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Showing posts with label 10 Reasons to Read. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 10 Reasons to Read. Show all posts
Welcome to Official Blog Tour for Award-winning Author L.E. DeLano's new YA contemporary and recognized as a Distinguished Favorite in the category of Young Adult Fiction at the 2021 NYC Big Book Awards, BLUE. Today, on our tour stop, we are kicking off this tour with a guest post featuring the topic: 10 Reasons Why to Read BLUE, a book trailer, and a tour-wide giveaway to share! So... Be sure to check it out and grab your copy now! Follow the tour, HERE.
Genre:
Young Adult
Contemporary
Publish Date:
October 26, 2021
Publisher:
Gaze Publishing
Synopsis:
When Blue Mancini’s mother picked her name, it ended up being a self-fulfilling prophecy.
A year ago, Blue’s brother, Jack, was involved in a car accident that killed the father of her classmate, Maya Rodriguez. Luckily for Jack, he got out of a manslaughter charge and into a plea bargain thanks to the top-notch lawyer hired by Blue’s wealthy parents.
The fallout is now affecting Blue as Maya returns to school determined to carve out a pound of flesh from the only member of the Mancini family she can reach. On top of that, Blue has a demanding mother, a father who’s never around, a drama-addicted best friend, and a secretive new guy who’s determined to make Blue his own personal cheer-up project. It’s a perfect storm of misery.
When Maya’s social media taunts and in-person digs finally push Blue to retaliate, they find themselves in afterschool detention and forced into a project meant to foster cooperation and civility. As the layers of their tangled drama unravel, Blue learns more about Maya’s life—and her own sense of privilege—when secrets are revealed that cast a new perspective on everything in Blue’s world.
*10 Reason to Read BLUE*
It’s not all about the angst. BLUE’s cover is stunning and instantly gut-punches you, but it’s more than just a book about a girl working her way through a depressing time in her life. Like ogres and onions, BLUE has layers, and you’ll be laughing a lot in between the heartfelt moments, before it all comes together in a way that leaves you believing in the power of “if.”
You’ll meet imperfect characters who screw things up and struggle as they try to make things right. Blue begins the story in a very self-centered place, and she and Maya create their own perfect prison of misery. Devon doesn’t handle his own secrets well, and all three of them say things in anger that they wish they’d never said. I wanted them to all feel genuine as we take this journey with them.
White Privilege is a thing – a real and hurtful thing. BLUE has some frank conversations about underlying things that many people just shrug off. It’s not a story with racism as a central theme, but that white privilege colors parts of Blue and Maya’s interactions in some very important ways.
BEST BOOK BOYFRIEND. Seriously. You’re going to love Devon!
Blue’s mom is an Entrepreneur MLM-loving Boss Babe who’ll make you LOL while simultaneously making your eye twitch with irritation. She’s ready to empower you with motivational quotes, serenity candles, “lifestyle” shakes, and funky leggings.
Blue has a BFF who has no filter. Zero. Jules is crass and coarse and alternatingly hilarious and maddening. She may seem too rude to be of much help, but she’s there for Blue in every way she knows how to be.
A beloved children’s book will become an existential epiphany. I felt such a sense of peace writing that scene.
There’s a major plot twist that you will NOT see coming. Not a single beta reader or reviewer (so far) has figured it out before it bowled them over. Excuse me while I pat myself on the back for that one.
You will read a thorough scientific examination of “Frito Theory.”
Get ready to experience what could be one of the funniest “first kiss” scenes in the history of YA.
Praise for BLUE
Overall: 10.00 out of 10 “DeLano has an excellent ear for teens' idiomatic speech . . . This is a fast-paced novel focused more on feelings and the social world of teens . . . An easy read for its intended audience.”- BookLife Prize by Publisher's Weekly
“Blue is a complex YA novel that challenges the reader to look at multiple perspectives of a difficult situation. Blue as a main character is really well-written, and the reader can feel her emotions and struggles. Several supporting characters help carry the book, make it easy to stay engaged with the story. . . I think YA readers will really appreciate Blue, and I encourage them to check it out.” – Jennifer C., NetGalley Reviewer
L.E. DeLano lives and writes in Pennsylvania with two hilarious kids and two ridiculous cats. Her debut novel, TRAVELER was selected as a Keystone to Reading Secondary Book Award finalist for school year 2018-19 by the Keystone State Reading Association (KSRA) and voted one of the 20 Most Beautiful Books of 2017 by MTV UK.
L.E. DeLano comes equipped with a “useless” Theatre degree that has opened doors for her in numerous ways. Though mostly raised in New Mexico, she now lives in Pennsylvania with two adventurous kids and two ridiculous cats. When she’s not writing (which is almost never), she’s binge-watching Netflix and planning road trips.
Her debut novel, TRAVELER was selected as a Keystone To Reading Secondary Book Award finalist for school year 2018-19 by the Keystone State Reading Association (KSRA) and also voted one of The 20 Most Beautiful Books in the World for 2017 by MTV UK.
Stay connected with L.E. DeLano
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***The Giveaway***
Giveaway Open to the U.S. Only
- ends November 11, 2021
Note: Not Responsible for Lost & Damaged Prizes in Your Mail Box
Welcome to the Official Blog Tour for Award-winning Author Tom Deady's The Clearing, the first title in a horror trilogy! Today, on our tour stop, we have a guest post featuring the topic: 10 Reasons to Read The Clearing, a book trailer, AND a tour-wide giveaway to share! So... Be sure to check it out and grab your copy now! Follow the tour, HERE.
When Hannah Green’s dog comes out of the woods carrying a sneaker that contains a partially decomposed foot, she thinks it’s the worst thing that could ever happen to her.
She is wrong.
Hannah and her best friend, Ashley, decide to play detective but find themselves in the middle of a decades-old mystery.
What is the strange old woman Mama Bayole hiding in her decrepit farmhouse? Why is the local librarian so determined to prevent them from researching town history? Who is following them around Hopedale, New Hampshire?
The girls make a shocking discovery about what has been happening in the woods behind Hannah's house. As they get closer to the truth, things take a dangerous turn, and they play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that may end up costing them their lives.
*10 Reasons to Read The Clearing*
Hannah and Ashley are believable protagonists. While stories that feature “perfect” heroes can be fun, giving the readers two main characters who feel real can be much more satisfying to the YA audience.
The book is inspired by true events. I have found this type of story can motivate readers to explore the source material, in this case the mystery surrounding the murder of Jeannette DePalma.
There are no perfect parents. In a lot of YA books, parents are written as all-knowing, compassionate, intelligent, and even heroic. The Clearing paints a more realistic picture of parents – humans with flaws, just like the kids in the stories. I believe this can have a positive impact on readers who may feel their own home life doesn’t “live up” to the portrayal of parent-child relationships in some books.
There are some factual bits of history included in the story. I generally try to find some weird historical fact that makes the supernatural aspects of my writing feel more believable. In Haven, I wove the story of Giles Corey and the Salem with trials into the story. In The Clearing, there is some lore about Wild Bill Hickok.
The Clearing is the first book in a series. So, if you fall in love with the characters, you know you have more books on the way!
Pop culture! I like to sprinkle in some music or movie references to add dimension to the characters. I’ve found that readers identify with the likes and dislikes of characters.
Homages to other horror books and movies. As a writer, horror stories were a huge influence on me. I often like to include a hat-tip to some of those inspirations. In The Clearing, there is a recurring mention of flies. This is due to the impact Lord of the Flies and The Amityville Horror had on me as a high school reader.
First love. The YA audience is a special age where they have a lot of “firsts” they will experience. The innocent “romance” between Hannah and Marcus is something I think the readers will enjoy.
Mama Bayole is a scary villain. Much like I mentioned with having believable protagonists, the villain has to be real enough that readers can feel the same peril that Hannah and Ashley feel. I think Mama Bayole fits the bill.
Hopedale contains a large and diverse cast of characters. I love writing small-town horror because small towns are almost a paradox. On the surface, it seems that everyone knows everyone. But in reality, how well do we really know our neighbors? The residents of Hopedale that have minor roles in The Clearing, may be stars in later books.
Praise for The Clearing
“Downright creepy. Tom Deady brings the scares in this gripping novel of horror and courage.” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author
“Tom Deady excels in creating a history and mystery that is engaging and action-packed. The Clearing's strong protagonists and their realistic concerns, beliefs, and choices creates a memorable and thoroughly engrossing read that is difficult to put down and impossible to predict—just the ticket for a superior horror novel and should ideally reach into adult reader circles, as well as mature teens.” —Midwest Book Review
“Deady shows an ability to switch from adult to young adult horror with the ease and confidence of a true wordsmith. The Clearing is a fast-paced supernatural tale, intelligent and sparkling with great characters, and more than a few chills. Superb.” —Dave Jeffery, author of Beatrice Beecham’s Cryptic Crypt and Ship of Shadows
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**About the Author**
Photo Content from Tom Deady
Tom Deady’s first novel, Haven, was published by Cemetery Dance in 2016 and won the Bram Stoker Award® for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. He has since published a novel entitled, Eternal Darkness, as well as several short stories and novellas, his most recent being Coleridge.
His novel, The Clearing, is book one in a horror trilogy and inspired by true events. (Vesuvian Books, 2021) Tom holds a master’s degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University, is an Active member of the Horror Writers Association, and a member of the New England Horror Writers. He resides in Massachusetts where he is working on his next novel.
Stay connected with Tom Deady
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***The Giveaway***
Giveaway Open Internationally | Must be 13+ to Enter
- ends November 15, 2021
Note: Not Responsible for Lost & Damaged Prizes in Your Mail Box
