Author Spotlight: Sarah J. Maas

Last year, I ended 2013 with Susan Dennard. This year, I'm ending 2014 with her BFF, Sarah J. Maas. Now, if you haven't heard of Sarah, you've clearly been living under a rock. Or you don't read, which is just weird. She is the author of The Assassin's Blade [2014], Throne of Glass [2012], Crown of Midnight [2013], Heir of Fire [2014] and her new, upcoming series, A Court of Thorns and Roses [2015] along with the next addition to the Throne of Glass series (currently untitled). As a huge fan of her Throne of Glass series, I must tell you to add ACOTAR to your TBR list. Actually, preorder it. You won't regret it - it's AMAZING.

Author Spotlight: Katie McGarry

I am so thankful to be able to feature one of my favorite authors on the blog this month. This is the month of giving thanks, right? I am so incredibly grateful to this particular author for making me enjoy YA contemporary and giving this genre a chance when I'm not one of the biggest fans. I am thankful to Jennifer from Harlequin Teen for allowing me to feature one of their best authors here. Ladies and Gentleman, please welcome Katie McGarry to Step Into Fiction for the month of November. If you're not aware of who she is then check out her Pushing the Limits series: Pushing the Limits, Dare You To, Crash Into You, Take Me On and the upcoming, Breaking the Rules.

Author Spotlight: Jennifer L. Armentrout

I am super stoked to have this particular author featured here for the Author Spotlight this month. It's a great month to have her, too, as she has a book releasing later this month. What book you ask? Stone Cold Touch, which will hit stores on October 21. You've probably guessed the author, right? None other than Jennifer L. Armentrout or if you read her New Adult or Adult stuff, you might know her by J. Lynn. Her completed Young Adult books include the Lux Series (published with Entangled Teen), The Convenant Series (published with Spencer Hill Press), Don't Look Back (published with Disney), Cursed (published with Spencer Hill Press). She also has The Dark Elements Series (published with Harlequin Teen), Wait for You Series (published with William Morrow), the Titan Series (published with Spencer Hill Press), Frigid Series (published with Spencer Hill Press), Gamble Brothers (published with Entangled Brazen), The Wicked Saga (self published this December) and Obsession, which is an adult spin-off with Lux Series (published with Entangled Covet). Did you get that all? Want to look at the books more in detail, go here to visit her goodreads page, which lists them all!

Blog Tour: Mirror X by @KarriThompson

Mirror X by Karri Thompson
(The Van Winkle Project, #1)
Release Date: June 30, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen; 318 pages

Cassie Dannacher wakes up in a hospital over 1,000 years into the future after her space capsule is retrieved from space. She soon learns that 600 years prior to her arrival, the earth was struck by a plague, killing over half of the world’s population. Naïve and desperate, Cassie, who longs for home and is having trouble adjusting to the new, dictatorial 31st century government, is comforted by Michael Bennett, the 20-year old lead geneticist at the hospital where she was revived.

But why is Cassie in genetics’ hospital in the first place, and why do several of the people around her seem so familiar, including Travel Carson, the hot and edgy boy she is fated to meet? Soon she discovers there is a sinister answer to all of her questions – and that they want something from Cassie that only she can give.

Author Spotlight: Brigid Kemmerer

I am so excited to feature a fellow Maryland-er and super awesome author, Brigid Kemmerer this month for our Author Spotlight. Her elemental series is amazing, sexy and funny - it's a series I recommend to everyone. Her final book in this series comes out this fall and I seriously can't wait for it (but we all know how much I dread endings - it's so damn final). Click on the book covers to take you to their goodreads page...

Fierce Reads Author Event, Interview Write Up & Giveaway!

FIERCE READS with YA authors Leigh Bardugo (Ruin & Rising), Ava Dellaira (Love Letters to the Dead), Emmy Laybourne (Monument 14: Savage Drift), and Jennifer Mathieu (The Truth About Alice)!

Author Spolight: Rachel Aukes

We are so excited to have Rachel Aukes be a part of our Author Spotlight here at Step Into Fiction. If you're scratching your head wondering who Rachel Aukes is (for shame), here are some of her books that are already published: Knightfall [2011], Collision [2012] & 100 Days in Deadland [2013]. She is currently working on her next book Deadlands Harvest (100 Days in Deadland, #2) which is due out this year with the this book in the series, Deadland Rising, in later 2014.

Author Spotlight: Bonnie R. Paulson

Welcome to our second installment into Author Spotlight where we pick one author that'll we'll feature on the site with either a guest post, interview or something else that's a lot of fun along with a giveaway that will be opened internationally. This months author is not only super nice, local (to me) but extremely talented and creative.

October we're excited to be featuring Bonnie R. Paulson who is the author of Barely Alive [2012], Falling Apart [2012] and the Mostly Dead conclusion [2012]. We are doing a little bit of everything today as we have an Author Interview, Guest Blog, as well as This or That feature!

Broken by CJ Lyons Pre-Order Campaign + Giveaway

We have something special for all of you today. Not only is there a great price for the ebook of Broken, if you pre-order it before November 5 but we also have a great interview between CJ and the teen who inspired this book! Oh, and also we have an exclusive giveaway courtesy of the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire!

Authors Are Rockstars Tour: Dan Krokos

Dan & I at BEA 2013

I am so very excited to be a part of the second annual Authors are Rockstars tour! It's so true, authors are my rockstars and this tour is brilliant. My featured Rockstar for this tour is the amazingly talented, Dan Krokos. I became interested in his debut novel, False Memory, very early on and I was lucky enough to get an ARC (advanced readers copy) at BEA (Book Expo America) in 2012 while also meeting him. I didn't really say anything to him except 'thank you' because, believe it or not, I'm shy. But he was nice and I was so excited to read False Memory. Even with my high expectations, it didn't disappoint - he didn't disappoint. He reeled me with his story and with his words and he hasn't let go since. I've since read False Sight and his middle grade debut, The Planet Thieves was loving all of them. His books are intelligent, witty, adventurous, suspenseful and just downright amazing. I said in my review to False Sight that he's one of the only YA authors whose books I think could be loved equally by both male and female readers. He intertwines a perfect blend of action and suspense to lure in the men while also a healthy mixture of romance. I'm kind of ashamed to admit that I've met Dan a total of 5 times (at three different events) and haven't said much to him. Like I said, I'm shy and it sucks but he's fantastic and . . . well, he's my rockstar.

Blog Tour: Starglass by Phoebe North Interview + Giveaway

Starglass by Phoebe North
(Starglass, #1)
Release Date: July 23, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 448 pages

Terra has never known anything but life aboard the Asherah, a city-within-a-spaceship that left Earth five hundred years ago in search of refuge. At sixteen, working a job that doesn't interest her, and living with a grieving father who only notices her when he's yelling, Terra is sure that there has to be more to life than what she's got.

But when she inadvertently witnesses the captain's guard murdering an innocent man, Terra is suddenly thrust into the dark world beneath her ship's idyllic surface. As she's drawn into a secret rebellion determined to restore power to the people, Terra discovers that her choices may determine life or death for the people she cares most about. With mere months to go before landing on the long-promised planet, Terra has to make the decision of a lifetime--one that will determine the fate of her people.

Young Authors Give Back Tour Recap, Interview & Giveaway

As you know, authors Sarah J. Maas (Bloomsbury), Kat Zhang (Harper), Erin Bowman (Harper) & Susan Dennard (Harper) just concluded their amazing Young Authors Give Back tour and if you didn't get a chance to attend then I'm here to tell you all about it; at least the stop in Baltimore! I would like to thank Jennifer from Kaye Publicity for allowing me this amazing opportunity.

Sarah J. Maas & Susan Dennard

I didn't get the chance to attend the workshop because I don't fit the age requirements but I did go to the signing afterward and just seeing the reactions on these young aspiring authors faces were enough to confirm how unique & wonderful their experience was. The signing, itself, was nice because each author talked a little bit about themselves and their work along with each others work. You can tell, by looking at this group of ladies, that they truly are great friends and appreciate each other more than they can truly say.

Blog Tour: Shutdown by Heather Anastasiu Interview + Giveaway

Shutdown by Heather Anastasiu
(Glitch, #3)
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 320 pages

The battle is all but over, and hope seems to be lost. Zoe and her fellow Resistance fighters are on the run, having lost their home, their protection, and their leader. They are outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful corporation that controls the world, and the cruel Chancellor is inches away from completing a scheme that would kill most of humanity. Zoe's only remaining option is to chase the impossible dream of upending the Link system, freeing the world from the hardware that controls their thoughts and emotions, and hope it will trigger a revolution.

The plot requires a nearly impossible mission to infiltrate the dangerous Community, and it is a task that Zoe must unfortunately complete alone. With challenges and surprises at every turn, nothing goes according to plan. Adrien's visions of the future now show two possible outcomes: one in which they succeed, and one in which humanity falls. It all lies in Zoe's hands.

Full of romance, high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Shutdown is a heart-pounding conclusion to an exciting sci-fi adventure trilogy for young adults.

The thrilling conclusion to an action-packed sci-fi trilogy.

Blog Tour: Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn Interview

Stephanie Kuehn is a YA writer who grew up in Berkeley, California, which is a quirky sort of a place with a ton of wonderful bookstores. Her very first job was working in one of those bookstores, and she's been a freakishly avid reader for as long as she can remember.

Stephanie's other passions include mental health advocacy, social justice, and sports of all kinds. She's currently living in Northern California with her family and their wild menagerie of pets.

www.stephaniekuehn.com | twitter.com/stephkuehn

Stalk Me by Jillian Dodd Blog Tour: Interview with Damian

Stalk Me. by Jillian Dodd
Release Date: September 1st, 2012
Publisher: Bandit Publishing; 326 pages

Gossip girl meets Hollywood in this new series by That Boy author, Jillian Dodd.

Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed of. Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She’s popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most coveted lunch table.

She’s just not sure she wants it anymore.

Because really, things aren’t all that perfect. Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam. Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to.

It’s exhausting always trying to look and act perfect.

And deep down, she isn’t sure if she has any true friends.

To add to the drama, her movie star mom’s long-time fan has turned stalker.

An older man is flirting with her and telling her they should make a movie together.

And she’s crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating a guy like him would mean committing social suicide.

So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony.

But little does she know, there’s someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Interview: Josh Hurley

Well, if you're a fan of Julie Kagawa then you have to know who Josh Hurley is. No? Well, let me introduce you. Josh is the voice of Summer's Crossing audiobook. If you've read my reviews to the Iron Fey series, you'll know I spoke highly about him. Personally, I've never owned an audiobook in my life until Julie told me about how I needed to hear this, especially since I'm a Puck girl. (Don't judge me, you Ash fans) She wasn't kidding. He does Puck perfectly, not to mention the other voices he manages. It makes an already highly entertaining story more enjoyable, which I had no idea was possible. (Iron Queen and Summer's Crossing are my absolute favorites of the series)