The Birthday Bash is now over. I am archiving this page as a post in order to increase page space.

From August 23rd to September 22nd, Squeaky Books is having an UBER-celebration for my birthday! Since it’s my birthday. It’s a celebration of my favorite things!

On this page I'll be providing links to everything happening with the birthday event. If you want more information as to WHAT the birthday event even IS, you should CLICK HERE.

Want to add a birthday bash button to your site? CLICK HERE to pick one. Be sure to comment on that post to say you added it so I can follow you!




Contests

Monday, August 23th,
Kick Off ContestWin a signed, hardcover copy of Paranormalcy By Kiersten White!Hosted by me.

Wednesday, August 25th
Win Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala!Hosted by Rebecca.

Saturday, August 28th
Win one of the GORGEOUS UK Versions of Shannon Hale's BooksHosted by Chachic.

Monday, August 30th
Win an ARC of Pegasus by Robin McKinley!Hosted by Resugo.

Wednesday, September 1st
Win swag and an ARC of Dust City by Robert Paul Weston!Hosted by Nicole. BONUS GIVEAWAY! September 2ndWin swag and a signed copy of Spy Glass by Maria V Snyder!
Saturday, September 4th
Win swag and a pre-order of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer!Hosted by Cass.
Monday, September 6th
Win one of three sets of punctuation earrings!Hosted by Debbie.

Wednesday, September 8th
Win a signed copy of Ice by Sarah Beth Durst and some Enchanted Ivy swag.Hosted by JL.

Saturday, September 11th
Win a pre-order of Matched by Ally CondieHosted by Sandy.

Monday, September 13th
Win a UK edition of The Dark Divine by Bree DespainHosted by Jeremy. BONUS GIVEAWAY! September 14thWin I Am Number Four by Pittacus LoreHosted by Kathy.

Wednesday, September 15th
Win swag and a copy of It's a Mall World After All, by Janette RallisonHosted by Chantele. BONUS GIVEAWAY! September 17thWin two different Janette Rallison Books
Saturday, September 18th
Win a pre-read SIGNED ARC of Princess of Glass by Jessica Day GeorgeHosted by Chantele.

Guest Posts The Personal Holiday we Love To HateCaitlin from Scarrlet Reader The Woes of a Winter BirthdayCate from Sparrow Review A Birthday In the PhillipinesChachic from Chachic's Book Nook A Glamorous BirthdayResugo from Resugo Reads Hosting a Birthday for your Favorite AuthorNicole from WORD for teens What's in a Birthday?Miss Clark from The Blue Castle Turning Seventeen Once, and Hopefully Never AgainCass from Words on Paper A Highly Anticipated DayDebbie from Writing Soup Caketastic!JL from An Avid Reader's Musings Novel Birthday MilestonesKristi from The Story Siren  A World of Your ImaginationJeremy from Novel Thoughts Blog Owning ANY bookstore/chainKathy from I am a Reader, Not a Writer Why I Love BirthdaysHeather from Grab Shell Dude Sparks FlyQ Guest Review: Happy Birthday To You, by Dr. SuessMisty from Misty's Book Mess An Interesting Sweet SixteenChantele from Always Something To Read Author Interviews  Holly CupalaAuthor of Tell Me a Secret Robert Paul WestonAuthor of Dust City Maria V SnyderAuthor of the Poison Study series, the Glass series, and Inside Out. Andrea CremerAuthor of Nightshade Sarah Beth DurstAuthor of Ice, Into the Wild, Enchanted Ivy, and more! Caragh O'BrienAuthor of Birthmarked Ally CondieAuthor of Matched and numerous other YA titles Bree DespainAuthor of The Dark Divine series. Janette RallisonAuthor of numerous YA titles.

NOTE: Some of you are going to HATE this vlog. I made it, and really didn't like it. I thought it was boring and too long. And rather than spend 2 hours making a new one, I attacked it with special effects and set it to The Killers "Spaceman." There's a picture below the video of all the loot if you'd rather look at that.

YAY!!!! Guys, this birthday bash has been the BEST THING EVER!! Seriously. I hope you've been having as much fun as I have.

And guess what! I started the bash with 294 followers, by 11:59 pm MST I had 588 followers which mean I exactly DOUBLED my followers. That's insane! Thank you SO MUCH! Welcome new followers! I promise not to disappoint.

And now to the stuff you guys really care about, right? THE WINNERS! I've made a vlog in which I announce the winners. Some of them go pretty fast, so watch closely! If you're a non-vlog-watcher I'll announce the winners in text format in a few hours.

With that said, check out the vid.
(P.S. My badge has Yoda on it and says "Birthday Jedi Knight." My brother gave it to me!)
(P.P.S. If you have one of those non-specific names, and don't know whether you won or not, don't worry. I'll be e-mailing all the winners soon.)

Can you believe that this is the last full day of the birthday bash? *sniff* We have to wait a whole year until the next one. Sad day! The bash ended up with 15 giveaways! Crazy! Below I've included links to all of the contests and reminders of what's required to enter. All contests end tonight at 11:59pm MST. But wait! You have a chance to earn more entries! Scroll down to figure out how.


Win a signed, hardcover copy of Paranormalcy By Kiersten White!REQUIREMENTS: Follow Squeaky Books, Resident of the US or Canada

Win Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala!REQUIREMENT: Resident of the US or Canada

Win one of the GORGEOUS UK Versions of Shannon Hale's BooksREQUIREMENT: Resident of the US or Canada
Win an ARC of Pegasus by Robin McKinley!REQUIREMENT: Resident of the US

Win swag and an ARC of Dust City by Robert Paul Weston!REQUIREMENT: Resident of the US or Canada BONUS GIVEAWAY!Win swag and a signed copy of Spy Glass by Maria V Snyder!REQUIREMENT: Resident of the US
Win swag and a pre-order of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer!REQUIREMENT: Resident of the US or Canada
Win one of three sets of punctuation earrings!REQUIREMENT: Resident of the US
Win a signed copy of Ice by Sarah Beth Durst and some Enchanted Ivy swag.REQUIREMENT: Resident of the US or Canada

Win a pre-order of Matched by Ally CondieREQUIREMENTS: Follow Pirate Penguin Reads & Squeaky Books. Resident of US or Cananda

Win a UK edition of The Dark Divine by Bree DespainREQUIREMENT: Resident of the US or Canada BONUS GIVEAWAY!Win I Am Number Four by Pittacus LoreREQUIREMENT: Resident of the US or Canada


Win swag and a copy of It's a Mall World After All, by Janette RallisonREQUIREMENT: Resident of the US or Canada BONUS GIVEAWAY!Win two different Janette Rallison BooksREQUIREMENT: Resident of the US
Win a pre-read SIGNED ARC of Princess of Glass by Jessica Day GeorgeREQUIREMENT: Resident of the US or Canada

EARN MORE ENTRIES

I'm offering y'all a chance to win five (5) bonus entries to two contests of your choice(excluding bonus contests). For a total of 10 bonus entries! All you have to do is copy the post I have written for you (in the box below) and post it on your blog today! This offer ends at 10:59 MST tonight. So you'd better hurry! After you post, please fill out THIS FORM.
COPY AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING POST: CLICK HERE to see what it should look like (don't worry if it isn't exactly the same, and feel free to change the wording a little!)You may title it whatever you like. 

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Have you been following Enna Isilee's birthday bash? No?! Well allow me to inform you:

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 </div>
Enna Isilee is the operator of the YA book-blog <a href="http://www.squeakybooks.com/">Squeaky Books</a>, and from August 23rd-September 22nd she's been celebrating her birthday in style with author interviews, guest posts, and giveaways featuring some of the hotest YA titles. It's been a blast so far! <a href="http://www.squeakybooks.com/p/my-favorite-things-birthday-bash-2010.html"><strong>CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE SUMMARY OF EVENTS</strong></a>

The bad news? <strong>IT ALL ENDS TONIGHT!</strong>

That's right, all FIFTEEN (15) giveaways end at 11:59 pm MST tonight! But don't worry! You still have time to enter! Below I've listed all of the possible things you can win. The winners will be announced tomorrow (September 22nd) on Squeaky Books.

If you live in the US you are qualified to enter every giveaway! Most giveaways are open to Canadian residents as well. Sorry international friends, no contests are open to you. But if you have a friend in the US or Canada that will mail to you then you are welcome to enter!

So? Have you entered yet? NO?! What are you waiting for? Check out the links below and enter to win some wicked sweet prizes!!
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.squeakybooks.com/2010/08/author-spotlight-giveaway-kiersten.html"><em>Paranormalcy</em> By Kiersten White!</a> </div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://becksbookpicks.blogspot.com/2010/08/enna-isilees-birthday-bash-giveaway.html"><em>Tell Me a Secret </em>by Holly Cupala!</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://chachic.wordpress.com/2010/08/29/giveaway-of-a-shannon-hale-book/">One of the GORGEOUS UK Versions of Shannon Hale's Books</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://resugoreads.blogspot.com/2010/08/enna-isilees-birthday-bash-givaway.html">ARC of <em>Pegasus</em> by Robin McKinley!</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.wordforteens.com/2010/09/giveaway-dust-city.html">Swag and an ARC of <em>Dust City</em> by Robert Paul Weston!</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.squeakybooks.com/2010/09/bonus-author-interview-giveaway-maria-v.html">Swag and a signed copy of <em>Spy Glass</em> by Maria V Snyder!</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wordsonpaperya.blogspot.com/2010/09/giveaway-nightshade-by-andrea-cremer_04.html">Swag and a pre-order of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer!</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://debbiebarr.blogspot.com/2010/09/contest-part-of-enna-isilees-birthday_06.html">Win one of three sets of punctuation earrings!</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://avidreadersmusings.blogspot.com/2010/09/enna-isilees-birthday-bash-2010.html">A signed copy of <em>Ice </em>by Sarah Beth Durst and some <em>Enchanted Ivy</em> swag.</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://piratepenguinreads.blogspot.com/2010/09/im-hosting-contest-over-at-squeaky.html">Pre-order of <em>Matched</em> by Ally Condie</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.novelthoughtsblog.com/2010/09/giveaway-dark-divine-by-bree-despain.html">UK edition of <em>The Dark Divine</em> by Bree Despain</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2010/09/giveaway-i-am-number-four-by-pittacus.html">Win <em>I Am Number Four</em> by Pittacus Lore</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://alwayssomethingtoread.blogspot.com/2010/09/enna-isilees-birthday-bash-2010.html">Swag and a copy of <em>It's a Mall World After All, </em>by Janette Rallison</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.squeakybooks.com/2010/09/bonus-giveaway-thank-you-janette.html">Two different Janette Rallison Books</a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://alwayssomethingtoread.blogspot.com/2010/09/another-giveaway.html">Pre-read SIGNED ARC of <em>Princess of Glass </em>by Jessica Day George</a></div>
</li>
</ul>

Thank you for making the bash so wonderful!

Today, as our very last guest post, Squeaky Books welcomes Morgan from The Paperback Princess. She writes about her best birthday.

Hi! I am Morgan from The Paperback Princess! I am guest-posting for Squeaky Books Birthday Extravaganza! (Happy birthday Enna!)

Let's see here... I've had a good amount of birthdays in my life. But right out of the top of my head, I would have to say my 12th birthday [November 28th] was the best. Maybe it was just because I got to see Taylor Lautner (in New Moon, not face-to-face, *sigh*) and with my best friend.

But, the party had just begun. At a bowling alley, no less. The bowling alley in my town is pretty spectacular. It's the hot-spot for tweens. There is these huge flat screens where you can request your favorite music videos, and the pizza is top-notch. My friends and I basically suck at bowling, but when you are eating Baskin Robbins ice-cream cake and listening to Lady Gaga, it's hard to focus on stuff like that.
The ending to my perfect birthday was (drum roll please) THE PRESENTS!
To not bore you, I will be brief. Books, books, books, and a pair of fuzzy slippers! I was pretty stoked.

So, thanks for reading, and a very happy birthday to Enna! :)

~Happy reading!

Today Squeaky Books welcomes Chantele from There is Always Something to Read. She talks about her very... interesting 16th birthday. Chantele hosted the Janette Rallison contest, and now she is giving away a SIGNED ARC of Jessica Day George's Princess of Glass, so be sure to visit her blog!

I just love birthday's and contests, and I think Enna Isilee is awesome! I have loved all of my birthdays, but the one birthday party I can remember the most, happened when I was 16. 10+ years ago if you were curious. ;) I'm not over 30 yet! Ha ha.

So, my birthday is in the summer, and I had just finished celebrating with my family. My parents had to run to the grocery store for something, and I joined them. We walked through the doors, and all of a sudden a blanket was thrown over my head and someone was picking me up and putting me over their shoulder. It was rather terrifying when that person started running across the parking lot with me. I knew it was a friend, but I wasn't in the mood to be dropped on my head!

Anyway, I was stuffed into the backseat of a car, with someone sitting next to me not letting the blanket off of my head. After driving around forever, in dead silence, we finally stopped and I was pulled out of the car. I was led into a house, down some stairs and when I reached the bottom, the blanket was pulled off and all of my friends were shouting Happy Birthday at me. It was an interesting way to kidnap me, but I had so much fun!

My friends also had a tradition of drinking a raw egg on our 16th birthday. I'm not sure why we did it, since it was disgusting, but I can honestly say I drank a raw egg that night. I don't recommend it, since it was sick! :)

I hope you have a fantastic birthday Enna! Have fun celebrating, and stay away from raw eggs! ;)

Thank you so much for having me and Happy Birthday!

Guess what, guys! Great news!

Last night I got an e-mail from Janette Rallison saying that she had seen my interview with her and "felt like a star" (thanks to your comments, I don't doubt!). She then told me that she had a copy of How to Take the Ex out of Ex-Boyfriend and Fame, Glory and other things on my To Do List that she wanted me to give away on my blog. So that's what I'm doing! (see how good I am at following instructions?)

Two different giveaways for two different books. No extra entries. Just enter name and e-mail. Winners will be announced on 9/22 and the books will come directly from Janette. So what are you waiting for? ENTER:



This is one of my FAVORITE Janette Rallison books of all time. It touches on so many wonderful ideas! Like: THEATRE!

Click here to learn more about Fame, Glory, and other things on my To Do List

CLICK HERE TO WIN




I actually haven't had a chance to read this one yet. But I bought it earlier this week, and I'll be saving it for a rainy-day. :)

Click here to learn more about How to take the Ex out of Ex-Boyfriend

CLICK HERE TO WIN




Whoop! Thanks Janette!

UPDATE: Janette has requested that this giveaway be open to the US only. I'm really sorry international peeps! I'm gonna find some way to share the love with you soon, I promise!

Today my guest poster is Misty from Misty's Book Mess. She did a guest review of Dr. Suess' Happy Birthday to You. Check it out!

Author: Dr. Seuss
Novel: Happy Birthday To You
Release date: 1957
Category: Young children’s fantasy
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Five Stars!

Blurb: With a special handshake and a Birthday Pal-alace the Birthday Bird from Katroo reminds us all just how special we are!

Review: This is a great book for people of all ages. The blend of ‘rhyme, rhythm and repetition’ are fun and crazy, capturing perfectly the birthday excitement. However it was the pictures that really made me laugh! The Great Birthday Bird with his scruffy feathers and long toes, bright colours and delightful facial expressions really hit my funny bone. Dr. Seuss will always have a special place in my heart, and other of my sister, my parents and my grandparents. It’s definitely a family book, one that deserves to be shared, just like your birthday.

So Enna a HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU love and...

“Open your mouth and sound off at the sky!
Shout loud at the top of your voice, “I AM I! ME!
I AM I!”
Three cheers for it’s my day!

Today Squeaky Books welcomes my good friend Q! Q recently stopped blogging, but she's still freaking awesome! Check out the birthday story she wrote:

Given that the last time Castor Sparks had seen his brother, he had set him on fire, pantsed him, and pushed him into a muddy river, the candid observer cannot help but expect that even five years later, sparks (if you'll pardon the pun) were about to fly.

Fortunately, Pollux had no idea that Castor was coming to his parents' house for his birthday celebration. That's how he thought of it--his birthday celebration--never mind that Castor was his twin and by all accounts shared both his parents and his birthday. As far as Pollux knew, his parents had disowned Castor the instant rescue teams had fished the half-drowned Pollux out of the river and he was able to explain the flaming-pantsing-drowning incident that had caused him to end up bald in the river with no pants, looking like a purple plucked chicken.

Castor, for his part, believed his parents were absolute lunatics for even suggesting that he should come within fifty miles of Pollux. Though perhaps because he had been telling them they were lunatics for years for being professors of Ancient Greek Philosophy (Mother) and Pottery (Father), they just ignored him and said that if he didn't come on his own they'd fetch him themselves.

"We want the family together, Castor," his mother said on the phone the day before his birthday.

"Mother, as far as Pollux is concerned, I died five years ago. Are you sure you want to resurrect the dead?"

His father chuckled. "Castor, even Greek gods can't resurrect the dead. And besides, in your case, there's no resurrection required."

(An aside: being the children of Greekaholics landed them with unusual names, and it had always been a sore spot for Pollux that he had been given the really unfortunate one.)

Castor rolled his eyes, though his parents couldn't see. "There may be after this party is over." He hung up without saying good bye and turned off his phone so they couldn't reach him until the party. He then called his insurance agent (also his coworker) and asked to take out a life insurance policy on himself. The insurance agent (also a coworker) had a good laugh about that, and Castor pretended to join him.

Pollux arrived at the party first. Balloons clustered in every corner of his parents' dining room, streamers swayed in the breeze from the window, candles waited in the two cakes on the table. For any other newly twenty-four-year-old young man, it would have been an insult to his maturity. But Pollux just shook his head and thought something gentle about nostalgic parents.

Then he did a double take. Two cakes. One of which was chocolate frosted and covered in crushed-up Heath bar. His eyes narrowed. "Mother--"

"Wow, where's the clown and donkey ride?" Castor interrupted, strolling into the dining room with far more bravado than he felt.

Pollux looked at him with unmitigated hatred. "You."

Castor looked over his shoulder. "I don't see anyone else."

Pollux cocked his fist and threw a punch at his twin, which Castor neatly sidestepped as he approached his mother to give her a kiss. As Castor said, "It looks beautiful, Mother," Pollux's unwontedly high expectations of his own punching ability allotted him too much momentum. He fell, fist-first, into the mahogany doorframe.

"Careful, son," Mr. Sparks said as he helped Pollux off the floor.

Pollux was so spitting mad he didn't even thank him or apologize for the dent his class ring made in the wood. "Father, I must--"

"And you'll be here, Pollux, dear," Mrs. Sparks said, practically shoving Pollux down into the chair at the table across from Castor. Pollux glowered at no one in particular.

The Sparks family lowered their heads to say grace, but Pollux had a better idea. While his mother was expressing her gratitude that her family could all meet in harmony, Pollux had silently lifted Castor's Heath-bar cake from the table. When she extolled God's grace for allowing them such a bounteous fest, he hefted the cake behind his shoulder. And when she closed with a shared "Amen," Pollux heaved. Castor opened his eyes and had just enough time to process what was about to happen before the cake smashed into his startled face.

Mr. and Mrs. Sparks were aghast. Castor had a chocolate-smeared candle stuck to his chocolate-smeared eyebrow. Pollux was triumphant.

"That'll teach you to push me into a river, you devious, flame-throwing, pantsing--"

"Pollux!" Mrs. Sparks interrupted his obviously premeditated speech.

He stormed out of the dining room. The front door slammed. A car peeled out of the driveway.

Castor removed the candle from his eyebrow and stared at the mess that had landed on his lap. He reached a hand down, picked up a bite of cake, and put it in his mouth. He said, cheerfully, "That went well."

Okay. I currently have the rest of the guest posts scheduled. Here's who you have to look forward to for the next week: 

• Q
• Misty
• Chantele
• Morgan

IF YOU SENT ME A GUEST POST and I haven't posted it yet, and you don't see your name here that means I don't have it scheduled. Please shoot me an e-mail (SqueakyBooks@yahoo.com) so that I can get you up and scheduled!

So more than once I have mentioned how much I love, love, LOVE Janette Rallison's books. And its still true. It will always be true. I was SO happy when she agreed to be part of the bash. Check out this fabulous interview with her, and then enter the giveaway!

Janette's Website
Janette's Blog
Janette's GoodReads page

Laughter is good for you.  Therefore reading my book is like working out--only more fun.


Thanks to Janette generously donating some swag, and fabulous blogger Chantele donating a copy of It's a Mall World After All, I have a SUPER prize-pack to give away! That's right! I have My Double Life and My Fair Godmother swag as well as a hardcover copy of It's a Mall World After All. Definitely a prize you'll want to win. And previously mentioned blogger Chantele is hosting it on her blog! Check it out:

Today Squeaky Books welcomes Heather from Grab Shell Dude. She writes about why she loves birthdays.

Why I Love Birthdays

A blog post that is not as clichéd sounding as the title makes it out to be. Though, on second though, maybe it is clichéd. Oh well. What can you do?

When someone asks me what my favorite holiday is, I want to say birthdays. Not necessarily my birthday. Just birthdays in general. So my favorite holiday occurs 365 days of the year and sometimes 366. Hah. Beat that.

My last birthday, I ended up being home alone in my apartment. Things happen: your husband has to work; your family is busy and live two hours away; none of your friends that live nearby know it is your birthday or if they do, have no clue you are home alone. Not that I mind being home alone. But that isn't what birthdays are all about.

Birthdays are about spending time with people. Birthdays are about giving. Birthdays are about celebration. Birthdays are pleasantly non-commercialized. And since birthdays are about the individual, and all individuals are different, every birthday is unique.

My husband and I have a goal to call all my brother, sisters, parents, in-laws, nieces and nephews on their birthday. We sing to them. And most of all, we tell them happy birthday.

Because, when it comes down to it, that is what I love most about birthdays: just saying those words. Happy Birthday. Those words mean: I care about you. You are special. You are awesome. I wish you the most in life. I am so glad I know you. And so much more.Those words celebrate the individual and let them know they mean something in this great big world.

Conclusion: Birthdays rock hard core.

Today Squeaky Books is featuring Kathy from I am a Reader, not a Writer. Kathy has donated a copy of Pittacus Lore's new book I am Number Four. This one is on my wishlist. And let me tell you, it has been SO HARD for me to resist reading it while it's been sitting in the giveaway pile. Ah!

Anyway. Even though Kathy INSISTED she was not a writer, I got her to write a guest post. And I think it's pretty good. Check it out, and then check out the giveaway!

Although I love browsing our local Barnes and Noble, I would definitely pick an indie bookstore.

For your birthday you are given a bookstore. This could be an indie bookstore, or an entire chain like Borders/Barnes and Noble. Who do you choose and why?

There is something so charming about the feel of a small town store. I am always nostalgic for my childhood when I enter an indie bookstore. Given the option, I would choose to have a small independent children’s bookstore.

Today I am featuring Jeremy from Novel Thoughts blog. Jeremy offers something rare to the book-blogging community: a male perspective! I've really enjoyed his blog, and maybe you will too.

Jeremy hosted yesterday's contest, and today he wrote a guest post on a topic I gave him. Check it out!

You've been granted the birthday wish that you can spend your birthday inside any novel of your choice. What factors go into your decision making process? Which book do you choose? What do you do while you're there?

I love reading so much and choosing one book to be inside of is tough but I decided. If there was one book I could spend my birthday in it would have to be Harry Potter. I know it's not a specific book but just the series by itself has such an amazing setting to experience! Harry Potter is based in England and more specifically London and the surrounding Burrows. I have always wanted to visit England but to experience Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, The Forbidden Forest, and everything else would just be amazing! While there I would start my day off by having breakfast at Hog's Head before going into Diagon Alley to go shopping. I would go buy a wand at Ollivander's Wand Shop, get a robe, maybe swing by the bookstore and pick up one of Gilderoy Lockhart's biographies too. Then I would head over to Platform 9 3/4 and hop on a train to Hogwarts. I would have lunch at the Three Broomsticks and roam around Hogsmeade for the afternoon. After getting drunk on Butterbeer (even though it's non-alcoholic), I would head up to Hogwarts to hang out with Harry, Ron, and Hermione for the night. I would also probably also take Hagrid's Hippogriff for a spin and fly across the lake and through The Forbidden Forest like Harry did in Prisoner of Azkeban! While I'm there I might also help Harry kill Voldemort once or twice. At the end of the day, I know if I could spend my birthday in Harry Potter, it would be the best birthday ever!

Big thanks to Enna and Squeaky Books for having this Birthday Month full of events! I want to say a big happy birthday to you too! Thanks for allowing my to take over your blog for the day!

Today I got to interview the fantabulous Bree Despain! I read her debut The Dark Divine in June, and since then I have been a HUGE Despain fan. I won the re-create a cover contest for TDD sequel The Lost Saint and let me tell you, TLS is even BETTER than TDD!

I actually got to MEET Bree last week... sort of. We were both at the same event and I was just hovering near her like a creepy-stalker. Eventually I was able to muster up something like "Oh my gosh! You're Bree Despain! I love you!" and she was super-nice. Anyway. Enough from me, you probably want to get to the interview/giveaway, eh? Well, read on!

Bree's Website
Bree's GoodReads Page

If you could invite any person (living or dead) to your birthday, who would it be?
Audrey Hepburn. She is basically my hero. Incredibly talented, brave, chartable, and smart. And she had quite the comedic prowess. I’d love to gab with her all afternoon—and get some fashion advice.

If it were possible, would you ever consider being a werewolf?
Well, I’ve never actually said I wasn’t one already. . . Werewolves are pretty cool though, and I’d love to have that strength and agility. But I guess there are a few drawbacks to consider. For instance, the urge to kill the one who loves you most probably wouldn’t settle well with my husband.

What was your favorite childhood book?
I can’t remember what my favorite book was as a kid, but I remember my favorite book in middle school was Jackaroo by Cynthia Voigt. It is a great adventure story and I found it to be an empowering story for young girls. Definitely one of the books that inspired me to want to write my own stories.

Finally, some fun from random plot generator!

Powdered donuts + peanut butter. Everyone knows ninjas can’t resist powdered donuts and that they are extremely allergic to peanuts. I’d have the MC set several plates of donuts with pean,ut butter centers with around the town and then go back to watching her cartoons on the couch, resting confidently that the problem has been resolved.

Of course, since that doesn’t leave a lot of conflict for a book, there would probably be a great plot twist right at the end when the lone peanut allergy resistant ninja shows up at the MC’s house.

Thanks, Bree!


Bree has most generously donated a UK edition of The Dark Divine and we're gonna give it away! Today's contest is hosted by Jeremy from Novel Thoughts blog! I love Jeremy's blog because it's always cool to get a male perspective on books. :) Check it out:

Yay! Today I am so excited to feature Ally Condie, author of the upcoming book Matched and numerous other YA titles (like Freshman for President. Did you enter to win?). I had the chance to meet with Ally in person a few weeks ago and you will never meet a nicer person!

Now, I did get to interview Ally, but there's already a great interview with her over at Society of Matched that talks all about her writing process. So I decided to make this a purely fun interview! Hope you guys enjoy. Be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of this post!

Ally's Website
Ally's GoodReads Page
Matched GoodReads Page
Society of Matched Interview

If you were a flower, which would you be?
*A calla lily. It was the flower at our wedding and my husband wrote me a sonnet about that flower as my wedding gift. But I'm not actually tall or elegant so maybe that isn't super accurate. ;)

Pick your poison: headache or nausea?
*I hate both sooo much. Can I say sore throat? No? Then headache it is.

Do you have perfect vision? Do you wish you had perfect vision?
*I have terrible vision! I had to get glasses when I was six. Now I wear contacts. I'd love to have perfect vision. It would come in so handy when swimming and having babies. (They've made me take out my contacts when I've had my kids, so my husband has to hold them right up to my face for me to see them after they're born. Good times.)

Which is harder, writing a novel, or writing consistent blog posts?
*Writing a novel!

How many books do you read a week/month?
*I average 2-3 books per week, so about 8-12 per month. And tons of picture books, of course, since I have little kids. But those probably don't count.

What's your favorite music genre? Favorite artist? Song?
* I like lots of different kinds of music...that's a hard one. Anything with a pretty melody and/or thoughtful lyrics gets me right away. My favorite artist of all time is Neil Diamond. My favorite song right now is Empty by Ray La Montagne.

If you could change nature's color pallette, would you? What would you change? (ie. blue trees, purple grass?)
I don't think I would. I love everything the way it is. I grew up in the desert (So. Utah Note from Enna Isilee: Yeah! Woo hoo!) and so I am particularly fond of red rocks and blue sky.

Finally, some fun from the random plot generator!

It's a dark and stormy night. Suddenly tough-talking vampire arrives arrives on horseback in tears! Oh no! Are they the protagonist or antagonist? What has caused them such distress, or are they tears of joy?
It's the villain! He's broken-hearted because he has just found that he is mortal after all. This is killing him (literally) because he knows that he will die someday, and also that he has to start grocery shopping instead of drinking blood. I don't blame him one bit. Grocery shopping is the worst. Especially when you have just found out that you can father children after all, and so you're going to have to take them with you.

Thanks Ally!

Today Squeaky Books welcomes Kristi from the wildly sucessful book-blog The Story Siren. I love her blog! She writes about milestone birthdays in books. Just a warning that she does give away some plot points, but it's nothing major. You'd know it all if you just read the book summaries. So... you should read it!

Well first off, I went to say a big ole’ HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Enna!!! I hope that it’s wonderful! And that you get lots and lots of books, and hugs and a huge birthday cake and maybe some balloons... oh and some flowers and I hope that the weather is just beautiful and that all of your birthday wishes come true!

So I’m going to use this post to talk about books and birthdays... and not just any birthdays... but the MILESTONE BIRTHDAY! I’ve noticed that in literature awesome things happen to characters on their birthdays!

Personally, I’m still waiting for my ‘milestone birthday’ but I know that one of these years, it’s going to happen!

One of the most famous milestone birthdays, for me at least, would have to be Harry Potter’s eleventh birthday. This is the day that Hagrid shows up and tells little ole’ Harry that he isn’t just an ordinary boy... with a lighting bolt shaped scar... he’s a WIZARD! And not just any wizard, he’s the boy that lived. (Anytime you want to show up at my house Hagrid... please feel free!)

Then there is Schuyler Van Alen from Blue Bloods by Melissa De la Cruz. She’s just a quiet normal teenage girl but then on her fifteenth birthday she gets those crazy blue veins in her arms and finds out that she’s a vampire! Happy Birthday to you Miss Van Alen, and you thought you had it bad before! Word of advice people, if you start getting strange blue veins and are craving blood... you might want to talk to somebody about that.

See what did I tell you! Milestone birthdays rock! Hmm... okay so I’ve got a wizard and a vampire... oh what about a fearie!

In the Iron King by Julie Kagawa, normal teenager Megan Chase’s little brother gets stolen.... on her sixteenth birthday! Which results in her discovering that she isn’t just a ‘normal teenager’ she is in fact a faery princess! Darn it! Why couldn’t I have had a little brother! Although now that I think about it, I probably wouldn’t late very long over in that other realm with all those wicked things... I’m sure they would probably have me ripped to pieces within a few minutes.

Another girl that finds out she’s a fearie on her sixteenth birthday is Anita... who ends up being the faerie princess Tania! Although she doesn’t have any brother’s that get stolen, I believe she is an only child, in the human world at least. Her discovery happens after she lands herself in the hospital... those darn boat accidents.

Sixteen seems to be a popular age for intimate discoveries.

Lena Duchannes (Beautiful Creatures by Kamy Garcia and Margaret Stohl) is dreading her sixteenth birthday because she knows that something big is going to happen. She’s not sure exactly what it is, but she just has a feeling that it isn’t something good. Sometimes ‘milestone birthdays’ aren’t all fun and fairy tales. But I guess when you’ve got ‘the hotness’ known as Ethan Wate trying to save you and all, it would be all that bad!

I think since I have a vampire I should include a werewolf, I mean I’d hate to discriminate! Let’s see werewolf.. On her sixteenth birthday Claire Benoit (Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson) finds out she’s a WEREWOLF! And not only that but that there is a whole pack that live right in her town. Not to mention there has been these crazy werewolf attacks lately so the whole town pretty much hates werewolves. Good luck Claire. Nothing like starting out on the right foot... er paw!

Sometimes birthday’s include a little bit more than a birthday cake and presents. Perhaps this year you’ll find out that you’re really a faerie or a vampire. Let’s hope Enna that your birthday doesn’t include one of those... (unless of course you want it to, then my fingers are crossed for you!)

Have any other good books that feature a milestone birthday? Or what about what you’re hoping to discover your next birthday!?

Today I get to interview the fabulous Caragh O'Brien! I read her debut novel Birthmarked earlier this year and LOVED it (click for review). There is no giveaway associated with this interview, but I'll probably give away a copy sometime in the future, because I want EVERYONE to read it! And without further ado, Caragh:

Caragh's Website
Birthmarked's GoodReads Page

What’s the best birthday present you’ve ever received?
First, let me say how delighted I am that you enjoyed Gaia’s story and invited me by for a visit, Enna. It’s great to be here.

As for favorite gifts, my Aunt Rosemary gave me a pink Fair Isle sweater when I turned sixteen, the cardigan kind with a flower pattern in the yoke. I was young enough that I still longed to be pretty, and that sweater seemed magically beautiful to me, and full of my aunt’s generous love.


What can we expect next from Caragh O'Brien (Pertaining to books, that is)?
I’ve been working on the sequel to BIRTHMARKED, which is due out in the fall of 2011. In Book 2, another dystopian society has adapted to a stressed environment, and women rule the men who vastly outnumber them. It has been fascinating to think about Gaia’s sense of justice and her curiosity running up against new problems. I like being in her mind.

If you were in BIRTHMARKED would you rather live in, or outside of the Enclave?
If I lived in the book, I would rather live inside the Enclave, but still have clear vision to see that things need to change. It’s hard to change things from the outside, but inside, it’s easy to get lulled into complacency. I supposed that’s true outside the book, too.

Where did the idea for BIRTHMARKED come from?
The very first idea came from a drive across country during the drought of 2008, when I saw the empty lakes and the southern states looked like a wasteland. That gave me a hint of a setting with political and social strife, and then Gaia was inspired by the strength I saw in my children and students.

What did you think of the cover of BIRTHMARKED?
The cover is great! The team at Roaring Brook went through dozens of covers, even switching it up again after the arc. They didn’t quit until they had it right. I love how the cover creates an ominous mood and captures Gaia’s determination. The strings especially delight me.

What’s your favorite meal?
I like to skip right ahead to the ice cream with homemade fudge sauce. We have a family recipe that’s to die for.

What kind of car do you drive? What kind of car do you wish you drove?
I drive a blue Toyota Corolla. I’d like to drive a red hybrid VW bug. Does that exist?

If you could have any one super-power for a day, which would you choose?
The flying is included, right? I’d choose the power to make plants grow, so I could fly over fields and watch everything blossom and ripen right in front of me.

Now some fun from the random plot generator!

You are writing a story in which a wisecracking librarian is the protagonist. Who is the antagonist?
The book-burner who wants to cut funding. The trick would be giving it a happy ending.

Anything else you’d like to say?
I’d like to add my thanks, Enna. I enjoy your Squeaky Books site and your warm, candid perspective on YA books. I think it’s a really cool time for YA, and I like how your site adds to the conversation. Most of all, I'd like to say Happy Birthday!

Thanks, Caragh!

I have long loved Sarah Beth Durst's books ever since I read her first book Into the Wild (one about fairy tales, not a troubled young man). I was so glad when she agreed to be interviewed, and even donated some stuff for a contest. Sweetness! Read on, peeps:

Sarah's Website
Sarah's GoodReads Page

What’s your favorite thing about birthdays and why?

Carvel ice cream cakes! I don't need Fudgie the Whale or Cookie Puss. Just a standard vanilla and chocolate cake. It's not really my birthday without it. Growing up, my parents bought me one every year. Years ago, my husband promised me that he'd continue the tradition. I think I love the cakes as much for the fact that in twelve years he has never broken that promise as for the taste of the chocolate crunchy middle.

What kind of music do you like to listen to? Favorite band/artist?

I love the kind of music that sticks in your head and makes the day seem brighter and more manageable. Like Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" or Colbie Caillat's "Bubbly."

Which of your books did you find easiest to write? Hardest?

Really, all of them have been easy and hard at different points. I think nearly every writer has moments where she or he thinks "I'm doomed!" and other moments where she or he is desperately in love with every word. Trick is to not give up when you get to that "doomed" stage. Recognize that it's just your own insecurities whispering at you. I recommend feeding your insecurities chocolate until they shut up and let you get back to work.

If you were to describe your upcoming book, Enchanted Ivy, in three words, what would they be?

Magic at Princeton.

What’s your favorite color?

Blue, specifically the rich blue of the sky as the sun starts to set.

Sandals or sneakers?

Sneakers. Sandals let in dirt, and I hate the feel of dirty feet. Not sure why. Just a pet peeve.

Chocolate or caramel?

Chocolate. It's my writing muse. I keep a stash by my desk at all times.

You must write a story in which a bunch of zoo animals have to escape the zoo while avoiding a macho zookeeper. What species is your main character and why?

I have a fondness for polar bears and tigers due to ICE and ENCHANTED IVY (which feature a shapeshifting polar bear and a were-tiger, respectively). But I'd most likely choose a chinchilla or some other non-lethal underdog kind of animal. I love the little-guy-triumphs-against-all-odds plotline. Actually, that's one of the themes that draws me to fantasy both as a writer and as a reader -- I love the empowering optimism inherent in that kind of story.

Anything else you’d like to say?

*sings slightly off-key* Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, Enna Isilee, happy birthday to you!