Swoontini Interview: Michelle Hodkin

Hello, sweeties!! How are you? How was your summer? We’ve missed you. Why are you all so pretty???

Now some of you might remember the Swoony Boy Alert we did for Noah Shaw, from THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER. And if so, then you probably got that we’re a *little* smitten with him. Well today we have a special treat because the author, Michelle Hodkin is here and OMGSHESTHEMOSTADORABLETHINGEVER.

Lo & C: HI MICHELLE! *tacklesssss* Oh, sorry. Meep. Let us just… help you back up. *dusts of Michelle*
You’ll have to forgive us for fangirling, but you see… we happen to like swoony boys around here. A LOT. And Noah has to be one of the best swoons in YA. How quickly did his character come to you? Did you feel like he grew as you wrote, or did he start out ALL NOAH ALL THE TIME pretty much from the first line?
MH: I love that you love him Noah developed as I wrote; I had a solid handle on Mara from the beginning, and knew, because of who she was and how she would end up, who Noah would have to be and how he would have to seem when the story began in order for their dynamic to work. But there was so much that I learned about him as I wrote and I’m still learning about him, to be honest. He’s definitely the character who surprises me most.

Swoontini Interview: Kami Garcia

WELCOME BACK! Last week was a big week for us because as most of you know…… IT WAS COMIC CON!! *pops nerd collar*

Did you go? Did we tackle love all over you? Well guess who was one of the unfortunate recipients of our hugs? The amazing Kami Garcia, co-author of The Beautiful Creatures series with the lovely Margaret Stohl, and author of the upcoming UNBREAKABLE, the first book in her solo series, THE LEGION! She didn’t even call security! And though everyone knows that Kami is a kickass writer, she’s also a real inspiration to those of us just starting out.

Lo & C: You were on a panel at San Diego Comic Con this year – the What’s Hot in Young Adult Fiction). And you’ve been to SDCC before – what’s the best costume you’ve ever seen?
KG: The Star Wars costumes are always my favorites, but the con before “The Walking Dead” came out, there were some serious zombie costumes at the booth.
Lo & C: We agree! We swear we could probably sit and do nothing but people watch all day and still  have a blast.

Comic Con 2012!

It’s time for our annual Comic Con wrap-up! aka why Lo and Christina are exhausted and totally scatterbrained this week.

First – and most importantly – we got to squeeze each other…

us.

Next,  Hall H.

TIMEPIECE Blog Tour – Interview with Kaleb!

Hello, lovelies!! So if we look a little less than calm today, it’s because – in honor of the release of TIMEPIECE   this week – we have a special guest here at the Swoontini slumber partyland. You may have heard us talk occasionally of our love for Myra McEntire, author of Hourglass & Timepiece. And if so, then you’re probably aware of our tiny little crush on a certain main character, Kaleb Ballard. Can we just say. . .

This. Just a little.

We mean NO! No. That’s not what we mean. We mean that Kaleb is a perfectly lovely young man and we simply had a little chat and absolutely NOTHING inappropriate was discussed at all. You know, as per usual here at Swoontini . . . err . . .

Lo & C: ONWARD! [Swoontini gals do a double take] Damn, Kaleb. You’re looking pretty fantastic in your Swoontini slumber party ‘outfit’. Thanks for getting into the spirit of things here.
Kaleb: The apron is an accessory. The “outfit” is underneath.

*winks* This one goes out to the Team Root gals

Lo & C: So, we know you now with all of your (semi-)grown-up charm and wit and often-inappropriate touching (never unwelcome, don’t worry), but tell us a little about Freshman-in-High School Kaleb. What would he do on a typical Saturday night?
Kaleb: That Kaleb was actually disciplined, and pretty straight and narrow with the exception of his sugar addiction. Not THAT KIND of sugar (that came later). Probably a movie with friends?

C: Get out! A movie! You wild man! You can’t hide how smart you are behind all of this [Christina gestures to the ‘outfit’]. . . manly exterior.  What are you reading right now?
Kaleb: A particular neuroscientist told me to check out HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER by Lish McBride. I always listen to hot chicks.

Lo: OH WHAT A GOOD GUY YOU ARE. *pinches cheeks* We love that book! Okay, so. You’re given $1000 – not so fast, there, Trigger. What do you buy Myra to thank her for writing you?
Kaleb: A brain massage? Per her, time travel is . . .  hard.

Lo & C: Hey ohhh! What fictional character would you like to bring over to introduce to your Hourglass peeps?
Kaleb:  Sophie and Archer from the Hex Hall series. They’d fit right in.

Lo & C: Ignoring any potential Timepiece love interest for the time being, which fictional character would you like to meet in a dark, private, and comfortable alley? (TO PLAY CHECKERS, OBVS. Jeez people.)
Kaleb: Probably Isabelle Lightwood from Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series. Hot, bad ass, good with a whip. I mean … probably a lovely conversationalist.

Don’t tell Lily. Or Em. There wouldn’t BE enough ice for the family jewels.

Lo & C: Let’s just say that you were on a dating show, hidden behind a screen, and you had to convince the girl to pick you over Dune (SWOON) or Michael (ALSO SWOON). She can’t check out your [Lo gestures to biceps] Man Parts, so what would you say to make her choose you for a date?
Kaleb: I’d tell her, in sensuous detail, about the meal I’d prepare for her with my own two hands. And I’d also describe how I look in my Kiss the Cook apron, which has become a running joke. Because it works.

you know... because he bakes. pervs.

Lo & C: If you could be cast in the movie adaptation of any book out there (other than Myra’s books), what character would you choose?
Kaleb: X-Men. A young Wolverine. He gets all the sexy ladies, right?

Lo & C: There may have been cackles last night while putting this in (twss). We love Myra so much it BOGGLES THE MIND.
AND LISTEN UP SWOONIES because Myra will be at San Diego Comic Con (AS WILL WE!). SO – for anyone who doesn’t get to be there to meet Myra, you are eligible to win a signed copy of TIMPIECE and something else fun that we will think of when we see her*. Just leave the lady (snort) some love and that’s all it takes!!! In the meantime, feel free to buy one or seventeen copies of Kaleb! We mean Timpiece.

*Sorry this one isn’t open to international – only because we don’t know what else we’ll be sending and size, etc.

Swoontini Interview: BETH REVIS

WELCOME BACK! *hugs you all* *holds you tighter so you can’t get away* SO SQUIRMY. Today we’re super stoked to have the amazing Beth Revis here!  Have you read Across the Universe and A Million Suns? If yes then take a cookie and have a seat, we’ll be around with shimmies and refreshments in a few. If not, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??

so pretty. #coverporn

Swoony Boy Alert! Joe Fontaine (The Sky Is Everywhere)

WELCOME BACK!! It’s time for another Swoony Boy Alert. First, some Joe Fontaine swoon. . .

EPIC SWOONAGE, AMIRITE?

Can we tell you how much we’ve missed these posts? And you, of course! *smothers* So what are Swoony Boy Posts? SBA’s are random and often incoherent posts in which we, and you, YES YOU, awesome reader, gather around a glass of something pink and sparkly and talk all about our favorite male characters in fiction. They can be old favorites, or boys we’re meeting for the first time.

Swoontini Interview: Rachel Hawkins

SWOONIES! We want to make sure you’re ready for today’s interview. Are you sitting down? Do you have to pee? (Do that first). Need a snack? We can wait.  BECAUSE: OMG HELLO RACHEL HAWKINS! *shrieking fangirls scream in the background*

™ Rachel Hawkins forever

Thanks so much for coming to Swoontini! And we should probably start with a blanket warning that this post will probably be inappropriate.

Author Appreciation Blog Tour: MYRA McENTIRE!

When Mandy asked if we wanted to be involved in a new kind of blog tour, an #authorlove kind of blog tour, we were all HECK YES because you know we love to get our fangirl love on. And when she told us the first author would be our girl Myra, we were all OH HELLS TO THE YES. We love Myra like Peeta loves bread. So come on in, read our little love letter, and then tell Myra how simply amazing she is. Because she is, you  know. Supportive and funny and wild and sweet. Just the way we like ‘em.

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Swoontini Interview: NATHAN BRANSFORD

Lo says: Okay, Swoonies. You guys know how much PQ and I heart Nathan Bransford. As in, A TON. Like many writers, we relied on his calm wisdom while writing and querying our first book. Then, in Summer 2011 I organized the What’s Hot in YA Fiction panel at San Diego Comic Con and Nathan Bransford (I’m sorry, I can’t just call him Nathan, it feels wrong somehow) agreed to moderate. *dancing dogs* Life is awesome, right?

But then.

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, by Sara Zarr

From the book jacket: Jill MacSweeney just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she’s been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends—everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she’s somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.
Mandy Kalinowski understands what it’s like to grow up unwanted—to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she’s sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It’s harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?

As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy—or as difficult—as it seems.

Lo says: I could probably write a review for this that just says, “You guys, you have to read this. Please please read this.” And you would, and would agree with me that this book is amazing, and that Sara Zarr should be crowned Queen of All of the Things.