My 2011 Top Anticipated Books (Part 1)

Hello, Peeps! Hope you are as excited about the weekend as I am. My computer is being a jerk AGAIN so that's why I've been absent. Today I thought I'd do something different for the blog and post a list of books that are on the top of my To-Read list. I thought it could be helpful to you guys so you know when certain books are coming out in case you're interested. There are so many that I'm going to do this list in two seperate posts. Today I am posting the first ten. Hope you enjoy!

1.
WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE by Sarah Dessen.
This one pretty much explains itself. Releasing in May.

2.
SO MUCH CLOSER by Susane Colasanti.
This one pretty much explains itself too. Releasing in May.

3.
DESIRES OF THE DEAD by Kimberley Derting.
This the sequel to the highly praised THE BODY FINDER. It comes out on Sunday, so if you loved TBF, you must get your hands on it!

4.
LOVE STORY by Jennifer Echols. Releasing in July.
I have read GOING TOO FAR and FORGET YOU by Jennifer, and those were absolutely amazing. I will have reviews of those up soon too!

5.
THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin. Releasing in Fall.
As soon as I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to have it the day it comes out. Plus, look at that cover! It just screams amazingness. And sexyness, of course. This will be Michelle's debut novel, so make sure to check out her website!

6.
THE HIDDEN by Jessica Verday. Releasing in Fall.
This is the final installment of the highly praised THE HOLLOW series. I have read the sequel, THE HAUNTED, so I should have a review for you guys soon. I am dying to know how it all ends!

7.
SHIFT by Jeri Smith-Ready. Releasing in May.
This is the sequel to SHADE. I love, love, loved SHADE so I cannot wait to read this one!

8. LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins. Releasing in September.
Unfortunately, this one does not have a cover yet, but I am sure it will be beautiful. ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS was amazing (I don't think I have heard one bad thing about it yet!) so I know this one will blow my mind!

9.
BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER by Elizabeth Scott. Releasing in May.
This one pretty much explains itself.

10.
WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE SUMMER by Jenny Han. Releasing in April.
This is the final installment in the SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY series. I love these books to death. They are addictive.

Well, that's it for now. I will post the rest of the list soon! Are there any books you guys are looking forward to? Anybody going to get Desires of the Dead on Sunday? I know I will :)

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Hey everyone! Today I have an AWESOME book for you guys. It's by the author of The Lonely Hearts Club, Elizabeth Eulberg! You guys may have already seen or heard about Prom and Prejudice already, which I hope you have. If you haven't though, here's the description:

After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.
Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?
Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.

Okay, so I have a confession to make. I've never read Pride and Prejudice. I know, by hearing that, most of you probably want to punch me in the face right now (Please don't!). I know there is basically no excuse for it, but it was never brought to my attention until I started really getting into books. My mom never told me about it, my school never mentioned it, only until I started trying to push my way into the publishing world did I really start to understand just how good and loved Pride and Prejudice is.
But now that I've read Elizabeth's wonderful Prom and Prejudice and loved it, I'm gonna go get my hands on a copy of the original story, I promise! Now, while I can't tell you if this book successfully represents the original, I can tell you how awesome it is. (If you want to hear what someone who has read the original thinks, you can find another review here).
From the very first chapter, I immediately felt for Lizzie. I could already tell we were alike, and that her story would be one I couldn't put down. One thing I love about Elizabeth's writing is that while it is elegant and wonderful, it is also simple. She has a talent to make the reader jump into the story and want to stay there without having to be over extravagant or over descriptive. It's just right.
I definitely found myself drawn to Will Darcy, even in the beginning. As the story went on, I fell more in love with his character and also related even more to Lizzie. Even though I have not been taunted about wealth or scholarships, I do know how it feels to be the outsider, the one people taunt. Whether it be for my height, or just for the fun of it, I was taunted, just like Lizzie. Elizabeth brings to life these characters and their stories, and I was sad to see the book end.
It was a great, great second novel and I can't wait for the third!
If you're looking for a book with in depth characters, a wonderful story, a dash of classics, and humor, this book is for you!
Hope you guys enjoy and happy reading!

The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook

Hello everyone! Hope you all had a lovely week. TGIF!
Today's book is by one of my favorite authors, Eileen Cook. It's her newest book, The Education of Hailey Kendrick. Here's the description:

Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them.
Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.
They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?

Ever since I read Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood, I've loved Eileen's books. So when I saw that her new book was finally released, I was so excited! Eileen definitely did not disappoint!
Right away, the first chapter gets you hooked. Hailey's character jumps right off the page and into your heart. This book's plot was very unpredictable. I thought Hailey would end up with one person, then I switched it to another person, and then it ended up being completely different from what I thought. It's a very refreshing story and is also very adorable.
Not only does Eileen create realistic situations and characters, but she also writes about very deep issues, like the loss of a parent and how each person deals with something like that differently. She paints the picture of a broken family perfectly, and I felt like I was right there with Hailey, taking it all in, good and bad.
Even though this book has serious issues included in it, it also made me laugh a lot. There were parts that were very comical and made me laugh out loud (much to my roommate's dismay).
If you're looking for a book with a little bit of everything, that is also a quick read, this one is for you. Pulse It! currently has it up on their website to read for free, but you can also go out and buy it! Hope you guys enjoy and happy reading :)

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Hello, friends. Hope everyone's having a lovely three day weekend! Today's book is Not that Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian. Here's the description:

Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things. But life is messy, and it’s very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they’re no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you want to sleep with yourself – but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out. Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices – and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.

This is another book that my wonderful friend from Just Read Books gave me for Christmas. This was one of the top three that I wanted to read first, and I wasn't disappointed. This book is just so, so real. A lot of times I felt I was reading my own thoughts! Natalie and the rest of the main characters were all very well developed. I didn't find anything cliche in this book, and I never felt like I knew what was going to happen next. I assumed one thing and then something completely different would happen.
The issues explored in this book were also very real and very common things that high schoolers are going through today. There were so many elements to the story that I felt strongly about, and going along for the ride with Natalie throughout the story was refreshing. It made me feel like I wasn't alone. Something that a lot of teen readers strive for in a book. Two thumbs up to Siobhan in this department.
The only issue I had with this book (which is very minimal) was that the prologue kind of messed my head up a little bit. The main issue Natalie talks about implies that it happened to her, but a little later in the book you find out it actually happened to her best friend. Then for a few chapters I felt like the story should have been told by the best friend instead of Natalie because of how the beginning was set up. Other than that, I found the book to be amazing. This one's definitely a book you want to read! It's worth an impromptu purchase, so if they don't have it at your library then make sure you find it at your bookstore! Happy Reading :)

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

Hello there, peeps! I have another review for you today. This is one of the many books my wonderful friend over at Just Read Books sent me for Christmas! It is called Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn. Before I get to the review though, just look at that cover! It's so cute and adorable! Whoever their cover designer is, they deserve an A++ and many cookies. Hooray for lovely book covers! Now here's the description of the book:

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”
Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

I've heard many great things about not just this book, but about these authors, as well. I met David at the NYC Teen Author Fest, since he created the whole thing, and I also heard about the numerous books he has been a part of. I haven't read any of his other books but I knew they were highly praised.
Because of this, I was very excited to dive into a novel sounding so adorable. I did like the book and I thought the concept was very cute, but the book kind of just fell flat for me. Don't get me wrong, it had its good parts and I did laugh occasionally, but it didn't WOW me like others had.
For most of the book, I felt like Dash was a little arrogant and he kind of made me angry in some parts of the book. I did like Lily a lot though. This book dragged on a little bit, in my opinion. There were times where I wanted to stop reading but kept with it anyway.
That in mind, though, a lot of other people DO love this book, so don't be dissuaded by my review. If it sounds cool and you want to give it a try, go right ahead! Try your library or bookstore and I'm sure you'll find it.
Happy Reading everyone!

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

Whoaa! Where did the time go? I had no idea it was that long since I posted! Sorry about that. I got caught up in all things holiday. BUT, I'm back at school now for the new semester, so everything will be on schedule. Thanks for hanging in there if you're still reading this blog. I have TONS of books for you guys and even more to read, so stay tuned!
Today's book is Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler. The description is here:

“We all long for what could have been.”
Things in Delilah Hannaford’s life have a tendency to fall apart. She used to be a good student, but she can’t seem to keep it together anymore. Her “boyfriend” isn’t much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.
Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family’s painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Man, oh man. This book was AWESOME! Sarah Ockler has done it again. Fixing Delilah was even better than Twenty Boy Summer, and you all know I loved that book, so that is saying a lot! From the very first page I was intrigued with Delilah's story. Coming from a shattered family myself, I could easily relate to Delilah. Sarah has truly, beautiful writing. Fans of Sarah Dessen will LOVE this, as it is very similar. As I was reading, I found myself wanting to figure out the mystery of Delilah's family more and more. Once again, Sarah described feelings of losing a loved one and family drama very well. I felt like I was right there with Delilah, feeling her pain and asking her questions.
But most importantly (well, in my case) was Patrick. Oh, dear lord is Patrick amazing! I fell in love with him as soon as I read about his eyes. The story of Delilah and Patrick is so adorable and real. Trust me, you will fall in love with him too!
I have decided that I need to find myself a Patnes. A guy who is a mixture of Patrick, Nate (from Sarah Dessen's Lock and Key) and Wes (from The Truth About Forever). That, my friends, would be one amazing guy!
Anyway, This book was all around lovely. It will break your heart and put it back together over and over. If you're looking for a truly amazing contemporary read, this one is for you. Check your local library or go out and buy it! This is one of those books that you will love to read many, many times!
Happy Reading :)

Author Interview: Sarah Ockler!

Hey guys! I have another awesome author interview for you today! Today's author is Sarah Ockler. Her newest book, Fixing Delilah, recently just came out. I tried posting this earlier but my computer wouldn't let me for some reason. I have not had a chance to read the book yet, but If you guys want a review, go ahead and check out my friend Miranda's lovely book blog.
The link to her review is here: http://just-read-books.blogspot.com/2010/11/fixing-delilah-by-sarah-ockler.html

Now on to the interview!

1. Where did you get the idea for Twenty Boy Summer?

I was inspired to write Twenty Boy Summer by my work with the National Donor Family Council, an organization that supports families whose loved ones have died and donated organs or tissues. Through the Council’s programs and events, I metlots of teens who’d experienced the death of a sibling or friend, and their stories stayed with me always. When I started working on my first book, I knew that I wanted to share a little bit of the love, loss, and hope I saw through their eyes. I chose to do that by telling the story of two best friends struggling after the tragic and sudden death of someone they both loved very much. But I also wanted to show that life goes on, even when we don’t want it to — even when we don’t think it can. So in the book, while Anna and Frankie were trying to put their lives back together after the tragedy of losing Matt, they were also on summer vacation, which meant beaches, boys, makeup, best friend fights,
sunsets, toes in the sand, and all of those every day things that keep going on around us, even when our hearts are broken. I just kept thinking about how those two things would come together — tragedy and life, heartbreak and hope, love and loss — and the story grew from there.


2. Have you always been good at writing/wanted to be a writer?

I've wanted to write stories since I was old enough to read them, and I'm so glad I'm finally at a point in my life where I can do that. It took me a long time to accept that this was my destiny in life, no way to outrun it, but once I did, I haven't looked back.


3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

I would love to work with someone who writes really funny but serious stuff, like Josh Berk or Frank Portman. I think it would be such a fun experience to team up on a project like that. Plus Josh is one of the best pranksters I know, which means we'd never be bored!

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

Not directly, but I do let a lot of my experiences shape and inspire my work. It's hard not to! Usually the stuff in the books ends up symbolizing something from real life rather than directly recounting it. I do borrow directly from my life with the little details, though. For example, there's this whole weird thing with a dog hair sweater
and dog ashes in Fixing Delilah, and that was all true stuff that happened during my grandmother's death. In Twenty Boy Summer, the characters' favorite band was my brother's band (which broke up right before the book released).

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your book after finishing the manuscript?

Once I finished the manuscript and started querying, it took about 3 weeks to find the right agent. After we went on submission to publishers, we had our first offer just a few days later, and we accepted a final pre-empt offer a few days after that. It was all kind of a whirlwind, actually. Some days I wake up and wonder if it really
happened!

6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

Copy someone else. I'm serious. If you get totally stuck, and not even a few writing prompts can help you, start copying words from one of your favorite books. Let those words take you in a new direction. At some point, your own brain and heart will kick in, and you'll be
writing something original again. Just remember to delete those copied
words before you submit your work anywhere!

7. What's your favorite part of a book?

I love the part near the end when things look hopeless. There's so much emotional tension and potential there -- things can go either way for the main character, and I'm right there with her, hoping for the best.

(Now for a couple fun questions)

8. Favorite song?

This changes, but it's usually something by Radiohead. Right now, Thinking About You, off the Pablo Honey CD. Love it. Black Star is another one. Then there's Fake Plastic Trees... I'll stop now.

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take? Book: The Lord of the Rings trilogy, since that's actually one long book, and we could entertain ourselves by acting out scenes. Movie: I usually say Lord of the Rings, but if we have the book, I think I'll bring something with Johnny Depp. It really doesn't matter which movie, as long as it starts Johnny. Food? Navratan Korma. Person(s)? My husband, Alex. He's my favorite person in the world, after all. If for any reason he wasn't available, I would take um let's see yes Johnny Depp.

10. Five of your favorite things?

Walking in the woods, falling asleep on the couch and waking up with a
blanket covering me, cheese, coffee, and my Mac laptop.
Thanks, Trish, and big group hug to readers and bloggers everywhere. I
hope you'll check out Fixing Delilah, which hits the shelves any day
now! :-)

Sure, you can include a link to my site at http://sarahockler.com and
twitter at http://twitter.com/sarahockler

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

Hello friends! I am back again today with ANOTHER review. Crazy, right? Today's book comes with an interesting (or, maybe not) story.
Do you guys remember me going to the NYC Teen Author Fest? (If you don't, a post about it is here). Well, Kieran Scott was there. At the time, I didn't think I read anything she had written, so I didn't go up to her. After the author fest, though, Susane Colasanti stated on her blog that Kieran Scott was also the author of The Private Series under then Pen name, Kate Brian. I was so mad when I heard this! I've been reading the private series since it first came out and had NO IDEA Kate Brian was a Pen name. I own about 9 of her books! I totally could have met with her and had her sign some stuff. I guess I'll have to go back next year, right? Hopefully she'll be there!
Okay, so back to the review. Here's the description:

When having money is all that matters, what happens when you lose it all?
Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rear-view mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father caused when his hedge fund went south and practically bankrupted all their friends -- friends that liked having trust funds and new cars, and that didn't like constant reminders that they had been swindled. So it was adios, Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing.
Now, two years later, Ally's mother has landed a job back at the site of their downfall. So instead of Ally's new low-key, happy life, it'll be back into the snake pit with the likes of Shannen Moore and Hammond Ross.
But then there's Jake Graydon. Handsome, wealthy, bored Jake Graydon. He moved to town after Ally left and knows nothing of her scandal, but does know that he likes her. And she likes him. So off into the sunset they can go, right? Too bad Jake's friends have a problem with his new crush since it would make Ally happy. And if anyone deserves to be unhappy, it's Ally Ryan.
Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past, but some things just can't be forgotten. Isn't there more to life than money?

When I first picked up this book, I didn't really think it was something I'd like. I picked it up and put it back down on the shelf a few times, actually. But then, I figured, why not? So I got it from the library.
The book started off pretty interestingly. It starts as Ally Ryan first comes to town after moving away almost 2 years ago. It's told in alternating points of view, which I really liked. It is told in Ally's POV and Jake Graydon's POV.
At first, I did not like Jake at all. I thought he was an arrogant jerk. But as the story moved on, I got to see more of him and why he said/did the things he did. After that, I started to like him more.
I really love Ally's character, though. She's spunky, tough, and won't take anyone's crap. Not even her ex-bestfriends'. This story is pretty fast paced and is not completely predictable, but not unpredictable either. It was definitely different than stories I've read in the past, but overall I thought it was a great book. What I didn't realize, though, until the last few pages, was that it was a series! I got to the end and was like, whaaatttt?! That said, the ending will definitely leave you wanting more.
You'll love to hate the cresties, thrive on Jake and Ally's growing relationship and then find yourself waiting for book 2! If you love YA, romance, and drama, this book is for you. Once again, I found this book at my library, so make sure you check yours! Hope you enjoy and Happy Reading :)

Elixir by Hilary Duff

Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I know I am thankful for all authors out there, and of course, you guys for reading this blog even though I've been a poor host lately!
Today I have a review for you guys! You're shocked, I know. But anyway, today's book is Elixir by Hilary Duff. I know what you're thinking. You're probably all like, Hilary Duff wrote a book?! That has to be awful. I doubt I'd read that. But guys, you'd be surprised at how good this book is. I mean, read this description:

As the daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington D.C. politician, Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. And though she dreads the paparazzi who track her every move, she herself is a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world.
But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful young man begin to appear in Clea’s photos—a man she has never seen in her life.
When Clea suddenly encounters this man in person she is stunned—and feels an immediate and powerful connection. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance and discover the centuries-old truth behind their intense bond.
Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fate, together they race against time to unravel their past in order to save their future—and their lives.

Sounds intense right? Well, it is. I didn't even notice Hilary Duff wrote it before I read the description. Then, after I realized she wrote it, I got skeptical (Sorry Hilary!). As I started reading, though, I was delightfully surprised. This book was very, very good! It's just like any other amazing YA Paranormal Romance. It's very intense like I said before, and also mysterious, breathtaking, romantic, and fast-paced. I finished this all in one night because I just HAD to know what happened. And trust me, if you guys read this, you are going to be dying for the next book in the series once it ends! I'm so mad we have to wait another year for the next one! This book is full of surprises and is so different than any other book I've read. It makes you think one thing, and then something else happens, and then something else happens that makes you question what happened before! It's a wild read and is very refreshing in the fact that it's very unpredictable. Props to Hilary for her first novel debut.
If you guys like a drama, romance, mystery, and suspense in a book then this one is for you! This book is still available to read on the Simon and Schuster Pulse It website, but you only have 4 more days including today. They had it at my library though so I would check there too. Hope you guys enjoy and happy reading!

PS: Even though I haven't been posting, I have been reading a lot. I read 10 books just in the past two weeks so you guys will definitely have some more awesome reviews! Some books that are coming up: Wild Roses by Deb Caletti, Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales, The Midnighters series by Scott Westerfeld, The Awakening series by Kelly Armstrong, One Night That Changes everything and Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt, and many more!

Author Interview: Stephanie Perkins!

Hey everyone! I finally got a handle on my computer issues, and I have been really sick lately so that's why there hasn't been many posts lately! But it's all better now, so we can finally get back on schedule! Today I've got an awesome author interview with you guys because I know I haven't posted one in a long time. Her name is Stephanie Perkins and she's the author of the phenomenal book, Anna and the French Kiss. Hope you enjoy the interview!

1. Where did you get the idea for Anna and the French Kiss?

"The idea arrived in a dream. I saw a beautiful boy sitting on the steps of the Panthéon in Paris, and I knew that I was deeply in love with him. It was impossible to resist! Or, more accurately, the boy was impossible to resist."

2. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"I'd love to do a project with either of my critique partners, Laini Taylor or Kiersten White. Amazing ladies, amazing writers."

3. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"Sure! None of the big events are mine (for instance, unlike Anna, I've never been to boarding school in Paris), but a sizable chunk of the everyday situations are inspired by things that have happened to me or acquaintances of mine. It's difficult for me to imagine an author making EVERYTHING up!"

4. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your first book after finishing the manuscript?

"I was lucky. Once my manuscript was out in the world, things moved quickly. But I spent a LOT a LOT a LOT of time revising before submitting it to my future agent! I queried in the best fighting shape possible, and it paid off. After signing with my agent, I did one more revision that took about a month, and then she sent it out to two editors. I received offers from both of them that same month. I truly believe that things moved fast because I put in the hard work and time BEFORE sending it out into the world. (But I was also really darn lucky!)"

5. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"It happens to everyone. It sucks, but you have to work through it. Try writing a different section of the book, interviewing a character, revising an old scene, ANYTHING. If you stop working, guess what? The book doesn't get written. And the longer you stay away from a project, the harder it is to go back. The sucky truth is that most writers have more difficult days than easy days. As much as I love my job, it's still work. Work isn't always fun. And it's unfair to yourself to pretend that every day of writing will be fun, just because it's creative. Work is work, no matter what field you're in. It won't always feel magical, but it WILL get better. So keep going!"

Make sure to head on over to Steph's official website, www.stephanieperkins.com
And don't forget to buy her book when it comes out in December!