater sets to please other people. Your clothes say a lot about you, so they should be honest. Doesn’t Wholesome Home suggest honesty is the best policy, after all?

Next, I take a lesson from my father’s teachings about frugality. Don’t buy new when used will do! So when my t-shirts start to get too short on me, I fringe the hem and make a cute midriff baring top. Or if a stain on a shirt is too obvious, I get out my Bedazzler and use the rhinestones to create an appropriate message. “Girl Power” is a can’t-miss phrase that mom and dad will have to approve, and it totally works for me.

For more thrifty shopping, I believe in the Army-Navy store. Someone else’s castoffs might be your go-to wardrobe items. Combat boots are always a good deal here, and they are so practical for snow. Another practical purchase is a leather jacket will keep you warm for years to come. At 75% off the original price, you won’t find a better deal. Finally, a word about makeup. This is one area where I might have to disagree with my father just a teeny bit (sorry, Dad!) as he doesn’t approve of putting anything on a clean face. But I’ve also been taught to hide my flaws whenever possible, so doesn’t concealer just make sense? I leave that one open for debate!

**

To read more about how Alex lets her hair down when she’s away from home, check out Camp Payback and the rest of the books in the Camp Boyfriend series!

Learn more at http://www.jkrock.net or http://www.campboyfriend.net Order Camp Payback in print or ebook at http://amzn.to/1fHPv9m (Amazon) or http://bit.ly/1nW6nh5 (Barnes and Nobles) and follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jkrock or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/JoanneRock6 and http://www.twitter.com/karenrock5

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About the Author:

J. K. Rock is the pseudonym for YA writing partners - and sisters-in-law- Joanne & Karen Rock. Although they started out sharing an annual shopping trip, they ended up discussing their favorite films and books, joining the same book club and talking about writing... a lot. Their debut novel, Camp Boyfriend, is the first in a three-book series plotted during family pool parties. Their creative partnership is unique in that they enjoy passing a book back and forth, each adding a chapter and fine-tuning the chapter before. Years of friendship has yielded a shared voice and vision for their work that makes writing a pleasure. 

Website * Goodreads * Tumblr * Pinterest * Google + * You Tube *Facebook

GIVEAWAY!

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Check out my reviews for Camp Boyfriend and Camp Payback for a blog tour on May!

This release day promotion is hosted by:

WWW Wednesdays (62) / Waiting on Wednesday (62): Snow Like Ashes

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

This would be my last Wednesday [meme] post for now. I will be on a one month blogging hiatus starting next week because I'll be preparing for board exams. Wish me luck!

Currently Reading:

Plus One by Elizabeth Fama for a blog tour. I wouldn't read a book as well for one month except the blog tours I previously signed up on.

Finished Reading:

Been a wonderful week with these lovelies! Boys Don't Knit by T.S Easton (review here), This Girl by Colleen Hoover (review on May 20th), and Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi (review on April 26th).

Read Next:

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on.

Snow Likes Ashes

(Snow Life Ashes #1)

Expected publication: October 14th 2014 by Balzer + Bray

Blurb (Goodreads):

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

I'm into this book the first time I saw it. I'm so excited to read this!

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How's your reading been? Share yours below!

P.S My giveaway of 5 ecopies of Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen is still ongoing!

(Click on the photo)