Review Time: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

The Story: Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?” 

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

How cute is Mindy Kaling?

Why It's a Must-Read: I've always been a fan of the show, "The Office." Besides the fact that there's weirdo Dwight, boy-next-door Jim, and hopelessly loveable Michael--there are some wickedly hilarious women in the cast. And heading up these smart and funny gals is Mindy Kaling. Besides playing the self-absorbed and girlie Kelly Kapoor, Mindy is also one of the head writers of the show.

So, this means that literally every word of Mindy's debut novel, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, is gut-wrenchingly funny. Seriously. Every. Single. Word. From her introduction to the chapter titles, the book had me laughing (and yes, it was out loud) and reading my favorite lines to my boyfriend (who just wanted to sit there in peace and peruse reddit). In this cheery memoir, fans will find out exactly where Mindy came from and what brought her to where she is today: a huge success.

Mindy's funny AND sexy (oh, and don't forget smart!)

What a Character: Like I've mentioned about a billion times, Mindy is freaking hilarious! But not just that, she's also smart and is one of those amazing women who've managed to infiltrate the old boy's club of comedy and turned it inside out. And as a person, she's totally likeable, because she has an intense love for her girlfriends. You're not going to see her screw her BFF over so she can go out and see a guy. So, she's funny, smart AND loyal....everything you want in a new friend. And that's exactly how you're going to feel after reading this book.

Who doesn't like nerdy, embarrassing kid photos of celebs?

A Little Something Extra: Besides the stories in the book, Mindy also regales us with awesomely embarrassing photos of herself as a kid! And as a college student. And an early professional. There's just so much to Mindy that I didn't know before and I'm so glad that I picked up this book. It was well-worth the read!


5x5,
B.

Review Time: The Truth about Medium

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: The Truth About Medium by Gary E. Schwartz

The Story: Every Monday night millions of Americans tuned into Medium, NBC's hit drama featuring Allison DuBois, an ordinary woman who helps police solve baffling crimes through her ability to communicate with the dead. What most don't know is that this fictional character is based on a true-life medium named Allison DuBois, who is a consultant to the show. For four years, DuBois was the subject of rigorous scientific experiments conducted at the University of Arizona by Harvard-trained psychologist Gary Schwartz. The Truth about Medium chronicles many of those experiments as well as the real-life cases Allison has worked on and reveals hard laboratory evidence that psychic ability and mediumship are real.

The REAL Allison Dubois with Patricia Arquette, who played her in the show, "Medium"

Why It's a Must-Read: It's no surprise to those who know me that I'm a bit obsessed with psychics and matters of the spiritual realm. Sometimes I think my dreams are prophetic and I absolutely believe that there are people out there who have the gift to speak to the dead as well as know what will happen in the future. I think some of us are just more intuitive than others. Allison Dubois appears to be one of those people. I was a huge fan of the show when it was on and have read all of the (real life) Allison Dubois' books. I think the cool thing about Gary's books is that they're all rooted in factual evidence. Now, I'm already open to the possibility that people have these gifts, so I don't need to be convinced. But I know lots of people who are less-inclined to think this way (my boyfriend for instance). So, I really liked this book, because Gary talks about the actual scientific evidence that mediumship exists. The ways that he and his staff conduct these tests and the results that they find are all very interesting and worth reading about.

Author and experimenter, Gary E. Schwartz

What a Character: Now, because this is non-fiction, the characters in the book are real people, but no less fascinating. It's worth mentioning that Gary is first and foremost a scientist. In fact, I would venture to say he's a bit of a skeptic about things like psychic abilities and mediumship...until the facts reveal themselves. I think this actually makes for much more honest experiments. He's simply out for the truth and has dedicated his life to finding it--whatever that may be. 

And of course, the book is full of information on highly accredited psychics/mediums such as Allison Dubois, Laurie Campbell, Janet Mayer, Debbie Martin, John Edward, Suzanne Northrop, Sally Owen and Mary Occhino. Gary touches on some more than others, but it's all really intriguing to see who has scientifically been proven to be able to do the things they claim to be able to do.

Famous medium Allison Dubois

A Little Something Extra: This isn't really about the book, but if you're looking for a little bit of drama to go along with this fantastic read, be sure to check out this insanely wicked episode of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" where Camille Grammar invites Allison Dubois to a dinner party she's having. Let's just say, spirits were running a bit high through the dinner and everyone got more than they bargained for!

5x5,
B.

Review Time: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Story: Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can. She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. There is. She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. She's wrong.

Why It's a Must-Read: It's been a long, long time since I read a book that gripped me in the way that The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer did. But let me start by saying: I LOVE scary movies. I throw whole parties dedicated to watching horror films. And this was the first book I've read that's been scarier than most of the horror films that are out on the market nowadays. But I wouldn't describe The Unbecoming as horror. We're not looking at a Stephen King book, here, where there's a deranged killer clown stalking kids. I would classify this as more of a psychological thriller...one of those stories where you're constantly wondering if she did what she thinks she might have done or whether it was all in her head. Either way, the book is addictive and nearly impossible to put down once you pick it up. It was terrifyingly beautiful.

Okay, how GORGE is Michelle?!?!

What a Character: I love, love, LOVE the sassiness of Mara Dyer. Despite what's going on in her life and in her head (she sometimes sees dead people and is suffering from PTSD), to the outside world she's quick-witted and isn't a fool. But even though she's tough on the outside, on the inside she's barely hanging on. I love a character who's damaged. Call me crazy, but I think they're more interesting. And it takes a lot of energy for someone to act as if her world isn't crumbling down around her, just to make others feel better.

And if I felt a kinship with Mara Dyer, I wanted to have a secret love affair with Noah Shaw. At first he appears to be the ultimate bad boy. Achingly beautiful with an ego to match. But as the story goes on, we find out there's so much more to him than we thought. And this is one of those stories where the bad boy IS attainable. Thank gosh, because he's H-O-T and the perfect match for Mara's razor-sharp wit.

A Little Something Extra: I picked up this book, after an author friend of mine, Amanda Havard, told me about it at BEA. She was saying how she couldn't wait for Michelle Hodkin's follow-up to The Unbecoming, called The Evolution of Mara Dyer. And now that I've read the first, I have to agree. Good thing we won't have to wait too long for it--The Evolution will begin on October 23rd. You can pre-order it here. I think I may have found one more person to add to my list of favorite authors....

Be sure to follow her on Twitter @MichelleHodkin and then go out and buy her books!

5x5,
B.

Review Time...Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

The Story: Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

Why It's a Must-Read: I'm not one for sappy stories. I tend to gravitate toward strong, kick-ass female characters who don't mope around, but whose lives are totally complicated. The idea of a regular girl dealing with the grief over losing her father wouldn't typically sound like something I'd pick up. BUT, after hearing from several people that Amy & Roger's was a great read, I decided to be open minded and give it a try.

And I'm so glad that I did! First off, the story wasn't sappy at all. Sad at times, sure, but not at all whiny or depressing. Instead, it was more like an adventure--with heart. Since the story takes place on a trip across country, the reader gets all the fun of a road trip, minus the sore butt from sitting in the car for hours and hours. And though a lot of time is spent in the car, the action actually happens mostly when Amy and Roger stop at their intended destinations. In the end, the story's about overcoming adversity and dealing with life on life's terms. Beautifully written and never boring, this book is the perfect summer read!

What a Character: The main character, Amy is broken at the beginning of the book. She's full of fear, guilt and self-loathing over what's happened to her family. There's no one else in her world that could punish her more than she's punishing herself. And then her answer appears: Roger. Roger is such a great character. Cute, total boy next door and a little too nice for his own good. He challenges Amy just enough to make her grow, but is the soft touch she needs to feel safe enough to do so. Together, the two of them deal with their issues and become the perfect traveling companions. I also loved all the other characters Amy and Roger met along the way (Bronwyn, Walcott and Lucien)...they each helped her heal in their own ways, and make the reader wish that all strangers were that cool.

A Little Something Extra: I have a confession to make: I mostly picked up Amy & Roger's because my editor, Alex, edited Morgan's book, too! After reading it, I'm not at all surprised she wanted to work with Morgan and her story! The funny thing? One of the characters in this book shared the same first name as the main character in my book, Life's a Witch. I thought Hadley was a pretty unique name, so I was surprised to see we both chose the same name!

Follow her on Twitter @Morgan_M and then go out and buy her book!

5x5,
B.

Review Time....Hiding From Reality by Taylor Armstrong

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: Hiding From Reality by Taylor Armstrong

The Story: NOT EVERY FAIRY TALE HAS A HAPPY ENDING. . . . Reality hit Taylor Armstrong hard one tragic evening last August when she found the body of her estranged husband, Russell, hanging in his California home. Fans across the country were shocked at the horrific news of his death and even more shocked to discover that behind the glittering “reality” of Taylor’s life on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills lurked a painful story of emotional and physical abuse that she had been terrified to tell.

With searing honesty, Taylor candidly examines her difficult journey from the abusive home in which she was born to the low self-esteem that kept her constantly on the run from herself, to the tumultuous marriage that ended in suicide, and ultimately to her realization that only by sharing her moving story could she help other women.

Taylor and her husband Russell Armstrong. In her book, Taylor discusses the events that led up to Russell's shocking suicide.

Why It's a Must-Read: The first "Real Housewives" that I fell in love with was the cast from Beverly Hills. I found them to be the most entertaining and interesting, and was happy that there weren't any physical fights (I'm looking at you Jersey cast). I was always fascinated with Taylor Armstrong, the beautiful yet tiny woman who was married with a young daughter. As I watched the seasons progress, it became increasingly clear that she was in an abusive relationship. And then when the news broke that her husband, Russell, had committed suicide....well, my desire to read Taylor's book to hear the real story grew. 

What you get through reading Taylor's book is what seems like an honest look at what it's like to be in an abusive relationship. You could feel her heartache and hopelessness throughout, and even begin to understand what she was going through. It didn't feel like Taylor had written the book with the intentions of making her ex out to be a villain. In fact, considering everything she went through, one wouldn't blame her if she had been a little more one-sided in her recollections. But that's not what Hiding From Reality is about. Domestic abuse is a problem and I've known a few people who have been in similar dangerous situations themselves, and I found the book to be helpful in trying to begin to understand what it's like to be stuck in a situation like this. It's well-written, honest and harrowing.

What a Character: Like I said before...I was always a fan of Taylor. And when we began to discover the abuse she was dealing with, I felt for her. The book actually gave a much more detailed look at her life growing up--what led her to look for men who were either unavailable or not right for her, why she gravitated toward unhealthy relationships and how she made it to Beverly Hills and onto the show. Though it's difficult to understand why a person would stay with a man who beats her and belittles her, the book really does try to explain the complicated feelings that are involved in an abusive relationship. In the end, the reader is left with hope. Hope that those who are in these kinds of situations may get out of them (alive) and that they can (hopefully) stop the cycle of abuse.

A Little Something Extra: Amidst the seriousness of her memoir, I was psyched to hear that Taylor was a cheerleader growing up and that she was even a staff instructor for the organization NCA (National Cheerleaders Association), which was coincidentally, the same cheer group that I taught for for five years! (Fun Fact: Another "Desperate Housewife" that called herself a NCA staff instructor? Eva Longoria!) And if I know cheerleaders, I know that they're strong and they can persevere through any tough times. I have high hopes that Taylor will end up on top.

Follow her on Twitter @TaylorArmstrong and then go out and buy her book!

5x5,
B.

Review Time: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

The Story:
Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.
Why It's a Must-Read: 
 Admittedly, I never read Anna and the French Kiss, the book that started it all, so I wasn't aware that this was a companion novel to Stephanie Perkins' first. But I promise, you don't have to have read her first book in order to follow this one. I think the thing that's so great about this book, is that Stephanie is such a gifted storyteller. She may not have created an entirely new universe, but her ability to tell a story that people can identify with is why you keep turning the pages. And the characters....
What a Character:  
Where do I start? The leading lady, Lola, is just as colorful as her name. She's such a unique character...obsessed with constantly reinventing herself, she looks at dressing as a way to express her mood for the day. You'd think she was an actress or rock star, considering how many wigs she has in her home collection. To say that she marches to the beat of her own drummer is an understatement. However, she's still totally relatable in that she's a girl who's still sometimes self-conscious and just wants to impress the boy she loves. 
        I also loved Lola's parents. They both added so much to the family dynamic and showed that all it takes to raise a kid successfully is love. And being that the story takes place in San Francisco, the fact that Lola was being raised by a gay couple didn't overshadow the rest of the story. I loved that it was normal to her and was treated that way (as it should). 
        And Cricket and Calliope Bell....Cricket, I love, love, loved. I had my own Cricket Bell growing up, although I don't think I realized it until I had already grown up and moved away. And Calliope? I would LOVE to read a book about her. Even though she's not one of the lead characters, she's so incredibly interesting. Can I request another companion novel?!?!?!

A Little Something Extra:
I had the privilege of meeting Stephanie recently at a book reading/signing during YA week here in NYC, where she and several other authors reinacted scenes from their books. And I was OBSESSED. With her super-hero red hair. With her acting skills while on the stage. With her presence. After the reading, I had my book signed by her and she was so sweet and nice. It's clear that she's just as unique as the characters she creates.

Follow her on Twitter @NaturallySteph and then go out and buy her book!

5x5,
B.

Review Time....I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

The Story:
What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad? Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say. But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could--from the criminal's point of view. And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod. In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret--could he be more like his father than anyone knows? 
Why It's a Must-Read: I can honestly say that there are no books out there like I Hunt Killers. I'd probably describe it as Dexter for kids, though the main character isn't the one doing the killing. The premise is so intriguing and original, and thankfully, the author doesn't hold back where it counts. Often with violence-based books for teens, people are quick to try and pretty things up, so as not to offend anyone. I was so happy to see that Barry Lyga really went for it. And because of this, I really felt like we were getting an honest look at what it was really like for this character. What it was like to grow up with a serial killer as a father. This was one of the best books I've read in a long time!
What a Character: At first, I didn't connect with the book's main character, Jazz, and wondered if I was going to end up liking the book at all since I wasn't making that initial connection. But as I got a few chapters in, I realized that that was part of what's so special about the book--and the character. Jazz is supposed to have gone through something that (thankfully) none of us ever have to go through. Because of the way he's been raised and the things his dad has taught him about mortality and the value of life, Jazz has a very unique way of looking at the world. I don't think we're supposed to identify with him in this way. But his desire to be normal and have a normal life and him second-guessing himself? Those are all things we can understand. In the end, I loved Jazz and the way his mind worked. Is he a damaged character? Absolutely. But he's taking a bad situation and at least trying to make the most of it.

A Little Something Extra:
I am obsessed with serial killers. In a completely non-creepy sort of way, though. But really, I'm fascinated by these types of people: what makes them tick, what it is that causes someone to kill, the psychology behind it, etc. I also have a theory that most serial killers come from the Northwest (hello, Ted Bundy, The I-5 Killer, The Wanted Ad Killer, The Green River Killer, etc.), or at some point have lived there. Maybe it's something about the rain--some people just can't handle it! I, myself, had been interested in writing a story similar to this (focusing on the kids of serial killers), but after reading Lyga's novel, I feel like he's already done it so well, why mess with it? I would love to hear what kind of research he did on the subject and how he feels about the topic in general. My friend is actually Lyga's publicist over at Little Brown and I'm waiting for the day she'll introduce me to him...can you imagine the dinner conversation we'd have?

Follow him on Twitter @BarryLyga and then go out and buy his book!

5x5,
B.

Kris Jenner....And All Things Kardashian

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: Kris Jenner...And All Things Kardashian by Kris Jenner

The Story:

You think you know her . . . 

     On Keeping Up with the Kardashians, we watch Kris Jenner do it all. She runs a household, manages her children’s successful careers, produces four television shows featuring her larger-than-life family, and still finds time to tweet to her fans. How does she manage to maintain her composure, enviable elegance, and unflappable sense of humor? After raising six children of her own, in addition to being a stepmother to four and a grandmother, multitasking is Kris’s way of life. But she would have never made it without her unwavering belief in God. In this thoughtful, candid, and no-nonsense memoir, Kris Jenner is an open book about the good times and the rough patches.       
     If you think your life is chaotic, try keeping up with Kris Jenner.
Why It's a Must-Read: I'm Kardashian-obsessed, so I knew I had to pick up Kris' book when it came out--and I wasn't disappointed. The interesting thing about the book is that it's much less about "The Kardashians" and more about Kris' life leading up to the famous family we now know. In the book, we get an honest look at Kris as she grew up, her marriage to Robert Kardashian, her early years with Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob, the affair that eventually broke up her marriage and her relationship with OJ and Nicole Brown Simpson. That was one of the most intriguing parts of the book: learning about the friendship she and Robert (and later, she and Bruce) had with OJ and then what happened when Nicole was murdered. The book also answers the question so many haters have about her family--what are they famous for, anyway?
What a Character: After reading the book, you really begin to feel like you know Kris. And for someone who's created this phenomenal brand...well, I think we could all learn a lot from Kris Jenner.

A Little Something Extra: I've had the pleasure of meeting Kris on two separate occasions. First, when we went to the Jenner house to unveil Kendall's cover for American Cheerleader magazine, and another when the Kardashians went to cheer on Kendall and Kylie at their first cheerleading camp. I have to say....I was SO nervous to meet Kris the first time. I had nightmares for weeks that she was going to see Kendall's cover and hate it. She seems like such a momma bear and you can just tell she doesn't take crap from anyone (You'll see this in her book too. She's fiercely protective of her family). 
     But I can honestly say, Kris Jenner was so nice and sweet! She welcomed us into her home, was so gracious, kind and personable, and incredibly supportive of her kids! And at the same time, you can just tell she knows what she's doing. She runs the household like she runs her business. We had E! with us when we visited the house, and she knew exactly how to interact with the reporters and handled everything like a seasoned pro. It's hard not to admire what she's created, and I for one, could learn a lot by her business savvy and can-do attitude.

Follow her on Twitter @KrisJenner and then go out and buy her book!

5x5,
B.

The K Girls with Bruce!

Review Time: The Survivors by Amanda Havard

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: The Survivors by Amanda Havard

The Story: In 1692, when witch trials gripped the community of Salem, Massachusetts, twenty-six children were accused as witches, exiled, and left for dead. Fourteen of them survived. The Survivors is the first installment of the tantalizing tales of the fourteen ill-fated Survivors and their descendants, who have been content in hiding for over three centuries. Isolated on a Montana mountainside, only Sadie, the rogue daughter, dares to abandon the family's sacred hiding place. But no matter how far Sadie runs, something always pulls her back.
     On a muggy summer night in Tennessee, she witnesses a shocking scene that will change her life forever. It is the first in a sequence of events that will drag her from the human world she's sought to belong to for over a century and send her back to her Puritanical family and into an uncertain future filled with cunning witches, mysterious nosferatu shape-shifters, dangerous eretica and vieczy vampires, millennia-old mythology, and the search for her own mortality. After all... HOW DO YOU KILL A SURVIVOR?
Why It's a Must-Read: A lot of research went into writing The Survivors. Besides the fact that it's loosely based on the Salem Witch Trials, the author Amanda Havard, really delved into the history of all monsters, supernatural beings, etc., which for someone like me who's intrigued by creepy-crawlies, was really cool. On top of that, she's created a world that's rich with interesting characters, and the story itself is beautifully written. Fans of Twilight will LOVE The Survivors....It's a much more creative and complicated book, but it will give you the love story you crave, along with all the supernatural elements that you loved so much from Bella and Edward's world. 
What a Character: I really gravitated toward Sadie, our main character, because she's a strong-willed and independent woman. But on the flip-side, she's also desperately looking to make a connection. She's constantly on the search to find a place where she fits in, even though she knows that she's unlike anyone else in the world. And there's something about that that's incredibly endearing. I also really liked Mark and Ginny; Mark because of his easy-going attitude but fierce loyalty to Sadie, and Ginny because of her sweet and caring demeanor. But really, there are so many characters in this series that you're bound to connect with someone!

Amanda Havard

A Little Something Extra: I've known Amanda Havard for over a year now and she's such a smart and talented person! Something that you should know about her is that she has a very creative mind and won't back down from her lofty dreams. When she first began shopping around her book, The Survivors, she had very specific ideas in mind for it. She wanted to go places that books had never really gone before, and publishers were really hesitant to go there. But instead of giving up or giving in, she found a publisher that was willing to do everything she envisioned, and because of it, she's pushing the boundaries of storytelling. 
      Namely, she's created a totally Immersive experience for her readers. If you buy her Immersedition from iTunes, you'll get extras that you can't find anywhere else. In this edition, you'll get links to documented moments in history throughout the book, that will give you more background info on specific parts. Amanda created a book soundtrack, both with existing artists, as well as singers/songwriters that she signed to her own music label, created specifically for this project (Some of her signed artists have been on "Glee" and "The Voice"). Amanda is an avid music junkie and felt very strongly that music was just another dimension needed to accurately tell the story. 
       On top of that, you can check out the cars the characters drive, as well as the clothes they wore, watch music videos for the soundtrack and link straight to the Twitter accounts for most of the characters, which date back to two years before the book was released. The Survivors is a truly unique experience and one that I see books heading toward in the future. Oh, and I had the pleasure of writing a blurb for the sequel, so you KNOW it's gotta be good!


Follow her on Twitter @AmandaHavard and then go out and buy her book!

5x5,
B.

Book Review: The List by Siobhan Vivian

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: The List by Siobhan Vivian

The Story: An intense look at the rules of high school attraction--and the price that's paid for them. It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up. This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.
Why It's a Must-Read: The List is a realistic look at how difficult high school can be. For me, high school was torture. I was bullied, I never felt like I fit in and sometimes I think I still haven't gotten over it. The beauty of the story that Siobhan Vivian's created is that she shows that popular or unpopular, high school can be a tough time. Although it brought back memories of my own high school experience, I really felt like Siobhan lived this life...she never once tried to water down how horribly people can treat each other at this age.
What a Character: The interesting thing about The List is that it's told from the perspective of eight different characters. Four girls from the ugly list and four from the pretty list. And with so many personalities, you're bound to connect with one of them. I, myself, really liked Danielle DeMarco, who was also known as Dan the Man. She was such an innocent bystander and really just kept to herself...and that makes you want to root for her. She was also betrayed by the one she loved, and that just made me love her more!

Siobhan Vivian

A Little Something Extra: I had the pleasure of meeting Siobhan Vivian recently at a book reading she did at a Barnes & Noble and was struck by how upbeat and friendly she was. When she talked to me, she acted like we were old friends and like she was genuinely happy to meet me. Her voice in the book is super-fun and pretty reflective of her personality (from what I could tell). She's also co-writing another book series that's coming out in the Fall which starts with Burn for Burn and will being published by my publishers, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers! I'd keep my eye out for this one....it's already getting a lot of buzz as one to put on your reading list!

Follow her on Twitter @SiobhanVivian and then go out and buy her book!

5x5,
B.

Love is a Battlefield

by Brittany Geragotelis

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

If you're like me though, you're not IN LOVE with Valentine's Day. It's not that I dislike the day, I just think that if you're single, it's a reminder of that fact, which can make most people feel depressed....and if you're a part of a couple, you're sort of required to profess your love on a specific day, instead of showing your significant other that you love and appreciate them every day. But this isn't to say that I don't like getting gifts (hint, hint Matt: pick me up something pretty) and spending some time with my man....just, do we really need a day designated to do all this?

Anyhow....in honor of this love-a-dub-dub day, I thought I'd give you a little something to start it off right. Whether you're single and a little annoyed at Cupid or involved and looking for love every day of the year, you're going to dig this great read by debut author, Ryan Gielen.

Love Bomb and the Pink Platoon is an adult novel that blends the military with a little don't ask, don't tell action. After pissing off the wrong people, General Newman Ginger is forced to participate in a top-secret government experiment that turns a whole platoon of unwanted soldiers gay. But that's not the only side effect...the men also acquire other special skills that make them into the ultimate fighting machines. Needless to say, the military does not take the news well, and what comes next is explosive.




Here's what author and film director Ryan Gielen had to say about his controversial but love-ly book:

You're doing a big push for Love Bomb on Valentine's Day...Can readers expect an epic love story?
Ryan Gielen: Absolutely! A bitter, old washed up general must learn to love his all-gay platoon in order to survive his mission. Because the central experiment potentially turned him gay, too, he also wrestles with his love for himself--is it great enough to withstand such a life-altering event?

Where did you get the inspiration for your book?
Ryan: The book is based on the true story of the military's secret aphrodisiac testing program. They wanted to sexually arouse the enemy to distract him on the battlefield. It felt like the perfect vehicle to examine the military and government's bizarre fear of all sexuality--I truly believe that most self-righteous politicians are terrified of their own reproductive organs, and that makes me laugh.

You tackle two very controversial topics in the book--people's stance on the military and war, and homosexuality. What do you hope people get from reading the book?
Ryan: I hope people laugh, and see a few things they've always wanted to say or always thought, in print. I hope the book does for some people what Orwell or Dr. Strangelove did for me--they enhanced my distrust of "very serious people" and helped cement my complete and unwavering distrust of authority. If I can make even one person point to a pundit or politician on TV and yell "bullshit!" at the screen I will feel like it was all worth it.

Do you think some people are going to be angry after reading the book? Do you care?
Ryan: I do not care at all. I'm sure if the book is successful enough, and reaches enough people, it will anger some of them--but good art challenges. There's no fun in playing it safe.

You're actually a film guy who's written several screenplays, one of which has been made into a full-length film that's garnered quite a bit of attention from indie fans [The Graduates is available to watch on Hulu and Netflix]. In fact, Love Bomb was actually a screenplay before you adapted it into a novel. What was that experience like for you to switch over to novel-writing and why did you decide to turn it into a book?
Ryan: I was always a writer--growing up, I wrote and sketched and took photographs constantly, and I write humor pieces for websites, so the novel wasn't a huge leap. And 90% of the filmmaking process is writing and rewriting, even in the editing room. So the process was both familiar and new. I was thrilled to be able to discuss the inner life of characters--in a screenplay you have much less room, a fraction of the words, and you can't really jump into characters' minds. I loved having the room to follow a thread inward, on the page.

I think the next 5-10 years will favor those artists who work with multiple forms of expression. The audience has exponentially more options for entertainment now than even 2 years ago, and that's only going to continue to increase exponentially. We have to be prepared to express our ideas across media to reach as many people as possible.

Read any good books lately?
Ryan: I absolutely loved Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser. It was simple, honest and moving. I also really loved Life, the Keith Richards autobiography. He was pretty honest if you read between the lines, and lived 10 lives in one.

You're an indie guy who's had a pretty good track record for self-distributing.... what made you decide to self-publish and do you have any advice for others who are thinking about going down this path?
Ryan: I forced myself to go through the whole agent submission experience, which was just as pointless as the screenplay submission process. Gatekeepers want something familiar and easy, and Love Bomb, in my opinion, is bold, new and complicated to sell. So, predictably, it was universally rejected. I was fully prepared for this with my marketing plan already in place. I'm taking from my experience marketing my films and others' and adapting that approach to book selling.

My advice is to let go of the romantic notion of the tortured author who gets paid to write and paces around his cabin in the woods, then hands his manuscript to a waiting, eager publisher who markets it to the world. Accept that when the laptop is put away, you are the marketing department, and start studying people who have created their own success in book selling. John Locke is a good place to start, regardless of what you think of his books. I'll be creating a whole series of videos and blog posts about my approach as well.


What's one thing people might not know about you?
Ryan: I have more pictures of my golden retriever, Tyler (it's a girl), than of the rest of my family combined. I love my family but I--like most golden retriever owners--believe I have the greatest dog in the world.

Whose career do you admire?
Ryan: Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney, Stanley Kubrick, the writers of "Modern Family," Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney and Louis CK. There are too many authors, screenwriters and artists to list them all.

As a film director, can we expect to see the book made into a full-length film one day? If given your pick, who would play the cast in the movie-version?
Ryan: Yes--and you'll have to wait and see. ;)

So, there you go. Love Bomb and the Pink Platoon is available nationwide today. For more on the book or the author, visit the site at www.lovebombbook.com, or you can purchase it in paperback here, for the Nook here, the Kindle here, the iPhone/iPad here and the Sony Reader here.


Happy Valentine's Day to all!

5x5,
B.

Buy your copy of Life's a Witch today!

by Brittany Geragotelis

A note to all my TWITCHES:

I have a secret to share with you: before posting Life’s a Witch, I’d experienced about eight years of rejection. Rejection by agents, editors, publishers, etc. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “You’re a great writer, but this just isn’t for us.” After a while, I began to question whether I should be writing at all, and even took a hiatus from it.

Of course, as writers, we write. And before long, I felt the itch and decided that I no longer cared what a select few thought of my books. What mattered to me, I realized, was the opinion of the people who I was actually writing for: YOU!

So, I took a chance and decided to write something original for Wattpad and leave that choice up to you. And thus, Life's a Witch was born.

And I’m so glad that I did, because you all seem to have fallen in love with Hadley and the rest of The Cleri; you’ve rooted for her, gotten angry on her behalf, acted out her fight scenes in public and even threatened to kick her enemies’ butts for her. I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you all how much I’ve appreciated your continued support as I published Life’s a Witch. Your loyalty and kind words have been nothing short of phenomenal and you’ve each given me the encouragement to keep writing.

And because of all your support and encouragement, I'm taking another chance and am publishing Life's A Witch myself. So, if you love Hadley and the rest of The Cleri, go ahead and pick up your own copy today! Not only is there a BONUS CHAPTER that wasn't posted here on Wattpad, but there's a surprise in there for any fan who wrote a comment on the book (up until 3 weeks ago)!

And because of this exciting occasion, I've got a contest to share with you! Visit my amazon page, write a review of the book and then come back here and post the link to your review, and you'll be entered into a contest to win one of five autographed copies of Life's a Witch! Winners will be chosen on or around Dec 24th!

Please help spread the word about the book to your family and friends. Because you can have magical powers, too--You have the power to take matters into your own hands and decide for yourself what deserves to be a best-seller. So, use your powers and buy a book today!

Thank you and I love you all,

5x5,

B.

The mystery behind my cover for LAW...

by Brittany Geragotelis

Hi all!

I've got a full week of posts just itching to be read, so let's get started!

The wonderfully amazing Melissa Walker just did a cover story about Life's a Witch on her uber-popular book website! She was so sweet about it and is helping to spread the word that LAW will be available in paperback and ebook format on December 8th! I'd like to thank Melissa for including me and hope you'll all take some time out of your busy Monday back after Thanksgiving to read up! In the interview, I talk about the inspiration behind my cover and praise my talented designer Toni Misthos for her creativity and skill, because without her this book wouldn't be the same!

5x5,
B.