A Radio Mention of LIVE THROUGH THIS

Today, The Current, a CBC radio program, was discussing "Teen Sick-Lit." (A term that I hope to never type again. Ugh.) The broadcast opened with a bookstore worker talking about teen books that she thinks are important, and one of them was Live Through This! The LTT mention happens about two and a half minutes in, and I was very pleased to get the shout out.

You can listen to it here. *Just a warning, if you haven't read Live Through This, and intend to do so, there is a VERY MAJOR SPOILER in this broadcast, so you might want to hold off.*

I do want to say that the discussion itself covers a lot that has come up in past regarding concerns/defense of literature for teens. I was very much in agreement with the teen correspondent and bookseller who participated. I think teen books that reflect real issues faced by real teens are crucial.

My favorite essay on this topic was written in 2011 by author Sheman Alexie: Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood

Two Books, All the Joy! (A Giveaway)

Michelle and I are having a book giveaway at our joint blog, We Have Words. You should go enter quickly! The winner will be chosen on December 24th! *UK paperback edition of THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson

Signed copy of LIVE THROUGH THIS by Mindi Scott

FREEFALL/LIVE THROUGH THIS bookmarks!

A review of LIVE THROUGH THIS from a community educator

April runs a wonderful book reviewing site called "Good Books & Good Wine." She is also a community educator for her local domestic violence/rape crisis agency. Recently, April read and was affected by Live Through This enough to discuss it with people in her life and to write about it on her blog. In her review of the book (posted here), she also further discussed sexual abuse and included insight and advice on the topic from her professional viewpoint.

If you're a victim of abuse, or if you know someone who is, please take a few minutes to read through her helpful advice. And do, also, check out RAINN.org. It's an amazing organization and a great place to get help and information.

Free bookmarks for readers with U.S. or Canadian addresses

I have bookmarks to give away! Did you know? Probably not, since I've had them for a couple of months and kind of forgot to tell anyone. My friend Shaina made them for me. The bookmarks look like this (gold pillow, not included):

I know you're thinking that they sure are pretty and that you'd like one of the Freefall bookmarks AND one of the scribbled on Live Through This bookmarks, right? Here's a secret: The bookmarks are dual-sided. So, if I send you a Freefall bookmark, you automatically get the signed Live Through This one, too, because it's printed on the back. And vice versa, obviously.Yay!

So would you like a bookmark? Or two? Or even three? If, yes, please fill out this form to include your name and mailing address and I'll mail them over! It'll be a Happy New Year 2013 gift from me to you.

(If you're an educator, librarian, or bookseller and would like to distribute some of my bookmarks to your students, patrons, or customers, there is a place on the form to indicate that, as well.)

One more thing, this giveaway is for U.S. and Canada addresses only. Because, you know, international shipping costs a lot of money. Sorry!

Contemporary YA week at Stacked

Stacked Books is a blog that focuses on discussing and reviewing young adult novels. Recently, it was Contemporary YA Week over at Stacked, and many titles published within the past two years were spotlighted, as well as some that are coming out in 2013. I'm so pleased that each of my books made it onto a list! Freefall is on the list about grief and Live Through This is on the list about "edgy stuff."

This link has a round-up of all the posts at Stacked for Contemporary Week 2012. :-)