Why I wanted to punch my Hubs... No Seriously.

Sorry so late with the blog. I spent the first half of the day with no internet. Now I completely know how the pioneers felt. 

Kidding.

Anywho, my brain no longer works right, so Sam has to remind me about things like appointments and parties and stuff. Last Friday, Sam's all, "Kid C's first school ski day is today!"

And I'm all, "What?!"

Sam: "Yeah, he needs gear. GEAR! Lots of gear that starts with the letter 'G' like Goggles and Gloves, and a Gator! And he has to be to this other school parking lot [not our own school, but another school] because if he's not there on time the bus will leave without him!"

So I ran around to a bunch of different places and bought the first goggles they showed me because I didn't have time to price-shop. 

I picked Kid C up from school, ran home and changed him. It was like a fire drill at the local station. I'm all, "Strip! STRIP!! Now put these on. No! On your head! Does it look like Goggles go on your feet?!"

Sweats, check.

Pants check.

two long sleeve t-shirts, check.

Ski Jacket, check. Gloves, check. Gator, check. Goggles, check. Hat, check. 

Kid C was very nervous. He asked if there would be bullies on the bus. He insisted on wearing every article of ski gear, even though he still had a long bus ride, and even though it was like 65 degrees outside.

65 degrees. 

But he didn't want to stand out because he wasn't sure how to put his gloves and goggles and stuff on. 

So, I race him to the other school, and we wait. 

That was how he looked as the final bell rang, and the entire school came out, filing past him and giving him strange looks. You can see the boy behind him is in simply a t-shirt and jeans, and here's kid C wearing every article of ski gear possible. 

And we wait.

And wait. 

And wait. 

I call Sam. "Are you sure we're at the right school?"

"Yes, I'm sure! I've never been surer about anything in my life!"

me: "Are you sure it's today?"

Sam: "Yes! I'm even more sure that it's today than I am that you're at the right school!"

We wait. 

And wait. 

No other skiers show up. But plenty of carpool moms drove by the poor snow boy, looking at me like I'm crazy because it's sunny and warm. 

Then my phone rings. It's Sam. "Um... looking at the fine print here... and it seems... the ski program starts next week. 

Who wants to break the news to Shaun White here?

So I'm all, "Hey Kid C. Congratulations! You passed the test. I just wanted to make sure it was possible to make it here on time, with you in your complete ski gear. And look! You did it!"

He gave me a look. (I could only see so much of it through his goggles). Then he turned around, slumped his shoulders and clomped his way back to the car. 

This is my life lately. What about you?

Three Books I am Excited for... and EVERNEATH gets a Starred Review

First off, the winner of the EVERNEATH mini-giveaway from the YA Scavenger Hunt is...

Tayte Hunter

Please email me your mailing address (brodiashton at gmail dot com) and I'll get that ARC in the mail.

Next...

Now that I've had a chance to breathe, I wanted to talk about some books I've read lately. Unfortunately, they haven't been released, but consider this your official "heads up" to keep an eye out for them!

INCARNATE

INCARNATE is so different than most of the stuff out there! It's sort of Dystopian, sort of Fantasy, definitely romantic, and full of adventure. I thought it was a fabulous debut, and I can't wait to read the next one.

It comes out January 31st, and Jodi is touring with me, so that makes it doubly exciting!

Next up was UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Not only is Veronica Rossi a great person and a great friend, she is also an incredible storyteller. Under the Never Sky is a dystopian, where the worlds of the sheltered "pod-dwellers" and the "savage" outsiders collide, under threats from the ground and the sky. It's pretty incredible. 

And finally, I'm in the middle of reading THE SAVAGE GRACE, the final installment in Bree Despain's THE DARK DIVINE trilogy. 

So far, there has been an explosion, an ambush at demon rave, and lots of smoochies. Three things that will get me to read any book. :) I can't wait to get back to reading it! It comes out in March.

So, what have y'all been reading? What book have you fallen in love with? Which books are you most excited for?

And, in "EXCITING NEWS I'D LIKE TO SHARE" news:

EVERNEATH received a starred review from VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)

“The author brings a fresh, innovative concept to young adult fiction with well-developed characters and a fantastic plot line .... Libraries are advised to buy multiple copies-this one will fly off the shelves.”

— Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (Starred Review)

Publishers Weekly had this to say:

“Ashton’s debut, is complex and intriguing. Drawing inspiration from such myths as Osiris, Orpheus, and Persephone, it explores the nature of loss and longing and what it means to be alive.”

— Publishers Weekly

Thanks for sharing in the excitement with me! And don't forget to tell me about what you've been reading.

Look out Texas! EVERNEATH Tour Stops, and... STUFF

Hey y'all!


If you are looking for the YA Scavenger Hunt post, click here. If you aren't, why aren't you? Simply start at my blog, and make the rounds, and you would be signed up for like 37 separate contests plus the grand prize which is being contributed by 37 different Young Adult Authors! Plus, you get to read all the super-secret bonus content, including a lost scene between Nikki and Jack that some readers have deemed "steamy". 


Hint: that scene is on bestselling author Colleen Houck's website. 


Okay, that is my plug for the scavenger hunt. 


On to exciting TOUR STOP ANNOUNCEMENT!


I will be headed to the Lone Star state (Texas) which is good because I've been in a Lone Star state of mind, ever since my only other star burned out with the last revision. 


On a side note, I am also in a Lone Brain Cell state of mind, but that state is more a permanent one. 


Side note to the side note: I had to spell "permanent" ten different times before I got it right. And that squishy sound you hear is my final brain cell deflating. 


Um... where were we? 


Oh yeah. TOUR STOP ANNOUNCEMENT!


Look out Dallas, Austin and Houston, because I'm comin' to getcha! (Okay, why does even the mention of a Texas book tour makes me talk with a really bad cowboy accent? It's like a steamin' pile of cow-pah dung on the fritters of the taters. Makes me wanna slap a skeeter. Niner.) (Somebody help me)


So if you live in one of these fine cities, or any part of Texas, or the U.S., or the world, come and see me!


DARK DAYS OF SUPERNATURAL TOUR STOPS FOR EVERNEATH:

February 16^th @ 5pm    Barnes & Noble              Southlake, TX

February 17^th @ 7pm    Barnes & Noble              Austin, TX

February 18^th @ 4pm    Blue Willow Bookshop    Houston, TX

And it's not just me! I will be with these fine ladies:

Cynthia Hand (HALLOWED), Jodi Meadows (INCARNATE) and Courtney Allison Moulton (WINGS OF THE WICKED)

So, can I get a yee-haw from y'all? Who's with me? 

Winter YA Scavenger Hunt, and Enter to Win EVERNEATH

I'm so excited to be a part of today's YA Scavenger Hunt!

As part of the hunt, I get to host the amazing Jocelyn Davies. Also, I have some secret content floating around out there that you'll get to find as well. This secret content is only available to Scavenger Hunt participants, and it involves a first kiss. And Nikki. And Jack. And their first kiss. And, if you read to the bottom, you'll see I'm giving away an ARC of EVERNEATH!

Each author on the hunt is hosting another author’s bonus material AND a link to the next step of the hunt. Take a couple of hours and work your way through the entire circuit collecting the words in red and entering all of the different contests you find along the way.

In one day, you could be entered in like 30 different contests! But only if you complete the circuit. And no matter where you start, you can do the full circle.

Today, I'm featuring Jocelyn Davies, whose book A BEAUTIFUL DARK looks just awesome.

About Jocelyn:

Jocelyn Davies edits young adult fiction at a publishing house in New York, a job that has allowed her to cultivate a keen interest in all things angsty, hilarious, and/or unrequited. She is a graduate of Bates College, and lives in an apartment overflowing with books. A BEAUTIFUL DARK is her first novel.

And now about A BEAUTIFUL DARK, which came out in September from HarperTeen:

On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites;like fire and ice;Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can't help falling for, and Devin, who she can't stay away from, the consequences of Skye's choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

Doesn't her book sound amazing? You can order it here:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Indiebound

Jocelyn explains her BONUS MATERIAL:

The scene on page 341, between Skye and Asher in the adirondak chair on the deck, originally took place in Skye’s bedroom, at night. I love the final scene so much, and it turned out to be one of my very favorites in A Beautiful Dark. But there was something about the intimacy of Skye touching Asher’s wings here—wondering if, or when, she might get her own—that I found really hard to let go of. What do you think?

--Jocelyn

BONUS SCENE:

Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped a plush towel around me, and wiped my hand across the mirror above the sink. This girl stared back at me. She had wet black hair, a pink mouth twisted in confusion, and silver eyes. Not grey. Silver.

When I emerged from the bathroom in my tank top and pajama pants, wet hair pulled back from my face in a clip, Asher was still waiting for me on the bed.

“So, I was thinking,” he said as he flipped through an issue of Teen Vogue that had been lying on my nightstand.

“Again?” I asked.

“Do you want to hear it or not?” He put down the magazine and looked me straight in the eye.

“Amaze me,” I said.

I could tell he was trying not to grin.

“The whole point of the Rebellion is so that we can live by our own rules. That’s the entire reason we jumped.”

“If my history lessons have served me correctly,” I said, my heart speeding up, “then yes. I do believe you’re right.”

“And I know that Devin doesn’t have any choice, and I see how much that hurts him. And I know you’re stuck between two choices, and you don’t exactly have a conscious say in the matter. Your powers will take over when it really matters. They’ll lean towards whichever side your unconscious is leaning, or so we’re led to believe.” Would they really? I wondered. Which side is that?

“But I have a choice, Skye. I have the power to choose whatever I want. And I’ve never known what I’ve wanted, more. I choose you. And the rest, we’ll figure out.” He gulped. “I know you walked away last time, so all I’m asking you to do is just think about it.”

I looked at him, the way his mouth turned up at the corners, even though his eyes stayed so serious. He had a little dimple near the left side of his chin. I had the strangest urge to touch it.

Would I get hurt again? Almost certainly. But was it worth it?

A hundred, thousand times yes.

“No thanks,” I said. “Pick again.”

He smiled.

“Come here,” he said.

I ran over to the bed and jumped on him. He grabbed my arms and pinned them above his head, so that, for a second, it felt like I was flying. Flash, my father lying on his back, holding me up on his knees when I was a little kid. Flash, arms outstretched, pretending I was soaring through the air. Faster than a speeding bullet, he’d say.

Asher smiled. “What are you thinking?” I fell off of his knees onto my side, and pulled him on top of me. His immense weight pressed into me, and it was hard to breathe for so many reasons.

“I want to see something,” I said. “Will you show me?”

“What exactly are we talking about here?”

I took a deep breath.

“Unfold your wings,” I said.

He looked at me funny. Slowly, he let his wings uncurl from his back, covering us in a canopy as I lay beneath him. The black feathers glistened and shimmered in the low light. Carefully, I reached out my hand, and brushed the tips of my fingers along the underside of one wing. Asher shivered.

“What are you doing,” he whispered.

“I would be okay with a pair of these,” I said softly.

The light in Asher’s eyes changed. He drew his wings in and rolled off of me, pulling me to him. He wrapped his arms around me so that there was no space between my body and his, and squeezed me close. I felt the heat of his chest against my back. His breath rose and fell. I couldn’t see him, but I knew he was doing his, trying-not-to-smile, doing-a-bad-job-of-hiding-it thing. Or maybe he was smiling for real.

YA SCAVENGER HUNT CONTEST

As an extra bonus we’ve put together a puzzle with one keyword found on each website. Complete it and you will be eligible for a fantastic GRAND PRIZE which will include signed editions of books, signed bookmarks, jewelry, and many more exclusive gifts with at least one gift from EVERY AUTHOR!

Directions: Search for the 37 keywords—one on each Scavenger Hunt website—that are highlighted in RED. When you are finished, go here to the puzzle form, where you will find a list of scrambled keywords. List your keywords in the same order as the scrambled ones—from #1 - #37—and paste that list into the entry form.

Rules: To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed puzzle form before noon on Dec 4th Pacific Time. All the keywords must be included and you must include your full name and address. Entries sent in without name and address will not be considered! The contest is international.

And my own mini contest (U.S. Only):

Enter to win an ARC of EVERNEATH!

To enter:

1. Find my bonus material floating around out there in the Scavenger Hunt.

2. Figure out the answer to the following question:

Which class is Nikki (Becks) (the narrator) late for?

3. Email me the answer: brodiashton (at) gmail (dot) com. Put "YA Scavenger Hunt" in the subject.

4. Leave a comment and tell me you emailed me (but don't give away the answer!). Otherwise, your email might get caught in spam, and I won't know to look for it.

So really it involves finding my bonus material and sending me an email.

Phew. That was quite the experience.

Are you ready to go to the next website on the Scavenger Hunt? Click Here.

The EVERNEATH Good Guy and Bad Boy Quiz... and What Kid B did with my Sequel

Status: Watching "Through the Wormhole" with Morgan Freeman. My mind is blown. But I have to watch it because I believe the EVERNEATH is accessible through a wormhole. It's research. 


Hey y'all. Sorry for the blog silence on Monday, but every time I tried to blog I came across this:

Yep. That there is a looming deadline, and on Monday it was looming large. My first revision on the EVERNEATH sequel was due Monday. 


I celebrated turning in my revision by sleeping all day yesterday. And having a cold. Partay! I am upright today, though, so here I am. On the blog. 


A couple of things to share with you:

Thing #1: Have you ever wondered if you go for the Good Guy or the Bad Boy? Well, I have the solution for you. Take the EVERNEATH Good Guy or Bad Boy Quiz and your question will be answered. 


For your information, I got the "Good Guy". 


Sam got the "Bad Boy". 


I don't know what this means. But take the quiz, and then come on back here and tell me what you got. And for those of you who have read the book already, you may recognize some of the choices. But you can still make up your mind which thing you'd rather do. And as we all know, The EVERNEATH is all about choices... dun Dun DUN! 


Thing #2: Like any other parent, I've been hanging Kid B's artwork up on the fridge:

Well, the other day I printed out a hard copy of EVERNEATH the sequel, and left it in my kitchen. When I came back, I found various pages hanging up all around the kitchen, like this one on the fridge:

*I had to remove this first picture. Apparently hubby says you can read it, and it contains spoilers. Sorry!*


and these two on the cupboards:

Apparently Kid B is just as proud of my artwork as I am of his. 


So, how was everyone's Thanksgiving? I went to my family's ranch. I'll share pictures next blog. 

EVERNEATH Thanksgiving Teaser Game, as Played by the Pilgrims of Yore

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to play a traditional game. I have it on good authority* that this game was played at the very first Thanksgiving, as a way to break the ice between the Pilgrims and Native Americans. 


It goes like this:


You (blog reader) pick a number between 1 and 374. You (yes, you) leave it in the comments of this blog post. 


I will turn to the corresponding page in EVERNEATH and choose my favorite quote from that page, and add that quote to this post. Making this post a giant post of EVERNEATH TEASERS. 


Some caveats (which are like cravats, but tied differently):


1. I will do as many as I can. But it is the day before Thanksgiving, so I might not get to them all. Or any.


2. If I do your number, you have to leave a comment and tell me what you think of the quote. :)


I also know that since it's the day before Thanksgiving, there's a good chance no one will actually read this post, and hence no one will pick a number. If that is the case, I am talking to myself right now. 


Hey, Bro. What's up?


Nothing, Imagination. What's up with you?


Okay, ready to play? On your mark... get set... GO!!!!!!


*The good authority was my revisionist history professor


TEASERS


pg. 281 (a particularly hot page. Random? I think not):


Cole: "We shared a heart, Nik." He touched his finger to my heart. "Your heart is in me now."


pg. 99 (there was also a great one about a heart, but since we touched on that for the first one...):


Cole: "I had to see what the big deal was. You Returned for this guy, but I have to admit, watching the two of you together... I'm just not seeing it."


pg. 127:


"What is this?" Jack asked, his lip twitching.
"A tea cozy."
"Of course. 


pg. 374 (no spoilers!):


Oops. There is nothing on 374. The book ends on pg. 370. Hee hee. Pick again!


pg: 198


I took a deep breath. "That kiss felt different?"
"Yeah," he said.
"Good different?"
He paused. "Yeah."


pg. 1 (opening line)


I was picturing his face - a boy with floppy brown hair and brown eyes - when the Feed ended. 




pg. 18:


Even in this room, electric morsels of energy reached me, triggering my hunger, reminding me of where I'd been and how much of my own energy had been stolen. 


pg. 268:


"She never had a chance to tell anyone." Mrs. Jenkins gestured to the jar on the mantelpiece. "The current queen found her. Those are her ashes."


I could feel the blood drain from my face. "The queen burned her?"


pg: 169:


Will swung his head around to face me. "They expected me to wear pants!" He sprayed the last word across my face, and I gagged at his foul breath. "Like, all the time... It was so hot."


pg: 19
Now I knew what really happened when emotions were gone Cole bought himself another hundred years of life by draining me, and in the abyss left over there was no peace. 


Robin's request for TIEFU:


He leaned forward and said, "Tell me, friend. Is there more for us?"


I looked down at my feet. "There's everything for us."


pg. 117:


"Cheer up, Nik. You can help me splash some shirts." Cole released a breath of air on my face, and suddenly I was overwhelmed with a strange feeling of loss. 


pg: 353


Cole: 
"I hope you didn't come here to ask for my help. You know I have no power over the balance of the Everneath." Cole glanced at Jack. "Sorry, bro. Even with your biceps, we can't fight the force of nature."


Pg. 222:


Jack:
"Enough, Becks. This is what friends do. Before we got together, we were friends, remember? The friendship is still there, isn't it?"
I didn't say anything for a moment. It was so much more than friendship on my side.  


Pg. 7:
I landed with a thwump on a surface that was cold and hard, the side of my face smashed against what looked like industrial tile floor. I could smell ammonia, and it was so strong it made my eyes water. 
Where am I?


Pg. 55:


I realized I was leaning against the stall door, my hand over my heart as if I could hold it in. Even if he did tell her he loved her, he was here with me. That meant everything, right?


pg. 96:
The following day, Jack and I were sitting alone in Mrs. Stone's classroom, working, when Cole made good on his promise. A boy, maybe a year older than me, showed up in the doorway. 


pg. 123:


Jack didn't come to Mrs. Stone's room for an entire week. He didn't try to speak to me during class. By lunchtime on the fourth day, I found myself going a little crazy. 


pg. 311:


What if the Tunnels were coming for me no matter what? 
Jack looked like he was about to ask me what was wrong, so I brought his face to mine again. 

EVERNEATH Covers from Around the World

I thought it would be fun today to show a couple of the other covers of EVERNEATH from around the world. 


First up, we have the U.K. version. Close to the U.S. version, but different fonts and stuff. You can compare it with the U.S version on the sidebar. 

Then we have the German cover. Definitely staying true to the Persephone myth, with the pomegranate in view. Every time I see this one, I literally have a craving for pomegranates. Someone once mentioned that there's a device you can use to easily get the seeds out. Does anyone know what that device is?

Germany also did this thing where they sent out the book to bloggers with a dust jacket that had previous blogger comments on it:

I borrowed the images from german blogger Bella's Wonderworld.

I love that idea! I wish every book I ever wrote would be wrapped inside the good things people have to say about it. I'd love to be able to read the comments. Does anyone know a little German? 

No, not that kind. The other kind.


Speaking of, if you read and liked EVERNEATH, feel free to tweet me or email me! I love hearing from readers.


If you didn't like it, send an email to J.Sandusky@PennState.edu.*


So, what do you think of these covers and stuff? Please only nice things, because my U.K. and German publishers read my blog too.


And if you have nothing to say on the covers... what are you doing for Thanksgiving? I am having one dinner on Wednesday night, and another dinner on Friday. I'm free on Thanksgiving. Not that you have to invite me to whatever you're doing. 


*Just kidding. I totally made up that email, so please don't send any emails for reals.