Giveaway: Time Between Us + Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone

Hi lovelies! So I'm just popping in to give you a treat. I've been in an alternate (work/no free time) world and I'm sorry. But I've been reading up so expect reviews this month.

For the 10th month of the 2013 Time Travel Reading Challenge, Dianne and I are offering you a chance to win Time Between Us and Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone.

Book Description:

Hardcover, 368 pages
Published October 9th 2012 by Hyperion

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, Time Between Us is a stunning, spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new voice in YA fiction.

Book Description:

Hardcover, 368 pages
Published October 8th 2013 by Disney-Hyperion

Calling Anna and Bennett’s romance long distance is an understatement: she’s from 1995 Chicago and he’s a time traveler from 2012 San Francisco. The two of them never should have met, but they did. They fell in love, even though they knew they shouldn't. And they found a way to stay together, against all odds.

It’s not a perfect arrangement, though, with Bennett unable to stay in the past for more than brief visits, skipping out on big chunks of his present in order to be with Anna in hers. They each are confident that they’ll find a way to make things work...until Bennett witnesses a single event he never should have seen (and certainly never expected to). Will the decisions he makes from that point on cement a future he doesn't want?

Told from Bennett’s point of view, Time After Time will satisfy readers looking for a fresh, exciting, and beautifully-written love story, both those who are eager to find out what’s next for Time Between Us's Anna and Bennett and those discovering their story for the first time.

Rules:
Two winners
US/CA only
*if you have an address in US/CA, you can join

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June Wrap Up: Interview wih Gina Linko + Giveaway: Signed Copy of Flutter

Hi guys! It's time for another Time Travel wrap-up. This time, Dianne and I will have two different giveaways for you. I invited Gina Linko to Fragments of Life for an interview. (Stick around for the international giveaway later!) You can also go to Dianne's blog to check out her interview with Deborah Noyes and her giveaway of Plague in the Mirror!

What is your general idea of time travel before writing Flutter?
I didn't know a lot. I did a lot of research on time travel, the idea of wormholes, the grandfather paradox, other theories concerning time travel. It really is fascinating, and there is so much there, in terms of opportunity for life-changing experiences, do-overs, things like that, so it is a writer's dream come true! We have a lot of way of introducing drama and mystery with time travel.

How did the idea for Flutter come to you?
The idea of Flutter came to me when thinking about seizures, and sort of, the "What if?" idea that they were more/different than the current accepted definition.

Will there be a sequel to Flutter?
There is no sequel to Flutter planned. I think that I have ended Emery's journey, although I love that the ending is ambiguous, in that you can sort of choose how you interpret what happens to Emery, where she goes, what she does, whether she comes back to this loop, whether there is finality in it or not. For me, my favorite part of the book is the ending. And I hope you like it too!

How do you balance the romance element and the time travel element? / How do you manage to sustain the romantic element in Flutter through time?
I really liked the idea of having this boy become part of Emery's home loop, as she calls it, and then also part of her time travels. To me, that was what it was all about, figuring out how these two different worlds fit together, and how Asher could possibly be involved, and, of course, why.

Do you read reviews of your book? 
Why or why not? Oh, I try not to. For me, the book and the characters are finished, in a way, and I am usually on to a new book, writing a new story, so I try to stay active with that and not read reviews, because I am a people-pleaser at heart, and it would hurt too much! I'm too sensitive!

What are your thoughts about negative reviews?
People are entitled to their opinions, and I love the whole atmosphere of online book blogging/reviewing. It is a really supportive environment on the whole. I have found bloggers to be just so friendly and to really want to help authors out in spreading the word about their books. It's been such a fun experience to "meet" all these people online.

What is next for Gina Linko?
My next book Indigo, comes out in October. The summary is below. It's another sci-fi mystery/romance, much like Flutter! Also, you can check it out at my web site: ginalinko.com.

A gift?

A curse?

A moment that changes everything. . . .

Caught in an unexpected spring squall, Corrine's first instinct is to protect her little sister Sophie after a nasty fall. But when Corrine reaches out to comfort her sister, the exact opposite occurs. Her touch--charged with an otherworldly force and bursting with blinding indigo color--surges violently from Corrine to her sister. In an instant, Sophie is dead. From that moment on, Corrine convinces herself that everyone would be better off if she simply withdrew from life.

When her family abruptly moves to New Orleans, Corrine's withdrawal is made all the easier. No friends. No connections. No chance of hurting anyone. But strange things continue to happen around her in this haunting, mystical city. And she realizes that her power cannot be ignored, especially when Rennick, a talented local artist with a bad-boy past, suggests another possibility: Corrine might have the touch. An ability to heal those around her. But knowing what happened to her sister, can Corrine trust her gift?

What is your writing style - how do you write a novel?
I become absolutely obsessed. Once I have an idea, I take a long time brainstorming and thinking about it, for weeks. I do research and take notes, all day long, even when I'm supposed to be doing other things. And when I finally am ready to write, I do so in a fugue. I just write the first draft very quickly, pulling all-nighters, and just trying to get it all on paper. Then I go back and revise, slowly, over and over, making it "good" as I like to say.

About the Author:

Gina Linko has a graduate degree in creative writing from DePaul University and lives outside Chicago with her husband and three children. Gina teaches college English part-time, but her real passion is sitting down at a blank computer screen and asking herself the question, "What if...?"

Follow Gina: Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Book Description:

Hardcover, 352 pages
October 23rd 2012, Random House Books for Young Readers

All Emery Land wants is to be like any other 17-year-old—to go to school, hang out with her friends, and just be normal. But for as long as she can remember, she’s suffered from seizures. And in recent years they’ve consumed her life. To Emery they’re much more than seizures, she calls them loops—moments when she travels through wormholes back and forth in time and to a mysterious town. The loops are taking their toll on her physically. So she practically lives in the hospital where her scientist father and an ever-growing team of doctors monitor her every move. They’re extremely interested in the data they collect when Emery seizes. It appears that she’s tapping into parts of the brain typically left untouched by normal human beings.

Escaping from the hospital, Emery travels to Esperanza, the town from her loops on the upper peninsula of Michigan, where she meets Asher Clarke. Ash’s life is governed by his single-minded pursuit of performing good Samaritan acts to atone for the death of a loved one. His journey is very much entwined with Emery’s loops.

Drawn together they must unravel their complicated connection before it’s too late.

Giveaway Time!

Open internationally.
Ends on July 30th.
You should be at least 13 years old.

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May Wrap-up: Interview with Pete Hautman + Giveaway of The Obsidian Blade/The Cydonian Pyramid by Pete Hautman

Hey, everyone! It's the end of May, which means only one thing... it's monthly wrap-up time for the YA and MG Time Travel Reading Challenge! Today, we have an interview with Pete Hautman, author of the time travel series The Klaatu Diskos Trilogy. Last April, the paperback of the first book, The Obsidian Blade was released. And just this May 14, the second book, The Cydonian Pyramid, was released. You can click on the links to check out my review. But for now, here's the interview and don't forget to get to the end to join the giveaway!

Interview with Pete Hautman

On The Klaatu Diskos Trilogy

How did the idea for The Klaatu Diskos series come to you?

Several years ago I wrote a time-travel book called “Mr. Was,” loosely based on a recurring dream I had throughout my adolescence. I swore I’d never do time-travel again! But then I had an idea for a boy named Tucker, and a girl named Lahlia, and a mysterious disappearance. And I was thinking about autism, and religious cults, and modern medicine, and the ways that digital technology is changing human relations…and the next thing I knew it was back to the future. Time-travel was the only way I could pull all those ideas together. It took about  ten years.

How did you come up with the names of the characters? Do their names mean anything?

I look for a sound that seems to suit the character. Sometimes in the course of writing a character will change, and I have to change their name to suit. If I get stuck for a character name, I consult my high school yearbook. I sometimes borrow contemporary names from students I meet at school visits.

Who's your favorite character in the book? Who was the most fun to write? Who was the hardest?

The hardest characters to write are always the most intriguing. It was fun to watch Lah Lia (aka Lahlia) and Kosh develop. I didn’t know them well when I started, but they filled out nicely. I particularly like Lah Lia. I have a soft spot for powerful young women (big Buffy fan, y’know) and Lia is most definitely a butt-kicker. Kosh is somewhat the opposite: a big softy inside a formidable shell.

What would the third and last book of the trilogy be about? Is there a title yet?

“The Klaatu Terminus” will continue Tucker’s and Lia’s tale, and tell the story of Kosh Feye, Tucker’s uncle—how he became the grumpy black-clad biker we met in “The Obsidian Blade.” All will be revealed, including the secret origin of the diskos, and the strange and twisted fates of Tucker’s parents.

On publishing and reviews

You're a multi-awarded author. Do you read reviews of your book? Why or why not?

Yeah, I read reviews. I care about how people respond to my work—after all, writing is about reaching out to people, it is about communicating, entertaining, and satisfying readers. I’m not going to appeal to everyone—my stuff is way to quirky for that—but it can be useful to know what works and what doesn’t for a particular reader.

Your thoughts about negative reviews?

Most of them are respectful, at least.

On writing

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

No. Until I was in my mid-twenties, I wanted to be a comic book artist. But it was always about the storytelling. All art is about telling stories.

You have written books across several genres - sci-fi, mystery, realistic fiction and romance among others. What's your favorite genre to write? What's the hardest to write?

I like trying something new with every book—it keeps me fresh. My next book is middle-grade robot comedy set in Iowa. After that, a YA love story set in an apocalyptic cult. I’m also working a book about food, and I’m playing around with an idea for a horror novel.

As for what is most difficult to write, I would say time-travel, or anything that requires extensive world-building.

Did you ever think about writing for adults? Why do you write books for teens and young adults?

I’ve written eight adult novels, two of which were New York Times Notable Books. All are still in print. They are, for lack of a better way to describe them, “crime novels with a sense of humor.” In recent years, I’ve been focusing more on YA novels, mostly because I loved reading so much when I was a teen. Remember your most intense, most memorable reading experiences? There’s a good chance that they happened between the ages of ten and eighteen. At least that was true for me. I remember books I read as a teen more vividly that I remember what I read last month. There is nothing better than being fourteen years old and losing oneself in a book. Nothing. Better.

Thank you so much Pete for that very insightful interview. And yes, the books we read when we're young are the best. Now for those not familiar with series, check out the blurbs below!

Title: The Obsidian Blade (The Klaatu Diskos #1)

Author: Pete Hautman

Publisher: Candlewick

Date of Publication: April 10, 2012

Kicking off a riveting sci-fi trilogy, National Book Award winner Pete Hautman plunges us into a world where time is a tool — and the question is, who will control it?

The first time his father disappeared, Tucker Feye had just turned thirteen. The Reverend Feye simply climbed on the roof to fix a shingle, let out a scream, and vanished — only to walk up the driveway an hour later, looking older and worn, with a strange girl named Lahlia in tow. In the months that followed, Tucker watched his father grow distant and his once loving mother slide into madness. But then both of his parents disappear. Now in the care of his wild Uncle Kosh, Tucker begins to suspect that the disks of shimmering air he keeps seeing — one right on top of the roof — hold the answer to restoring his family. And when he dares to step into one, he’s launched on a time-twisting journey

— from a small Midwestern town to a futuristic hospital run by digitally augmented healers, from the death of an ancient prophet to a forest at the end of time. Inevitably, Tucker’s actions alter the past and future, changing his world forever.

Purchase from Amazon | The Book Depository

Title: The Cydonian Pyramid (The Klaatu Diskos #2)

Author: Pete Hautman

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Date of Publication: May 14, 2013

The much-anticipated sequel to The Obsidian Blade transports readers to the terrifying and thrilling world of Lah Lia, the enigmatic girl who changed Tucker Feye’s life.

More than half a millennium in the future, in the shadow of the looming Cydonian Pyramid, a pampered girl named Lah Lia has been raised for one purpose: to be sacrificed through one of the mysterious diskos that hover over the pyramid’s top. But just as she is about to be killed, a strange boy appears from the diskos, providing a cover of chaos that allows her to escape and launching her on a time-spinning journey in which her fate is irreversibly linked to his. In this second volume of the Klaatu Diskos trilogy, Tucker Feye and Lah Lia each hurtle through time, relating their stories in alternating viewpoints that converge at crucial moments. Fans of the first adventure will be intrigued by the chance to see the world through Lah Lia’s eyes — no matter how disturbing the vision might be.

Purchase from Amazon | The Book Depository

About Pete Hautman

Pete Hautman is the author of Godless, which won the National Book Award, and many other critically acclaimed books for teens and adults, including Blank Confession, All-In, Rash, No Limit, and Invisible. Mr. Was was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America. Pete lives in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway

Sorry international peeps as this giveaway is US only. We do try our best to make all giveaways international but sadly, sometimes it's just not possible. We feel you though as we're international too. Anyway, for US residents, you have until June 30 to join! We will have THREE winners of The Cydonian Pyramid (or The Obsidian Blade if you haven't read the first book). The winners will be contacted through email and must respond within 48 hours. Good luck! Thank you to Andie of Candlewick Press for sponsoring this giveaway!

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Review Linky

Link up your May time travel reviews here!

Guest Post by Shandy Lawson + The Loop Giveaways - International!

Hi everyone! For today, I've got a guest post from Shandy Lawson for the monthly time travel wrap-up and feature. Stick around for three giveaways. :)

Rules for The Loop by Shandy Lawson

Book Description:

Hardcover, 208 pages
April 30th 2013, Hyperion

Ben and Maggie have met, fallen in love, and died together countless times. Over the course of two pivotal days—both the best and worst of their lives—they struggle again and again to resist the pull of fate and the force of time itself. With each failure, they return to the beginning of their end, a wild road trip that brings them to the scene of their own murders and into the hands of the man destined to kill them.

As time circles back on itself, events become more deeply ingrained, more inescapable for the two kids trapped inside the loop. The closer they come to breaking out, the tighter fate’s clutches seem to grip them. They devise a desperate plan to break free and survive the days ahead, but what if Ben and Maggie’s only shot at not dying is surviving apart?

About the Author:

Shandy Lawson's "day jobs" have ranged from making wine recommendations to being a machinist, a dispatcher in an auto repair garage, a philosophy tutor at a local college, and a stone mason. Creatively, he put most of his energy into a career as a performing songwriter before turning his focus to writing fiction. Shandy lives and works n New York City. The Loop is his first novel.

Follow Shandy: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook


The Loop Giveaways
Because Dianne and I really love The Loop - reviews to come! - we decided to have 3 giveaways so everyone can enter: The first is for US/CA residents, the second is for PH residents and the last is for International readers!

For US/CA Residents:

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For PH Residents:

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For International Readers:

Note: We are really, really, really - sincerely - sorry for the trouble and confusion, our dear readers. My fellow blogger just found out that as of the moment, there is no Kindle available for The Loop. We decided to close this international giveaway immediately so as to prevent more people from entering it when the prize still doesn't exist. *coughs* as of the moment. :( Sorry!

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Author Interview with Andy Gavin + Untimed Giveaway

Hi guys, today I've got Andy Gavin, the author of Untimed, for an interview about his novel: the story world, the characters and the writing. Stick around for a giveaway!

How does being a video game programmer/designer help you in writing novels?

As a serial creator (having made over a dozen major video games) it was interesting how similar the process was to any other complex creative project. Video games and novel writing are both very iterative and detail oriented. They use a lot of the same mental muscles.

Charlie. From All Things Andy Gavin

What was it like to write a YA time travel story? Was it easy or difficult to write for a younger audience?

I don’t really write to a demographic. I probably should, but it just isn’t me. The characters take on a life of their own and fantastic elements aside, demand a certain level of realism.

Untimed might have been easier to sell to publishers if I had kept the basic plot but targeted it at Middle Schoolers. Instead, it’s a 13+ book and I tried to make Charlie’s voice authentically 15, which means it has a bit of an edge. Teen boys think about shit and sex. Sorry, but it’s true. I rub up on issues that make some squirm, even if I deal with the lightly: teen pregnancy, drinking, slavery, etc. But to sweep these under the carpet wouldn’t do justice to the 18th century – or our own.

In the time travel novels I've read, the story world is a mix of contemporary and historical. The two story worlds are more or less as realistic as they could get. Why did you decide to mix contemporary, historical and a bit of steampunk into the time travel equation?

First of all, I’m a pantser, and so the story and characters largely determine where they go. Untimed began with this concept of a modern teenage narrator who was unstuck in time and went from there.

Somehow, I always imagined Charlie in Philadelphia, and that led me quickly to Ben Franklin, who is a favorite of mine. In an alternate dimension there exists a simpler Untimed, woven between modern and 18th century Philly. No London. No France. No China. That book would have been more like a Hollywood story, all packaged up neat and clean, but neat and clean isn’t the Andy Gavin style.

I often like to speculate on much individual people and events shape history, so it was natural to play with this idea of a future (or present?) gone wrong.

When you were writing Untimed, how did you draw the line between facts and fantasy?

I didn’t want the book to be too tame and neat. Despite being a fantasist, I strive for human realism in my books. I like to deal with real issues when they come up, which I feel makes for better drama.

Fundamentally, while the central two conceits of Untimed are fanciful (time travel and Tick-Tocks), I tried to keep everything else realistic (if sometimes comic). Teens do have sex. They do drink. The past was a dangerous place, justice was more an abstract concept than a practical reality. A pair of teenagers stranded without resources or any real clue as to what is going on would find it tough going.

I wanted to show people that the past didn’t have to be boring, and that while situations and society changes, people stay the same. I also wanted to illustrate that while people in the past are just as human, things really have improved in many ways. By having Charlie, who as a contemporary kid is our representative, experience different times first hand, it’s easy to contrast them.

From the blurb: "there’s the simple fact that boys only travel into the past and girls only into the future."
So why does this time travel rule exist?

First of all, I had to come up with a unique new system that allowed multiple visits to the same time period, but wasn’t too overpowered. If your characters are too powerful, there is no jeopardy. So I had to invent all the restrictions and deal with the issues of paradox (and I think I have a crafty new solution there). Then I had to figure out how to make returning to the SAME action actually interesting for the reader. That was even harder.

I also wanted some kind of mechanic that created emotional intensity. I hit on the forward/backward thing early on and it really clicked with me. I liked the idea that due to the rules, and the rarity of travelers, Charlie and Yvaine were really stuck together. One wrong hop without the other and they might never see each other again!

Paperback, 325 pages
December 17, 2012, Mascherato

Charlie’s the kind of boy that no one notices. Hell, even his own mother can’t remember his name. And girls? The invisible man gets more dates.

As if that weren’t enough, when a mysterious clockwork man tries to kill him in modern day Philadelphia, and they tumble through a hole into 1725 London, Charlie realizes even the laws of time don’t take him seriously.

Still, this isn’t all bad. In fact, there’s this girl, another time traveler, who not only remembers his name, but might even like him! Unfortunately, Yvaine carries more than her share of baggage: like a baby boy and at least two ex-boyfriends! One’s famous, the other’s murderous, and Charlie doesn’t know who is the bigger problem.

When one kills the other — and the other is nineteen year-old Ben Franklin — things get really crazy. Can their relationship survive? Can the future? Charlie and Yvaine are time travelers, they can fix this — theoretically — but the rules are complicated and the stakes are history as we know it.

And there's one more wrinkle: he can only travel into the past, and she can only travel into the future!

About the Author:

Andy Gavin is a serial creative, polymath, novelist, entrepreneur, computer programmer, author, foodie, and video game creator. He co-founded video game developer Naughty Dog and co-created Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter. He started numerous companies, has been lead programmer on video games that have sold more than forty million copies, and has written two novels.

Follow Andy: Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website

Also, challenge participants, you can link-up your reviews here:

Giveaway

Thanks to Andy and Mascherato, we have one signed copy of Untimed to giveaway! You guys know the drill. Fill out the form. :)

Rules:
Open internationally
You should be at least 13 years old.
Ends April 30, 2013.

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2013 YA and MG Time Travel Reading Challenge: February Wrap-up Post + Giveaway of Clockwise series by Elle Strauss

For our February Wrap-Up post, we have two character interviews of the protagonists in the Clockwise series by Elle Strauss. I have he character interview with Nate Mackenzie here in my blog. You can find the matching interview with Casey Donovan at Dianne's blog.

Ebook and Paperback, 290 pages
Sept/Nov 2011, ESB Publishing ang BookBaby

Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this—she’s accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.

Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just “brotherly” protectiveness?

When they return to the present, things go back to the way they were before: Casey parked on the bottom of the rung of the social ladder and Nate perched high on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her younger brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.

Which of course, she does.

*There are cases in which Nate's answers can't be understood without reading Casey's answers (which are in Dianne's interview) so I included them.

What was it like to travel back in time?

Nate: Wow. Mindblowing. Headspinning. I mean, who DOES that?

How is your time travel companion different in the present and in 1860?

Nate: Casey is the most interesting person I ever met. Seriously, she's a time traveler. And she's cute. And smart. Yeah, I'm totally taken with her. Unfortunately, at home in the present, things are complicated. I kind of have a girlfriend, so really, Casey is hands off in every century.

What's your reaction to the handsome, wealthy suitor?

Nate: I want to punch his lights out.

If you could bring back an item from the 19th century to the present, what would it be and why?

(*Casey: Hmm, it's hard to say. We have every item now that they had back then only better.)
Nate: Ditto

What is your most unforgettable memory of 1860? Why?

Nate: Racing through the forest on a horse in winter, trying to save a friend. I don't really know how to ride a horse, so it was a frightening, but exciting experience.

Aside from the 19th century, which time and place would you like to go back to?

Nate: My preference is to stay in my own century, thank you very much. But hanging out with Casey, that's not likely to happen.

Giveaway: Two winners of the boxed digital set of the Clockwise series by Elle Strauss

Just fill out the form and you're entered!

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Oh, don't forget to link up your reviews!

Character Interview: Jason Evans + Giveaway: Keeper of the Black Stones by P.T. McHugh

Hi guys! I'm posting late for the end of February Time Travel posts. Sorry! Just finalized and submitted my thesis end of Feb so it was hectic. Anyway, moving on, today...I've got a character interview and giveaway for you! To be honest, I'm not sure if you've heard of this book - I haven't seen this posted in any Waiting on Wednesday post, which is one of the reasons why I like to post about this. I'm introducing a new time travel release:

Paperback, 369 pages
February 26, 2013, Glass House Press

Awkward in his own skin, shy around girls and worried about anything and everything, Jason Evans is just like a million other teenage boys in high school, with one very large exception: he has been given a gift that allows him to jump through time. A set of stones has fallen into his lap that gives him access to any place - and any time - that he chooses. But along with that gift comes the responsibility of stopping the man who is using those very stones to travel through time and change history for his own purposes. A man who is now holding Jason's grandfather hostage, and threatening the world's very existence. Jumping through time with his best friend and body guard, Jason must enter the world of Medieval England, learn its customs, navigate unimaginable danger, and help Henry VII win the Battle of Bosworth, in the name of finding his grandfather, rescuing a beautiful girl from the clutches of a corrupt church, and destroying the one man who pledges to turn history inside out.

Can you tell us something about yourself?

I'm just your typical 14-year-old boy. I love watching sports and hanging out with my best friend Paul. School's okay, but sometimes it can be a drag. I'd have to say my life is just like any other kid’s ... until recently.

What do you think about time travel, in general?

If you asked me that question a few weeks ago, I would have told you that the concept was ridiculous. But now ... let’s just say that it's real, and very, very dangerous.

If you could choose (and apparently you can) to go three eras just for fun (no history alteration involved), which three eras would you go back to?

Wow, how about early 1800's – Napoleon's reign. So many things happened during those years in Europe, and shaped the world as we know it today. The second era would be the early 1920's, before the depression in the US. The economy was booming, and from what I've heard, everyone seemed to be having a good time. Third era would be the start of the renaissance, just after Henry VII took over. Now on the last era, let’s make it clear that I wouldn't want to stay there for very long. I love indoor plumbing, good hygiene, and cold drinks.

Would you alter history for a loved one or not? Why?

Wow, that’s a great question. Reminds me of when Superman spun the world backward after Louis Lane died so he could alter the past and save her. I'd have to say no ... I realize now how the correction of one mistake can create a million more. Now with that being said, there are times when I've thought about it. If I could go back and save my parents I would probably be tempted, but it would change everything, and who knows how that would turn out? Besides, I’m not sure the stones could take me to a time where another version of me already existed. Seems like it might be … a problem.

Giveaway: 5 E-copies of Keeper of the Black Stones

Thanks to P.T. and Glass House Press, five of the readers of Oops! I Read a Book Again and Fragments of Life can win copies of this new release. You know what to do!

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Guest Post: TimeRiders Agency Guidelines by Alex Scarrow [Time Travel Feature]

Time travel enthusiasts, if you're interested in finding out more about time travel - beyond the book, I mean - then this is the perfect post for you. Alex Scarrow, the author of the TimeRiders series will reveal top sekrit info aka the TimeRiders Agency Guidelines.

TimeRiders Agency Guidelines

Rules of conduct:

Contamination Awareness:
Operatives must remain aware of the constant danger of affecting the timeline. The smallest alteration of the past can lead to a substantial and hazardous change to the present. Every possible measure must be taken to avoid this. The following guidelines are designed to minimize potential risk.

Source: MichelleZinBooks

1. Clothing: when going back in time it is important to be wearing clothing that fits into the given time period. If suitable clothing cannot be obtained prior to entering the time portal, then the operative must travel back with no clothing at all and must attempt to locate suitable attire in the target location.

2. Language: it is important that the operative can communicate with people in the target location. The operative should familiarise themselves with period nuances of the language. If the operative is unable to speak the target language, translator buds can be fitted in the ear. It should be stated that the translation AI may sometimes struggle with localised phrases or idioms, or extreme accents.

3. Knowledge: it is important that the operative is suitably briefed on the period of history he/shill be visiting. This includes knowledge of the political, economic and social situation. The accompanying Support Unit can also be utilized as a portable information base.

4. Interactions: the operative should restrict any actions to only those that lead towards correcting a contaminated timeline. As such, an operative should always look for the most minimal action to perform towards this end.

5. Outbound: any displacement window should be targeted at locations that are remote and unobserved. Research the location extensively before opening a displacement window using maps, documents and illustrations from the given time. The field office has an extensive database for this purpose. In some cases there will be insufficient research materials to review. It is possible to open a very small window in the past and 'remote view' the immediate surroundings.

Source: Photo-Dictionary

6. Return: the return window will usually be in the same location as the outbound window. The operative should clarify with the team strategist WHEN the return window is to be opened. The window should remain open for only very short periods so it is important for both operative and strategist to have synchronised time pieces and agreement on when the window will be opened. A back up window time should also be agreed. Typically this would be one hour later, one day later and one week later, in case the operative is delayed by unforeseen events.

The Pirate Kings (TimeRiders #7) by Alex Scarrow

Paperback, 416 pages
February 7th 2013, Puffin

Liam O’Connor should have died at sea in 1912.
Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026.

But all three have been given a second chance—to work for an agency that no one knows exists. Its purpose: to prevent time travel destroying history...

Relocated to Victorian London, the TimeRiders joy-ride back to 1666 to witness the Great Fire of London. In the ensuing chaos, Liam and their newest recruit, Rashim, find themselves trapped between the fire and the Thames. They escape onboard a river boat, only to be confronted by an unscrupulous captain with his heart set on treasures of the high seas ...

Back in 1888, Maddy and the rest of the team are frantically trying to track them down. But with limited resources at their new base, can Liam and Rashim survive the bloodthirsty and barbaric age of piracy long enough to be rescued?

About the Author:

Alex Scarrow used to be a rock guitarist, then he became a graphic artist, then he decided to be a computer-games designer. Finally, he grew up and became an author. He has written a number of successful thrillers and several screenplays, but it’s Young Adult fiction that has allowed him to really have fun with many of the really cool ideas and concepts he was playing around with when designing games.

He lives in Norwich with his family.

Follow Alex: Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Join the 2013 YA & MG Time Travel Reading Challenge!
hosted by Precious from Fragments of Life and Dianne from Oops! I Read a Book Again
365 days of time-bending [includes freebies, features + giveaways]

Time Travel Reading Challenge: January Wrap-up + Giveaway: Vortex by Julie Cross

So the first month of the YA + MG Time Travel Reading Challenge is coming to an end...aaaaand Dianne and I have yet to review a time travel novel. However, as an explanation for the lack of reviews, January for us is the month of emailing authors, organizing the whole thing, preparing and updating our very detailed spreadsheets.

This is the list of posts we have so far:
Character Interview with Michele Windsor + Giveaway: Signed copy of Timekeeper(for everyone)
Character Interview with Philip Walker + Giveaway: Signed copy of Timekeeper (for participants only)
Spotlight: Vortex by Julie Cross
Character Interview with Baxter + Giveaway: Interred + Swag (INT, for everyone)
Guest Post: Time Bending Rules 101 + Giveaway: Interred + Swag (INT, for everyone)

Here's the list of time travel books released in January:

Timekeeper (Timeless #2) by Alexandra Monir
Vortex (Tempest #2) by Julie Cross
Interred (Chronicles of the Interred #1) by Marilyn Almodóvar

For February, only one time travel book will be released:

The Pirate Kings (TimeRiders #7) by Alex Scarrow

For our lovely participants, it's the time to link up your reviews!



Also...to thank you guys and to encourage other people to join the YA + MG Time Travel Reading Challenge (you can sign-up here), we're having a giveaway. What's up for grabs, you say? A finished copy of Vortex by Julie Cross! Big thanks to Andrew of Pan Macmillan Asia for this copy!

Open internationally!
Ends on Feb 28th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Character Interview: Philip Walker + Giveaway: Signed Copy of Timekeeper by Alexandra Monir

Hi guys! Dianne and I are starting the feature posts for the YA + MG Time Travel Reading Challenge with two character interviews with Philip and Michele of Timeless and Timekeeper! Stick around for a giveaway!

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: Music, though it's more of a passion and profession than hobby. I also enjoy sailing, horse races, and cards.

Q: Do you believe that love conquers all, even time?

A: I want to believe it, I really do.

Q: What's your favorite song?

A: The song that was playing when she and I first danced. Serenade by Schubert.

Q: What was your first impression of Michele?

A: I couldn't understand what I was seeing- she was like a vision appearing through the air. But then I couldn't stop thinking about her, wondering about her. Until I finally saw her again. That was when I saw and felt what had been missing before her.

Today is the book birthday of Timekeeper! LA peeps take note of this:

TONIGHT- January 8, 2013, 7 PM: Book Release Party/Signing @ Barnes & Noble in Santa Monica, CA

Pick up your copy of TIMEKEEPER and celebrate with Alexandra Monir at the official release-day party/signing at Barnes & Noble! Join Alexandra for a reading, Q&A, meet & greet and book signing, with refreshments and music. All book sales include a complimentary CD of the original music from the TIMELESS books- plus if you dress up in costume from a historical era, you'll receive TIMELESS-themed prizes! Barnes & Noble on the Santa Monica Promenade, 1201 3rd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/78557

And if you're in the Orange County area, Alexandra will be at the Barnes & Noble in Orange on January 10th @ 6 PM!

Barnes & Noble at Orange Town & Country, 791 South Main Street, Orange, CA 92868 

http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/78586

Giveaway: Signed Copy of Timekeeper by Alexandra Monir

There are TWO giveaways. So you get two chances of winning.

This giveaway is for the participants of YA + MG Time Travel Reading Challenge (if you’re interested you can join any time of the year! The lowest level only requires you to read 3 time travel books – easy! )

The giveaway at Dianne’s blog is for everybody.

US only (sorry lovelies, author’s request)

a Rafflecopter giveaway