The time has come...

 For an exciting cover reveal for author Judith Graves...

Fans who are reading her Skinned Series will be thrilled to know that Leap Books has contracted an additional book in the series:

HOUR OF THE WOLF

Watch for it to debut in 2014.

Meanwhile, feel free to share the exciting cover. And check out the 2012 Crossroads Blog Tour in October. Deets available soon here. Along with other exciting paranormal authors, Graves is participating in this fun opportunity to win books and other great swag.

Hour of the Wolf will follow Book 3 in the series: Skin of My Teeth. Watch for it in 2013...

And if you haven't already picked up your copy of the first two books in the series yet, look for them here:

If paranormal beasties are your thing, join Judith Graves and Dawn Dalton at Most Wanted Monsters.

Screenwriting Winner

Congratulations to Leap Books author, Judith Graves, who just took first place in the 2012 Alberta Screenwriters Initiative for Losing It. Here's what the jury said about her award-winning manuscript:

“Losing It is a refreshing story with a distinctive writing style that avoids the pitfalls and expected patterns of most teen comedies, to be fresh, quirky and unique in story structure, characters and writing style. The characters are memorable are well-developed and the situations manage to be both comic and affecting.”

Graves, who wrote the screenplay under her real name, Tracy Belsher, is now headed to Banff Media Festival in June to pitch her works to TV and movie execs.

Her books with Leap include Under My Skin and Second Skin, in the Skinned series, and a story in the anthology Spirited. You can follow her journey to the festival and find out more about her writing journey on her blog, Flex Your Words.

You're Invited to a Gothic Tea Party

What are you doing on Friday the 13th? Want to have a hauntingly good time?

Join author Judith Graves at Beantrees Coffee House in Cold Lake, Alberta, for a Gothic tea party to celebrate the launch of her books:

Don't forget to dress in costume!!

It's Amazing...

Well, the first vote is in for Judith Grave's Second Skin...

Amy from A Simple Love of Reading says:

It was AMAZING:

She gave it 5 Dragon Hearts of "Love."

Here's her take on it:

"Judith Graves created an incredible cast of characters with her first of this series: Under My Skin, and I enjoyed them even more in Second Skin....But Second Skin, WOW...I simply love the progression of Eryn's story. There is a love triangle, danger and mystery throughout this book making it a definite page-turner. There are a lot of secrets surrounding Eryn....There are still so many questions to be answered and I can't wait for the next book in this series: Skin of My Teeth."

Intrigued? You can find Second Skin at Leap Books and Amazon. Better hurry, the Amazon website says, "Only 2 left in stock--order soon (more on the way)."And watch for specials on the Leap Books site during March Madness from March 21 to 31.

If you'd like an autographed copy, keep an eye on Judith's website and blog for info about her Gothic Tea Party Book Launch. Open to the public. Even better, sign up for her newsletter for info and great giveaways.

And get ready for Book 3 in the Skinned series:

Judith Graves Blog Tour

For her new release, author Judith Graves is going on tour. Join the celebration of the official launch of the second book in the SKINNED series, SECOND SKIN.


During the month of March Judith will be doing interviews and guest posts on some fabulous blogs, as well as features on her own site. It will be a month of giveaways, SWAG, and great conversations.

In honor of Second Skin’s major theme, FACING YOUR DARKEST FEAR, she’ll look at what scares us – from horror films, fiction, phobias, folklore and the beasties that haunt our dreams. Thankfully, she'll only talk about others' sheer terror – Eryn and her monster-hunting crew are the ones who get thrown to the wolves.

Here’s the line up of blog stops and author thus far:

3/1 – Tour kick off (my blog)
3/7 - Jennifer R. Hubbard – guest post exchange and feature on my blog
3/8 – Electrifying Reviews – guest post
3/9 – Fragments of Life – author interview / character interview
3/10 – Just Deb – guest post
3/12 – Ellz Readz - guest post
3/13 – Book Swarm - character interview and review
3/14 – Late Bloomer – guest post
3/15 – Heather McCorkle - author interview exchange and feature on my blog
3/16 – Dawn Dalton- author interview exchange and feature on my blog
3/17 – Dawn Ius – author interview
3/19 – Denise Jaden - author interview exchange and feature on my blog
3/20 – Joy Preble – author interview exchange and feature on my blog
3/22 – Janet Fox - author interview exchange and feature on my blog
3/25 – Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf - author interview
3/28 – Bewitched Bookworms – review

Judith's books in the Skinned Series:
Available Now Books 1 and 2

COMING IN 2013...

 COMING IN 2014...

A steampunk e-serial starring Amelia Strangeways. Ghosthunter. Necromancer.

Beauty or Beast?

With Fiends Like Eryn…

Monsters. Bloodsuckers. The evil. The damned. Eryn McCain knows they exist—she's been hunting them since she was a child. At sixteen, she's ready to take on all comers. Being a shapeshifter gives her an advantage when it comes to her unusual part-time job. The hours suck and the pay is, well, non-existent, but bonuses like inhuman strength and night vision make tracking scary beasties a dream come true. Especially in a town like Redgrave.

When an ancient demon targets Redgrave High, Eryn and her crew of hunters must face their innermost fears to prevent the Harvest Moon Dance from becoming one serious Monster Mash. Loyalties are tested and temptations abound. With questions ever brewing, can Eryn share a future with the brooding, noble, human Alec—the hunter after her heart? Or will she succumb to her enemy's son, Wade, a seductive predator as bloodthirsty as she is?

What happens when you’re both the beauty and the beast?

Leap Books is thrilled to announce Judith Graves' latest book in the Skinned series SECOND SKIN.

Praise for Second Skin

"Smart, sassy and more than a little scary, Second Skin hits all the right notes. I adored reading about Eryn and her attempts to deal with her life!"

~Amanda Ashby, award-winning author of Zombie Queen of Newbury High and Fairy Bad Day

"If tasked to recruit a monster-hunting army, I'd want Eryn on my side—her tongue is as sharp as the athame she brandishes. In Second Skin, the second book in Judith Graves' thrilling SKINNED series, Eryn goes head-to-head with a chilling new paranorm, has lingering feelings for two of Redgraves' hottest boys, and is surrounded by an endearing cast of family and friends. Prepare to be engrossed—Graves digs in her claws and doesn't let go until the mesmerizing cliffhanger end."

~Dawn Dalton, author of Thread of the Past

"In Judith Graves' Second Skin, book two of her Skinned series, shapeshifter Eryn McCain is fighting the paranorm baddies again and cracking wise while she's at it. A wild ride of snark, chills and romance, Second Skin poses the creepy question: what if your worse nightmares came to life?"

~Joy Preble, author of Dreaming Anastasia and Haunted

Also look for the second edition of Under My Skin: Book 1:

And watch for Judith Graves' blog tour. Stop back next week for kick-off info.

$.99 Books During December

Looking for a spooky read for December?

Check out Under My Skin, Book 1 in the Skinned series by Judith Graves.

From now until January 1, 2012, you can snag the ebook for only $.99!

To order, click here or here.

If you love Under My Skin as much as we think you will, watch for the release of Second Skin, Book 2 in February 2012...

You can reserve your copy, by clicking here and adding it to your shopping cart.

Spooky Story in News

The Bonneville Nouvelle recently published an article titled, "Graves' spooky story to be published in Spirited anthology," by Melissa Barr.

Photo by Melissa Barr

The story highlights Judith Graves' latest releases: "Strangeways vs. the Wraith" in the Spirited anthology and the second book in the Skinned trilogy, Second Skin.

Pure Speculation Festival Today

On November 19th, meet Judith Graves at the Pure Speculation Fest in Edmonton, Canada. She'll be speaking on the Young Adult Fantastic Fiction: Not Just About Boy Wizards panel with Gail Siddonie Sobat, Marty Chan, and Nicole Luiken.

Here's the low-down:

“Testosterone-filled fantasy continues to dominate the industry, yet there are any number of compelling narratives featuring the female protagonist and her particular strengths, trials and passions. Unfortunately, women writers of children’s/YA SF novels with female protagonists are still all-too-frequently relegated to the literary backroom. Presenters will share insights about the female writer & the protagonist of speculative fiction, and their essential roles in righting the gender imbalance & the ghetto-ization that plague the SF genre.”

A chance you won't want to miss:

As a part of Pure Spec’s fundraising efforts for a local charity via the GEEKS FOR GEEKS auction,  Judith is raffling off naming a character after one lucky winner. That’s right, a character in SKIN OF MY TEETH could be named after YOU. Although Judith warns that "said character’s life expectancy is not guaranteed and it is likely that he/she may suffer a painful death under the light of the new moon – or some such paranormal goodness."

Still it's a great way to get your name in print and help charity at the same time.

Look for Graves other books:

Meet Author Judith Graves

Want to meet the author of the Skinned Series? Judith Graves will be appearing at the following venues. Learn more about writing, technology, and the behind-the-scenes life of an author. Lots of programs to choose from. And best of all many of them are FREE.

 

May 14: Edson Public Library. Edson, AB. Four, 40-min. writing workshops. Behind the scenes with a YA author, Fiction to DIE for, and anything the fine folks in Edson want to chat about. Starting at 10am-2pm. Sign up at the Edson Public Library 780-723-6691.

May 28: Alberta Association of Library Technicians Annual Conference: 2011 Get Connected. Edmonton, AB. Author Visits to Die For. Judith Graves offers an overview of what makes a virtual author visit successful, the technology basics, and how to connect students or library patrons with authors willing to provide this wonderfully interactive (and inexpensive!) service.

May 28: Young Alberta Book Society’s AGM. Red Deer, AB. Imagery to DIE for: Booktrailers, vlogs and more. I will introduce the importance of engaging readers online through the use of enticing booktrailers, informative yet entertaining vlogs, as well as how to create podcast readings that leave them craving more. Beef up your social media presence using these tools and watch your promotions go viral (but not in a zombie apocalypse sorta way).

October (dates TBA): Young Alberta Book Society TALEBLAZERS Lit Fest. Touring schools and libraries across Alberta, discussing my journey from singer/songwriter to Young Adult Paranormal fiction author. I explore what makes fiction to DIE for, how to develop characters that ROCK, and how to REVAMP your work (revision with BITE!). I can’t wait to meet all students, library staff and teachers.

November 18-20th: Pure Speculation Fest (Edmonton). I’ll be connecting with my inner geek and being general fangirl at this amazing sci-fi/fantasy convention. Can’t wait to sit on more panels with the Steampunk Scholar and other wonderful authors. If I get myself in gear (pun intended), there’s a chance I might actually have a steampunk costume to DIE for. ;)

Canadian Book Week

To celebrate Canadian book week, we're featuring our Canadian authors and illustrators this week. First up is Canadian author Judith Graves. Judith is the author of the Skinned Series. Her first book, Under My Skin, was a recommended read by the Canadian library journal, CM.

A singer, songwriter, author, library tech... Judith is multi-talented.

 To see Judith in action, here are a few videos you can check out. And be sure to visit her website.
 

http://dawn-ius.blogspot.com/2011/02/inspired-by-youthand-judith.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxrurf7cdzw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gest9o8Sslg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s3kQ4nnSEk

And here's a bit more about her books...

Praise for Under My Skin

"Under My Skin is a roller-coaster romp through a supernatural world filled with scary beasties, otherworldly magic, and characters you'll root for. Eryn is a tough but likable protagonist whose paranormal problems make a compelling story full of mystery, magic, action and romance. A fun and engaging read. I'm looking forward to the sequel."

~Rosemary Clement-Moore, award-winning author of Prom Dates from Hell, Hell Week, Highway to Hell and The Splendor Falls

"...fans of paranormal YA fiction will appreciate a protagonist with attitude and anticipate the next volume in the planned trilogy, Second Skin, to be released in 2011. Recommended."

~CM Magazine, The Manitoba Library Association

Book 2 in the series, Second Skin, will come out this year.

What Are They Reading for Fun??

According to librarian Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada, in the January issue of  School Library Journal, readers at her library are eagerly awaiting the sequel to Judith Graves' Second Skin. We're not surprised. We can't wait for it to come out either.

BTW, Isn't the library's mascot, Boris the Book Hog, cute??

And if you're wondering what the Second Skin cover will look like... here it is. Be prepared to be scared.

Meet Author Judith Graves

There are several upcoming events where you can meet Judith Graves, author of Under My Skin and Second Skin:

2011 Events

January 17th: Author Visit. Dr. Bernard Brosseau Middle School, Bonnyville, AB. Speaking with the school’s writing club, as well as with several junior high classes. We’ll talk drafts, revision and fiction to DIE for.

February 4-6th: Winter Wordsworth (Young Alberta Book Society). Bragg Creek, Alberta. “Imagine yourself immersed in beautiful Bragg Creek, AB with a group of like-minded peers. You’ll write. You’ll draw. You’ll create. All under the guidance of an inspirational roster of talented — and familiar — Alberta literary artists.” My session blurb: Young adult paranormal author, Judith Graves, explores what makes fiction to DIE for, how to develop characters that ROCK, and how to REVAMP your work, aka revision with BITE! Be prepared for writerly battle as she introduces you to the beasties known as concept maps and character cards. Once tamed these tools can help with plot structure and character development.


February 25th: Highlands Young Readers’ Conference. Edmonton, AB. Presenting sessions to groups of grades 6-9 students. Fiction to DIE for: how to develop characters that ROCK, and how to REVAMP your work, aka revision with BITE!


February 26th: Young Authors’ Conference.  Sherwood Park, AB. Writing workshops – what makes fiction to DIE for, how to develop characters that ROCK, and how to REVAMP your work, aka revision with BITE! Be prepared for writerly battle as she introduces you to the beasties known as concept maps and character cards. Once tamed these tools can help with plot structure and character development.

May 27-29: Alberta Association of Library Technicians Annual Conference: 2011 Get Connected. Edmonton, AB. Author Visits to Die For. Judith Graves offers an overview of what makes a virtual author visit successful, the technology basics, and how to connect students or library patrons with authors willing to provide this wonderfully interactive (and inexpensive!) service.

Sneak Peek at Second Skin

Author Judith Graves in Eerie Digest

 The Eerie Digest, the Online Mystery and Hollywood Insider Magazine, has interviewed Judith Graves on her upcoming work. Check it out her feature in the Spotlight.


Read an excerpt for Witch's Shadow and find out more about the next books in the Skinned series, including Second Skin, due out in 2011.

Celebration of Authors

 The Young Alberta Book Society and the Children’s Literature Roundtable are partnering once again to present the Celebration of Authors. Meet Judith Graves who’ll present her books and chat with librarians, teachers, and readers in general.

When	Thursday, November 4, 2010
Where	Alberta, Canda (map)   You'll also get to hear more about Judith Graves' next book in the series, Second Skin, coming out in 2011. Cool cover, eh??

TALEBLAZERS Lit Fest

Throughout October, author Judith Graves will be available for visits:

October 2010: Young Alberta Book Society TALEBLAZERS Lit Fest. Touring schools and libraries across Alberta, discussing my journey from singer/songwriter to Young Adult paranormal fiction author. I explore what makes fiction to DIE for, how to develop characters that ROCK, and how to REVAMP your  work (revision with BITE!). She'd love to meet all students, library staff, and teachers from across the province. Book her now: www.yabs.ab.ca

 Here are two of Judith's scheduled appearances:

October 5: Red Deer College Confluence Campus (Rocky Mountain House, AB).

October 22:  Author visit in Grimshaw, AB.

Judith is the acclaimed author of the Skinned Series. Book One, Under My Skin, is available now. Watch for Second Skin in 2011. And the third book in the series, Skin of My Teeth, will be out in 2012.

Meet Judith Graves Tonight

DON'T FORGET: You can see author Judith Graves tonight!

September 14th: Backstage with A YA Writer (Cold Lake Public Library, Alberta, Canada, 6 pm): Sponsored by the Cold Lake Public Library and the Writer’s Guild of Alberta.

“Get a glimpse at what it is to be a young adult author and the steps to get there.”