YA Scavenger Hunt (Purple Team) and Giveaway!

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!

This is my FIFTH TIME hosting YASH, and I'm super excited to be a part of it again! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize—one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online until Sunday, October 6th.

But first, I want to take a moment to introduce myself! I'm Kristin Smith, your hostess for this leg of the hunt. I'm the author of the best-selling and award-winning YA novel CATALYST and its sequels, FORGOTTEN and FEARLESS. Be sure to enter my Giveaway at the very end of the post!

ABOUT ME:

I love fall.

My favorite colors are sky blue and pink.

My favorite scenes to write are ones with lots of kissing. :)

I'm a big fan of Karaoke and Just Dance.

I may or may not have a stash of chocolate in my nightstand.

I'm a mom to FIVE boys! (Yes, you read that correctly.) :)

If I had to choose between the mountains and the beach, I'd choose the beach. Every. Single. Time.

Now back to the Hunt!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are FOUR contests
going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I'm part of the PURPLE TEAM, but there's also a red, blue, and gold team for a chance to win a whole different set of books!

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, you'll notice I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the PURPLE TEAM, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). 

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, October 6th at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

Today, I'm excited to be hosting ERICA CAMERON for the YA Scavenger Hunt! Be sure to check out her books and her website.

After a lifelong obsession with books, Erica Cameron spent her college years getting credit for reading and learning how to make stories of her own. Erica graduated with a double major in psychology and creative writing from Florida State University. She's written several series for young adults, including The Ryogan Chronicles and the upcoming Pax Annuls, and she contributed to various online blogs and publications. She is also an advocate for asexuality and emotional abuse awareness. Currently, she lives in North Florida.

Connect with Erica at the following social media sites:

Facebook

Website

Instagram

Twitter


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About the Book:

Cira Antares is deeply loyal to two things: Pax Novis—her mother's ship that transports supplies across war-torn star systems—and her personal mission to save war orphans. But hiding them as stowaways on the ship is illegal, and if any of them were found, not even her mother could protect Cira from the consequences.

She has successfully kept her secret...until supplies start to go missing. Food. Clothing. Tools. All signs point to her stowaways, but they wouldn't do anything to risk exposing themselves—or her. Especially not Riston, the oldest of the group and someone Cira has grown close to. Someone she might even be falling in love with...

And petty thefts are only the beginning—whole ships are disappearing now.

Not caught in a firefight. Not destroyed by another planet. Vanishing. Without a trace.

And Pax Novis is next.

Buy the Book

**EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIAL**

You guys are in for a treat! Erica was kind enough to share the map of one level of the spaceship, Pax Novis, as well as a list of rules the onboard stowaways have to abide by.  So freaking cool! Enjoy! :)

Personal Document from Pax Novis’s Shipboard Archive
Saved from the internal access device of Guest User 2421
Terra-Sol date 3811.348

The Rules:

1.  The only time you should ever enter the main corridors of the ship is to use restroom facilities, and the only facilities you should use are the ones forward on decks 1, 2, and 12 or, at most once a week, the showers on deck 10. Exercise caution at all times and only use the facilities in hours when the bulk of the crew is elsewhere.

2.  Plans to leave the Novis must be announced at least two weeks out from the ship’s expected date of arrival at a port of call. This date should be within 120 days of boarding the Novis.

2a. Addendum: if you’re seeing this notice, you have asked permission to stay and been approved by Cira. The rule for leaving still applies, but the time frame doesn’t. Now, staying solely relies on sticking to the rules until you change your mind and want to leave.

3.  Food will be dropped in a specified location once a week. Anyone found to be taking food rationed for another will be found in violation of these rules. Don’t do it.

4.  When you came aboard, either Cira or Adrienn took your measurements. A uniform in your size should’ve been provided, and you can trade this in once a week when you shower. Warmer clothes for living in the maintenance sectors will be given out as needed. Do not enter the main corridors in anything other than the uniform. It’s as close to camouflage as we can get.

5.  Adrienn will provide simple checkups when possible. Medical care beyond that will be hard to arrange, and it must be used sparingly. To prevent problems, take the supplements and other prescriptions provided for us in the weekly supply drops.

5a. Addendum: I have emergency codes that can be used to access medical if necessary. This is a last resort to be used only when death is the only alternative. Do not risk all our places here for a cold.

6.  You will be given a sleep pad, a blanket, and a place to sleep that should be relatively safe to remain in for short periods of time. Whenever possible, try to sleep in shifts with one person keeping watch in case of unexpected changes to the maintenance schedule.

6a. Addendum: Sleep is necessary. Do your best. Don’t get caught.

7.  Any of your personal belongings too large to be carried with you constantly will be held in trust by Cira or Adrienn. They will be returned to you upon leaving the Novis. Do not ever leave any of your personal effects lying around the ship. You get one warning if this happens. The second instance will be a dismissible offense.

8.  Entertainment is limited, but Cira has arranged for terminals completely disconnected from all Novis systems with a small library of stories, vids, and games on internal memory. Trying to force a connection between these devices and the ship’s computers will result in detainment and expulsion from the ship at the first possible port.

9.  You will not be granted computer access in any capacity. General alerts posted to all available screens will be the only news you will be able to read on the Novis.

9a. Addendum: Cira has found a workaround that is only available to long-term passengers. Your access will still be restricted, and you will only be able to use the terminals personally given to you by Cira and Adrienn. However, you will have access to the ship’s library of books, vids, courses, and trainings. If you take a course and pass the certification test, Cira has promised to attach that to your ID officially before you leave the Novis for good.

10.            When at port, you must be even more careful. Crew schedules can become unpredictable. Work may happen while the Novis is stationary and connected to a backup power supply in areas of the ship rarely used otherwise. Stay hidden and stay alert.

10a. Addendum: Long-term passengers may leave while at port once every 180 days. Approval from Cira and Adrienn must be gained at least two weeks ahead of the expected arrival. The one exception to this rule is Paxis Station. No one, ever, can disembark there.

I will report all violations immediately. Failure to comply with these rules will result in your expulsion from the ship at the first available port. If Cira or Adrienn determines you’ve become a danger to yourself, another stowaway, the crew, or the ship, other measures will be taken including, but not limited to, sedation and seclusion in one of the emergency cryostasis pods.

All decisions will be made by Adrienn or Cira, and no appeals will be heard.

****

Whoa! Wasn't that insanely cool?! Hope you enjoyed that behind-the-scenes look at Erica's latest novel!

And before you leave, don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a bundle of awesome books by all of the authors on the PURPLE TEAM! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 12. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the PURPLE TEAM and you'll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

GIVEAWAY!!

But before you go, be sure to enter my individual Giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card, a SIGNED copy of one of the books in the Deception Game series (your choice!) and some awesome swag! (Books and swag are for US residents only. International winners will receive gift card only.)

ENTER HERE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONTINUE THE HUNT

To continue the hunt, you need to visit the next author—JC Welker. Click on her name to be redirected to her website.

But first, check out the first book in the Deception Game series, which is currently FREE on all major retailers.

Amazon

Apple iBooks

NOOK

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Smashwords

Thanks so much for stopping by! Good luck on the hunt! :)

Best Books of 2016

Most of my time this year was spent getting ready for the publication of Catalyst and writing the sequel, but I did manage to sneak a few books in there to read for my own pleasure. Here are some of my most memorable reads from 2016.

 All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Simply put, this book rocked my world. I've read YA contemporary books about suicide before, but never one that delved so deeply into the thought process of one who is so heart-wrenchingly depressed that he feels like his world is literally caving in on him, and there's no escape. It was beautifully written with an emotional undercurrent that seems to be lacking in so many books that I read lately. I want to read a book that makes me FEEL, and this one gave me all the feels. I can't recommend it enough.

 Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I'd heard so much about this book that, I'll be honest, I wasn't sure if it would be able to live up to the hype. And maybe it's because of that hype that I didn't fall in love with it as much as I wanted to. Told from five different viewpoints, I had a hard time truly connecting with the characters because the story kept shifting from one head to another. It's also a very complicated plot, so there's no easy reading with this one! But with that being said, there were a couple of characters that I couldn't get enough of, and they really sold the story for me. The writing was phenomenal, and the storyline was unique and intriguing. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you like YA fantasy.

Heist Society by Ally Carter 

I just finished reading this one, and like Six of Crows, I wanted to love it—I really did. But maybe it's the style of writing that bugged me or maybe the POV which seemed to hop from one head to another with no clear narrator (which was really weird). The storyline itself was intriguing, especially if you like teenage con artists who get together for an impossible heist. I'd recommend it, and I may try another of Ally Carter's books to see if I like the style better.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

This was a book that I couldn't put down. I was so intrigued by the plot, and I desperately wanted to know who the killer was. Unfortunately, I figured it out before the end, but that didn't take away from the novel at all.

Room by Emma Donoghue

I read this as part of the monthly book club I belong to. Despite the horrific situation these characters are placed in, it reads more innocent and naive than chilling and vulgar since the story is told from the eyes of a five-year-old boy. His innocence as he and his mother are held in this room is what makes the story so intriguing. The author does a phenomenal job of getting into the head of a five-year-old and seeing the world from his perspective.

Between Two Fires by Mark Noce 

This was a great story about love and courage. I fell in love with the main character, Branwen, who has quick wit and a sharp attitude. She's a woman who doesn't need a man to protect her, and she makes that clear when she's the one who's able to lead her people to victory.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater 

This was my first encounter with one of Maggie Stiefvater's books (I'd heard so much about her writing) and trust me, it did not disappoint. Her writing captures the moment and makes you feel as though you are right there tasting the sea spray, feeling the wind on your face, and galloping across the cliff with a dangerous beast beneath you. The story itself felt a bit slow at times, but the writing drags you in so deep that you hardly even notice.


What are your most memorable reads from 2016?

Happy Release Day to Dating An Alien Pop Star!

Dating an Alien Pop Star
Kendra L. Saunders
Published by: Crimson Tree Publishing
Publication date: June 7th 2016
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

Daisy Kirkwood has only just escaped her small-town life and run away to New York City, the land of last-minute secret gigs at famous musical venues, when she’s kidnapped by aliens. Unfortunately, no one ever writes about how to handle alien abduction in those fancy NYC guidebooks.
Griffin and Dev are supermassively sexy aliens from a politically and environmentally troubled planet who arrive on Earth with very little knowledge about human ways other than what they learned from a wayward E! News signal. Their mission is to pretend to be the most influential people on the planet—English pop stars, of course!—and gain the help of a powerful secret society. Upon arriving, they abduct Daisy Kirkwood, a nerdy young woman who loves music but could seriously use a bit of help in the love-life department. Though Griffin and Daisy initially squabble, neither can deny the intergalactic sparks whenever they’re too close to each other. Together, they must face murderous aliens, cultural misunderstandings, bad backup musicians, and the dark side of fame and the media, all set against a tight deadline…

Part High Fidelity, part Bridget Jones’ Diary, part Doctor Who, Dating an Alien Pop Star is a sexy romantic comedy.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Q&A With Kendra L. Saunders

Fans and friends recently submitted questions about Dating an Alien Pop Star, sci-fi, and lots of other fun stuff. Here are their questions, and Kendra's answers!

Tamar: If Dating an Alien Pop Star was to be filmed, would you prefer a movie or a series? Or would you'd rather have one of your other books filmed?

KLS: I would feel so anxious about someone making bad casting choices that I would find it hard to get excited about either option unless I had some creative say about casting. I'll still never forgive whoever cast Eric Bana as one of my all time favorite characters, Henry, from Time Traveler's Wife!

If the casting was good, though, I think it would make a fun movie trilogy.

Stephanie: Who would Griffin vote for in the upcoming election?

KLS: Griffin would write in David Bowie's name. I mean, who else can fix everything going on in this world?

Corey: favorite snack(s) to eat during a long writing session?

KLS: I'm a Cheez-Its fanatic, so I usually have some of those at home. If I'm going to have something sweet, I really like pastries with some kind of fruit. If I'm out I usually have a bagel. As for drinks, lattes of any kind are perfect, including chai, or green tea lattes at Starbucks!

Janelle: What are Griffin's guilty pleasures? And Daisy's?

KLS: Griffin has a hard time understanding the concept of guilty pleasures, because he tends to like things very openly. He does get some derision for his choices, especially in fashion and fruity drinks, but it rarely stops him.

Daisy's guilty pleasures are Cosmo magazine (she doesn't understand why everyone writing in seems to be only 19 years old these days), Lifetime movies, and Duran Duran.

Kate: Who do you want to narrate the audiobook versions of the Alien Pop Star series?

KLS: Tom Hiddleston!

Laura: When did you first know that writing was your passion? What were or are some of your sci-fi inspirations? (Books, shows, movies etc.)

KLS: I've known I wanted to be a writer since I was in first grade! I never had any doubt of it, and worked on writing and making jewelry ever since! Some of my biggest sci-fi influences as a kid were the original Star Wars movies, and the book A Wrinkle in Time. Now, I'd add Douglas Adams' work, Ray Bradbury's work, the book Dune, the book The Time Traveler's Wife, and original Twilight Zone and Outer Limits episodes to that list!

Jennifer: How much hair product does Dev use? (giving Dev some love)

KLS: Dev has discovered a nice sticky light brown substance that he can acquire by breaking leaves off of one of his lab plants. He uses that in his hair to make it remain artfully tousled through the day. Griffin is not supposed to know about this, ever, for two reasons: he'd tease Dev mercilessly, and then he'd steal the plant for his own hair usage.

Karmen: Did the characters come to you easily? What's your favorite thing about this book?

KLS: These characters came to me easier than any I've ever written. All of them jumped onto the page already fleshed out. Griffin and Daisy, especially, were super easy to write in that first book. The second one was a slightly different story...

My favorite thing about this book is that I didn't hold back being nerdy about things I love: music, fashion, space, and New York!

Author Bio:

Kendra L. Saunders is a time-and-space traveling fashionista author who writes books about magical, dark-haired men, interviews famous people, and suggests way too many bands to you via whatever social media platform she can get her hands on. She writes with good humor because humor is the best weapon for a girl who can't learn karate (or ballroom dancing).
She is the author of DATING AN ALIEN POP STAR, the magic realism novel INANIMATE OBJECTS, dark comedy DEATH AND MR. RIGHT, the upcoming romance THE UNLOVE SPELL, and has conducted interviews with NYT Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout, goth rocker Aurelio Voltaire, and Project Runway winners Dmitry Sholokhov and Michelle Lesniak Franklin among many, many others.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube

GIVEAWAY!
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