Congratulations to the winners of the Spring 2017 YA Scavenger Hunt! We hope you had a great time discovering new authors and exploring exclusive content. Thank you for joining us whether it was your first hunt or you’ve been with us from the beginning. This hunt truly is for you!
The Winner for the PINK team was April Rope, and the winner for my personal giveaway was Hannah Mac.
To see all the winners from every team and author giveaway, click here.
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are eight contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the PINK TEAM–but there is also a red team, an orange team, a gold team, a green team, a teal team, a blue team, a purple team, and a blue team for a chance to win a whole different set of books!
If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.
When sixteen-year-old Jill Whitaker’s mom walks out-with a sticky note as a goodbye-only Jill knows the real reason she’s gone. But how can she tell her father? Jill can hardly believe the truth herself.
Suddenly, the girl who likes to fix things-cars, relationships, romances, people-is all broken up. It used to be, her best friend, tall, blond and hot flirt Sean Addison, could make her smile in seconds. But not anymore. They don’t even talk.
With nothing making sense, Jill tries to pick up the pieces of her life. But when a new guy moves in next door, intense, seriously cute, but with scars-on the inside and out-that he thinks don’t show, Jill finds herself trying to make things better for Daniel. But over one long, hot Arizona summer, she realizes she can’t fix anyone’s life until she fixes her own. And she knows just where to start…
For all of you who love finding new reads, I have just the thing for you. The YA Scavenger Hunt is coming. If you’ve never heard of it, the hunt runs twice a year in the spring and in the fall. During the hunt we showcase new and upcoming YA releases, give out tons of prizes, and release special bonus material. Sound interesting?
This spring we will have one hundred authors split into five teams of twenty. Each team is assigned a color. The blog hop begins April 4th and runs through Sunday, April 9th. It’s easy to play. All you have to do is either start on my blog or head directly over to the YASH website. There you’ll find a list of all the authors participating as well as an answer sheet you can print off to gather the info you’re hunting for and to keep track of any bonus contests you may have entered.
Are you ready to see all the books featured this season? Here they are! You can also see them on this handy goodreads list.
Which teams are you most excited about? Are you #TeamBlue? #TeamPurple? Let us know in the comments.
In honor of the first day of Spring (and Persephone’s birthday), I’m giving away a signed copy of Persephone. Simply comment below with your favorite thing about springtime for a chance to win. The winner will be chosen at random tomorrow at noon.
Aphrodite is on sale from now through December 31st!
“Aphrodite is such a complex character, and in Kaitlin’s capable hands, I feel like every major character was well developed; the pacing was fast and tight, there were no cliche’s, and the intricate plot threads kept me turning the pages well into the nights. Well done, well done!”
Tonnye Conner
It’s not easy being perfect…
But Aphrodite is determined to prove that she’s more than just a pretty face. When she’s asked to investigate strange events occurring on cruise ships, she’s all over it. Little does she guess just how much this mission is going to cost her.
The problem—demigods are mysteriously disappearing. Prepared to investigate, Aphrodite manages to charm herself into the best room on the ship. Unfortunately, the room is already taken. It belongs to the one demigod immune to her charm: Adonis.
Aphrodite doesn’t know what to make of Adonis. He obviously disapproves of her…yet he saved her life. And he’s hot! Then again, Aphrodite is still reeling from a disastrous—yet incredible—fling with Ares. Gods, these men are going to be the death of her.
But then Aphrodite realizes that Adonis could be the next target, and her investigation becomes personal. Only the more she uncovers, the clearer it becomes that she’s in over her head. Confronted with a strange and powerful new opponent, Aphrodite realizes she might not be as immortal as she thought.
And Adonis may not be the one who needs saving….
View On: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads
Come join me tonight at a book signing at the Athens Barnes and Noble!
Kaitlin Bevis returns with the fifth book in her ‘Daughters of Zeus’ teen fantasy series. In the second part of the Aphrodite series, familiar gods and goddesses (Pandora, Ares, Medea) match wits and battle away for power and love. The ideal next step for readers who’ve outgrown Rick Riordan but can’t get enough of those crazy Olympians.
For those of you who can’t make it to my Love and War signing, enjoy a sale on Aphrodite! Aphrodite is .99 cents starting today!
Have you ever wanted to hear what Melissa was up to while Persephone was hiding out in the Underworld? Now is your chance! Check out That Moment When… a young adult anthology featuring forty stories from a ton of fantastic authors, myself included.
That Moment When is an anthology of young adult writing featuring some of today’s hottest new talent in young adult fiction. Find your next favorite author as you read through 40 thrilling short stories.
Get it on Kindle / Get it on iBooks / Get it on Kobo
Love YA paranormal, urban fantasy, science fiction and dystopian books?
We’ve gathered a handful of thrilling stories from all of your favorite genres and put them together into an epic anthology of young adult fiction. Some of them are just the beginning of a unique adventure, while others are complete stories that will spark your imagination.
With over 200,000 words (about three full-length novels) That Moment When will provide weeks of reading pleasure.
OUR THEME
Have you ever reached a moment in your life when everything changed? A crossroads of sorts. A point of no return. An event or realization so enormous you knew it would impact you forever in ways you couldnít begin to understand? Discoveries so momentous they changed everything you thought you knew about the world, and yourself?
That Moment When is filled with exactly these kinds of moments.
If you read the stories in this anthology, I guarantee you’ll find at least a few that thrill and excite you. Make sure to follow the authors if you want to read more – most of us have at least one free book on our sites.
PARANORMAL & URBAN FANTASY
SCIENCE FICTION
DYSTOPIAN & POST-APOCALYPTIC
FANTASY
THRILLER & HORROR
AND MORE (UNIQUELY SPECULATIVE FICTION)†
Get it on Kindle / Get it on iBooks / Get it on Kobo
The Alliance of YA Authors is a community of over 1000 young adult writers. Many of us are award-winning, bestselling authors; others are brilliant debut authors just starting out. We team up to make it easier for you to find your new favorite reads, with book giveaways, contests and joint book promotions.
That Moment When is an anthology of young adult writing featuring some of today’s hottest new talent in young adult fiction. Find your next favorite author as you read through 40 thrilling short stories.
Avid Bookshop will be hosting an author signing extravaganza on Thursday, December 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Participating authors include Valerie Frey, Mandi Mathis, Larry Dendy, Kaitlin Bevis, Melia Keeton-Digby with more to come!
Come accomplish much of your holiday shopping at Avid! Get a book signed by some of your favorite local authors and peruse our selection of books and gifts that are sure to please this holiday season.
Make sure you also stop by the annual holiday market at Big City Bread Cafe! Peruse the many great wares by local artists, where you’ll undoubtedly find unique Athens gifts to give your loved ones.
For more information, go to Avid’s website or facebook page.
The winners for the New Adult Scavenger Hunt will go live today! Check them out here. Several authors also hosted giveaways on their own blogs, so be sure to visit them again so you don’t miss out on any great prizes. The winner for my giveaway was Carie.
Thank you all so much for participating!
Welcome to New Adult Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was inspired as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 96 hours!
Go to the New Adult Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are TWO contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the TEAM Orange but there is also a TEAM Green and TEAM Purple for a chance to win a whole different set of books!
If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the New Adult Scavenger Hunt page.
Jen McConnel is an award winning author. She writes Young Adult and New Adult fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. When she isn’t writing, she can be found on her yoga mat, teaching, or wandering off on another adventure. She grew up in mid-Michigan, attending Western Michigan University, and now lives with her family in North Carolina. She holds a MS in Library Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, and she is currently working on her MA in Children’s Literature at Hollins University.
Want to learn more about Jen? Visit her website today!
Some curses aren’t meant to be broken…
When Riley moved to London to get her graduate degree, she never thought of herself as dangerous. But when a guy she loves drops dead, Riley starts to believe in the family curse. Her eccentric grandmother insists that it’s up to Riley to break the centuries-old curse that has plagued the family, but all Riley has to go on are Gran’s cryptic remarks and a little bit of mostly awful luck.
Her luck changes for the better when she meets Tom, a scholar with a treasure-hunting hobby who knows more about Riley’s curse than either of them realize. Despite the risks, Riley is drawn to Tom, but her curse prevents her from acting on the growing attraction. Will their combined love of esoteric history be enough to break the curse, or will Riley remain deadly to anyone who falls for her?
READY FOR A SNEAK PEEK AT CURSE OF GOLD?
Riley held her breath and counted to three.
When she opened her eyes, the wood-paneled hallway had stopped spinning, but her stomach was still rioting. She took another deep breath and sank down onto the strategically placed bench outside her advisor’s office. Dropping her head between her knees, Riley focused on remaining conscious. Bottle red hair brushed her face, but she didn’t bother to push it away. Riley knew what it felt like to hyperventilate, and she was dangerously close to it. She wasn’t sure any student had ever passed out while waiting to meet with her advisor, and Riley didn’t plan on going down in King’s College history as the flighty American who couldn’t handle the pressure of defending her thesis. She smiled grimly at the thought. I’ve already made enough college history.
Getting a grip on her rebellious stomach, Riley slowly stood up. She crossed the wide hallway and raised her hand to knock on Dr. Fullingham’s door. Get it together. Gritting her teeth, she forced a smile and rapped lightly on the heavy oak door.
Maybe she won’t be here. Riley crossed her fingers, but her heart sank when a rich voice called, “Enter!”
Stepping into Dr. Fullingham’s office had always reminded Riley of wandering through the wardrobe into Narnia. It was worlds away from the austere halls of King’s College, and as different as night and day from the other faculty offices. Dr. Fullingham collected oddities, and she proudly displayed her bizarre treasures on every free surface of the office. The African fertility sculpture beside the door had jabbed Riley the first time she set foot in the office, but after three years, she had learned to feint slightly to the left to avoid the ebony phallus. She kept her eyes up, but that didn’t mean she was able to avoid all of the strange odds and ends in her advisor’s office. Where had she snagged the gold reliquary? And is that skull on the bookshelf real?
Dr. Fullingham was standing on her desk chair, one foot perched precariously on the glass top of her desk. Riley had a sudden vision of the glass shattering and her instructor disappearing in a haze of crystal shards, but she shook her head. It wasn’t a good idea for her to fantasize like that, even for a moment.
“This cursed Clematis just won’t behave. Hand me that stake, will you?” She gestured with the tip of her brown suede boot, and Riley spotted a slender wooden garden stake buried under a stack of papers on the desk.
“Here,” she offered, passing the wicked looking spike to her advisor.
“That’ll do.” Dr. Fullingham stabbed the stake not into the potting soil as Riley had expected, but into the flimsy ceiling tile. She looked like an errant vampire hunter, and Riley tried not to smile at the thought. White dust rained down on them as Dr. Fullingham wrapped the unwieldy vine around quivering wood.
Riley brushed her eyes and took a hesitant seat in front of the desk as Dr. Fullingham hopped down.
“All right, what did you need to see me about?”
Riley swallowed, pressing her sticky palms against her thighs. Her stomach turned once but then was still. “My dissertation date.”
“That’s all settled. You’ll defend to the committee in a week.”
“I was hoping we could postpone it.”
Dr. Fullingham gave her a sharp look, and Riley leaned back in her chair. “You’ve already postponed it. Twice.”
“I know, but I’d just like a little more time.”
“Riley, most of our students finish in a year.” She held up her hand to forestall any protests. “Even the part-timers like you manage to complete the program in two years. You’ve been here for three.”
Riley’s mouth went dry. “It’s just that–” she trailed off, glancing around the room for some excuse. Her eyes landed on the reliquary that sat on the windowsill, and she shivered. Which piece of which unlucky martyr was hanging out inside?
“Stop making excuses. I know you’ve had a hard time of it, but it’s time to buck up, girl. Life goes on.”
Not for me it doesn’t. Riley dropped her gaze to her ragged fingernails. “I’m sorry.”
Dr. Fullingham sighed. “I’m sorry, too. You can’t change your defense date again. Either you’re prepared to show us what you’ve got on September 1st, or you need to think about pursuing another field.”
Riley’s eyes shot up and locked on her advisor’s steady gray gaze. “I can’t do that. I’ve put everything into this degree!”
“And you’ve got some good ideas. I’m looking forward to your defense next week.” She shuffled some papers on her desk, skimming for something. “Did you ever confirm your translations with Doctor Malcom?”
Riley shook her head. “I’ve tried, but–”
Her advisor cut her off. “No buts about it, Ms. Belmont. He’s the undisputed expert on the Woman’s Book of Hours, and I expect you to get in touch with him before your defense.”
Riley wanted to tell Dr. Fullingham that she’d tried to reach the illusive Dr. Malcom for months. Instead, she forced a smile. “Yes, m’am.”
“Good. If you don’t have any other issues, I’ll see you in a week.”
The conversation was obviously closed. Unsteadily, Riley got to her feet. “Thank you, I guess.”
Dr. Fullingham waved her hand. “Not at all. Just be prepared. I know you’ll do fine.” She turned her attention to the brass statue of an elephant on her desk, petting it and polishing it with her sleeve.
Back in the dark hallway once more, Riley fought back the urge to burst into tears. It was worth a shot. Dragging her feet, she began the walk down the long, marble-tiled corridor. Not for the first time, she wondered if the builders of King’s College had been trying to construct a structure that would make the students feel completely inferior. If they were, it worked, at least on her. Every day that she’d been a student here she’d felt unworthy. Light spilled in the frosted windows as she turned down the stairs, and as she reached the ground floor, her hand flicked out unconsciously to brush the statue of Sappho as she passed. Riley didn’t write poetry, but for some reason, the erotic writer’s marble presence always comforted her. If she could beat the odds, maybe I can, too.
As she headed out into the watery sunlight, Riley stopped to take in the view. Even after three years, the expanse of the Thames that stretched in front of the college always surprised her. She hated the river now, but when she’d first come to London, she’d adored it. Across the river, the gaudy London Eye winked at her, and Riley smiled unconsciously, remembering her tourist-driven glee when she’d seen the ugly Ferris wheel for the first time. If she looked to her right, the familiar sight of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament would greet her, but Riley didn’t look in that direction today. Instead, she turned left, heading for the Temple tube stop. She supposed that she could have spent some time wandering through the streets to clear her head, but she didn’t really see the point.
I don’t need a clear head. I need a miracle. As she walked, she thought about her upcoming dissertation. She’d been ready to defend her thesis for months now; it wasn’t laziness that prompted her to request an extension. She wasn’t worried about her material. Her research was sound, and Dr. Fullingham had often told her that she had an interesting take on the intertwining of gender bias and religious tracts in the Middle Ages. It wasn’t even the strange silence from Dr. Malcom that was slowing her down; Riley felt like her translation was good enough to stand, with or without his approval. No, it wasn’t a lack of confidence in her research that had made Riley try to postpone her dissertation again.
It was him.
Everything she’d done since she came to King’s College three years ago was overshadowed by what had happened to him. The faculty might be too polite to say anything to her face, but Riley knew they talked about it all the time. A tragic accident. So bizarre. And did you know she was the last person to see him alive? Eyes followed her all the time on campus, and Riley couldn’t bear the thought of being up on display while she defended her work. It would only be a small panel of faculty, but still, she knew that they mourned his death as much as she did, and she was sure that at least one of the members of her committee blamed her for what had happened.
It didn’t help that she thought they were right.
I hope you enjoyed the exclusive look into Curse of Gold!
I love free content, don’t you? Before moving on to the next blog, take a moment to tell me about your favorite Greek myth in the comments below. You’ll be entered to win an e-copy of any one of my published books. (Yes, that includes my latest release, LOVE AND WAR). And sign up for my newsletter for a free audiocopy of DAUGHTER OF EARTH AND SKY (Book 2 of the PERSEPHONE trilogy. I normally give away PERSEPHONE with newsletter sign up, but since it’s on sale for .99 cents at the moment, I’d rather give away the higher priced book.
Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on TEAM ORANGE and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, Sharon M. Johnston!
Good luck!
