Win a Free Book!

The Southeast Steuben County Library in Corning, NY, has a challenge for booklovers:

Submit, in 140 words or less, your impression of the front cover of the book For the Love of Strangers. “Who is the woman on the cover, and why does she wear deer antlers?” Email your response to mcconnells@stls.org by December 31, 2012. Please put For the Love of Strangers in the subject line.

Here's a copy of the book cover:

And if you can't wait until Dec. 31 to read this, you can get a copy for 40% OFF from the Leap Bookstore.

Here's what people are saying about For the Love of Strangers:

"For the Love of Strangers instantly drew me into this poignant tale of a Russian adoptee, then continued to intrigue as it masterfully interwove threads of past and present into a haunting, lyrical novel that echoes in the heart and mind long after the pages are closed."

~Patricia Hermes, award-winning author of You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye, Mama, Let's Dance, and Dear America/My America series

"For the Love of Strangers is a thoughtful and exciting read, making for a top pick. Highly Recommended."

~Midwest Book Review

"Darya, powerfully drawn to these animals who communicate with her and see in her the reincarnation of the deer goddess of ancient Siberia, is determined to feed and protect them, in spite of Tee-Tee's insistence that she concentrate on the human victims who need their help instead. The author has worked in social services, so that part of her story is firmly rooted in reality. The addition of a romantic element in a new student, another loner like Darya, is a nice touch."

~Voya

"While the deer's connection to Darya is poetic and the mythological detail is beautifully inserted, it is the safe house and its residents that are the most compelling part of the book. The story moves along at a good pace, and reluctant readers will find this to be a book they can take in. The simple black-and-white illustrations accentuate the magical realism."

~School Library Journal

"Well written, this book is an engrossing read. It kept me reading to find out what happened next and by the last page, which was left open for a sequel, I was interested in finding out what happens after the end." ~Aurora Reviews

Read more about it at Sue McConnell's YA Book Recommendations.

You're Invited!

This week author Jacqueline Horsfall is launching her latest book, For the Love of Strangers. For those in the Corning, NY, area, here are the exciting details:

EVENT:  Book Launch, For the Love of Strangers by Jacqueline Horsfall

DATE:  Saturday, February 19

TIME: 1:00 – 3:00

LOCATION: Southeast Steuben County Library, 300 Nasser Civic Center Plaza, Corning, NY

Open to all book lovers. Kids welcome. Food, fun, and friendly book chat. Free parking.

So come and join the fun. If you can't make the launch, stop by the library to get a copy of the book. Click the link above for directions.

The library has set up a “Meet the Author” display, with all of Jackie's books, and featuring For the Love of Strangers.

More about Jackie's release:

Philoxenia. When the police call using this code word, 16-year-old Darya knows she will be sheltering strangers: women with missing teeth, dislocated jaws, black eyes—and stalking husbands.

Other strangers—nonhuman—seek Darya’s protection too, whispering from the depths of the forest in voices only she can hear. If she obeys the voices, she risks her adoptive mother’s rage, the taunts of a surly island boy, and the wrath of her community. If she refuses the voices, a primeval species faces extermination.

What if you discovered your birth fulfilled an ancient prophecy?

What if you were destined to save an entire wild species?

Would you heed the call?

Those Fabulous Book Bloggers

Everyone's home from BEA by now, and many are back to work after a long weekend. But the connections we made at BEA will be a big part of our future. One of the nicest parts of the convention was Friday's Book Bloggers Convention. If you missed out on that fun, that's a shame. Be sure to schedule it in for next year. It's definitely something you won't want to miss.

Congratulations to the organizers who did a fabulous job of planning and organizing. From the delicious food to the talented speakers, the day was a delight from beginning to end. And thanks for including those of us from publishing houses among the convention goers. We can't say it enough: WE LUVS BOOK BLOGGERS!!

Thanks for all you do to spread the word about books. And thanks, too, for an excellent convention. We're already looking forward to next year!

Book Blogger Convention

Photo by Antoine Henrich

It's not over yet...

BEA may be over, but the fun's not. The fabulous book bloggers have a convention planned:

When: May 28, 2010
Where: Javitz Convention Center

Registration and breakfast will be located in rooms 1E13 and 1E14. Sessions will be held in room 1E15.  Here's the agenda:

7:45-8:45 – Breakfast and Registration
8:50 – 9:00 Opening Remarks
9:00 – 10:30 – Keynote Speaker
10:45-11:45 – Professionalism/Ethics
11:45-1:00 – Lunch
1:00 – 1:50 – Writing/Building Content
2:00-2:50 – Marketing
3:00-3:50 – Social Responsibility
4:00-4:50- Author/Blogger Relationships
4:50 – 5:00 – Closing Remarks

For additional information, check out the Book Blogger Convention website. Hope to see you there!!

Teen Author Carnival tonight from 5-8 pm

Meet author Judith Graves and get a sneak peek at Under My Skin at the Teen Author Carnival. See these other exciting authors:

1. Heidi Kling - Website
2. Jeri Smith-Ready - Website
3. Holly Cupala - Website
4. Michelle Zink - Website
5. Stephanie Kuehnert - Website
6. Elizabeth Scott - Website
7. Judith Graves - Website
8. Alexandra Diaz - Website
9. Barry Lyga - Website
10. Jon Skovron - Website
11. Tonya Hurley - Website
12. Amy Brecount White - Website
13. Linda Gerber - Website
14. Melissa Walker - Website
15. Kieran Scott - Website
16. Courtney Sheinmel - Website
17. Michael Northrop - Website
18. Lauren Oliver - Website
19. Ned Vizzini - Website
20. Melissa Kantor - Website
21. Susane Colasanti - Website
22. Violet Haberdasher - Website
23. Eliot Schrefer - Website
24. Sarah Darer Littman - Website
25. Gayle Forman - Website
26. Sarah Ockler - Website
27. Sarah Mlynowski - Website
28. Maryrose Wood - Website
29. Kody Keplinger - Website
30. Simone Elkeles - Website

 Join them and their hosts :

Devyn Burton
In association with
Mitali Dave & Korianne Wey

Presents:
NYC Teen Author Carnival
May 24, 2010
5:00 - 8:00 PM

Location:
Jefferson Market Branch Library
425 Avenue of the Americas [at 10th St.],
New York, NY 10011-8454

And while you're there, please support the campaign to prevent library closings:

Don't Close the Book on Libraries

Have You Signed Up for the Book Blogger Convention Yet?

If you're in NY for BEA,you might want to plan to stay an extra day to attend the fabulous convention the book bloggers have planned:

When: Friday, May 28, 2010
Where: Javitz Convention Center

Meet authors, pubishers, and bloggers. Registration and breakfast will be located in rooms 1E13 and 1E14. Sessions will be held in room 1E15.

For additional information, check out the Book Blogger Convention website.

Here's the agenda:

7:45-8:45 – Breakfast and Registration
8:50 – 9:00 Opening Remarks
9:00 – 10:30 – Keynote Speaker
10:45-11:45 – Professionalism/Ethics
11:45-1:00 – Lunch
1:00 – 1:50 – Writing/Building Content
2:00-2:50 – Marketing
3:00-3:50 – Social Responsibility
4:00-4:50- Author/Blogger Relationships
4:50 – 5:00 – Closing Remarks

Sounds great, doesn't it? Hope to see you there!!

Countdown to BEA

  

Photo by thephotoholic

It's almost here. Leap Books authors are descending on the Big Apple for BookExpo America. Meet Kitty Keswick, Judith Graves, and Bonnie J. Doerr in person. They, along with fellow authors in the Class of 2k10, have many appearances and booksignings planned. All this week we'll give you sneak peeks at the venues where you can find them.

This is a quick rundown, but we'll highlight each of the places in a separate post so you'll know what to expect and when.

Monday, May 24th - Judith Graves at the Teen Author Carnival from 5-8 PM at the Jefferson Market Library.

Tuesday, May 25th - 6 PM - Class of 2k10 booksigning at Books of Wonder

Wednesday, May 26th - 10 AM - Class of 2k10 reading and panel at New York Public Library (Mulberry St. Branch)

Wednesday, May 26th - 4 PM - Class of 2k10 book signing at The Voracious Reader Bookstore in Larchmont, NY.

Thursday, May 27th -  4 PM - Class of 2k10 reading and panel at New York Public Library (St. Agnes Branch)

See you then!!

Wow, Check Out Voracious Readers' Window!

If you're heading to NY for BEA (that's BookExpo America, for those of you who aren't familiar with this huge gathering of the book world), take a gander at this window. Pictures of all the Class of 2k10 authors and their books are on display. How cool is that?

And best of all, you'll see 3 Leap Books titles in that window. Isn't that fab?? Freaksville by Kitty Keswick, Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr, and our newly arrived Under My Skin by Judith Graves. You can meet all three authors in person at BEA or at the Voracious Reader (details below). And be sure to get an autographed copy of all the hottest debut books of 2010.

Thanks for the great publicity, Voracious Reader! And we hope you have a whole host of hungry readers mobbing your store for this event on May 26.