News
Check out my review of Wings by Aprilynne Pike here on the blogspot blog. And also check out my recap of the Sarah Dessen event I went to a couple weeks ago!
Guest Blog from Julia Hoban
James is such a sweetie! You'll love him! I love him! Everyone loves him!" Kristi, The Story Siren.
I first became aware of James last fall when I stumbled across a review he wrote of "The Explosionist," by Jenny Davidson (a former professor of mine). I was immediately struck by his enthusiasm and fresh take on the material, and thought how fun it would be to work with him. I filed his name away as someone to suggest to my publisher when the time came to send out ARC's of my own book, WILLOW. I was thrilled (and nervous!) when I found out that they had already sent him one of their own accord!
After James had read WILLOW we began to correspond. I immediately connected with him, in fact, as I've often told him, he reminds me of one of the characters in my book, Carlos: the quintessential, easygoing, reassuring, best friend that we all wish we had.
"James can be summed up in one word - fabulous. He seems to be everyone's go-to person for blogging advice. Recently, I had the chance to meet him and I can say he's just as awesome in person as he is online!" Harmony May, Harmony Book Reviews.
I was very excited when James came up with the idea of reading a passage from WILLOW on one his vlogs. It was the first time I ever heard my words out loud, and it was a real treat! He's full of creative ideas like that .....
"Although he still owes me a kitty, James totally rocks. He's got spunk and YA-knowledge galore, plus he's incredibly hysterical. One of my favorite bloggers!" Chelsea, The Page Flipper.
But beyond his creative ideas, beyond his knowledge, there's one thing that really stands out about James, his incredibly positive nature. This time I'll quote the man himself:
"I read a ton of books and loved them all without having met or known anything about the author. I'm still the same way- my reviews are all honest, no matter how fanboy-ish they may be. Believe me, I know that the vast majority of my reviews are all glowing and people may think that I'm sucking up to the author or publisher, but I'm really not. It's how I'm programmed; I'm just content with how a book goes and am just in awe after finishing it. I'm actually also the same way with music and movies- I enjoy most everything I listen to or watch. I'm just easily pleased, that's all."
I myself am a very cynical person. This does not always make the world a very fun or comfortable place. James may be in awe of the authors that he reads, but I am in awe of someone who can say with all sincerity that they are most often content, that they are easily pleased, that they take such enjoyment out of life.
What a fabulous way to be in the world!
Guest Blog- Jennifer Banash
When Book Chic asked me to write a post about either my best or worst review ever, I began looking through my file of reviews—which is substantial—and picking out my faves. After having three books published, I’ve had my share of reviews—both wonderful and terrible, and although I’ve had many great reviews, there have been very few where I loved both the reviewer’s take on the book, and their suggestions for improvement. Enter Diane over at The Book Resort, whose recent review of THE ELITE made me chuckle and think in equal measure. One thought reverberated through my brain while reading the review (thank you Google alerts!), This girl gets me—she REALLY gets me! Now, I don’t know about other authors out there, but feeling like a reader really GOT what you were trying to accomplish with a book, a piece of literature that, most likely, you slaved over for years, is pretty rare. Sure, there will be many people who will review your books and like them—eve LOVE them, but that feeling that someone really understands your style and what you were trying to accomplish—is priceless. You might be asking yourself, why not a bad review, JB? Well, to be quite honest, with the release of SIMPLY IRESISTIBLE just around the corner, I’m way too happy to focus on that kind of negativity. And, besides, there are other sites for that—like my good friend Alexa Young’s kick-ass blog THE WORST REVIEW EVER. So, without further ado, here is Diane from The Book Resort’s review of THE ELITE, with my own running commentary :D
Hmmm... Another series about a Midwestern beauty moving to NYC. Another series featuring more rich, beautiful, bratty teens.
*Gulp. Begins sweating profusely*
Excuse me, haven't we done this before? Yes! Unfortunately, many times over! Excessively!
*Pours glass of wine the size of God’s ego*
Enter Jennifer Banash. JB has skills. Ms. Banash extinguishes the competition w/ her Manolo's then struts down to Bergdorf's to pick up a pair of Corset Bootie 's (Dior), a Stella McCartney Piercing Tote & a Kooba Blake Leather Shoulder Bag (love)! Banash is clearly a rock star & the others pale in comparison screeching karaoke.
OMG! She just named SEVERAL of my favorite fashion obsessions of the moment! She speaks Bergdorf’s! She knows fashion! And she just called me a rock star! WOOT! Most important, however, is the fact that she somehow senses that I worship Manolo’s—and that she clearly has a way with words . . .
Like movie theater popcorn w/ extra butta, a foot massage, a sundae w/ caramel, marshmallow & cherries ;P; a shopping spree @ Christian Louboutin, Victoria Secret & Sephora. Jennifer Banash has a sure fire hit w/ her fabulous Elite series.
*Emails publicist immediately*
Dear Caitlin,
Can we somehow get this girl a job writing back cover copy? This blurb MUST be on my next book!
xooxox
JB
Also: I am now hungry. Thank you, Diane, for thoroughly derailing my diet with your talk of luscious ice cream sundaes, marshmallows and cherries. *Opens bar of extra dark, 85% chocolate and shoves half in face*
Banash's characters are authentic, unique & interesting. Every player has a tale to tell & it is not just filler... it's substance. Banash was brilliant crafting the chapters in alternating points of view. It brings all the characters front & center. No kibbles & bits for the secondary characters... Banash illuminates every cast member w/ a glow of their own. The Elite isn't just about "poor" Casey & snotty Madison doesn't overshadow the novel w/ her grandstanding & diva tantrums... Jennifer deftly displays every character's voice & allows them to be genuine characters not high society caricatures! Applause! Sophie & Phoebe aren't Madison's accessories they are three-dimensional young adults w/ intriguing lives w/ secrets to confront, endure & disclose.
Brilliant is good. I would never argue with brilliant :D And she gets the fact that Sophie and Phoebe are EVERY BIT as important as Madison and Casey, that there truly is no MAIN character in the book, and that these kids have real problems—their not just cardboard cut-outs of the lives of the rich and fabulous. Yay! *Does happy dance* However, I am quite the fan of diva tantrums—particularly Madison’s—as they are the most fun to write. I mean, really—who DOESN’T want to play the bitch at least once in their lives? Or, umm, every day?
Now, I'm not going to leave out the tidbit that the beginning of The Elite was a bit slow going but once Banash sets the members up...away we go! Some may grouse @ the designer brands dripping off the pages, but it is a way of life in the world of big bucks! Eventually, Banash eases up on the labels & gives us the true grit. Drama, check! Scandal, of course! Fashionista's, come hither... The Elite is a must to toss into your tote!
Yeah, a lot of people complained that the beginning of the book was too slow, but I really did need the time to set up the story and build all that fabulous characterization Diana loves so much! And as far as the brands go, yes, they were a bit excessive in the first book, and I toned that tendency WAY down in the subsequent book. But I STILL am obsessed with knowing what every character in a series is wearing, but, then again, I sometimes take out the trash in a ballgown and tiara, so you do the math :D And, umm, HELLO? “Drama? Check, Scandal, of course, Fashionistas, come hither?” This girl should really be writing her OWN YA series. She could probably give me a run for my money . . .
Kudos to Banash, she didn't wave a La Perla garment & make Casey uber pop. Nah, just wouldn't be believable. Double kudos to Banash for the way she piloted Drew ~ spot on!
Jennifer's characters are extremely well developed. Madison is one of the nastiest something ~ somethings, but Banash writes w/ such emotion, you can't help but feel empathy for the bratty prima donna! Madison tells it like it is & remains true to form. Casey seems to lose herself once stepping foot in NYC. She is too easily manipulated & I wondered @ times if she left her smarts back home. Grrr.... I hate when a intelligent female loses sight of herself for a guy or a clique. Weak! Casey needs to toughen up if she's going to make it in the big A. Casey has the backbone to make it... she is just finding her way in Gotham city.
I love Madison. I realize that she is the character that most people love to hate, but I just love her. She really can’t help being such a bitch, and her home life is such a complete nightmare that it completely colors everything she does, and negatively affects most of her relationships with others. She’s never gotten any parental love or support, so she has zero idea how to impart it to other people. Hmm . . . Casey as too easily manipulated? Interesting. I’d never thought of Casey in that way—and not at the end of the book, but that’s what a good review does—it makes you reconsider your choices, and now, with a little distance from the writing of that book, I can see where Diana is coming from in terms of Casey’s character. Maybe I could’ve handled the end a little differently . . .But I do think Casey has backbone in general—it’s just a little depleted at the end of the book.
Banash has a hit on her hands & a mean pair of stilettos on her feet!
Again, can I steal this for the back of subsequent books? *Emails editor immediately*
SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, the latest installment in THE ELITE series, drops July 7th.
Here's the Simply Irrestible trailer:
Contest
Jennifer has kindly offered up a signed copy of Simply Irrestible, due out next Tuesday. So just leave a comment below by Friday, July 3 at 9pm EST and a random winner will be selected and notified by Myspace email. This is open to North American residents only.