Monday, May 3, 2010

Spreading the Awesome - Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

*Update: the book giveaway is officially closed. Thank you to all who entered and commented.

When I found out what the fabulous Elana Johnson had planned for the "Spreading the Awesome" blog day today I knew I had to jump in. Hello, a day of love for the books we want to share with the world? I'm all about it. There are dozens of titles I could suggest but I knew right away that I wanted to talk about, BLEEDING VIOLET, a YA Paranormal by Dia Reeves. It's deliciously dark and crazy and one of the most original stories I've read in years. I wanted to slap the main character, Hanna, more than once but you can't help but love her. She's a force to be reckoned with. And Wyatt...just wait until you meet Wyatt. (and how gorgeous is this cover?)


Love can be a dangerous thing....

Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas in search of a new home.

But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe.

When I contacted Dia about featuring BV here she was awesome enough to not only answer a few questions but to offer a copy of BLEEDING VIOLET for one lucky person who makes a comment on this post today. Thank you so much, Dia!

How did you come up with the freaky unique creatures in BV? They’re fantastic! Thanks! I get my creature ideas from Discovery Channel. Animals in the real world are so freaky, I just build the pretend animals around them. The hardhead creatures are kind of like scorpions, the lures are like amoebae—it’s all based in reality.

The setting for BV, Portero, TX, is one crazy place. If you found yourself there would you stick around and check things out or run for your life?
I’m the kind of girl who screams if a grasshopper gets into the house, so I don’t see myself handling monsters very well. My characters tend to be a lot braver than I am. One thing I do like about Portero, though, is how close the community is and how they look out for one another.

You have a new book called, A SLICE OF CHERRY coming out by S&S in January of 2011. Can you tell us more about this story?
It’s about two outcast sisters–daughters of a notorious serial killer–who decide to put their murderous genes, and latent powers, to good use by only killing people who deserve it. So a lot of people get killed in really weird ways, but it’s not really about the killing. It just tickles me to use violence as a way to highlight more mundane issues like coming of age and the importance of family and first love and all that stuff. Yes, I’m weird, I know. ;p

I saw in your bio that you’re a librarian. (Awesome career by the way!) Does your job influence your writing? It must have been a blast to see people checking your book out.
I’ve never seen anybody checking my book out. If I did, I wouldn’t say anything. I’m still really shy about being a writer. My librarian job and my writing job are very separate. I never mix the different parts of my life.

As a fellow YA writer I confess to struggling when writing some of the controversial stuff (language, sex, drugs/alcohol) when it comes to how far I can take it so I really admire the way you handled the strong themes in BV. Did struggle or face any criticism on this at any point?
While I was writing it, no. Now that it’s out in the world, yup. A lot of people don’t think it’s appropriate for teens and yadda yadda yadda, but even if BV had been squeaky clean, people would have just found something else to criticize. No one escapes criticism, but I don’t mind being criticized for having written something I’m proud of.

For more fun information on Dia and BLEEDING VIOLET stop by and check out Simon & Schuster's page as well as her personal website.

Don't forget to leave a comment with your email address for your chance to win your very own copy of BLEEDING VIOLET courtesy of the author herself. This is one book you don't want to miss! For another great book recommendation on the Spreading the Awesome tour visit Yamile Mendez's blog to read about SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Zafon. For the complete list of participating blogs (interviews, giveaways and more) click here. A big thank you to Elana and Dia for allowing me to share this incredible book and author!

*Sorry, this giveaway is open only to those with a U.S. mailing address.

48 comments:

~Jamie said...

Ohhh! Any book Becky says is good is a MUST READ! I am so in!

Mundie Moms said...

What a great feature! I enjoyed Bleeding Violet. I've never read anything like it before!

Unknown said...

A Slice of Cherry sounds really interesting, I'll be looking forward to it. Haven't read Bleeding Violet but heard several great reviews.

becca69 said...

I will def put this on my to-do list!

Bethany Elizabeth said...

Wow, sounds amazing. :) I definitely want to read it now.

Kelly said...

I love this feature! I am going to check out other blogs participating also. I really want to read Bleeding Violet. Plelase enter me. :D
kghobbs@gmail.com

Yamile said...

I've been wanting to read this one since it came out! I just love that cover.
Wonderful interview!

Courtney Barr - The Southern Princess said...

I have had my eye on this one for some time...

Would love to win a copy!

clsbarr(at)yahoo(dot)com

Wonderful interview and spotlight!!!

I cannot wait to check this one out!

This has been such a fun event today :o)

Visit My Kingdom Anytime

JESSJORDAN said...

this one's on my wishlist.

jessjordan82(at)gmail(dot)com

Thanks!

Janet Johnson said...

I've heard good things about Bleeding Violet. I'll have to read it. :)

Allison said...

I've been very excited about this book, thanks for the contest!

allison.d.mason AT gmail DOT com

Renee said...

I've been looking forward to reading this! mcdonaldrenee1 (at) gmail (dot) com

Bells said...

Sounds like a great book. Please enter me.

bellie7@msn.com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this!

kzupancic[at]yahoo[dot]com

Angela Ackerman said...

Sounds like such a great book. The interview was great, too! I totally need this book!

Erin said...

I've heard so many great things about this book and I'm dying to read something unique. Great post! :-)

Christa said...

Please enter me! I've had my eye on this book for a while.
Thanks
ambience.of.rain {at} gmail.com

Unknown said...

enter me please! this book has been on my to be read list for a long time. thanks

pyrospunkii@att.net

Taffy said...

Another interesting book to add to my list!
Great review as well!

Rebecca Wells said...

Sounds awesome! Count me in!

- Rebecca

rebeccaswells(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Looks like a fun book!

egdeedy(at)gmail(dot)com

Suzette Saxton said...

Oh, I have been wanting to read this one for a long time! Count me in!

suzettesaxton(at)gmail(dot)com

Michelle McLean said...

Wonderful interview, thanks so much! And I would love to win a copy :D

authormichellemclean(at)yahoo(dot)com

Amy Holder said...

Great review & Interview! This book sounds fantastic!

Marci said...

I've heard great things about this book. Thanks for the contest!

mari0054@aim.com

Lydia Kang said...

Hi Rebecca,
Nice to meet you, and I'm a new follower! I've heard about this book and your review is great. Count me in for the contest!
lydiakang (at) yahoo (dot) com

Melanie said...

Would love to read this book! Please enter me.
melvautour(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

sounds interesting!
yilingni@yahoo.com

Nichole Giles said...

That cover is just gorgeous. And I love that interview. How fun!

Sign me up, totally. And thanks for helping to spread the awesome today.

Nichole

nickigiles @ gmail . com

Casey Something said...

I've been wanting to read this since I saw the gorgeous cover on the blue boards. And it sounds sooo good, too!

caseymccormmickya@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

People have been RAVING about Bleeding Violet. I can't wait to read this! Please count me in for the giveaway.

-Lisa B.
angel28140 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

angie said...

This book sounds great! I would love to be entered!
Thanks!
bangersis at msn dot com

Christine Fonseca said...

Another must read book...man my list is long long long

Riv Re said...

This book looks great! I love the cover!
Please enter me to win!
rivkarno1(at)hotmail(dot)com

Shannon Messenger said...

Thanks for the book recommendation. Adding to my TBR list now...

Also-new follower! *waves*

Unknown said...

I've added Bleeding Violet to my to-read list. The title and cover art are fantastic, and your review and the author interview answers have sealed the deal!

Thanks, and I look forward to following your blog!

Jenny said...

i have read the back of this book and it sounds awesome. has been on my reading list for quite some time!!!!

would be totally cool to win, either way i will at least end up reading it, probably owning it too!
lol
thank you for the chance.
jusjenny29@aol.com

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Oh, I have been wanting this book for a while now - great choice for your feature. Thanks for the awesome interview, ladies! Count me in for the contest...oooo, I so want this book! :-)

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Sounds fantastic! Thanks for the contest.
sleuthwood (at) yahoo (dot) com

Elana Johnson said...

I loved this book! Such a great read, and you can't find anyone nicer than Dia Reeves. Great review!

~The Book Pixie said...

I have really been wanting to read this book. Thanks for the contest. :D

~Briana
thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com

Mandy said...

This book has been on my wish list for a while
bratdownstairs @yahoo.com

B.J. Anderson said...

Sounds great! I would love to be entered in this contest! Great interview.

B.J. Anderson said...

Oops! I just saw that the contest is closed. Great review though!

Aik said...

I'm a new follower. I'd love to read this book! Thanks!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Cynde L. Hammond said...

Hi, Rebecca!

I'm a new "follower" and I sure would appreciate a "follow-back" on my blog, "Cynde's Got The Write Stuff".

Here's my email addy:
cyndelouwho22(at)gmail(dot)com

Until next time,
Cynde

Cynde's Got The Write Stuff

Nishant said...

What a great feature!
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Nishant said...

sounds amazing.
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