Jaclyn Moriarty interview

Jaclyn Moriarty the Australian/Canadian author of books such as Feeling Sorry for Celia, The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie and the more recently released, Spell Book of Listen Taylor.

You can check out her blog here.

Have you always known you were going to be  writer? Did anyone/thing inspire you to write and what is your favorite part of writing.

I have wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember.  My older sister used to write stories and at first I thought that was what everybody did in their spare time.  (My sister’s name is Liane Moriarty and she’s now a very succesful author herself.)   
I have two favourite parts of writing. One is when I’m working on a new idea for a book and I go out to cafes, eat chocolate and scribble ideas into notebooks.   At that point, it feels like anything is possible, and I love the freedom and excitement of that.  The other favourite part is getting letters from readers.  That always makes me very, very happy. 

What made you decide to write your novels in epistolary format? Did you ever have a pen pal and if so, how did they affect you? Do you think that the "Joy of the Envelope" is being lost?

When I was in high school, a friend of mine changed schools.  So we decided to write letters to each other – even though she had switched to a school just down the road from mine.  I loved getting letters from her, and we told each other all our secrets in our letters, and we became close friends as a result.  So, when I wrote my first book, Feeling Sorry for Celia, I liked the idea of making it about a letter-writing exchange between two nearby schools.  I didn’t mean the whole thing to be epistolary—but I found that I was adding so many letters and notes that eventually I thought, why not cut out the conventional narrative altogether? 
And the Joy of the Envelope is definitely being lost.  I just checked my mail and the envelopes were all bills.  It’s the same every day. 

Which of your characters do you think you were most like as a teenager? If you had to meet one of your characters which one would it be?

I think I was probably most like Elizabeth Clarry as a teenager.  I don’t want to admit this, but I might have been a bit like Bindy Mackenzie too—I got too worried about schoolwork, and took things too seriously a lot of the time.  
If I could meet one of my characters, I think I might choose Lydia because I can’t imagine meeting her without also meeting Emily, Cassie, Seb and Charlie.  So, I’d get five characters for the price of one, which would be a bargain.  I’d like to listen in to their conversations and make notes, which would be helfpul for future books. 

 
The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie is different from the rest of your books, as the character isn't instantly likeable (though she does grow on one by the end of the novel), how did you expect the readers to react to the novel?

I liked the idea of writing a book about the least popular girl in the school, making the readers hate her as much as everyone at the school did, and then gradually making the readers (and the school) grow fond of her.  Even though I did this on purpose, I still feel protective of poor Bindy Mackenzie when I hear people saying they don’t like her.  I liked her all along, even with all her flaws.

I read on your blog  recently that your next novel is going to be a ghost story. Any chance that you'll expand on that topic?

I’ve just finished writing my next novel, and it’s another Ashbury-Brookfield book.  It’s about two mysterious, beautiful new strangers who start at Ashbury in the midst of a thunderstrom – a boy and a girl named Riley and Amelia.  The other main characters are Lydia and Emily from The Year of Secret Assignments, and Toby from Bindy Mackenzie.  And you are right, it’s a ghost story.    

Now, In accordance with our theme, what does it mean to you to be Canadian? And, having lived in both Canada and Australia, do you find any significant differences between the two countries?

I think Canada and Australia are both big, beautiful countries with strong identities that somehow emerge from behind a cross-over of American and English influences.  I think Australians and Canadians are both self-deprecating and proud at the same time, and both have a finely-tuned sense of irony.   The main difference is that Australia doesn’t have a French-Australia, and Canada gets way too cold.  (But actually I love Canadian winters.  I love snow and ice.

Contest: The Year of Secret Assignments (CLOSED)

(from Amazon)

In The Year of Secret Assignments, a tenth grade English teacher attempts to unite feuding schools by launching a pen-pal project. Best friends Cassie, Emily and Lydia initiate the correspondence, and are answered by Matthew, Charlie and Seb. Emily and Lydia are more than pleased with their matches, but quiet Cassie has a frightening experience with Matthew. When Lydia and Emily discover that Matthew has threatened their fragile friend, the Ashbury girls close ranks, declaring an all-out war on the Brookfield boys. Soon, the couples are caught up in everything from car-jacking and lock-picking, to undercover spying and identity theft.

This is one of my favourite books so I'm excited to be giving a copy away (and there'll be a review up tomorrow). US/Canadian residents only! 
+1 Comment here (with a contact email)
+1 Post about this giveaway
+1 Relevant comments on any Jaclyn Moriarty related posts coming up
Contest ends in two weeks

Just a short clip (or two) to tide you over..

April 26, 2009

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

April 22, 2009
Anne of Green Gables is a Canadian classic! Or, really, it's pretty much just a classic. So if you haven't read it...go and pick it up. Or I won't talk with you anymore!

Today we have Amee, the former Ravenous Reader (and the current owner of Abe Book Reviews), with us. She kindly agreed to join us for Canadian Month to give her opinion on Anne of Green Gables for Canadian Month. She's super awesome, is she not? THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, AMEE!

If I were Stephen Harper, I'd totally give you honorary Canadian status. But you'll just have to settle with us thinking you're awesomewer than CARROTS.

And now, to her review of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. Remember, comments=entries to our prize back. So make sure you tell us what YOU think.
Anne of Green Gables by the awesome Canadian author L. M. Montgomery is one of my favorite books from when I was young. I didn’t actually read it until middle and then again in high school, but I have been watching the movie version with Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie since I can remember.

My copy shows the multiple reads in its worn cover with tape along the binding. I wouldn’t trade it in for a new copy though. I love my version of the cover and haven’t seen it on any others. It’s real similar to others but it shows Anne with her carpet bag instead of a book. It’s also at the train station instead of in front of Green Gables. I’m not sure why I like my cover more. Maybe because it’s been with me so long!

The story is one everyone is at least a little familiar with. Anne Shirley is an orphan adopted by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert who really wanted a boy. Things work out though, and Anne stays on at Green Gables as the Cuthbert’s child. She has lots of adventures with her best friend Diana Barry, like the incident when Diana gets drunk on what the two assume is raspberry cordial but turns out to be red currant wine!

No book is complete without a special boy. Gilbert Blythe makes his feelings for Anne known but Anne only rewards him with a slate smashed over his head! Poor Gilbert. He has to wait until book three in the series before Anne realizes what a catch he is.

I couldn’t recommend this series enough. It has laughs, tears, adventure, romance, everything! It’s a definite must read for anyone of any age.



Thanks for having me Rabbits! It’s been a lot of fun. :)

Amee

Getting the Girl :A Guide to Private Investigation, Surveillance, and Cookery by Susan Juby

April 22, 2009
Harewood Tech is just like every high school. It has it's pretty and popular girls, it's nerds, it's drama geeks...everyone, really. Except it has one extra group. The Defiled. At Harewood Tech, being Defiled is the worst fate that can befall a girl. It happens when, someone (no one knows who), posts a girl's picture in the bathroom with the letter "D" on it. From then on, that girl is a social leper. Because, of course, everyone starts to ignore and shun her.

The horrible act of defiling has gone on unchallenged for a pretty loonnnng time. That is, until Sherman Mack (a geeky, yet original, freshman learns that his crush, the beautiful and nice, Dini Trioli(despite the fact that Dini will neverever see him as a potential boyfriend..), might be next up on the list to be Defiled. And of course, Sherman doesn't want that to happen.

All it takes is the urging of his good friend, Vanessa, and Sherman Mack is investigating the who, the what and the why behind the Defiled.

I've always been kind of iffy with authors writing in first person from a perspective of the opposite gender of themselves. Oftentimes, it just comes off as completely and utterly unnatural. However, in Getting the Girl, Susan Juby's Sherman Mack is hilarious, realistic and completely easy to relate to. He's quirky, funny and as he relays the story of this investigation, he leaves nothing out. Even his fantasies about random female characters in the book.

The story idea itself, well, it's pretty terrific. There are many books on the hierarchy of high school; however, I think this one is one of my favorites. The problem is tackled uniquely and hilarity ensues along the way. I was laughing out-loud as I read Getting the Girl!

Along with Sherman Mack, Susan Juby's cast of characters is widespread and varied. Sherman's mother is a bartender who has a thing for burlesque dancing. Definitely not your typical mother...

His friends, those he has and those he meets along the way, all add extra flavor to the book. From the Trophy Wives that he befriends (or who befriend him) to his friend Vanessa, every single character is vital to the novel. Sherman's developing relationship with Vanessa is particularly interesting to read about...

I really don't have any qualms at all with Getting the Girl. In fact, it may as well be my favorite Susan Juby novel to date! Make sure you pick up Getting the Girl at a store near you! It's in paperback so it won't do too much damage to your wallet!

Rating:
*Under this feature of Canada Month, every single of the books we post about deserves an 8-10 rating, in our opinions. AND on top of that, we're recommending these books to you. So be assured that we're only recommending our favorite books by Canadian authors...

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Comment +1 to any giveaway of your choice (or we'll presume it's the main giveaway) Tell us what you think!

Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby

One of the first authors that springs to mind when I think Canadian YA lit is Susan Juby. Her first book, Alice, I Think featuring the amazingly quirky and amusing adventures of a girl named Alice was a hit inside Canada and outside of it (giveaway of the second book of the series here). In fact the main character is so bizarre, that whether you loved her, hated her or questioned her sanity, you most definitely couldn't forget her. It was refreshing to read about a character who didn't try to fit in and preferred to revel in her strangeness. In fact, all of Susan Juby's character's ultimately choose to be themselves (no matter how strange or not strange they are).

 

Another Kind of Cowboy introduced to us more loveable and quirky characters. The novel is told from  the point of view of two such characters, namely Alex and Cleo.

Alex has wanted to ride for as long as he could remember (in fact, as a child, he used to ride his bicycle around the neighbourhood pretending it was a horse). And, as a cowboy he's got the chance to do for years.  But what he really wants to do is dressage (an English style of riding) and now, he's finally got that option. 

Cleo is rich and bratty. After a rather stupid mistake, she finds herself exiled to a boarding school and enrolled in dressage lessons.

The two couldn't seem more different and yet they might just be exactly what the other one needs.

(Okay, I realize this isn't the best summary. But trust me, it's much, much better than I'm making it sound). 

Don't rule this book out if you're not a horse fanatic (I'm not!), it's a fully relatable story about friendship and growing up.  There's a lot going on in this book (Alex being truthful about his homosexuality, both of them dealing with family issues, alcohol and drugs, and of course, horses). Juby manages to pull all of these with relative ease-the book never seems overwhelmed. 

And, of course, one of the best parts of the book (as with Juby's other books) was the sense of humour-there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

My only qualm was that it took a little while to adjust to the shifting points of view especially since Cleo's sections were in first person and Alex's were in third.

Nevertheless, if you're looking for a fun read with a high dose of humour, this is definitely one you'll want to pick up.

+1 for the Miss Smithers giveaway

Interview with Susan Juby

April 19, 2009
Susan Juby is a Canadian author who was born in Smithers, BC. She's the author of Getting the Girl, Alice, I think, Miss Smithers, Alice MacLeod, Realist at Last and Another Kind of Cowboy. Be sure to check out her website at http://www.susanjuby.com/

Interview:> > Have you always known you were going to be an author? I hoped to be an author the way some people hope to be astronauts. It seemed about as likely, especially when I was a teenager and was not at all happy in school. It still feels like a dream come true. At least on the good days.

> What was your road to publication like?

It involved a lot of rejection. I began submitting Alice, I Think, my first novel in 1998. A lot of publishers felt it was too old for their teen readers and too young for their adult readers. Finally, a small Canadian press called Thistledown took a chance on it. The book did reasonably well and when I wrote a second one it was picked up by HarperCollins. I was very lucky that my first novel was published.

> > Could you tell us a bit about your writing routine? Do you have > any funny habits that you do when you're in the midst of writing?

I write first thing in the morning. I learned to do this because I wrote my first two books in the morning before work. I make coffee, always use the same cup, and write until I have at least two or three new pages. In the afternoons I edit or do research. I don't write in my bathrobe. That would make me feel like Michael Douglas in Wonderboys and then I'd spend all morning wondering what it's like to live with Catherine Zeta Jones and whether she's super high maintenance.

> Did you always mean to write in the YA genre?

No. It came as a complete surprise to me that my first novel was considered YA. I just happen to be most interested in writing about teens. For me, a good book is a good book, no matter what age group it's marketed to.

> > Alice, from your Alice series, is kind of a misfit yet she > doesn't seem to really care. What inspired you to write about > such a character and what do you hope readers will take from her > story?

I admire misfits with the courage and insight not to care what other people think of them. They are like a higher form of humanity. I was a weird kid and turned myself inside out trying to fit in and I still regret that.

> You've lately turned your hand at writing from the male > perspective, most recently Sherman's from Getting the Girl. Did > you find the transition difficult and do you have any other > books planned in the male perspective?

I love writing from a boy's POV. Writing is the best in that you get to live other lives from the inside out. Male coming of age stories are some of my very favourite books, like Catcher in the Rye, Rule of the Bone (Russell Banks), Lost in Place: Growing Up Absurd in Suburbia, Fargo Rock City (Chuck Klosterman.) I have three brothers. Maybe that's why I'm so obsessed with what growing up is like for boys. The project I'm working on now is a novel told in four alternating first person POVs. There are two female and two male narrators. One is a seventy year old man and he's a lot of fun to write.

If you had to pick a favorite book, out of the ones you've > written, which one would you pick and why?

I love Alice, I Think because I never imagined I'd ever complete a book. And then it got published! A miracle! I also really had a good time writing Sherman Mack in Getting the Girl. I feel quite maternal toward him.

> > So, tell us what we can expect to be seeing next from you (and > when). We'd all like to know!

I'm working on a non-fiction/memoir-y thing that is due to be out in spring 2010 and I'm hoping to be finished my novel for adults (and teens who don't mind copious quantities of swear words and books about treatment centers and show chickens) in another month or two. What happens after that is anyone's guess. The book is called The Republic of Dirt.

> > Writers are generally avid readers so I'm guessing that you > might be, as well. If so, what's on your TBR pile?

Christopher Moore's new book, Joker, and dozens of others that I can't remember. I'm also an audiobook fanatic and have several Agatha Christie books I'm listening to.> > What's your favorite part of being an author? Being able to dive into new characters and new worlds (such as the world of competetive show chickens) and calling it work. When readers like my books. When I get paid. Afternoon naps.

> > Is there anything else you'd like to share with your readers?

If you've got any money, please consider spending it on books. They are forever and the publishing industry is in crisis. (Also, don't be afraid to support your local independent bookseller!)

> > And, going with our theme, what does being Canadian mean to you as a citizen and as a writer?

I'm proud of being Canadian in that slightly shamefaced, slightly self-righteous way many of us are. I also seem much room for improvement. As a writer, I'm incredibly grateful that we nurture writers through the Canada Council and support our homegrown industry. I hope we as a society continue to value cultural producers. Also, I'd like our Prime Minister to know that I have only once been to a black tie gala and I wore a T-shirt. I have yet to meet a Canadian writer who spends his or her time swanning from gala to gala.

> > Thanks so much for your time, we really appreciate it. ;)

Thank YOU!

Remember to comment for your +1 entry into any giveaway of your choice :)

Giveaway of Miss Smithers (Arc copy) by Susan Juby (CLOSED)

April 16, 2009

(from Amazon)
Six months have gone by since Alice, I Think and Alice MacLeod is making progress. She's got a friend, a boyfriend and, suddenly, a beauty pageant to win and 'zines to write. Join Alice as she experiments with fashion, religion, celibacy, house parties, drinking, martial arts and along the way, investigates what it means to be a good girl

The second book in the magnificent Alice series for Susan Juby! Enter here for your chance to WIN an ARC copy! US/Canadian residents only. Good luck!!!!


To enter:
+1 Comment here (with a contact email)
+1 Post about Canada Month on your blog
+1 Post about this giveaway
+1 Relevant comments on any Susan Juby related posts coming up
Contest ends on April 29, 2009 (CONTEST EXTENDED TILL MAY 7)

Good Luck!

Canadian Roadside Attractions

For no particular reason at all, I thought I'd share some of Canada's most interesting roadside attractions.

Some of Canada's (greatest? aha..) attractions include....

               

                      The World's Largest Cookie Jar

                      

                 World's Largest Western Boot

                                   

                                      World's Largest Snowman 

                                                         (no comment)
So what are some great roadside attractions in your  country? 
(All of the pictures above are from Large Canadian Roadside Attractions.)

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Little Brother was blurbed by the likes of Neil Gaiman and Scott Westerfeld. It's appeared on multiple best books of 2008 lists, received a ton of great reviews and is a contender for The Hugo Award for best novel.

Marcus, a seventeen year-old hacker, is skipping school with three of his friends when Bay Bridge is blown up. In the chaos, he and his friends are mistaken for perpetrators and captured by the police. They are taken to an unknown location where they are interrogated for days. When they're finally released, Marcus is shocked to discover the methods police use to "prevent terrorism" (which often include taken away citizens' rights).

He refuses to take this lying down-ultimately, deciding to take the problem into his own hands.  He's a smart, technologically aware teen and soon he's found himself leading a following of people, devoted to exposing the government's misdemeanors.

At first, I found the book engaging, informative (but still interesting) and hard to put down. However, subtle would not be the best word to describe the book. It's filled with paragraphs explaining technology (such as LARPing, gait-recognition software, etc.) and paragraphs that almost seem to lecture you. On one hand, I knew very little about the technology Marcus described and the way it was presented was easy to understand and in some cases, absolutely fascinating. But, on the other hand, those moments tended to take me out of the story. Sometimes I felt as if the book sacrificed a better-developed plotline and characters for the message.

Still, the novel's an excellent way to spark a discussion-the exact discussion that needs to be had at a point where we all rely on technology so much (without fully understanding it) and how easy it would be for our rights to be taken away.

Little Brother is also  a coming-of-age novel. By the end of the novel, Marcus had made a lot of mistakes (and learned from them..most of the time), fallen in love and grown up. He's a smart, believable character just like the novel (in fact, the novel's premise is frighteningly realistic).  Despite my problems with the book, I would still recommend reading it (the book's also available for free online, if you want to check that out.)

3/5

*Comment for +1 in the main giveaway*

For more information, check out the

author's guest blog at Whatever.

author's site.

Guest Blog: Deborah Kerbel (author of Mackenzie, Lost and Found)

April 13, 2009


Today Deborah Kerbel has kindly offered to join us in celebrating Canadian month with a very interesting guest post! She's the author of Mackenzie, Lost and Found, the summary of which is found after the guest blog.

Canadians and Americans have a lot in common.

A lot.

To start with, we’re geographically fused, we both love President Obama, and we both insist that the world’s most popular sport is called ‘soccer’ not ‘football’.

Canadians and Americans also look a lot alike, dress a lot alike, and, to the rest of the world, we even sound a lot alike. In fact, when Canadians travel beyond the broad borders of our awesome country, people usually find it difficult to distinguish us from Americans. In order to set ourselves apart, we have to attach Maple Leaf tags to our clothes and bags in a feverish attempt to remind the world that we are a unique, open-minded, and culturally vibrant country…not just an extension of the United States.

But when Canadians write books, Maple Leaf tags aren’t necessary. That’s because there are some subtle literary clues that give us away every time.

And so I present to you 10 tell-tale signs that the book you’re reading was probably written by a Canadian:

#10 - any references to snow and cold are so hyper-realistically described that you feel the urge to jump into a hot bath after reading them.

#9 - you stumble over bizarrely-spelled words (favour, colour, centre, etc.) certain that some lazy-ass proofreader has let a ton of typos slip.

#8 - you wonder why so many characters are sitting on chesterfields, eating beaver-tails and drinking pop out of a tin.

#7 – you’re baffled by the fact that most of the characters struggle with an inferiority complex.

#6 – and how none of them ever seem to get offended…or offend anyone else.

#5 – and how every male character over the age of forty is named “Gord”.

#4 - your Kindle keeps pronouncing ‘about’ as ‘aboot’ when switched to read-aloud mode.

#3 – you can’t figure out where you left off reading because the pages are all numbered according to the metric system.

#2 – the main character fights off home invaders with a hockey stick instead of a baseball bat

And the #1 tell-tale sign that the book you’re reading was probably written by a Canadian…

#1 – the author is clutching a ‘double-double’ in the back cover photo! (And if you don’t know what a ‘double-double’ is, email me for the answer.)


Deborah Kerbel lives and writes just north of the 44th Parallel in Thornhill, Ontario. Her YA novel, Mackenzie, Lost and Found is rife with ‘Canadian-ness’!

Thank you for joining us today, Deborah!

Remember guys, +1 to any giveaway of your choice for relevantly commenting on the guest post and make sure to stay tuned for some more giveaways which may or may not be appearing here veryverysoon!

AND don't forget to check out Deborah Kerbel's book, Mackenzie, Lost and Found!

Fifteen-year-old Mackenzie Hill knows something is up when she arrives home to find her father making a home-cooked dinner, instead of his standard delivery pizza. But nothing prepares her for the bombshell announcement: Mackenzie and her dad, alone since the death of her mother a year ago, are moving to Jerusalem, where her father has taken a position as a visiting professor at a university. The adjustment from life in Canada to life in Israel is dramatic - though it's eased somewhat when Mackenzie is befriended by an American girl in her new school. The biggest shock of all comes when Mackenzie faces the wrath of her new friends, new community, and even her own father after she begins dating a Muslim boy.

A little hint!

Yet another Trivia Question + Contest Entry

April 12, 2009

My sister was supposed to have a bunch of posts written for the next week HOWEVER she is out of commission due to the attack of some gross bacteria.

This, however, will be to YOUR advantage. Because it's late and I'm too lazy to write something long and educational...it's time for a TRIVIA QUESTION!

To enter,
This time, per suggestion, you have to email us the answer with the subject :TRIVIA #2 and indicate which contest it is that you want an extra entry too (Main giveaway, cracked up to be, i know it's over etc)!

And also, please post a comment saying that you entered! It'll make it so much easier for us later when we go to the drawing etc.

Got it?

OKAY!
Now it's time for the question!


What war did the Canadians kick the United States's butt in?

Hope you learnt your history!

Giveaway of CRACKED UP TO BE (CLOSED)

April 11, 2009

Okay, so you've read the review, read the author's awesome interview...and now it's time for you to READ THE BOOK! Courtney Summers has kindly agreed to donate a copy of her novel sooo it's GIVEAWAY TIME!



To Enter:
+1 Entry if you comment on this post
+ 1 for posting elsewhere about Canada Month and linking me to it
+1 Entry if you post this contest on your blog/let other people know somehow and LEAVE THE LINK HERE
+1 for commenting on Courtney Summers Interview
+1 for commenting on the review of Cracked Up to Be
(CONTEST EXTENDED TO MAY 7)
Residents of US/Canada only please!

Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers

April 10, 2009


Parker Fadely has just undergone a dramatic transformation. She's done a complete 180. Formerly the head cheerleader, exemplary student and perfect girlfriend, Parker's grades have dropped, her mood has plummeted and she can't really convince herself to give a damn about anything.

No one can figure out what to do with the new Parker. Not her old friends, her ex-boyfriend, her parents or even Jake, the new guy in town. No one can help Parker, no one but herself since only she can reveal the why of her change and take the steps to save herself.

Only thing is, she doesn't want to. She can't go back to being the girl she once was, or even be happy again. Because what she did was terrible and she feels as if she doesn't deserve to move on.

Okay. What can I say about Cracked Up to Be? First of all, it's completely different from most YA novels. Usually the protagonists are nice people who clearly DESERVE their happy endings. Parker is not one of these lead characters. She's rude (bitchy even!), ungrateful and a complete mess. At times, I wanted to magically appear in the book and shake some sense into her! However, despite her faults, she's quirky; her comments often elicited me to smirk while reading. She's someone you want to get better, just because she's Parker. So, gogo Courtney Summers for that!

Also, I love the way she revealed the event that caused Parker to lose control on everything. It's told in snippets, and it's not predictable. The flashbacks only serve to amp up the suspense; the more you read the more you want to know.

Cracked Up to Be was an amazing book; there is lots in there that many teens can relate too. Pressure, the twists and turns of friendships and just plain ol' high school life are elaborated on within this complex novel.

I don't want to talk much more about specifics, it would ruin the novel for you. All I'll add is that it's incredibly emotional, intriguing and one of the best novels, in my opinion, of this year. And it's written by a Canadian author! (Woot!)

And so, if you haven't read this one YET, you have got to get your hands on it. It's a book that will resonate with long after you've read it.

Rating:
*Under this feature of Canada Month, every single of the books we post about deserves an 8-10 rating, in our opinions. AND on top of that, we're recommending these books to you. So be assured that we're only recommending our favorite books by Canadian authors...


Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

INTERVIEW WITH COURTNEY SUMMERS

April 9, 2009

Courtney Summers is a Canadian author who is currently preparing for a zombie attack. Along with that, Courtney Summers spends her time making music on a piano and, of course, writes. A typical Canadian *woot*, her hero is Pierre Trudeau (look it up if you don't know who he is...) Finally, as per her author bio, she really would like to meet you if you're a volcano, so I thought I'd pass that on, on the off chance that you are. If you want to know more about Courtney, check out her website at http://courtneysummers.ca/

Cracked Up to Be, your debut novel, was published last December. Tell us a little about your journey to publication.
My journey to publication is fairly straightforward. Cracked Up to Be was the fourth novel I wrote. The three before were queried, rejected, rejected again and then retired. With CUTB, I began querying agents in June of 2007 and was fortunate enough to pique the interest of the amazing Amy Tipton at FinePrint Literary Management. She requested the full and shortly after, offered representation. We did some minor edits together and the book went out on submission at the end of August. By mid-September, my rock star editor at St. Martin's Press made an offer and the rest is history! :)

Were there any big differences from the original first draft to the final manuscript of Cracked Up to Be?
In the original draft, Parker cheated on Chris as part of her plan to alienate everyone. My editor and I decided to remove this aspect of the story because not only was it incredibly unlikeable move, it was inconsistent with her attitude towards another character's similar actions. There was another fairly major change we made, but I can't really say what it was without giving too much away. For those who have read the book, chapter nineteen got a bit of an overhaul. Originally, Becky was present for that moment and it ended in a way that didn't sit well with some readers... vague, I know, but I don't want to spoil it!

I really loved the premise of Cracked Up to Be, which revolved around the worst thing that the main character, Parker, had done and how it had affected her. What gave you the idea for the novel?
Thank you! I just knew I wanted to write a novel that was centered around the question, "what's the worst thing you've ever done?" and had an abrasive female main character. After figuring out what the worst thing was, the novel sort of fell into place from there. I wish I could say they
all came together as easily as that, but alas.


Parker is unlike most heroines in the YA genre. She's abrasive and closed-off, yet she's such a raw character to read about. Where did you get your inspiration for Parker?
The notion that girls must always be nice and always be likeable at the expense of all else--especially themselves--is one that frustrates me soo much. I wanted Parker to be the antithesis of that.


What was your favorite part to write in Cracked Up to Be? What was the hardest?
The hardest parts in Cracked Up to Be to write were the moments where Parker had to be vulnerable and emotionally honest. Writing a novel in first person with a character who is in the kind of denial she's is in for most of the book was quite challenging at times. My favourite... I liked the parts where Parker crossed lines, when she was trying her hardest to be offensive. They were fun to write.


Did you listen to music while writing Cracked up to Be? Do you have a playlist for CUTB?
I listened to loads of music while writing Cracked Up to Be and I did have a playlist, but I lost it when my laptop died! Sadness. Matthew Good Band's Anti-Pop fits Parker perfectly and I listened to it a lot. From what I can remember, The Stills' Changes Are No Good, The Shins' Caring is Creepy and The Violent Femmes' Kiss Off were also on a loop.


Do you have any upcoming projects and can you tell us anything about them?
I just finished (yay!) a round of revisions for my next novel, Some Girls Are (the title may change). It's coming out in 2010 from St. Martin's Press. It's about very, very mean girls.


Generally, authors tend to be avid readers. What's on your TBR pile?
As soon as I'm done revisions on Some Girls Are, I'm diving into the last two books of The Twilight Saga, Evermore by Alyson Noel and The Boys are Back in Town by Christopher Golden. I'm also really looking forward to C.K. Kelly Martin's next book (out in May), One Lonely Degree, K.L. Going's King of the Screw Ups and Sarah MacLean's The Season (which is out a little early everywhere but Canada--sob!).

Do you have any advice for any aspiring writers?
If it's what you want to do, don't let anyone talk you out of it. Go straight at it.


Now, In accordance with our theme, what does it mean to you to be Canadian? What is your favorite thing and least favorite thing of being Canadian?
Pierre Trudeau referred to Canada as "this country we carry within ourselves," and I take these words to heart. I love Canada and I'm very proud to be Canadian. My favorite thing about being a Canadian? There's so much! I've been sitting here trying to narrow it down, but it's impossible, so I'm just going to say my favourite thing about being a Canadian is Trailer Park Boys. :) My least favourite thing about Canada is our eagerness to define ourselves by what we're not.


And finally, does being a Canadian author rock or what?
It TOTALLY rocks!

Does Courtney rock or what? Make sure you check out her debut novel, CRACKED UP TO BE, as soon as possible!And don't forget to come back soon...there may just be a giveaway coming up. :)

Happy Reading,

Reader Rabbit

Comment for +1 in the Main Giveaway and POTENTIALLY ANOTHER giveaway of CRACKED UP TO BE!

And stay TUNED for a review of CRACKED UP TO BE COMING SOON (like, as in, tomorrow!)

Random Trivia Question & Another Contest Entry

April 8, 2009

If you ANSWER this right, you get +1 entry to either our Main Giveaway OR the giveaway of I Know It's Over!

(Indicate in your comment)
This is a ridiculously easy question, guys! Try not to copy the commenter before you~!! (yeah, right)...

Soooo...

What is/are Canada's official language(s) and what is Canada's official "culture"?

Giveaway of a SIGNED COPY of I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly (CLOSED)

Okay.

So you've read our review.
You've read her guest post.

And you know she's awesome. And so you obviously want to read her book! And guess what? HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A SIGNED COPY OF I KNOW IT'S OVER! (I'm going to be sooo jealous of the winner...)



To Enter:
+1 Entry if you comment on this post
+ 1 for posting elsewhere about Canada Month and linking me to it
+1 Entry if you post this contest on your blog/let other people know somehow and LEAVE THE LINK HERE
+1 for commenting on CK Kelly Martin's Guest Blog
+1 for commenting on the review of I Know It's Over

Enter now! The contest ends on the 29th of April EXTENDED TILL MAY 7

(Residents of the US/Canada only please!)

GOOD LUCK

Guest Blog- Same Sex Marriage in Canada: "Separate but Equal is Not Equal" by CK Kelly Martin

CK Kelly Martin, a Canadian author, is a graduate of York University with a B.A. in Film Studies (but spent the majority of her time as an English major.) She then headed to Dublin, Ireland and proceeded to start writing her first novel in a flat there. Now she's back in Canada and resides near Toronto with her husband. CK Kelly Martin's first novel, I Know It's Over, came out in 2008 and her next novel, One Lonely Degree, will be out in May 2009.

CK Kelly Martin kindly agreed to do a guest post for us, so enjoy it. I know I did...

Same-Sex Marriage in Canada: “Separate but equal is not equal”

In 1967 Everett Klippert became the last Canadian to be arrested and imprisoned for homosexuality. Thirty-eight years later Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. That’s a long, long road and as lengthy as it was, the road elsewhere is far longer. The passing of Proposition 8 in California this past November was an enormous disappointment to U.S. (and other) proponents of gay rights. Even new President Barack Obama, who seems like the personification of enlightenment compared with George W. Bush, doesn’t support homosexual marriage but instead believes same-sex couples should be able to enter into civil unions with all the legal benefits of marriage.

Legal benefits are important. But they’re not everything. The word “marriage” has a weight that reaches beyond legal benefits and obligations. Even now, when the divorce rate for most Western countries is upwards of 35%.
Then Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin explained the problem with the concept of civil unions in his February 2005 Bill C-38 speech on same-sex marriage.
“…some have counselled the government to extend to gays and lesbians the right to “civil union”. This would give same sex couples many of the rights of a wedded couple, but their relationships would not legally be considered marriage. In other words, they would be equal, but not quite as equal as the rest of Canadians.

The courts have clearly and consistently ruled that this option would offend the equality provisions of The Charter [of Rights and Freedoms]. For instance, the British Columbia Court of Appeal stated that, and I quote: “Marriage is the only road to true equality for same sex couples. Any other form of recognition of same sex relationships... falls short of true equality”.
Put simply, we must always remember that “separate but equal” is not equal.”



If civil unions held the same weight as marriage there would be no fight for or against the right of same-sex couples to marry; the fight would concentrate solely on civil partnerships. What people are truly saying if they oppose gay marriage is that same-sex relationships are somehow a lesser thing than their heterosexual counterparts. Not equal. Not the real thing.
Thankfully this is not how the majority of Canadians feel. A bi-national survey conducted by the Strategic Counsel for CTV and The Globe and Mail in June showed that 70% of us support gay marriage. In 2005 that number was 55%. Strategic Counsel's Peter Donolo commented to CTV.ca that he thinks the jump in support, “points to the reality being a lot less threatening to people than the concept.”

I hope our neighbours to the south come to this realization in greater numbers soon. But in the meantime there’s no reason to get complacent up here. Prime Minister Harper may have backed off the idea of overturning Canada’s same-sex marriage law but there are still battles for acceptance to be fought in our communities. In November a lesbian couple in Ontario were assaulted as they waited outside a school with other parents. Jane Currie and Anji Dimitriou were both punched in the cheek as Currie’s six-year-old son watched and screamed. In September twenty-seven-year-old Jordan Smith was swarmed and sucker-punched after he was seen holding hands with another man on a Vancouver street. Smith suffered a broken jaw.
Times have changed but not everybody has changed with them. As Paul Martin said in 2005, “If we do not step forward, then we will step back.” It’s up to all of us to stand against hate and intolerance and for true equality. That fight continues…

Some key facts and dates regarding the history of homosexual rights in Canada
1965
In the Northwest Territories Everett Klippert is charged and later convicted as a dangerous sexual offender for having sexual relationships with other men. His indefinite jail term sparks a public debate in Canada.

December 21, 1967
Minister of Justice Pierre Trudeau introduces Omnibus Bill (Bill C-150) to the House of Commons. The bill seeks to decriminalize homosexuality, contraception and some abortions. Trudeau famously states, “There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. And I think what’s done in private between adults doesn't concern the Criminal Code."
May 14, 1969
Bill C-150 is signed into law. Any consensual sexual activity between two adults is decriminalized.
1979:
The Canadian Human Rights Commission recommends in its Annual Report that "sexual orientation" be added to the Canadian Human Rights Act.
May 2, 1980:
Bill C-242, an act which would prohibit discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, gets its first reading in the House of Commons. The bill fails. Similar bills introduced by MP Svend Robinson (who later becomes the first openly gay Member of Parliament) in 1983-1991 are also defeated.
1996:
The federal government passes Bill C-33 which adds "sexual orientation" to the Canadian Human Rights Act.

May 1999
The Supreme Court of Canada upholds lower court rulings that found the definition of spouse as a “man and woman” under Ontario’s Family Law Act violates the Charter of Rights. The Supreme Court says that same-sex couples should have the same benefits and obligations as heterosexual common-law couples.
April 11, 2000
Parliament passes legislation (Bill C-23) which gives same-sex couples the same social and tax benefits as heterosexuals in common-law relationships.

April 1, 2001
The Netherlands becomes the first country to legalize gay marriage.

June 10, 2003:
The Ontario Court of Appeal upholds a lower court ruling to legally allow same-sex marriages.
July 8, 2003:
British Columbia becomes the second province to legalize same-sex marriages.

March 19, 2004:
The Quebec Court of Appeal rules that the traditional definition of marriage is discriminatory and that same-sex couples have the right to marry.
Dec. 9, 2004:
The Supreme Court of Canada rules that the federal government can change the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.

Feb. 1, 2005:
The federal government introduces its same-sex marriage bill in the House of Commons. The bill seeks to give married same-sex partners the same legal recognition as heterosexual married couples but also protects religious freedoms. "No church, no temple, no synagogue, no mosque, no religious official will be asked or forced to perform a marriage that is contrary to their beliefs," says Prime Minister Paul Martin.

July 20, 2005:
Having passed a final reading in the House of Commons with a 158-133 vote, Bill C-38 giving same-sex couples the legal right to marry, receives royal assent and becomes law making Canada the fourth country in the world to legalize gay marriage (after the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.) South Africa and Norway have since also legalized same-sex marriages.

Yay for equal rights! (Yet another perk about being Canadian.) Thanks for contributing, CK! We really appreciate it.-RR

Be sure to pick up I KNOW IT'S OVER at your next book store visit. And don't forget to PREORDER One Lonely Degree, it's definetely at the top of MY list.

I Know It's Over by CK Kelly Martin

April 5, 2009
On Christmas Eve, Nick's ex-girlfriend comes over unexpectedly to tell him something important To tell him that she's pregnant. We flashback to earlier that year, in the summer when all Nick wants is to have fun. That is, until Nick met Sasha. Soon enough, the two are together in an intense relationship and Nick doesn't even mind. In fact, he loves it. But then Sasha breaks up with him, saying that she needs to have a breather and get some space. Nick can't comprehend why she's broken up with him and he can' seem to get over her. And then that life-changing Christmas Eve happens..

The revelation confuses Nick, who wants to be part of Sasha's decision to keep or to abort the baby. Only, she doesn't want Nickto have much to do with it, especially because they've broken up. It is only through the support of their parents, friends and ultimately each other that the two can get through the crisis.

When I picked up this novel, I had pretty high expectations since everyone seemed to love it. And luckily, I Know it Over met and even surpassed my expectatations...

So much is compacted in this novel. Obviously the book deals with teen pregnancy and the decision to have an abortion or keep the baby but it also tackles the problems associated with divorce along with the obstacles faced by some concerning their sexuality. The commendable aspect of all this is how it never felt like the issues were tackled too quickly; everything was explored and emphasized the point that there are never any easy answers in life.

The ways that the characters deal with all their problems were realistic; there were no miracles and everything was plausible. One of my favorite things about the novel was how it was done in Nick's POV. Usually novels about teen pregnancy take on the voice of the female dealing with the situation. Having the book in Nick's perspective really put a new spin on the topic.

The characters themselves were very well-developed and easy to relate with. Each and every single one of them could have just leapt off the page and come to life. The cast is too much to get into in such a short space but let it be known that you'll pretty much care about each of them by the end of the novel.

Overall? I Know It's Over is a book every teen should pick up. In fact, everyone can pretty much enjoy this novel. (However, let it be known that there are certain scenes that younger readers might not be prepared for.) Anyways...


Make sure you buy yourself a copy now! The paperback release will be out on April 28, 2009.

Rating:
*Under this feature of Canada Month, every single of the books we post about deserves an 8-10 rating, in our opinions. AND on top of that, a recommendation from us. So be assured that we're only recommending our favorite books by Canadian authors...


Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

Interview: Neesha Meminger

Neesha Meminger is a Canadian author whose debut novel, Shine Coconut Moon, was released this March. Born in India, Neesha immigrated with her family to Canada in the 1970s. She now splits her time between New York and Toronto and has two little munchkins of her own. If you want to find out more about Neesha (which you do), visit her website at http://www.neeshameminger.com/ .

To start this off, could you sum up your book in 10 words for those who haven't read it yet?

Samar learns about her heritage after estranged uncle shows up. [Sheesh, that was hard! Especially for a novelist who's used to telling things in no less than 200 pages! ;)]

Samar's uncle experiences alot of violence/racism because of the way he dresses. Have you or anyone close to you been victim to something so horrible?

Samar's uncle does experience some of the post-9/11 backlash because to some people, the way he looks resembles media images of terrorists (with the beard, mustache and turban).

The first and most vivid experience I had of racism was when I was very young and the gurdwara (Sikh temple) next door to us was set aflame by young arsonists. They had painted racial slurs and messages on the walls and thrown hand-made molotov cocktails through the windows. I didn't really understand it all completely, but I knew that we were not wholly welcome in our new home.

In the novel, Samar is described as a "coconut", brown on the outside-white on the inside. Do you feel that you were a coconut when you were in high school? Did people know you were "Indian" or did they mistake you for some other race, as some did to Samar in the novel?

My experience was very different from Samar's. I knew I was Indian, without a shadow of a doubt. We spoke Punjabi at home, my mother cooked only Indian food, and I was forced to wear salwaar-kameez suits on weekends. In retrospect, I'm glad for all those things. At the time, I loathed it because it made me feel different from my peers which, as we all know, is what it's ALL about in high school. But, I also didn't fit into the Indian community -- I was too "westernized." :P. So, there was really no category for me and I actually felt a lot like a coconut, but more like brown on the outside and bland/confused on the inside.

People made inaccurate assumptions about my background and nationality all the time. Sometimes I corrected them; other times I just couldn't be bothered -- it got a bit tiring, you know?

 What do you hope people will take away from reading Shine Coconut Moon?

I hope people will question some of their assumptions if they have any. But mostly, I hope people will connect with the characters. I fell in love with Samar and her family and hope readers will feel the same.

Your next novel, Jazz in Love is currently under consideration. Could you tell us a little bit about it?

JAZZ IN LOVE is about a young, Indian girl living with traditional parents who fancy themselves modern -- yet want to set her up with the perfect match: a podiatrist from Canada. Jazz, however, has her own ideas about what she wants for her future and is about to do the unthinkable by risking her parents' Ultimate Punishment to find true love.

What does it mean to you to be Canadian? What is your favorite thing and least favorite thing of being Canadian?

Funnily, I never thought much about being Canadian until I moved to the States :D. Once I was here, though, I felt more Canadian than I ever had in my life. My favorite thing about being Canadian is that I can proudly say I come from a progressive nation that has, thus far anyway, made health care accessible to all citizens.

My least favorite is that I can only find butter tarts in Canada. I have been woefully butter-tart-less for over a decade.

What is your take on Canadian culture. Are we really all just divided in our racial subcultures, as many people say? Or is there something that links us all?

I guess, because I grew up in Toronto, I didn't see much division in terms of "racial subcultures." I could walk down the street and pass a Filipino grocery store, a Sri Lankan video store, and a Portuguese bakery, all within a few blocks of one another. Not so in the U.S. I found the U.S. to be far more racially and ethnically segregated. Here, people make automatic assumptions about who lives in certain areas. For instance, cab drivers would refuse to take me to Brooklyn a few years ago, even though it was literally right across the bridge; a ten minute ride from lower Manhattan.

Since you live in America now, what do you think is different between the United States and Canada and why?

The U.S. does everything BIG and HUGE and SENSATIONAL, while Canada is quieter and more subdued. Not sure what the reason for this might be, though I've always seen the Canada-U.S. relationship as one of siblings. The more vocal, assertive older sibling next to the quieter, shyer one. And little sibs often look up to their big brothers and sisters, try to emulate them, adore them, follow in their footsteps . . . until they figure out who they are on their own. Then they're off to let their own personalities shine :).

Why do you think people struck out against innocent people in the wake of 9/11? How can we limit racism?

I think a lot of it was simply misdirected fear and anger. That's usually what these kind of attacks stem from -- a fear that someone is taking over, taking "our" jobs, stealing "our" things, etc. It's ignorance. Limiting racism and limiting any other kind of "ism" is really about equitable distribution of resources (in other words, making sure that people have adequate health care, their kids are safe, there's enough food and clean water, etc.) and a really solid, quality education system.

What's the least favorite question you've ever been asked in an interview? Answer it! (Just kidding.)

I don't really have a least favorite! I love interacting with readers and questioning people :).

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

Somewhere where it's summertime, and in the mountains.

Thanks so much for this interview, Neesha.

Make sure to check out SHINE, COCONUT MOON next time you're at the book store!

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

*remember +1 entry to the main giveaway for commenting!

Shine, Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger

April 3, 2009

Samar, or Sam as she calls herself, is a coconut. That is, someone who's brown on the outside but white on the inside. Her mother only helps contribute to Sam's disconnection to her heritage. She's abandoned her parents and their old-fashioned lifestyle and hasn't even allowed Sam to meet her grandparents.

But it's not like Sam cares. She has her own friends, a cute boyfriend and a modern life to keep up with. Then everything changes with the tragedy of 9/11.

Because of 9/11, atrocious acts of violence were committed against those who appeared different. In the novel, these acts begin to nudge Sam into discovering her heritage.

And then a man in a turban shows up, a man that Sam has never met before. It turns out that he's her mother's brother. Her uncle. And he's there to teach her about her Sikh heritage.

Becuase of her mother's attitude towards her parents and their religion, Sam is forced to seek answers in secret. Her uncle takes her to visit a gurdwara, or a Sikh temple. He reconciles her with her grandparents. As violence affects her more personally, with teenage boys attacking her uncle and the gurdwara being set on fire, Sam begins to question her existence as a "coconut." And all the while, Sam has to connect the person she was with the person she is becoming. She has to deal with the evolving relationships of her friends and her boyfriend and see who really loves her for who she is.

My sister and I both face the opposite problem that Sam did. Our parents adore "our" culture and are constantly pushing us into it. It was refreshing to read about Sam's quest to find her culture, rather than "abandoning our culture and becoming white" as our parents eloquently claim. (RR1: Yes, they are indeed a wee bit unstable. )

Sam's mission to discover her heritage and her family is provoked and yet plagued by 9/11. Sam's (and the other characters') takes and reactions to 9/11 seem realistic and it is interesting to see the reactions of Sam's friends and the reaction of other "colored" people. Having lived in Canada, the upheaval of 9/11 was to a much lesser degree, to the point where (disregarding the news), people mostly seemed to forget about it. Thus, reading about it in Shine, Coconut Moons was an eye-opening experience and seeing it through a teenager's eyes was intriguing; it made the event seem only that much more real. A+ for the plot.

The entire cast of characters in the novel are also extremely well done. As the main character, Sam plays her role wonderfully. She's easy to relate to (with issues that all teens face, on top of her desire to discover her heritage) and dynamic. Sam's mother also plays an integral role and she plays it well. The funny bit about it all was, at times it was easier for me to relate with her mother rather than Samar...hmm.
Sam's uncle was the guide for Sam in her mission to find her family and culture, a role that he took on well. However, he was a more static character, despite his importance.

Sam's best friend and boyfriend both served as contrasting roles. At the beginning, they sometimes seemed the same...as people who both didn't understand or want to understand Sam's culture and why she had to discover her heritage. However, as the book progressed, one was revealed to be an ignoramus (RR1: Just like RR2! Oh, burn!) and the other proves to be loyal and supportive till the end.

Samar's grandparents, however, hm. I didn't like them. Maybe it was just me but, they really brought out some grr feelings. (RR1: Yes, I realize that what I just said isn't exactly the most articulate..) I did love how her grandma called Sam "beta". Which, oddly enough, is what my grandmother calls me.(RR1: US) Only, she doesn't speak the same language as Sam's family...but whatever. It was interesting.

Anyways, what was I getting at? They still seemed like the overbearing parents that Samar's mother ran away from. But then again, that was realistic for them. It would be unreasonable to expect a few years to completely transform them, especially considering how set in their ways they were...

To the point? If you haven't figured it out now, Shine, Coconut Moon is a terrific book that most teens will enjoy. It's a coming of age novel, a self-discovery novel and just a plain ol' teen life novel wrapped in one. (Does that make any sense?) There's pretty much something for everyone here and I advise you to check it out!

Rating:
*Under this feature of Canada Month, every single of the books we post about deserves an 8-10 rating, in our opinions. AND on top of that, a recommendation from us. So be assured that we're only recommending our favorite books by Canadian authors...


Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit 1 and 2



PS: Remember, post a comment for an extra entry to our prize pack giveaway. (A relevant comment...) And, stay tuned for even more giveaways!

The Ultimate Canadian Book Giveaway (+ some other books) CLOSED)

April 2, 2009

A feature isn't complete without a main giveaway and soooo...(this also means that we have even MORE giveaways coming up...)
TADA

We'll be giving away (our own) copies of:
Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers (paperback)
Jenny Green's Killer Junior Year by Amy Belasen and Jacob Osborn (paperback)
Raven by Alison Van Diepen (hardcover)
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (paperback)
The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie by Jaclyn Moriarty  (hardcover)
Brothers Far From Home by Jean Little  (hardcover)
Revealers by Amanda Marrone (paperback)
Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills (ARC)
The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby (ARC)
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison (ARC)

Some of these books are written by Canadians (ie: Cracked Up to Be and Brother Far From Home). Others are written by residents of Canada like Alison Van Diepen who works in Ontario as well as Jaclyn Moriarty's The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie who lives in Canada for part of the year and Australia for the rest. And finally, some books are just completely random ones that we want to bestow on one of you. (Sorry international readers, we just can't afford to send out of Canada/US)


Anyways.
TO ENTER:
+1 Entry if you comment on this post
+1 Entry if you post this contest on your blog
+1 Entry if you comment on our other features (relevant comments)

And make sure you leave an email to contact us with IF you win!!

Contest ends on April 29th (CONTEST EXTENDED TILL MAY 7)

SO ENTER NOW

And remember, we have a whole bunch more giveaways coming up for books that YOU want!


-Reader Rabbit 1 and 2

Canadian Month

So, after a year of planning, procrastinating and slacking (I totally ruined the alliteration there..), we've finally gotten the time, the resources and the invaluable participation of certain authors to bring Canadian month TO YOU ALL.

While this month should TYPICALLY be held in July, we've decided to be a bit unconventional and spring this upon you all in April. Because I like April. (And btw, for those of you who haven't caught on, that earlier post was an APRIL FOOLS' JOKE! SUCKAS!)

Okay. So this month is gonna be a bit of a shakeup from our regular borrrrinng blogging schedule.

We're going to have a whole bunch of awesome authors stop by, some with interviews, some with guestblogs and all of which who are somehow affiliated with CANADA.

On top of that, we'll have a few guest reviews as well...one from a blogger who went into hiding but came out ESPECIALLY for us. While these guest reviewers are not Canadian, they'll be discussing Canadian books...and you know what? I'm going to deem them as HONORARY Canadians for being so generous with their time. Cos, you know, I totally have the power to do that.


And finally, we're going to be having some contestsss. The first which will be posted sometime today or EARLY tomorrow. So make sure you stop by soon.

So are you ready for a month full of:

-Contests
-Trivia
-Reviews
-CANADIAN AUTHORS
?

Well, you better be.

Because CANADIAN MONTH starts NOW!

(Btw, check the post below for a shocking revelation!)




Canadianing away,


Reader Rabbit 1 and RR2

*Note: by month, I mean next couple of weeksish. Month just sound so much better

A Message to You All

RR2 and I have something very important to tell you all. After blogging for over a year, we feel it is time to be honest with you, our faithful readers.

Please do not judge me, I mean, us. I mean. Me.

Okay. So. Hear me out please.

During the month of February, I had been taking my medication regularly. As you might have noticed, RR2 made little-to-no appearences during that month.

However, during March, I accidentally spilt my pill bottle and was unable to salvage my medication. Because of the inordinate price, I was too afraid to tell my mother and it was during March that RR2 started to make herself known again, in my mind...her most memorable event was when she woke up to complain about the weather!

It is now, in April, that I have finally refilled my prescription drugs after a visit to my doctor.

And I know realize, it is better for my sanity for you all to know that RR2 is not real. And that if she posts again, please call my mother and tell her to give me my medication.

Thanks for all your support. RR2 and I appreciate everything.

I'm going to go take my meds now.

Thank you <3333 If you want to hear me talk to myself check out: READ CARPET Podcast, where I converse with myself..I mean, RR2.


*none of this is meant to be offensive, if you find it to be, let me know and I'll remove it :)