Waiting on Wednesday -23

So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev

Release Date: September 13th, 2011

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Synopsis:

Things are never easy for Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Something's happened to the Théâtre Illuminata, putting the only home she's ever known in limbo. Her mother's sanity is fraying under the strain, her father has vanished and an angry goddess is out for revenge. Bertie is caught between her duties and her dreams, just as her heart is torn between Ariel and Nate. But hope glimmers in a Distant Castle, and if Bertie can put on the performance of her life, maybe she can win the magical boon that may save them all. (From Lisa's website).

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I am so super excited about this book! The cover is soooo gorgeous... I can't wait!

Pre-order it here: Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to us by: Breaking The Spine.

Eyes Like Stars Contest Winner

And the winner of the ARC of Eyes Like Stars is...

Jennifer!

Congrats! I'll email you shortly for your contact information. You have 48 hours to respond before it goes to the runner up.

Thank you everyone for entering and I hope you all join me again for my next contest!!

Eyes Like Stars Launch

So, I'm sure everyone has noticed how excited I am about the release of Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev. Well since the book has already been seen in various locations, I just wanted to remind you that it comes out July 7th!! You can already find it in several locations (at least I did!) because some book shops released it early.


You can find all my Eyes Like Stars stuff below:

-Review

-Interview with Lisa Mantchev

-Win Eyes Like Stars (7/7)

But there is more!

-Over at Vania's Reverie Book Reviews, She is holding an Eyes Like Stars Extravaganza! Go there to win cool prizes and swag for participating in her contest.

-Also, Robbie at Boy With Books is hosting an Eyes Like Stars Glitter Party from July 6-10. Make sure to stop by and check it out!

Buy Eyes Like Stars at: Amazon or any book store near you!!

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If you have an Eyes Like Stars contest or event going on, feel free to let me know and I'll add it to my list!!

In My MailBox -5

Slow week, but here's what I got!!

Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs (Hardback)

Synopsis:

Phoebe, who recently discovered she’s a descendant of Nike (the goddess, not the shoe), is finding that supernatural powers come with a crazy learning curve. Her stepfather, headmaster of the Academy for descendants of the Greek gods, has enrolled her at Dynamotheos Development Camp—aka Goddess Boot Camp—with a bunch of ten-year-olds for the summer.

Embarrassing as that is, hopefully it’ll help her gain control over her powers in time to pass the test of the gods, continue training hard enough to qualify for the Pythian Games, and enjoy her godly boyfriend, Griffin, all while avoiding the ultimate mistake of accidentally misusing powers.

It’s another fast-paced myth-inspired heroine’s quest that’s sure to bring out the goddess in anyone.

Cirque Du Freak Vol. 1 by Darren Shan/Takahiro Arai

Ok... So it's a manga... but It was also a book!

Synopsis:

The world of internationally acclaimed author Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak brought to life as you've never seen it before!

Darren Shan was an average kid until destiny brought him to the Cirque du Freak. Now Darren's been immersed into a shadowy world inhabited by vampires, werewolves, and strange creatures the likes of which he's never imagined, and his life will be changed forever!

So that's pretty much it! I also recieved another ARC of Eyes Like Stars-- For a chance to win it go here: Win Eyes Like Stars!

Contest: Win Eyes Like Stars

-EYES LIKE STARS GIVEAWAY-

So you read the review and have seen the interview... Now it is time to read the book! One lucky winner will receive my extra copy (that was accidentally sent to me...) of Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev. The version being given away is an ARC.

Rules:
-Open only to the U.S.A. Sorry, but I just don't have that kind of money to send internationally.
-Post everything in ONE entry.
-Post your EMAIL. No email, no entry.
-There will be only One winner, which will be drawn randomly to receive the ARC.
-Contest open until Midnight of July 7th, 2009.
(Midnight whatever your time is. I won't post the winner till a day afterward.)

To Enter:
+1 Comment on here: Post one of your most memorable Theatre experience or post your favorite Shakespearean play and why. (or BOTH for +2)

Extra Entries:
+1 for commenting on my review of ELS: Here
+1 for commenting on my Interview with Lisa Mantchev: Here
+1 for everywhere you post this contest or link my blog (ex: Sidebar+1, post+1, Blog Roll+1 so that would be 3 entries-- make sure to leave a link).
+2 for following me on Twitter: Here
+3 for being/becoming a follower.

Make sure you tell me what you do or you won't get the extra entries!

THIS CONTEST IS OVER.

Interview: Lisa Mantchev

Lisa Mantchev is the Author of the upcoming release Eyes Like Stars which hits book shelves July 7, 2009.

Find out more information by clicking: The Théâtre Illuminata

Questions on Eyes Like Stars:

Tainted Poet: First off, could you please give us a brief summery of Eyes Like Stars?
Lisa Mantchev: ELS is the story of Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, who lives at the Théâtre Illuminata with all the characters from every play ever written. It's a moving story of self-discovery. With glitter. And cupcakes. And great costuming.

TP: How much of yourself would you say you put into your main character Bertie?
LM: She has my love of the theater and coffee. I didn't start dying my hair until I hit college, though, and never blue.

TP: Are you a fan of Shakespeare? Or was there another reason for all the Shakespearean references and characters?
LM: Whenever I read one of his plays, I get an awed feeling at the idea of writing iambic pentameter with a quill pen... especially when I stop to think about how often I use the "delete" key in my word processor! I really enjoy pieces that riff on his work, too. "The Shakespeare Code" is one of my very favorite episodes of Doctor Who, for example, and I love movies like "10 Things I Hate About You" that use his storylines in a modern setting.

TP: Who would you say is your favorite character and why?
LM: It started with Bertie, so I'll stick with her.

TP: Peaseblossom is my favorite. Which Fairy are you most fond of?
LM: It's funny... I think of them as "Pease and The Boys." I can't pick a favorite, any more than a mom would tell you which of her kids she likes best... mostly because they would shove jelly beans up my nose while I'm sleeping if I said otherwise.

TP: What inspired you to write about the Theatre?
LM: I started performing in community theater when I was seven, then majored in Drama in college, so it's something with which I was familiar (that old adage of "Write what you know.") I've always felt that theaters are magical, and hoped readers might feel the same way I do.

TP: Is there a particular message you want readers to take away from ELS?
LM: "Go to the theater. See a play."

TP: Eyes Like Stars is the first of a Trilogy. When is the next one expected to be released?
LM: PERCHANCE TO DREAM will be released in the Fall of 2010, and the third book in the Théâtre Illuminata series in 2011.

Other Questions:

TP: What is your biggest literary inspiration?
LM: Probably the Shoes books by Noel Streatfeild (particularly Ballet Shoes.)

TP: Do you have any particular foods or drinks you like to eat or drink when you're writing?
LM: Coffee, coffee, and more coffee. I also love having nibbles nearby (small candies, like Reece's Pieces, Skittles, or jelly beans) that I can nom as I think.

TP: Music or no music while writing? If so, what do you listen to?
LM: If I listen to music, which isn't often, because I get distracted easily, it's instrumental... like the "Assassin's Tango" from the Mr. & Mrs. Smith soundtrack. I listened to that on repeat while choreographing the tango scene.

TP: Are there any particular authors that inspire you?
LM: I just finished Frank Beddor's Looking Glass Wars, which was super-shiny. I also love Patricia McKillip's sensory details and Neil Gaiman's sense-of-wonder. Terry Pratchett's books really gave me permission to let out my inner smart-arse.

TP: Why did you decided to write Young Adult?
LM: I didn't, actually. Before tackling the novel, I was writing short, speculative fiction, and "YA" isn't really a separate genre in that field. While writing it, I just thought of is as "this neat thing I'm working on." Then I sold to a YA imprint, and realized the majority of my reading material comes from the YA/teen section of the bookstore. I had a moment of glorious realization that I'd finally found my place, my writing "home."

TP: How much time do you usually spend writing daily?
LM: It's a full time job for me now, but I work it in around parenting and laundry and vacuuming up the dog-hair tumbleweeds. And "writing" isn't just putting down first draft material... it might also mean revising, which I've been doing nonstop for about nine months, or copyediting, or reading page proofs. It's also blogging and networking and organizational stuff. The hours certainly add up!

TP: What is a question no one ever asks, but you wish that they would?
LM: Nobody ever asks me the meaning of life, which means I have to randomly shout "Forty-two!" at people on the street.

END

I am personally very excited for this release! Lisa was great to work with and I would just like to give her a round of applause for the wonderful book she has written for us! Brava!

Stay around to have a chance to win an ARC of Eyes Like Stars!

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Re-Read? This is a book I definitely want to re-read. I believe it will only get better the more it is read.

Recommend? To anyone who has ever loved the Theatre or Shakespeare.

Release Date: July 7, 2009
Publisher: Feiwel And Friends/ ARC
Pages: 356

Synopsis:

All her world’s a stage.

Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.

She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents.

She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.

That is, until now.

Enter Stage Right

NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE’S sidekicks.

ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie’s weakness. The symbol of impending doom.

BERTIE. Our heroine.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.

Open Curtain

My Thoughts:

Eyes Like Stars was everything it promised to be and more. Growing up in a Theatre can be difficult-- especially when your bedroom is just a set! Our heroine, Beatrice(Bertie) Shakespeare Smith, has lived at the Theatre for as long as she can remember. All she knows is that she was dropped off as a young child and has lived there ever since. She is not an actress nor is she part of the staff; Bertie just lives at the theatre causing all sorts of havoc sometimes. But was her last stunt, one stunt too far? Will she be forced to leave the only home she has ever known?

Once you get going with this novel, and you are familiar with all the characters and who they are-- it's impossible to put down. Bertie is a headstrong heroine who doesn't take anything from anyone. She is creative and knows how to get what she wants. Her best friends are four Faeries from A Midsummer Nights Dream. Peaseblossom, the only girl, was my favorite! Though the boys are quite humorous with their violent tendencies. Nate, a Pirate from A Little Mermaid was really sweet--and also the source of Bertie's fondness. But I couldn't help but love Ariel, a wind spirit from The Tempest. There is a lot more going on with him then they show you.

There was nothing that I really disliked about Eyes Like Stars. There were a few pacing problems I thought, but nothing major. Just some minor confusion. And even that was cleared up pretty fast. I just loved the plot-- Now I wish I grew up in a theatre like Bertie!

Eyes Like Stars will be released on July 7th, 2009. Make sure to check it out! Up next-- An Interview with Lisa Mantchev!

In My MailBox -4

Haha I went kinda crazy this week. Though, I am really looking forward to reading all of these! I didn't accomplish all my goals this past week, but I'm pretty sure I will have a lot more time this week. So! I'll be sure to post several reviews in the upcoming week. And-- This is whats new for me this week!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Hardcover)

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games."
The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

I'm excited about this one... everyone seems to have read it and loved it!

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev (ARC)

All her world’s a stage.

Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.

She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents.

She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.

That is, until now.

Enter Stage Right

NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE’S sidekicks.

ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie’s weakness. The symbol of impending doom.

BERTIE. Our heroine.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.

Open Curtain

Gone by Michael Grant (Paperback)

In the blink of an eye.

Everyone disappears.

Gone.

Everyone except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not a single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Gone, too, are the phones, internet, and television. There is no way to get help.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen and war is imminent.

The first in a breathtaking saga about teens battling each other and their darkest selves, gone is a page-turning thriller that will make you look at the world in a whole new way.

Wake by Lisa McMann (Paperback)

Not all dreams are sweet.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

Vacations from Hell by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson and Sarah Mlynowski (Paperback)

Life's a beach . . . and then you're undead?

in this must-have collection, five of today's hottest writers—Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty), Cassandra Clare (City of Bones), Claudia Gray (Evernight), Maureen Johnson (13 Little Blue Envelopes), and Sarah Mlynowski (Bras & Broomsticks)—tell supernatural tales of vacations gone awry. Lost luggage is only mildly unpleasant compared to bunking with a witch who holds a grudge. And a sunburn might be embarrassing and painful, but it doesn't last as long as a curse. Of course, even in the most hellish of situations, love can thrive. . . .

From light and funny to dark and creepy, these stories have something for everyone. You definitely won't want to leave this collection at home!

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs (Paperback)

When Phoebe’s mom returns from Greece with a new husband and plans to move to an island in the Aegean Sea, Phoebe’s well-plotted senior year becomes ancient history. Now, instead of enjoying a triumphant track season and planning for college with her best friends, Phoebe is trying to keep her head above water at the überexclusive Academy.
If it isn’t hard enough being the new kid in school, Phoebe’s classmates are all descendants of the Greek gods! When you’re running against teammates with superpowers, dealing with a stepsister from Hades, and nursing a crush on a boy who is quite literally a god, the drama takes on mythic proportions!

Ok! So those are the books that I have Bought/recieved for review in the past week! (I have to say I love Oh. My. Gods. cover. It's so cute! ) I can't wait to start! Maybe I should finish last weeks books... Haha. Also, there is more to come this next week! Expect an interview with... Lisa Mantchev!

In My MailBox is brought to us by... The Story Siren