Thursday, July 8, 2010

Boy, I Mean Book Recommendation and Giveaway

Set in a boarding school in Paris, ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS made me think of college almost as much as I thought of high school. Though, mostly, the humor reminded me of friends from high school. It's interesting how some books bring up memories and get me thinking about decisions I've made in my life. This was one of THOSE books. 
Anna and the French Kiss
Anna has already garnered happy blurbs and reviews, and I agree with what authors and book people have said so far. You DON'T want to miss out on Etienne St. Clair, the laugh out loud humor, or the characters. Oh, how I fell in love with these characters, especially Anna, Etienne, and Mer. The writing, character depth, imagery, and the honesty with which Stephanie Perkins handled *mature content should make this novel literary, but then there are so many fun parts that had me belly laughing and reading out loud to my husband. I've never read a book that made me laugh and ache for the characters of a story the way this one did. 

To better acquaint you with the author (because, seriously, Steph is a riot), I asked her some questions. My questions are still in black, but I've colored her answers blue. :o)


How long have you had blue stripes in your hair, and is there a story behind them?

Two and a half years!  There's not a story-story behind them, but they arrived in my life during a time in which I found myself asking on a daily basis, "If not now, then when?"  Blue hair was something I'd long admired (Clementine in Eternal Sunshine, Billie Joe Armstrong in the Dookie days, Gwen Stefani), but redheads (my natural color) are so DEFINED by their hair, that I was too afraid to change it for years.  But one day it hit me: it's just hair.  It'll grow back.

Not surprisingly, this "If not now, then when?" period was the same time I finished my first full-length novel, which was Anna.  Perhaps I can chalk everything up to a mid-twenties life crisis.



How many years did you spend researching HBM (Hot British Males) to come up with THE BOY?

Oh, man.  How much do I love this question?

I suppose my interest in HBM . . . exploded in early high school, during the two years in which the only music I listened to was The Beatles.  "Obsessed" does not properly do justice to how I felt about them.  It turned me into an Anglophile, and after that, there was no looking back.  I have watched a LOT of BBC programming.

Étienne St. Clair was a surprise.  He came to me in a dream — French name, English accent, American school — and I was extremely thrown that this FRENCH thing had been tossed in!  Why on Earth was I dreaming about FRANCE?  I'm pretty sure my subconscious gave him an English accent, because it knew I would have dismissed the dream without it.  But he arrived fully formed, and the story grew organically from what I knew about him, so . . . yeah.  My years of HBM research had finally paid off!


What is your favorite place in Paris?

THE WHOLE CITY.  I have happy memories in all of the neighborhoods!  But it's probably a tie between two places featured in Anna — the Panthéon, because that's where my idea for the story began (THE BOY was sitting on the steps), and Point Zéro (a star that marks the center of France), because that's what tied everything together.  Both places have become rather spiritual for me.  But the *coolest* places in Paris are Père Lachaise, a gigantic crazy beautiful cemetery, and the catacombs.  One made it into Anna, and the other is in Book Three.
 

Your favorite food?

To keep with the Parisian theme, banana Nutella street crêpes!  Delicious melty goodness.


And (since I'm giving away copies of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS and PARANORMALCY) how did you become critique partners with Kiersten White?

We met after I signed with my agent, Kate Schafer Testerman.  Kate keeps a fantastic blog [http://ktliterary.com/daphne/] and had announced me as a new client.  Kiersten followed Kate's link, and my "I have an agent!" post made her laugh.  She commented and made ME laugh, and we probably commented back and forth on each other's blogs a dozen times in the first day or two of knowing each other.  Dozens (now thousands) of emails rapidly followed, and it was just one of those instant, easy friendships.  I'm often reminded of this really sweet White Stripes song in which Jack sings, "I can tell that we are going to be friends."

It was like that.  We could tell.


Being critique partners followed naturally.  I feel lucky that I met her while she was working on Paranormalcy, because it's such a hilarious, romantic, special story!  The bulk of Anna was done — it was waiting for my editor's touch — so Kiersten's influence has been greatest on my second novel, Lola and the Boy Next Door.  There is absolutely no way I would have finished it without her.

We work well together, because our writing styles are complementary.  Kiersten is the fastest, smartest thinker I know.  She writes novels quickly, and she's a great plotter.  I'm nitpicky and detail-oriented.  It takes me a long time to write a good draft.  So Kiersten is great at moving my stories forward, and I'm good at building her stories up.

My husband has joked that one day I'll get a tattoo of her name.  He's not that far off.

Thanks for such awesome questions!!  It's ALWAYS a pleasure talking to you, Myrna.



Thanks for answering my questions, Steph, and for writing such an amazing book! You can learn more about Stephanie Perkins at her website. I've been fan-girling her blog for a few years now; the girl, she makes me laugh, and I love her taste in music, movies, art, and books.


And now for the giveaway part: one lucky commenter will win pre-orders for ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, by Stephanie Perkins and PARANORMALCY, by Kiersten White. 
Paranormalcy
I will also throw in one of these lovely ANNA bookmarks, 


a jar of Nutella, something pink and/or sparkly to go with Kiersten's book, and GOOD NIGHT, GOOD KNIGHT, by Shelley Moore Thomas, because it's a great book, and I'd rather pay for another great book than shipping.
Good Night, Good Knight (Easy-to-Read, Puffin)
The contest is open until Midnight PST on Thursday, July 15th. I'll post the winner on Friday. You don't have to be a follower to enter, but do let me know in the comments. Also, I'll throw in three extra entries to commenters who leave a link to their blog post, FB, or Twitter about this contest (for as many links as you leave for me to check out). Capiche? Yes, I know that's the wrong language, but Mer would approve.


Thanks for reading my very long recommendation/fan-girly-gushing. I love finding books that make me want to gush. I'll be posting Kiersten's interview next week, but she has a great blog post up today, if you'd like to know more about her.


*I'm squeamish about swearing and well, anything that would give a movie a Restricted rating. If you know me, you know this already. When I say mature content, I don't mean offensive content; I mean realistic content. Steph's book doesn't skirt around the way teenagers interact with each other or the consequences of the characters' actions. I liked that. I also liked that I didn't have to feel guilty or dirty about reading it.

144 comments:

  1. OMG, these are two of my favorite writers/bloggers and YOU are one of my favorite writers/bloggers so it's like a perfect pairing! Thank you so much for sharing this interview with Steph--she is seriously one of my favorite people!

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  2. Thanks, Shannon! So, does this mean you'll be sending me an ARC, when yours comes out? ;o) BTW - I'm totally teasing. I love you too, and I'm glad you liked the interview.

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  3. FANTASTIC interview, and FANTABULOUS prizes! You already know I'm a follower...and I may be back with a link:)

    When does the contest close?

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  4. In a week, Krista. Thanks for pointing that out.

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  5. YAY! I really really really want to read both of these books. I love Stephanie and Kiersten's blogs and I'm sure their books will be awesome.

    I do believe I follow your blog, and I also sent a Tweet out about the giveaway!

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  6. Okay, but here's the important thing: What kind of font are we talking about for the tattoo? And what color? Also, placement. Lower back = a little too intimate. Ankle is too hard to hide if you want to show some leg. What about the shoulder blade? I'm thinking that'd work.

    (Also, I love love love ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS to the point of it being ridiculous. And I love love love Stephanie Perkins also to the point of it being ridiculous. If you ever wonder if she could possibly be as adorable and delightful as her blog and writing make her seem, the answer is: no. She's even MORE adorable and delightful in real life.)

    Loved this interview, Myrna! Thanks for doing the giveaway!

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  7. I can't wait for these books to be out. Awesome contest.
    I am a follower and I tweeted about it here: http://twitter.com/Sarahbear9789/status/18095820633

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  8. Great interview and some wonderful authors. I tried highlighting my hair blue once, when I was in junior high. Unfortunately, my attempt was a disaster and involved being made fun of in school and at home. But it looks awesome with the red for Stephanie. I look forward to finding and reading these books some day in the future, if I don't win. ;-)

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  9. great interview! i can't wait till these books come out. thanks for having this awesome contest

    mariannguyen16(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  10. Thanks for this interview and contest, I've been wanting to read Paranormalacy since I first heard of it, and now I'm anxious to read Anna And the French Kiss as well!

    I'm a new follower, and I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/YABookShelf/status/18096520620

    Thanks!

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  11. LOL! Thanks for the tattoo comment, Kiersten. I'm glad I wasn't eating or drinking anything.

    And I appreciate anyone following who wants to, but I actually said you don't have to. Though I'd understand your not wanting to miss out on the Kiersten interview, especially after her tattoo comment.

    Thanks for the Tweet, Sarah!

    And Dawn, I really wanted to dye my hair blue in college, but it was against the dress code, and my mom (a former beautician - from the days when they were called beauticians) talked me out of it. I love Steph's hair.

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  12. Great giveaway, count me in! I've got both these books' release dates marked on my calendar.

    I tweeted about this contest here: http://twitter.com/SkyeHandley/status/18097966941

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  13. Loved the interview! And yum, crepes with nutella!!! Anna and the French Kiss looks so cute! :)
    I'm a new follower!
    I tweeted!
    http://twitter.com/teenbookguide/status/18098242434
    Great giveaway! And thanks again!

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  14. Okay, that post was so much fun!!!! Stephanie gives the best interviews.

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  15. What an interesting interview. I can hardly wait for both these books to be released. You can tell Stephanie and Kiersten are great friends. I'm a new follower and I tweeted http://twitter.com/Laurie_Lamb/status/18111943555

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  16. Great interview!
    Both of these books are on my "to read" list.
    hersforthereading AT gmail DOT com

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  17. Definitely enter me. I've heard such good things about Anna.
    I'm a follower!

    jpetroroy at gmail dot com

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  18. This is an awesome interview!!!! Love PARANORMALCY, LOVE Good Night, Good Knight and DYING to read Anna and the French Kiss. I think it's safe to say that we have similar tastes in books Myrna! Have a fabulous weekend!

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  19. I think the Good Knight might just have peed his pants!! Imagine, being in a give away with Paranormalcy AND Anna!!!

    And what a great interview...I've always wondered about Steph's blue hair!

    Shelley

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  20. OMG THIS IS THE PERFECT GIVEAWAY. I am dying--literally dying (ok, not literally)--to get my hands on BOTH these books!!!! ACK!!!!!

    And so then I was going to be all like, "See, I love you more, I've been following you FOREVER" and then I clicked to your followers to check...and I wasn't there! I SO thought I was--but at least I've rectified that now!

    Anyway, I want to win HARDCORE! Therefore....I'm going to:

    1. become a follower

    2. tweet: http://twitter.com/bethrevis/status/18120741732

    3. facebook: facebook.com/bethrevis (I @'ed you in so you could see it)

    4. blog: http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/2010/07/do-not-enter-this-contest.html

    What else can I do to win? BECAUSE I WILL SO DO IT! :)

    And then shout it from my rooftops :)

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  21. Great contest! I really really really want both of these books.

    1. became a follower
    2. Tweeted http://twitter.com/NotNessie/status/18122396658
    3. Blog post http://www.todays-adventure.com/2010/07/fantastic-contest.html
    4. Facebook

    I hope I win!
    adventureinbooks at gmail dot com

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  22. Nice interview, and awesome giveaway! Glad I found you!

    -new follower
    -tweeted: http://twitter.com/dreys_tweets/status/18123349231

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  23. I've been dying to read both books!!!

    I'm a new follower :D

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  24. Fun interview! I love the blue hair and her Daring.

    Found you at Beth's site. :)

    I posted the contest in my sidebar. Dont' know if that counts for entries, but here it is:

    janetsumnerjohnson.blogspot.com

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  25. Myrna — I had SO MUCH fun doing this. Thank you for saying such wonderful things about Anna, and thank you for putting me in the company of Kiersten and Shelley!! And NUTELLA! And it made me smile to hear you mention Mer. She's a very special character to me.

    Kiersten — Funny, but this was discussed, too. It's an anchor on my shoulder blade, and your name would be tattooed around it like rope. My husband also said Laini Taylor's name would be on it. I asked him about his name, and he just snorted. (But, for the record, he absolutely makes up my trifecta of People Who Keep Me Anchored.)

    Everyone — Thank you for your amazing, enthusiastic comments! I'm grinning from ear to ear.

    Also, I realize there's no definition of HBM up there, so in case anyone is curious, it stands for Hot British Men. ;)

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  26. Kiersten — By the way, the other tattoo option is my upper arm. Anchors look good there, no? We'll have to discuss font in the future.

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  27. GREAT interview and fantastic prizes! Thank you for the contest. I'm a follower. lynsey(AT)narrativelyspeaking(DOT)com

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  28. I loved Good night Good Knight. And I can't wait to read Anna and Paranormalcy. I'm a new follower! Awesome contest!

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  29. I cant wait for ANNA!!! I've heard amazing things about it and you just confirmed that! :D
    Please enter me for your giveaway. Thanks!
    I just started following you also..

    yabliss AT gmail DOT com

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  30. Steph--Yeah, upper arms are good placement for anchors, but let's be honest--neither of us have the muscle tone to pull off an upper-arm tattoo. It'd be like Anna's observation of a certain boy that is going to be a certain Boy. But I'm totally digging the image of my name as a rope twining around your anchor. And I'd be honored to share a tattoo with Laini and Jarrod.

    Meanwhile, I've nearly finished my 30 feet by 30 feet portrait of your face made entirely out of Dr Pepper cans! The MoMA can't wait to get its hands on it, but I'll probably keep it for myself.

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  31. I would love to win both of these books, I'll post it on my blog and direct others to it.

    Page
    http://asthepageturns-page.blogspot.com

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  32. Great interview and contest! I'm a new follower and I'm excited to see what you blog about next! =)

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  33. Aw, Myrna--of COURSE you get an ARC (assuming I ever have one of those) Feel free to hold me to that. You have it in writing now! :)

    And Kiersten and Steph? These comments are why I love you guys. You totally crack me up. :)

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  34. Thanks for an awesome post! I wasn't a follower, but thanks to Kiersten White's post today, I now am!

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  35. AAAhhh! I'm soo looking forward to read Stephanie's book :D

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  36. Beth, you WERE a follower. Weird. And I would love for you to win, but it'll be random; your chances are good though.

    Steph, I meant to explain HBM. Thanks!

    And Shannon, I am SO holding you to that!

    Everyone else, thank you so much for your comments and for your efforts in spreading recognition for these books and their authors!

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  37. Loved the interview with Stephanie and would LOVE to win these books! Thanks for doing a giveaway.

    I follow.

    bchild5@aol.com

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  38. I like your blog Myrna! I have been looking forward to paranormalcy and am excited to be entered into your contest.

    BTW Is this Myrna Foster as in Ben's wife, as in Brother and Sister Breinholt, my best friend in the whole wide world (that I haven't talked to in forever but is still my besties) Becky's sister in law?

    PS I am officially part of the night writer herd. ;)
    Jennifer

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  39. Shannon — ♥

    Myrna — You're welcome! :)

    Kiersten — HA HA HA! I know, MoMA called me yesterday and was like, "Do you have an estimate on when the Dr. Pepper portrait will be arriving? We reeeeally don't want to bother her, buuut..." And I said, "YOU CAN'T RUSH GENIUS!!!" and hung up.

    Also, how much do I love that you referenced a certain Boy? (Whose arms, yes, look a great deal like my own. Though a certain Girl would disagree. Certainly.)

    Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go polish the Kiersten White bust collection on top of my piano. Today IS our cleaning party, after all.

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  40. Wow! That's one of the best interviews I've read in a while! Yay!

    I'm a new follower, and I tweeted: http://twitter.com/lchardesty/status/18135357726

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  41. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!! I've been wanting to read these books. I'm a follower.
    chickenherder@hotmail.com

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  42. Thanks for hosting a wonderful contest. What a great interview. I loved the part about her relationship with her CP. I'm a follower and retweeted Larissa's tweet. Thanks, Larissa, for leading me here with your link.

    http://twitter.com/sharifwrites/status/18135560673

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  43. Steph--I've decided in place of a cleaning party I'm having a "grow eight inches so I can be five foot seven" party.

    Which is probably just as likely to happen.

    Also, I love that you hung up on MoMA. They need a little more of that. So grabby! I've got to run to the store anyway to get more cans. Your hair is a MASTERPIECE.

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  44. Great interview!

    Thanks for the contest!

    I follow.

    ebdye1(at)gmail

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  45. You asked some great questions for an author whose book I am excited to read mostly BECAUSE of her blog! I love reading both Kiersten and Steph's blogs, and I'm sure that their humor will translate well into fiction. Can't wait!

    I've linked to your great giveaway in my sidebar for you!

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  46. Awesome contest!! Count me in for sure.
    I am a new follower!

    natashajennex(at)gmail(dot)com

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  47. Oh, I would LOVE to win these books!

    I tweeted: http://twitter.com/SarahNFisk/status/18139090806

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  48. I am a follower and I put this contest on the sidebar on my blog!! www.bookworm-googie.blogspot.com. Thanks for the awesome interview!!

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  49. Kiersten — NO. You are NOT bailing on me. CLEANING PARTY. TODAY. BE THERE!

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  50. I (heart) your blue hair, Steph! I've been wanting blue for a while, but I must go through my Purple phase first. ;) LOL

    Tweeted here: http://twitter.com/MireyahWolfe/status/18140580304

    Posted in my sidebar: http://m-wolfe.blogspot.com/

    I'm a new follower! :)

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  51. Ah, I've been SOOOO excited for Anna! And Ms. Perkins pretty much makes my life with her blog. Kiersten, who is possibly the nicest person EVAH, is my hero. I've been trying to snag both books from my librarian's Secret Stash of Lovely Books From ALA.

    Also, I'm a follower. Just sayin'. :D

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  52. OH. MY. GOODNESS. These are the two books I've waited all year for, and I maybe just flailed a little?

    Tweeted here: http://twitter.com/bravenewyou/status/18140148470

    But I was so excited, I forgot the link. That's here: http://twitter.com/bravenewyou/status/18140193513

    And then, I blogged: http://bit.ly/c9syD0


    Great interview! I'm following you now, and can't wait to see what's next!

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  53. Oo, I'd love to win these books! :)

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  54. New follower here!

    Blogged at http://mandalynsmusings.blogspot.com/2010/07/follower.html .

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/MandalynM/status/18145322418

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  55. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  56. MUST READ THESE BOOKS! The reviews I've seen have made me incredibly jealous!

    New follower.

    infinitemusic19 at gmail dot com

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  57. Midtwenties crisis huh? Still, I like the blue accent :)

    Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/07/win-anna-and-french-kiss-paranormalcy.html

    Twitted: http://twitter.com/cherrymischivus/status/18148207637

    Cherry Mischievous
    mischivus101-warrior [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  58. Awesome contest...I'm a follower and would love to win this prize pack!

    rachelealpine@gmail.com

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  59. Yay! I'm a new follower because I cannot pass up on another awesome blog to read when I should be doing my homework or writing. :) Thanks for the contest. I follow both Stephanie and Kiersten's and have been excited for their books forever. Winning the books would make my year! I also will tweet about this. I'm on twitter as mchammer401.

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  60. I'm a new follower and I love your site and this blog post! :)

    I also posted this on my sidebar at http://booksobsession.blogspot.com

    booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com

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  61. Awesome giveaway. I'm a new follower!

    hderaps @ mbrsd . org

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  62. oh what an amazing contest! Both books sound awesome! But before I enter, is this contest open internationally? :P

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  63. Awesome contest. These are two books I am so looking forward to. I just became a follower of yours too.

    Blogged about the contest: http://jennys-books.blogspot.com/2010/07/some-awesome-contests.html

    Tweeted:http://twitter.com/Jullysay/statuses/18153407217

    jen4777[at]hotmail.com

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  64. That's a good question, YA Vampire Books, one I should have addressed in the post. My other contests have been open internationally, but this one isn't. I'm sorry. However, Kiersten is giving away an ARC of Paranormalcy over at her blog, and that contest is open internationally.

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  65. I consider myself insanely lucky to have read a copy of ANNA already... It is one of my all time favorite novels and, since you loved it as well, I'm definitely following your blog. It can only mean that you have good taste!

    Entries:
    Follower
    Linked to sidebar @ http://thehidingspot.blogspot.com

    Thanks for the fabulous contest!
    Sara
    thehidingspot@live.com

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  66. I love Stephanie's hair! Thanks for the giveaway. I am anxiously waiting for both of these books to come out :)

    I am a blog follower.

    tweeted

    thebookvixen at gmail dot com

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  67. Sara, I enjoyed your review. I googled Steph's book to read the reviews already out there because I wanted mine to add something. Yours stood out.

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  68. Count me in!:) I'm a blog follower.

    k_anon@hotmail.co.uk

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  69. Wow! Great interview. And her hair is so cute! : ) I had purple streaks in my hair once, but they were with that 2 week dye, & my hair is pretty dark so you couldn't really see them, lol.

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/wordsrollon/status/18155969895
    New follower.

    Thanks!
    ambience.of.rain {at} gmail.com

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  70. Great interview! Count me in please.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

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  71. So I just started following your blog.... Because I really really want to both A) own those books and B) have hair with awesome blue streaks like that.

    I have also re-tweated kind of the contest. Because for me it was all about the hair. https://twitter.com/PiscesMuse/status/18155958092

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  72. Great interview. I enjoyed reading it. I love the blue hair. :) Please enter me in the contest. The books sound amazing and I've always wanted to try Nutella.

    I'm a new follower.

    I tweeted this contest at http://twitter.com/ForWhlz/status/18158004063

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  73. I'm a follower, and both of these books sound AMAZINGGGG. I'd LOVE to win!

    lookaftermyheart1901(at)gmail(dot)com

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  74. I would love to read these books! Please enter me. I follow your blog.

    msdarcy22@aol.com

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  75. I am in serious NEED of winning this contest as I dont think I could live without reading these books as they are so amazingly amazing (trust me I know beforehand) that it is essential for me to have them!

    Follower:]

    +3: Tweeted- http://twitter.com/Danidlion/status/18159825815

    Dani
    lightningstreak123[at]comcast[dot]net

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  76. Oh, I've been wanting so badly to read both of these books! Stephanie Perkins is so cool - love that hair! Well, I have PURPLE highlights, so I'm kind of biased. LOL! Thanks so much for the interview and giveaway!

    +3: Tweeted- http://twitter.com/BLandgrebe/status/18161002814

    I'm subscribed to your feed. :)

    brittany[at]brittanylandgrebe[dot]com

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  77. Great post and giveaway! I am a follower
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

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  78. What a neat lady. I'll have to check out her book.

    =)

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  79. Two of the most anticipated books for 2010--how awesome!
    Thanks so much! :)
    Love, Hannah
    xoxosweeet at yahoo dot com

    P.s. I'm usually not always the biggest fan of author interviews simply because the questions are sometimes so... boring? This wasn't the case at all, though! I read, and enjoyed, every word!

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  80. I loved the interview- the ?s were so unexpected and really good! And your hair! Lol. Mine looks like yours except dark brown instead of red and red instead of blue. And, oooh, I've always wanted to try nutella..!

    Tweet: https://twitter.com/bkobsessed17/status/18163671081

    Follower!

    Blog Side Bar: http://randomteenshtuff.blogspot.com/

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  81. I love nutella :))

    I'm a follower!

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/faellie_lupe/status/18176638895
    Blogged: http://thesmartyowl.blogspot.com/p/contests-giveaways.html

    xicecreamsjx@aol.com
    Thanks!

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  82. I am so excited!!! I love stories set in Paris there are so many great options for things to happen!!!

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  83. I loved Paris, everything about it was so incredible. I would love to go back!!

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  84. Sounds so good!! LOVED the interview :) Thanks for the giveaway!

    I'm a follower :)

    Blog sidebar: http://totalbookaholic.blogspot.com/

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/TotalBookaholic/statuses/18182038854

    totalbookaholic[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  85. What a great interview, I love getting to know authors :) I hadn't heard of Kiersten White until now, but I shall go check her out for sure!

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  86. Oooh, awesome interview ! And thanks for the awesome giveaway :D The book sounds awesome !

    I am a follower !
    Tweet: http://twitter.com/DreamBelieve3/status/18207877524

    Thanks !

    ~Alison
    lostinbelieving(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  87. Ooh! Pick me, pick me! I've been drooling over both of these books for so long that there is a puddle on my floor.

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  88. Oh, please enter me!!!

    magabygc AT gmail.com

    I tweeted: http://twitter.com/magabygc/status/18214147431

    ReplyDelete
  89. Wow a fantastic giveaway!

    Im a follower: linzeeloulabelle(at)gmail(dot)com

    I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/magabygc/status/18214147431

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  90. Thanks, everyone, for entering and for saying nice things about our interview! I'm thrilled that you're excited to read these books. :o)

    Steph and Kiersten, I appreciate the comments and the linkage. I do. But I'm not entering your names in the drawing. ;o)

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  91. Just found your blog, and I am in love. I promise to follow you to the end of the world :) I am excited about this contest!

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  92. Awwwwww Stephanie!!! Now I really want a banana and Nutella crepe! But I got my tonsils out and might die if I try to eat anything more solid than ice cream...

    I'm a new follower! I really like your blog though!
    Twittah: http://twitter.com/the_other_vowel/status/18233430347
    Tumblah: http://theothervowel.tumblr.com/post/795614882/want-free-books

    ReplyDelete
  93. But I wanna win another copy of Steph's book! I've only pre-ordered one so far. And I love Shelley!

    Fine. I didn't want to enter your contest anyway. Hmph.

    Also, Steph, today I saw a woman with an anchor tattooed on her calf. I'm going to have to veto that placement. Unfortunately, I didn't get close enough to her leg to see whether or not my name was on the anchor. I'm pretty sure it was, though.

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  94. I'm a new blog follower! This book looks great!

    jlelliott08[at]gmail[dot]com

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  95. Kiersten, I'm thinking you could trade signed copies of Paranormalcy for signed copies from Steph or Shelley, if you wanted. Though I feel your pain; Shelley's Good Knight books are so funny they can make my eleven-year-old laugh, when she's across the room pretending not to listen. She's awesome.

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  96. wow this is incredible, thank you for the interview, shes so down to earth and funny! oh and the thoguht of nutella, im already thinking of how i would buy pound cake, layer it with nutella and fresh sliced strawberries on top with a large dollop of cool whip cream to finish. I would sit and eat this over watching the notebook and then relax in my favortie chair to INDUlGE IN THESE Two awesome books that i have been wanting to read!!!!

    thanks for the giveaway!!,I am a follower
    Lasha

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  97. I love reading interviews with authors, and this one was a lot of fun to read. She seems so fun and quirky and I LOVE the blue stripes in her hair. These books all sound terrific. I'm in need of some new YA material to spend my summer on so this is perfect timing :) Love your blog layout, by the way!

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  98. Lasha, that sounds about perfect. Now, I'm hungry.

    Thanks, Jules. And I love YOUR new look.

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  99. Great post! Please enter me in the contest, if it is international.
    I'm a new follower.

    Thank you!

    Giada M.

    fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  100. Love the interview (and the blue streaks--how fun!).

    I subscribed before via Google Reader, but I'm now an official follower.

    I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/lyonstale/status/18315986749

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  101. great interview and what a great giveaway thank you!

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  102. I've heard awesome things about both of these!


    kittenlover03@sbcglobal.net

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  103. PARANORMALCY and ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS both sound really cool! Already wanted PARANORMALCY, but hadn't heard too much about ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. :)

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/phyntosia/status/18345335768

    Not sure if this giveaway's international or not - if it isn't, then don't enter me! Or otherwise, if you haven't decided whether it's international, Book Depository do good prices and free shipping worldwide, so could always go through them. :) Just a thought!

    Thanks for the giveaway - books look really cool!

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  104. Thanks for the amazing giveaway! I'm also an international entrant and ditto the Book Depository recommendation ;-)

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Stella_ExLibris/status/18348162091

    Posted on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000899165880&v=wall&story_fbid=131795520189285&ref=mf

    Posted on my blog sidebar: www.stella-exlibris.com

    Thank you!

    stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  105. So very awesome! Thanks, Myrna and thanks Stephanie!

    I really want to win this, but it looks like I'm late to the party--there are a million entries. :o) But thanks for the chance, Ms. Popular. LOL!

    I'm posting this on my sidebar right now and will post about it on Weds. :o) Thanks again, Myrna-friend!

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  106. Oo-Oo count me in too.

    I loved this interview. And crepes with nutella and banana---awesome!

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  107. Nice post! I love Stephanie's answer about her hair stripes!

    Shelley writes lovely books! I haven't read Stephanie or Kiersten's work yet...

    Thanks for stopping over at my blog!

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  108. The book portion of this contest is now open internationally (thanks to Ruth and Stella!) to anyone who lives in one of the countries on The Book Depository's list of countries they'll ship to for free. I'm not shipping the Nutella ect. overseas though. The books are the cool part anyway, right?

    You're welcome, Jackee!

    I'm glad you loved the interview, Holly!

    And Sharon, thanks for the Shelley endorsement and for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  109. I <3 Stephanie's blog, and have been laughing and sighing over HBM's at it for well over a year. I'm so glad to hear you thought the book was as good as I think it sounds! Thanks for the interview.

    And thanks for putting on this contest :)

    Here's my extra entry post:
    http://bookduck.blogspot.com/2010/07/myrnas-contest-of-awesomeness.html

    ReplyDelete
  110. Oh, and I'm a follower. Just mentioning it as per the post :)

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  111. I didn't know about you before but Stephanie and her HBM's have introduced you and I'm putting you on my read every day list. I did post this link to my Facebook but no one can see it buy my 6 friends. (I'm sure they'll be as excited as I am)

    ReplyDelete
  112. Great interview! Thanks for the chance!!

    I am a follower.

    Tweet - http://twitter.com/DonnaS1/statuses/18384742659

    Post and sidebar - http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/2010/07/contest-links-for-712.html

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  113. Wow this is such an awesome contest! They are both books I defintley want to read :)

    livelovedance at yahoo dot com

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  114. I blogged about your contest today, Myrna!

    http://motherwrite.blogspot.com/2010/07/arcs-and-awards.html

    Another entry, please.

    ReplyDelete
  115. *Awesome!*

    I tweeted: http://www.facebook.com/happygrrl#!/happygrrl?v=wall&story_fbid=138639026154308&ref=mf

    And FB'd: http://www.facebook.com/happygrrl#!/happygrrl?v=wall&story_fbid=138639026154308&ref=mf

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  116. I love her blue hair and it so certainly does not look like a mid-twenty life crisis!!
    I am dying to win this contest! These are my two most coveted books of the year! *desperate plea to God* Please let me win this!! Please please!

    I Tweeted- http://twitter.com/Debasmitadhar/status/18410114529
    Sidebar link- http://bookaholicsoye.blogspot.com/ (under 'Contests' in the right sidebar)
    Facebook post- http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000126953872&v=wall&story_fbid=142812175730213
    Live Journal post- http://bookaholic-d.livejournal.com/9199.html

    Thank you so much! *fingers crossed*

    frndzDOTdebasATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  117. My interview with Kiersten is up, and I loved her answers. If you want an EXTRA entry in the contest drawing, all you have to do is leave a comment on that post.

    ReplyDelete
  118. I'd love to win Anna and the French Kiss. I tweeted about it here: http://twitter.com/hollyy___x/status/18418002582 I'm a new follower of your blog.

    hollytaylor(AT)optusnet.com.au

    ReplyDelete
  119. Great contest! Thanks soo much!!

    I am a follower!!

    I tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/xoxo4rica/status/18417974888

    Right sidebar under quick contest links:
    http://ricaeatworld.blogspot.com/

    Blog Post:
    http://ricaeatworld.blogspot.com/2010/07/win-3-books-and-bookmarks-night-writer.html

    xoxo4rica@gmail.com
    Thanks again!!

    ReplyDelete
  120. Wow, great contest! I've heard very good things about Anna and the French Kiss.

    Tweet: http://twitter.com/alessandra83/status/18417595484

    Alessandra
    outofblue1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  121. Two books from Two New Authors for me !! AWESOME !

    - a new follower

    - i tweeted : http://twitter.com/becunique/status/18419655385

    uniquas at ymail dot com

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  122. Yeah, I am not too late, I would love to win books! They look like so much fun to read!

    Will post on my blog as well.

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  123. I blogged!

    bryceandmailesohana.blogspot.com

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  124. Is Etienne St. Clair one of the coolest names ever, or what? I hadn't heard about Anna and the French Kiss before this, but it sounds really good! I'd love to read it. It's now on my wishlist :P. Plus, I've been wanting Paranormalcy ever since I first heard about it. Awesome giveaway!

    Liz. R

    ReplyDelete
  125. mmmm nutella!!

    I am a follower!
    Great contest, thanks!!

    lanakapana010@gmail.com

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  126. Just wanted to say thanks for the comment on my blog! I'm enjoying yours a lot. :) Great giveaway, too!

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  127. Loving the post! The contest isn't too shabby either...hehe. NO seriously, Anna and the French Kiss has an adorable cover and the storyline sounds like a lot of fun. Would love a chance to read it myself...thanks for sharing! happy reading!

    grgenius(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  128. Lucky, lucky, lucky, am I today? I sure hope so. *bites nails*

    Twitter: http://twitter.com/WeronikaJanczuk/status/18496078832.

    Good luck to everyone! I can't wait to get my hands on these books. <3

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  129. New follower here. Love the interview and already an avid reader of both Stephanie's and Kiersten's blogs. Would LOVE to get my hands on these books!

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  130. LOVE the interview- these are the two books I would just about kill for! Sooooo...
    I'm a follower, and
    I have
    Tweeted, http://twitter.com/theknittingnerd/status/18138470466p=

    Posted, http://yourdailyespresso.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-want-to-win.html

    AND
    Photoshopped! (Might not count, but it was fun anyway!) http://twitpic.com/2587ea

    ReplyDelete
  131. Myrna, I am sooo late entering this! (I can't believe how behind I am at the moment.) But, great contest, awesome books -- and I AM a follower, of course. :)

    Amy

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  132. I am so excited about this giveaway! I have been reading your blog and loving it! It is defintely time I started following you officially. I also posted on my blog. www.carpetofpineneedles.bogspot.com. Awesome!

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  133. I like this idea! This is so neat!

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  134. This is cool. I'm entering!

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  135. What a fun interview. I love learning the little things about these wonderful authors. Makes me want to read them even more!

    I am a new follower and
    http://ellzreadz.blogspot.com/2010/07/ellz-newz_14.html (shared on my blog)

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  136. Hey, Myrna, Stephanie's agent blogged about ANNA today, and she wanted readers to leave comments linking to other blog posts about Stephanie and her book. I put yours right at the top of the list:)

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  137. I've been lusting after Kiersten White's Paranormalcy for about two months, and I can't wait for her book.

    I'm a follower, and I posted about your contest on facebook where about five people will be dying for more info.
    http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=1806913332

    ReplyDelete
  138. Thanks for the contest, interview, and blurb about this book! I've heard so many good things about it, can't wait to read it!

    I blogged about the contest today :)

    http://readingischocolateair.blogspot.com/

    I joined this blog/saw the contest because of Krista V's post on KT Lit's website...thanks Krista!

    ReplyDelete
  139. Okay, I want to win this one so bad, it's ridiculous. I'm already a follower, and here's my blog link http://novelsduringnaptime.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-toughest-critic.html

    And I'm so struggling with coveting Anna's hair right now.

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  140. Thanks, everyone! I love your comments and enthusiasm. I wish I could respond to everyone individually or visit your blogs, but my laptop started making scary noises this week, and I'm trying not to kill it before I get it fixed.

    Today is the last day to enter or leave links for extra entries. Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  141. New follower, love the blog!! These two books are on my "I CAN'T WAIT!" list!

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  142. (know the contest is over, just had to throw my $.02 in!)

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