Super Middle Grade Mondays: Meet the Staff behind Tantrum Books and Month9Books with Giveaway #SuperMGMondays

 

Welcome to this week’s Super Middle Grade Mondays Book Blitz

presented by Tantrum Books/Month9books!

 

For our previous Super MG Mondays, we've featured some

of our amazing middle grade authors.

Today, we thought it’d be fun to feature publicity team!

 

It's Staff Day! YAY! Introducing:

Jaime and Stefani!

 

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

 

Jaime:

 

 

Describe yourself in three words.

Easy Going, Social, Hard working.

 

Tell us about your day job.

I am the Publicity and Marketing Director for Month9Books and Tantrum Books so I get to work with awesome authors and help their dreams come true all day long J

 

Which writers inspire you?

There are too many to mention but all of our GMMG authors inspire me on a daily basis!

 

What are you reading right now?

Winter by Marissa Meyer then Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes.

 

Do you have an author crush?

Hahahaha yes I have quite a few! For their writing here’s just a few but definitely not my complete list because that would go on forever! Veronica Rossi, Leigh Bardugo, Naomi Novik, Maria V. Snyder, Jennifer Jenkins, Brynn Chapman, Julie Reece, Cindy Pon, Jennifer Davis, & Sarah J. Maas.

 

Now actual crush, crush? OMG have you seen Pierce Brown? He’s gorgeous!

 

Quick questions:

 

Physical books or eBooks?

Physical books all day!

 

Coke or Pepsi?

Neither. I rarely drink soda and when I do it’s Orange Soda.

 

Twitter or Facebook?

Twitter.

 

Song you can’t get out of your head right now?

Die A Happy Man by Thomas Rhett. He’s a cutie and I freaking love this song!

 

 

Sweet or salty?

Both I love salted caramel and chocolate covered pretzels!

 

Coffee or tea?

Tea.

 

Write on computer or notebook paper?

I don’t write lol but I do make a to-do list for each day and that’s on paper. Just like I still keep an old school paper calendar instead of a google calendar.

 

Find Jaime online

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumblr | Tsu

 

 

Stefani:

 

 

Describe yourself in three words.

Bookish, hard-working, wanderer.

 

Tell us about your day job.

I’m the Publicist for Tantrum Books, so I get to promote a group of wonderful middle grade authors, and a Youth Services Librarian in Mississippi, where I get to plan, promote, and host programs for an amazing group of teens plus a lot of other librarian activities.

 

Which writers inspire you?

So so many. Any author that has written a book and put it out into the world inspires me.

 

What are you reading right now?

Placebo Junkies by J.C. Carleson, The Selection by Kiera Cass (my teens at the library have been trying to get me to read this one for months), and Fairest by Marissa Meyer on audiobook.

 

Do you have an author crush?

Um, duh. On their writing? Maggie Stiefvater, David Arnold, Becky Albertalli, Renee Ahdieh, Matt Haig. On the actual person? In a totally non-romantic way, Jeff Zentner – he’s hilarious and his book is incredible.

 

Quick questions:

 

Physical books or eBooks?

Physical, hands down.

 

Coke or Pepsi?

Gross. Neither.

 

Twitter or Facebook?

Twitter, all day every day.

 

Song you can’t get out of your head right now?

R.I.P. 2 My Youth by The Neighbourhood.

 

 

Sweet or salty?

Depends on what time of day. I like a bit of both at every meal.

 

Coffee or tea?

COFFEE, she types as she takes a big sip of coffee.

 

Write on computer or notebook paper?

Computer for blog posts and such, but actual paper for planning.

 

Find Stefani online

Twitter | Blog | Instagram | Goodreads

 

 

 

Complete the Rafflecopter for a chance to win!

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Super Middle Grade Mondays Blitz: Author Spotlight – Charles Curtis with Giveaway #SuperMGMondays

 

Welcome to this week’s Super Middle Grade Mondays Book Blitz

presented by Tantrum Books/Month9books!

 

Today, we get up close and personal with

Charles Curtis

author of Strange Country Day from Tantrum Books.

 

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

 

 

Charles Curtis is a writer and journalist based in New York City. He has reported and written for publications including NJ.com (where he is currently the site’s sports buzz reporter), The Daily, ESPN.com, ESPN the Magazine, Bleacher Report, TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly. Charles has covered the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, golf, tennis and NASCAR. He has also written about television, film and pop culture.

 

In addition, Curtis has also written, produced and was featured in videos for ESPN.com and The Daily. He has made radio appearances on stations including 92.9 The Ticket in Bangor, Maine, WLIE 540 AM in Long Island and on morning shows across Canada via the CBC. He can be reached on Twitter: @charlescurtis82.

 

Connect with the Author

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

 

As a young 8th grade writer who published his first story in my school’s literary magazine, I was always encouraged to write what I know.

 

So when I sat down to write STRANGE COUNTRY DAY, I immediately knew my protagonist, Alexander Graham Ptuiac, would be a tall, skinny sports-loving new kid just starting middle school and trying to fit in. That’s because, at the age of 12, I was a tall, skinny sports-loving new kid just starting middle school and trying to fit in.

 

Alex’s first day of school starts out with a bang: During 7th grade orientation, he’s pulled into a room with his classmates for a ritual known as “Fresh Meet Friday.” When the event turns into a riot involving the older 9th graders, Alex discovers he has previously unknown superhero-like powers that propel him to punch the ringleader in the nose.

 

Unfortunately, my first day of middle school wasn’t nearly as mind-blowing as Alex’s, but I did draw a little bit from experience. I attended a private school where I was one of many new kids faced with making friends with a whole new group of students, many of whom already knew each other. Luckily, there were no hazing rituals I was forced to participate in (unluckily, I didn’t have comic book-like powers, either), but in STRANGE COUNTRY DAY, I tried to capture that same nervousness I felt about walking into a –well – strange environment, trying to fit in and attempting to adjust to an increased workload and new schedule.

 

In the past few years, I’ve often joked about how my interests in those days – I visited a comic book shop once a week to pick up my stack and played the card game Magic: The Gathering every day at lunch – are suddenly trendy now and lamented about how I would have been much happier if I’d been a middle schooler in 2015. But I realize now just how influential both were on my creativity and imagination.

 

The other huge influence? Sports, of course. I spent countless nights in front of the television (I promise, Mom and Dad, it was after my homework was done…most of the time) or at one of the many New York stadiums/arenas, taking in any and all Mets, Giants, Knicks or Rangers games I could watch. I always wish I could go back in time and tell my middle school self that one day I’d find myself in the press box at those very same arenas and stadiums. Middle School Charles would be blown away.

 

The one thing that truly separates me from Alex? With the help of those aforementioned powers, he ends up joining his school’s football team as a quarterback. Despite my love for the game of football, I didn’t have half the athleticism to even begin to think about playing on the gridiron.

But hey, adults – especially authors – are allowed to reimagine their pasts too, right?

 

 

Alexander Graham Ptuiac, the son of an inventor, wants to play for the school’s football team. During tryouts, and under the watchful eye of the team’s coach, he suddenly manifests mysterious superhuman powers. Alexander makes the team, but not before the some ill-intended adults take notice, putting his life in danger.

 

Alex struggles to suppress and control his strange new abilities, worried about exposing his secret and being kicked off the football team. Then he befriends Dex, a diminutive classmate who can somehow jump as high as ten feet in the air. Seems Alex isn’t the only one at school with a secret.

 

As the school year unfolds, Alex will find himself the target of bullies, holding hands with his first crush and discovering the shocking truth about himself and his parents.

 

 

Amazon | B&N | BAM | Chapters | Kobo

TBD | iBooks | Google Play | IndieBound

 

 

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M9B Friday Reveal: Author Spotlight – Michael Gibney with Giveaway #M9BFridayReveals

 

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

 

This week, we are spotlighting

Michael Gibney

author of

The Three Thorns (The Brotherhood and the Shield #1)

a Middle Grade title from Tantrum Books!

 

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

 

 

Physical books or eBooks?

Both.

 

Coke or Pepsi?

Coke (I’m a sucker for the original)

 

Twitter or Facebook?

Facebook.

 

Song you can’t get out of your head right now?

The Flamingos – I Only Have Eyes For You. (It’s such a cinematic song.)

 

Sweet or salty?

Salty.

 

Coffee or tea?

Tea.

 

Write on computer or notebook paper?

Computer. I’m left handed, so my handwriting is at a disadvantage, I’ve always felt.

 

 

Michael Gibney began working in restaurants at the age of sixteen and assumed his first sous chef position at twenty-two. He ascended to executive sous chef at Tavern on the Green, where he managed an eighty-person staff. He has worked in the kitchens of Morgans Hotel Group, 10 Downing in Manhattan, and Governor in Brooklyn’s DUMBO, among many others. Over the course of his career, he has had the opportunity to work alongside cooks and chefs from many of the nation’s best restaurants, including Alinea, Per Se, Eleven Madison Park, Daniel, Jean Georges, Le Bernardin, Bouley, Ducasse, Corton, wd~50, and Momofuku.

 

In addition to his experience in the food service industry, Gibney also holds a BFA in painting from Pratt Institute and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

 

Connect with the Author

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

 

Three brothers born to a once powerful King were abandoned at birth and cast out into the old world as orphans - alone and unaware of the other's existence or their royal heritage. In the new world, by order of the false King, three of the most lethal assassins are sent to kill the children before they come of age and avenge their father’s throne. But when the brothers find one another, Benjamin, Tommy and Sebastian must resist the temptation of magic and power if they are to defeat the unspeakable evil that has threatened them since birth. The Three Thorns is book one in an exciting children’s fantasy series called The Brotherhood and the Shield from debut author Michael Gibney.

 

 

Chapters Indigo | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

TBD | Indiebound | Google Play | BAM | iBooks

 

 

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M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz: Red Magic series by Jen McConnel with Giveaway #T4T

 

Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T

presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

 

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,

and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

 

You just might find your next read!

 

This week, #T4T presents to you:

The Red Magic series by Jen McConnel!

 

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

 

 

Witches must choose the path they will follow, and Darlena Agara is no exception. She’s been putting it off long enough, and in her case, ignoring it has not made it go away. In a moment of frustration, Darlena chooses to follow Red Magic, figuring she had outsmarted the powers that be, since there’s no such thing as Red Magic. But alas, Darlena’s wrong (again) and she becomes a newly declared Red Witch.

 

Her friends are shocked and her parents horrified by the choice Darlena has made. As a Red Witch, she now governs one third of the world’s chaos. She is the walking personification of pandemonium, turmoil, and bedlam, just as the patrons of Red Magic would have it to be.

 

But Darlena believes there must be more to Red Magic than chaos and destruction, and she sets out on a journey to achieve balance. Only doing so puts her at odds with the dark goddess Hecate, who simply will not allow Darlena to quit. She encourages Darlena to embrace who and what she is and to leave good magic to the good witches. If only Darlena could, life would be simple, and she would not be the Daughter of Chaos.

 

DAUGHTER OF CHAOS is the first in a YA paranormal trilogy.

 

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play

BAM | Chapters | IndieBound | Kobo | TBD

 

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

 

“At the beginning, this novel is reminiscent of other popular fantasy novels like the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling and the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, but it quickly takes on a life of its own that will appeal to science fiction, fantasy, and young adult fans alike. Darlena’s struggles mirror issues that many teens face, making her a relate-able and likable main character. This is a title with wide appeal that will fly off the shelves.” – Voya Magazine

 

“Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel is a refreshing twist to the YA paranormal genre!” – Dianne, Tome Tender

 

“Witches and Greek gods! This seriously couldn't get any better.” – Kelly Hashway, Author

 



 

The gods of chaos cannot be trusted.

 

Since battling her best friend, Darlena’s grip on Red Magic has been shaky. She heads to Scotland after the Winter Solstice in search of another Red Witch.

 

On a sightseeing excursion with girls from her hostel, Darlena arrives at The Vaults, a mysterious underground city beneath Edinburgh. But there is something there that make Darlena’s instincts go haywire, as she lets loose a defensive burst of Red Magic, putting everyone around her in danger.

 

If there was ever a time when Darlena needed the help of another Red witch, it was now. But beware the witch who wields Red Magic.

 

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play

BAM | Chapters | IndieBound | Kobo | TBD

 

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

 

“I think I'm in love. This book had a totally different ending than what i thought it was. I was honestly surprised.” – Goodreads Reviewer

 

“'Gods of Chaos' is the phenomenal second installment in a young adult paranormal series.” – Stephanie, A Dream Within A Dream

 

“There are many twists and turns in this book. The ending was totally unexpected and completely epic.” – Intellectual Vixens

 

 

 

Jen McConnel now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches writing composition at a community college. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.

 

Author Links

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

 

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Release Day Blitz: Super Freak by Vanessa Barger with Giveaway

Super Freak by Vanessa Barger

Publication Date: October 13, 2015

Publisher: Tantrum Books

Genre: MG, Fantasy

 

Thirteen-year-old Caroline is a freak. Her parents have uprooted her to a town full of Supernaturals. You’d think she’d be thrilled. But, with someone without a magical bone in her body, this daughter of tree sprites feels like even more of an outcast than she has ever before.

 

To make matters worse, her new home is cursed. But when Caroline takes to investigating the mysterious and strange happenings of Harridan House, her BFF goes missing. Seems someone doesn’t want Caroline sticking her non-magical nose where it most certainly does not belong. Determined to prove herself, Caroline uncovers a plot to destroy her new hometown.

 

Undeterred, Caroline can’t give up. But what’s a human without magical powers to do? Caroline better figure it out fast, before she loses everything she has ever loved and the whispers she’s heard all her life prove true: Caroline is a useless superfreak.

 

Excerpt

 

“Diana, you’re my hero,” I said.

 

She stopped and pretended to flex a muscle, flashing a strained smile. “I know.” Taking a few more steps, the beam of light revealed a round iron grate that had been moved to the side. A set of rough stone steps, mossy and damp, marched down into the darkness. “Ah. This is it.”

 

“You guys do this often?” Kevin asked.

 

“Only on the slow days,” I replied.

 

I thought I heard a choked snort, but he might have just coughed.

 

We filed into the hole, Leo in the lead with the flashlight, hands fisted in each other’s shirts like some kind of weird caterpillar. My free hand grazed the wall and I yelped, the feeling of squishy earth and something that crawled made me shiver. Kevin was behind me and laughed. “You storm into the lair of a kidnapper without a qualm and scream at a little slime?”

 

“It wasn’t a scream. More like a squeak.”

 

“Whatever.”

 

Diana shushed us from behind me, her hands twisting into the back of my shirt.

 

I’m not sure how long we were really in there, but it felt like forever. Sweat beaded on my upper lip as we shuffled through, and I tried not to feel like we were being buried alive. Tight spaces had never bothered me before, but I wasn’t prepared for this. Or the horrible images my mind kept conjuring of what lay in wait at the other end.

 

What we got wasn’t quite what we expected.

 

Goodreads

 

Purchase Links

BAM | Chapters | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

 

ABOUT VANESSA BARGER

 

Vanessa Barger was born in West Virginia, and through several moves ended up spending the majority of her life in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is a graduate of George Mason University and Old Dominion University, and has degrees in Graphic Design, a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Literature, and a Masters in Technology Education. She has had articles published in Altered Arts Magazine, has had some artwork displayed in galleries in Ohio and online, and currently teaches engineering, practical physics, drafting and other technological things to high school students in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She is a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), the Virginia Writer’s Club, and the Hampton Roads Writers. When not writing or teaching, she’s a bookaholic, movie fanatic, and loves to travel. She is married to a fabulous man, and has one cat, who believes Vanessa lives only to open cat food cans, and can often be found baking when she should be editing.

 

Connect with the Author

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Goodreads | Pinterest |YouTube

 

GIVEAWAY

Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of

Super Freak by Vanessa Barger (INT)

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Hosted by

Chapter by Chapter

Super Middle Grade Mondays Blitz: Author Spotlight – Steve Bryant with Giveaway #SuperMGMondays

 

Welcome to this week's Super Middle Grade Mondays Book Blitz

presented by Tantrum Books/Month9books!

 

Today, we get up close and personal with Steve Bryant

author of Lucas Mackenzie and the London Midnight Ghost Show

from Tantrum Books.

 

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

 

 

Steve Bryant is a new novelist, but a veteran author of books of card tricks. He founded a 40+ page monthly internet magazine for magicians containing news, reviews, magic tricks, humor, and fiction; and he frequently contributes biographical cover articles to the country’s two leading magic journals (his most recent article was about the séance at Hollywood’s Magic Castle).

 

Connect with the Author

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Middle School Thoughts

 

What is your favorite memory from school?

My favorite memory from middle school days was spending time at Verble’s Café, a hangout run by a classmate’s mom. It had snacks and a juke box, and we learned to slow dance with the girls we had grown up with, to songs by Johnny Mathis and Jimmy Clanton.

 

What is something you know now that you wish you knew in middle school?

I know to have paid attention to everyone, especially the shy or quiet kids who often turned out to be special adults. The most important was that girl with the blond ponytail, a seventh grader when I was an eighth. I eventually married her, but I hate it that we wasted what might have been an amazing school year.

 

Tell us your favorite book when you were in middle school.

I loved all the so-called Robert A. Heinlein juveniles, such as Time for the Stars and Tunnel in the Sky. If you had asked me then, I would have said I liked them because I liked science fiction. Years later I realized that I liked them because Heinlein always pitted boys and girls together against formidable odds, and romance ensued. I have always remembered to make romance a key part of any stories I write.

 

What was your favorite subject in school?

I equally liked math, because I was good at it, and English, because I loved it. All those books and poems were written for our entertainment. My eighth-grade English teacher lived to be 103, and to the end she would admonish us for spelling or grammar errors.

 

Any advice for kids heading back to school?

Enjoy every day. Middle school was my favorite time ever. Keep a diary or journal, and write down each night what you appreciated about that day. Even better, use your iPhone and take lots of photos and videos. How I would love to have those from my school days!

 

 

Lucas Mackenzie has got the best job of any 10 year old boy. He travels from city-to-city as part of the London Midnight Ghost Show, scaring unsuspecting show-goers year round. Performing comes naturally to Lucas and the rest of the troupe, who’ve been doing it for as long as Lucas can remember.

 

But there’s something Lucas doesn’t know.

 

Like the rest of Luca’s friends, he’s dead. And for some reason, Lucas can’t remember his former life, his parents or friends. Did he go to school? Have a dog? Brothers and sisters?

 

If only he could recall his former life, maybe even reach out to his parents, haunt them.

 

When a ghost hunter determines to shut the show down, Lucas realizes the life he has might soon be over. And without a connection to his family, he will have nothing. There’s little time and Lucas has much to do. Can he win the love of Columbine, the show’s enchanting fifteen-year-old mystic? Can he outwit the forces of life and death that thwart his efforts to find his family?

 

Keep the lights on! Lucas Mackenzie’s coming to town.

 

 

Chapters | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

TBD | Indiebound | BAM | Google Play

 

 

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M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz: My Sister's Reaper and My Tethered Soul by Dorothy Dreyer with Giveaway #T4T

 

Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T

presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

 

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,

and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

 

You just might find your next read!

 

This week, #T4T presents to you:

The Reaper's Rite series by Dorothy Dreyer!

 

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

 

 

Sixteen-year-old Zadie’s first mistake was telling the boy she liked she could bring her dead sister back to life. Her second mistake was actually doing it.

 

When Zadie accidentally messes with the Reaper’s Rite that should have claimed her sister Mara, things go horribly wrong. Mara isn’t the same anymore—Zadie isn’t even sure she’s completely human, and to top it off, a Reaper is determined to collect Mara’s soul no matter what. Now Zadie must figure out how to defeat her sister’s Reaper, or let Mara die … this time for good.

 

 

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | IndieBound

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

 

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

 

“I felt that the author did a great job with her character developement. She was very vivid in her details and I felt like they were people I would meet on the street.” – Michelle, Goodreads Reviewer

 

“My Sister’s Reaper was a great paranormal, YA novel. Dreyer did an awesome job at creating Zadie’s linage and having it make complete sense.” – Tyler, Jolley Chronicles

 

“Okay, reapers, zombies, and death? Yeah, I was definitely reading this one.” – Kelly Hashway, Author

 

 

Months have passed since Zadie faced her sister’s Reaper, during which time she's been under her mentor's magical protection. But now that she's turning 17, that protection is about to run out. When dark forces lure Zadie to wander at night, she's manipulated into committing unspeakable acts. With her friends and family at risk, Zadie must try to use her powers to break free from the Reaper's grasp, or surrender to the Reaper's Rite, which can only lead to death.

 

 

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | IndieBound

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

 

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

 

“The series is magnificent and should be on the best sellers list!!” – Holly, Author

 

“Dorothy Dreyer continues the fast-paced, heart pounding journey she started in My Sister's Reaper, delivering a YA paranormal romance filled with believable characters battling unbelievable odds.” – Katie, Author

 

“Ms. Dreyer has upped the ante in terms of characterization, suspense, some down-right spooky scenes, and a playful sense of humor, particularly in the dialogue between her teen protagonists.” – Stuart, Author

 

 

 

Dorothy Dreyer has always believed in magic. Born in Angeles City, Philippines, to a Filipino mother and American Father, Dorothy grew up a military brat, living in Massachusetts, South Dakota, Guam, New Jersey, and New York. She now lives in Frankfurt, Germany, with her husband, two teens, and two Siberian huskies. Dorothy not only writes books with some element of magic in them, but has a fondness for reading those kinds of books as well. She also enjoys movies, chocolate, take-out, and spending time with family and friends. She’s known to make a pretty sweet cupcake when she has the time. She also tends to sing sometimes, so keep her away from your Karaoke bars.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

 

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Middle Grade Mondays Blitz: Author Spotlight - Vanessa Barger with Giveaway #MGMondays

 

Welcome to the first Official Middle Grade Mondays Book Blitz #MGMondays

presented by Tantrum Books/Month9books!

 

Today, we get up close and personal in a "Would You Rather" Q & A with

Vanessa Barger

author of the upcoming book, Super Freak, from Tantrum Books.

 

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

 

 

Vanessa Barger was born in West Virginia, and through several moves ended up spending the majority of her life in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is a graduate of George Mason University and Old Dominion University, and has degrees in Graphic Design, a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Literature, and a Masters in Technology Education. She has had articles published in Altered Arts Magazine, has had some artwork displayed in galleries in Ohio and online, and currently teaches engineering, practical physics, drafting and other technological things to high school students in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She is a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), the Virginia Writer’s Club, and the Hampton Roads Writers. When not writing or teaching, she’s a bookaholic, movie fanatic, and loves to travel. She is married to a fabulous man, and has one cat, who believes Vanessa lives only to open cat food cans, and can often be found baking when she should be editing.

 

Connect with the Author

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest |YouTube

 

Would You Rather...

 

Would you rather never be able to speak again or always have to say everything that is on your mind?

Oh, probably never be able to speak again. I could learn sign language, but people REALLY don’t want me to say whatever I’m thinking all the time. That would get me in so, so much trouble.

 

Would you rather be able to read or be able to read minds (but be illiterate)?

Definitely would rather be able to read. Reading minds is cool and everything, but never be able to read a book? No way!

 

Would you rather be able to speak fluently every language in the world or be the best in the world at something of your choosing?

This one is tough. I think I’d rather be able to speak fluently in every language. I mean, think of what kind of traveling you could do! You’d never need to worry about what you’re eating, or how to ask for directions, or anything like that. It would be pretty fantastic!

 

Would you rather read only one book over and over for the rest of your life or read as many as you want but never remember what they’re about?

Hmmmmm… I think I’m going with as many as I want. I suppose if I never remember what they’re about it might be sad, but I wouldn’t know that, because it would be a new book every time! One book would get really boring, I think.

 

Would you rather only the first page of a book or the last page?

The first page. There are so many more possibilities you can come up with if you’re given the question. When you’re given the answer, you’re limited, because you already know where you’re going.

 

Would you rather read 5 pages per day or 5 books per week?

5 books per week. No question. Then maybe I’d FINALLY get through my “to-read” list!

 

Would you rather read only one genre forever or never read the same genre more than once?

Ooooo…. Another hard one. I think I’d rather read one genre forever. There are lots of books in each genre, but if I could only read one from each genre ever, I’d quickly run out of genres and books.

 

Would you rather be invisible or be able to read minds?

Read minds. Hands down. Know what you’re thinking? That has such possibilities…..

 

Would you rather never use the internet again or never watch TV again?

Never watch TV. But this is a cop out, lol. You can watch many things on the internet, and I don’t watch much TV as it is!

 

Would you rather have one wish granted today or three granted in 10 years?

Three in 10 years. My wish today might not be a good one. But the other way, I’d have some space in between to think about things and try to make a good one.

 

Would you rather know it all or have it all?

Knowing things is fabulous. But being rich has its perks…… I can learn things, so what the heck, let’s go with have it all. After all, people don’t like a know it all. ;)

 

 

Thirteen-year-old Caroline is a freak. Her parents have uprooted her to a town full of Supernaturals. You’d think she’d be thrilled. But, with someone without a magical bone in her body, this daughter of tree sprites feels like even more of an outcast than she has ever before.

 

To make matters worse, her new home is cursed. But when Caroline takes to investigating the mysterious and strange happenings of Harridan House, her BFF goes missing. Seems someone doesn’t want Caroline sticking her non-magical nose where it most certainly does not belong. Determined to prove herself, Caroline uncovers a plot to destroy her new hometown.

 

Undeterred, Caroline can’t give up. But what’s a human without magical powers to do? Caroline better figure it out fast, before she loses everything she has ever loved and the whispers she’s heard all her life prove true: Caroline is a useless superfreak.

 

 

Super Freak by Vanessa Barger

Publication Date: October 13, 2015

Publisher: Tantrum Books

Genre: MG, Fantasy

 

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