Fun Interview

Hey Everyone-

I did this really fun interview over at the adorable Valentina's blog-- and all you have to do to drop by and say hi is click HERE!

Have a good day!

GCC Presents . . .Megan Kelley Hall!

I was so thrilled when I recently learned I'd been accepted into the ultra-cool and super supportive Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit, and then when I learned that the first author I'd 'tour' would be Megan Kelley Hall--well, I went from thrilled to totally psyched!

Megan's debut novel, SISTERS OF MISERY, not only has a beautiful cover and intriguing plot, but every since I first laid eyes on it, I knew I had to buy it, own it, read it!

But even though I could gush on and on forever, why don't I just let Ms. Hall tell you a little bit about it instead, as she was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions . . .

Megan Kelley Hall’s debut novel, SISTERS OF MISERYgothic novel complete with witchcraft and runic mythology. It tells the story of Maddie Crane and her quest to unravel the mystery surrounding her cousin Cordelia’s disappearance. is a modern-dayHawthorne, Massachusetts, a seaside town borne in the shadow of the witchcraft trials, has not changed much throughout the years, and persecution and ostracism are still an active way of life within this cloistered community. So, when Cordelia LeClaire and her quirky, free-spirited mother, Rebecca arrive, the community’s brief curiosity over the newcomers, quickly turns to disdain and jealously.

It is no surprise that The Sisters of Misery—a secret clique of the most popular, powerful girls in school, with the vindictive Kate Endicott at its helm —trick Maddie and her cousin into spending Halloween night on Misery Island. But when Cordelia disappears, questions arise as to what happened. The town would like to believe that Cordelia, always impulsive, simply ran away. But Maddie knows that more is at stake and others have something to hide. Now Maddie must choose between the allure and power of the Sisters of Misery and her loyalty to her beloved cousin.

Hey Megan, thanks for stopping by! My first question is about the backstory, and since every story has one, what's yours?

Here’s my elevator pitch for SISTERS OF MISERY: A Modern Day Witch Hunt is Ignited When “Mean Girls” Meets “Practical Magic”. What happens when a hazing prank goes terribly wrong and a young teenage girl goes missing? The debut suspense novel, SISTERS OF MISERY, brings us inside a small, seaside town near Salem, where Maddie Crane, the teen protagonist investigating her eccentric cousin’s disappearance, ignites the wrath of the Sisters of Misery – a powerful high school clique, whose activities mirror the witch hunts of the seventeenth century. Hawthorne is a town filled with secrets and the supernatural. Stories hidden for decades come to light after Cordelia’s tragic disappearance. Cordelia’s mother, Rebecca, descends into madness while internal struggles amongst Maddie’s family members are all consequences of the supernatural “gifts” that they possess. Maddie Crane must choose between the allure and power of the Sisters of Misery and her loyalty to her beloved cousin and her own family. Fans of Alice Hoffman, Jodi Picoult and Stephenie Meyer will be haunted by this story of three generations of women and their struggles against each other and a town ruled by fear.

What's your work environment like? Any rituals, totems, or must haves?

Completely crazy and haphazard. My office is piled high with magazines, clutter, papers, folders, toys, books, mail, and all the spillover from the other parts of the house. I look at Martha Stewart and Real Simple magazines and drool over the clean, uncluttered work spaces. My workspace is in a perpetual state of confusion and chaos. The only rituals that I have would be that I have to play at least one game of Jewel Quest or Cake Mania or Luxor or some other mindless computer game to clear my head before I dive into work. I’ve also become a little obsessed with catching up with people on Facebook. The Internet can easily become an addiction.

If you could live inside any book-- which would it be?

I don’t know if there is one particular book I’d like to live in, but I’d love to exist in the same realm as Oscar Wilde, because I will never tire of reading his witty quotes. I’d love to hear his thoughts on the scandals of today.

What book rocked your world growing up?

One of my absolute favorite books was The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I’d love to be able to go back and read it again for the first time.

If you could visit any time, place, or person- what, where, or who would it be?

Old Hollywood. Victorian England. The Old South. The Roaring Twenties. I’d love to travel back to a time when people really dressed and were glamorous and stylish and had traditions. We’ve lost so much in terms of decorum and presentation and moral standards. It would be nice to return to a time when people were admired from afar and we weren’t privy to every dirty little secret. I’d love to return to the days of Jackie O, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant, Elvis Presley. Even though their lives weren’t squeaky clean, they had glamour, style and presence. That’s something lacking in today’s society. (I write this as I’m sitting in my sweats and a tee-shirt J).

SISTERS OF MISERY by Megan Kelley Hall
Trade Paperback: 308 pages
Publisher: Kensington (July 29, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758226799
ISBN-13: 978-0758226792

Praise for SISTERS OF MISERY

“Megan Kelley Hall hits one over the fence with her debut novel — a true Gothic that skillfully combines the dangerous mischief of a modern clique with the bad girls whose prank-gone-mad ignited the Salem witch trials. The shivery story of Maddie and her mysterious, doomed cousin, Cordelia — both prey to the angel-faced vixens who party on the aptly named Misery Island — shows boldly that ancient and modern peer pressure are the same demon in new clothes. That demon wants Cordelia, and only Maddie can save her…unless evil catches her first.”–Jacquelyn Mitchard, Oprah Book Club and New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean and The Midnight Twins

“Original, insightful, and scary. Megan Kelley Hall writes with an intense, frightening grace that will have you turning pages long into the night. She has immediately established herself as a first novelist to be reckoned with in the future.” –Michael Palmer, New York Times bestselling author of The First Patient and Extreme Measures

“An exciting, dangerous, and mysterious world! Megan Kelley Hall has crafted a story that’ll keep you guessing until the last page.”–Rachelle Mead, author, Vampire Academy series

“A dazzling and dishy portrait of magic, mystery, and coming of age. Readers will eat this up and come begging for more.”–Laurie Stolarz, author of the bestselling Blue is for Nightmares series

“One of the very best things in life is discovering an author you want to read more of. Sisters of Misery makes me want to read a whole lot more of Megan Kelley Hall.”–Ellen Hopkins, author of Crank and Impulse

Megan Kelley Hall, who lives north of Boston with her husband, Edward, and five-year-old daughter Piper, started a literary publicity company, Kelley and Hall, in 2005 with her sister, Jocelyn Kelley, and mother, Gloria Kelley. Her freelance magazine work has been published in Glamour, Elle, American Baby, Working Mother, New England Bride, The Boston Globe, Boston Herald MetroSports, Parents and Kids, and many other magazines. She studied creative writing at Skidmore College under the Pulitzer-Prize winning author Steven Millhauser. Her work can also be seen in the former CNN anchor Daryn Kagan’s anthology entitled, What’s Possible! (Meredith Books, May 2008.) The second in the series, THE LOST SISTER, will be published by Kensington in August 2009.

More Free Stuff!

Want to win a signed copy of CRUEL SUMMER??

Then head on over to the awesome Tera Lynn Childs's blog where she's doing a great give away to correspond to the olympic games-- today's sport is beach volleyball- so how appropriate to give away a copy of CRUEL SUMMER too?!

For your chance to win-- just click HERE!

The Eight on 8-8-08

Remember how I blogged about the 82 books I dragged home from BEA?? Well, what I didn't say was that one (or was it three?) of those books was the looooong awaited sequel to Katherine Neville's amazing novel, THE EIGHT.

I read THE EIGHT,  a very very long time ago after my sister handed it to me and said- You must read this! And since she's older than me, which gives her some sort of dubious authority, I did. I read it quickly, and I loved it so much I turned around and read it again. And now, something like twenty years later its sequel, THE FIRE,  will be published in October!

And while I haven't yet had a chance to read the ARC I dragged home from BEA, mostly because I want to reread THE EIGHT first and I haven't had a chance to do that either, I was thrilled when I learned that starting today-- and continuing for eight days-- you can download a FREE copy of THE EIGHT by visiting HERE.

How cool is that?

And speaking of cool . . . this awesome review from School Library Journal just came in for CRUEL SUMMER, the beginning is the usual story summary, so I'll just cut to the good stuff:

"The protagonist's venting and observations are alternately whiny, wistful, strident, and hilarious. Despite typical teen self obsession, Colby is likable and ultimately well intentioned. As she deals with her feelings, she blunders her way rather charmingly into a new maturity."

Well, that's it for now-- have a good day everyone!

 

Zoe Won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just back from the RWA conference in San Fran where I met lots of amazing new people, got inspired by some awesome workshops (if you ever get a chance to see Blake Snyder speak--don't even hesitate, just go!), and was thrilled to attend the Oklahoma chapter's reception where SAVING ZOE won the National Reader's Choice Award in the Young Adult category!!!!!!
As most of you probably know by now, that book was born out of a time of great personal grief, and I'm so incredibly grateful to all of the readers who've supported it!

But now, it's time to unpack . . .

Have a good day everyone!