Review: Ghost in the Machine - Skeleton Creek #2 by Patrick Carman

Ghost in the Machine

Skeleton Creek Book 2

by Patrick Carman

Scholastic Press

ISBN: 9780545075701

http://www.patrickcarman.com/

Release Date: October 1, 2009

from the publisher's site:

Strange things are happening in Skeleton Creek...and Ryan and Sarah are trying to find out why. Ryan writes down everything in his journal, and Sarah records everything on her videocam. The two move deeper into the mystery they've uncovered, determined to discover the secrets buried in Skeleton Creek, in the conclusion to Patrick Carman's thrilling series. In this groundbreaking format, the story is broken into two parts - Ryan's text in the book, and Sarah's videos on a special website, with links and passwords given throughout the book.

my thoughts:

I absolutely love this book! I read/watched it straight through over the course of a few hours. Which unfortunately left me reading/watching some of the more suspenseful sections while I was home alone in the dark. Not the best idea, but it sure sets the right mood. :)

Patrick Carman's innovative Skeleton Creek series is phenomenal. Both Ghost in the Machine and its predecessor Skeleton Creek held me riveted. I had to keep my laptop handy so I could immediately watch Sarah's videos after reading Ryan's journal entries. There was no read a little bit then check out the video later, for me. I had to know what was happening right now.

I highly recommend both of these books to everyone. Yeah they are suspenseful and some parts are outright freaky, but you can just do what I did, don't turn off the lights and keep a teddy bear nearby. :)

And now for the book trailer:

Author Interview: Shelia M. Goss

Hey all! Sorry I've been so quiet lately. I was out of town for most of last week. Travelling is more exhausting than I thought. :)




Today I have Shelia M. Goss author of the Lip Gloss Chronicles visiting Want My YA. Keep on reading to see what she has to say.





1.Tell us a little about yourself.



The Lip Gloss Chronicles series is my first young adult novel series. I'm the author of six women’s fiction novels. Besides writing books, listening to music is one of my favorite pastimes. Prince is one of my all time favorite artists and if I could live anywhere else in the world, it would be Paradise Island, Bahamas. I'm also a Young & The Restless fan. I usually have it playing in the background in the morning when I’m writing.

2.What got you started writing?

I've been writing since I was 9 years old but didn't decide to do it professionally until after I got downsized from a fortune 500 company. I had originally planned on pursuing writing as a career when I retired, but as fate would have it, my plans got pushed up.

What brought you to YA?

It was a combination of things. I've always wanted to write books in the genre since being a teenager and reading Nancy Drew. I decided to finally do it after hearing my friends complain about their teens reading adult books.

3.Tell us about your most recent/ upcoming release?

The Lip Gloss Chronicles series tackle current issues affecting teens. Each book in the series is told from one of three best friends point of view-Britney, Jasmine and Sierra.



Splitsville - The Lip Gloss Chronicles Vol. 2 is Jasmine's story. Jasmine must deal with her parents divorcing. Jasmine believes she's the reason why her parents are having so many problems. One of the friends learn about the dangers of giving out personal information to strangers on the internet. Teenagers spend a lot of time on the internet. I decided to show the dangers of improper internet usage by allowing one of the characters to communicate with a stranger they met online. Internet safety is important and bringing awareness to this issue will hopefully make teens and their parents think twice about time spent online and on social networks.

4.Do you plot out in advance, or just start writing and see where things go from there?

I usually write a synopsis. The synopsis is used as my guide but I add meat to the story as I start writing it.

5.Many authors have told me their characters talk to them, and sometimes even have different ideas of where the story should go than the author. Do you hear your characters?

Yes. The characters speak to me so that I can tell their stories. If the characters voices didn't come across, it would be difficult to write any of the books I've written.

6.Who is your favorite character (of your own)?

Wow. Hard question. I think that whatever book I'm working on at the time has my favorite character for a variety of reasons. Jasmine, the main character in Splitsville, definitely makes herself stand out from her two friends. I like the fact that readers get to see her grow.

7.What hobbies do you have when you're not writing?

I love to travel and read.

8.If you had not become a writer what would you have done instead?

I have an engineer degree. In my former life, I was a Project Manager and Technical Trainer. I worked in the telecommunications industry and other private sectors. Technology has always been an interest of mine.


9.Where can readers find you online?


To keep up to date about my books and other YA happenings, be sure to stop by my blog at www.thelipglosschronicles.com/blog or visit the main site:
www.thelipglosschronicles.com

You can also find me at the following sites:
www.sheliagoss.com
www.twitter.com/sheliamgoss
www.facebook.com/sheliagoss
www.myspace.com/sheliagoss

10.Your turn. What question do you have for readers of Want My YA?

What top three qualities should a good YA novel have in your opinion?

Thanks for your responses Shelia! It was great having you here at Want My YA today. :) Readers be sure to comment and answers Shelia's question.

Review: You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay

You Are So Undead to Me

by Stacey Jay

Razorbill (Penguin)

ISBN: 9781595142252

http://www.staceyjay.com/

Release Date: January 22, 2009

from the publisher's website:

Megan Berry is a Zombie Settler by birth, which means she’s part-time shrink to a whole bunch of semi-dead people with killer issues. All Megan really wants is to go to homecoming, but when you’re trailed by a bunch of slobbering corpses whenever you leave the house, it’s kinda hard to score a date. Let’s just say Megan’s love life could use some major resuscitation.

Megan’s convinced her life can’t get any worse – until someone in school starts using black magic to turn average, angsty Undead into scary, hardcore flesh-eating Zombies. Now it’s up to Megan to stop the Zombie apocalypse. Her life – and more importantly, the homecoming dance – depends on it.

my thoughts:

I LOVE this book. Yeah I know I always say this, but that doesn't make it any less true. I was hooked from page one. Megan's story was a great read. As with any book I read I really need to feel the characters I'm reading about. Stacey Jay made Megan's voice come through so clearly. I could understand her frustrations with Zombie settling and yet I could also understand the need for a Zombie Settler to exist.

I can't wait for Undead Much? to release. I really want to read more about Megan and Ethan and even see more of Monica. Stacey Jay has gained a loyal reader in me and I'm so excited for more. :)

pssst.....

This book was reviewed thanks to your votes. So if you want a say in what I review on this blog make sure you vote in my monthly polls. There is always at least one, sometimes more, running in the left sidebar.