Kick A** 2011 Debut Author Spotlight

What began as a Facebook conversation, led to dozens of emails exchanges and finally, here we are today! I gathered a few awesome writer/bloggers to feature 2011 (mostly) debut authors.

The list of books in the limelight is at the end of my post-go look! I still wish we could have featured more, but I think we did a darn good job.

It's a day of CELEBRATION! Let the wild rumpus BEGIN!

My focus today is on three 2011 debut MALE YA authors:

Ashline and her wild-child sister, Eve, never appeared too remarkable, besides being Polynesian in a white suburban town. That is, until a petty schoolyard quarrel escalates to violence, during which Eve kills a rival of Ashline’s in cold blood. Shocked, Ashline moves across the country to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start doesn’t go as planned.


After a series of dangerous and mysterious occurrences—an attempted kidnapping, the appearance of paranormal beasts in the local forest—Ashline learns that she and four of her classmates are actually demigods who were summoned to this middle-of-nowhere school by an enigmatic blind girl. As a war between the gods looms over the campus, two very powerful organizations—with very different ideas on how the demigods should use their powers—are vying for control. Both groups want Ashline and her newfound abilities on their side…and some are willing to kill for her.

Three reasons to read:
1. KARSTEN does female MC's well and Ashline is a well-drawn character--sarcastic, damaged and unique.
2. His use of metaphors is jealousy-inducing.
3. And c'mon, a Polynesian goddess? How original and refreshing.

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Rene, an obsessive-compulsive fourteen year old, smells his hands and wears a Batman cape when he’s nervous. If he picks up a face-down coin, moves a muscle when the time adds up to thirteen (7:42 is bad luck because 7 + 4 + 2 = 13), or washes his body parts in the wrong order, Rene or someone close to him will break a bone, contract a deadly virus, and/or die a slow and painful death like someone in a scary scene in scary movie. Rene’s new and only friend tutors him in the art of playing it cool, but that’s not as easy as Gio makes it sound.

Three reasons to read:
1. MATT gets you inside of Rene's OCD head and keeps you there--riveted!
2. B'Noodles--need I say more? The lingo in the book is way cool.
3. He describes a high school experience I was familiar with and Matt is probably the coolest teacher in real life.

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Braden's witch eyes give him an enormous power. A mere look causes a kaleidoscopic explosion of emotions, memories, darkness, and magic. But this rare gift is also his biggest curse.

Compelled to learn about his shadowed past and the family he never knew, Braden is drawn to the city of Belle Dam, where he is soon caught between two feuding witch dynasties. Sworn rivals Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe will use anything--lies, manipulation, illusion, and even murder--to seize control of Braden's powers. To stop an ancient evil from destroying the town, Braden must master his gift, even through the shocking discovery that Jason is his father.

While his feelings for an enigmatic boy named Trey grow deeper, Braden realizes a terrible truth: Trey is Catherine Lansing's son . . . and Braden may be destined to kill him.

Three reasons to read:
1.World building. The town of Belle Dam is dark and mysterious, just the way I like it.
2. The love story between Braden and Trey--more of this, please!
3. SCOTT 's writing is lovely and his imagination is awesome--c'mon, witch eyes? So cool!

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***HERE'S WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS CRACK-A-LACKIN':

Rachele raves about IMAGINARY GIRLS
Susan is featuring RIP TIDE
Robyn spotlights ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE
Nicole wants to tell you about POSSESSION
Janet tells why she loves LIAR SOCIETY
Kate talks about MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
Sheri admires IRON WITCH
Jen would like to tell you about WITHER
Shannon celebrates DARK PARTIES
Jon loves MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE
Michelle tells you about SHIFTING
Susan admires WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE
Natalie gives a shout out to AUDITION, THE FAERIE RING, and MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE
Katie loves THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER
Stina gives you a taste of BAD TASTE IN BOYS and many others
Jessie spotlights SPELLBOUND and BIRTHRIGHT
Willow admires DESTINED
Christine raves about POSSESS
Kristin really really likes CLARITY
Anne features READY PLAYER ONE
Meredith wants to shout about DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE
Amy Rose loves THE NEAR WITCH
Theresa talks about DIVERGENT
Kelly focuses in on EARTHLING HERO and A SCARY GOOD BOOK
Christine gears you up for THE LIPSTICK LAWS
Laura is wild about GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS
Patti tells you about HEREAFTER
Portia admires THE SECRET OF SPRUCE KNOLL
Ali has plenty to say about POSSESSION
Kelly has a spark for ANGELFIRE
Lindsay is excited about DEPARTMENT 19
Heather gears you up for TWENTY-EIGHT AND A HALF WISHES
Frankie celebrates UNEARTHLY
Nisa spotlights ENTWINED