In which I rave about Barry Lyga's books & give one away

I first picked up a copy of The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga at a used book store because of the title (yes, I do sometimes judge a book by it's cover & title). It is told from Fanboy's point of view. Fanboy is a nickname given to him by Kyra, a Goth girl that befriends him at school after seeing a bully hit him in gym class. Fanboy tries to lay low in school. He's a smart, comic book nerd and that is a recipe for torment in most high schools. He is working on his own graphic novel & plans to show it to a big name comic book writer at the convention he is planning to attend.While Kyra encourages Fanboy on ways to improve his comic, she has her own issues. I loved this book when I read it and even more so listening to the audiobook. I was cackling out loud in the car when Fanboy sees a part of a certain female's body. Just the way that whole scene was written makes me laugh now thinking of it.

One of my favorite scenes (and probably the most heartbreaking to me) is when Fanboy is mentally beating himself up in the bathroom at the convention. I won't give anything thing away but I could relate to him.

I loved flawed Kyra and was quite excited when I found out that she got her own book. Goth Girl Rising is the follow up to The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl. It is told from Kyra's point of view & begins after she spends six months in a psychiatric hospital. She comes back to school expecting everything to be like it was only to find that Fanboy isn't quite the same nerdy guy she new. I know people like Kyra. People who jump to conclusions and think everyone is out to get them. You know Kyra is hurting but at the same time you just want to shake some sense into her.

Barry Lyga has created some wonderfully flawed characters here. Another of his books, Boy Toy, is one of my favorites. That story centers on a high school kid dealing with the aftermath of an affair with a teacher.

Barry also likes Book Bloggers & often gives books & things to bloggers to give away on our blogs. I have a *signed* copy of Goth Girl Rising that I am giving away RIGHT HERE! (For the record- it pains me to give this away! I love this book & I don't currently posses a signed copy of my own.) And since I love these books so much I am throwing in one of my copies (unsigned) of The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl because you need to read it first.

Here's how you enter:

1. Leave a comment here telling me something you enjoy or enjoyed from high school (me- I was a band nerd. I loved going to competitions on Saturdays)

2. I will give you an extra entry if you post about this contest(facebook, twitter, your own blog, etc) Just let me know where you posted.

I will use an online Randomizer to choose the winner.

Good Luck & Happy Reading!

Contest ends on November 5.

WINNER! JESSICA MERRELL!

Thanks to all who entered :) Be watching for more contests soon.

Archvillain by Barry Lyga CONTEST!

I have a SIGNED advanced copy of the middle grade novel ARCHVILLAIN by Barry Lyga that I am giving away. He is the author of Boy Toy, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl, Goth Girl Rising, and many more.

ARCHVILLAIN is the story of Kyle Camden, a middle school kid who just happened to be in a field when a plasma storm hit that gave him super human powers - and sent an alien to earth. An alien who looks just like a kid. Everyone thinks Mighty Mike, with his awesome powers, is wonderful. No one except Kyle knows the truth about his alienness and Kyle is on a mission to stop him, however misguided his attempts are.

Archvillain is the funny first book in a series for middle schoolers.

And I'm giving you the chance to win it. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me who your favorite fictional villain is.

You can also earn extra entries by promoting this contest. For every place that you post a link to this contest I will give you an extra entry. All you have to do is leave me a comment with the link.

If you haven't checked out any of Barry Lyga's books before, do it! They are some of my favorites.

(this contest is also being held on my Facebook page)

Winner of Hero Type!

Thanks to all who commented! I used random.org to plug the names in and the winner is:

Amber Gilmer!


Amber, I will be in touch and getting the book to you soon!



I'll have more contest throughout the summer. Keep reading.

Heroes - and a book contest

I have a signed copy of Hero Type by Barry Lyga to give away. In thinking about how to do that, I got to thinking about what makes someone a hero. I remember several years ago filling out my Myspace profile page and putting that very question in the "heroes" section-what makes someone a hero?

Is a hero someone who saves a life? Someone who excels in sports? Someone who is in the military or on the fire department or a law enforcement officer? Someone who stands up for his or her beliefs?

What happens when our heroes do something to get themselves knocked off their hero pedestal? Golden boy Tiger Woods has been criticized recently for his behavior and one of the things people are saying is that as role model he should have known better. Was he a hero before this happened?

I want your thoughts. I have a signed copy of Hero Type to give away. I will randomly choose the winner using one of the randomizing websites. This contest will close on May 23 at 11:59pm central time. I also have post cards from The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl, Goth Girl Rising, & Boy Toy that I will include in this contest.


Here's how you can win and earn extra entries:
1. Comment on this blog post telling me what, in your opinion, makes someone a hero. You get one entry for your first comment only.

2. Post a link to this contest on your blog, facebook, twitter, etc. and send me the link (you can send me the link in comments, or send it to sandilu (at) hotmail (dot) com- please put "hero type contest" in the subject line.) You will get one entry for every place you post.

This is open to anyone. People outside the US are welcome to enter as well. I look forward to reading what you have to say!

COMMENTS NOW CLOSED!

Book Contest! Prophecy of the Sisters!

My author-friend Michelle Zink is hosting an awesome giveaway on her blog. Check it out, and check out her novel Prophecy of the Sisters! (I highly recommend the book!)

Win Along for the Ride

Just Blinded Book Reviews is holding a contest for a galley copy of Along for the Ride. Go over there and enter! good luck

Fanboy contest winner!

Congrats to ALEXA for winning the signed copy of The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl. Her name was picked using Random.org

Alexa, I sent an email to the address you left.

Thanks to everyone who entered. I will post other contests soon. Keep checking back!

Check out this contest

OHHHH! Another book contest! New author Jennifer Brown is celebrating a countdown to her book, Hate List, coming out by having a contest every week

Week 1's contest is HERE


My contest for The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth girl is now closed. Thanks for all that entered! I'll be announcing a winner in the next couple of days.

Be on the look out for future contests!

Book Contest! The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl

I have a *signed* copy of The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl by Barry Lyga to give away!

Fanboy is a little on the geeky side. He is a favorite target of bullies at school. His mom is married to a younger guy and is pregnant leaving him to feel left out at home. But he loves graphic novels and is secretly working on one of his own.
And his life begins to change when he meets Kyra- also known as Goth Girl- a girl who hates bullies & jocks and loves graphic novels as much as he does. He starts to have more confidence in himself because of Goth Girl, but is she hiding her own secrets?

Fanboy was the first book by Barry Lyga that I read. I first picked it up because of the cool title and loved it. I got to meet him in NYC this past March and bought a copy of Boy Toy (not connected to Fanboy but also fabulous!) I am eagerly awaiting Goth Girl Rising.

In the meantime, I am giving away not only the signed Fanboy, but also three postcards and a bookmark showcasing the other books.

Here's how to enter-
*You'll get 1 entry just for commenting here telling me that you want to enter(the first comment you make on this post).

*You'll get 2 entries for being a follower of this blog (Just click follow up there -----> to become a follower)

*You'll get 2 entries for reposting about this contest on your site (please post the link here, if you don't mind, so I can see it!)

*You'll also get 1 entry for anyone that you refer to this contest- just tell them to mention your name


What are you waiting for? Enter! The contest will close June 30!!

























*Comments are now closed. Thanks to all that entered. Winner will be announced in the next couple of days!

Win an Advanced copy of Prophecy of the Sisters!!

I have an extra copy of Prophecy of the Sisters, a fabulous book by Michelle Zink that I am giving away.

How can you enter? It's very simple, and I'll even give you extra ways to get your name in there.

*You'll get 1 entry just for commenting here (the first comment you make on the the post).

*You'll get 2 entries for being a follower of this blog (Just click follow up there -----> to become a follower)

*You'll get 2 entries for reposting about this contest on your site (please post the link here, if you don't mind)

*You'll also get 1 entry for anyone that you refer to this contest- just tell them to mention your name


You can still enter a contest over at Michelle's blog to win her book plus a lot of other cool things.

Other contests are in the works, so help me spread the word!

This contest will end June 20.

Book Trailer contest

Calling all creative types- Author Barry Lyga is having a contest on his site where you can win a copy of his upcoming book Goth Girl Rising (which I am extremely anxious to get my hands on)

You can find details here.

If you don't know Barry Lyga's work you are missing out. I have two of his books- The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl and Boy Toy, both of which are fabulous but Boy Toy is one of my favorites. I also got to meet him when I was in NY in March and he was super nice.

SO, check out the contest and read his books.

Prophecy of the Sisters contest!

One of my new online author friends, Michelle Zink, has a book coming out and is having a contest.
Go here to see how you can enter to win a copy of the book plus a whole lot more stuff. (If you go from my blog, please say Sandi referred you!)

The book is Prophecy of the Sisters. It is the story of newly orphaned twin sisters who discover they are part of an ancient prophecy that turns sisters against each other. I hope this will be the first in a successful series.

I recommend it!

More book contests!

Here is your chance to win some books. Go here to win a copy of the Reformed Vampire Support Group

and here to win a copy of Kiss of Life, the hilarious and heart breaking follow up to Generation Dead