Monday, August 13, 2012

Author Are Rockstars Tour: Kim Harrington

I'm so UNBELIEVABLY excited to be a part of the Authors Are Rockstars tour being put on by the ultra-awesome Fiktshun and Two Chicks on Books!! And I'm even more excited to be hosting the fabulous, fantastic, super talented Kim Harrington!!


As a huge fan of both music and books, I'll be the first to agree that authors most certainly are Rockstars! And as a huge fan of books featuring mystery, romance, humor, and kick-butt protagonists, it's no surprise that Kim Harrington is one of my favorites! Her books Clarity and Perception are some of my top mystery picks for ANYONE!

Clarity's heroine, Clare Fern, is a normal teenage girl...except, you know, she's psychic. In Clarity, she uses her extra sense to try and help the police solve a murder, bringing danger, murderers, and potential love to her doorstep.

I haven't read Kim's series for kids, Sleuth or Dare, but they look absolutely fantastic, as does her upcoming YA title, The Dead and Buried! I can't wait to read it!

For a book to really hold my attention and gain my absolute adoration, the author has to be really awesome at mixing action-packed adventures that make my heart race, mysteries and questions that make me think, humor that keeps me giggling, and yes, a good-sized dose of romance--and Kim, I feel, has found the perfect balance!

In case I haven't gushed enough here, be sure to check out my reviews of Clarity and Perception!

Now, without further ado, I'm very pleased to introduce you to Kim Harrington and present an interview with her!


About Kim: 
Kim Harrington is the author of the Clarity series for teens and the Sleuth or Dare series for kids. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and son. When not writing, she's most likely reading, watching one of her favorite TV shows, or fantasizing about her next vacation. Her first book, Clarity, received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly, was a 2012 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, sold to nine countries, and was optioned for television by Warner Brothers.
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Interview
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Q. What was your inspiration for becoming an author? Have you always wanted to write or is it a passion that developed later? And what was the first story you’ve ever written about?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, ever since I could read. The first works I remember creating as a little girl were a poem about my dog and a story about a house that swallowed children who walked by. The main character in the story was named Shelly because I was looking around my room trying to think of a name and saw a seashell on my desk. It was far from genius. But I was seven, so there’s that. ;)

[Mag says: THAT SOUNDS LIKE SUCH A COOL STORY (:D)]

Q. What is your favorite part about being a writer? Is it creating the characters or world? Is it being able to get lost in your imagination? Or is it something else?

I love writing a first draft. Getting lost in the setting, daydreaming about the characters. That’s my favorite part of writing. I also love, love, love getting emails from readers. Sometimes it can turn a terrible day into a wonderful one.

Q. Both your Clarity series and your Sleuth or Dare series mix mystery with the paranormal/supernatural. And your upcoming title, The Dead and Buried also seems to incorporate both. What is it you most like writing about these types of stories? What do you find challenging about adding the paranormal/supernatural into your books?

I might not always write paranormal—Sleuth or Dare has none—but there will always be a mystery element to everything I write. However, whether it’s psychics (Clarity) or ghosts (The Dead and Buried), I find the paranormal intriguing and fun to write. What’s challenging is balancing out the supernatural with the rest of the plot. Especially when paranormal abilities are involved. I want them to be keys to solving the mysteries, but I don’t want them to be cheats. I still want limitations, hard work, and regular brainpower to come into play.

Q. You mention on your website that both you and Clare share a few quirks and both of you enjoy sarcasm. Would you mind sharing what those similarities are? And what traits of Clare’s are all her own?

Clare’s food likes and dislikes are basically mine. I don’t eat seafood, like Clare, and it’s strange to grow up in Massachusetts and admit that you’ve never tried lobster, clams, shrimp, etc. Also, I love horror movies like she does. And we both love our family LIKE WHOA. For differences, while we’re both sarcastic, Clare actually says the things that pop into her mind. I keep most of it inside. She’s also much braver than me.

Q. Your upcoming book, The Dead and Buried is due out in January. How would you best describe it in 10 words or less? And is there anything you can reveal about the book now?

A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost.

(That’s 11 words, but I didn’t want to cut the “very.” Because, yeah, she’s very angry.)

The full cover and synopsis are up on my site! http://www.kimharringtonbooks.com/Books.html#Dead


This or That questions

Disneyland or Disney World? Disney World! I’ve been to Walt Disney World seventeen times, but I’ve never been to Disneyland.

Lost: Jack or Sawyer? Jack. I almost always go for the “good” guy.

Pizza: By the slice or the whole pie? THE WHOLE THING. Nom nom nom. Pizza is my favorite food.

[Mag says: Pizza is the greatest food that was ever invented. And chocolate.] 

Write at night or write during the day? During the day. My brain is fried by nighttime.

Write in silence or write with music? Silence, though sometimes I can write with instrumental music on. I love Explosions in the Sky. They’re great writing music.

Write by hand or write by computer? Mostly by computer, though I write by hand sometimes when I get stuck. For some reason, it helps me get unstuck. ;)

Yellow cake with whipped frosting or chocolate cake with traditional icing? Neither. Yellow cake with traditional icing!!!

Happily ever after or happily never after? Happily ever after. :)

Thanks for having me!

[Mag says: Thanks so much for stopping by!!!!]

So there you have it, folks! Kim Harrington is awesome, supercool, and a TOTAL ROCKSTAR!! If you haven't yet, be sure to check out her books! You won't be disappointed!

Thank you so much to Kim for stopping by my blog, and to Fiktshun and Two Chicks on Books for putting this whole thing together!!

Also, don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour!! There are so many great authors and bloggers participating!

(:D)
~Mag

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Mini Hiatus

Okay, so, some of you may have seen this coming. I was hoping to avoid it.

I'll be taking mini-sorta-half-hiatus for a little bit.

I have some Things going on right now--I won't go in to the internet deal, as I've talked it to death in previous posts, but that's still one issue. I'm also starting a new school in September and have to take some entry-tests I'm nervous about, so I need to study. A lot. (Your thoughts/prayers/good vibes would be awesome on that front, by the way!) Plus, I don't really talk about it here (I've mentioned it on Tumblr and Twitter if you follow me there) but I'm writing a book. Sort of. Trying to. So I like to spend some time working on that.

Anyway, with that and some other stuff, I'm finding I have less and less time to get on here, and write reviews, and post memes, and that makes me sad and stresses me out because I really want to post every day. So I'm going to take a little break.

But I'll be back.

No, scratch that--I'm not even leaving. I'll still be reading and I'll post the occasional review and other post (my Authors Are Rockstars post is going up soon!), but I'm not going to freak myself out about posting every day for the next couple weeks, especially until those tests are done.

I'll still be around--don't stop talking to me! I'll keep answering comments and tweets and tumblr stuff, so PLEASE KEEP TALKING TO ME! I love love love talking to you guys and I couldn't stop if I wanted to--which I DON'T!

Anyway, that's about it for now, just don't be concerned if the blog is quiet!

You guys are awesome! I love you all!!

(:D)
~Mag

Monday, August 6, 2012

Geek Chic This Week (8/6/12)

Geek Chic This Week is a feature here at Geek Chic to talk about the books I received this week, whether bought, borrowed, or fallen from the sky! It's inspired by the Story Siren's In My Mailbox.


Okay. So. I said we had an internet fix. And we kind of do. But basically, we bought our own "hotspot" thing from AT&T, which is, on one hand, great, and on the other hand, has limited data. So we're still working on getting LEGIT, ACTUAL internet at our house. That hasn't happened yet. But I've been making it work. (I spent several hours at Panera the other day--FREE WIFI!!) And the hotspot works as well, so at least I can update some :)

Anyway, I highly doubt you care that much about my internet problems (I wouldn't blame you one bit if you skipped over these paragraphs once you realized they were super boring ;D), so...

ON TO THE BOOKS!

FROM THE LIBRARY


-Falling in Love With English Boys by Melissa Jensen. I've already finished this one and I thought it was fun and cute--I loved the flips between Katherine and Cat :)

-The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa. Just started this one today, but I've been DYING to get it for AGES, obviously! I've heard nothing but good things. I'm like two pages in and very much enjoying it :)



-Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham. This one looks so fun :)

-Timepiece by Myra McEntire. I love time travel books, and I LOVED Hourglass, so I was so excited to FINALLY get to read Timepiece. I loved it, and I adore Kaleb now (I didn't feel too strongly about him one way or another in Hourglass, to be honest). KALEB <3

FROM NETGALLEY

Because I'm weak, I got another NetGalley book. I HAVE TO STOP.


-Lucretia and the Kroons by Victor LaValle. I don't know much about this novella (I'm not even sure it's YA, actually) but it looked interesting...I also don't know anything about the series it apparently relates to. If any of you know anything about this book (especially if it's YA, ha!) let me know?

FOR REVIEW


-Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gehrman. THIS LOOKS SO COOL! I'm really looking forward to reading it. Thanks Jody!!

So what's in your mailbox this week? Leave me links to your book-sharing posts!!

(:D)
~Mag

Friday, August 3, 2012

Dante Walker website password!!

Hey guys! I'm sure most of you (well, at least, a lot of you) have heard about Victoria Scott's upcoming book The Collector, and her...unique...character, Dante Walker.


Well, Dante now has his own website! It launches throughout the world on August 8th, buuuuut if you want to get on there early...like, RIGHT NOW, early, you can--IF you have the password.

A password I happen to be able to share with you!

That's right! All you have to do is scroll down ;)

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The password is...

CHARLIE

So go! Go check out DanteWalker.com and enter the password, then HAVE FUN!!

If you want more information about Dante, the Collector, or the site, check out Victoria Scott's blog, especially THIS and THIS

(:D)
~Mag

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Authors are Rockstars Blog Tour

Have you guys heard about the Authors Are Rockstars blog tour being hosted by Fiktshun and Two Chicks on Books? Basically, it's going to be AWESOME.

With bunches and bunches of authors signed up to participate and lots of bloggers ready to gush about them, for the month of August the blogosphere is going to BLOW UP with authors who are rockstars and we readers who love them.

And I'm happy to tell you guys I get to host the fantastic Kim Harrington here on the blog! I looooove her books Clarity and Perception, and I can't wait for The Dead and Buried--but I'll save the rest of my gushing for August 13th, when my post goes up :)

So check back then, and check out all the other stops on the tour!!

(:D)
~Mag