It is that time of year...again! Events and places where teens, authors and books meet! For many booknerds and readers alike, we attend many book festivals and author events all over the United States. I am absolutely thrilled to be part of this blog tour for this event! And...I get to host one of the amazing authors that will also be in attendance! You'll find out who I'm hosting soon...after discussing some details about this fun event! My daughter and I was fortunate to go to the first Teen Book Fest when it all started in Ontario! And, of course, at the end of sharing all this exciting and fun information, there is an awesome Blog Tour GIVEAWAY...at the end of this post! Plus, check out the blog tour schedule!
Well, this coming March 2016, the City of Ontario will be holding their 6th Annual Ontario Teen Book Fest featuring many bestselling authors. Booknerds and fans of all ages are welcome to attend; however, teens are given preferred seating.
When:
March 12, 2016, Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Where:
Colony High School
3850 E. Riverside Drive
Ontario, California 91761
Did I mention that to attend is absolutely FREE and it is NOT ticketed!
Yup! Ontario's Teen Book Fest is completely FREE to attend! For more information on the Ontario Teen Book Fest, go to:
Sponsored by:
*Books and other stuff will be available for purchase during the event*
Join us as we celebrate teens and books with an amazing lineup of authors! And, of course, there will be signings as well! Yay! To celebrate this upcoming and exciting event, we are having a blog tour spotlighting these amazing authors!
Blog Tour Schedule:
February 22
Spotlight on Andrew Smith -- What A Nerd Girl Says
February 23
Spotlight on Alexandra Monir -- The Consummate Reader
February 24
Spotlight on April Genevieve Tucholke -- Adventures of a Book Junkie
February 25
Spotlight on Alexis Bass -- A Traveling Book
February 26
Spotlight on Marissa Meyer -- Read Now Sleep Later
February 27
Spotlight on Sara Elizabeth Santana -- Movies, Shows & Books
February 28
Spotlight on Robin Reul -- Recently Acquired Obsessions
February 29
Spotlight on E. Katherine Kottaras -- iFandoms Collide
March 1
Spotlight on Stephanie Diaz -- My Fangirl Chronicles
March 2
Spotlight on Virginia Boecker -- The Reader's Antidote
March 3
Spotlight on Mary McCoy -- Book You Very Much
March 4
Spotlight on Brad Gottfred -- Seeking Bazinga
March 5
Spotlight on Michelle Levy -- My Fangirl Chronicles
March 6
Spotlight on Elana K. Arnold -- Read Now Sleep Later
March 7
Spotlight on Kristin Halbrook -- What A Nerd Girl Says
March 8
Spotlight on Jessica Brody -- The Windy Pages
March 9
Spotlight on Nicole Maggi - Nite Lite Book Reviews
March 10
Spotlight on Jay Asher -- A Bookish Escape
Today, I have the great pleasure to spotlight the amazing debut author, Sara Elizabeth Santana!
My daughter and I have the great pleasure calling her friend! We first met Sara at some event...we've been to so many, that I can't remember which one...haha! But, since then, near or far, we have maintained that friendship based on our love for all the fandoms and books we have in common and have grown to love! We are absolutely thrilled that her dream of becoming a published author has come true!
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**About the Author**
Sara Elizabeth Santana is a YA and NA fiction writer. She has worked as a smoothie artist, Disneyland cast member, restaurant supervisor, nanny, photographer, pizza delivery driver, and barista; but writing is what she loves most. She runs her own nerd girl/book review blog, What A Nerd Girl Says.
Sara lives in Southern California with her Dad, five siblings, and two dogs. Her debut novel is The Awakened.
Sara Elizabeth Santana is represented by Benjamin Alderson of OfTomes Publishing.
Stay connected with Sara Elizabeth Santana
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Book(s) by Sara Elizabeth Santana:
(Book covers are links to Goodreads)
Watch the book trailer for The Awakened!
Note:
Sara will have only 6 copies at the event. $15 each, cash only.
Don't miss out on this new book and be sure to purchase a copy on Amazon prior to the event so you can get your copy signed by this amazing author!
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*My Interview with Sara Elizabeth Santana*
1. Of course, I must start off with the most basic of questions. When/How did you know you wanted to be a writer?
It's actually kind of weird. I never really thought about writing until I was about 9-years-old. We used to do these things called Writers Workshop in school, where we had to write stories. It was supposed to improve our writing and we did one each month, you know, back to school story, Halloween story etc. We were supposed to write a winter story and I didn't do it for some reason so I wasn't allowed to participate in the holiday party until I wrote my story. Well, I wrote it in about 20 minutes and my teacher was so skeptical, but apparently it was good, good enough that she shared it with my parents and with the rest of the fourth grade teachers. That's kind of when I thought, hmmm...maybe this is something I'm actually GOOD at.
2. Of course, congratulations on your first book being published!!! Where were you and what was your first reaction when you found out that your book got picked up/published?
I was at home actually. I had just gotten off the phone with Benjamin, who runs OfTomes PUblishing, and he offered me a contract for The Awakened, and I was just sort of...shocked. That book was a two year journey so it was sort of surreal. I immediately told my dad and best friends.
3. We already know that booknerds/fangirls such as ourselves have many favorites. Out of all that you love, who are your all-time favorite authors that inspire you?
Well to be super obvious, JK Rowling, of course. Tamora Pierce is also a huge one as well. For this particular book, Jessica Brody, Melissa Landers, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Rick Yancey were HUGE influences for sure.
4. I've learned that many authors have varying writing processes that works for them. What writing process works for you?
I'm kind of all over the place. I like to sit down and just write. I usually put on some music or some Netflix. Some people are so baffled by this but I work well with noise. Silence is very distracting for me, I can't concentrate. And it's usually about a third of the way into writing my book that I sit there and I go, okay, I've sort of hit a wall, and I stop and outline the rest of the story.
5. Speaking about writing, what is your ideal work environment when writing/creating your stories?
Music, for sure. A bottle of water. And I had to have eaten already. I know that sounds silly maybe but I get super grumpy if I'm hungry so I can't concentrate on writing if I'm hungry!
6. Since inspiration usually comes from life experiences etc., what inspires you when you write?
It kind of just depends on the story that I want to tell. The first novel that I ever wrote was called Another Chance for Summer, and it was about a girl who struggled with body image and her own self confidence, which was so hugely what I was going through at the time. The Awakened was partly just watching The Walking Dead and partly, I just had the idea running through my head. The NA romance I finished this past summer is all about baseball and that came from my crush on Mike Trout and my deep obsession with baseball. Things sometimes come directly from my life, sometimes they're just random!
7. After asking about all-time favorite authors, let's talk books! What book(s) have you read that stuck as your all-time favorite and/or memorable? And/or what book(s) have inspired you and your writing?
Hmmm...Well, it's hard to say. I've read so many books! But some of the ones that constantly pop are ones like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Winger by Andrew Smith, authors like Cora Carmack, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Melissa Landers, Richelle Mead, Jessica Brody, Cassandra Clare. Classics like Gone with the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Pride and Prejudice. I read so much!
8. It looks like the entertainment industry is adapting many books, particularly YA books, to film and/or television. Which book to film or book to television adaptations did you enjoy the most? Which ones were disappoints? And why?
The biggest ting with that is recognizing that the book and the movies are two different things, and that's hard because I usually super love these books! I don't want to get into a lot of details because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but I will say this: the adaptations that I love tend to be the ones that may not have gotten all the details right, bu they get the overall message right. They get what the author was trying to do with the story. The adaptations that I don't like completely miss that and make so many changes that they lose the core of the story. I hope that answer works!
9. Let's ask some random book things shall we? Physical book or ebook? Why?
I love both! I think I do tend to like physical books more, because ther'es just something super nice about smelling a brand new book and seeing the gorgeous cover. But I do love ebooks, too. Not only do I love the idea of having a ton of books at my fingers, in a small device, I also think ebooks are huge in getting more and more people to read lately.
10. What grabs you when looking for a new book, book cover or synopsis?
It just depends! It could be that I've heard about it from my many blogger/fangirl friends, which is usually the biggest reason taht I get a new book. But usually it starts with a book cover, and then I read the back cover. If I like the back cover, I buy it!
Well, there you go booknerds/fangirls! We found out a little bit more about this amazing new author, Sara Elizabeth Santana! Be sure to meet her at this upcoming event!
Thank you Sara for taking time from your busy schedule for this interview!
Of course, we can't forget that TODAY is her birthday!
Sara!!!!
***The Giveaway***
Giveaway is U.S. Only
Blog Tour Organized by
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