Authors Are Rockstars Tour: KIM HARRINGTON Interview + Giveaway!

Today I am super excited to be participating in the second annual Authors Are Rockstars tour!  Not only that, but I get to feature one of my favorite authors, Kim Harrington!!

Kim is a ROCKSTAR

Kim Harrington, now on her fourth book for Young Adults, is one of those writers that I truly admire.  Her stories and characters draw you in, take them with you on an enthralling, sometimes creepy journey, and stick with you long after you turn the last page.  But what makes her books stand out to me is something that is surprisingly hard to come by in the YA world these days. Her books speak to all ages, the whole range of the young adult genre, and are even fun to read for adults like me!  Her stories are still sophisticated and are generous with the spine-tingling  moments, but you never have to worry as a parent or a teacher or a librarian about handing over one of her books to even the youngest YA readers of 11 or 12.  It’s a challenge these days, I’d say that more than half of the YA out there is only appropriate for 15 and up.  Kim Harrington is a master at giving us fun stories that everyone can enjoy. For me, that is definitely a big part of what makes her a rockstar.

Q & A with Kim Harrington:

Which of the characters that you've written is your favorite?

I tend to adore whichever main character I’m working with at the time. And I can’t wait for you guys to meet Morgan from FORGET ME (coming Summer 2014). But I have to admit that no matter how much time passes and how many other books I write, there will always be a special place in my heart reserved for Clarity Fern. I miss her.

What are you usually doing when a story idea strikes you?
Story ideas never hit when I’m trying to think of one. They usually spring up when I’m doing something automatic that doesn’t require too much focus—exercising, showering, cleaning. My mind wanders and then BAM! An idea is born.

Do you know how a story is going to end before you sit down to write it?
I have to know. I found this out the hard way with starts and stops and incomplete manuscripts years ago. Before I start writing, I have to know the beginning and the end. The middle can grow organically. And the end can change, of course, but I have to have some idea of it before I can begin.

What kind of books did you love to read as a teenager?
I was a teen in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s—horror’s heyday. It seemed like every publisher had a mass market paperback horror line, and I spent all my 

part-time job money on those books. I loved them.

 What is the best writing advice you’ve ever been given?

To write, first and foremost, for yourself. I write books I would want to read. I write to entertain 
myself.

Favorite snack while writing?

Sour Patch Kids, especially Sour Patch Fruit Salad

Favorite movie?
Poltergeist (weird, I know)

Favorite color?
Purple. I’m kind of obsessed with purple.

Favorite band and song right now?

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons

Favorite teacher from your school years?
My eighth grade science teacher. That was a pretty miserable year for me, but he made science exciting and fun, and introduced me to astronomy, which I still find fascinating.

And everyone who visits Stories & Sweeties answers this one:  Do you like cupcakes? Frosting or cake better?
YES! I looooove cupcakes. Especially yellow cupcakes with a lot of sugary frosting. What I like to do is break off part of the bottom cake part, then put it on top and squish it down so the frosting is in the middle, like a sandwich. That way I get frosting in every bite.

Thanks for having me!

Find Kim Harrington online:

WEBSITE  •  TWITTER  •  FACEBOOK  •  GOODREADS

Stories & Sweeties reviews:

CLARITY  •  PERCEPTION  •  THE DEAD AND BURIED

GIVEAWAY!!

I'm giving away one winner's choice of any of Kim's books!
 Open internationally  •  Ends 8/16/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Perception by Kim Harrington

Perception by Kim Harrington

publisher: Scholastic Point

release date: March 1st, 2012

hardcover, 288 pages

intended audience: Young adult

series: Clarity, book 2
(my review of book 1)

rating:



source: from publisher for honest review

description: When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.

Review: While normally I would post a spoiler warning for book 1, I didn't this time. The fun thing about this series is that I think each book stands strong on it's own. There is enough recapping in book two to not be lost if read alone. That said---don't skip out on either one!! These are such fast, fun mysteries and the characters are great to get to spend some time getting to know.

The small seaside town of Eastport and Clarity's family has been hit with more mystery---and this time it's threefold. A teenage musical prodigy has gone missing and the girl who knew her best has suddenly befriended Clare. A strange ghost has started hounding Clare's brother, Perry (real name, Periwinkle *giggle*). And Clare not only has the two most wanted guys in school waiting for her to decide between them, but now she finds herself being stalked by a creepy secret admirer. Perception gives more of the twists and turns that keep me guessing until the very end that I loved from Clarity. The thing that made it stand apart was that we get to see a bit more about Clare personally as she deals with her first taste of being accepted by her peers and the bit of celebrity status she's acquired from solving a murder mystery with her psychic powers. It really felt alot like a contemporary novel with just a hint of the paranormal thrown in, which actually worked really well for me. Clare is kind and strong-minded and really seems to think things through---well, except for one instance at the end, but I don't want to spoil anything! :D

Every bit as entertaining as it's predecessor, but this honestly didn't "wow" me until the last few chapters. They were pretty-edge-of-your seat exciting and the love story finally comes to a head. Phew---those poor guys, just choose one already, Clare! It finishes up perfectly---not sure if there will be a book 3, but it certainly doesn't need it. Though I wouldn't mind at least one more round with these characters!

Visit Kim Harrington's website here.

Purchase Perception at: Amazon • BN.com • BookDepository • Indiebound

Spring Blog Carnival: Fortune Teller Booth!

 

Welcome...Welcome, my dears, to the Fortune Teller's Booth! Come in and sit down while we look into the future of YA!! Today you have a chance to win two amazing books about a gifted seer name Clarity. Here is the prize that could be in your future:

One copy of Clarity + One copy of Perception

(above photo credit:staceylynnstudios.com)

The Challenge Set Before You Is This:

Look deep into my crystal ball and tell me what YOU see in the future of YA!
(Or what you hope to see :D)


Leave your answer in the comments, with an email where I can contact you!
Open Internationally!

Be sure to visit the rest of the booths in the Spring Blog Carnival!
Many thanks to Angela from Reading Angel, Candace from Candace’s Book Blog, and Lori from Pure Imagination for hosting the second annual Spring Blog Carnival!

Clarity Review & Giveaway!

Clarity by Kim Harrington

publisher: Scholastic Point

release date: March 1st, 2011

hardcover, 242 pages

intended audience: Young Adult

rating:




source: from publisher for honest review

description: When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Review: This was a fun read. Lots of really good memorable moments and great characters. Some YA cliches, like the girl with special powers being shunned by her classmates and called "freak", and every boy she comes in contact with being stunningly handsome, but despite all that, Harrington's fresh twist on things and great writing style make it a solidly entertaining and very quick read.

I loved Clarity. She is funny and sharp, with a good head on her shoulders when it comes to boys. None of this 'he's gorgeous, I must have him" without a thought or solid reason. Face with a cheating ex, she holds on pretty tightly to her convictions. Faced with a swoon-worthy new guy in town who at first seems to connect with her and then shuns her because of her gifts, she stands up and shows that she's got a spine. I also loved her relationship with her mother and her brother. They were loyal and supportive of each other. It was a great dynamic. This plot had a lot of that theme woven throughout each thread...family, how each is different, and how far someone will go to protect theirs. It really made this story stand apart.

Even more than being a paranormal story, this was a fantastic murder mystery. A tourist has died in a small beach town and the suspicions start flying. With the whole incident centering around a popular town hangout, the finger could point at anyone. The investigation twists and turns and my prediction for who the killer was must have changed a dozen times. Even in the very end, I was pretty surprised! Always a good thing---there is nothing worse than a predictable mystery! Well, this one was far from that.

Definitely check this one out for a fun, twisty paranormal mystery! I think fans of The Body Finder and even those who enjoy a good Agatha Christie "who-done-it" story will really enjoy this one!

Visit Kim Harrington's website here.

Purchase Clarity at: Amazon • BN.com • BookDepository

Trailer:

Clarity Giveaway!!
Two lucky winners will receive a beautiful finished copy of Clarity!
Just fill out the form below!
(Giveaway is sponsored by Scholastic and open to US only. )

Enter here!
Contest closes 3/28/11