:)

Invisible Touch Halloween Short

2009-10-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

Secret Fates blog Entry, October 2009
From the Mind of Kara Martinez (Invisible Touch)

Halloween was just another day for me.

I stopped dressing up and trick-or-treating years ago since the accident. How could I celebrate something like that when seeing signs no one else can see is like experiencing my own Halloween everyday? But I humored my mom by carving a pumpkin and giving out candy to the little kids.

The doorbell rang while I held the jack-o-lantern. The counter was full of pumpkin guts. At a loss, I answered the door, pumpkin in arm, and smiled at the sight of a pirate, witch, and fairy singing, “Trick or Treat!”

With my free hand, I dropped a candy in each treat bag. I was about to turn away when a little ghost sidled up behind them.

“Oh, didn’t see you.” I dropped another candy in the treat bag, grabbed the pumpkin more securely, and blinked.

The night’s sounds pulsed in my eardrums. The echoes of children laughing…singing. The ringing of doorbells…of feet skipping. My blood pumped slowly, my breaths softening to a near whisper. Behind the child the atmosphere faded away. The ghost brightened with a special glow only I could see. Through the hole cuts in the costume, the ghost’s eyes shined the color of pennies.

And just as I had so many times before, my gaze traveled lower to my own personal psychic TV, to see a sign I never wanted to see. Because when I saw a sign it meant something bad. It meant fate.

It meant I had to stop it.

On the torso of the little ghost were flashing car lights. Usually that was it. One sign. One image to ponder. But tonight was different. Urgent.

The flashing car lights shifted. A pumpkin hit the ground and broke. A candy bag fell and candy scattered. A scream made me flinch.

The pumpkin dropped from my hands…and broke.

The little ghost turned away as Anthony strolled up the walk, smiling. “Little accident, huh?” Then he must of saw the expression on my face. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

I swallowed. “I have to follow that ghost.” Quickly, I grabbed my coat, told Mom I was going out, and updated Anthony on the signs as we followed my latest puzzle.

“Okay,” Anthony said, “but if there’s any danger, I’m the one doing the saving.”

“You’re not getting yourself hurt, Anthony.” There was some heroic spark in Anthony that made me nervous. He never thought twice about helping others no matter the costs.

He stopped me briefly, and brushed hair away from the side of my neck. “Either are you. Deal?”

“Okay, deal,” I said with a small smile. Hand-in-hand, we caught up with the kid.

Three blocks doesn’t seem far, but it was long enough to slow your reflexes. A group of trick-or-treaters ran past us. One dropped his treat bag. Candy scattered.

Right then, I knew. It happened so fast.

Anthony kneeled to help the trick-or-treater gather candy. I jerked my gaze toward the ghost as he stepped off the corner curb. I glimpsed car lights.

There are moments when you don’t really have time to think. Just react. And deals you make are unintentionally broken.

I ran. I screamed into the night, grabbing the little ghost so tight.

The car’s tires screeched. The driver put on the brakes, stopping mere inches from where we stood.

The little ghost shivered in my arms. Anthony rushed to me and held us close. “What about the deal?”

I winced. “It was an accident?”

Kara & Anthony Halloween Short & Giveaways!

2009-10-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

It's time again for another Kara and Anthony short story! Here's a quick Halloween scene from Kara's sign-seeing world for author Jeri Smith-Ready's month long Blogtoberfest, with many more cool authors and giveaways. So check back all month long!

In the mean time, read about Kara, Anthony, and a little ghost...and leave a comment to enter to win a copy of Invisible Touch!! Contest ends October 16th!

But wait--there's more just in time for Halloween! (haha)

Three more chances to win at Free Book Friday Teen! Read my interview with Jessica Brody and leave a comment to win Touch by October 16th!

Thanks!

~Kelly

Invisible Touch Quote #3

2009-10-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

"I blinked and it happened.

As if I were standing beside a rushing train, the sounds of the courtyard heightened in my ears. Someone laughed loud and deep. The scrape of shoes on cement. Different voices assaulted my eardrums. Whispers. Shouts."

~ From the mind of Kara Martinez (Invisible Touch)

Cyber Whisper from Reading In Color

2009-10-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

From the talented Miss Attitude @ Reading In Color:

I enjoyed Invisble Touch immensely. I thought the main plot was original as well as romance (didn't see the ending coming). Kara sees signs that are clues to a person's fate. She generally tries to help that person if their fate is supposed to be tragic. Her mother doesn't want her to talk about the signs or tell anyone so Kara starts a blog where she anonymously blogs about seeing signs. It's a way to get all her secrets that are weighing her down off her chest.

The blog entries are a good and helpful way of getting into Kara's head. I agreed with a lot of what she said and I liked how she phrased it "There are people in life who can only see black and white, and then there are those that can see gray, and red, orange, yellow, and blue too."

Thank you!

Hispanic Heritage Month Giveaway & More Touch Praise

2009-09-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

It is Hispanic Heritage Month and Reading in Color is holding a cool giveaway of 8 titles for readers, including Graffiti Girl and Invisible Touch!

In honor of Hispanic Heritage month I'm giving away 8 books with Latino/a main characters!

There will be 5 winners. The first winner will pick 3 books, the 2nd winner will pick 2 books and the other winners will each get one.

Ends: Thursday Oct. 8 at 11:59 PM CT

Open: Internationally (some authors are mailing the books to the winners, those books are only open to U.S. residents. A * means it's open to U.S. residents only)

Read more details here and enter. Good luck!

And many thanks to The Book Scout for a nice review of Invisible Touch:

Invisible Touch far exceeded my expectations, it was well written, exciting, and overall a heart wrenching read. It was practically impossible to put down and it drew a lot of different emotions from me- from laughing to crying. It was such a unique idea- fate. Lately I've read a couple of books dealing with "fate" and I've learned a lot about it. Fate is an interesting topic and one I definitely want to read more about. Kelly Para writing style was unique and Kara was a character I liked. Her blog was also a great twist to the story. I loved all the little sub-plots that kept the novel going. I also learned a lot about Mexican culture. Another thing that really attracted me to this book was how rich it was in culture. It was interesting to see how Para combined culture and fate in what came out as a great novel. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more MTV Books now, especially Para's other novel, Graffiti Girl.

Color Online's HHM Recommended Reading List

2009-09-20T23:21:00.000-07:00

Hispanic Heritage Month runs Sept. 15th-Oct. 15 and Color Online provides their Community HHM Recommended Reading List.

Thanks so much for adding Invisible Touch to the list! And it's an honor to be listed with such a great selection of titles!

1.Rogelia's House of Magic by Jamie Martinez Wood
2.The Holy Tortilla and a Pot of Beans by Carmen Tafolla
3.Voices in first person edited by Lori Marie Carlson
4.The Smell of Old Lady Perfume by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez
5.White Bread Competition by Jo Ann Yolanda Hernandez
6.I Wanna be Your Shoebox by Christina Garcia
7.Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra
8.Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
9.Who's Your Daddy? by Lynda Sandoval
10.Mexican White Boy by Matt de la Pena
11.Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos
12.The Brothers Torres by Coert Voorhees
13.Gringolandia by Lyn Miller Lachmann
14.Down To The Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole
15.The Meaning of Conseulo by Judith Ortiz Cofer
16.The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
17.Journey of Dreams by Marge Pellegrino's
18.The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales
19.Leaving GloryTown by Eduardo F Calcines
20.Petty Crimes by Gary Soto
21.Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
22.Haters by Alisa Valdes Rodriquez
23.Honey Blonde Chica by Michele Serros
24.Sofia Mendoza's Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico by Malin Alegria
25.Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork
26.La linea by Ann Jaramillo
27.The Poet Slave of Cuba by Margarita Engle
28.Adios to My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer
29.Amor and Summer Secrets by Diana Rodriquez
30.Gamma Glamma by Kim Flores
31.Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa
32. Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz (MG)
33.Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz (MG)
34.So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez
35.Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez
36. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
37.Jaguar by Michele Dominguez-Greene
38.The Whole Sky Full of Stars by René Saldaña Jr
39.Cubanita, Riding the Universe by Gaby Triana

Latest review from Want My YA

2009-08-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

Here's what Heather from Want My YA had to say about Touch:

I loved reading Invisible Touch; I scarcely wanted to put it down (but despite working in a bookstore my bosses tend to frown on reading during working hours). Kelly Parra did an excellent job of getting Kara's feelings and fears across. I was right there with Kara as she tried to solve the puzzle of the signs. A connection with the main character is one of the primary elements I look for while reading a book, and I was definitely connected to Kara throughout Invisible Touch.

Thank you, Heather!!

Read the complete review here and be sure to read more of Heather's great reviews!

Cyber Whisper from Kidliterate

2009-08-06T13:10:00.000-07:00

Kidliterate had this to say about Invisible Touch:

What’s really important in this book is what happened to Kara’s FAMILY after the accident, not what happened to her, because it’s what happened to her family that drives many of the events. You are really going on a personal journey with Kara. You’re following her as she tries to figure out the signs, sure, but the whole time she’s trying to figure out herself. Trying to figure out how to balance the person she wants to be with the person her mother expects her to be. Trying to live a life where her father is remembered. Trying to eat the occasional forbidden carne asada taco. Trying to be more open with her best friend, to figure her brother out, to fall in love for the first time.

And to a certain extent it’s about race relations, especially the divisions that can arise between people of the same heritage who are separated by economic status or location or the portion of their heritage that’s full-blooded. It’s about being in a gang, and then not being in one anymore. It’s about breaking free of what’s expected of you and reaching out for everything you want.

Thank you, Kidliterate!

The reviewer expressed the important themes I weaved into Touch and it was so nice to read. Check out Kidliterate for more great reviews of children's books @ www.kidliterate.com.

Invisible Touch Quote #2

2009-08-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

"There were days I would have loved to yell, 'Yo, Ma, wake up! Family dinners are history.' But that wasn't who I was at home. I didn't express my opinions and did my best to keep the peace. Dad used to say Mom had a stubborn streak a mile wide. Oh, had he been right. Disagreeing with Mom was like going against a brick wall bare-handed. You could hit at it, doing your best to break it down, but then you'd just end up with bruised hands, the wall still standing without a scratch."

~ From the mind of Kara Martinez (Invisible Touch)

Kara's Ballad

2009-07-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

Since my giveaway portion of Steph Kuehnert's celebration is now over, I'm adding Kara's Ballad to the Secret Fate files! A ballad is usually a song that tells a story. Steph's idea was to use a quote from a song as a theme for a character's narrative. I thought this would be fun and wrote a ballad for Kara Martinez from my novel Invisible Touch...

Kara Martinez: An Invisible Touch Ballad

By Kelly Parra

“And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, girl.
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe... just breathe…”
~ Anna Nalick

There are times I sit in my room in the dark, thinking of the past. I can’t sleep. I’m twisting my Rubik’s Cube, trying to dissect the events that led up to the night that changed my life forever. Wondering what I could have done differently. If there could have been a way to change it all, to rewind that night like it had never happened.

And then the tears come, because wishing for the things that can’t come true is like experiencing heartbreak all over again. Especially when I can’t bring my father back.

My dad…was the light of our family, our glue holding the four of us together. When we lost him, the family bond crumbled to dust and my mom, brother, and me scattered into our own world of sorrow, pain, and regret.

It was like Mom was sent adrift, flowing out of control, and she grabbed onto me to save her life. Put all her attention and pain into her strength to hold onto to me so tight. She’d lost my dad to death, my brother Jason behind a brick wall, and I was the only one left, screaming for help.

Because after the accident that took my father’s life and saved mine, I changed in a way I didn’t understand. I changed in a way no young girl could comprehend. I saw things that weren’t there, pieces to a puzzle that didn’t make sense.

There’d been doctors, a place with silent walls and walking dead with beating hearts, and I couldn’t breathe there. So I played make-believe, answered what everyone wanted to hear, and lied that it had all been a dream. I was released, but watched so carefully as if I moved too suddenly or breathed too hard, I would break.

And now I live silently, speaking anonymously though a Secret Fates blog--my hidden confessional where I whisper all my pain, all my puzzles, to a cyber world who can’t see the real me.

Then everything changes again when I meet him.

Anthony is full of mystery and something so unique that stops time when I’m with him. He’s strong and loyal with his secret pain, and part of a puzzle, like spokes on a wheel. He’s the center of what could be the most dangerous sign I’ve ever faced.

When everything has been silent, suddenly it all comes alive. Feelings shattered through glass.

Fast. Dangerous. Alive.

Mom’s grip tightens. Jason’s walls thicken. Anthony breaks my silence. I finally breathe.

And the dangerous sign that I keep seeing, the loaded gun, fires two shots into the night.

Invisible Touch Quote #1

2009-07-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

"I have to admit there are bad moments when I wonder if I'm dreaming it all...the signs and visions no one else can see. Believe me, I've tried to stop seeing the signs--just ignoring them--but I can't. The signs are as much a part of me as the color of my eyes and my hair."

~ Kara Martinez (Secret Fates, The Sign Seer's Blog)

So if you like...

2009-07-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's hard to compare authors and books or offer suggestions. But if you like one book because of the mystery, suspense, and romance, you might like another with those same elements.

I came across this review on Goodreads by Angela:

Angela rated it: 5 Stars
Read in July, 2009
A great book that I was disappointed to finish. It is a book that calls for a sequel. This book would be great to recommend to teens who like Wake by Lisa McMann and Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz. Kara has a secret that she shares on her blog, the Sign Seer. She sees visions that appear on the chest of people after a near death accident when she was young. She sees a gun on a classmates chest and has to solve the puzzle before it is to late. She also meets a mystery guy! This novel has the suspense and romance that fans of McMann would enjoy.

I am honored to be mentioned in such good company of these awesome storytellers. Many thanks to Angela! :)

"Invisible Touch Ballad"

2009-07-23T15:33:00.001-07:00

There's a cyber party going on at author Stephanie Kuehnert's blog, and it's going on all month long to celebrate the release of her cool novel, Ballads of Suburbia. (love that title!)

Here's what Ballads is about:

Kara hasn't been back to Oak Park since the end of junior year, when a heroin overdose nearly killed her and sirens heralded her exit. Four years later, she returns to face the music. Her life changed forever back in high school: her family disintegrated, she ran around with a whole new crowd of friends, she partied a little too hard, and she fell in love with gorgeous bad-boy Adrian, who left her to die that day in Scoville Park....

Amid the music, the booze, the drugs, and the drama, her friends filled a notebook with heartbreakingly honest confessions of the moments that defined and shattered their young lives. Now, finally, Kara is ready to write her own.

Sounds totally awesome!

To help Steph celebrate, I wrote a lit ballad for my character Kara Martinez from Invisible Touch. Read the ballad and comment to win a copy of IT, and let know what you think!

YA Book Releases' Review!

2009-07-06T15:29:00.000-07:00

I sent off a winning giveaway of Invisible Touch last week and then discovered the reader was a blogger who gave Touch an awesome review!

Here's what Kaila @ YA Book Releases said about Touch:

This Book To Me Is A Triumph.. I Am Latina, Full-Fledged Puerto Rican, But My Skin Is Light As Well As My Eyes... And I Dealt With A Lot Of Negativity Towards Me Because Of It... People Would Say I Was Mixed With Something.. But I'm Not... And Even Though Kara Is Half-Mexican And Half-Irish, The Way She Stood Up For Herself And Walked The West Side Or Stared Down Josie At The Party I Was Proud... The Ending Of This Book Had Me Screaming, Whopping!!, And Crying My Eyes Out... It Was Not At All What I Expected...It's A Real Roller-Coaster Ride... Kelly Parra Has Actually Created Something So Magical, Yet So Realistic I Am Begging For A Sequel...This Is One Gripping Story With An AMAZING, SURPRISING End That You Don't Wanna Miss...

*sigh*

Its shout outs like these that make sharing my stories worthwhile!

Thank you, Kaila!

Reasons to Read Invisible Touch

2009-06-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

I'll be the first to admit, I had some trip ups with Invisible TouchMy first release date was supposed to be September 2008. I didn't know if this was the perfect date, but I planned all of my promotion for September. Then, the strangest thing happened...my Advanced Reader's Copy was printed instead of my edited manuscript. The publisher graciously fixed this and reprinted my books with the correct edits, but my release date was pushed to October 2008. I moved my launch to a month later, but somehow it still felt a little off and promotion for the book hasn't been the greatest. So I've come up with a list of reasons you might like to read Invisible Touch!

1. I commissioned this cool book video about the story...it really captures the suspense and premise of the novel.

2. Touch had the weirdest printing snafu that I mentioned above. Come on, my book has a supernatural storyline and this weird glitch happens. *shiver* Is that like a sign??

3. It's listed in a Goodreads "THE ULTIMATE SUMMER '09 READING LIST" currently @ #14. (Coolio!)

4. It's been said to have a surprising ending in various reviews! (My lips are sealed!)

5. It's been given the "Gold Award of Excellence" from TeensReadToo.

6. It has a romance between a tough guy and a girl both struggling with secrets.

7. Enchanting Reviews gave Touch 5 Enchantments!

8. Invisible Touch is on the Fresno Library Summer Reading List (this was found by chance) and this is a quick blurb from the site: "There’s romance, Latino culture, mystery, and a touch of the paranormal, witten by the author of Graffiti Girl. It’s better than an asada burrito at El Pollo Loco!" Love that one!

9. Bestselling author Laurie Faria Stolarz said, "Invisible Touch is a blending of mystery, romance, and deep and dangerous secrets." *sigh*

10. Ultimately, I wrote Touch for two reasons. 1) for the reader to have an entertaining read. I know as an author you can't please every reader, but I hoped to entertain as many readers as I can. 2) I lost two important men in my life and I dedicated this book to them. It was a way to say goodbye and I put a lot of my grief into the book. There was a time I was writing the book and I was so deep into Kara's POV, I spaced. When I finally snapped out of it, I had a whole page written. I blinked and it was one of those weird moments that you're not sure what happened, but something weird did indeed happen. Still trips me out...

Secret Confession...

2009-06-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

In the acknowledgments in my latest novel INVISIBLE TOUCH, you might read a small note at the end that goes something like...

"I'm sorry for the dent in the Chevelle. It was accident, I swear."

Some readers might wander what the heck I'm talking about and many won't care, but it all started with a lie...a with holding of the truth so to speak.

It’s high school and I’m 16. I’m one of those girls who has more guy friends than girl friends. I grew up with a brother and a bunch of boy cousins and this is the way it worked for me. One of my friends drives this really cool 1976 Chevelle. Black paint, black interior, and a big block engine. Being the cool guy that he is, he picks us up from school, takes us to lunch, and just hangs out.

One thing you should know is that this Chevelle is his prize possession. He's even been known to street race a time or two and win. (shhhh.) One day at a friend's house, I have to get something out of my backpack that’s in the backseat. I lean in over the open passenger window and my little knee pushes into the passenger door and dents it. Seriously dents it right smack in the middle!

I gasp.

My gut clenches.

I'm totally speechless.

He's going to kill me! Okay, not literally, but yikes, I'm scared big time. He LOVES this car! Oh man. What do I do?

I walk back into the house, nervous, wondering how I'm going to break the news. I really don't know what to do. I always have to think things through before I make a decision. So I don't say anything, but time passes and a group of us heads back outside.

One of the guys says, "Look at your car, man!" And EVERYONE rushes over to see this huge dent in the passenger door! Holy crap! I'm too scared to speak. He is so ticked off! Right away they start asking questions and making comments:

Was it there earlier? Who could of done it? We're gonna kick his *ss.

*gulp*

The next day, he gets it fixed. He has to take the inside panel off and pop it back out, but no damage. *whew*

Still, this guy isn’t exactly sweet and I'm still too scared to tell him. Time passes and it’s never brought up. Forgotten even. Not by me, of course, and he lays low for a while.

Years pass—yes, years!—and after graduation, I start hanging out with the Chevelle guy again. The Chevelle is history. He's got a sporty Camaro now, and things start to spark between us. I start dating him. Soon we're together, and I guess I decide I trust him and I confess the lie.

I tell him, I was the one who dented the Chevelle a few years ago.

He is shocked and I'm laughing with embarrassment, but my conscience is finally clear. The secret is revealed.

Years later, we’re married and he still holds it over my head. Who could blame him really?

So I did the ultimate. I wrote his prized Chevelle into Invisible Touch as my character Anthony Garcia's ride. And I apologized one final time in the acknowledgments so the world would know just how sorry I am for keeping that secret for so long. *sigh*

Do you think he finally forgave me? :)

Ocean Fate: An Invisible Touch Short Story

2009-06-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

I was twisting my old, scratched Rubik's Cube on the far edges of Montecito Beach when I spotted Anthony. He sat alone on the rocks, distant, the wind teasing his dark hair. He was all tan, and toned. His tank top tucked in the back pocket of his jeans.

He watched the waves as if he couldn't pull away, and it was the same for me with him. There was a time I would have been afraid to go near him, a time I would never have felt the sand between my toes again.

I tamped down the guilt that tried to rise within me. It was apparent, we both thought of someone else at this beach. He finally turned, and met my eyes. I gave a wave, his mouth curving as he stood.

A surfer walked in front of me, his wet suit pulled to his waist, with his board propped at his side. He shoved his board into the sand, and twisted toward me to pull up his suit.

I blinked--and was swamped by the sounds of the beach echoing against my eardrums. The sizzling rush of the waves on shore. The squawk of seagulls above. The flapping of the wind against a beach umbrella. A lone child's high-pitched laughter.

My pulse slowed, my breaths thinned. The shoreline behind the surfer dulled to gray, and the surfer brightened. Glowed.

His eyes are blue.

The color of a tropical ocean. His skin a sun-kissed golden, hair the color of sunflowers. My eyes moved down his throat to the center of his bare chest. There an image formed, a sign for my eyes only.

The surfer in the water, struggling to stay afloat.

He turned away and the image vanished. I gasped for air. My fingers clenched the cube as I watched him jog toward the waves with his board. Too close to my own nightmares.

"Kara, what's wrong?" Anthony was in front of me, his hands on my shoulders. He knew I'd seen something. It wasn't the first one I'd experienced, and it wouldn't be the last.

"The surfer." I swallowed hard. "He can't go in." But I couldn't move forward.

"Don't worry, I'll stop him." He jogged to the surfer, grabbed his arm. The surfer jerked away from Anthony. They exchanged words, the surfer shrugging Anthony off and started in. Then Anthony tackled him in the waves.

I winced, and did my best to shove away my fears as I forced myself to run toward the ocean. My heart pounded in my chest, my palm sweaty around my cube. The damp sand under my feet had me tensing. The chilled water swallowing my ankles made me shudder.

Still, I grabbed at Anthony's shoulders as they wrestled. "Stop it! Please!"

Anthony finally pulled away, breathing hard. The surfer sat, holding his right side, his chest heaving, too.

"What the hell, man?" the surfer said, his face pale.

"I'm trying to save your life," Anthony muttered, and spit out salty water.

The surfer winced, hunching forward.

"I think you need to see a doctor," I told him.

"Yeah." He glanced at us. "Thanks. It's not from you. My stomach's been bothering me, but the waves called to me. If I would have been too far out..." He shook his head. "How'd you know?"

I flicked my eyes down at Anthony. "Well, I saw you favoring your side." Another white lie added to so many.

Anthony scowled. "And if your punkass would've just listened--"

I bit back a smile, rubbing Anthony's wet shoulder. "He means you're welcome."

© Kelly Parra

Interview, Giveaway & Reviews!

2009-02-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

Lots to share and always so little time, so it seems!

I'd like to share with you an interview I participated in for Micol Ostow's Blog Bash for the release of her awesome Bradford series. I'm talking group blogs and secrets (sorta). haha! Comment here for a chance to win a free copy of Invisible Touch. You probably have a couple of days, so hurry!

Still not sure if you'd like to read it?

Here's what Ana @ YA Romance Reviews had to say about Kara's story:

"I loved this book and the romance aspects were great. I really felt for Kara. She was living her life the best way she knew how while carrying around a lot of burdens. Her voice felt mature -- like she was an old soul. 5 Stars."

Enchanting YA gives Touch 5 Enchantments!

"INVISIBLE TOUCH is a fast-paced novel that combines mystery, romance, and Latino culture with a paranormal twist. Action, suspense, and originality make INVISIBLE TOUCH a definitely thrilling read that will appeal to a wide range of readers."

Thank you, Ladies!

I also chatted more about Invisible Touch in an interview here.

And with writer Chanelle Gray, I chat about writing and Touch.

That's all for now. Next week there will be another chance to win Touch. Have a great weekend!

~kelly

New Year and Cyber Whispers

2009-01-02T13:03:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, Secret Friends!!

I'd like to start off by thanking YABookNerd and Shalonda for their reviews for Invisible Touch:

Jennifer (YABookNerd) said: "This book has mystery, paranormal qualities, and romance. Be sure not to miss this one."

Shalonda said: "Invisible Touch was action-packed, due to its many twists and turns. In addition, Parra mixed suspense, mystery, and romance (one of my favorite elements) into one fantastic story!

In a couple of my previous posts, I heralded several books among the best books of 2008. Kelly Parra's Invisible Touch is in my top ten favorites of this year, in the company of powerhouses like Paper Towns and Living Dead Girl. It really is phenomenal."

Thank you, Jennifer and Shalonda!!

And now with every new year, I look at where I'm at in my writing career and my life in general. I have small resolutions every year, and I try to fulfill them.

But what I truly feel strongly about is belief in loving what I have, hoping for the best, and being determined enough to work hard toward my goals for the future.

This relates to every part of my life--family, health, happiness, and writing. I always feel upbeat in the beginning of the year. The New Year is a symbol of starting fresh and starting on new goals.

I would love to sell another book soon. I would love to write and complete two books. I would love to have more patience. I would love to be more organized. But in the long run I have to be happy, for myself and for my family.

That is what I will strive for this year and what I hope for everyone too. :)

New Chances to Win...

2008-12-16T07:38:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! I'm inviting readers to a couple of on-line events this week for a chance to chat with me and win a copy of Invisible Touch!

On Wednesday, December 17 the cool authors at Wolfy Chicks have invited me for an interview and have graciously donated a copy of Invisible Touch to giveaway to a lucky commenter. So if you're interested in reading Invisible Touch, I'd love for you to stop by this great YA paranormal blog and leave a comment tomorrow!

Then on Thursday, December 18th, 8 PM Eastern (7 Central, 6 Mountain, 5 Pacific) the awesome Pageflipper is hosting monthly chats with authors--how cool is that? And during the chat on Thursday, I'll be giving away three copies of Invisible Touch to random chatters! It's very easy to register and to enter the chat. And if you've already read Touch, you can still check in and ask me any questions on Graffiti Girl or Touch! So please stop by here and be ready to ask any questions on books, reading, or writing!

Thanks and hope to chat with you soon!

~kelly

Reading Keeps you Sane

2008-11-25T09:07:00.000-08:00

Yay, new review for Invisible Touch by Kelsey @ Reading Keeps You Sane...

Have you been over there? Very fun grading system for books and impressive reviews!

Here are some cool highlights from the review:

Rating: A

"Wow--Just wow. This book was fantastic. I started it last night and almost got yelled at by the teacher because I couldn't stop reading during school. From the start with Kara's first blog entry to her last at Secret Fates, I was hooked at the edge of my seat. It was intense!"

"Having the book take place in the Latina world was so surreal, with gang's on the streets and homeless people, the lifestyle Kara and Anthony both differently lived in made this novel so much more real then it already was. It was different, and it was gracefully done."

"Parra is definitely one to watch with more novels. This novel was a 2 thumbs up and there will be no dissappointment. I highly, highly recommend it as I gave it a ten out of ten."

A big thank you to Kelsey!!

Also I've scheduled an on-line chat in December with The Page Flipper--so stay tuned!

Two Chances to Win!

2008-11-13T11:04:00.000-08:00

I have some super cool friends! And I'll tell you why...

Two of my author friends are giving away Invisible Touch on myspace!

Yes, count 'em TWO. ;)

On author Tina Ferraro's myspace, leave a comment on her blog to be entered to win! Winner to be chosen Sunday, November 16th.

Tina Ferraro's blog

And check out author, Carmen Rodrigues's myspace blog for this week's Take It Home Tuesdays. Comment for a chance to win! Winner to be chosen, next Tuesday, November 18th!

Carmen Rodrigues's blog

Happy commenting!

Invisible Touch is Visionary

2008-11-08T08:22:00.000-08:00

The latest cyber whispers for Invisible Touch have popped up in cyberspace...

The Salinas Californian gives Invisible Touch "Five Gold Pens"! (Since this is a newspaper article I'm not sure how long the link will stay live.)

Invisible Touch is Visionary

"As this story develops in a community where gang violence is a common occurrence, Kara's visions begin to focus on the teens around her and their safety.

Trying to figure out what a particular vision means so she can protect those she holds dear is an exhausting and emotionally draining task. At the core of the novel are a new relationship and a series of troubling visions, which make Kara's life even more complicated.

Representing her quandary when she must solve a 'puzzle' related to her visions, Kara's Rubik's Cube becomes the story's central symbol. Given to her by her father, the cube becomes a coping mechanism that allows the girl to 'zone out' when she is stressed. As her hands quickly manipulate the cube her mind struggles with the more difficult puzzles which make her life such a challenge."

And Melissa at Poised at the Edge says this about Invisible Touch:

"INVISIBLE TOUCH is a gripping paranormal tale, with fast paced suspense, and a satisfying conclusion. Readers will delight in the suspense, romance, and insights of this dynamic story!"

Thanks, Melissa!

The Secret Fates Extravaganza Ends!

2008-10-31T06:26:00.000-07:00

AND THE SECRET FATES EXTRAVAGANZA OFFICIALLY ENDS ON HALLOWEEN!

Dear secret readers and friends,

I cannot express how wonderful it was to share this month of secrets with all of you who contributed, and all of you who stopped by through the month of October.

This Extravaganza was a very memorable and fun experience. I was honored to have 25 authors join me in this celebration to help launch my novel, INVISIBLE TOUCH. These authors took the time to share some personal and fictional secrets as well as donated their books out of sheer kindness. I will never forget that!

Thank you to the readers who came every day to read secrets and those of you who weren't shy to comment on each post. Thank you to those of you who helped spread the word about the Extravaganza. That was very cool of you! I hope to chat with many of you in cyberspace. Don't forget I regularly blog @ YAfresh.blogspot.com and hang out monthly at Teenfictioncafe.blogspot.com and MTVBook.blogspot.com. Please stop by anytime to say hello!

Here are the winners for Week Five of Secrets Fates (October 27th - 31st).

Winner of one of Simone Elkeles's novels... Carol

Winner of THE CELEBUTANTES: THE PENTHOUSE by Antonio Pagluiro... TheBookworm

Winner of I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE by Stephanie Kuehnert... flip

Winner of an advanced copy of GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING by Marley Gibson...
HylianVampire

Now for the other winners...

Here is the winner of the reader who helped spread the word of the Extravaganza the most: Shooting Stars Mag

The winner of the October contest of one copy of INVISIBLE TOUCH, one Rubik's Cube, and one Rubik's Cube keychain is: The Not So Closet Geeks

And I'm sorry I never heard from Alexa, the previous winner of Liza Conrad's THE POKER DIARIES. So the new winner is: pepsivanilla

Congratulations, Winners!!

Dear Winners, please email me with your address through my website with "Secret Fates Winner (Book title or author)" in the subject line, and I will forward your email to the author to get your prize to you.

This blog will remain open with all of these awesome secrets archived, and with the occasional post from me. :)

Thank you again for making this such a memorable event.

I had a great time talking secrets!

~kelly parra

A Secret by Marley Gibson

2008-10-30T06:35:00.000-07:00

And here we have the FINAL secret of the Extravaganza! Author Marely Gibson chatting about her cool new Ghost Huntress series starring Kendall Moorehead, coming in 2009. This series sounds fantastic and I can't wait to read it! For AGES 13 and up comment to win an advanced copy of GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING , published by Graphia. Copies are not yet ready, but right off the press, the advanced copy will be yours! Winner will be posted October 31st, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING
BY MARLEY GIBSON
GRAPHIA, 09

Kendall Moorehead has a secret. Ever since she moved from her beloved home of Chicago to a small, historic Southern town in Radisson, Georgia, she hasn't quite felt like herself. Her head hurts, her fingers tingle, and, no kidding, she's hearing voices coming out of her white noise machine. What's going on? Her psychic awakening, that's what! It's hard enough being the new girl in town, but now she wants to admit to everyone that she's psychic? No way. And she won't even talk about telling her parents. Fortunately, her next door neighbor, Celia Nichols not only understands what she's going through, but is wicked psyched about it. She's been looking for someone to ghost hunt with her, so this is perfect. With all of her geeky tech tools and Kendall's sensitivity, they'll be able to investigate all of the haunted historical places in Radisson. Kendall just has to keep her newly blossomed sensitivity and her after-hours activity hidden from her parents...who's devout religious beliefs wouldn't be exactly excited about what their daughter is dabbling in. Will Kendall be able to keep her abilities secret ... even in the face of forming a ghost hunting group to try and assist the beligerent ghost in her father's office? Find out in May 2009 and read GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING by Marley Gibson, from Houghton Mifflin's Graphia line.

Marley Gibson's first Young Adult books were released in May 2008! She's writing as Kate Harmon and kicking off the SORORITY 101 series with her books: SORORITY 101: ZETA OR OMEGA? SORORITY 101: THE NEW SISTERS. Coming in May 2009 from Houghton Mifflin's Graphia line is her own series, under her name, GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING, followed in October 2009 with GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE and GHOST HUNTRESS: THE REASON in May 2010. For more information visit, www.myspace.com/mhgibson or www.marleygibson.com.

A Secret by Stephanie Kuehnert

2008-10-29T06:45:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Kuehnert chose to talk about a serious and emotional secret from her teen years in order to let teens, who may be in the same situation, know that they can get help. A big shout out and hug to Steph for sharing this on Secret Fates. For AGES 14 and up comment to win your pick Steph's debut I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE published by MTV Books. Winner will be posted October 31st, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE
BY STEPHANIE KUEHNERT
MTV BOOKS, 08

I write about a lot of characters who are secretive in a specific way: they hide their emotions. In my novel, I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE, the main character Emily won't admit how much she misses and needs her mother, Louisa, to anyone and Louisa is secretive about the painful events that made her leave her family behind. These secrets tear both Emily and Louisa up inside and threaten to destroy their lives. In my next book, BALLADS OF SUBURBIA, I have another main character (coincidentally named Kara, just like the MC in INVISIBLE TOUCH!) who keeps all of her feelings bottled up inside. She releases them in a secret and dangerous way, by cutting. My deepest, darkest secret for many years was that like Kara, I was also a cutter.

It started in junior high, which was an emotional roller coaster for me because I didn't fit in and my closest friend's grandma was dying of cancer so she was moving away. Then there was puberty, which not only brings crazy emotions with it and unrequited love, but I didn't feel like it was happening fast enough for me and I was getting made fun of for looking like a little kid, or worse, a boy. I was working on stage crew one day, building sets for the school play and I accidently scraped my arm on nail. Normally I was a wuss about pain, but that day I was upset and I noticed that when I cut myself on that nail even though it hurt, it gave me a little rush and for a moment all the angry and sad feelings went away and I felt good. So I scraped my arm on that nail a second time and I felt even better. I would go home and write about this in my journal, about how making myself hurt on the outside made the inside hurts go away a little bit.

In junior high, the cutting remained mostly innocent. I scratched myself with safety pins and the not-so sharp blades of scissors (however I did write a poem about scissors that got me sent to the guidance counselor, but of course I didn't open up to her and let her help me). In high school, my life got more complicated. More and more secrets piled up. There were the secrets about my depressed, angry feelings and then came the boy trouble. Throughout high school I had an on-and-off relationship with a boy who was addicted to heroin. I kept him secret from my friends and family because I didn't want them telling me what I knew deep down, that he was bad news. I had another relationship with a very controlling, emotionally abusive guy, which I also kept my feelings secret about for a long time because I really wanted to believe that he loved me and when I realized that what he did was wrong, I was ashamed that I'd let myself get into such a situation. I started carrying razor blades in my wallet so I could cut whenever the feelings got overwhelming. I broke a mirror once and cut myself with the glass. I burned myself with matches and cigarettes. I cut my arms and wore long sleeves, but I also cut my stomach and thighs which I knew I could hide from everyone. It was a release and a punishment at the same time.

I finally revealed my deepest darkest secret to my parents senior year. Things were worse than ever, they were getting separated, I was trying to graduate early so I was extra stressed, and then one night I got into a fender bender. I also had to study for a major history test that night. As a result, major meltdown. I freaked out, ripped off the army jacket I always wore to hide my wounds and showed my parents the cuts and scars on my arms. After that they helped me find a really good therapist. I can't say that I was instantly healed. In fact it would take a few more years until I actually got serious about talking through my feelings with my therapist before I would completely stop hurting myself.

I know this isn't a happy or funny secret, but I thought it was important to share that especially with you teens out there who might be going through similar things. Keeping your feelings secret can be so harmful, so please find someone you can trust to talk to. I talked to friends, but I never felt like there was anyone I could tell everything until I found a good therapist, a completely neutral party. Maybe that is something some people would keep secret, but I am not ashamed of it. I went through some hard times and I eventually worked them through, so I'm not keeping it secret. I'm hoping it can help.

Stephanie Kuehnert got her start writing bad poetry about unrequited love and razor blades in eighth grade. In high school, she discovered punk rock and produced several D.I.Y. feminist zines. She received her MFA in creative writing from Columbia College Chicago and lives in Forest Park, Illinois. Visit her website at www.stephaniekuehnert.com.

A Secret by Antonio Pagliarulo

2008-10-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

Today, we have the awesome Antonio Pagliarulo, author of the Celebutantes series, sharing a dark, otherwordly secret on Secret Fates. And now he has me fascinated with the stories he heard as a young boy. For AGES 13 and up comment to win THE CELEBUTANTES: TO THE PENTHOUSE , published by Random House. Winner will be posted October 31st, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

THE CELEBUTANTES: TO THE PENTHOUSE
BY ANTONIO PAGLIARULO
RANDOM HOUSE, 08

I do, in fact, have a secret. A dark and somewhat otherworldly one. This isn’t common for a guy who considers himself: 1) a nice Catholic boy from New York City and 2) a novelist who enjoys chronicling the lives of flashy Celebutantes named Madison, Park, and Lexington. My books often lead people to believe that I’m just as flashy and Manhattan-chic as my characters, or that I attend A-List parties and rub elbows with famous people. (Okay, so some of that is actually true, but I’m usually the tag-along to my handful of nice A-List friends who think I need to get out of the house more). Point is, I’m not really flashy or much of a partier. I’d much rather spend time on my favorite hobby: researching the occult. I’ve actually had plenty of brushes with the supernatural. I love ghost stories, vampires, haunted sites, moonlit graveyards, and attending séances. I love anything that could be classified as paranormal.

And I have a special fondness for Witches.

Real Witches.

Like my old Italian aunts and uncles – even a few cousins – who were raised in the mountain towns of Italy and were schooled in the true secrets of nature, of the magic that exists in the invisible world around us. I grew up hearing stories about the power of the full moon. I heard stories about wise women who cured the sick with herbs and incantations. I heard stories about strong men who removed curses and, when necessary, cast them. I heard stories about the Witches of Italy and how many of their furtive practices survived right into the present day…a power passed down through the ages, from one generation to the next. It’s the power to heal and bless, to cast spells and summon spirits and to see what isn’t there to be seen. It’s the power to connect with a divine force. And, of course, it’s the power to cast that ever-infamous “evil eye” Italians are known for the world over. People always ask me if it exists, if it’s real. My answer? Hell yeah! My advice? Treat people the way you want to be treated…or else…well, you get the picture.

Later, I learned quite a few of these fascinating techniques myself, and they fueled my passion for all things paranormal. Through the years, I’ve compiled mountains of research on just about every aspect of the occult, and an interesting secret is that I would rather sit at home and read about ghosts than do just about anything. What have I learned from all of my reading and exploring? Well, I suppose that’s the biggest secret of all, and here it is: If you’re looking for a vampire, ghost, or witch, keep on looking, because there’s likely one closer to you than you think…

Antonio Pagliarulo was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. He writes books for young readers. He currently lives in New York City. Visit www.thecelebutantes.com.

A Secret by Simone Elkeles

2008-10-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to have Simone Elkeles share a few honest secrets today for herself and for the characters from her novels. I met Simone this summer and her honesty is really a breath of fresh air. She's funny, talented, and has nothing to worry about regarding her personal secret. :) For AGES 13 and up comment to win your pick of one of Simone's current releases LEAVING PARADISE, HOW TO RUIN A SUMMER VACATION or HOW TO RUIN MY TEENAGE LIFE published by Flux. Winner will be posted October 31st, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

LEAVING PARADISE
BY SIMONE ELKELES
FLUX, 07

The characters in my book coming out in 2008, Perfect Chemistry, have secrets they don’t share with the rest of the world. And in all of my books, my main characters have information about themselves they hide. And then I was thinking that it’s true about everyone…we keep part of ourselves private from the outside world so we don’t let everyone know our insecurities and fears.

Me: I’m afraid of not being seen as attractive as I grow older. I’ve never totally been into my looks, but now that I’m growing older I’m more vain than ever. Why are looks so important to me? Why now, when I should be old enough to be comfortable in my “own skin”? That’s my biggest secret right now…the insecurity, at my age, at how I’m feeling about my outside beauty.

My character Brittany from Perfect Chemistry: I need to be perfect, always. It’s expected by me, my family, my friends, and even my enemies. If I’m not perfect, they just might look beyond my looks and see that I’m totally imperfect and have lots of insecurities…and that my home life isn’t perfect and my sister is just the opposite of me.

My character Alex from Perfect Chemistry: I put on a show for the outside world that I’m a tough guy gang member who doesn’t care about having a future. Truth is, I probably don’t have a future because I’m in a gang and I have a bulls-eye on my back every day of my life. My secret is, I want to live a different life…I just don’t have a way out.

My character Amy from How to Ruin a Summer Vacation/How to Ruin my Teenage Life: I’m afraid the ones I love are going to hurt me, so I hurt them first. If I’m rude or abrasive, it’s because I need to keep people at a distance. If I love them and they hurt me, I’ll be so devastated I don’t know if I can recover emotionally from it.

My character Avi from How to Ruin a Summer Vacation/Teenage Life: I lost my brother, and I can’t get close to anyone because I might also die in a war in my country. I love Amy and don’t want her to love me back…because I’m afraid of hurting her. I want to protect her, but I don’t know how I can do that…we’re so far away.

My character Caleb Becker from Leaving Paradise: I have a secret about the night of the accident. I can’t talk about it, because I made a promise. I’ve fallen for Maggie, but I can’t tell her the truth. Although keeping the truth inside forever is slowly killing me.

My character Maggie Armstrong from Leaving Paradise: I’ve had a secret crush on Caleb Becker for the longest time. Even now, after he went to jail for hitting me with his car, I have feelings for him. Why did he leave me? Will I ever get enough courage to fight to get him back? Am I just going to be hurt by him over and over until there’s nothing left of my heart and I’m just a shell of a person?

I know we all have these inner thoughts all the time, and some we share with our best friends and some we keep inside forever and share with nobody. I’m lucky I have friends who I can share most of my deepest, darkest secrets with…ones I can cry and laugh with at the same time. I’m lucky. Do you share your deepest, darkest secrets or do you hold them inside? Who in your life do you share with the most?

Simone Elkeles is the author of Leaving Paradise, How to Ruin a Summer Vacation and How to Ruin my Teenage Life. She was named 2008 Author of the Year by the IL Assoc. of Teachers of English and is excited for her December 2008 release titled Perfect Chemistry. Visit Simone's website, www.simoneelkeles.net.

Secret Fates Extravaganza Week Five: The Final Week!

2008-10-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

WELCOME TO WEEK FIVE OF THE SECRET FATES EXTRAVAGANZA--THE FINAL WEEK!
I can't believe we are at our last week of secrets! Everyone has made this Secret Fates Extravaganza something memorable--so thank you!! This week secrets will be posted October 27th - October 30th, winners TBA October 31st.

Just a reminder of how this works:

I'll be posting an author secret and giveaway Monday through Thursday. You will have the week to post a comment on the author's secret, then on Friday I will announce the final winners for the week and the winner who helped spread the word the most about the Extravanganza.

Here is the final line up:

Week 5

Monday, October 27th: Simone Elkeles offering up a winner's choice...

Tuesday, October 28th: Antonio Pagliarulo offers THE CELEBUTANTES: TO THE PENTHOUSE ...

Wednesday, October 29th: Stephanie Kuehnert with I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE...

Thursday, October 30th: Marley Gibson with an ARC of GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING. ...

Simone's secret is coming up...

Let the secrets begin... :)

~Kelly :)

Week Four Secret Winners!

2008-10-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

Hello Secret Readers!

It's been a fantastic week! And the month of secrets is nearly over! Thank you all for being a part of the Extravaganza this week and thank you to Allison, Dianna, Linda, Tera, Wendy and Brooke for sharing here on Secret Fates!

Here are the winners for Week Four of Secrets Fates (October 20th - 25th). (Just a one more week to win!)

Winner of SNITCH by Allison van Diepen... Vanessa (whatvanessareads.wordpress.com)

Winner of PHANTOM IN THE NIGHT and DEAD AFTER DARK by Dianna Love... Tami Brothers

Winner of DEATH BY LATTE by Linda Gerber... Marjolein

Winner of OH. MY. GODS. by Tera Lynn Childs...
MelodyJM

Winner of THE SECRET LIFE OF A TEENAGE SIREN by Wendy Toliver... TruBlu93

Winner of UNDONE by Brooke Taylor... Paradox

And I'm still looking for the winner of THE POKER DIARIES by Liza Conrad/Erica Orloff... Alexa! If I do not hear from Alexa, I will be picking a new winner at the end of the month!

Congratulations, Winners!!

Dear Winners, please email me with your address through my website with "Secret Fates Winner (Book title or author)" in the subject line, and I will forward your email to the author to get your prize to you.

Don't forget to return next week for the final group of authors Monday to Thursday (October 27th - 30th) sharing secrets and giveaways!

A Secret by Brooke Taylor

2008-10-25T05:33:00.000-07:00

Author Brooke Taylor is another writer friend I met this summer. Not only is she very cool and a great person to laugh with, she writes edgy and real teen fiction. Today she's talking secrets...the kind that characters keep from their authors. Read on to find out what I mean. For AGES 13 and up comment to win UNDONE, published by Walker. Winner will be posted October 26th, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

UNDONE
BY BROOKE TAYLOR
WALKER, 08

In one of my favorite YA books, Looking for Alaska by John Green, there is a mystery left unsolved about what exactly happened to Alaska. I remember reading an interview with Green where he was asked what happened, and he said he didn’t know. At first I was a little put out. He is the author. He created the place, the character, and even the event in question—so how can he not know what happened? Surely he is just keeping this juicy little secret to himself. Sneaky author.

As I worked away at Undone, I had many struggles getting things just right. There were so many holes, so much left unexplained and then I realized why. My characters were keeping secrets from me—me, the author, their creator! How was it even possible? It defies all logic, but it is true. Even the author doesn’t know everything, and not because they are being lazy and just don’t want to flesh something out. Although, I imagine some of that happens too. But some characters are very guarded, and don’t reveal things. My character Kori was particularly secretive, and when at long last I learned her secrets, I understood why.

Brooke Taylor lives and writes from her country home in Oklahoma where her pets are a constant, but happy, distraction. She doesn't remember a time when she didn't have a book on her bedside table or an idea for a story in her head and she fully admits to getting a little giddy at the sight of a floor-to-ceiling bookcase. When she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys horseback riding, going to the lake, and traveling.

Brooke’s first "real" job was as a Wrangler for a dude ranch in Colorado. Since then she has worked extensively in the travel industry for both ski resorts and cruise lines. Her many overseas adventures include sky diving in New Zealand, scuba diving with sharks, sailing through hurricanes, and having her tent attacked by wild animals in the Mara game reserve in Africa. Due to parental concerns and current health insurance rates, Brooke has agreed to let her characters do most of the risk-taking from now on. Visit her website, www.brooketaylorbooks.com/

A Secret by Wendy Toliver

2008-10-24T06:46:00.000-07:00

Here we have one of the nicest authors around, Wendy Toliver, writing as Sasha Finnegan, the main character in Wendy’ s forthcoming MISS MATCH (Feb. 09). And Sasha has a big secret. Want to hear it? Read on to find it what it is... For AGES 12 and up comment to win the novel THE SECRET LIFE OF A TEENAGE SIREN published by Simon Pulse. Winner will be posted October 26th, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

THE SECRET LIFE OF A TEENAGE SIREN
BY WENDY TOLIVER
SIMON PULSE, 07

Hey, I’m Sasha. I’ve got a ton of secrets, but I’ve been thinking about this particular secret for a long time, and I think it’s time to come out in the open with it. It’s actually a confession to my dad, so as soon as this goes live, I’m going to tell him to read it. (Hi, Dad. I hope you’re sitting down.)

About six months ago, my parents were sitting in the living room, going over the details of their divorce. I wanted to go out and shoot some hoops in the driveway, anything to get out of the house. But Dad’s SUV was in the way, so he gave me his keys to move it. Well, something bad happened when I was reversing down the driveway. (Are you sure you’re sitting down, Dad?)

I ran into Mrs. Woosely.

She was driving by at that very instant. No one got hurt, you’ll be glad to know. It barely even scratched the bumper, but her car needed repairs. I told her I’d find a way to make the money for the repairs and asked her to keep it on the down-lo. (Don’t get mad at her, Dad. I was very convincing.) First of all, I didn’t want Dad to be mad at me. Second, well, I really wanted him to buy me a car on my sixteenth birthday, like he did for Maddie. And getting in a wreck before I even had my driver’s permit isn’t exactly a good thing, right?

So, there you have it. I hope that coming clean was the right decision. If you don’t hear from me in a while, you’ll know I’m probably grounded. TTFN!

Wendy Toliver earned her BA in Speech Communication/Broadcast from Colorado State University.

She’s explored a variety of jobs, from impersonating Marilyn Monroe for singing telegrams to impersonating a computer
geek at an ad agency.

Now she calls Eden, Utah home and lives with her husband, three little boys, two dogs, cat, crab, and an occasional mole.
When not working on her next novel, Wendy enjoys reading, skiing, acting, traveling, volunteering, and shooting hoops.
Though she’s never been mistaken for a Siren, she has been mistaken for the Wendy’s hamburger girl. Visit her website, www.WendyToliver.com.

A Secret by Tera Lynn Childs

2008-10-23T06:33:00.000-07:00

Tera Lynn Childs is here sharing secrets--shhh--about her characters on Secret Fates. I met Tera at conference this summer and she was really cool to hang out with and you have to know OH. MY. GODS. is super cool too. Check out some of her secrets below... For AGES 12 and up comment to win Tera's novel OH. MY. GODS., published by Dutton. Winner will be posted October 26th, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

OH. MY. GODS.
BY TERA LYNN CHILDS
DUTTON, 08

I'm not a girl with too many secrets. I'm more of an omigod-did-I-actually-just-say-all-that? kind of girl. Overshare could be my middle name. (Or, depending on the day, my first name.) So, although I don't have much in the way of secrets in the real world, I do have a couple of whoppers that I've kept from my characters ... until now. (It's only fair, right? Since they keep so many secrets from me!)

Both of these secrets involve Phoebe, the main characters in my debut novel, OH. MY. GODS. And I'm warning you now that there will be SPOILERS! So, if you haven't read OH. MY. GODS. and are trying to win it, you might want to stop reading now. Really. Right now.

The first is about Phoebe herself. When OH. MY. GODS. opens she's just about to be tossed into a world where myth comes to life. Her mom marries the headmaster of a private school for the descendants of Greek gods ... and she's the only one who isn't. (Seriously, here's the spoiler.) At the end we find out that, unbeknownst to just about everyone, Phoebe actually is a descendant of a god (a goddess, actually—Nike). Here's the secret: When I started writing OH. MY. GODS. Phoebe was just supposed to be a normal girl. She wasn't supposed to be a descendant of anyone (other than normal humans, of course). But, over the course of the story, it became clear that she was a little more special than that.

The second is about Phoebe's romantic interest. There are two guys in Phoebe's new world: Griffin and Troy. Griffin is the bad boy who's mean to her for no reason and who, despite being totally yummy, frequently acts like a complete jerk. Troy is the cute, sweet buddy type who is one of the nicest guys on the island. (Second spoiler coming up.) In the end, Phoebe winds up with Griffin, the hottie bad boy who, like Phoebe, is a cross-country runner and who has a few secrets of his own. Here's the secret: When I started writing OH. MY. GODS. Phoebe was supposed to end up with Troy. He is, after all, the kind of guy a girl should like. But, as Phoebe finds out, there's a lot more beneath Griffin's bad boy surface than a rotten attitude and he turns out the be her perfect guy.

Please don't tell them that their happy ending wasn't supposed to be quite so happy. They're still in their lovey-dovey honeymoon stage (until the sequel, GODDESS BOOT CAMP comes out, but that's a whole other secret). Phoebe would never let me live it down that I started out writing a completely different story than the one she wound up with. She's pretty happy with the final results.

Though Tera Lynn Childs may pretend to be a goddess, she’s really just a normal person. Well, maybe not normal. She is a writer, after all. Of course, she wasn't always a writer. In fact, it took her a while to realize that's what she really, really, really wanted to be. Along the way she took detours through architecture, environmental biology, theatre, historic preservation, and--she shudders at the memory--teaching. She still has nightmares. At least as a young adult author she can use her former students as research.

When not collaging her latest hero – can a girl have too many pictures of Nick Lachey? – she spends her time writing at Starbucks, blogging with the Buzz Girls, hunting down long-lost loves on MySpace, and convincing herself that watching America’s Next Top Model counts as research. Visit her website, www.teralynnchilds.com/

A Secret by Linda Gerber

2008-10-22T06:01:00.000-07:00

Today we have Linda Gerber sharing a secret as her character Aphra Connolly in the Death By books series! I love a good suspenseful YA mystery and Aphra knows how to scope out the truth even in danger. For AGES 12 and up comment to win the novel DEATH BY LATTE published by Puffin. Winner will be posted October 26th, 2008.

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DEATH BY LATTE
BY LINDA GERBER
PUFFIN, 08

I have a confession to make.

I'm a liar.

Not all the time, though. Only when I need to be.

(Yeah, right, you think. Like you can trust me after that opening statement. It's the old liar paradox. If I tell you I'm a liar, then you can't believe a word I say. Which means you can't believe me when I tell you I'm a liar. Which means I'm not a liar. But then as a non-liar, I must be telling the truth when I say I'm a liar, right?)

Whatever.

The fact is, I lie.

So here's the thing. I think I overdid it this time. I told my dad I was going to South Carolina to see a friend, but I'm really going to Seattle. He would never have let me go if I had asked him, so I had to lie. Only now if I get caught, I've completely blown his trust.

Plus my lie has made my friend a liar, too, because now she has to cover for me.

Have you ever done that? Lied, I mean.

How about other secrets you've never told anyone? Tell the truth! Confession is good for the soul.

Linda recently returned to life in the Midwest after four years in Japan, where she served as the Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her books include SASS: NOW AND ZEN, SASS: THE FINNISH LINE, DEATH BY BIKINI and the upcoming books DEATH BY LATTE, DEATH BY DENIM and an as-of-yet-untitled YA Paranormal Suspense. She currently lives and writes in Dublin, OH, blissfully ignoring her husband, four kids, and one very naughty puppy. To find out more, visit her blog at lindagerber.blogspot.com.

A Secret by Dianna Love

2008-10-21T06:28:00.000-07:00

I've known Dianna Love nearly as long as I've been writing fiction. She's been an awesome friend and mentor and it's wonderful to have her character Trey Mcree from her novella, MIDNIGHT KISS GOODBYE, share his secret with us. Dianna is giving away a copy of PHANTOM IN THE NIGHT as well as a certificate for a copy of DEAD AFTER DARK, which will be published December 2nd. For ages 18 and up, comment below and the winner will be announced October 26th.

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My name is Trey McCree and I’ve kept a secret from Sasha Armand I want to share so badly with her it’s killing me, because she’s more than the love of my life. She’s the one person who always understood me and accepted me when other women were put off by my size. Like my mother who called me a…never mind. She left when I was in third grade right after I read her true thoughts the first time. That’s another secret I’m not up to sharing today, maybe never. It’s too painful to relive.

About that secret I do want to share. I always knew I was…different. *chuckle* Now that’s an understatement. I started picking up thoughts when I was a child, hearing unspoken conversations. Then inanimate objects moved at will around me when I was really angry or really happy. Sound pretty cool to have that kind of ability? Not when you’re a kid living with a normal father who’s a truck driver. Dad’s a great guy, but he sure as hell wouldn’t have understood the weird stuff I was dealing with so I kept a lot to myself and learned how to control my reactions out in public. Of course, I toyed with these powers in private just to test my limits. I outran a GSX-R motorcycle doing 150 mph at night one time when no one could see me. That was weird, but by then I was a teenager and few things surprised me anymore. I read thoughts as easily as other people listened to vocal conversations.

Dad got a better job offer and moved us from Louisiana to Atlanta, Georgia when I started my senior year in high school. I fell in love with the tomboy from down the street the minute Sasha Armand stepped up beside me when I was working on my 1974 Bronco and told me she thought the problem was with the intake manifold and not a fuel filter. She wore cutoff jeans, a sleeveless T-shirt and a smile that would stop a man’s heart. Stopped mine. She had a smudge on her nose from working on something in her garage and silky-black hair twisted up in some weird kabob. Without the eyes, she was just a nice looking young girl. But add in those exotic eyes that belonged on an Egyptian queen and there was no one on earth like her.

But here’s the wild thing about Sasha. I couldn’t hear her thoughts. Not once, no matter how hard I tried, which was something I normally didn’t do. I wouldn’t enter someone’s thoughts uninvited unless they were screwing with me or if I had to as part of my job. I perform covert missions to protect the world from supernatural threats – more secrets. Not being able to enter Sasha’s thoughts threw me a major curve since I’d learned as a child that people would lie to my face. Once someone you love has done that you learn not to trust spoken words. That impediment didn’t stop me from falling crazy in love with Sasha, but I figured one day I’d have to decide if I could get past it. Then destiny threw me a new curve that negated any plans I had for a future with Sasha.

There’s too much to share here about how I came to learn I was destined to be a Belador warrior so I’ll just tell you the short version. I’d heard an odd language in my mind from as early as I could recall thoughts, a phrase that repeated over and over that I had no idea of the origin. A wise man known as a Druid came to me when I turned eighteen and spoke those very Gaelic words in my mind, but this time I knew exactly what they meant. He explained how I had the blood of ancient warriors known as Beladors who had been given the task of protecting the world from supernatural predators. He knew everything about me, all the secrets I’d held close so I believed him when he said if I did not embrace my destiny my powers would eventually drive me insane. If that happened, I would not be allowed to live among the world. These “gifts” didn’t sound all that great.

The old Druid could have picked a better time to spring this on me since I’d just worked six months straight in a miserable job to buy Sasha an engagement ring and planned to go into the Marines. Instead, I took off for a week in the north Georgia mountains to do some thinking. I hiked for miles to be alone. Macha, the Celtic goddess over all Beladors visited me the first night as a vision. She held my mind captive for hours, showing me what monsters roamed the earth with supernatural abilities. Monsters I then worried might harm Sasha or my dad. Macha assured me I could have a mate at some point, but the woman had to prove herself worthy of a warrior and with rare exceptions could only be another Belador. She warned that I had much to learn before bringing someone else into the mix.

Before I returned home I had to swear my allegiance to the Beladors to receive Macha’s support and acceptance into the tribe. Like the alternative of going insane or being vaporized to keep me away from humans was an option? I couldn’t share a thing about the Beladors with anyone, including my dad. And Sasha was an even bigger issue. I’d learned one dangerous facet of my new life – a mate’s fate was tied to mine. If I took a wife and broke my vow to the Beladors for any reason, my wife and any children would die along with me. Macha was dead serious about vows and oaths. Beladors eight hundred years ago had been a bunch of blood thirsty raiders she sanctioned with death and built a new tribe that upheld the peace.

I returned to Atlanta and said good-bye to Sasha. Breaking her heart was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but she meant more to me than life or my own happiness. She doesn’t know that I come home to Atlanta all the time to covertly check on her. I tell myself she’s happy and has a chance at a normal life, but my heart screams in agony when I’m near her. I miss her more than she’ll ever know.

As much as this all sucks for a life, I thought it couldn’t get worse, but now I find out she’s doing a private investigator job looking for someone she has no business getting near - an immortal magician called Ekkbar from the Kujoo tribe the Beladors warred against eight hundred years ago who were cursed to live beneath Mount Meru. Someone contracted with Sasha to play private eye and find Ekkbar.

First I’m going to find Ekkbar and send him back to that mountain he’s supposed to be imprisoned under then I’m going to find out who set up Sasha to chase a dangerous immortal. You’d think the hardest part would just be figuring out how to do all that and keep my powers a secret from her and any other humans.

Nope. The real test is getting Sasha to speak to me again so I can stay close to protect her until Ekkbar is dealt with then finding the strength to walk away again once I’m sure she’s safe.

Keeping my secret has been my hell on earth. Thanks for letting me share it with you.

MIDNIGHT KISS GOODBYE is Dianna Love’s fantasy/paranormal novella coming out in the DEAD AFTER DARK anthology with Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward and Susan Squire. For an excerpt of MKG and more on Dianna stop by www.AuthorDiannaLove.com.

A Secret by Allison van Diepen

2008-10-20T06:40:00.000-07:00

Allison van Diepen writes real and edgy YA fiction. She blows me away with her characters and urban story lines and I'm so looking forward to her move into paranormal fiction with RAVEN. Allison shares with us a really cool secret, one that is a TRUE story. For AGES 13 and up comment to win Allison's novel SNITCH, published by Simon Pulse. Winner will be posted October 26th, 2008.

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SNITCH
BY ALLISON VAN DIEPEN
SIMON PULSE, 07

This is a true story.

When I was seventeen, my sister and I were in a plane on the tarmac, waiting to return to Ottawa. We’d been visiting my grandparents in southern Ontario.

I was talking about the usual school drama. My sister, who was twenty at the time, just seemed to be staring at the seat in front of her.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“No. This plane can’t fly.”

“How do you know?”

Some background: I knew that my sister sometimes had psychic experiences, but she usually didn’t talk about them. She was a straight-laced math/science girl and an A+ student. The psychic thing didn’t sit well with her.

“It’s like I’m being shown the inside of the plane, and something isn’t working,” she said. “We have to get off the plane.”

“Are you sure?”

“No, I’m not sure.” She turned to me. “Are you coming with me or not?”

“Of course.” The doors of the small plane were still open as the last people got seated. We had to act now. We grabbed our carry-on luggage from the overheard bin.

“If this plane can’t fly, you have to tell them,” I told her. I didn’t know what good it would do, but I wouldn’t feel right if we didn’t say something.

My sister approached the flight attendant. “We have to get off. I have a feeling that this plane can’t fly.”

I felt so bad for the flight attendant. She looked puzzled and a little scared. But she couldn’t just get off the plane like we were doing.

We descended the steps out of the plane and walked toward the terminal. Behind us, the door shut, and the plane began to taxi toward the runway.

I had a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. “Are all those people going to die?”

“I… I don’t have a feeling of dread. I don’t think they’re going to die.”

“Then why did we get off the plane?”

She had no answer for that.

When we got into the terminal, we were put on a standby list for the next flight to Ottawa, which was scheduled to leave two hours later.

We waited.

When the time for the next flight came, I noticed some familiar people sitting in the terminal. They had been on our last flight. I approached one of them. “I thought I saw you on that flight to Ottawa a few hours ago. What happened?”

The person explained that the flight had been about to take off, but there had been a malfunction of some kind. The passengers had sat on the plane for more than an hour while the airline tried to make the repairs, with no success. All of the passengers had disembarked, and now they had been put on standby.

As it turned out, my sister and I were two of only three standby passengers who got seats on the next flight.

So there you go. My sister’s psychic vision didn’t save our lives, but it saved us from spending many long hours in an airport. And there’s something to be said for that.

That’s my secret story, which I guess isn’t a secret anymore.

-- Allison

Author of Street Pharm, Snitch, and Raven (coming in Feb. 2009). Visit her website, www.allisonvandiepen.com.

Secret Fates Extravaganza Week Four!

2008-10-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

WELCOME TO WEEK FOUR OF THE SECRET FATES EXTRAVAGANZA!
Week Four, here we come! Again, thank you to everyone for the great comments and each author who has shared a secret. We have about a week and half left, so let's get going!

Just a reminder of how this works:

Through the month of October, I'll be posting an author secret and giveaway every day except for Sundays. You will have the week to post a comment on the author's secret, then on that following Sunday I will announce the winners for the week. Then the next week we start again with a new group of talented authors.

Here is the new line up:

Week 4

Monday, October 20th: Allison van Diepen with SNITCH...

Tuesday, October 21st: Dianna Love with PHANTOM IN THE NIGHT and more...

Wednesday, October 22nd: Linda Gerber offers DEATH BY LATTE ...

Thursday, October 23rd: Tera Lynn Childs gives away OH. MY. GODS. ...

Friday, October 24th: Wendy Toliver offers up THE SECRET LIFE OF A TEENAGE SIREN...

Saturday, October 25th: Brooke Taylor gives away UNDONE...

Don't forget...

If you help spread the word through the month of October about the Secret Fates Extravaganza (by sharing a link http://secretfates.blogspot.com + the promo video) on your blog, myspace or facebook, and leave a comment on the first Secret Fates post with a link to the blog or post or telling me how you helped, you'll be entered to win a copy of GRAFFITI GIRL and INVISIBLE TOUCH by me, and your pick of one of Secret Fates Extravaganza participating authors' novels. (If you've already read one of my books I'll replace it with one of the author's novels, too. Either way, you win 3 books.) The more you spread the word, the better chances of winning!

Allison's secret is coming up...

Let the secrets begin... :)

~Kelly :)

Week Three Secret Winners!

2008-10-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: New Winner for VIOLET IN PRIVATE...please check to see if it is you! :)

Hello Secret Readers!

It has been another successful week of secrets. Wow, you guys are awesome! Thank you all for being a part of the Extravaganza and a big thanks to Alyson, Marianne, Melissa, Sara, and Heather for sharing here on Secret Fates!

Here are the winners for Week Three of Secrets Fates (October 13th - 18th). (Don't worry we still have more books to give away and a week and a half to still win!)

Winner of an ARC of EVERMORE by Alyson Noel... Khyrinthia

Winner of INVISIBLE TOUCH by Kelly Parra... yabooknerd

Winner of RAZOR GIRL by Marianne Mancusi... Diana Dang

Winner of VIOLET IN PRIVATE by Melissa Walker...kaymf

Winner of THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN by Sara Hantz...Book Spot (Lucile)

Winner of NIGHT ROAD by A.M. Jenkins donated by Heather Davis... tetewa

And I'm still looking for the winner of THE POKER DIARIES by Liza Conrad/Erica Orloff... Alexa! If I do not hear from Alexa, I will be picking a new winner at the end of the month!

Congratulations, Winners!!

Dear Winners, please email me with your address through my website with "Secret Fates Winner (Book title or author)" in the subject line, and I will forward your email to the author to get your prize to you.

Don't forget to return next week for a new group of authors Monday to Saturday (October 20th - 25th) sharing secrets and giveaways!

A Secret by Heather Davis

2008-10-18T06:38:00.000-07:00

Heather Davis's anticipated debut novel NEVER CRY WEREWOLF will be hitting shelves in April '09 published by HarperCollins. Sadly, we'll have to wait till then to read her awesome debut, but Heather was gracious enough to share her secret and offer up a novel she highly recommends. For AGES 14 and up comment to win the novel NIGHT ROAD by A.M. Jenkins, published by HarperCollins. Winner will be posted October 19th, 2008.

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NEVER CRY WEREWOLF
BY HEATHER DAVIS
HARPERCOLLINS, 09

Just a Hunch…

I come from a long-line of wise women. Wise in the way of having some kind of a sixth-sense about things – an intuition. But as these gifts normally go, they’re not perfect and they don’t often work for myself. I mean, wouldn’t it be great to be able to see – in the moment – that taking a certain job or going to the store to buy milk or dating a certain guy was going to change your life forever?

So, I’ve never been able to see that far, but I do get a sense when something important is happening. I remember on the night I met the guy who later introduced me to my (now ex-) husband I told my friend I was with “We have to stay for a moment, this is an important conversation.” That turned out to be a major fork in my road. (A road I wish I’d been able to see farther down, actually.)

You may have experienced those moments of intuition happening – it’s like a tingly feeling that comes over you but you don’t know why. Maybe hair standing up on the back of your neck – or a shiver on your skin. Psychics say that everyone gets those feelings, we’re just conditioned to tune them out.

Anyway, it’s interesting to pay attention to your nudges and see what happens. But don’t play the if-only game in your mind over things that happened or didn’t happen. That doesn’t really help you. It just makes your brain hurt. Besides, everything happens for a reason – at least that’s what I believe. Because of the forks in the road, you’re who you are today, so you should never look back with regret. Who knows what amazing fortunes lie ahead for you?

And speaking of roads… I am giving away a copy of the excellent novel Night Road by A.M. Jenkins! I loved this new take on vampires – who are on the road training a new recruit.

Heather Davis is the author of Never Cry Werewolf – a Harperteen Hardcover coming out in April! You can read more about her and her work at www.heatherdavisbooks.com.

A Secret by Sara Hantz

2008-10-17T06:23:00.000-07:00

As with Amanda Ashby, I had the pleasure of meeting Sara Hantz this summer at the same conference! And meeting her was like chatting with an friend I've known all along. So I'm just pleased to have her share on Secret Fates about her novel. For AGES 13 and up comment to win one copy of THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN, published by Flux. Winner will be posted October 19th, 2008.

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THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN
BY SARA HANTZ
FLUX, 07

Thanks so much, Kelly, for inviting me to be part of your Secret Fates Extravaganza. Such a fabulous idea.

I thought I’d talk about Suzy Green, from my book The Secret Virginity of Suzy Green, because she has a secret. An accidental secret, really. She didn’t intend to have it… it sort of got thrust upon her.

When she started her new school, intending to be a totally reformed character, the guys she hung around with belonged to a virginity club. So, Suzy joined too. And why not, it could only add to her perfect image. The only problem was that Suzy wasn’t qualified to join. It’s not that she lied about it. No one actually asked her if she was a virgin, they just assumed she was. And she didn’t want to tell them the truth in case it totally screwed her chances of being accepted. And it wasn’t as if having this secret hurt anyone. Although once the guy she lost her virginity to arrived on the scene things got beyond tricky. And in the end, she decided not to keep her secret. She realized that if people don’t like you for who you really are they aren’t worth being friends with.

Sara Hantz started writing when she ran out of degrees to study and decided it was much more fun to make things up than to comment on dry academics. Born in England, she moved to New Zealand a few years ago. The Second Virginity of Suzy Green is Sara's first novel. Visit her website, www.sarahantz.com.

A Secret by Melissa Walker

2008-10-16T05:28:00.000-07:00

Up next we have the absolutely cool Melissa Walker, former ELLEgirl editor and Seventeen Prom editor, and now author of the ultra fab "Violet" series. Melissa is on Secret Fates chatting about something spooky...well, not to her! Read on to find out her secret... For AGES 13 and up comment to win a copy of Melissa's novel VIOLET IN PRIVATE, published by Berkley. Winner will be posted October 19th, 2008.

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VIOLET IN PRIVATE
BY MELISSA WALKER
BERKLEY, 08

Melissa Walker Speaks Gravely

Thanks for hosting me, Kelly! Even though you did ask for a secret confession, which is a little bit dauting.

Here it is: I love graveyards. The one near my apartment in Brooklyn is called Greenwood Cemetery (Tag Line: New York's buried treasure--ha!), and it houses the graves of Leonard Bernstein and "Boss" Tweed, among other NYC notables. Its rolling hills and stories in stone never fail to fascinate me, and I can spend hours there, imagining past lives. I mean, there's this grave here, which has a bear sitting on top of it, and apparently the people aren't even dead yet!

You had to see it to believe it. Isn't that creepy but hilarious? I love it!

Anyway, I think I grew up digging graveyards (oooh, that sounds awful!). My grandparents' house in Connecticut was just across the street from a cemetery that held some of our distant relatives. And the spot where my dad is buried, in Three Churches, WVA (yes, I come from small town stock!) is one of the most peaceful, family filled places I've ever known. I've been going there all my life for funerals and family reunions, and each time I find something new to ponder. (Last time I went, I believe someone was making moonshine in the woods near the back!)

So, there you go. Call me crazy, but it's good to get off my chest--I love a good graveyard stroll.

Bio and Book Giveaway! Melissa Walker is the author of the Violet series. Her latest book, Violet in Private, came out in August. To be entered to win a signed copy, comment on this entry and tell Melissa about your favorite cemetery (or if you're just spooked by them!).

A Secret by Marianne Mancusi

2008-10-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

You might know Marianne Mancusi for her cool Romances, or you might know Marianne for her riveting Sci-fi novels, or maybe her awesome young adult novels as Mari Mancusi or maybe her television job as a producer! What you might not know is Marianne's secret. Find out what it is on Secret Fates...For AGES 16 and up comment to win one copy of the novel RAZOR GIRL, published by Dorchester. Winner will be posted October 19th, 2008.

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RAZOR GIRL
BY MARIANNE MANCUSI
DORCHESTER, 08

I have a secret. I love cheesy horror movies. I love Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers. I love CHUDs and Chucky and Killer Leprechauns in the Hood. I even love the Saw series, though I have to cover my eyes over some of the really graphic scenes. And I especially love zombies. Slow moving, brain eating zombies. From classics by George Romero to comedies like Shawn of the Dead to really, really bad spin-offs like Flight of the Living Dead. (Yes, Zombies on a Plane.) I love them all.

I don’t admit this to many people. They seem to think it’s weird for a girl – a professional Manhattan television producer/romance author at that – to be renting movies about killer clowns, killer snowmen, and killer ice cream cones. (Don’t ask.) But for me, the cheesier the horror, the better. I can’t help it—they’re just so much fun!

Which is why, when asked to do a second SHOMI book for Dorchester, I decided to write Razor Girl, a book that could essentially be filed under Zombie Apocalypse fiction. I created a killer plague. Zombies rose up. The last remnants of the human race are in deep trouble.

It’s an action packed thriller, but I also tried to retain a sort of campiness that so many of the best horror movies have. When writing, I took the horror genre’s conventions and twisted them around to made them my own. And then I wove in a real romance between a boy and a girl who are quite literally some of the last people on Earth. A horror/romance hybrid, if you will. Maybe one of the first.

It was a lot of fun to write and I hope people – both romance and horror fans alike – will enjoy reading it as well. And as for my secret? I guess it’s out there now. Might as well sign off and go hit Netflix. I hear they got in Zombies Gone Wild in. Bound to be a classic!

When it comes to writing, award winning author Marianne Mancusi doesn't like to play by the rules. A multiple Emmy award winning television producer, she sold 11 novels to three publishers (Dorchester, Berkley, Dutton Children's) in less than three years. While best known for her time travel romantic comedies, Marianne also writes a vampire romance series and other books for teens and will have her first speculative fiction romance (Moongazer) out in August. Marianne has worked in television stations around the country, including Orlando, San Diego, and Boston. A graduate of Boston University's College of Communications, she currently produces for a nationally syndicated lifestyle show. She lives in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Visit her website, www.MarianneMancusi.com.

A Secret by Kelly Parra

2008-10-14T06:51:00.000-07:00

It's my turn to share a secret and I thought it fitting to post on the official release day of INVISIBLE TOUCH! Yes, INVISIBLE TOUCH is hitting book shelves today! I'm sharing a blog entry by my character, Kara, to allow you a glimpse into why Secret Fates: The Sign Seer's blog was created...read on to find out why. :) For AGES 13 and up comment to win a copy of my novel INVISIBLE TOUCH, published by MTV Books. Winner will be posted October 19th, 2008.

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INVISIBLE TOUCH
BY KELLY PARRA
MTV BOOKS, 08

SECRET FATES:
The Sign Seer's blog

The first time I saw a sign, I didn’t understand what I was seeing. We all hear stories of people receiving some sort of sign that leads them to a choice. Well, the sign I got was different, and I never had a choice.

I’ve read that everyone has a sixth sense--that flash of intuition when you feel a bad vibe, or when you think about someone an instant before he calls. Not that that will be enough to convince you. I just know how difficult it is to believe in something that everyone else doesn’t. It’s almost as if you have to overcome a fear, to be brave enough to break away from society’s view of normal. I’m not that brave. Not anymore. I don’t allow myself to appear unlike everyone else, even though I am.

Believe it or not, I’m just what the title of my blog is called…a Sign Seer.

Years ago, I tried to convince others what I saw on people were real. The confession backfired so badly, I learned a serious lesson, one that still follows me today like a dark shadow.

The signs started when I was younger. I died--flat lined--for several minutes. After I woke, everything seemed clearer, more in focus. I started seeing strange images in the weirdest places. A picture would appear on someone’s chest area, like a small screen showing me a quick flick.

I have to admit there are bad moments when I wonder if I’m dreaming it all…the signs and visions no one else can see. Believe me, I’ve tried to stop seeing the signs--just ignoring them--but I can’t. The signs are part of me as much as the color of my eyes and hair.

If I follow the signs correctly, they usually lead me to someone in trouble and I try to help. Not always the easiest task for a seventeen-year-old girl, but I do my best to keep my life as uncomplicated as possible by following a series of Life Rules.

Life Rule: Don’t ever be honest to anyone about my ability.

So I thought if I record my experiences here and use this blog as outlet for all my pent up secrets, I can be myself if only cyberly.

Because truthfully, sometimes I don’t even know who I am...

--Sign Seer

Invisible Touch Book Video:

KELLY PARRA is a Mexican-Filipino-Italian writer. Through her teen years, her nationality was many times a guessing game by new acquaintances and today she often writes her multicultural characters with the same experiences. She debuted into young adult fiction with the Latina novel GRAFFITI GIRL, a 2008 RITA finalist and a Latinidad top pick. Her next novel is the YA contemporary paranormal, INVISIBLE TOUCH, now available at book stores.

Kelly currently lives somewhere in between dreamland and her hometown in Central Coast California. When not pulling her hair while writing her current novel, she likes to play with her abundance of websites and feed a serious television addiction. Visit her website, www.KellyParra.com.

A Secret by Alyson Noel

2008-10-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

You want to know how cool Alyson Noel is? I'll tell you. Alyson is so cool, she is sharing a character's secret from her upcoming novel EVERMORE and giving away an advanced reader's copy (still being printed, but once she gets it so will the winner). I read this secret and now I want to win the ARC! This book sounds awesome! For AGES 13 and up comment to win an ARC of the novel EVERMORE, published by St. Martin's Press. Winner will be posted October 19th, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

EVERMORE
BY ALYSON NOEL
ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, 09

I heard this is a safe place to share secrets. And since I’ve been hoarding my own for nearly a year now, I’m looking forward to the chance to unload. I mean, you know how it is with secrets, the really juicy ones are the hardest to keep, especially when they’re your own.

And it’s weird how the one thing I won’t tell you about me, is the only thing everyone else knows for sure—my name. But since this blog is anonymous, and since spilling my secrets requires me to stay that way too, all you need to know about me is that I’m a sixteen-year old girl, originally from Eugene, Oregon, who used to be normal in every way—until a terrible accident claimed the lives of my entire family and I was sent to live with my aunt in Laguna Beach.

Though before you assume it was the move to Orange County that made me a freak, it wasn’t. Because as weird as life can sometimes seem here, I know for a fact it was the dying that did it.

I had what they call an NDE, or “near death experience.” Only they happen to be wrong. Because believe me, there wasn’t anything “near” about it. It’s like, one moment my little sister and I were sitting in the back of my dad’s SUV, with my dog’s tail thumping softly against my leg, and the next thing I knew all the airbags were blown, the car was totaled, and I was observing it all from outside.

I gazed at the wreckage—the shattered glass, the crumbled doors, the front bumper clutching a pine tree in a lethal embrace—hoping and praying everyone had gotten out too. And when I heard a familiar bark, I turned to see them all wandering down a path, with our dog wagging her tail and leading the way.

I went after them. At first trying to run and catch up, but then slowing and choosing to linger. Wanting to wander through that vast fragrant field of pulsating trees and flowers that shivered, closing my eyes against the dazzling mist that reflected and glowed and made everything shimmer.

I promised myself I’d only be a moment. That soon, I’d go back and find them. But when I did finally look, it was just in time to catch a quick glimpse of them smiling and waving and crossing a bridge, mere seconds before they all vanished.

I panicked. I looked everywhere. Running this way and that, but it all looked the same—warm, white, glistening, shimmering, beautiful, stupid, eternal mist. And I fell to the ground, my skin pricked with cold, my whole body twitching, crying, screaming, cursing, begging, making promises I knew I could never ever keep.

And when I heard someone call my name, I stumbled back to the surface. Back to where everything was pain, and misery, and stinging wet hurt on my forehead. And I gazed at the guy leaning over me, looked into his dark eyes, and passed out again.

By the time I woke up, I could see auras, hear thoughts, and get an entire life story by touch—but I knew better than to tell anyone. It would freak people out, so I never let on. I mean, I can only imagine what my aunt would say if I told her I visit with my dead little sister everyday . . .

Unfortunately, there’s more. What I revealed here is merely the tip as things have progressed far beyond that. But I feel so much better now that I’ve unloaded just that little bit I think I’ll stop here. But if you’re curious about reading more, just leave me a comment and a random name will be chosen to receive a hot off the press Advanced Reading Copy of EVERMORE (still a few months away- so your patience is appreciated!)

Thanks for letting me share—
Love,
E

Alyson Noël is the award winning author of the teen novels, FAKING 19; ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS, LAGUNA COVE; KISS & BLOG; SAVING ZOË, FIRST KISS (THEN TELL)-an anthology, CRUEL SUMMER, and the new EVERMORE series coming February 2009. Her books have been featured on the CBS Early Show, awarded the National Reader’s Choice Award, nominated for a Quill award, chosen for the New York Library Association’s Book of Winter 2006 award, the New York Public Library’s prestigious Books for the Teen Age catalog, made numerous top ten lists, have been chosen as a “Favorite Read” for Canada’s largest book retailer. Her debut adult novel, FLY ME TO THE MOON, is being translated into French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.

An Orange County native, Alyson has lived in both Mykonos and Manhattan, and now resides in Laguna Beach, California where she’s working on her next book. You can visit her at: www.alysonnoel.com.

Secret Fates Extravaganza Week Three!

2008-10-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

WELCOME TO WEEK THREE OF THE SECRET FATES EXTRAVAGANZA!
And here we are with our third week of the Secret Fates Extravaganza! Wow, I can't believe it's already the third week of secrets. Really, everyone--authors and visitors--you've all been wonderful. Thank you!!

Just a reminder of how this works:

Through the month of October, I'll be posting an author secret and giveaway every day except for Sundays. You will have the week to post a comment on the author's secret, then on that following Sunday I will announce the winners for the week. Then the next week we start again with a new group of talented authors.

Here is the new line up:

Week 3

Monday, October 13th: Alyson Noel shares about EVERMORE ...

Tuesday, October 14th: Kelly Parra (me!) dishes on INVISIBLE TOUCH

Wednesday, October 15th: Marianne Mancusi offers RAZOR GIRL ...

Thursday, October 16th: Melissa Walker gives away VIOLET IN PRIVATE ...

Friday, October 17th: Sara Hantz offers up THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN...

Saturday, October 18th: Heather Davis shares a secret and gives away NIGHT ROAD by A.M. Jenkins...

Don't forget...

If you help spread the word through the month of October about the Secret Fates Extravaganza (by sharing a link http://secretfates.blogspot.com + the promo video) on your blog, myspace or facebook, and leave a comment on the first Secret Fates post with a link to the blog or post or telling me how you helped, you'll be entered to win a copy of GRAFFITI GIRL and INVISIBLE TOUCH by me, and your pick of one of Secret Fates Extravaganza participating authors' novels. (If you've already read one of my books I'll replace it with one of the author's novels, too. Either way, you win 3 books.) The more you spread the word, the better chances of winning!

Alyson's secret is coming up...

Let the secrets begin... :)

~Kelly :)

Week Two Secret Winners!

2008-10-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

Hello Secret Readers!

Thanks for making Week 2 another awesome week! And thanks so much to Jenny, Anne, Alex, Jana, Jennifer and Stephanie for sharing here on Secret Fates. You guys rocked!

Let's get straight to the winners. (BTW, don't forget to check back to see if you won! I still have two Week One winners who have not contacted me and if I can't find them by the end of October, I'll have to pick new winners. So please check back to see if you've won, thanks!)

Here are the winners for Week Two of Secrets Fates (October 6th - 11th). (Don't worry we still have more books to give away so you have lots of chances to win!)

Winner of LOCAL GIRLS by Jenny O'Connell... xxhappyxxhugsxx

Winner of PALE IMMORTAL and GARDEN OF DARKNESS by Anne Frasier... My Kingdom for a Book

Winner of OBLIVION ROAD by Alex McAulay... Lauren (Shooting Stars Mag)

Winner of UNLUCKY by Jana DeLeon...Crystal Adkins

Winner of THE BOYS NEXT DOOR and MAJOR CRUSH by Jennifer Echols...GreenBeanTeenQueen

Winner of REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN and TWISTED SISTERS by Stephanie Hale... alastaircookie

Congratulations!!

Dear Winners, please email me through my website with "Secret Fates Winner (Book title or author)" in the subject line, and I will forward your email to the author to get your prize to you.

Please return next week for a new group of authors Monday to Saturday (October 13th - 18th) sharing secrets and giveaways!

A Secret by Stephanie Hale

2008-10-11T06:41:00.000-07:00

If you haven't read a Stephanie Hale novel, you're missing out on cool mysteries with laugh out loud moments. Definitely check out the Aspen Brooks series on your next book run. Stephanie was gracious enough to share a meaningful secret about a loved one... For AGES 12 and up comment to win one copy of each of her novels REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN and TWISTED SISTERS. Winner will be posted October 12th.

REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN + TWISTED SISTERS
BERKLEY JAM, 07,08

♦ ♦ ♦

Until 1997, I had never really given much thought as to whether I believed in the afterlife or any type of life after death. Sure, I'd seen Ghost and swooned over how romantic it was that Patrick Swayze loved Demi Moore's character so much that he stayed around to protect her. In the eighties, I'd laughed at Ghostbusters, but was more interested in how adorable I thought Bill Murray was (don't ask!) then wondering if ectoplasm was real.

Then my grandma passed away. It was very sudden. My life was kind of a mess at the time so I can honestly say that I really didn't absorb her passing. I went through the motions of the visitation, funeral, and family gatherings. But I never cried. It wasn't that we weren't close, or that I wasn't going to miss her, because we were and I knew I would. I was her only step-grandchild but she never treated me any different than her blood grandchildren. She was a chunky excitable woman who could talk anybody under the table. And I thought she was the coolest because she always had pop at her house.

I was working a crappy job to pay off a mountain of credit card debts and one night I came home particularly exhausted. I fell into bed and finally started crying. As worried as I was about the debt I had at the time, I knew the tears were for my grandma. I cried myself to sleep.

The next thing I knew my grandma was squeezing my foot to get my attention. I sat up in bed and there she was. Looking just like she always had. She smiled at me and said, "I'm alright." Then she was gone. I don't remember waking up. I just remember looking around my room for her but she was gone. But I wasn't sad because I knew that she really was alright.

Was it a dream manifested by extreme stress and fatigue? Maybe. But I like to think that it was my grandma coming to me when she knew I needed her most.

Stephanie~

Stephanie Hale is the author of Revenge of the Homecoming Queen and Twisted Sisters. She knows that she is such a control freak that if there is any way to come back as a ghost, she would, just to make sure nobody was messing with her stuff. Read more about her and her writing at www.stephaniehale.com.

A Secret by Jennifer Echols

2008-10-10T06:06:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Echols is the author of cool Teen Romantic Comedies and soon she'll be writing the drama side of teen life with MTV Books's 2009 spring title GOING TOO FAR. It sounds rockin' and I can't wait to read it! Today, Jennifer shares her character Lori McGillicuddy's secret from THE BOY NEXT DOOR. It involves a secret crush and a hot best friend... For AGES 13 and up comment to win one copy of each of her Teen Rom Coms THE BOYS NEXT DOOR and MAJOR CRUSH. Winner will be posted October 12th.

THE BOYS NEXT DOOR + MAJOR CRUSH
SIMON & SCHUSTER, 07,06

♦ ♦ ♦

Hi, I’m Lori McGillicuddy, star [pause for glamorous hair toss] of the romantic comedy THE BOYS NEXT DOOR, and my secret is--

You hate your funny last name?

That is not a secret. No, my secret is that I have a crush on the boy next door, Sean.

That’s not a secret either.

Okay, I may have been caught gaping in public at his dazzling body, but I have never actually admitted to anyone that I have a crush on him. And now it is very important that we don’t let this secret get out, because I’m going to catch him by playing hard-to-get.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

You are not helping. Look, I am a tomboy. I have grown up with Sean. I have lurved him from afar since I can remember, and he has never once given me an inkling that he might be romantically interested in me too. Now I am making an enormous effort to transform myself into the kind of girly-girl Sean goes for. I have learned this strange language you call “fashion.” I have bought eye shadow, damn you! And you’re going to make fun of me during this delicate and vulnerable period in a teenage girl’s life? Shame on you.

I’m sorry, it’s just--should your earrings match each other?

Damn! Thanks for letting me know. You could have been a little less catty about it. Should I take them both off or just wear one?

You’re the fashion expert.

Shut up. Anyway, the makeover ploy hasn’t worked so far. Instead of asking me out, Sean stole his younger brother Adam’s girlfriend Rachel! So Adam and I are pretending to date each other to make Rachel and Sean so jealous that they will beg us to take them back.

Isn’t that kind of icky, pretending to date someone you’ve been best friends with your whole life?

No, Adam isn’t icky! Actually he looks a lot like Sean, so he has his own dazzling body, and beautiful light blue eyes, and...mmmm.

Lori.

What.

The real secret is that while you’ve been trying to make Sean jealous, you’ve actually fallen for Ada--OUCH!

Jennifer Echols writes YA novels for Simon & Schuster. THE BOYS NEXT DOOR and MAJOR CRUSH are available now, and GOING TOO FAR and THE EX-GAMES are coming in 2009. Visit her web site at www.jennifer-echols.com.

A Secret by Jana DeLeon

2008-10-09T06:16:00.000-07:00

Next up with have the down to earth, talented, and very humerous writer, Jana DeLeon. Jana's channeling the character of her next release TROUBLE IN MUDBUG, a new romantic/mystery series I'm excited to read! Check out the secret below to get a taste of Maryse Robicheaux. The real deal hits shelves in Feburary 2009! For AGES 18 and up comment to win a copy of Jana's latest release UNLUCKY, published by Dorchester. Winner will be posted October 12th, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

UNLUCKY
BY JANA DELEON
DORCHESTER, 07

Hi, My name is Maryse Robicheaux and I’m a botanist with a small problem – I’m being haunted by my dead mother-in-law. It was bad enough that my husband, Hank, disappeared after thirty days of marriage, leaving me holding the bag with various bookies and loan sharks he owed. And in order to pay off the criminal element, I had to borrow the money from his mother, Helena, who charged me 25% interest. But now, when I was just two payments short of paying her off and finally enjoying my breakfast at Lucy’s Café in absolute peace and quiet, the witch had the nerve to die.

Even worse…she came back.

At first, I thought I was having a nervous breakdown when Helena crawled out of her coffin at her funeral. I mean, I’d been to funerals before and normally they didn’t include the dead person standing in front of the chapel and calling all the attendees a-holes. Unfortunately, I wasn’t breaking down, I wasn’t sleeping, and I hadn’t been doing drugs. Helena is still walking this earth and visible only to me.

I’m a scientist for goodness sakes. I don’t believe in the paranormal and now I’m being haunted. And by the way, did I mention that Helena claims she was murdered and expects me to help find her killer…if they don’t get me first that is.

Jana DeLeon writes humorous mystery/romance hybrids set in southern Louisiana. Like Maryse, she’s never actually seen a ghost, and she’s hoping she doesn’t start with her mother-in-law. You can read all about Maryse’s ghostly murder investigation in TROUBLE IN MUDBUG, the first book in the Ghost-in-Law Mystery/Romance Series, that releases February 2009. Visit her website, www.JanaDeLeon.com.

A Secret by Alex McAulay

2008-10-08T05:54:00.000-07:00

Alex McAulay is very cool to be one of two of the guys sharing secrets this month. :) He is also the author of awesome YA suspense novels published by MTV Books. Today, Alex shares an interesting lifestyle secret. Find out exactly what his writing habits are... For AGES 14 and up comment to win one copy of the novel OBLIVION ROAD, published by MTV Books. Winner will be posted October 12th, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

OBLIVION ROAD
BY ALEX MCAULAY
MTV BOOKS, 07

Okay, so none of my characters have a supernatural secret--at least that I know of--so I thought I'd just write about one of my own secrets. (I'm sure my characters wouldn't like it if I shared any of their secrets, anyway!) So, years ago, I used to wake up pretty early and go to bed at ten or eleven PM, like a normal person. But my secret is that now I have the weirdest schedule/lifestyle of anyone I know: I usually go to bed at six or seven in the morning, after sunrise, and I wake up at two in the afternoon, which is when I eat my breakfast. I'm not exactly sure how I ended up on such a strange, vampiric schedule. I guess it started because I like to write at night, when it's dark, and the phone doesn't ring and I don't get any emails or messages. So my wife Lisa and I usually have dinner around nine or ten, after she gets home from work, and then I start writing around midnight. I write from midnight to four AM on a good day, and then I go for a walk or run on the beach. At four in the morning in Santa Monica, there are definitely some insane people on the beach! I've been chased by drunken maniacs and homeless people, and once by a stray dog that flat out attacked me (that one was pretty scary). But it's also great, because the streets and beach are so dark and empty, and the moonlight makes everything look spooky and cool. Most people don't know exactly how nocturnal I've become, so I tend to keep up a façade of a somewhat normal schedule. But it's a fascinating world after dark, and I don't know if I ever want to switch back to more regular daytime hours! So that's my secret of the day--I wish I had something even cooler and/or more demented to offer, like I'm secretly a Marxist werewolf or I'm the illegitimate love child of Syd Barrett and Angela Lansbury, but I guess I can't give all my secrets away at once…

Alex McAulay is the author of Bad Girls, Lost Summer, Oblivion Road and the upcoming novel Shelter Me, all published by MTV Books. He is also an indie-rock musician who has worked with members of The Velvet Underground and The Pixies, among others. Alex currently lives in Santa Monica, CA with his wife Lisa and their two cats. Visit him online at www.alexmcaulay.com, or send him an email at info@alexmcaulay.com.

A Secret by Anne Frasier

2008-10-07T05:10:00.000-07:00

Whenever I read an Anne Frasier novel, I get chills and I'm always searching the shadows for something spooky. But not only that, Anne has been a good friend for few years now. So I'm honored to have her share a secret that will have you wondering if you follow your instincts or gut feelings... For AGES 18 and up comment to win one copy of each of her connecting supernatural thriller novels PALE IMMORTAL and GARDEN OF DARKNESS. Winner will be posted October 12th.

PALE IMMORTAL + GARDEN OF DARKNESS
NAL, 06,07

♦ ♦ ♦

I see dead people.

Hah! Not really. But I do think I'm psychic. Maybe psychic isn't really the right word. Sensitive? I get these feelings. They're always the same. Kind of a dark, undefined anxiety and dread about a situation or event. It's never anything like seeing myself in a car wreck. It's just an icky feeling. I usually fight it, but when I force myself to make the logical choice, do the logical thing, something bad usually happens. Something totally unpredictable. I always tell myself that next time I must pay attention to the feelings, but once they come around again I convince myself that it's just me being paranoid. But I've noticed that the icky feelings have gotten stronger over the years, and that they are right a large percentage of the time. Almost all of the time. But how can I tell a friend I can't meet her for lunch because I have an icky feeling about driving today? And the downside of acting (or not acting) on a bad feeling is that you never know if you narrowly escaped something. The only proof is to go through with the plans and let the bad things happen.

Anne Frasier's novels have spanned the genres of mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, paranormal, science fiction, and horror. Garden of Darkness continues a dark tale started in Pale Immortal of a spooky Wisconsin town. In Before I Wake, a secret government medical experiment goes wrong. Play Dead plays out amid the voodoo scene in Savannah, Georgia. Sleep Tight, a traditional police procedural, is set in Minneapolis. Publishers Weekly says Frasier "has perfected the art of making a reader's skin crawl." The Minneapolis Star Tribune calls her a "master."

Frasier is a USA Today bestselling author of nineteen novels. Her books have been printed in both hardcover and paperback, translated into twenty languages, and featured in Mystery Guild, Literary Guild, and Book of the Month Club. She won the RITA for romantic suspense, and the Daphne du Maurier for paranormal romance. She was a best hardcover judge for the Thriller presented by International Thriller Writers. This summer she was guest of honor at the Diversicon 16 conference held in Minneapolis. Anne spent twenty years living on a working apple farm, and now divides her time between St. Paul, Minnesota, and a century-old Gothic church in rural Wisconsin. Visit her website, www.annefrasier.com.

A Secret by Jenny O'Connell

2008-10-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

Jenny O'Connell is one of the coolest people I know. She is the talented author of both adult and young adult fiction and has an awesome storytelling voice that makes you want to sit back and enjoy the ride. Here Jenny shares a secret confession that she has in common with her character from LOCAL GIRLS. It has something to do with a peculiar scent... ;) For AGES 13 and up comment to win one copy of the novel LOCAL GIRLS, published by MTV Books. Winner will be posted October 12th, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

LOCAL GIRLS
BY JENNY O'CONNELL
MTV BOOKS, 08

This is something I share with Kendra, the main character in LOCAL GIRLS. I thought it was a great way to begin the story, which is why it's something you find out on the very first page and probably think is totally gross. I love the smell of skunk. It always reminds me of summers in high school, going out at night and smelling that pungent smell. I thought Kendra would love it, too, because summer is such a huge part of life on Martha's Vineyard. As much as I love the smell, and actually inhale instead of holding my nose (just like Kendra), I didn't like it when, in high school, I was actually sprayed by a skunk from about two feet away. I surprised it one night by some garbage cans and before I realized he was there he got me. I stunk. My car stunk from driving home. And the screened in porch stunk when I took my clothes off and left them there after I got home. The next day my mom informed me she thought a skunk died under the porch. I had to tell her, no, it was just me.

Jenny's high school days may be long behind her, but she has a lot in common with Vanessa, the main character in her first book, PLAN B. Like Vanessa, she also went to a small private school. She was also mildly obsessed with college from fifth grade on, thanks to a book she read in which one of the characters went to Dartmouth. But unlike Vanessa, her brother wasn't a TV star. And he didn't drive her crazy. Jenny actually still likes him. As for creating a How To guide for guys, like Emily does in Jenny's second book, THE BOOK OF LUKE, she can't say that she knows enough to write an entire guide, but she did have a blast writing the tips at the beginning of each chapter. And she wishes a guide like this did exist when she was in high school (and college and even after that!). LOCAL GIRLS and RICH BOYS take place on Martha's Vineyard, one of Jenny's favorite places. She hopes the books capture what she loves so much about the island, and that you find them as much fun to read as she found them to write.

Secret Fates Extravaganza Week Two!

2008-10-06T05:59:00.000-07:00

WELCOME TO WEEK TWO OF THE SECRET FATES EXTRAVAGANZA!
And here we are with our second week of the Secret Fates Extravaganza! Isn't this fun? *grin*

Just a reminder of how this works:

Through the month of October, I'll be posting an author secret and giveaway every day except for Sundays. You will have the week to post a comment on the author's secret, then on that following Sunday I will announce the winners for the week. Then the next week we start again with a new group of talented authors.

Here is the new line up:

Week 2

Monday, October 6th: Jenny O'Connell shares about LOCAL GIRLS...

Tuesday, October 7th: Anne Frasier offers PALE IMMORTAL and GARDEN OF DARKNESS...

Wednesday, October 8th: Alex McAulay gives away OBLIVION ROAD...

Thursday, October 9th: Jana DeLeon shares about her next release and offers UNLUCKY...

Friday, October 10th: Jennifer Echols offers up THE BOY NEXT DOOR and MAJOR CRUSH...

Saturday, October 11th: Stephanie Hale has two books up for grabs, REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN and TWISTED SISTERS...

Don't forget...

If you help spread the word through the month of October about the Secret Fates Extravaganza (by sharing a link http://secretfates.blogspot.com + the promo video) on your blog, myspace or facebook, and leave a comment on the first Secret Fates post with a link to the blog or post or telling me how you helped, you'll be entered to win a copy of GRAFFITI GIRL and INVISIBLE TOUCH by me, and your pick of one of Secret Fates Extravaganza participating authors' novels. (If you've already read one of my books I'll replace it with one of the author's novels, too. Either way, you win 3 books.) The more you spread the word, the better chances of winning!

Jenny's secret is coming up...

I'm excited to read more secrets! Hope you are too!

~Kelly :)

Week One Secret Winners!

2008-10-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

Hello Secret Readers!

I think the Secret Fates Extravaganza has gotten off to a great start. Who knew sharing secrets was so much fun? Thanks so much to Laurie, Amanda, Tina, and Erica for sharing those really cool secrets this week. And those of you commenting are really wonderful for saying such nice things and sharing some of your secrets too!

For those of you spreading the word for the 3 book giveaway--Thank you! You are awesome. Don't forget the more you share, the better the chance you have to win. *grin*

Here are the winners for Week One of Secrets Fates (October 1st - 4th). (Don't worry we still have more books to give away so you have lots of chances to win!)

Winner of PROJECT 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz... runforamsterdam

Winner of YOU HAD ME AT HALO by Amanda Ashby... Carrie Harris

Winner of TOP TEN USES FOR AN UNWORN PROM DRESS + HOW TO HOOK A HOTTIE by Tina Ferraro... Book Fanatic 101

Winner of THE POKER DIARIES by Liza Conrad/Erica Orloff... Alexa

Latest Cyber Whisper

2008-10-05T07:02:00.000-07:00

A new cyber whisper by Book Spot on Invisible Touch...

I really enjoyed the way this book pulled everything together. In the same way that Kara figures things out because she pieces things together, things from all over the story were put together to solve the puzzle/end the book. And there was another thing explained as well that made perfect sense, too. This was an example of a book that makes you think back on other parts of the book and say Oh, so that's why that happened that way!

10/10

Thanks so much Book Spot!

Also, I'm excited to say that Amazon is already shipping Invisible Touch early! :)

A Secret by Erica Orloff aka Liza Conrad

2008-10-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

Erica Orloff is a talented, multi-published author for adults and young adults. Her paranormal novels have left me in awe of her vivid imagination, and I'm a follower of her writing blog which always makes me really think about writing and what it means to me. Wait until you read her secret that will have you asking yourself if you really believe... For AGES 12 and up comment to win one copy of the novel THE POKER DIARIES, published by NAL. Winner will be posted October 5th, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

THE POKER DIARIES
BY LIZA CONRAD
NAL, 07

I have a secret.

I’m afraid of the dark.

I’m also not too fond of clowns, cockroaches, rats, confined spaces, and Ferris wheels. But the dark . . . that’s first on my list.

I have another secret . . .

When I was eight, I lived in a house with my parents and my dad traveled. A lot. For weeks and months at a time, to places really, really far away, like Vietnam and Hong Kong and Africa. And that made my house seem scarier—especially in the dark.

One night, terrified of the dark, unable to sleep, I called for my mom for hours, but I am sure she was exhausted with three kids to take care of, so . . . she didn’t hear me. And the dark got scarier and scarier.

Until I saw an angel.

To this day, I picture her clear as a bell, dressed in a white flowing gown, wings, she glowed. I was comforted, and though I was still afraid of the dark, I was absolutely convinced I had a guardian angel.

But my secret gets better.

When I was 22, I had a friend who took me to Spanish Harlem to her psychic. We rode the train to her neighborhood, and waited patiently until he read our cards. The first card he threw down for me, he stopped and said, “You saw an angel when you were eight—a woman in white. An angel with wings. She came to your room.”

I was speechless. I had never told my friend. I had never told anyone. MAJOR spooky—but in a good way. I doubly believed in my guardian angel after that.

So tell me . . . do you believe in guardian angels?

Erica Orloff writers as Liza Conrad for teens, and under her own name for adults. She will have a new release from Red Dress Ink in November.

A Secret by Tina Ferraro

2008-10-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

Next up we have the talented Tina Ferraro, who has been my good friend and awesome critique partner for about 6 years. Today she has her character, Parker Stanhope (from the novel THE ABCs OF KISSING BOYS), sharing a secret... Read on to find out exactly what that is, and for ages 12 and up comment to win a copy of TOP TEN USES FOR AN UNWORN PROM DRESS and a copy of HOW TO HOOK A HOTTIE. Winner will be announced October 5th.

TOP TEN USES FOR AN UNWORN PROM DRESS
+ HOW TO HOOK A HOTTIE
DELACORTE 07, 08

♦ ♦ ♦
If you live in my town of DeGroot, Minnesota, you wouldn't think I had any secrets. Only public humiliations.

You see, the girl's high school soccer coach--for whom I've slaved to please for two years on JV--just posted the Varsity rosters, and all but two of us JV'ers were moved up. My name (Parker Stanhope) was alarmingly missing, as was that of dull-as-dirt Lyric Wolensky's. The coach apologized to Lyric and me, citing player limits, but while Lyric accepted her fate, I gave it my all to try to change the coach's mind.

But nothing doing; Coach wouldn't budge. So here I am, a junior on a JV team. And worse? My best friends--who all got moved up--have gone cold on me, getting "busy" when I call or IM. I try to tell myself that they're just waiting things out until Coach rights her wrong, but deep down, I'm afraid they're waiting for me to give up and go away.

I'm desperate to get my life and my friends back.

So now to my secret. The one that no one knows I have, no one thinks I'm capable of. Regardless of my good-natured shrugs and smiles, I am not taking this lying down. I not only have a detailed plan in mind, but in the works. It involves my older brother, who is pre-law at the local college, his best friend, Luke, who was last year's prom king, and my life savings. And has a decent shot of working--providing between now and the sports fair kissing booth, I can learn everything I can about kissing.

The thing is, I'm less than experienced in the kissing playing field. And I know that practice makes perfect. So right now, it's all about finding the right kind of coach, who can teach me the skills to make sure I "win," while keeping his discreet (and very busy) lips closed. And it seems as if that help just might come in the very unlikely form of the freshman boy across the street.

Anyway, SHUSH, okay? If Coach finds out what I'm up to...well, I can kiss my chances of ever making Varsity goodbye...

Tina Ferraro is the Delacorte author of TOP TEN USES FOR AN UNWORN PROM DRESS, HOW TO HOOK A HOTTIE, and the January 2009 release, THE ABC'S OF KISSING BOYS. While she refuses to talk about her first kisses (do spin-the-bottle kisses even count, anyway?), she'll be happy to dish about her books and lots of other things if you want to visit her at www.tinaferraro.com, or www.yafresh.blogspot.com (where she blogs with Kelly Parra), or www.yawriters.blogspot.com (where she blogs with six other YA authors).

A Secret by Amanda Ashby

2008-10-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Amanda Ashby this summer and she was so fun and nice and full of smiles. And prior to meeting her in person, she was gracious enough to read Invisible Touch and give a lovely quote. It is with my pleasure to have her share a secret on Secret Fates. Wait till you read how Amanda got the idea for her debut novel... For AGES 16 and up comment to win one copy of this novel YOU HAD ME AT HALO, published by NAL. Winner will be posted October 5th, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

YOU HAD ME AT HALO
BY AMANDA ASHBY
NAL, 07

When Kelly first asked me to help celebrate the release of Invisible Touch, I immediately said yes, since I was lucky enough to read this book awhile ago and I love, love, loved it. At first I planned to write about the heroine from the book YOU HAD ME AT HALO. You see Holly has a secret. A secret so big that it stops her from dying properly. A secret that sees her getting kicked out of heaven and sent back to earth in a guy’s body just to avoid having it revealed. Of course then I realized that if you haven’t read the book, then talking about Holly’s secret would somewhat ruin the story. So much for that idea. Then I remembered about how I got the idea for the book in the first place.

It happened just three weeks after my dad died. In fact it was on the day of his funeral. I was helping tidy up the house for when people came back later on and for some reason I was trying to sweep out the wooden floors of the walk-in closet in my father’s bedroom. Except, well, who on earth is going to go into a walk-in closet after a funeral? Exactly. So I turned to leave when I suddenly heard my father’s voice in my head. And it was fair to say he wasn’t happy at my shoddy cleaning attempts.

The fact he was complaining wasn’t really a surprise since he was a renowned clean freak, though it was slightly more disturbing that he was complaining on the day of his funeral. In the end I swept the closest just to keep him happy (and dusted underneath the bookshelf as well, since apparently once you’re a clean freak, you’re always a clean freak). Anyway, despite the sadness of the day, the idea that my dad was watching over the funeral stuck with me and a couple of weeks later, an idea started to form, not of a cleaning-addicted father, but a young girl watching her own funeral and so HALO was born.

Now, none of this is a secret. In fact I’ve got it up on my website for everyone to see, but the truth is that while I sometimes talk about it as if it was a joke, in fact it’s something I hundred percent believe in. My dad was always very supportive and encouraging of my writing and there’s no doubt in my mind that he helped give me the right story to tell. I also believe that he still keeps an eye on me – especially my shoddy cleaning efforts, which haven’t improved on little bit. So that’s my secret, but shhhhh, don’t tell anyone…

Amanda Ashby was born in Australia and studied English and Journalism at the University of Queensland. Since graduation she has worked in sales, marketing and travel before discovering that she was no good at any of them and so decided to turn her attention to writing instead. She is married with two young children and has recently returned from the UK to live in New Zealand. Visit her website, www.AmandaAshby.com

A Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

2008-10-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

You may know this talented author from her popular Blue is For Nightmare series or recently she gave you chills with her latest release PROJECT 17. If there is one thing that frightens me, it's the thought of hauntings and ghosts. *shiver* Laurie Faria Stolarz wrote a novel sure to give readers a frightening and entertaining ride, and shares more about it here on Secret Fates. For AGES 14 and up comment to win one copy of this awesome novel PROJECT 17, published by Hyperion. Winner will be posted October 5th, 2008.

♦ ♦ ♦

PROJECT 17
BY LAURIE FARIA STOLARZ
HYPERION BOOKS, 07

On the surface, they seem so predictable. You think you’ve got them all figured out – the popular guy, the brainiac, the class clown, the Goth…

But, once you scratch the surface you’ll see there’s much more going on.

Because each of them has a secret.

Derik has a secret.

Not the greatest student in school, Derik’s parents expect him to take over the family diner business after graduation.

But he has other plans.

Having heard about a reality TV contest in which the winner gets his documentary shown on national television, Derik scrambles to assemble a cast of participants willing to spend the night in an abandoned mental asylum on the eve of its demolition, while he documents it all on film.

Liza has a secret.

Her parents think she’s staying at a friend’s house tonight. But she’s really spending the night at an abandoned asylum that’s rumored to be haunted.

Chet has a secret.

He doesn’t want to be home tonight, which is why he agrees to participate in Derik’s film project. With an abusive alcoholic father at home and a shiner on his eye as a result, Chet will do anything for a good laugh – even if it nearly gets himself killed.

Mimi has a secret.

She’s always been fascinated by the old abandoned asylum on the hill. She says that fascination stems from old urban legends and rumors of haunting.
But there’s a lot more to it.

She’s drawn to the hospital in a way that none of her other cast mates can rival – in a way that’s sure to change her forever.

Greta has a secret.

Deep down she knows she isn’t the best actress, even though she pretends to be Hollywood’s next Greta Garbo. Trying to steal the limelight in Derik’s documentary in hopes of being discovered, Greta has a moment in the hospital where she crosses over into terrifying territory – where she truly becomes one with her character.

Christine has a secret.

Christine was a former patient at the hospital, and died tragically during her stay. Prior to her death, she hid her favorite doll someplace in the hospital – someplace very secretive.

Tonight, nearly thirty years later, no one’s getting out of the asylum until that doll is found – and until Christine can finally rest at last.

I have a secret.

Even though I write scary stories, I’m the biggest wuss ever. I keep a pillow shielded over my eyes while watching horror flicks. And I won’t even venture a step inside those novelty haunted houses they have around Halloween.

While I was writing Project 17, I became so completely haunted by Danvers State Hospital, the actual abandoned mental institution where the novel is set, that I started having nightmares about it. I’d wake up in the middle of the night unable to fall back asleep.

Growing up, the hospital, which was finally shut down in 1992 due to budget cuts and overcrowding, was rumored to be haunted, and became a notorious hot spot for break-ins and dares. It completely terrified me, but that was nowhere near as terrifying as delving into the research several years later as I was writing the novel – investigating the premises, viewing hours of film footage taken by urban explorers, listening to audio recordings left behind, reading the journals of former patients and workers, studying the patient art, and talking to people who lived and worked there.

For more information about me and my work, including about PROJECT 17 or the forthcoming secrets-filled title, DEADLY LITTLE SECRET, please visit my website: www.lauriestolarz.com.

Also, check out the book trailers below.
DEADLY LITTLE SECRET
PROJECT 17

Secret Fates Extravaganza Begins!

2008-10-01T08:22:00.001-07:00

WELCOME TO THE SECRET FATES EXTRAVAGANZA!
Where 26 authors of various genres will be sharing secrets and giveaways to help me celebrate the release of my latest novel INVISIBLE TOUCH published by MTV Books!

I have to say these authors are super cool to donate their time and books to what I hope will be a fun month. I'm so excited! Thank you, Authors!!!

You may wonder, Why Secret Fates?

My character Kara in INVISIBLE TOUCH has a secret, she sees signs on individuals and pieces the signs together in order to help stop unfortunate fates, and she shares this supernatural secret on an anonymous blog called Secret Fates. So I thought it would be great to create this blog to share author and character secrets!

This is how it'll work. Through the month of October, I will be posting an author secret and giveaway every day except for Sundays. You will have the week to post a comment on the author's secret, then on that following Sunday I will announce the winners for the week. Then the next week we start again with a new group of talented authors.

Sound good?

Here is the schedule for this week:

WEEK 1

Wednesday, October 1st: Laurie Faria Stolarz shares about PROJECT 17...

Thursday, October 2nd: Amanda Ashby dishes on the backstory of YOU HAD ME AT HALO...

Friday, October 3rd: Tina Ferraro dishes on THE ABCs OF KISSING BOYS and offers up two releases...

Saturday, October 4th: Erica Orloff aka Liza Conrad shares a personal experience and offers up THE POKER DIARIES...

SPECIAL NOTE:

If you help spread the word through the month of October about the Secret Fates Extravaganza (by sharing a link http://secretfates.blogspot.com + the promo video) on your blog, myspace or facebook, and leave a comment here with a link to the blog or post or telling me how you helped, you'll be entered to win a copy of GRAFFITI GIRL and INVISIBLE TOUCH by me, and your pick of one of Secret Fates Extravaganza participating authors' novels. (If you've already read one of my books I'll replace it with one of the author's novels, too. Either way, you win 3 books.) The more you spread the word, the better chances of winning!

Okay, we're kicking it off with Laurie Faria Stolarz very soon...

Thanks and happy commenting!!!

~Kelly :)

Pssst!

2008-09-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

The Secret Fates Extravaganza starts tomorrow!

September Contest

2008-09-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

The September contest is now closed. Thanks to those of you who entered! The winner of the Rubik's Cube is...

blueviolet

blueviolet, please contact me with your mailing address and I'll get the cube to you. Next up is the October contest. Don't forget to enter! :)

I will be holding a giveaway contest August, September and October... You can enter once for each contest by simply commenting on each contest post at any time (even now). If you are not a Blogger member simply comment under anonymous with your name. The catch is you have to be sure to return the end of each month to see who the is winner is.

SEPTEMBER SECRET FATES GIVEAWAY

A Rubik's Cube Puzzle

Contest runs from September 4th - September 29th.
Winner will be announced September 30th

Thanks!

Ending with a Sigh

2008-09-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading the final published work of Invisible Touch. Some readers might think, huh? Why would you read your own book? But it's something I do to get the final reaction of the novel in all its pretty packaging, with the pretty cover and book layout. To finally be able to try and see the novel from a reader's POV instead of an author's. And to make sure it was printed just the way it should be.

Yes, there were a few lines I would have added. Yes, a few words I wouldn't have used so much. And I could of done this and that...

See? I still read it from an author's view even when I try not to. Is a writer ever satisfied with her/his story? I'm not so sure.

But one thing I tried to think about is what a reader might come away with after reading Kara's story.

I think I'm satisfied with a friendship that crossed boundaries, a young romantic relationship that blossomed, a family that took the steps to heal, and a girl's final goodbye after dealing with a long-rooted grief.

And there is a mystery. One I hope that leads the reader into a gratifying and surprising ending.

I have to say even though there are aspects of a published novel that writers always war with after the final print, I am proud of Invisible Touch.

And I hope, overall, readers will turn the final page with a satisfied "sigh".

:)

First Copies!

2008-09-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

Yep, first copies of INVISIBLE TOUCH have arrived!!!

I can't believe it is finally here. Ahh, basking in the glow of my vibrant cover. Basking...basking... *snicker*

Because of the change of the release date, some booksellers may be receiving their books early. Some may keep them in back until October 14th, like in the case of Graffiti Girl, some booksellers may put them out earlier.

So we must be on the lookout for INVISIBLE TOUCH from now until October 14th, because you just never know!!

~kelly

Secret Fates Extravaganza

2008-09-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

Don't forget...the Secret Fates Extravaganza is now coming in October...

August Contest

2008-08-31T13:42:00.000-07:00

The August contest is now closed. Thanks to those of you who entered! The winner of the Rubik's Cube Key Chain is...

Margay

Margay, please contact me with your mailing address and I'll get the keychain to you. Next up is the September contest. Don't forget to enter! :)
***
Let the Giveaways begin! I will be holding a giveaway contest August, September and October... You can enter once for each contest by simply commenting on each contest post at any time (even now). If you are not a Blogger member simply comment under anonymous with your name. The catch is you have to be sure to return the end of each month to see who the is winner is.

AUGUST SECRET FATES GIVEAWAY

A Rubik's Cube Key Chain

Contest runs from August 4th - August 30th.
Winner will be announced August 31st.

Thanks!

New Release Date for Invisible Touch

2008-08-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

I am sorry to say the release date has been pushed back for INVISIBLE TOUCH due to a production error.

Please mark your calendars...
The new release date is OCTOBER 14th, 2008!

I am in the process of reorganizing events, including the Secret Fates Extravaganza once each author agrees. I apologize for the news, but believe October might be the perfect month to share some good secrets!

Thanks so much for your time and support,
~Kelly :)

October Contest

2008-08-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

I will be holding a giveaway contest August, September and October... You can enter once for each contest by simply commenting on each contest post at any time (even now). If you are not a Blogger member simply comment under anonymous with your name. The catch is you have to be sure to return the end of each month to see who the is winner is.

OCTOBER SECRET FATES GIVEAWAY

A Rubik's Cube Key Chain + A Rubik's Cube Puzzle + An Autographed copy of Invisible Touch

Contest runs from October 1st - October 30th.
Winner will be announced October 31st

Thanks!

Shared by Just Blinded Book Reviews

2008-07-27T21:05:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon a new INVISIBLE TOUCH review on a cool review blog!

Just Blinded Book Reviews had this to say about TOUCH:

I could not put this book down, I carried it with me everywhere hoping to get a spare second so I could open it up and continue reading it. You know when you've just read [a] good book because the author has this way of making you feel every emotion that the character in the [book] felt--frustration, love, anger, confusion--and this was one of those books. With twists and turns at every corner the ending of this book will leave you stunned.

Yes, authors do thrive on positive opinions on their books. It makes us smile, and sometimes do a little dance. It says someone is saying that all the long months and months of hard work are appreciated by a reader. Even if it's one happy opinion among 100 bad ones, positive reviews are just that cool. :)

So thank you, Just Blinded Book Reviews!

ARC Winners!!

2008-07-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

Wow, thanks so much to everyone for entering my Invisible Touch ARC contest!! It was so awesome to read all those wonderful secrets!

And really, really, tough to choose!

So the winners are...

Melody/Is Me, Is Penguin

Breanna

I hope you enjoy the book, please email me your mailing address asap so I can get the books out before I leave for conference next week.

I just want to remind you to come back in September for the Secret Fates Extravaganza! All those cool authors listed in the right column will be sharing a secret (or one of their characters) and giving away a book on the day they post. So come back September 1st for the fun!!

Invisible Touch ARC Giveaway!

2008-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

That's right I have 2 advanced reader copies of Invisible Touch. Now, my arcs do not have the cover on them, and there are definitely typos. *wince* So if that doesn't bother you, I'd love for you to read one.

Here's the blurb for Invisible Touch...

Do you believe in fate?

Kara Martinez has been trying to be "normal" ever since the accident that took her father's life when she was eleven years old. She's buried the caliente side of her Mexican heritage with her father and tried to be the girl her rigid mother wants her to be--compliant and dressed in pink, and certainly not acting out like her older brother Jason. Not even Danielle, her best friend at Valdez High, has seen the real Kara; only those who read her anonymous blog know the deepest secrets of the sign seer.

Because Kara has a gift--one that often feels like a curse. She sees signs, visions that are clues to a person's fate, if she can put together the pieces of the puzzle in time. So far, she's been able to solve the clues and avert disaster for those she's been warned about--until she sees the flash of a gun on a fellow classmate, and the stakes are raised higher than ever before. Kara does her best to follow the signs, but it's her heart that wanders into new territory when she falls for a mysterious guy from the wrong side of town, taking her closer to answers she may not be able to handle. Will her forbidden romance help her solve the deadly puzzle before it's too late...or lead her even further into danger?

You can read an excerpt here...

Here are a few generous early raves...

If you are interested, Kara Martinez has a secret in Invisible Touch...tell me one of yours! Funny, embarrassing, or just down right odd. I'll go first, I'm the biggest procrastinator. Wait, that's not much of secret. I confess that all the time. Hmm...

My name is Kelly and I'm a french fry connoisseur. Love them all. Mickey D's, Wendy's, The B King's. I'd probably eat them all the time if I let myself.

haha, I know not much of a secret, and yours doesn't have to be either. Let's just have fun!

Contest will run through the week:

Monday, July 21st - Friday, July 25th.
Winner will be announced Saturday, July 26th.

Thanks for playing and let's share some secrets!

~kelly

From TeensReadToo

2008-07-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

The latest cyber whisper for INVISIBLE TOUCH:

TeensReadToo:
5 Gold Stars - Gold Star Award for Excellence!!

INVISIBLE TOUCH is a unique storyline full of bi-cultural characters that are all well-rounded individuals. This book will
have readers flipping the pages as fast as they can to find out the next step in the puzzle, as well as the search to find out
more about Kara.

This book shows that when you're always looking to the future, you often forget to deal with the past.

An amazing, touching novel that deals with big issues in an original context.

~Lauren, reviewer for TeensReadToo and ShootingStarsMagazine.

Thanks so much, Lauren and TeensReadToo!! :) :)

Invisible Touch Book Video

2008-07-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

First Cyber Whisper

2008-06-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

First reviews are always special because you're not really sure what readers will think of a new story, so this one made me smile and also sigh a little in relief.

From Book Chic on Invisible Touch:

Parra's second effort does not follow the usual road of the sophomore slump and, in fact, may be even better than her debut novel, Graffiti Girl. Her usual raw style of storytelling is still here, and the slight paranormal element adds on this great new layer to it. Parra shows a side of teen lit that, to me at least, is hardly ever explored; I haven't seen much Latino/Latina novels in the teen section and certainly none that describe it all so well. Kara's voice and situation is so compelling, and the mystery behind the signs will propel any reader through the novel, wanting to figure out how it will end. And the ending is completely riveting, and a total shock-- this is a simply fantastic book, and one that everyone should check out. Parra also does a great job with the distance in Kara's family, and in particular, a scene near the end of Chapter 28 that really spoke to me. Amazing writing, and definitely an author that everyone should keep an eye out for.

Thank you, BC! :)

Avatars

2008-06-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

My sharewares for INVISIBLE TOUCH... (more to come!)

AVATARS

100x100

You can download these avatars for your myspace page, on-line forums, or journals, by right clicking and saving to your desktop, and uploading to other websites. If you're a mac user, click control and your mouse on the avatar and save to your desktop.

Kara & The Beginning

2008-06-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

Invisible Touch was one of those tough stories to write. Not that any are easy! :) It's just that I dove into Kara's story without thinking how hard it would be to express so much grief, and having her live with deep seeded fears.

Kara is seventeen, and she's at the brink of adulthood, something her mother seems to do everything to detour. Kara has lived through a tragic accident that overshadows her life. It's like living with a secret that both fascinates and scares her. She sees visions on individuals that may be in danger, the only problem is the signs are cryptic and she must piece them together to figure out the mystery before an unfortunate fate occurs. It's stressful and frightening, and she doesn't think she's brave enough to take them on.

To hold all these secrets in began to be too difficult for her, so she created an anonymous blog to share her deepest secret...she calls herself Sign Seerer. The blog lets her breathe, lets her share her worries and fears.

And this is where her story begins...

The Story

2008-06-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

INVISIBLE TOUCH
September 16th, 2008

Do you believe in fate?
Kara Martinez has been trying to be "normal" ever since the accident that took her father's life when she was eleven years old. She's buried the caliente side of her Mexican heritage with her father and tried to be the girl her rigid mother wants her to be--compliant and dressed in pink, and certainly not acting out like her older brother Jason. Not even Danielle, her best friend at Valdez High, has seen the real Kara; only those who read her anonymous blog know the deepest secrets of the sign seer.

Because Kara has a gift--one that often feels like a curse. She sees signs, visions that are clues to a person's fate, if she can put together the pieces of the puzzle in time. So far, she's been able to solve the clues and avert disaster for those she's been warned about--until she sees the flash of a gun on a fellow classmate, and the stakes are raised higher than ever before. Kara does her best to follow the signs, but it's her heart that wanders into new territory when she falls for a mysterious guy from the wrong side of town, taking her closer to answers she may not be able to handle. Will her forbidden romance help her solve the deadly puzzle before it's too late...or lead her even further into danger?

The Author

2008-06-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

KELLY PARRA is a Mexican-Filipino-Italian writer. Through her teen years, her nationality was many times a guessing game by new acquaintances and today she often writes her multicultural characters with the same experiences. She debuted into young adult fiction with the Latina novel GRAFFITI GIRL, a Latinidad top pick in 2007. Her next novel is the YA contemporary paranormal, INVISIBLE TOUCH, and will be released in the fall of 2008.

Kelly currently lives somewhere in between dreamland and her hometown in Central Coast California. When not pulling her hair while writing her current novel, she likes to play with her abundance of websites and feed a serious television addiction.

Visit her website, www.KellyParra.com.