Fun Fact Friday - All We See & Seem

Fun Fact #1 :

I knew I was writing All We See & Seem as either a short story or novella before I was even halfway through with Destiny Binds. I just HAD to tell Jase and Talley's story, but I knew I couldn't do it from Scout's POV.

Fun Fact #2 :

Despite knowing all along that I would be writing this story, I didn't know exactly what to write when I sat down at the computer to start this one. I'm mostly a panster (one who doesn't outline and lets the story develop as ones writes) anyway, but this was total pansting. I had NO idea what was going to happen.

Fun Fact #3 :

My original idea was to do the whole thing from Talley's POV. Then I realized Jase needed to tell his story, too. And then that third person snuck in there completely without my permission....

(Why, yes. That is a tease. Who do YOU think the 3rd POV is from?)

Fun Fact #4 :

All We See & Seem will be available NEXT WEEK!!!! I hope you all like it!

Amy Bartol's 90s UtopYA

90s UtopYA is my attempt at making friends through a series of interviews about the most awesome decade ever. Each Thursday will feature a different author, blogger, or book industry person who will be serving as a panelist at this year's UtopYA Con. This week I'm buddying up to Amy Bartol.

1. What do you miss most about the 90s?
College parties

2. Which 90s character was the most Amy-like?
Lelaina Pierce (Winona Rider) in Reality Bites.

I hope Amy forgives me for picking this picture instead of one of the million where Nona looks beautiful.
As a HUGE Reality Bites  fan myself, this is what I think of when I think of Lelaina Pierce.

3. Cross-over time! What 90s show/movie/book would you like to see mashed together with the Premonition series?

My So Called Life

4. Lightning round!

Buffy or Faith? 

Buffy.

Ren or Stimpy?They both scare me to death.

Nirvana or Pearl Jam?Cannot choose between them. They both got me through the 90’s, for which I am eternally grateful

R.E.M. or U2?In the 90’s it was R.E.M. (saw them 4x in concert) Now, U2 (saw them 1x in concert)

Backstreet Boys or *NSYNC?NSYNC

Daria Morgendorffer or Cher Horowitz?Daria Morgendorffer

Jared Leto or Leonardo DiCaprio?JARED LETO and his car named Red

*sigh*

Screech or Urkle?Urkle Did I do that?

Dawson or Pacey?Pacey. Hands down all day long.

Boy Meets World or Saved by the Bell?Boy Meets World

5. Finally, if UtopYA had a 90s theme song, what would it be?

Amy Bartol is the author of the beloved Premonition series. This will mark her second year as a UtopYA panelist.

(This picture is of Amy and Brad in 1992. That's right. 1992. Now, go look at an up-to-date picture of Amy. Can we all have a little discussion about the types of creatures who don't age? Because, seriously guys...)

AWS&S - Teaser Tuesday #4

A yelp had Jase turning to see what was wrong. He found Talley with both hands over her face.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking off the Pizza Pants of Shame.” He looked down to make sure he hadn’t accidentally jerked down his underwear in the process. “I’m wearing boxers, Tal. It’s okay. I’m fully covered.”

“No you’re not.”

Once again he looked down, making sure everything was staying in the appropriate article of clothing.

“I’m one hundred percent covered. Promise.”

Talley peeked through her fingers and quickly sealed them back together.

“Jase, you’re standing around in your panties. Get some pants on. Now.”

“I am not wearing panties. These are boxer shorts. Very manly boxer shorts. They’ve got the Incredible Hulk on them, who is like the living embodiment of testosterone. He would smash you for suggesting otherwise.”

“That’s not the Incredible Hulk. It’s Captain America.”

Jase chuckled. “So you looked?”

Need one last teaser to get you through to next week? Click on over to my Tumblr!

AWS&S - Music Monday #4

Oh, Anna Sun... *heart swells*




So, here's the deal. The songs I pick for Music Mondays are songs I've been listening to on repeat for weeks as I write. I don't usually see the video until it's time to post it here, and most of the time I find myself going, "Crap. I wonder if there is a live performance I can use."

That so did not happen this time.

Guys, this video? Perfection. Complete and total perfection. If you want to know how Jase feels from beginning to end of The Make-Out Scene, watch the singer's face during this video. It's exactly right! From what-the-crap-is-happening-here to oh-my-God-I'm-a-rock-star to this-is-what-happy-feels-like. Perfection.

And yes, if Jase could have stopped time and done a happy little dance number in the middle, he would have.

(*Note: For those of you screaming "SPOILER". Ummmm.... It's Jase and Talley. We all already know they get together. You knew they had to make-out at some point. Please, chill.)

Fun Fact Friday - Jase

Fun Fact #1 :

Jase's name comes from my best friend Jason, with whom I've been friends since Kindergarten. (Yes, that's right. Kindergarten. No matter how hard he's tried, he just can't get rid of me.)

Fun Fact #2 :

Okay, I know this will get some eyes rolling, but in my head, Jase looks a lot like pre-Twilight Jackson Rathbone.

Fun Fact #3 :

Jase is one of my favorite characters to write. He's flawed and makes some Mount Everest-sized errors, but he tries. Plus, he gets all the good lines.

Willow Cross's 90s UtopYA

90s UtopYA is my attempt at making friends through a series of interviews about the most awesome decade ever. Each Thursday will feature a different author, blogger, or book industry person who will be serving as a panelist at this year's UtopYA Con. This week we get to rock out with the super-nice Willow Cross!

1. What do you miss most about the 90s?

The music and the fun. The world seems to have been an easier place back then. (Of course it could have more to do with the fact that I was completely oblivious to the world at large too....)

2. Which 90s character was the most Willow-like? (Willow Cross-like. Not Willow Rosenberg-like, because that would be Willow Rosenberg, obviously.)

I’d love to say Buffy Summers (because how cool would that be?), but I was probably more like Cher Horowitz from Clueless. 

3. Cross-over time! What 90s show/movie/book would you like to see mashed together with the Dark Gifts series?

Charmed!

4. Lightning round!
Buffy or Faith? -- Buffy totally. 
Ren or Stimpy?-- Stimpy. 
Nirvana or Pearl Jam? -- %100 Nirvana. 
R.E.M. or U2?-- R.E.M. 
Backstreet Boys or *NSYNC? --Metallica. I wouldn’t be caught dead listening to boy bands back then. ;) 

They're boys. They're in a band. That counts as a boy band, right?
(And what is up with Lars's Billy Ray Cyrus hair?)

Daria Morgendorffer or Cher Horowitz? --Cher. 
Jared Leto or Leonardo DiCaprio?--Leo!!! I still love Leo!!! <3 
Screech or Urkle? --Screech 
Dawson or Pacey?--Dawson. 
Boy Meets World or Saved by the Bell?--Saved by the Bell. 
5. Finally, if UtopYA had a 90s theme song, what would it be?

Pictured is Willow from her actual-rock-star as opposed to writer-as-a-rock-star days. Willow is the author of several books, including the popular Dark Gifts series. She will be returning to UtopYA as a panelist this year.

All We See & Seem Contest!

Less than two weeks remain until All We See & Seem enters the great big, scary world.

*big gulp*

In preparation, I'm doing a mega-giveaway! Just fill out the form below for your chance to win one of five digital editions of AWS&S!

Sweet, right? But guess what... I'm not done. I'm also going to giveaway two (signed) paperback copies of AWS&S!

So, that's seven winners. Five will get a digital edition of AWS&S, and two will get paperback copies. Seven winners. Sounds good. But you know what sounds even better? Eight winners. Eight is more than seven, and thanks to the ad team working for AT&T, I know that more is better. But what to give this eighth person...? Hmmm....

How about signed copies of all three books in the Timber Wolves trilogy plus a signed copy of AWS&S?

*pauses for cheers*
(Even if you're not really excited, pretend like you are. It helps my weary soul.)

So, that's it. Eight prizes to give away. Your chances? They are excellent, my friends. All you have to do is fill out the form to win!

(Note: Contest ends Wednesday, May 22. Winners will be notified within 48 hours. Apologies to my lovely oversea friends, but this contest is for US-ians only.)