Vampires Turn Me On

So sue Bite Me!

I honestly can't say what it is that I find sexy about vampires - whether it be their need for blood, their sharp teeth, or the fact that they are immortal, but I find that I can't help myself.  Vampires turn me on!  I think, with me, it has a lot to do with the eternal love aspect of the story.

Lately, it seems that all I want to read are paranormal books - especially when they are vampire-related.  I mean, all you have to do is tell me there's a vampire in there somewhere and you'll see that book tucked under my arm while on the way to the register.  It's that simple.  Is this happening to you?  Are you on the same paranormal craze that I'm in?

In honor of vampire week and my vampire fascination, I've come up with a list of my favorite vampires.  These are the guys that work it for me.  Tell me what you think.

My top 10 vampires in literature: 

10- Acheron Parthenopaeus (Sherrilyn Kenyon's Night-Hunter series)  - Ash is only on this list because he has fangs, but he is so much more than just a vampire.  Although he looks  like a tall, lanky gothic teen, you don't want to mess with this Atlantean God.  You'll find him in every Night-Hunter book as every Dark-Hunter's BFF and leader, but you know he's hiding something since he's always vague when answering any personal questions.  We finally get the full and undisclosed Ash in his book titled Acheron.

9- Mr. Darcy (Mr. Darcy, Vampyre; Vampire Darcy's Desire)  - He's Mr. Darcy do I really have to explain why he made the list, sheech 

8- Eric Sinclair (Betsy Taylor series, MaryJanice Davidson)  - Sink Lair, as Betsy likes to call him is the epitome of vampire-ness.  He's ancient, he's brooding, wealthy, gentlemanly and puts up with Betsy and all her shenanigans all while calling her "Mine Own".  Always brings a smile to my face.

7- Zhadist (Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward) - Out of all the men in the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Zhadist is the broken one - which, of course, makes him my favorite.  I have to say that this alone is what does it for me.  His book is the one I looked forward to the most.  The one I craved.  I couldn't wait for him to find his heroine - someone to love and support and bring him some type of happiness.  Yes, I have a thing for the messed up guys.

6- Lestat de Lioncourt (The Vampire Lestat, Anne Rice)  - I'm sure you've all (at least) heard of a movie called Interview with a Vampire - well shortly after watching this movie I picked up Lestat's book.  Although I found the book a bit wordy, Lestat's accounts of his life, his brethren, his love after life... well this is a book that although torn, with bent corners and dog-eared pages will always own a place in my bookshelf.

5- Vlad the Impaler (Bram Stoker's Dracula) - Although I must confess to never having read the book or seeing the movie, and he is a bit old-fashioned for my tastes, I feel it is only fair that he be on the list.  After all, he is the one who started it all.

4- Betsy Taylor (Besty Taylor Series, MaryJanice Davidson) - She's my girl vampire crush. After getting laid off, hit by a car and killed, she finds herself awake in a coffin wearing knock-off shoes.  That's just how her story starts... did I mention she's also the Queen of the Undead.   

3- Carpathian males (Christine Feehan's Dark Series) - I'm encompassing a whole group of men here only because I can't choose just one.  The very first paranormal romance I read was a Carpathian novel about 15 years ago.  The men in these books are fated to spend their lives without feelings, emotions or color... that is until they find their life mate.  My favorite thing of all the cool things they can do (from changing shapes to flying) is that they have telepathic connections with their partners.  But I do have to mention that they are not vampires, they are Carpathians.  In these books vampires are evil. 

2- Edward Cullen  (Twilight Saga, Stephenie Meyer) - I dig shiny vampires.  But aside from his sparkly-ness, I think his books might just be what got the whole vampire craze in motion.  He's sweet, brooding, gentlemanly, vegetarian (hmmm, that might not be the right word), even a bit stalkerish, but in the end, I still fell in love with him.

1- Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse novels, Charlaine Harris) - Good lord, if he were real and I had the opportunity, I would jump his bones.  He is arrogant, sarcastic, always has an ulterior motive, he's a Viking (for goodness sakes!), yet the soft spot that he holds for Sookie was what truly won me over. 

Runner-Up's:

Stefan Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries, L.J. Smith) - I think he is a bit too childish and I'm really not into the whole sibling rivalry thing

Bill Compton (Sookie Stackhouse, Charlaine Harris) - I liked him for like the first three books in the series... ugh

Lenah Beaudonte (Infinite Days, Rebecca Maizel) - She was a vampire... and then she wasn't anymore

Rhode (Infinite Days, Rebecca Maizel) - I won't say why he didn't make the list because of spoilers... but he was a heavy contender

Damen Auguste (The Immortals Series, Alyson Noel) - I thought he was a vampire for more than half of the book (Evermore), I was wrong.

Did your favorite vamp make my list?  If not, who is your favorite vampire? 

______________________________________________________

This is the last and final Trick or Treat for Books stop! To enter for your chance to win the Grand Prize, a goodie bag of books, fill out the form below:

Trick or Treat for Book Grand Prize Form

For more chances to win, visit these posts:

Oct 8: 25 Hour Books: post on ghosts

Oct 15: Geeky Blogger's Book Blog: post on graveyards

Oct 22: The Unread Reader: post on magic

Oct 29: All About {n}: post on vampires

Oct 31: Grand Prize Winner announced

Author Interview: Rebecca Maizel

Being vampire week and all around here, I thought it would be great if I interviewed the author of one of my favorite vampire books this year.  

Luckily for me, the very lovely Rebecca Maizel, author of Infinite Days, agreed.  I was so excited she agreed and after doing a little dance, these are questions I asked her:

How did you come up with the idea of a Vampire becoming human?
I connected to my main character, Lenah's voice.  it was so strong; and sinister and tragic.  I wanted to tap into that sorrow and darkness.  I wanted to bring this person, whoever she was back out to light.  It turned out that she was a vampire and thematically, it worked.  Every person out there has done something they aren't proud of.  And whatever that thing is, they have to live with it - forever.  That's Lenah but time about a million!  I just started writing one day and there she was with a motive, a purpose, and some really scary enemies.

Was it hard to create a character who readers can sympathize with, especially one who has been EVIL in the past?
It was hard.  I had to make sure that I showed Lenah in her every day life as a human with good intentions.  When I juxtaposed her evil past to her human life at Wickham Boarding School you're able to see that had Lenah been thinking with her right mind, her human mind, she might have made different choices. 

With so many men in Lena's life (whether they be friends, love interests, or mentors), how hard is ti to actually choose one, kill some off, etc.?  I know as a reader it hard to pick sides - I can only imagine how much harder is it for you as their creator.
Every man in Lenah's life has a purpose, every character in Infinite Days has a purpose and as a writer you need to make difficult decisions but ultimately you need to let the character and her motivations dictate the plot, if you do it the other way around it'll feel forced and uneven.  

Can you tell us anything about the sequel to Infinite Days?  Spoilers are accepted! ;)

I cannot tell you anything! Only that everything, absolutely everything is turned on its head! 

 

What does Halloween mean to you?  Any childhood memories you’re willing to share with us?
I have memories of pillowcases full of candy. I remember dividing up all the different kinds - making a pile for Butterfinger, a Hershey's pile, etc. I always had friends to walk through the neighborhood with - I had a great childhood, Halloween was always an important part of it. Every year on Halloween morning I would come down to eat and with breakfast would be a piece of chocolate shaped like a pumpkin or witch. My mom was great like that. 

This might be a dumb question (with you writing vampire books and all), but are you Team Vampire or Team Werewolf? 

Team Vampire, I gotta support my people!  

If you were able to go trick-or-treating with three authors or characters - who would they be, and what would y’all be dressed up as? 
Hmmm...

I'll pick characters.

Vicken - He'd be a T-Bird from Grease
Harry Potter - He'd be dressed as Nearly Headless Nick. I don't know why but that seems fun to me. 
Daniel from Fallen - He'd go as himself because he is SEXY. 

Any guilty pleasures you’re willing to share with us? 
Coffee. 
Chinese Food 
Any 1990's alternative rock. Wow, I am a BIG dork.  

And last, but not least, (and this is more to satisfy my curiosity)... do the boys in your books wear boxers or briefs? 
Oooh. Hmm. Justin is boxer briefs for SURE. ;) 
Rhode...well. I don't think he wears any! :) wink wink


Rhode... le sigh.  I hope you enjoyed the interview with Rebecca Maizel.  To learn more about  author Rebecca Maizel and Infinite Days, please visit Rebecca's blog at  http://rebeccamaizel.blogspot.com/.

I also have two copies of Infinite Days to giveaway.  This is one of my favorite books this year and I thought why not celebrate its awesomeness with some copies to giveaway.

Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish.

Until, that is, Lenah draws her first natural breath in centuries at Wickham and rediscovers a human life that bears little resemblance to the one she had known. As if suddenly becoming a teenager weren’t stressful enough, each passing hour brings Lenah closer to the moment when her abandoned coven will open the crypt where she should be sleeping and find her gone. As her borrowed days slip by, Lenah resolves to live her newfound life as fully as she can. But, to do so, she must answer ominous questions: Can an ex-vampire survive in an alien time and place? What can Lenah do to protect her new friends from the bloodthirsty menace about to descend upon them? And how is she ever going to pass her biology midterm?

GIVEAWAY:  I have 2 copies up for grabs! 

As always, leave a comment for one entry. If you'd like extra entries just say so in your comment or separate comments (extra entries for followers, Twitter, sidebars, Facebook, my spiffy All About {n} button, etc.) Make sure to leave an e-mail address, especially if you are leaving a comment under Anonymous.

Rules: This contest is open internationally! Winners will be drawn Wednesday, November 3.

I Vant to Suck Your Vlood! It's Vampire Week!

This is the last, and final, week before Halloween and I thought it would be perfect that not only is it my week on the Trick or Treat for Books Giveaway but also that it is vampire week.  My favorite creatures of all things that go bump in the night. At the end of the week you'll find my post on vampires with the final link to the giveaway post where you'll have a chance of winning some great books.

Here's what I plan on reading this week:

Last week I read the following:
- Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry
- A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore [review/giveaway]
- Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love [review/giveaway]
- Rise Again by Ben Tripp
- Undead and Unfinished by MaryJanice Davidson 

I reviewed the following:
- Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough [previously reviewed]
- Hunger by Jackie Morse Kesler [review]
- Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry [review]

Not to toot my own horn, but I got a lot of backed up reading done.  Which means nothing that I originally planned to read got read.  Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.  Have a lovely week friends.

Happy Reading!

Double, double toil and trouble... Fire burn and cauldron bubble. It's Witch Week!

It's witch week here at all All About {n}. All week long I'll have witchy reviews - some might be re-posts from the previous years - but these titles are all books that can be enjoyed every year around this time. I'll also be posting some great giveaways so be sure to enter quickly because most of them will be week long giveaways only. At the end of the week I'll post the link to the participating blog on the Trick or Treat for Books Giveaway that will enter you for the end-of-the-month mega giveaway - so make sure that you stick around for that. Enjoy the festivities!

Here's what I plan on reading this week:

Last week I read the following:

- Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

- Empty by Suzanne Weyn

- Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupola

- Torment by Lauren Kate

I reviewed the following:

- Tombstone Tea by Joanne Dahme [previously reviewed]

- Three Quarters Dead by Richard Peck [review]

- Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger [previously reviewed]

I had a great weekend - but I didn't get to do as much reading as I would have liked.  The hubs surprised me and whisked me off to Universal Studios in Orlando, FL for Halloween Horror Nights - which was a blast.  So most of my weekend was shot - but it was still so worth it.  We had a great time.  FB friends can see the pics here.  I did an IMM post this week and YouTube was out to get me because I must have tried over 10 times to upload it and it just did not work.  So BOOO to YouTube!  I promise to catch up on all outstanding giveaways and also promise to put some new one's up this week.  Tomorrow on Bookcase of the Week we get to see Holly from Good Golly Miss Holly's shelves, so stay tuned.   

Happy Reading!

Trick or Treat for Books - again, y'all

Trick or Treat for Books Giveaway

hosted by:

25 Hour Books

All About {n}

Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog

The Unread Reader

 

Ok guys, it's that time again.  Today is your second chance to enter the mega giveaway in the Treat or Treat for Books Giveaway.  All you have to do to enter is to go Trick or Treating over to Felicia's blog over at Geeky Blogger's Book Blog, leave a comment on her spooky graveyard post (filled with pictures of one of her favorite cemeteries in New Orleans) and fill out the form!

For those of you who don't know, the mega giveaway looks a little something like this:

 

 

 I hope you've enjoyed Spooky Cemetery Week over here at All About {n}.  Stay tuned for next week's events:   Witch Week!  I have some giveaways and a great author interview lined up.  I also have one more giveaway in honor of this week.  Because really, who doesn't think of zombies when they think of spooky cemeteries right?  I know I do.  So stay tuned for that later today.

Author Interview: Sarah Beth Durst

In honor of Enchanted Ivy's book birthday today, I asked the lovely Sarah Beth Durst to honor me and my little blog with an author interview (my very first) and she agreed... squuueeeee!  Obviously I was excited.  Now, I must first say that I am a novice when it comes to author interviews... why?  well I had never done one before - but I am very excited about Sarah's newest title and I really wanted to hear about it from her.  Here's what she had to say: 

I am fascinated by your latest release Enchanted Ivy. Give us a little insider detail on what it’s about? 

It's about getting into college. You know, taking the campus tour, talking to the gargoyles, flirting with the were-tigers, riding the dragons... While visiting the campus of Princeton University, 16-year-old Lily discovers a secret gate to a magical realm and must race against time to save herself, her world, and any hope she has of college admission.

How did you come up with such fascinating ideas as secret Legacy’s, talking gargoyle’s, etc.?

I had this image of tigers stalking through a college campus at night... Princeton's mascot is a tiger, so that made it a logical choice. The rest of my inspiration came from the campus itself: the gothic towers, the wrought-iron gate, the ancient oaks, and the bizarre gargoyles.

I love books set in boarding schools, universities, etc. Did you have to do any research in order to get a good grip on the setting of Enchanted Ivy?

I drew on my memories for the basics, plus I took two trips to the campus with my camera and my notebook for the details. I traced every step of Lily's journey. I am fascinated by the intersection of fantasy and reality, and I wanted my reality to be as accurate as possible to contrast with the magic.

I love the fantastical feel all your books have. What made you choose fantasy?

I love fantasy, and I think it's important to write what you love. (In fact, I think that's much more important than the old adage "write what you know.") Plus, you know, dragons and were-tigers and talking gargoyles are AWESOME. And I think it's important to write about things that are awesome.

I think fantasy is a vital and often undervalued type of literature. I believe that it restores a sense of wonder and empowerment to people in an age of debilitating cynicism.

Has it been hard to write any of your books? And if so, what advice would you give an aspiring author?

All books are hard sometimes. Every writer I know has days when he or she wants to crawl under the desk, sing lullabies, and wait for the laptop to finish typing the book on its own. But the trick is to figure out ways to coax yourself out from under the desk and write anyway. I recommend chocolate.

Seriously, don't wait for inspiration. And especially don't wait for that glorious chunk of uninterrupted time when you are free from other responsibilities or distractions. It won't happen. Life is busy. If you want to be a writer, you need to squeeze the time out of your day (even if it's just fifteen minutes) and write (even if it's just a paragraph).

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about Enchanted Ivy?

If you're interested in reading the first chapter, it's here on my website: http://www.sarahbethdurst.com/EnchantedIvy.htm

What does Halloween mean to you? Any childhood memories you’re willing to share with us?

Growing up, I always thought Halloween was the most stressful holiday ever invented (right up there with Valentine's Day). I'd agonize for months about the perfect costume, and then at the last minute, I'd choke and end up wearing a box and saying I was a robot. I have a vivid memory of hurrying through the trees after my older neighbors and getting stuck between the branches... Also, I was so shy that the thought of knocking on a strangers' door was enough to make me want to dive into the shrubbery.

Halloween got much better for me when I was old enough to stay home and help my mom answer the door. Also, this afforded continuous access to our bowl of candy. Win, win.

Are you Team Vampire or Team Werewolf? Or are you another team altogether?

Both and all. I pretty much love all paranormal creatures. Lately, I've been dying to read a book about a were-hedgehog... I think that would be so random that it would slide directly over into awesome.

If you were able to go trick-or-treating with three authors or characters - who would they be, and what would y’all be dressed up as?

I'd be a fairy (because I've always wanted wings and somehow went through my whole childhood without a fairy costume). And I'd want to trick-or-treat with Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Dr. Seuss, all dressed as Star Wars characters. Just because.

Any guilty pleasures you’re willing to share with us?

My primary guilty pleasure is Raisinets. *offers half-eaten bag*

Thanks so much for interviewing me!

And there you have it my lovelies  -  my very first interview.  You can learn more about Sarah Beth Durst, Enchanted Ivy and Sarah's other titles at her blog.  And in celebration of Enchanted Ivy's release *throws confetti and blows party horns*  I have a little something special for you guys.  Not only did I go out and buy myself a copy of Enchanted Ivy, but I also got 2 lucky winners a copy too.

What Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her: She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton. Sweet!Lily's test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he's her guard. That's weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.

GIVEAWAY:  I have 2 copies up for grabs! 

As always, leave a comment for one entry. If you'd like extra entries just say so in your comment or separate comments (extra entries for followers, Twitter, sidebars, Facebook, my spiffy All About {n} button, etc.) Make sure to leave an e-mail address, especially if you are leaving a comment under Anonymous.

Rules: This contest is open internationally! Winners will be drawn Saturday, October 23.

It's spOOky Graveyard Week!

It's spooky Graveyard  week here at all All About {n}! All week long I'll have reviews where the setting takes place in a graveyard - some might be re-posts from the previous years - but these titles are all books that can be enjoyed every year around this time. I'll also be posting some great giveaways so be sure to enter quickly because most of them will be week long giveaways only. Also remember that at the end of the week I'll post the link to the participating blog on the Trick or Treat for Books Giveaway that will enter you for the end-of-the-month mega giveaway (here's last week's link) - so make sure that you stick around for that. Enjoy the festivities!

Here's what I plan on reading this week:

Last week I read the following:

- Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman

- Reckless by Cornelia Funke 

- Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

I reviewed the following:

- Skeleton Creek  by Patrick Carman [previously reviewed]

- Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris [previously reviewed]

- Till Death Do Us Bark: 43 Old Cemetery Road by Kate Klise & M. Sarah Klise [review] 

I had a hectic weekend - what with my daughter's birthday and all so I never got around to doing my IMM Vlog post or anything.  I also never got around to sending emails for last week's giveaway winners so I'll be doing that today (obviously with extension to respond).  New winners will be posted some time this afternoon.  Tomorrow on Bookcase of the Week we get to see Kristi from The Story Siren's shelves.  So stay tuned because they are drool worthy.     

Happy Reading!

Trick or Treat y'all

Trick or Treat for Books Gieveaway

hosted by:

25 Hour Books

All About {n}

Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog

The Unread Reader

Ok guys, it's that time.  Today is your first chance to enter the mega giveaway in the Treat or Treat for Books Giveaway.  All you have to do to enter is to go Trick or Treating over to 25 Hour Books, fill out the form on Tara's page, and make sure to leave a comment on her site to enter her mini-giveaway on ghosts!

For those of you who don't know, the mega giveaway looks a little something like this:

(the vampire book will be the winners choice)

Now you know that I plan on having all sorts of Halloween goodies all throughout the month so make sure to read all posts because there might be hidden giveaways scattered throughout.  You can always check out the Giveaways page too...  Here are some other great Halloween events and giveaways going on in the blogosphere:

- Felicia at Geeky Blogger's Book Blog -  $10 Gift Card to Amazon or Barnes or Noble---your choice!

- Book Chick City  - is giving away a copy of Blood Oath

- Athenna & Stephanie from Paranormal Haven - have all sorts of goodies going on over at PH with tons of guest posts, interviews and giveaways.  Must check out!

- My friends Isalys & Vanessa at Book♥Soulmates - have all sorts of Halloween goodies and events posted every day so check them out as well.

- Angela at Dark Farie Tales - has author and character interviews, scary movie reviews, guest posts, and tons of giveaways.

- My friend Yara at Once Upon a Twilight - has some spooktacular giveaways this month.  You also have to check out this great Guest Post with Anastasia Hopcus.

- Rachel at Parajunkee's View - is giving away a copy of V.C. Andrew's Daughter of Darkness as part of her Halloween Giveaway Mayhem.

These are the one's I could think of off the top of my head, but I am sure there are many more.  Feel free to drop me a link to your Halloween giveaway and I'll add to the list.

I hope you've enjoyed Ghost Week over here at All About {n}.  Stay tuned for next week's events:   Graveyard Week!  I have some giveaways and a great author interview lined up.

GUEST POST: Laura Whitcomb

Why I Love

By Laura Whitcomb

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been in love with Halloween. Maybe you’d think it was the treats. When I was a kid we didn’t have candy very often at our house – only on holidays or vacations – so it was deeply appealing to end up with a full bag of Hershey’s chocolate and pixie stix. Maybe you’d think it was the costumes – I loved dressing up and we had trunks full of old gowns, hats, and props in the cellar. Maybe you’d think it was the celebration – the last school day before the 31st was always fabulous: story time with the lights turned down, special songs in minor keys, and on your desk after last recess a collection of orange and black cup cakes, cookies, and pop corn balls secreted in by stealthy moms.

But I think my love of the holiday was more about that magical combination of light and dark.  My earliest Halloween memory, the October I was three, I remember stepping out our front door after dark, dressed as a princess in a flower girl gown and fake crown, flanked by my sisters who were 9 and 11. It was wonderful. I was entering a world of shadows and mystery (and I’ll admit I was a bit of a scaredy-cat) but with my protectors beside me, I was safe. Children darted by on the sidewalks dressed as skeletons and monsters, but underneath I knew they were just children like us. People’s yards were thick with cardboard tombstones and pipe cleaner spiders, but when we knocked and the doors opened, faces beamed at us as sweet as those of our own aunts and uncles.

I liked the light – the laughter and sweets and playfulness of it all. But honestly, I found I preferred the darkness between streetlights. I liked not knowing precisely who was behind each mask. I liked the corny taped sound effects of moaning spirits and even the neighbors who opened their doors with wolfman masks on and made me hide my face. I loved how even the kids in the lightest, easiest to see costumes--white sheets and pale fairy dresses--would fade like ghosts as they moved down the block. I loved the glow of jagged toothed jack-o-lanterns in the blackness and the smell of burning pumpkins and wax, of rotting dead leaves in the gutters and cinnamon cider. I loved the dizzying tracks of flashlights dancing like sprites, leading us through the night.

So, I guess it’s not surprising that I grew up to write about ghosts and Fetches or that on the 31st I’ll be hosting another Supernatural Tea Party. Can’t help myself; every October I become a kid again. And I so look forward to introducing my son to his first Halloween.

I have to say that I read A Certain Slant of Light last year and it immediately became my favorite ghost story.  Via conversation with Ms. Whitcomb I was delighted to learn that she is in the process of writing a sequel!  Hooray!  UNDER THE LIGHT will be released late 2012.  Which means it will be a while before we get our little hands on it, but that just makes us anticipate it even more.  Ms. Whitcomb's second novel, The Fetch, a supernatural love story set in Imperial Russia, will be out in paperback soon.  The movie option for A Certain Slant of Light was also recently sold to Kristin Hahn who produced The Departed with Leonardo DiCaprio - so if you're a big fan, like I am, I'm sure you will also be one of the first in line to see it on the big screen.   

GIVEAWAY:  I have 2 copies up for grabs! 

As always, leave a comment for one entry. If you'd like extra entries just say so in your comment or separate comments (extra entries for followers, Twitter, sidebars, Facebook, my spiffy All About {n} button, etc.) Make sure to leave an e-mail address, especially if you are leaving a comment under Anonymous.

Rules: This contest is open internationally! Winners will be drawn Saturday, October 9.

Booooooo! It's Ghost Week!

It's ghost week here at all All About {n}. All week long I'll have ghostly reviews - some might be re-posts from the previous years - but these titles are all books that can be enjoyed every year around this time.  I'll also be posting some great giveaways so be sure to enter quickly because most of them will be week long giveaways only.   At the end of the week I'll post the link to the participating blog on the Trick or Treat for Books Giveaway that will enter you for the end-of-the-month mega giveaway - so make sure that you stick around for that.  Enjoy the festivities!

Here's what I plan on reading this week:

Last week I read the following:

- The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

- The Diamond of Darkhold by  Jeanne DuPrau

- Three Quarters Dead by Richard Peck

- Love, Inc. by Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout

I reviewed the following:

- The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith [review]

- Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts  [review]

- Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst [review]

New giveaways were posted over the weekend, so if you haven't already, you can check those out [here].  To see what I got in my mailbox last week - you can see that [here].  Tomorrow on Bookcase of the Week we get to see author Alyson Noel's bookcase as well as later in the week we also get to see Danny (my  oh-so-talented blog design guru) from Dreamy Blogs and Bewitched Bookworms.

Happy Reading!

October at All About {n}

As always we're celebrating a Spook-Tacular Halloween here at All About {n}.  I have so many things in store for you guys all month long, and, as always, I'm super excited about them!  haha

So here's what I got planned:

First off, I was thrilled when Missie - The Unread Reader - contacted me about the Trick or Treat for Books Giveaway.  She had this phenomenal idea to hop from blog to blog, thereby trick-or-treating, in order to win a mega-giveaway at the end of October.  Three other bloggers and myself, will all be hosting the Halloween hoopla, so I highly recommend that you all check out their blogs as they will all be hosting their own mini-giveaways, author guest posts and interviews as well as tackling their own Halloween topic at the end of each week in October - by leaving a comment on these week-end topics, you will be entered into the mega giveaway. 

The Grand Prize - will be a pack including these titles:

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

One vampire related book of winners choice (courtesy of yours truly)

Here are the authors I was able to score guest posts / interviews with:

 

Each week, along with their guest post / giveaway, I will also be giving away books.  I have purchased books for every week - so stay tuned for those giveaways.  I also got you guys chances at winning bookplates and note cards from The Little Fox.  I know these aren't particularly Halloween, but I think Despina draws with such a Gothic flare, that I think they fit in perfectly with these Halloween giveaways.  I also have a couple of Paranormal Romance bundles - thanks to Hachette scheduled as well.  All giveaways, except for the Hachette one's will be open internationally.

If you look on the right sidebar, I have compiled various other bookish Halloween events that will be taking place in the blogosphere - you might wanna check those out!  If you know of someone who is also hosting one, please provide me with links and I will gladly add them to my growing list.

So, hopefully, there's something for everyone!  Enjoy!

Trick or Treat for Books

Presenting...
Trick or Treat for Books

hosted by:

25 Hour Books 

All About {n}

Geeky Blogger's Book Blog 

The Unread Reader

You don't fool us... We know what you love! Vampires, Witches, Ghosts and Graveyards! And we are here to give you that with the Trick or Treat for Books giveaway!

During the month of October, each of us will be hosting author interviews, guest posts, and mini giveaways, all leading up to the Main Prize! The main prize will be a "Trick or Treat bag" of four (4) books and some awesome swag! This giveaway will be open to U.S. and International participants.

Enter as many mini giveaways as you like, but to qualify for the Main Prize, you must 'Trick or Treat' by visiting each of our blogs. Every Friday in October, one of us will post about something spooky! Below is the complete schedule. Make sure to visit each post, leave a comment, and fill out the official Trick or Treat for Book form. 

Trick or Treat for Books blog schedule:

Oct 8: 25 Hour Books: post on ghosts

Oct 15: Geeky Blogger's Book Blog: post on graveyards

Oct 22: The Unread Reader: post on witches

Oct 29: All About {n}: post on vampires

Oct 31: Grand Prize Winner announced

Hope to see you there... bwahahahaha <--- that's my evil laugh.