Free Young Adult Novels...for as long as they last

Easily in the top five reasons people come here from Google is Free Young Adult Novels, so here you go. Leila from Bookshelves of Doom let her readers know that Amazon is giving away Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes and Aprilynne Pike's Wings.

From the free Kindle version's product description for 13 Little Blue Envelopes:

Inside little blue envelope 1 are $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket.In envelope 2 are directions to a specific London flat.

The note in envelope 3 tells Ginny: Find a starving artist.

Because of envelope 4, Ginny and a playwright/thief/ bloke–about–town called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous–though utterly romantic–results. But will she ever see him again?

Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it's all because of the 13 little blue envelopes.

I loved 13 Little Blue Envelopes enough when I read it several years ago that I went out and bought it. It's sitting in the YA section of my bookshelves as we speak. Ginny, despite what she thinks, has more guts than I will ever have when it comes to taking off by myself, and Maureen knows how to write a great character to carry you alone for the ride. When I found out that the followup, The Last Little Blue Envelope, will be available on April 26th in hardcover and ebook, I even made a note on my calendar.

While I can't vouch for Wings because I haven't read it, apparently the publisher is aiming for the Twilight* set. From the product description:

For a limited time, the book that Twilight Saga author Stephanie Meyer lauded as "a remarkable debut" is available for free.

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words. Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings. In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Apparently its about Fairies? Let me know if they're evil (I like 'em evil) and I'll check it out. Illusions, the conclusion to the Wings Trilogy, will be available on May 3rd, 2011.

*I know, I know, you can read. Thank you, Captain Obvious.

Book Giveaway Peeps!

No, peeps are not getting the books (think how sticky they would make the pages), you are. Specifically those of you picked by the random number generator: Random Ranter (Tied to the Tracks) and Barb (First Person Plural). If y'all can email me at the address in the purple box in the right hand column I'll make sure you get your books.

Sorry for the delay in making this announcement.

(Swiped from Something Complicated)

Super Sonic

I'm going to try to put something up about the program later today between classes, but I just wanted to give you a visual of what the Denver Institute is like:

(Click to enlarge)

Yep, that's the continental divide in Wyoming. What makes this picture appropriate is not that we are a divided class.

Oh, no.

It's that this picture was taken at 80 miles an hour by my co-pilot as we worked our way through 400 miles of Wyoming country side. It's very representative of the speed of the course and the breadth of the topics.

Although it should be mentioned that the Institute is a lot more interesting than Wyoming. (Sorry, Wyoming, but you've got nothing there!) There are days when I feel like my head might explode.

In other news, check out the guest posts by Andrew Beierle and Rosina Lippi for wit, wisdom and a chance to win a free books. Next week means more authors.

Free books for Teens

I'm deep in pony-land (the land of people who do not listen and get angry about for no reason--not to be confused with My Little Pony Land, the place of sparkles and giggles), but I thought I'd post this news while I have a chance.

Kris Reisz posted on his site that Simon Pulse is offering ARCs and free novels to teens in return for getting their opinion. If you know a teen who might be interested they can download the application form here. Unfortunately it does not look like adults who like to read YA novels are allowed to apply.

Phooey.

Back to pony land I go.

Free books! Free books for the Readers! (Now Closed)

Remember when I interviewed Gil and Sandi and said I had books of theirs to give away to people who commented (specifically one of those people chosen at random)? Well, perhaps it was a mistake of me to ask you to comment on interviews are that are, for the most part, already over and done with. Instead let me offer you a new forum. If you're interested in receiving a copy of Sandi or Gil's book, just comment below (or email me via the handy email address in the sidebar) specifying which one (or both despite the fact they are two very different books) and I'll add you to the drawing. I need to know if y'all are interested in this type of book giveaway so I should judge how (and if) I ask for books in the future.

So, just a reminder on the two very different books up for grabs, you have a choice of:

Aftermath, Inc: Cleaning Up After CSI Goes Home by Gil Reavill:

A crime writer who thought he could handle anything confronts the worst of everything. Violent and unattended deaths...suicide...forensics...viral pathology...crime scene myths...The stories behind Aftermath, Inc. are stranger than fiction, and utterly human and compelling.

Like most people, true-crime writer Gil Reavill had never actually experienced a fresh crime scene. That is, until he met Tim Reifsteck and Chris Wilson, owners of Aftermath, Inc., a company in the new field of "bioremediation." In the mid-80s, when a sea change occurred in the way biohazard clean-up was handled, no one in traditional cleaning or janitorial services would come within ten feet of a blood-spattered crime scene. Into this void stepped lifelong friends Tim and Chris, who filled a desperate need by founding their company. For the guys of Aftermath, no crime scene is too bloody to clean.

Aftermath, Inc. traces their history, introducing their clients and employees, and the cops, coroners, and detectives they encounter in their work. Gil goes on scene and works side by side with the Aftermath technicians. He tells the stories that led up to some of Aftermath's most grisly clean-up jobs, taking us on a journey through the suburban Midwest where the company is based, home to some of the quietest, calmest, most ordinary blocks in the world, which hide much darker undercurrents beneath.

The issues that the Aftermath crew members face on a daily basis range from the mundane (What's the best way to suppress the urge to regurgitate?) to the lofty (How does being exposed to death on a daily basis alter one's personal philosophy?). Reavill approaches his task with respect and compassion, taking as his mantra a line from the Roman poet Terence-- "Nothing human is foreign to me."

or

A Piece of Normal by Sandi Kahn Shelton:

At age thirty-four, Lily Brown has her life just the way she likes it. And what’s not to like? She’s got a great job as an advice columnist for the local newspaper, an adorable four-year-old son, and an ex-husband, Teddy, who still thinks she’s wonderful. She even lives in the same beach house where she grew up, with a great view of Long Island Sound and plenty of beach roses to smell.

So what if she won’t let herself date anyone until she finds a new girlfriend for Teddy, who happens to still be hung up on her? So what if she hasn’t changed a thing in her parents’ house, even twelve years after their tragic deaths? So what if it’s been ten years since she’s heard from her younger sister, Dana, who stormed out of the house in a rage when she was a teenager? Lily is fine.

But it’s funny how life has a way of upsetting even the most perfectly laid-out plans, and when one night Lily finds herself painting ghastly orange highlights into her lovely auburn hair, even she suspects that she’s been in something of a rut. And then, when her long-lost little sister shows up, bringing with her the fun and drama and hell-raising spontaneity Lily has missed, her life suddenly takes a turn for the unexpected.

To Lily’s chagrin, Dana’s energy seems to enthrall everyone, especially Teddy. As the tension between the sisters escalates, Dana reveals decades-old family secrets that she’s been burdened with all these years, and Dear Lily must heed her own advice about accepting life’s messiness and chaos.

With her trademark blend of sparkling wit and characters you can’t forget, Sandi Kahn Shelton tells a compelling and universal story of two sisters who learn what they need to let go of, and what they have to hold on to as tightly as they can.

You've got until Saturday to comment. I have one copy of each book to give away.