Melissa Marr GIVEAWAY!!! And OS teaser # 49!

No, I'm not giving away Melissa Marr. If she was up for grabs, I'd be keeping her myself and tapping into that amazing creative well she seems to have. But I am giving away a signed copy of her newest release, Graveminder, plus signed Graveminder swag, and also a signed galley of Original Sin.

I'm totally buried in a new project, so I'm going to keep this short. All you have to do to enter is comment below by noon PST on Friday, June 17^th. In addition to commenting, for which you earn one entry, you can accumulate additional entries as follows:

Old blog follower: +3 points
New blog follower: +2 points
"Like" the Personal Demons Books Facebook page +2
Follow me on Twitter (@LisaDez) +2 points
Link to my contest post on your blog, Twitter or FB: +1 point
Add me to your blogroll: +2 points
Original Sin widget in your blog sidebar +2

Also on your entry, please remember to tell me how to find you (email address). And ADD UP YOUR POINTS because I can’t be trusted with math…just sayin’.

As always, the contest is open internationally. You must be at least 13 years old to enter. The contest will close at noon on Friday, June 17th. One winner will be chosen by the randomizer and posted here after noon on Friday. Good luck!

 

And, now for today's teaser. Friday, we saw Matt start to lose his focus. This continues on from there. There are some new angels in Original Sin...but there are also some new demons...

 

#OriginalSin p150 Matt: Someone bumps me from behind, sending the beer in my hand sloshing over the rim. I turn slowly and a tall, skinny guy, maybe twentyish, stares me down, his solid black eyes telling me without a word that he knows exactly what I am.

And I know what he is too.

“Who invited you?”

Before I can answer, his eyes slide past me to Lili, who steps up next to me. “Was it you, my lady?” He holds his hand out to her. She takes his hand and he brings it to his mouth, kissing the back of her fingers. A lopsided smile blooms on his dark face “Because, if that’s true, I’ll forgive the indiscretion.”

BLOWOUT After Dark Winner, Spanish PD Birthday and OS Teaser #48

Ahhh! We need a winner! But first, FUN news! Today is Personal Demons release day in SPAIN!!! Yay! Buenos noches, since it's gone by in Spain already =)

I can't wait to get my copies! Love Frannie on that cover =)

And...before we get to the winner, here's today's Original Sin Teaser. Here's Matt totally losing perspective on what it is he's supposed to be doing...

#OriginalSin p147 Matt: I feel all jittery inside, wild, out of control. And I like it. This is what it feels like to make my own decisions. To do what I want. It feels amazing—like maybe I can actually have a life.

And...now, what you've all been waiting for! Thanks to everyone who entered the BLOWOUT After Dark Giveaway! You guys rock! And one of you is about to win signed copies of all of these:

plus Original Sin!

And, the winner, as chosen by the randomizer is...

StuckInBooks!!!

Congrats!

Throws virtual confetti! (cuz I don't want to clean the real stuff up)

I will email you soooooon! :p

Check back next week for another shot at a signed OS ARC and a signed copy of Melissa Marr's Graveminder! :p

Why I have a love/hate relationship with Spring, and OS Teaser #47

Yesterday, I showed you my To Be Read shelf and lamented that I didn't have time to get to all the really amazing books I have waiting for me. Today, I'm showing you my front yard.

I just took this picture. If I wanted to show you the true horror of it, I would have taken a closer up picture of the boarders. My yard is a weed-fest. We are the Clampets (in case you're too young to catch the reference, that's The Beverly Hillbillies) of our neighborhood.

I LOVE spring. The days are longer, the rain has stopped and it's warm outside. Everything is coming alive. Just last night, I cleaned off the table in the gazebo in the back yard and we'll eat dinner outside for the rest of the summer. I always feel refreshed in the spring. My creative juices get flowing and writing goes more smoothly. I have more energy to chase my kids around. And, usually, I'm out in the yard. I really enjoy being outside. I've done most of the landscaping in my yard on my own. I have a veritable orchard out back, and every year I plant a vegetable garden. I love having fresh fruit and vegetables, and I've shown you my bounty.

But this year, I didn't plant a thing. I didn't fertilize my trees, and, so far, my fruit has been rather anemic. I love my life. I really do. I have three jobs that I enjoy, two of which are my dream jobs. I wouldn't give any of it up. But...there's just not enough time in the day for everything.

So, my solution? Cloning. I've decided I need a maid clone, a gardener clone, and a reading clone. Then, all I have to worry about is parenting, spousing and my three jobs. =)

Even with the weeds taking over my yard, I'm a spring person. This is my favorite time of year. Which is your favorite season?

Today's Original Sin Teaser is from Matt's perspective, once again. Hell is not thrilled with Luc's defection, and Rhenorian, the head of Security, who we met briefly during Luc's trip to Hell in Personal Demons, is sent to bring Luc back.

#OriginalSin p136 Matt: The door swings open and Rhenorian’s head jerks up from where Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber have Luc pinned against the wall. He lowers his glowing fist and a wave of panic surges through me as I wonder how much Lili saw.

Lili. Crap.

She’s going to expect me to do something to help my “friend.”

Don't forget, just one more day to enter both my BLOWOUT After Dark contest, and also Goodreads' giveaway! Don't miss your chance at an OS ARC and other amazing books!

Why I don’t swag sweep at BEA (aka: My TBR Shelf) and OS Teaser #46

I spent a fabulous three days at Book Expo America week before last. As a matter of fact, exactly two weeks ago right now, I was signing copies of Personal Demons on the BEA floor. On Tuesday, I was lucky enough to be able to sign finished copies of Original Sin with Kiki Hamilton, who was signing ARCs of her The Faerie Ring.

Kiki was smart enough to bring her camera (whereas, I wasn’t). Here is a picture of our signing line! That’s my adorable Team Luc Fangirl Captain, Harmony, right in front!

And here’s more line:

And more line:

The line was so long it wrapped around the ropes and behind the other lines! When our hour was up and we still had a line, they moved us to an overflow area so we could keep signing. :p

Thanks so much to everyone who came out! It was humbling and thrilling! (I know you were all there for Kiki, but just let me bask in it, ‘kay?) I have to honestly say that the whole BEA experience was a blur. A good blur…for me, at least. But…

I’ve heard the stories.

Before I even left, I was hearing stories of people cutting in signing lines and being bullied in lines for book giveaways. Last week, at the start of our After Dark Tour, I was able to hang out with other authors who had been at BEA and heard stories of people getting bit. On Friday, I was at a local signing for Melissa Marr and heard the same story from a group of bloggers.

I don’t know if the stories are true or not, and I’m not equipped to comment either way. What I do know is there were a lot of people angling for free books. I wasn’t one of them. The thing about books is, there are sooo many great ones and so little time. I don’t generally request ARCs because I know the likelihood that I’ll actually get the opportunity to read it prior to release is almost none. If I was to take an ARC, which is intended for pre-publication promotion, and not read it before publication, I’d feel horribly guilty. And honestly, if it’s a book I really want, I’m going to buy it at release anyway to support the author.

Just to give you an idea, here is my YA To Be Read shelf.

This is just the shelf I keep near my writing area. In my library, are more shelves with adult titles I haven’t gotten to yet. And, on my Nook are more, including my amazing agent sister, Hannah Moskowitz’s Invincible Summer, Malinda Lo’s Ash and Huntress, Kirstin Hubbard’s Like Mandarin, and more. Plus, on my hard drive are more books. Mostly sequels that writer friends have sent. Some of these amazing books have sat right there, on the shelf, Nook or hard drive, for the better part of a year. I want to read them. I really do. But I also have three jobs, including writing my own books, and reality is, there’s just not time to get to them all.

So…I don’t run around the BEA floor collecting new books to add to the stack. I’d just feel too guilty.

***Addendum, 7:15 pm: I started to post this as a comment, then decided it should be part of the post. I'm so very glad I was able to attend BEA. I hope to do it again on a regular basis. Meeting all the people I feel like I know so well from Twitter, FB and this blog in and of itself made the trip worth it in my eyes. I'm also not criticizing those who brought books home to read or for giveaways. It's just not something I felt compelled to do.

And, on that note, y’all want today’s Original Sin Teaser? I thought so! Here’s a glance inside Matt’s head:

#OriginalSin p135 Matt: Taylor was living dangerously for a while, but she seems to have come around. I was right on the edge of putting duck sauce down the front of her shirt until Angelique showed up.

But I have to say, staying out of the changing rooms while Lili was trying things on—especially at Victoria’s Secret—took all the angelic restraint I could muster.

Hmm…

And…if you want a glance into Luc’s don’t forget Teen Book Scene’s Original Sin Blog tour. Yesterday’s post, over at Lost for Words! was an interview with Luc. Today’s is an Original Sin review by the lovely Jamie over at  YA Addict!

Original Sin Blog Tour and 15 chances to win signed ARCs! Plus OS Teaser #45

So, the Original Sin Blog Tour, sponsored by Teen Book Scene, is under way!! This is where you get into the heads of my characters and maybe get a sneak peek at what's coming in Original Sin! Plus, each of the 15 bloggers will be running giveaways for a signed ARC! =) For the full tour schedule, go here!

Kicking off the tour yesterday was the lovely Lauren at 365 Days of Reading. Her post and giveaway is here. And today, Luc is hanging out with Corrine over at Lost for Words! Wednesday, the fabulous Jamie from YA Addict reviews Original Sin. (It's one of my first reviews and I'm very nervous *bites nails*) Thursday, check in with official Team Luc Fangirl Captain, Harmony, at Harmony's Radiant Reads for my list of the hottest YA couples, and, yep, you guessed it, another giveaway! And, on Friday, the fabulous Katie at Mundie Moms will be posting a Twitter convo she eavesdropped on between Frannie and the boys! Very fun! =)

Plus, don't forget my BLOWOUT AFTER DARK TOUR GIVEAWAY where, with just a comment, you can be entered to win a fabulous prize pack of signed copies of all the After Dark Tour books. That's FIVE books! Check it out!

And now for today's Original Sin teaser. This, from Luc's perspective =)

#OriginalSin p130 Luc: I arch an eyebrow at Frannie. “I like shopping.”

“Yeah, I can so totally see you and your demon shadow browsing the sale rack at Victoria’s Secret.”

I think about that for a second and a smile breaks across my face. “So can I.”

Blowout AFTER DARK TOUR CONTEST and OS teaser #44

Between touring, writing, and revising here is so much going on right now that I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. But the most exciting thing is that the release of Original Sin is only ONE MONTH away! Yay!

Y’all know I was just on the After Dark Tour with the fabulosity that is Leah Clifford (A Touch Mortal), Courtney Allison Moulton (Angelfire), and Aimee Carter (The Goddess Test).

So, to celebrate one month to Original Sin release, I’m throwing a BLOWOUT After Dark contest!!!! You have a chance to win signed copies of EVERYTHING from the tour! Yep! That’s everything listed above, plus Personal Demons and Original Sin! Squee!!!

But, before I get to the contest deets, how about another peek at Original Sin? ;p

Today’s teaser is from Frannie’s POV. The last few teasers have featured Luc and Frannie nakedness, and classic Luc cockiness. I decided Friday's teaser was totally lame, so I'm posting an expanded version of it today.

#OriginalSin p115 Frannie: He presses into me from behind and snakes his arms around my waist. I hate that my heart sputters at the feel of him there. And I hate even more that I can’t stop the tears that leak over my lashes.

“I’ve never said it,” he says, his voice low in my ear, “because it’s not enough…those words.”

I flip the last deadbolt and reach for the door handle before I process what he said. I stop and press my forehead into the door, trying to think, to breathe.

He spins me and his hand cups my face as he gazes down into my eyes. “God, I love you.” His eyes glisten. “I love you with everything that I am.”

*fans self* *clears throat*

Okay…so the contest. To enter to win signed copies of A Touch Mortal, Angelfire, The Goddess Test, Personal Demons and Original Sin, all you have to do is comment below by noon PST on Friday, June 10^th! In addition to commenting, for which you earn one entry, you can accumulate additional entries as follows:

Old blog follower: +3 points
New blog follower: +2 points
"Like" the Personal Demons Books Facebook page +2
Follow me on Twitter (@LisaDez) +2 points
Link to my contest post on your blog, Twitter or FB: +1 point
Add me to your blogroll: +2 points
Original Sin widget in your blog sidebar +2

Also on your entry, please remember to tell me how to find you (email address). And ADD UP YOUR POINTS because I can’t be trusted with math…just sayin’.

As always, the contest is open internationally. You must be at least 13 years old to enter. The contest will close at noon on Friday, June 10th. One winner will be chosen by the randomizer and posted here after noon on Friday.

 

Good luck and SQUEE!!

Whew! And the winner of Personal Demons and Original Sin! AND Original Sin Teaser #43!

I just got home from a whirl wind three days touring with Leah Clifford, Courtney Allison Moulton and Aimee Carter. I also got to hang out with the always entertaining Scott Tracey! (Witch Eyes, Flux 2011) And, the elusive Dan Krokos (False Memory, Hyperion 2012) also made an appearance. My truly fabulous agent, Suzie Townsend, send goodies to our first stop in Westlake, Ohio, which I should have taken a picture of, but didn't. They were yummy!

But...now I'm home and heading out to see the incomparable Melissa Marr tonight! Very excited!

What...? The winner? You guys are here to find out who won BOOKS? Hmm...okay. But first today's Original Sin Teaser.

Today's is another short one, and picks up not long after where yesterday's left off.

#OriginalSin p115 Luc to Frannie: “I’ve never said it,” he says, his voice low in my ear, “because it’s not enough…those words.”




And, now for the winner of signed copies of these!

The winner, as determined by the randomizer is...

Kristin @ Beneath Shining Stars!!!

Congrats!! I will email you after I take a nap =)

And, if you didn't win, don't despare! I have a totally amazing After Dark prize pack that will be up for grabs next week! Don't forget to check back!