Blog Tour: Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein (Interview)

Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Pages: 304

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

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Interview with Lisa Burstein

Hi, Lisa! Thanks so much for stopping by! 

First of all, are any of the adventures in PRETTY AMY inspired by some of your crazy teenage times?

 I was arrested during my senior year of high school, not for the same reason Amy was, but that was where the kernel came from. I also knew I wanted to write a "shocking" book from a teenage girl's point of view. I feel like you can get away with your character being a murderer, or a jerk, or just a smart ass more easily if your book isn't contemporary and I wanted to try to break that mold with PRETTY AMY. I also wanted to write a contemporary YA book that was about what real teens go through. I feel like teenage girl's lives are complex and I hoped to show that in PRETTY AMY.

How does it feel to know that PRETTY AMY is going to be hitting the shelves in less than A WEEK!? 

CRAZY! I have been waiting for this moment for my whole life and I cannot believe it is finally here. It is beyond anything I could have dreamed!

If you had to write a book about one of the secondary characters, which would you choose? 

Cassie. Well, I am writing a book about her. A companion novel to PRETTY AMY, titled DEAR CASSIE about the aftermath of the girls’ arrest and its effect told through diary entries of Amy’s best friend Cassie.

Did you spend a lot of time caring what others thought about you in high school? 

OMG yes! I still care what others think about me. But high school is the worst. I think being a teenage girl is torture. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. 

What was your favorite part of writing PRETTY AMY? 

Her voice, she is so funny and cynical. She makes me laugh.

You win a lifetime supply of your favorite candy, what do you pick? 

Skittles

You get the lead role on your favorite TV show, which show would you want to star in? 

Well my favorite TV show in Seinfeld. I would definitely love to be Elaine.

You get to kiss one major hottie from a YA book, who's lips are you locking with? 

Daemon Black from Obsidian

Lisa, you are made of so much win! Any thing to add? 

No, just that I hope everyone enjoys reading PRETTY AMY as much as I enjoyed writing it.

It was great having you on the blog!

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Characters in Books

Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters In Books

(In no particular order)

1) Rose Hathaway (Vampire Academy series)

Okay, really? Rose is my favorite character of all frackin time. She's badass, kickass, and a smartass. She's fiercely loyal, clever, and fights for what she thinks is right. She's got so many issues, and it's so great to watch her overcome her problems. 

2) Wesley "Link" Lincoln (Caster Chronicles)

Link is hilarious. Even in the most darkest times, Link could make me laugh. Then, in Beautiful Chaos, we see a more vulnerable side of him and I was swooning and awwwwwwwwing. 

3) Cassel Sharpe (Curse Workers series)

Cassel is incredibly, well, sharp. He's cunning and snarky. And most of all, I love that, despite his family history, he tries to hold himself to a higher standard. Cassel is so messed up and that's why it's hard not to love him!

4) Adam Wilde (If I Stay)

First of all, Adam is obviously sexy. Second of all, he's a musician--which is sexy. I loved how much he clearly cared about Mia and the extremes he went to in order to see her. He's adorable and, uh, did I mention SEXY!? 

5) Evan (Hushed)

The one thing I really admired about Evan was that he is infinitely patient with Arthur and he is willing to risk everything in order to help Archer. He is kind and understanding. 

6)Jace Wayland (Mortal Instruments series)

Okay, I can't help it. Jace is so wonderfully swoon-worthy. Everything that comes out of his mouth makes me melt. He is broken, sometimes a little rude, and extremely reckless. But he has a softer side when it comes to the people he loves and he is willing to sacrifice anything and everything for them. Honestly, I could go on and on about Jace, but I'll just end with: He's beautiful. 

7) Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games trilogy) 

Elaboration is really quite unnecessary, because we all know how kickass Katniss is. 

8) Dimitri Belikov (Vampire Academy series)

He's different than the average YA love interest, perhaps because he is a lot more man than boy. He is sweet, tender, wise, a god, focused, determined, and a lot more delicious adjectives. AND A NOMNOM ACCENT ;D

9) Sophie Mercer (Hex Hall trilogy)

I wasn't crazy about her in the first book, but in Demonglass she kicks up her badassery with more magic and kissing and snark! 

10) Magnus Bane (Mortal Instruments & Infernal Devices series)

Uh, he's MAGNUS FRACKIN BANE. Nuff said. 

No joke, that's just the tip of the iceberg of the characters I adore. Who are your favorite book characters!? 

In My Mailbox (18)

Here's what I got in my mailbox this week! Clicking on the titles will take you to the book's Goodreads page. 

Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers

Signed and personalized. Won from Lisa's blog. I was so excited for this because I have a signed copy of Personal Demons. I haven't read the series yet, because I'm waiting for Last Rite to be released. Speaking of, that little note in the bottom left is from Lisa, telling me not to even open the book because the very first sentence is a spoiler. And then some signed bookmarks I can giveaway.

The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell

An ARC from Random Buzzers. 

From Fame to Shame by Veronica Blade

Received from Ashley at What's Your Story? for a blog tour. 

What did you get in your mailbox!? 

Blog tour: Until Next Time by Amy Lignor (Guest Post)

I am thrilled to have Amy Lignor, author of Until Next Time, here on the blog!

Top 5 (non-living) things that would kill me the most to sacrifice...

Well…this has to be the hardest question thus far… J

I’m not sure if you meant ‘tangible’ or ‘intangible’ non-living things, so I’m giving you both…

Books: An easy ‘Number One’ for me. Books have been my in my blood, so to speak, for a very long time. Books play a part in my life 100% of the time, so I would be lost (and really bored) without them. (Plus, except for, The Big Bang Theory, I hate TV!)

Music: I love a broad selection - everyone from Michael Crawford/Phantom of the Opera (sigh) to Aerosmith. Music calms me down and makes me look at things in a new way.

My Computer: Without it, I would have to go back to pen and paper and I don’t think much would get done. I can’t even imagine the hand cramps, and even I can’t read my handwriting (it resembles that of a pirate whose had way tooooo much rum - and I don’t even get the rum).

Movies: I am a huge movie fan and I love to see a fantastic story brought to life! From The Lost Boys to The Breakfast Club to Sense & Sensibility and Sherlock Holmes - the list is endless. I can’t wait to see The Raven!

Root Beer Floats: I can’t help it. We all need one vice and that is SO mine!

To speak for the ‘intangibles,’ I would hate to ever sacrifice:

Humor: I love to laugh; I love to make other people laugh; and without being able to look at some of the ‘bad’ stuff in this world and turn it into humor, I think we all would have to curl up and call it a day.

Loyalty: To your friends, to your family - this is one intangible that I would hate to ever see disappear.

Faith: Everyone has faith in something, mine is fierce.

Passion: You need to have that lust for life. I think if I didn’t, I’d be a robot. (Although Optimus Prime and those Transformers were really passionate about their job!)

Imagination: No explanation needed for this one. Without being able to create, I’d lose the ability to do what I love the most.

Until Next Time, Everybody,

Amy

What fabulous answers, Amy! I couldn't imagine losing any of those things either. What do you guys think!? 

Until Next Time by Amy Lignor

Series: The Angel Chronicles #1

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publication Date: February 1, 2012

Publisher: Tribute Books

Pages: 255

How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

Book Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBookstore ~ Smashwords

Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico. 

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Blog ~ Goodreads 

Challenge Progress

I am participating in four different reading challenges this year, but I haven't been keeping very good track of my progress. Since it's nearly the end of April already (!!), I figured I should probably review and report how I'm doing so far!

The 2012 Debut Author Challenge is hosted by the one, the only, The Story Siren! So far this year, the 2012 debut books I've read are:

1) Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2) The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams
3) The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

4) Partials by Dan Wells 

5) Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

The 2012 Standalone Reading Challenge is hosted by Icey Books and I Like These Books. The 2012 standalone books I've read this year are: 

1) The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams
2) New Girl by Paige Harbison
3) Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

4) Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

5) Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

6) Slide by Jill Hathaway

7) Zero by Tom Leveen

The 2012 Sophomore Reading Challenge is hosted by Chick Loves Lit. So far this year, the sophomore books I've read this year are:

1) New Girl by Paige Harbison

2) Zero by Tom Leveen

The 2012 YA Contemporary Challenge is hosted by the fabulousKatie's Book Blog and Reading Angel! The 2012 contemporary books I've read so far this year are:

1) The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams
2) New Girl by Paige Harbison

3) Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

4) Zero by Tom Leveen

Not...great. I could (read: should) be doing a lot better, but school ends in about a month so once summer hits hopefully I'll improve this VERY light list. It appears I am doing the best in my Standalone challenge, which isn't surprising because I've sort of been trying to avoid series unless all the books have been released. 

How are you doing with your 2012 reading challenges?

Win a designer prom dress!

Lisa Burstein has launched a contest giving followers a chance to win one of three designer prom dresses from Kay Unger (Phoebe Couture), and 2 Sephora $20 gift cards in time for prom season. 

You read that right.  Win a Designer Prom Dress.  Lisa Burstein is celebrating the upcoming release of PRETTY AMY, and to sweeten the pot, 3 Phoebe Couture Evening Dresses are being given away.

WOW!

PRETTY AMY starts on a prom night that goes horribly and hilariously wrong. Prom night or any special night doesn’t always go as planned. There is a lot you can’t control: the weather, your date’s breath and sometimes even the whim of a policeman. 

Luckily, you can control the way you look and PRETTY AMY wants you to look good.

Designer good. $200 Designer good!

See more at Lisa Burstein’s website!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

To celebrate PRETTY AMY entering the world on May 15th! Lisa is giving away 3(!) Size 8 Phoebe Couture evening dresses, generously donated by Kay Unger and 2(!) $20 Sephora gift cards.

4 lucky people will win! Contest starts 4/17 and goes until 5/17

To make this even MORE fun, some brave Entangled authors, editors, publicists and interns have given Lisa their prom photos. She will be posting them on her Facebook page over the next month as well!