Throwback Thursday: How To Date an Alien

Most #throwbackthursday or #tbt posts are people putting up pictures of them from high school or grade school, but I decided to do something different. I'm going to post excerpts and teasers from my older books that y'all might not be as familiar with. Maybe this meme will catch on. Maybe it wont.

 

 

This first #tbt is from How to Date an Alien. The first book in My Alien Romance series, which is free everywhere!

 

His eyes finally found mine. Instead of the harsh black, I saw something softer, almost human. He leaned closer. “Is that what you think, Alex, that I want to hurt you?”

“Well, no, I mean…" I let out a deep sigh as I looked down to the ground. “I don’t know. I’m just really confused.”

He took another step closer, sliding his body against mine, as the coldness of his skin gave me goose bumps. His fingers tiptoed around my waist. I held back a soft gasp as the warmth of his fingers pushed into the small of my back. He pressed his forehead to mine.

“I killed Magpie because I wasn’t going to let her hurt you. I would never try to harm you and I wouldn’t let anyone else harm you either.” His icy breath was like a cool breeze on my lips as he continued, "It took a lot of convincing for the board to let me stay here after that, but they knew it was the only way that she could be stopped. And you've got to admit—" He paused, brushing his lips against mine as he smiled. "—I do have some redeeming qualities that would convince them to let me stay."

I gulped, trying to catch my breath as my body trembled against his. “You don’t think I can take care of myself?”

His smile widened with every bit of his white teeth gleaming. “I’m pretty sure any girl that would walk into a Caltian’s room in the middle of the night, unarmed, can handle herself." He wrapped the blanket around both of us, pressing his body to mine. I felt an icy hot sensation race through me. “But it doesn’t mean that I can’t try and help her out.”

“So, what’s your real interest in me, then?" My lips almost vibrated right onto his as I spoke. I couldn’t help but wonder how they would feel against mine.

“The most dangerous thing of all."

“And what is that?" I questioned, hoping my knees wouldn't give out as I pressed my body tighter against his.

“I'm falling in love with you." As the words left his mouth, his lips pressed to mine, giving me the most intense and explosive kiss I had ever had. With the coldness of his lips and the warmth of his tongue beneath mine I saw fireworks and felt them through every part of my body.

 

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Teaser Tuesday: Deleted Scene from How to Marry an Alien

For various reasons, this scene was cut. It was a good one, but it just didn't end up being needed. I did have to change some of the context for spoilers, but I hope you all enjoy a little mekking out, alien style.

He walked over and draped the blanket over my shoulders and wrapped it tightly around me before placing a kiss on my forehead. "Sorry, this isn't exactly as comfortable for you"

"I bet I know a way that you can warm me up." I spread my arm out to the side, opening the blanket like a giant cape. "Want to join me in this blanket?"

He grinned, taking a step forward so that his body was flushed with mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaning his face down toward mine and trailing feather-like kisses up his prominent jawline.

"I don't know if that is going to help you warm up," Ace whispered. "But this might." Slowly, he slid his fingerless gloves off and pressed his hands on the small of my back. The warmth beat from his hands and all through my body. I gasped at the sudden rush of heat.

"I think there are other things that could help as well." I moved my face back to his and pressed my lip against his. His tongue glided across mine, warming up every corner of my mouth like hot chocolate.

I pushed against his body, walking him backwards until we fell on his bed. I moved my legs over so that I was straddling him, my hips flushed against his. He pushed the blanket off of me before pulling me down so that I was laying on him, his tongue twirling beyond my lips.

He may have said 'no' in my dorm room, but there was no way he could say no at that moment. I moved my hands from his neck to the pearl snap buttons on his shirt. Slowly, I undid the first one. He didn't stop kissing. And the next one and the next one until his shirt was completely undone and only his temperature control suit separated us.

I'd seen him enough in just the temperature control suit to know that didn't matter to him if I got down to that barrier. The few times I did sleep in his bed at Circe he wore nothing more than boxer shorts, so surely he wouldn't mind if I helped him get into his bedtime apparel.

Slowly, I reached for the suits zipper, sliding it down to feel his rippled, cold skin underneath. I let my fingers linger along each one of his abdominal muscles, like a perfect statue beneath my fingers.

He let out a low moan, hopefully from my touch. I continued unzipping, reaching the point where the top of his boxers met his skin before he stopped kissing and shot his hand in front of his crotch.

I lifted my head up and looked down at him. His eyes were closed and his face was scrunched up as if he were in pain. "No, Alex."

"You were enjoying it just a second ago…"

He shook his head and zippered his suit back up before he opened his eyes. They were blacker than any night sky, and he looked as if I'd just stabbed him. "I know, but we can't do this. Not yet."

I sat up, maneuvering myself until I was sitting next to him on the bed. "Then why did you ask me to spend the night if you didn't want that?"

"You've spent the night dozens of times. Just because I want to lie next to you, doesn't mean I want to do it in the coital sense," Ace said.

"Okay." I let out a sigh. "I guess I can live with that. Better than going back to my dorm and facing reality."

"So I'm just the substitute for your roommate?" Ace arched his brows high on his forehead.

I winced. Why would he make a comment like that? I already got turned down, no use in making it worse. But I shrugged it off and put on a smile.

"But a very cute substitute." I tapped my finger on his nose.

"You are something else, Princess." He shook his head, grinning from ear to ear.

With a few more words, I slid next to him in his bed. We both stayed fully dressed and not another word was said about what could have happened. Or more like what I wished had happened.

I wanted to know why he kept refusing. Was there something else in the rule books that said we couldn't be together in that sense? I knew we'd broke the rules before, but maybe this was one that he just wasn't ready to break…yet.

Coffee Talk with Caitlin from Rise of Rector

 

Alex: Okay, since this is coffee talk, what is your drink of choice?

Caitlin:  Since it’s October that would be a double tall mocha with pumpkin spice! I didn’t used to like coffee but Eren has me totally hooked on those things now.


Alex:  Did you just put your feet on the table? *curls lip in disgust* Is that an Irish thing or just some sort of weird, paranormal thing that I don't know about?

Caitlin:  We’re all about hospitality and making yourself at home, so I just thought, you know… *flips a long blond curl over her shoulder and lifts her chin.*


Alex:  Okay...since you're going to be fiesty, we will move on. With all this end of the world stuff going on, how the heck do you actually find time to do anything in high school?

Caitlin:  Are you kidding, my totally hot Romanian boyfriend goes to my high school. The end of the world can wait so long as I get to see him. *sighs* Besides, I’ve got to spend all the time with him that I can, just in case.

Alex:  Soooo...what you are telling me is that the world really may be an end with this Mayan stuff or did some ancient aliens make that up? NOT that I know anything about ancient aliens.

Caitlin:  Aliens, say what now? Sounds like you and I need to have a longer talk. Seriously though, that’s what the prophecies say. There is a war to end all wars coming and my friends and I are destined to be on the front lines. So they say.

Alex:  Uh I said nothing about aliens, but uh....*Shudder* Okay, now I'm getting the creeps with all this end of the world stuff. Let's try something lighter. You've been with this group of friends for two years now, what is the craziest thing that has happened to you all.

Caitlin:  There was this time at the river when we were all practicing channeling, wait, I can’t tell you that. Fane would kill me. *SPOILER* Okay, in our Junior year during a sparring competition my best friend Eren sucked the power out of all of the channelers in the gym and literally blew the roof odd. It was epic. She rocks.

Alex:  *Mutters* And they say my life is exciting. So do you think it's finally all going to come to an end or is there more to the story?

Caitlin:  End, heck no. I don’t believe fate is set in stone. We can change things if we really want to. The world doesn’t have to end, it can be saved.

Thank you for joining us at coffee talk and everyone out there be sure to get your copy of Rise of Rector!

 

The skinny bitch in YA

Lovely topic, isn't it?

I've talked about many things with girl characters in YA and Hollywood alike that are focused on the pretty, skinny girl with the chubby sidekick friend. And today I'm here to say that I'm kind of thinking the skinny bitch is getting to this chubby author.

I recently read through the sample of a book because it was a pretty big seller and there were aliens in it. I was really excited that the main character was kind of geeky, a blogger, but then I read further. Oh she's kind of geeky, but she's REALLY pretty which means guys still find her hot (Bella anyone?). I immediately did not buy the book because it made me really upset. Why do all the girls in YA have to be skinny and pretty? Why can't I find a chubby girl kicking butt and the guy likes her for much more than that initial 'oh hot girl!'

In HOW TO DATE AN ALIEN, Alex is a bigger girl, but by no means is she obese. I describe her as being around a size ten with curves (as evident when Jen tries to sexify her up for Ace.) One of my early readers at one point said that my MC had too many flaws: glasses, big hips, being the non-white girl. I took these comments in and I toned down a little bit more of Alex's looks (she had crooked teeth and other things, but I let them go). But then I started to think about it...why is every main girl in YA literature end up being a skinny girl?

Sure, there are the girls that are gangly skinny, but for the most part they are svelt. Even in adult literature there are very few women who I think represent a "normal" size girl. This is one thing that Charlaine Harris actually does really well in the Sookie books. Sookie is a size 8-10 and she owns it. The girl is loved by vampires, fierce, and she rocks a size that isn't the same as a mannequin.

But then there are others in which there is the lead chubby girl, but she is almost whiny and constantly harps on the fact that she is the big girl, but still ends up finding a guy that loves her anyway. I used to read these books and then I just got tired of the big girl whining. Yeah, I may be chubby too, but I don't want that to be the focus of the book. Give me a character with curves that kicks butt like a Sookie Stackhouse!

The skinny bitch isn't just regulated to the main character, most of the mean girls are also stick figures with a big rack who harp on the main character. This is what I love about Awkward (the TV show on MTV). Sadie Saxton is a mean girl, but Sadie Saxton is actually a little bit bigger. There have been episodes in which they talk about Sadie's size, but the whole point of her being bigger isn't her identity. Sadie is a straight up mean girl and she owns it. She owns that she's a big girl and she owns the fact that she can take down other girls.

This is actually why in HOW TO BREAK UP WITH AN ALIEN I made the mean girl NOT a skinny bitch or a cheerleader. Gemma is a curvy rugby player with a gruff voice. She's a bit racist and has some snaps at Alex that are unnecessary, but Alex is a tough chick puts those to a halt (and hopefully the reader learns that derogatory names are not cool).

What do you think of the skinny bitch in YA? Do you think it's getting better and more progressive?

How to Marry an Alien cover reveal and synopsis!

 

 

Alex’s interstellar relationship has finally been sealed in the eyes of the human world, so now she can move on to her next step: college.

With Ace by her side and a new piece of jewelry on her finger, she thinks she is ready for anything. Well, almost anything.

Her new roommate holds a dangerous link to her past that Alex isn't sure if she can handle. Then there is the whole alien fiancé thing. Every time she tries to get closer to Ace, he seems to pull further away. Top that off with a full summer class load and a few more alien attacks and it’s just another day for Alex.

Except this time she isn’t sure if marrying an alien will be the happy ending she’s hoping for.

 

You can add it to your GoodReads now! And as a bonus, if I can get enough adds to GoodReads by next week, I'll post a deleted scene on the blog. (To make it more enticing, it involves kissing and alien abs!) Tell your friends!

Alex Bianchi's Coffee Talk with Libby Gentry from My Paper Heart

Alex:  Alright let's start this coffee talk out by telling me your favorite coffee drink?


Libby:  I can't say I'm much of a coffee drinker. The only thing I've actually ever enjoyed was Coffee Au Lait at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans and that was probably because I used it to dunk my beignets in.

Alex:  Moving on...A fellow Illinoisian rocketh! You had to move from ritzy north shore to a town I've never heard of in the south can you tell me what that transition was like?

Libby:  *Raises eyebrows* Really? You are going to talk about a town that you've never heard of? This coffee shop is out in freaking Winnebago, a town of 2,000 less than the population of Elsbury, Louisiana.

Alex: Hey! This isn't about me! Answer the question.

Libby: *rolls eyes* Okay, so it's definitely a huge leap to go from the Chicago suburbs to the swamp. The town is literally the size of my high school. It sucked at first, I mean, I had to deal with living with an aunt I'd barely knew and a little cousin I didn't know existed, plus I actually had to work for the first time in my life. I thought I would never survive.

Alex: But I take it there may have been a little bit of a southern romance to help out with that?

Libby:  Yeah Blaine's pretty great. At first I thought he was a total jerk, but there is something about a pair of blue eyes and southern charm that get me every time.

Alex:  Hold up, didn't your Facebook profile just say you were with some short dude with overly gelled hair named Beau?

Libby:  Yeah, let's not talk about my ex...

Alex:  Uh, hello? This is coffee talk, you agreed to this interview and now you have to.

Libby:  Ugh, fine. Beau's a guy I met in college...the college I failed out of. We sort of had a thing throughout the school year, but now he is an ex. No more and no less, no matter what he still tells people.

Alex:  Okay, enough about boys. Let's dig a little deeper. We know you failed out of college after one year, was it really that bad? Did you party that hard?

Libby:  Well, there is more to it than that.  But you will have to read My Paper Heart to find out *wink*

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Coming August 2012


There are worse things in life than failing out of college- such as having your parents receive the letter that you’ve been kicked out.
Now to appease her parents self-proclaimed sorority princess Libby Gentry is packing up her Prada bag and heading to work for her great aunt’s newspaper in tiny Elsbury, Louisiana. She’s pretty sure she can tackle the swamp and deal with her great aunt and tom boy of a little cousin, but what she doesn’t know is if she can handle the local town playboy, Blaine Crabtree.

As Libby's feelings for Blaine grow, so does her need for acceptance and all of the insecurities she has kept inside are coming out. She may have survived the Louisiana swamp, but she may not survive Blaine's reluctance to say the 'L' word. When Blaine finally commits to the three words Libby’s been waiting for, she only hopes they haven’t come too late.

**This book does contain some mild language and sexual content. It is meant for upper YA readers**

Add it to your GoodReads now!

Coffee Talk with Dori from Seaweed!

Alex: Okay, Dori, since this is Coffee Talk, let’s start out with your coffee drink of choice.

Dori: I prefer Dulce tea. It's green and made from seaweed..

Alex:  Moving on, so you’re an athlete? A swimmer? How does that even work? Okay I get it, it’s a team or whatever. But can you explain your swim club and all that entails?

Dori: If you've ever watched the Olympics you'll see what it's like. We compete against each other and ourselves, always trying for the best possible time. It's very competitive and takes up your whole life if you want to be the best. Which I do.

Alex:  And there are guy swimmers, too? Like Michael Phelps? I promise I’ll shut up about him… but there has to be some guy on the swim team that has the body of Michael Phelps, but maybe not the ears? If there is, have you scooped him up?

Dori: Well, there's this guy, Colby. He's cute and a great swimmer. I've known him my whole life. He'd like to be more than friends, but the problem is, I just don't like him that way.

Alex: Sounds sort of fishy too me. I have my own boy problems, but there is always something that happens when you date a boy who isn’t exactly human. How do you deal with it?

Dori: Oh, you're talking about Tor Riley now. Ooo la la. I can't ever go there.
 

Alex:  Merboys are complicated. How does that even work? I know, I know I date an alien but he breaths air. Doesn’t Tor need to be underwater or something?

Dori: He spends about equal time in and out of the water, still it's difficult to have our worlds so separated, y'know?

Alex:  Okay, so moving on, if you and Tor and you friends were to be cast into a movie based on your life, who would you have play you?

Dori: Amanda Siegfried, maybe, or Emma Roberts, if she died her hair blond.

Alex: Let’s round it out with best memory that you’ve had in the past year?

Dori: July 1st which is Canada Day. You'll have to read my story to find out why, but it has to do with fireworks and kissing and a  late night ocean swim.

Thanks for visiting with us, Dori! And everyone should be sure to check out Seaweed!

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Announcing SEAWEED by Elle Strauss!

 A teen swim athlete discovers a merfolk world that threatens to keep her out of the ocean forever.
 

Dori Seward can’t wait to get out of Eastcove, a sleepy fishing village on the border of New Brunswick and Maine. She bides her time by hanging out with friends, attending swim club, and holding her biggest competition, Colby–who wants more than just friendship, at arm’s length. Then Tor Riley comes to town and he has everything Dori dreams of in a boyfriend–looks, athleticism and mystery. But Tor also has a tantalizing secret and Dori is determined to find out what it is. The truth is crazier than her wildest imaginations and more dangerous, too. Dori has new fantastical enemies , and they will do anything to get to her. Her life, her dreams and her love for Tor are all weighing in the balance. Will Dori risk it all in order to have it all?

 SEAWEED is FREE for a limited time on Amazon! It's also free on itunes and smashwords.



Elle Strauss writes time travel and merfolk chic-lit, light SF and historical YA fiction. To ward off writer's butt she does a bit of hiking, biking and yoga. Elle is married with four children and divides her time between British Columbia, Canada, and Germany.

Coffee Talk with Addy from The Veil

Alex:  Okay, Addison, since this is coffee talk, what is your coffee drink of choice?

Addy: Hi Alex! Thanks for having me! And it’s Addy, please!

Coffee is totally my thing – but I’m a purist. I like my coffee black with just a splash of nonfat milk. It drives my best friend, Nate crazy! He works at a coffee shop and likes to show off by making the fancy stuff. But what can I say? I like what I like!

Alex: Before we get down to the nitty gritty, I was facebook stalking you and saw that are a David Copperfield fan (the novel of course). Very refreshing. Any other of the classics you are into?

Addy:  I do love my Dickens. I also like Jane Austen, the Brontes (all three of the sisters, especially the poems) and Agatha Christie. I guess it’s an English thing? I’m from England, originally, so maybe that’s why I like them. But I also think they just don’t write books like they used to.

Oh boy, that makes me sound like a nerd. I guess I am. Just a little bit.

Alex: And oh, be still my heart you are a Cary Grant fan! Do people give you flack for that? Because a lot of people don’t understand my love of Dustin Hoffman.

Addy:  Ha ha – I live with my grandmother, so I grew up watching old movies with her. She’s a big Cary Grant fan, so I guess it rubbed off on me! Tall, dark and handsome – but also funny! You just can’t beat that combo.

Actually, my name comes from a Cary Grant movie (Can you keep a secret? Oops, I guess I should have asked before I told you. Too late now!) It’s kind of a long story, but I left England with my grandmother when I was six, and she had to come up with a new, fake last name for me so that certain people wouldn’t be able to track me down. She chose “Russell” in honor of the actress Rosalind Russell, who stars with Cary Grant in His Girl Friday. She liked her spunk.

People only give me flack for liking Cary Grant until they see him in Arsenic and Old Lace. Then they get it. And if they don’t, they just aren’t worth knowing.

Dustin Hoffman, eh? Interesting . . . no judgment here, friend.

Alex: Okay, not back to the real reason you are here, the boy. Before this interview we were talking about our boy issues. How the heck do you deal with being with someone and everything seems to be telling you to go against it?

Addy:  Interesting question. You know, Luc and I are such an unlikely couple – he’s like the god of my high school and I am nothing but a lowly little book nerd who would ordinarily never attract the attention of someone like that. But circumstances brought up together in such a way that we had to pretend that we were dating, for a while, even though we weren’t. That was weird. People were flat-out shocked to see us “together” and that was sort of hurtful. And embarrassing. And lying to my friends about it was really hard.

From the beginning, the voices inside my head were telling me to stay away from him. First, he was too perfect – untouchable, unreachable, destined to break my heart. Then, I thought my actual crush on him might hamper our fake relationship and put us both in danger. And now . . . I don’t know. There are a lot of complications. I just know how I feel, and how I feel is that I love him. Bottomline. People can think whatever they like.

Being with him is a danger to me, because if he ever broke my heart I’m not sure how I would survive it. But being with me is actually way more dangerous for him (for a lot of reasons having to do with Annorasi laws and prejudices against humans). I worry about that the most – that our relationship may end up bringing harm to him.

Alex: Since you’re stuck here in small town Winnebago instead of the west coast, what is your favorite place back in Novato?

Addy:  Hmm, well, my friends and I hang out a lot at this coffee shop called Sully’s. They have really good coffee there (you’d like it!) and the best pastries in town.

Alex:  Okay, let’s say you and I are hitting the town in Novato with our respective boyfriends. Where do we go and what do we do? (Without getting attacked by any evil beings, God Willing.)

Addy:  Well, Novato isn’t exactly big on the nightlife, so I think we’d definitely head down to San Francisco, where there’s more to do! I’ve actually been meaning to take Luc to Ghirardelli Square – there’s this thing that my friends and I do for special occasions: we order this enormously big sundae called The Earthquake. It has 8 scoops of ice cream (more if you flirt with your waiter), 8 toppings (not including the whipped cream, bananas, cherries, nuts and chocolate chips – those come standard), and it comes in this huge dish. People stare at you when you order it and the wait staff totally cheers you on to finish it. Pigging out on ice cream is such a human thing to do – I’m sure our boyfriends would get a kick out of it. Or at least a stomachache J

And if it was just you and I alone in San Francisco – if we could convince the boys to let us go out on our own for awhile, doubtful because of the aforementioned Evil Beings – we would definitely hit Jest Jewels – the most awesome jewelry/clothing/stuff store on earth. It’s the kind of place that makes girls want to swoon and boys want to vomit – it absolutely reeks of “girliness.” I’m not even a “girly girl” and I love it - you and I could easily spend a small fortune there.

Alex:  Okay to round this interview out, favorite movie, food, and book?

Addy:

Movie: Arsenic and Old Lace

Food: My grandmother’s homemade gnocchi, with spicy tomato sauce and goat cheese. I am drooling just thinking about it . . .

Book: Well, right now I’m reading Peter Pan (the original, by J.M. Barrie). It totally fits in with my love of English literature, but I’m actually reading it because my friend Olivia is making me. It’s rumored that the spring play at my school this year is going to be a steampunk revival of Pan, and Olivia really wants to play Peter. So I’m helping her do research. That’s kind of funny, actually, because – arghhh!

*Cory Putman Oakes strides angrily into the coffee shop, grabs Addy by the ear, and hauls her off before she can reveal any more spoilers from the next book of The Veil series, coming March 2013 from Octane Press.*

************************************************************

Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi. Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to be—the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem. And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her. Or so he says . . .

Purchase it today on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Coffee Talk interview with Ari from The Green

Today, for Coffee Talk, I am sitting down with Ari from The Green!

Alex: Alright, since this is coffee talk, what is your coffee drink of choice?

Ari: Um, I know this sounds kinda bougie, but coffee? Nope. We rock the tea down in Cambridge.

Alex:  Moving on, you drove all the way up here from the suburbs, you wouldn’t happen to go to the journalism academy, would you?

Ari: How did you know? Yep, I'm in the journalism academy at Cambridge High School. It's pretty sweet, we run the school newspaper as one of our classes. I'm hoping to get into Northwestern to keep studying it there.

Alex: Uh, duh, I googled and Facebook stalked you before this interview. That is how I get all my information for interviews. But anyway, super jealous. I actually applied to Northwestern, kind of hoping to be the female AC360. But enough about me, what drew you to that school and the journalism program?

Ari: My fave newscaster went there. He's kinda this old man, but he's cool. I'm going to be just like him when I'm done. Make room for me, Good Morning America!

Alex: *looks up location of the school on smartphone* Dang, that is a really nice area. And you want to go to Northwestern? How the heck are you going to pay for all this? No disrespect, just saying, I’m stuck working at a coffee shop just to help pay my tuition, so I can’t imagine how many jobs you need for a place like Northwestern.

Ari: I'm pretty much top in my class. I'm counting on some scholarships and some loans. I hope! :/ I, uh, don't have much time for a job.

Alex: Okay, sore subject, MOVING ON, let’s just go for something random. Let’s say someone would make a movie about your life. Who would play you and your friends?

Ari: Let's see, I think Josh Hutcherson could totally be my friend James, although Josh is a little short, so just imagine him taller. For me, maybe Selena Gomez? There aren't too many Latinos to pick from out there. And for Naomi, hmmmm. That's a tough one. She's hard to peg. Maybe Lindsay Lohan if she had dark hair and wasn't all old.

Alex: Wait, hold on, is your cell phone playing that old Jay-Z song, Big Pimpin? Do you need to get that?

Ari: Uh, yeah, gotta take that...*runs outside*...

Alex: Okay...weird...since obviously  you seem to have a lot on your plate lets round this interview out with your favorite food, book, and movie or TV show.

Ari:  My favorite food would have to be donuts from Herb's Bakery in Cambridge. They're like fluffy bits of awesome. Book, hmm, that's tough, there are so many. I'd have to say Jane Eyre. Don't really have fave movie or TV show. Between homework and cheerleading, who has the time?

Alex:  *Stares down at cell phone* Uh, I got to go.  My boyfriend is having some weather problems...yeah weather problems...

Ari: Thanks for having me. Good luck with that boyfriend of yours, sounds like he's a bit of trouble!

***************************************************************************

How far would you go to save your dream?

Seventeen-year-old Ariceli Pisa is a senior at the prestigious Cambridge High School and has her sights set on Northwestern University. She's a cheerleader, a member of the National Honor Society...and a drug dealer. That's not the only secret she has to keep from her best friend Naomi--she’s also madly in love with Naomi’s ex-boyfriend, James Bartlett. Trying to balance her life at Cambridge High with her new demanding job keeps her teetering on the edge of disaster.

The Green is a full novel at 53,000 words. It contains strong language and drug references and is advised for ages 14 and up.

***************************************************************
Karly Kirkpatrick loves to read and write YA. She published her first YA novel, Into the Shadows in 2010 and added Bloody Little Secrets and EIGHT in 2011 (Which is FREE on Amazon and Itunes). She lives in Elgin, Illinois. For more information about Karly, visit http://www.karlykirkpatrick.com/. She is also a member of The Indelibles. Check them out at http://indeliblewriters.blogspot.com/

Alex Bianchi's Coffee Talk with Eros

For today's coffee talk I'm sitting with the famous (or infamous if you prefer) Eros!

Alex: So, Eros, since this is Coffee talk, what is your coffee drink of choice?

Eros:  Thanks, but I'll pass.  I prefer Ambrosia in the mornings.

Alex:  *Tries not to stare at the curve of Eros' chin. She has a thing for jawlines* Uh, I was saying something else or going to say something. So, yeah, Eros, obviously you are an attractive guy, and I’m guessing all the Coffee Talk viewers would like to know if you are single? Not that I’m asking for myself.

Eros: *clears throat* Well, your viewers can rest assured that Psyche and I are quite happy together. *leans in close* Destined is a true story, you know.

Alex: Hummanh, hummanah, hummanah. Okay, so now that we’ve got that figured out. That we are both wonderfully taken individuals let’s move on. If you were to have someone play you in a movie, who would you cast?

Eros: Gods, that's a tough question. Maybe that Pettyfer guy.

Alex: Oh, heh, yeah he is pretty attractive. He would do a really good job. *Thinks about Alex Pettyfer's jawline and then shakes head to get the visions out* But okay, back to the questions. So you have a really interesting job. How do you balance your job and social life?

Eros:  Answering love prayers has its challenges, but Psyche inspires me to be my best.  I'm sure someone as lovely as you are has the same effect on her partner. *winks*

Alex:  *Blinks, stares at his jawline* Hummanah, hummanah, hummanah

*A bright blue light beams in behind Alex and Ace steps out of it*

Alex:  Oh hiya Ace! Um, just doing my coffee talk interview with Eros here!

Ace:  Doesn’t look like much of an interview to me…

Alex:  Okay, on that note lets round it out with your favorite food, movie, and TV show, Eros. *Ace still glares from behind Alex*

Eros:  *smirks and settles back into his chair*  You do remember I live in ancient Greece, right? I don't watch TV or movies. But favorite food ... Psyche and I shared some chocolate cake once that was just divine. *gets glazed over look in his eyes* Yeah - chocolate cake is best when shared. Don't you agree, Ace?

*Ace lurches forward with his hands out toward Eros, but Alex steps in the middle blocking him from the attack*

Alex:  Okay it looks like our time is up! Thank you for joining me Eros and viewers be sure to check out Destined by Jessie Harrell and learn a little more about Eros!

Ace:  What is that about? Do you want to learn more about this Eros?

Alex: Uh...maybe for ancient greek studies for school...or something. *stares longingly at Eros jawline, then shakes head*

Join us next time for an interview with Ari from The Green!

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When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

Destined is a fresh and heartachingly romantic retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth from debut novelist, Jessie Harrell.

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By day, Jessiean appellate lawyer. By night, she is a wife, mother of two, and author/lover of all things Greek mythology. A native Floridian, frustrated world traveler, unrepentant dreamer, lover of acoustic music and not-so-closet geek. Destined, released November 17, 2011, is her first novel. 

Coffee Talk with Alex Bianchi

In addition to Fangirl Friday I decided to help out one of my characters and let the heroine of the My Alien Romance series conduct some interviews of her own with some of her favorite characters. So for the first ever Coffee Talk with Alex Bianchi she will be interviewing Bentley Evans from Life, Love, & Lemons.

Alex: Alright, Bentley, since this is Coffee talk, what is your coffee drink of choice?

Bentley: I'll take a grande, non-fat carmel latte with an extra shot of espresso, no whip, and soy milk.

Alex:  Alright...Uh I guess that is a good choice? Anyways, so what brings you around this area? Slumming it in Winnebago?

Bentley: *eye roll* I'm not slumming it anywhere. My dad used to be an engineer and then he got laid off. Now I live on the East Side of town and it actually isn't as bad as it sounds.

Alex: Is that your ride out side, then? What you drove here? *points to the car out the window*

Bentley: No, that would be my boyfriend's Ford Falcoln. I think he likes that thing more than me.

Alex: So, your boyfriend is the emo-haired kid in the giant orange blob?

Bentley: Yeah, he is. Sure it may not make sense for the preppy girl to hang out with the emo kid in the Falcoln, but it works for us. We balance eachother out, you could say.

Alex: *squints at the boy in the car* He almost looks familiar. Does he happen to know anyone from Calta?

Bentley: WTF is Calta?

Alex: Uh, nevermind. Anyways, so since your life seems to be getting pretty excited, if someone where to make a movie about your life, who would play you and you friends?

Bentley: Well, I don't have cable anymore and haven't been to the movies since who knows when, but I guess I can try to pick some people. Let's see, probably Hillary Duff to play me, but back in the day before she got all married and pregnant, because I am totally not married or preggo for that matter. My boyfriend would probably be played by some guy from one of those bubblegum punk bands or whatever like Hot Chelle Rae. And my best friend Gabby would be played by someone Latina and the only Latina actress I can think of is Penelope Cruz and she is like way old.

Alex: Ok...then...Let's round this out with your favorite food, book, and TV show or movie.

Bentley: My favorite food would have to be sushi- especially volcano rolls. My favorite book is probably one of the Twilight ones and for TV show or movie. Like, I said I don't want much TV or go to the movies, but all the Friday the 13th movies will always be a classic to me. Well those and Clueless.

Alright Bentley thanks for being my first guest on Coffee Talk and can't wait to read Life, Love, & Lemons! (Coming out in April!)