Back to School Book Blast [Giveaway]!

I always love this time of the year because it is back to school for most of the U.S!

Back to school as a kid was always my favorite time of year because I got new clothes, new supplies, and best of all, new books!  My parents always let me get two new books to start the year off, and I've kept the habit (nowadays the limit is definitely more than two!).

So as I have some extra copies of some of my favorite books that I got from ALA, I figured I'd share the tradition with all of you in honor of a happy start of the beginning of the new school year.

Now, you don't have to still be in school to enter!  I have been fully done with my Masters for 2 years now, and I still love me some school.  So if you're young, old, graduated, or just starting off, check out the seven books I have in store for one lucky winner to set them up just right for the new school year!

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Terms & Conditions

Open only to US residents!

No entries outside of US! 

Must be 13 years old to enter. 

ONE winner will win ALL 7 books

Winner must have a mailing address within the US.

NO P.O. Boxes.

Prize will be mailed out by blog owner.

Eli to the nth claims no responsibility for lost prizes.

Winner will be contacted by email. 

Winner has 48 hours to respond with mailing address.

Mailing address will be deleted upon delivery of box.

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ARC AUGUST - TO BE READ PILE!

So after ALA, I have a lot of ARCs to get through!  I've made a plan for them, but I figured a kick in the butt wouldn't go amiss.  So when I learned about the ladies over at Read.Sleep.Repeat's ARC August event I thought, this is perfect!

So I went through the ARCs I have and picked some choice ones that I was/am really excited to read!

My goal is to finish 10 ARCs this month!  Hopefully, that'll happen, but I'm not going to stress out about it too much!

THE BOOKS

     

        

I know some of these are already published, but I still haven't read them so might as well add them on!  Illuminae must be read in time for Gemina in October so there is a method behind this madness!

 If you have an ARC shelf just staring you down, today is the LAST day to sign-up to participate!  Of course, if you miss the sign up, still go read those ARCs!  I know how overwhelming a ton of books can be, and you always want to get the newest one, but take the time to give love to all those older ARCs too!

I'm feeling excited and trepidatious about my goal, but I think I can do it!  I'll be posting reviews for the books as well, so look for those!  Perhaps there may even be some giveaways for the books I really enjoy!  WHO KNOWS?!

HAPPY READING!

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SPOOKTACULAR READS 2015

So like 3 years ago, I did this whole Spooktacular Reads Challenge here on Eli to the nth, where I read a certain amount of "spooky" books and reviewed them throughout the month of October.  I didn't have a large following, but it was fun for me and a couple of people did it too, so that was awesome.

Well in trying to keep my reading up, I've decided to bring this idea back,  I am going to be reading "spooky" books all throughout October and then posting the reviews during the last week, leading up to Halloween on the 31st.  But this is just a me thing, and I'm not really marketing it as a challenge.  But, if any of you want to grab the idea (I don't think it's an original on my part) and do it yourself, go ahead!

I am trying to not overload myself, so I have picked only four books I am planning on reading, one for each week that's left of October.  The books are a mix of supernatural/horror/thriller that I think will fit the bill for a Spooktacular Read.

 Bits & Pieces by Jonathan Maberry - This is the 5th book in the Rot & Ruin series, which I ADORE!  It fills in the gaps missing between Benny's adventures in the main books and what was happening in the world outside of his group.  Gotta love zombies during Halloween, and this is the ultimate zombie series!

 Slasher Girls & Monster Boys edited by April Genevieve Tucholke - Ever since I heard about this short story collection, I've been dying to read it (pun in no way intended lol).  It has some kick-ass contributors to the collection and it is all about scary things.  Perfect for Halloween, and I'll probably read this first since I only have until Saturday to finish!

 Asylum by Madeleine Roux - Halloween isn't complete without a good "haunted" house-esque story.  This has been on my shelf for a year, so I want to read it.  I have heard mixed reviews, but it definitely looks creepy to me; of course if I had to stay in an old sanatorium for summer camp I would get the HECK out of there!  

 Liar of Dreams by Libba Bray - I think this book will be terrifying!  With the first book, The Diviners, Bray managed to cultivate a story so creepy that I could only read it during the day.  So with the next book, I'm feeling this will be the case again.  I might have to read a synopsis on like Wikipedia, since it has been sooooooo long since The Diviners came out, but I think it won't matter once I'm trusted back into the story.

Those are my four choices for Spooktacular Reads!  There are a TON of different "spooky" stories out there, so it was definitely hard to pick, but I think I have a good little group all ready.

Let me know if you're doing your own Spooktacular reads in October, and come on back on Halloween for a surprise!  Happy haunting!

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My Blog Bestie (BFFBlogHop Stop + Giveaway)

I am so excited to be a part of the Blog Friends Forever Tour hosted by Fiction Fare and Swooney Boys Podcast.  These awesome four ladies put the word out there that they wanted to celebrate all of us book crazy nuts who blog, vlog, instagram, podcast, and just generally get excited about books!  I'm happy to help shine some light on this amazing and welcoming community that I have been a part of for the last almost 5 years (my blogoversary is November 29th)!

For this tour since it's Blog Friend themed, I thought what better way to celebrate but to talk about not only one of my blogger friends, but one of my real best friends!!!

This girl right here:

That's Erin, or better known on the 'net as Uniquely Geeky Girl.  I met her back during our Undergraduate program.  We were both Creative Writing majors, but we actually met in Spanish I.  She is so sweet and soft-spoken that at first I was like "I'm going to completely alienate this girl!" (It's because I'm pretty loud and opinionated).  But luckily, she didn't care and we struck up a friendship filled with Spanish tutoring (her helping me...I'm hopeless at Spanish) and mutual love of tuna with jalapeños (we hit up Subway every day after class...they started pur order when we walked in).

From that class on, we tried to make sure to have at least one class together; it helps when your majors are the same.  Then we found out we worked at the bookstore on campus together, so we were able to hang out even more.  And through all of these situations where we were together, we found that not only was writing a passion we shared but books, and more importantly Young Adult books, were totally our jam!!!!

By our senior year of UG I had already started my book blog.  At first it was an everything blog, but my second major (sadly of which Erin was not a part of) Education really jump started it with an assignment for one class where we had to "blog" about attending the NCTE Annual Convention.  So with that a gateway to book blogs opened up and off I went.

Meanwhile, Erin and I were talking all the time about books: which did we like, which we hated, which would make good movies and on and on and on.  And then the time came for graduation and the BIG QUESTION: What the heck are we going to do with our lives?!  That answer, luckily, came in the form of Graduate School and the Library and Information Sciences Master Program at our university.

Okay, so now HERE's where book blogging really starts up for both of us.  I'm still going strong with my little ole blog here, and Erin is embarking on a grand adventure of co-blogging with two of our friends over at Y.A. Book Addicts.  As some of you who also co-blog may know that can come with blessings and curses.  But they do still post over there, and now that all three are in a more stable place with their adult lives (ahhhhh adulthood is sooooo much fun), hopefully that blog will be getting some good ole TLC!

But during that time, Erin and I were also on our grand journey through the world of library science!  We got to attend YALSA's Young Adult Services Symposium, which was so very cool!

In St. Louis, MO at YALSA Symposium

We're just the cutest, right?  I think this is an event which really kind of hit home for both of us that YA literature was our passion, and we want to be involved with it in any way, shape, or form.

So on top of Y.A. Book Addicts, Erin also has a personal book/pop culture blog over at Uniquely Geeky Girl.  I think she is doing a really great job of infusing the blog with all of her multiple geeky interests (superheroes, vampires, hobbitsies, all kinds of things) and so I really want you to check her out!!  She is working on still building this particular blog up, but she does some really fun features, like Top Ten Tuesdays, Waiting on Wednesdays, and Fanart Friday (which I believe is her own invention).  She also highlights the books and comics (we're both huge comic nerds) that are newly released each month and which she is excited about.

So this is my Blog Bestie, who also happens to be my Real Bestie.  I think the best friends are the ones you share interests with, and Erin is just the girl I want to geek out over books!  And now that you've read this looooooong diatribe (hey, cut me some slack, I love the girl!) keep moving down to find not just one but TWO giveaways for you to enter!!!!

STOPS ON THE HOP

For some extra fun and to hop around to some of the other blogs participating, check out my fellow day posters below!

ReadWriteLove28 – Favorite Newbies 

Once Upon A Twilight – Top Bookstagrammers

Rattle the Pages – Top 10 Book Bloggers

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!!

First up is MY giveaway in order to celebrate my awesome bestie and to thank all of you for stopping by my stop on the blog hop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Second up is the HOP WIDE giveaway!  A bunch of us chipped in to bring you all an amazing prize opportunity!  So check it out!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a6ca59ee278/

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Banned Books Week 2015 - The Quotes

Banned Books Week is not the only time we need to remember to fight against the banning or challenging of books.  The people protesting the book certainly don't wait for a certain season, and neither should book defenders!

Here are some great quotes to keep in mind all year round when fighting the good fight!

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Banned Books Week 2015 - 8 of My Favorite YA Banned Books

This year, Banned Books Week is centered around Young Adult books.  “Young Adult books are challenged more frequently than any other type of book,” said Judith Platt, chair of the Banned Books Week National Committee.  Most of the time this challenges are issued from parents who "claim" to be concerned for the students' delicate sensibilities.  YA titles were on the list of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2014, according to the American Library Association. 

The problem with parents trying to dictate what should and should not be read is two-fold: first, they are not educational professional who often (I know this may not be 100% of the time) vett the book to utilize for an educational purpose, and second, they don't just attempt to stop their own child from reading the book, but all the children.  I have a major problem with both of these issues: please don't interfere with the learning process of every child in the class; while parents have a right to review what their child is being exposed to, they do not have that right for all the other children.  Let those kids parents make those determinations for themselves.  Additionally, unless you've had a frank and in-depth conversation with the educator about why the book was chosen, don't fly off the handle.  Teachers are not out to harm students, but to expand their outlook on the world, which is often reflected in the challenged material.

So below I've highlighted EIGHT of my favorite recently banned Young Adult Books!  Each is fantastic and really do have something to highlight for the reader about the real world we live in, even when set in a dystopian such as The Hunger Games or a murder-thriller such as I Hunt Killers.

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Banned Books Week 2015 - The Videos

It's that time again, the time to celebrate books, freedom, and expression!  

To celebrate those books that people try to remove from library shelves and from readers' hands.  

To celebrate the words written by authors looking to tell their/a/the story that needs to be told.  

To celebrate the ideals and experiences that reflect our real life.  

To celebrate BANNED BOOKS!

So let's set the tone with this awesome collection of Banned Book videos!

If you support reading Banned Books, then check out Banned Books Week to get more info about what you can do to help stop censorship and the banning of books (which yes, still does happen)!

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BANNED BOOKS WEEK PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the freedom to read is essential to our democracy, and reading is among our greatest freedoms; and

WHEREAS, privacy is essential to the exercise of that freedom, and the right to privacy is the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one's interest examined or scrutinized by others; and

WHEREAS, the freedom to read is protected by our Constitution; and

WHEREAS some individuals, groups, and public authorities work to remove or limit access to reading materials, to censor content in schools, to label "controversial" views, to distribute lists of "objectionable" books or authors, and to purge libraries of materials reflecting the diversity of society; and

WHEREAS, both governmental intimidation and the fear of censorship cause authors who seek to avoid controversy to practice self-censorship, thus limiting our access to new ideas; and

WHEREAS, every silencing of a heresy, every enforcement of an orthodoxy, diminishes the toughness and resilience of American society and leaves it less able to deal with controversy and difference; and

WHEREAS, Americans still favor free enterprise in ideas and expression, and can be trusted to exercise critical judgment, to recognize propaganda and misinformation, and to make their own decisions about what they read and believe, and to exercise the responsibilities that accompany this freedom; and

WHEREAS, intellectual freedom is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture; and

WHEREAS, conformity limits the range and variety of inquiry and expression on which our democracy and our culture depend; and

WHEREAS, the American Library Association's Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year as a reminder to Americans not to take their precious freedom for granted; and

WHEREAS, Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the blog Eli to the nth celebrates the American Library Association's Banned Books Week, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the blog Eli to the nth encourages all libraries and bookstores to acquire and make available materials representative of all the people in our society; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the blog Eli to the nth encourages free people to read freely, now and forever.

---

Adopted by the blog Eli to the nth
9/28/15 
Tampa, FL

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The Social Media Experiment by Cole Gibsen - Cover Reveal

Today Cole Gibsen and Entangled Teen are revealing the cover for THE SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERIMENT, releasing on September 2, 2014! Check out the very cool cover below, and make sure to add the book to your To Be Read pile!

On to the reveal!

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On the surface, seventeen-year-old Reagan Fray appears to have everything. She's popular, Ivy League–bound, and her parents are rich enough to buy her whatever she wants. Behind the scenes, Reagan is a girl with an anxiety disorder struggling to hold the fraying threads of her life together. It takes work to stay on top, and when that fails, Reagan's learned from her politician mother that a little social espionage never hurts. That is, until the day Reagan finds all of her texts and private messages printed out and taped to every locker in her high school.

Finding herself ostracized from her friends and on the receiving end of the bullying she used to dish out, Reagan won't settle into her new role as social pariah without a fight. Determined to get back in with her friends and reclaim her social status before her mother finds out and sends her to boarding school, Reagan has no choice but to team up with outcast Nolan Letner.

But the closer Reagan gets to Nolan, the more she realizes all of her actions have consequences, and her future might be the biggest casualty of all.

To Check Out/Buy:

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble/

About Cole:

At seventeen, Cole found herself homeless with only a beat-up Volkswagen Jetta and a bag of Goodwill clothing to her name. The only things that got her through the nights she spent parked in truck stops and cornfields were the stacks of books she checked out from the library along with her trusty flashlight. Because of the reprieve these books gave her from her troubles, Cole vowed to become a writer so she could provide the same escape to readers who needed a break the reality of their own lives..

You can visit Cole on her website, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Celebrating The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare by MG Buehrlen [Guest Post & Giveaway]

One of our own (as in fellow book blogger), MG Buehrlen, has made her authorial debut with the release of The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare! So excited for her, and in love with the concept behind her book!  

To help spread the word and celebrate the release I have a lovely guest post from MG talking about how blogging helped her get published, as well as a giveaway for one lucky winner!  Please check out the post, and check out the book because it is a must-read!

5 Ways Book Blogging Helped Me Get Published

Guest post by M.G. Buehrlen

When I started running YABooksCentral.com (a book review site and social network for book lovers) five years ago, I was a struggling writer with a stack of form rejections under my bed. I had already finished my first novel, but I had no idea what to do with it. I didn’t know how to write a compelling query letter, I didn’t know how to find the right agent for my work, and most importantly, I didn’t have a mentor who could look at my manuscript and tell me if it was actually worth pursuing.

I’ve dreamed of being an author since I could put pencil to paper, but that dream was going nowhere fast. Once I immersed myself in the book blogging world, however, all that began to change. Within three years, I had my dream agent. Within four years, I had a publishing deal.

Here are five ways I believe book blogging helped take my career to the next level:

Community
There is nothing more important than a solid writing community. Book blogging put me in touch with authors all around the world, authors who quickly became my friends and who have mentored me through countless revisions, queries, synopses, all of it. They’d been through the wringer and knew the drill, and they were sweet and kind enough to show me the way. (They’re still mentoring me, because I don’t think you ever stop learning in this biz.) I never would have gotten the insider advice I did if I hadn’t plunged into this amazing book-loving community.

Knowing What’s Out There
In order to keep YABC up-to-date with all the latest titles, *I* have to be up-to-date on all the latest titles. That means reading every book that crosses my desk. Back when I first started, I read a book a day to keep up with the huge stack of advanced copies publishers sent me each week. To sell a novel, you have to do your research. You can’t pitch something that’s already out there. Book blogging gave me a front row seat when it came to which books and genres and storylines were on popping up on the shelves, and which books were making readers foam at the mouth for the sequels.

Knowing What’s Selling
Book blogging also gave me the insider scoop on book deals as they happened in real-time. When a book deal is made, publicists send out the good news so book bloggers can spread the word and help drum up early excitement. This helped keep my finger on the current market trends. Not that I advise writing to trends, but knowing the current trends can be an advantage. Sometimes, when the market is too saturated with one certain trend, working on a book idea that’s outside the box could get you noticed by publishers. Conversely, if you have a manuscript that fits the trend, and you’ve got a unique spin on it, publishers might be more apt to sit up and take notice, too.

Name Recognition
Another way book blogging helped was name recognition. If you’re respectful, diligent, and professional, publishers will take notice. And if you’re in it for the long haul, that dedication will shine through. People will remember your name, not just your blog’s name. They’ll learn what you’re about, see how hard you work, and see how passionate you are about getting that first book deal. Book blogging helped me build a name for myself in the industry long before I signed my first contract.

Critique Group
The most important thing I’ve gained as a book blogger are the writer friendships I’ve made along the way. Through this job, I’ve met kindred spirits, best friends, and trusted advisors. I built a critique group of authors who know my writing style, know what I’m trying to say, and can help point me in the right direction, creatively. Having a good critique group is so important, especially for newbies like me. I can learn more about the craft in one phone call with a critique partner than I can reading a dozen how-to books. And the inspiration and encouragement they give is unlike anything else, from anywhere else.

I’m not saying book blogging was a direct line to getting my first novel published. A great deal more went into it than that, but I do believe my book blogging experience sped up the process for me. Who knows where I’d be if I hadn’t started running YABC five years ago. I don’t think I’d have my first book on the shelf so soon. I might have even given up by now if I hadn’t plunged myself into this industry and devoted every waking moment to learning the ropes.

Book blogging wasn’t (and isn’t) just a hobby for me. It was a crash course in publishing, one I’m so glad I stumbled upon. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be involved with an amazing site like YABC and the amazing group of book reviewers who run the site with me. And I’m happy to stand side-by-side with incredible blogs like Literary Rambles and all the others I’ve come to know and love over the years.

The online book community is the absolute best.

Title: The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare

Author: MG Buehrlen

Publisher: Strange Chemistry

Release Date: March 4, 2014

One girl. Fifty-seven lives. Endless ways to die.

For as long as 17-year-old Alex Wayfare can remember, she has had visions of the past. Visions that make her feel like she’s really on a ship bound for America, living in Jamestown during the Starving Time, or riding the original Ferris wheel at the World’s Fair.

But these brushes with history pull her from her daily life without warning, sometimes leaving her with strange lasting effects and wounds she can’t explain. Trying to excuse away the aftereffects has booked her more time in the principal’s office than in any of her classes and a permanent place at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Alex is desperate to find out what her visions mean and get rid of them.

It isn’t until she meets Porter, a stranger who knows more than should be possible about her, that she learns the truth: Her visions aren’t really visions. Alex is a Descender – capable of traveling back in time by accessing Limbo, the space between Life and Afterlife. Alex is one soul with fifty-six past lives, fifty-six histories.

Fifty-six lifetimes to explore: the prospect is irresistible to Alex, especially when the same mysterious boy with soulful blue eyes keeps showing up in each of them. But the more she descends, the more it becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want Alex to travel again. Ever.

And will stop at nothing to make this life her last.

(Goodreads)

Buy the Book!

Book Depository/Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Inkwood Books

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RULES:

• Open oInternationally!  
• Must be 13 years old to enter. 
• ONE winner will win a finished copy.
• Winner will be contacted by email to inform them they won.
• Winner has 48 hours to respond with mailing address or a new winner will be chosen. 
• NO PO BOXES as prizes tend to be lost when sent there.
• I claim no responsibility for lost prizes.
• Once recipient has received prize, all personal information is deleted.

Meet the Author

When she’s not writing, M.G. moonlights as a web designer and social media/creative director.

She’s the current web ninja lurking behind the hugely popular website 

YABooksCentral.com, a social network for YA (and kids!) book lovers. 

The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare is her debut novel. M.G. lives nestled away in Michigan pines, surrounded by good coffee and good books, with her husband and son and three furbabies. 

Check her out on the web!

Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr/Pinterest/Website

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