Today!

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Tara Dairman

…is my farewell post over at Emu’s Debuts. My time as a debut author is drawing to a close, so it’s time for me to move out and make room for some new hatchlings. What an extraordinary run it’s been. My farewell includes links back to some of my favorite posts over the last two years.

…is my middle-grade panel at The Voracious Reader in Larchmont, NY! (6:30 pm) Hope to see you tonight for some tricks, treats, truth, and dares.

…is the day that I belatedly reveal that Abbey is the winner of Vivian Divine is Dead by Lauren Sabel! Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway of this terrific YA thriller.

…is your last day to enter to win a signed ARC of The Stars of Summer OR a signed hardcover of All Four Stars. I will draw and announce a winner tomorrow. (Enter by leaving a comment, and earn extra entries by Tweeting and/or subscribing to my e-newsletter and saying so in the comment.)Happy Monday!

Interview with Colorado author Lauren Sabel (and giveaway of VIVIAN DIVINE IS DEAD)!

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Tara Dairman

Welcome back to the Colorado is for Writers interview series! Every other Tuesday, I talk to different Colorado-based authors about their work and their connections to this beautiful state. Today, I am so thrilled to have my very good friend and critique partner Lauren Sabel on the blog, and to be giving away a copy of her book!

photo credit: www.oliviaedwardsphotography.com

photo credit: http://www.oliviaedwardsphotography.com

Lauren’s debut young adult novel, Vivian Divine is Dead, is a thriller set in Hollywood and Mexico, and it’s received terrific reviews. As School Library Journal says, “The writing shines in the scenes of a richly described Día de los Muertos celebration, and Vivian’s journey through rural Mexico will keep readers in suspense as the heroine faces danger at every turn.”

I love this book and couldn’t agree more. Let’s get to know Lauren and find out what’s coming next from her!

First things first: Colorado native or transplant?

Native.

Tell us a bit about your book(s), published and/or in progress!

Vivian Divine is Dead was published by Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins in June 2014. It’s about a young movie star who receives a death threat and has to flee to Mexico to save her life. Of course, when she’s in Mexico, she finds out all sorts of things about herself and her dead mother that she never imagined.

My second book is titled Out of My Mind. It’s about a teenage psychic who works undercover for the government. It will come out in late 2015, also with Katherine Tegen Books.

[Tara’s note: I’ve been lucky enough to beta-read Out of My Mind. It. Is. Amazing!]

What’s the view like from your favorite writing space?

This is the inside of my head.

What’s the best thing about being a writer in Colorado?

I love Colorado. I love everything about it: the friendly people, the blue skies, the amazing mountains, the crisp change of seasons, the blankets of snow and cozy fireplaces, the smell of the air in the fall, the sound of aspen leaves tinkling in the wind, the feeling of standing on a mountain and seeing forever and still looking inside of yourself.

Ah, yes, the aspens. There is nothing quite like them! Thank you for joining us today, Lauren.

GIVEAWAY ALERT! You can enter to win a hardcover copy of Vivian Divine is Dead by leaving a comment on this post! You can also earn up to FOUR extra entries by posting about this giveaway on Twitter and/or Facebook and by following Lauren in those places. (Please mention or link your follows and extra posts in your comment to get credit for them.)

Follow Lauren on Twitter at @laurensabel.

Like Lauren on Facebook.

Sample Tweet:
Win a copy of @laurensabel‘s VIVIAN DIVINE IS DEAD at @TaraDairman‘s blog! http://wp.me/p1VIEB-La #YA #giveaway #ColoradoIsForWriters

Sample FB status:
Win a copy of Lauren Sabel’s young adult debut VIVIAN DIVINE IS DEAD at Tara Dairman‘s blog! http://wp.me/p1VIEB-La #YA #giveaway #ColoradoIsForWriters

I‘ll announce a winner this Friday, 10/10. Good luck!

Awesome YA debuts out today!

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Tara Dairman

Well, friends, my incredible critique partner Lauren Sabel has her debut YA novel, Vivian Divine is Dead, coming out TODAY from Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins! Set in Hollywood and Mexico, this book follows teen starlet Vivian Divine as she goes on the run from the people who killed her mother. It’s twisty, turny, action-packed, and beautifully written–just about everything you could want in a summer book.

And you don’t have to take my word for it–Kirkus gave it a rave review!

(Though if you do want to take my word for it, here’s my own review from GoodReads.)

Vivian Divine Is Dead by Lauren Sabel My rating: 5 of 5 stars This novel is so impressive in so many ways that it’s hard to know where to start writing about it. I could comment on the beautiful descriptive language that the author uses to evoke both Hollywood and rural Mexico. I could talk about the dark threats that hover over Vivian from the first page, keeping the tension thick chapter after chapter. Or I could focus on Vivian herself, and her journey from spoiled starlet to determined, responsible young woman. Put all of these elements together, though, and you have one of the most evocative and original YA debuts I’ve read in quite a while. Clear some space in your schedule before reading this one; you won’t be able to put it down.

View all my reviews

Also out today are The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu (small-town rumors in Texas), Essence by Lisa Ann O’Kane (adrenaline junkies in Yosemite), and The Girl Who Never Was by Skylar Dorset (a secret faerie world in Boston), all of which I’ve had the pleasure of reading in full or in part before their releases. Really, you can’t go wrong with any of these books. Happy book birthday to all!