Waiting on Wednesday (103)

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My pick this week is

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

"These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume."
—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

Stacey Jay is one of my favorite YA authors of all time, no doubt it. Her Megan Barry, Zombie Settler series? Spectacular, funny, and romantic; I still get sad that there isn't more of them at times. Therefore, when I heard about Juliet Immortal I knew I had to read it! I love the story of Romeo and Juliet, and the fact that this is retelling of it (with an epic sounding premise to boot) makes me very excited! Now if only September 13 could just get here a bit faster everything would be perfect!

Waiting On Wednesday (87)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My pick this week is:

The Locket by Stacey Jay

What if you got a second chance to fix your worst mistake?

What if you found out miracles could happen?

What if you found out that sometimes, miracles are curses in disguise...

One girl, two boys, and one very scary piece of jewelry. (Summary/Cover Image from Author's website)

I absolutely love Stacey Jay's books (if you haven't read the Megan Berry series, you HAVE to read them ASAP), so it's just a given that I'm looking forward to reading this one. I mean, the premise sounds great, and I love the cover.

The Locket comes out February 3, 2011.

Quick Qs and As with Stacy Jay and CONTEST!

Stacey Jay is the author of several books for Young Adults including Megan Berry, Zombie Settler series which I adore, and the fourthcoming My So Called Undeath (2010) and The Locket (2011).

~~~

Can you describe your newest novel Undead Much? in four words?

Secrets. Romance. Mystery. Zombies!

Are you similar to Megan in any ways?

Megan and I both have the tendency to over-think every little decision. I'm bad about that now, but I was even worse in high school. I'd become paralyzed by thinking about all the possible outcomes of one choice versus another and be unable to choose at all. It was awful! Lol.

What’s your favorite aspect about writing the Megan Berry, Zombie Settler series?

I love the over-the-top zombie fight scenes. I love how brave Megan is becoming. I love evil fr-enemy, Monica, and romantic hero, Ethan. I just love these characters. I hope I get to write the third book soon!

Do you have a favorite scene or line in Undead Much? If so, would you mind sharing with us a bit about it?

The truth was squirming around in my brain, like some horrible worm set on devouring my happy past.

This line sums up a major plot line in Undead Much? There are a lot of secrets in this book that--when they come to light--change Megan's view of herself and her life forever. (And this sentence is so gross it makes my brain twitch a little. I'm proud of that!)

How did the title Undead Much? come to be?

It came to me while I was writing the first book. This is the only title that I've ever come up with that's actually ended up on a book. Usually, my publishers come up with something much more clever, but this time they liked "Undead Much?".

I love the covers for Undead Much? and You Are So Undead to Me which leaves me to wonder what it was like seeing them both for the first time

Thanks so much! I love them too. I was so thrilled with the first one and even more in love with the second. The art production team at Razorbill is amazing. I feel so lucky to have them working on my books!

How does it feel knowing your books are in stores?

Trippy. Scary. Humbling. Thrilling.

What’s one of most interesting comments you have received about your books?

I love getting emails from people named Megan Berry who can't believe my character has the same name. It makes me laugh every time. So far, I've received about six of those. There are a LOT of Megan Berrys out there.

What’s your favorite thing about being an author? Least?

I live for the drafting and revising process. I love being alone with my characters and getting them into so much trouble I'm not sure if I'll ever get them out of it again. That's the best part of being an author for me, the actual writing.

I'm not such a huge fan of promotion. It's hard to put yourself out there when you're basically an introvert. I can put on the extrovert persona now and then, but I prefer to be behind the scenes. That's why acting, my first career, was ultimately such a poor fit. I loved pretending, but I wasn't so in love with everyone watching me do it, lol.

What part of the writing process is the most challenging for you? Easiest?

It can be hard for me to compromise when it comes to an idea I'm really excited about. The book I'm working on now, THE LOCKET, was originally a very gory, horror-inspired story, but my editor wanted something more eerie and romantic. It was hard to re-imagine a plot I was so psyched about, but I'm glad I did. I think THE LOCKET is going to be a very intense, romantic read because of the compromises I made.

The easiest part is dreaming up new things. I love shiny, new ideas! I have so many stories I want to write at the moment. I wish I didn't need to sleep.

What’s your typical day like?

Up at 6 a.m. getting 5 ready for Kindergarten. Then Baby and I come home and do breakfast and email--if he's in the mood to let me mess with the computer--and then hit the gym. Once we get home we do lunch and playtime and then he goes down for nap and I write like a madwoman for two hours. Then it's snack time and off to pick up brother and the rest of the day is a blur of baths and homework and more feeding and cleaning up and playing. I get most of my work done on the two afternoons my baby is at Mother's Day Out and on weekend mornings when my husband watches the kids while I go to the library. Being a stay at home mom is a full time job and so is writing so...it can be hard to smash it all in there, but I do my best. I really love both of my jobs.

What’s up next for you book-wise? Also, are there going to be anymore Megan Berry, Zombie Settler books? Since, I personally would love some more!

Aw, thanks. I would LOVE to write more Megan books. I have at least one more story extensively outlined, but I won't know whether I get to write that book or others until sales of UNDEAD MUCH? are calculated in a few months. If the sales are as strong as the first book, I'll get to write more. It's up to the fans to show Razorbill they want more Megan Berry books! (And more Ethan. I know you guys. Ethan is the subject of most of my reader email, lol.)

Right now I'm working on the stand alone novel that I mentioned earlier, THE LOCKET. It's a love story about a girl, two boys, and a very scary piece of jewelry that messes with the fabric of time. It's very romantic. I think fans of Megan and Ethan's love story will enjoy it. It will be out in early 2011.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy UNDEAD MUCH?

~~

Thanks Stacey! I can't read to more of there novels.

Now, on to the contest! Stacey has offered to giveaway an "Undead Much?" tote bag with some original Megan Berry inspired artwork by artist, April McGuire! If you would like to enter, leave a comment for Stacey on this post and then fill out the following form. This is open to the US only and will run until  Feb. 2nd!

Undead Much? by Stacey Jay

**Spoiler alert: don't read this review if you do not want spoilers for You Are So Undead To Me. You can read my review of that book here, and you should definitely read it before you read anything about Undead Much?

Summary:

Q: How many guys does it take to make your boyfriend wild with jealousy?

A: Only one, if he's UNDEAD.

Megan Berry had a perfectly average new-sundress-and-boy-obsessed life--until her power to settle the Undead returned. Oh, and then her best friend tried to kill her--and ruin homecoming--with a bunch of black magically raised zombies. At least she got a spot on the pom squad and a smokin' boyfriend (Ethan). But now Megan is in deep fertilizer all over again.

Why? Well, let's see...

· Feral new super-strong zombies? Check.
· Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening half time as they know it? Check
· An Undead psychic hottie (Cliff) who's predicting a zombie apocalypse--and doing his best to tempt Megan away from Ethan? Yum. I mean, Check.
· Earth-shattering secrets that could land Megan in Settler prison for life? Um, IT WASN'T ME!!!

Everyone thinks Megan's at fault for the new uber-zombie uprising. Looks like she'll need the help of both Cliff and Ethan if she's going to prove her innocence before it's too late...

Review:
 
After reading and enjoying You Are So Undead To Me, the prequel to this, I was curious to see how Undead Much would measure up to it. And as it turns out, Undead Much definitely threw the previous one way out of the ball park.

For one, it showed major plot and character development. Megan proved once again to be a likable character that was easy to root for and Ethan was swoon worthy as always. Plus, I loved how in this we got to see Monica's more caring side along with her usual infamous snarky comments that always lead to a laugh or two. Moving on, the different plot developments such as 'What secret is Megan's parents hiding?' to 'Who really is behind all these attacks?' to 'Will Megan be proven innocent in time??' lead Undead Much to be a suspenseful page turner. Lastly, Jay's writing was up to key as usual and tended to have the feeling of true teen's voice throughout.

My only complaint was the ending which totally left you on a cliff hanger and I absolutely have no clue if there will be another. Though, I certainly hope there will be because this series is staring to become a favorite of mine.

In all, Undead Much proves to be a fabulous addition to this fun series!
 
Grade: A-

Undead Much? will be released January 22, 2010! Also, be sure to check out the excerpt posted on Jay's site and the trailer featured below:



Source: Publisher for review. Thanks Gillian!

Waiting On Wednesday: Week 41

My pick this week is:

My So-Called Death by Stacey Jay

All in all it was a good day to die. If there really is such a thing.

You hear characters in movies say that all the time, but does anyone really believe the words “good” and “die” belong in the same sentence?

Still, it could have been worse. It could have been dark and spooky night instead of a beautiful Georgia morning in late October, with a light wind whipping across the Peachtree High School football field, making zombies seem like the last thing anyone needed to worry about…

Fifteen-year-old freshman, Karen Vera, is well on her way to ruling her school when a freak cheer leading accident turns her into, well, a freak. Much to her Horror and Dismay, Karen learns she is a genetic mutation, one of the Death Challenged--a politically correct term for a zombie!

Now she has to go to a top secret zombie school, eat brains for lunch, and take courses with names like "Secrets of Successful Morticians and their Uses for the Undead: Foundation and Beyond". And to make matters worse, her roommate is the most reviled girl at DEAD High, a complete head case, and maybe...a murderer.

Can Karen find out who's offing the nearly un-off-able Undead before she becomes the next victim? Can she convince the super-cute captain of the swim team that a girl can have a pathological love for pink and still carry on an intelligent conversation? Will she ever pass remedial Algebra for the Death Challenged?

My Thougts:

I loved Stacey Jay's You Are So Undead To Me ( and am eagerly awaitng Undead Much?), so I just know this will be great! Plus, zombie books are zombietastic! :)

My So-Called Death will be realeased March 1, 2010.

You Are So Undead To Me by Stacey Jay

Summary:

" Fifteen year old Megan Berry is a Zombie Settler by birth, which means she's part-time shrink to a bunch of dead people to a bunch of dead people with a whole lot issues."
All Meghan wants to do is go to homecoming. Unfortunately, every time she leaves the house she gets trailed by a bunch of slobbering undead, making it a little hard to score a date. Not that it matters. Her crush, fellow settler ( and total hottie) Ethan, treats her like an annoying kid sister anyway.
When someone in school starts using black magic to turn average, angsty Undead into flesh-eating Zombies, it's up to Megan to spot the Zombie apocalypse. Her life- and more importantly, homecoming- depends on it. ( From back cover of ARC)

Review:

Your So Undead To Me was a mix of romance, friendships, and zombie settling. In this book all of the zombie settlers have their own secret society and rules they follow. I thought this was a really unique turn to the whole zombie world. Meghan was a funny and honest character most of the time which made me come to enjoy reading about her life. The only problem I had was her belief that her whole world was going to be ruined if she didn't go to homecoming with a hot date and her obsession over Ethan. So, when it was kind of dropped and replaced with the other side of her, I was hooked. Another part I enjoyed was the mystery behind who was doing all the black magic. I thought I had it figured out from the beginning who it was. Though, as the story progressed the person behind it all became much clearer. I was truly surprised. Lastly, I enjoyed the whole kicking zombie butt part of the story and hope there is plenty more of it to come in the sequel. Though, I wish there was more of Meghan being a "therapist" to the zombies, because it could have been an interesting part of the story. So, I hope Stacey will include more of that, too.

Overall, Your So Undead to Me was a pleasant surprise. I had never read a book about zombies or zombie settling before. Though, I had seen countless movies about both. So, when I first began reading this I was a little bit weary, but in the end I loved this book a ton. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Undead Much, and whatever else Stacey comes up with.

Grade: B+

Your So Undead To Me will be released on January 22, 2009. You can preorder it here.

* Much thanks to Jillian for sending me a copy!