“Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you're wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn't love you anymore.” 
 ― Lady Gaga

Something Strange and Deadly Winner

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the July Must Read Contest. The winner of Something Strange and Deadly is

Kayla Beck

Congrats to Kayla. Everyone else should grab a copy of the book at their local bookstore--it's out today, and it's awesome.

“Hope is the thing with feathers 
 That perches in the soul 
 And sings the tune without the words 
 And never stops at all.” 
 ― Emily Dickinson

Tonight!

I'm heading to see The Dark Knight Rises at midnight in Times Square. (Seems oddly appropriate, doesn't it?) Can't wait!

“Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.” 
 ― Marilyn Monroe

“Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold.” 
 ― Zelda Fitzgerald

July Must Read Giveaway

I'm insanely excited for all the awesome books coming out in 2012, and I decided what better way to celebrate than to pick the book I'm most excited for each month and give it away.

My July 2012 pick is Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard. I heard about Susan's book probably a year ago and have been dying to read it ever since. Steampunk and Zombies in historical Philadelphia--how could that not be amazing?

There’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

So to win, just fill out the form below between now and midnight on July 20th (EST)!

“Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.” 
 ― Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]

BY E. E. CUMMINGS

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

                                                      i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

On BEA

Last week I was a little MIA. I was still recovering from BEA and the Dark Days tour which were back to back awesome and exhausting.

Some of my BEA highlights:

I spent three days at the Javitz Center surrounded by books and people who love them.

I got to walk home with a lot of books that sounded absolutely amazing, including these Buzz titles. 

And these YA Buzz titles

And I came home with these super cool books which should be buzz titles

I saw a book tower of Altered by Jennifer Rush which I am so excited to read

And I met this wonderful dog and got the book written about him.

I also did a panel, hung out with some really awesome authors, met Melissa Marr, got a copy of Carnival of Souls, and then signed some books before I left for Dark Days.

Now I'm already excited about next year!