Salvation Blog Tour Schedule

What: SALVATION Blog Tour

Who: Anyone interested in joining my main characters—Salva and Beth—and I for a month of celebrating our new book, Salvation, with giveaways, crazy guest posts, quirky interviews, honest reviews, and sneak peaks!

When: Dec. 24^th-Feb. 8^th. See the schedule below.

Where: Various websites all across the literary universe. See the schedule below.

Why: To have fun, get to know Salva and Beth, and win free stuff!

Contact: Follow the links on the schedule below.

December 24^th—A Reader of Fictions: http://readeroffictions.blogspot.com/

Dec. 28^th—Reads and Thoughts: http://karlaamaemaglaoy.wordpress.com/

Dec. 31—The Story Siren: http://www.thestorysiren.com/

Jan. 1—The Irish Banana Review: http://theirishbanana.blogspot.com/

Jan. 2—YA Bibliophile: http://www.yabibliophile.com/

Jan. 3—The Authoress: www.theauthoress.com

Jan. 4—YA Bliss: http://www.yabliss.com/

Jan. 7—Michelle and Leslie’s Book Picks: http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com/

Jan. 8—Cari’s Book Blog: http://cariblogs.blogspot.com/

Jan. 9—The Compulsive Reader: http://www.thecompulsivereader.com/

Jan. 10^th—SALVATION RELEASE DAY!!!

amaterasu Reads: http://amaterasureads.blogspot.com/

Northwest News & Notes:

http://www.novelsnewsandnotes.blogspot.com/

Jan. 11—Tabitha’s Book Blog: http://tabithabookblog.blogspot.com/

Jan. 14—Yearning To Read: http://yearningtoread.blogspot.com/

Jan. 15—Candace’s Book Blog: http://www.candacesbookblog.com

Jan. 16—In Between: http://inbetweenwritingandreading.blogspot.com/

Jan. 17—Katie’s Book Blog: http://www.katiesbookblog.com/

Jan. 18—Wondrous Reads: http://www.wondrousreads.com/

Jan. 21—Falling For YA: http://fallingforya.blogspot.com/

Jan. 22—Good Choice Reading: http://www.goodchoicereading.com/

Jan. 23—A Good Addiction: http://agoodaddiction.blogspot.com/

Jan. 24—Tina’s Book Reviews: http://www.tinasbookreviews.com/

Jan. 25—Reading Angel: http://www.readingangel.com/

Jan. 26—Book Whale Reviews: http://bookwhales.blogspot.com/

Jan. 28—A Life Bound By Books: http://alifeboundbybooks.blogspot.com/

Jan. 29—Stalking the Bookshelves: http://stalkingthebookshelves.blogspot.com/

Jan. 31—The Paperback Princesses: http://allaboutyabooks.blogspot.com/

Jan. 31—One Week SALVATION Sneak Peak Tour!

Pure Imagination: Sneak Peak 1

 http://www.pureimaginationblog.com/

Feb. 2—Always YA at Heart: Sneak Peak 2:

http://www.alwaysyaatheart.com/

Feb. 3—Books with Bite: Sneak Peak 3:

          http://www.bookswithbite.net/

Feb. 4—Live to Read: Sneak Peak 4:

http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/

Feb. 5—The Bookish Babe: Sneak Peak 5:

http://thebookishbabes.blogspot.com

Feb. 6—TBA: Sneak Peak 6

Feb. 7—TBA: Sneak Peak 7

Feb. 8—I am a Reader Not a Writer: Sneak Peak 8:

http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com

SALVATION Blog Tour: An Epic Launch

In honor of our upcoming release, Salva, Beth, and I are thrilled to invite you all on our SALVATION Blog Tour! (OK, we're also terrified, but we're feigning bravery). We have an incredible number of tour stops lined up with fabulous hosts. Come join us for giveaways, crazy guest posts, quirky interviews, honest reviews, and sneak peaks! Our entire tour plan is set to be posted on the event page of my website. www.anneosterlund.com And our first stop begins with . . .

The Hazards of a Tea Party

The invitation arrives via e-mail. I laugh as I read, then make the announcement.

“So everyone,” I tell my characters, even though I know they’ve been spying and are already aware. “In honor of Salva and Beth’s upcoming release of their brand new book, Salvation, Christina has invited us all to a tea party at A Reader of Fictions.”

Instant bedlam. The girls are all digging through their closets.

Dane, from my earlier book, Academy 7, says flat-out that he doesn’t do tea parties. “What”—he says—“does a contemporary novel in which everyone’s life is a mess have to do with a tea party?”

         I point out that Salvation isn’t his story so the choice of accepting the invitation isn’t up to him. “Salva?” I question the real hero.

         “Will there be food?” Salva asks, spinning a football.

         “Absolutely.”

         “Touchdown.” He tosses the ball straight for the bucket at the edge of the porch, then gives Robert, from Aurelia and Exile, a high five. They are both on board.

By now the girls have all congregated in Aurelia’s closet. (Aerin’s is empty, and Beth’s is a disaster). Twenty minutes later, we—minus Dane—arrive at A Reader of Fictions.

To read the rest of our adventure (and sign up for a free ARC of the book!) check out Christina's blog at A Reader of Fictions.

Redemption: Aurelia Book Three

I’ve spent this year dealing with an angst-ridden former crown princess. No surprise guessing which one. Along with preparations for Salvation (which comes out in stores January 10^th!) my current major writing project is Redemption, AKA Aurelia and Robert’s third and final novel.

Aurelia, of course, is in a hurry.

-To get home.

-To share her story with all of you.

-To engage in . . . certain activities a crown princess is generally not permitted to engage in.

I’ve told her there’s no problem with her wanting things. The reality, though, is that we crash up against obstacles. In Aurelia’s life, this means betrayal, the limitations of society, and emotional trauma. In writing, it means rejection, lack of control, and characters that yell at you that their lives cannot be held hostage to practicalities.

I don’t have a contract for Redemption. However, Aurelia and Robert’s story, in my head, has always been a trilogy. It is a trilogy. And it will be a trilogy.

I’ve promised her. And Robert, of course (though he doesn’t yell).

Redemption is currently two chapters away from a polished second draft, and I will finish it.

Once the manuscript is finished, I will tackle the challenge of finding a way to publish it. And I’m certain that will require a whole new learning curve—filled with its own obstacles. And miracles. Because that is what makes a story. I hope Robert’s and Aurelia’s fans will all be more patient than she is during that process.

Though, of course, if it weren’t for her impatience, neither Aurelia nor Exile nor any of my other novels would have been published. And I would never be able to make you this promise: that I will do everything in my power to share Redemption.

There is definitely an advantage to having a strong-willed, former crown princess in your head.

Quirky Author Thoughts: Introducing . . . SALVATION

I first met Salva and Beth in the middle of a collision. Papers, pencils, the contents of Beth’s backpack, and point of view everywhere!

Yet neither of them bothered to introduce themselves. Oh, no; they were both far too busy telling me about each other. According to her, he was one of those “patronizing—and annoying—organized people.” And according to him, she was “the walking disaster area.”

There was plenty of evidence to support both claims. Though I got no names out of that collision, and I had no idea there was a book coming.

I didn’t find that out until Pepe shoved Salva into the prologue. Pepe is Salva’s best friend, and he’s pretty certain he knows what Salva needs: by this I mean who Salva should date, what sport he should play, what he should do with his life, where he should go to college, and when Salva should be brave enough to introduce himself to an author—aka yours truly—and demand that author write his story.

In this case, Pepe was right: Salva has a heck of a story.

If I wanted to be cheesy, I could pitch it as “Perfect Chemistry meets Romeo & Juliet;” but then you’d assume you know the end. And you don’t.

Because you can’t. Until you know Salva & Beth.

Salvation, Exile, and Judgmental Cats

Check out my new website updates at www.anneosterlund.com! Highlights include info about my new book, Salvation—complete with an awesome photo on the What’s Next page; as well as a brand new awards page; and reviews for Exile! Plus, don’t miss the row of cat judges on the new “reviews” link. Are my web designers incredible or what?

Author Spotlight: Sharon Shinn

Sharon Shinn is one of my favorite authors. If you have read her novel, Summers at Castle Auburn, this won’t surprise you. It features a royal palace and a gutsy heroine a la another YA novel you may have read by yours truly.

Not surprisingly, Summers at Castle Auburn was my first Sharon Shinn discovery. A YA fantasy with castles, princesses, and magic is very unlikely to miss my radar.

Surprisingly, especially considering how great Summers at Castle Auburn is, it is not my favorite Sharon Shinn book.

That honor goes to Archangel—an absolutely fabulous piece of fantasy that will rob you of your sleep—even on the night before a very important exam—so BEWARE.

Shinn writes both YA and adult romantic fantasy, often with a unique sci-fi blend; and in this rare instance, I tend to love her adult fantasy/sci-fi even more than her YA—because I get to spend more time in the hearts of her characters and their wonderfully rich worlds. All of her novels are worth checking out; however my absolute must-reads are below. In the order of how much I love them.

1. Archangel (Archangel Trilogy #1)

An age of corruption has come to the land of Samaria, threatening its peace and placing the Samarians in grave danger. Their only hope lies in the crowning of a new Archangel. The oracles have chosen the privileged angel, Gabriel, and further decreed that first he must wed the slave woman, Rachel. Gabriel is certain that she will greet the news of her destiny with enthusiasm, and a devotion to duty equal to his own. Rachel, however, has other ideas.

Note: Initially, I was a bit hesitant to read this trilogy, due to the “angels.” I don’t like my main characters to be dead. But have no fear! These angels are neither dead nor religious figures. And Gabriel is definitely hot!

2. Summers at Castle Auburn

She was a girl with a talent for witchcraft and a taste for adventure. The illegitimate child of a royal lord, she longed for a man who could never be hers. And she lived for her summers at Castle Auburn.

She is a woman who has grown accustomed to standing alone. What she once loved, she has lost. Where she once saw joy, she now sees terrible injustice. And at the castle where she once lived in peace, she now walks in fear for her life.

3. Jovah’s Angel (Archangel Trilogy #2)

Destructive storms are sweeping the land of Samaria. Then the current Archangel is incapacitated and replaced by shy, unworldly Alleya (Alleluia). She must calm the weather, pacify the tribes, make Jovah hear her, forge a reconciliation with the previous Archangel, and find the man she is supposed to marry--in four months. Unfortunately, the tribes don't want to be pacified, the weather is uncooperative, Jovah is remote, the crippled Archangel is bitter, and Alleya's “destined” husband is identified by the oracles only as a "son of Jeremiah."

Just as addictive as the first Archangel novel!

4. Heart of Gold

A scientist by nature . . . he used his rational powers of observation to examine more closely the privileges he was born to enjoy—and the people he was raised to despise.

A rebel at heart . . . she followed her fiercest passions in the struggle to overthrow a legacy of hate—one that had poisoned her family for generations.

On a planet divided . . . between rich and poor, strong and weak, intellect and feeling, only one thing could bring these two opposites together: A strictly forbidden desire.

For justice. For equality. For each other.

Enjoy!