Joelle Anthony: The Guest Post (blog tour)

Today, I get to introduce to you Joelle Anthony. She is the wonderful author of the amazing novel, Restoring Harmony. Restoring Harmony is a dystopian novel, and so I decided to ask her what her prediction for the future of dystopian YA is. Here is what she said:

I hope you don’t mind if I fake my answer to this question. What I mean is, I can’t really predict the future of dystopian YA because I’m an author, not a publisher, but I can give you some thoughts on it. I do think that we’re at the beginning of the wave and we have a while to go before people start saying, “Oh, gosh, not another dystopian YA!” It’s not reached vampire status yet and I think we’re quite a ways off from that.

I do think that eventually, there will be so much dystopian YA out there that the market will be saturated and then something new will have to rise to take its place. In a rush to meet the demand of the market, a lot of crap will be published along with some really amazing writing. And there will be a fair number of solid reads too. Like any trend, it will come to an end, but also, there’s always room for one more book on any subject if it’s well-written enough. I would think it would be pretty hard to sell a vampire novel right now, but if it rocks, it will get bought. 

The great thing about dystopian YA (as opposed to dystopian adult fiction) is that there is a certain amount of hope in all of it. Teens are hopeful. They’ve got their whole lives in front of them, and reading a book about the world ending might be interesting, but only if there is a something positive about it too. Today’s dystopian YA provides that. In a world where we are constantly being bombarded by all the things going wrong in the world, hope entwined in a story of devastation is a wonderful thing. Plus so many of these books include personal adventure and romance, which makes them fun to read. In an ironic sort of way, dystopian YA often is a “light at the end of the tunnel” sort of genre. And who is saving the world? Teens, of course. Which makes it even more exciting. 

For readers who love dystopian, it’s an exciting time. For writers who are looking to break in to publishing, all I can say is write what you love and not for the market. I never intended to write a dystopian book, and by pure luck of the draw, I ended up being published on the front end of this new trend. But it took me five years from inception to getting it published, and if you write for a trend, you’re likely to miss it anyway. If you write from your heart though, you can’t go wrong. 


Thanks so much, Joelle! It was awesome to see what you thought!

Find more about Joelle and Restoring Harmony at:

JoelleAnthony.com

Joelle Anthony@Goodreads

Restoring Harmony@Goodreads

My Review of Restoring Harmony

Winners!

I know that this is a bit late, but I need to announce the winners of my last two contests, the ones for Freefall and  Alien Invasions and Other Inconveniences. For Freefall, the first winner never replied, so I chose another winner. That was

Jacinda!

she has confirmed that she has received her book!

And the winner of Alien Invasions and Other Inconveniences is none other than my own best blogging friend, 

Kailia Sage!

Congrats to both!

Restoring Harmony

By: Joelle Anthony
Series: None
Source: The Teen Book Scene/Joelle Anthony (for this tour)
Pages: Hardcover, 320 pages
Publishing info: May 13th 2010 by Putnam Juvenile
Synopsis (via Goodreads):

The year is 2041, and sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world left after global economic collapse—one of massive oil shortages, rampant crime, and abandoned cities.

Molly is relieved to find her grandparents alive in their Portland suburb, but they're financially ruined and practically starving. What should've been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission. And when Molly witnesses something the local crime bosses wishes she hadn't, Molly's only way home may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there's a handsome stranger who's willing to help.

Restoring Harmony is a riveting, fast-paced dystopian tale complete with adventure and romance that readers will devour.

I went into this hesitantly. I thought it would be just another depressing, confusing, stupid dystopian. And it didn't really help that I haven't read many reviews on it. But boy, was I wrong!

I got caught up in the book quickly, only about 20 or thirty pages in. But before that, it was quite boring. I was expecting more action, a more intense book. But that is not what this book was. A lot of the story was just waiting, but waiting for something important, and it was all quite interesting, which was another thing I found to be interesting. But soon the plot thickened, and it got to be pretty interesting!
The writing was just... magnificent. It created a beautiful vibe that fit the story perfectly. It was melancholy but exciting. Perfect to for the story. 

The characters, like everything else in the book, were just amazing. They were consistent and interesting, and they all had their own characteristics, making them so unique and different. 

In all, Ms. Anthony weaves a beautifully melancholy story, full of happiness, sadness, and just pure excitement. Definitely recommended for any and every dystopian fan!

Albert Borris: The Interview (and giveaway!) (blog tour)

1. Out of all the book genres there are, why did you choose to write YA?
I chose to write Young Adult Fiction because I also chose to work in the high school setting, in a guidance office.


2. What made you want to write a book about a road trip?
A long road trip was just the kind of trip I dreamed about taking as a kid. No kidding!


3. Is this the sort of book that you normally write or was it a whim?
No. It was WriteOn. A whimsical style of writing.


4. Playing on the last question, is this the type of book you normally read?
4) I’ve read a lot of good road novels. Come to think of it, I recently a novel by Cormac McCarthy called The Road.


5. I see that you've worked a lot with children and teens. What draws you to them? 
What draws me to kids? Their natural exuberance.


6. What or who are some of your inspirations?
Daina Karol and Cathy Driscoll were my two favorite inspirations from back in my days of high school and college. My dad was always a big help, too.


Thanks so much, Albert! It was awesome getting to interview you!

Giveaway:

US only!

Ends Saturday, November 20

Find more about Albert and Crash Into Me at:

Official Website

Crash Into Me on Goodreads

Albert Borris on Goodreads

Anna Levine: The Interview (Blog Tour)

I am glad to introduce you to Anna Levine. She is the author of Freefall, a novel about Israeli teens in the military. I got to interview her for a tour at The Teen Book Scene. I hope you like it!

What made you want to write about Israel, the military especially?

Israeli teens live, learn and love just like American teens, and yet right at the end of their teen years they are drafted into the military. I didn’t want to write about the military as much as I wanted to write about what it’s like to be a regular teenager and have to do military service.  Writing about Israel helps me understand the way things work and the way people think here. Writing about the military gave me an opportunity to interview a lot of girls going into army training courses.

Have any of your personal experiences affected Freefall?

Many! The scene towards  the end of the book,  when Aggie is caught outside as a missile is about to fall,  happened to me during the first Lebanon war. It was terrifying. Afterwards we spent days in the bomb shelter and I had the job of entertaining the little kids. We actually had fun in the shelters, even though we felt the constant threat of danger. I still find it amazing how people quickly adapt to even the most stressful situations.

How has living in Israel changed you?

Wow. What a great question. I think living in Israel has changed me a lot. It’s opened me up to many different cultures and languages and forced me to adapt to a world which in some ways is very much like how I grew up (in Canada) and in other ways completely different. I mean, today is Saturday and since I live near Jerusalem there is no public transportation, all shops are closed, and there’s a peacefulness that takes some getting used to but once you do, it’s great. And when I’m in the mood for fast food…it’s a humus b’pita (or humus in a pita with chopped salad, falafel balls and if I’m feeling daring a bit of that Mediterranean hot sauce).

Has writing your second book been any different than writing your first? If so, how?

Each book is a totally new experience. I always change as much as I can about the physical environment to remind myself that this is a new book, new characters, new experience. I worked on Freefall at a coffee shop near my house which always had people coming in and out, while for my new book I have to bike for half an hour to reach the coffee shop which is in a secluded café in the Judean Hills. My next book is set in Italy. I lived in Verona for a year and since then have been thinking of using it as a setting. I’m going to Italy next week.

Are any of your characters based on real people?

Definitely! I always take from life. Noah is a mix of both my sons. Hadas, the American girl from N. Carolina is based on my friend’s daughter who coincidentally is from…N. Carolina. For Freefall, as opposed to some of my other stories, I based almost all the characters on people I know. As a writer, I find it a great technique to mold your characters on the real item, so that facial features, gestures, food preferences, books and music have elements of truth. It’s fiction interwoven with fact which gives an authenticity to the characters.


Thanks so much, Anna! It was really a pleasure! 

Freefall

What would your life be like if military service was compulsory, not voluntary?

Aggie is eighteen and getting ready to do her service for the Israeli Army. She could get a cushy assignment—maybe pushing paper somewhere—or she could just take her chances. Only, Aggie isn't like that. Despite her small size and the fact that she needs to gain weight to even make the grade, and despite the total disbelief of her entire family (except her grandmother, who is an old freedom fighter and don't you forget it), Aggie is trying out for an elite combat unit.

Ben—Aggie's crush of the moment—isn't at all convinced that she's making the right choice. Shira, Aggie's best friend forever, is bewildered (and perhaps a bit too interested in Ben). Then there's Noah. And the serendipitous snow. And a good-bye kiss that turns into, well, a real kiss.

Luckily for Aggie, her backbreaking, sand-in-mouth, completely-lost-in-the-desert training produces an unlikely dividend: friends. The kind she never imagined she could have. The kind you'd go to war with—and for.

Find more about Anna and Freefall at:

Freefall's Goodreads

Anna's Goodreads

The Big Fat Giveaway Update Post

So I think that most all of you know that I currently have to giveaways running (which is a lot for me). One is for Freefall, by Anna Levine, the other for Alien Invasions and Other Inconveniences. The one for Freefall closes tomorrow, and unless I get more entrants, I will have to extend it. Same goes with Alien Invasions (which ends on November 17). Here are the links to the posts to enter:
Freefall, by Anna Levine, review and giveaway
Alien Invasions and Other Inconveniences, by Brian Yansky, giveaway

Now onto a bit of a happier note. About a month ago, I received an ARC of Cloaked, by Alex Flinn (who is one of my favorite authors!!!). I immediately read it and am now writing a review of it. I think that I want to buy a hardcover copy, so I was thinking that (yep. You've guessed it already, huh?) I could do a giveaway! I would probably open it in late November, early December, and possibly have it close on Christmas. What I was wondering is how many of you would enter? Would you, and do you think a lot of others would?

EDIT: I am also considering opening the contest to international readers, too. If not, I would definitely have a bunch of swag to giveaway to international readers!

Denise Jaden: The Guest Post (Blog Tour)

Today, I get to (finally!) introduce Denise Jaden! Denise is the awesome author of Losing Faith. Losing Faith is her 2010 debut novel that is about a girl who's sister died, and the police say that she committed suicide, but the girl, Brie, refuses to believe that. So, of course, I decided to see what her thoughts were of death in YA were.

 

Death in YA Novels. 

When I was sixteen, I lost one of my closest friends to a car accident. I’ve always felt that losing someone young, when you yourself are young, is a big subject for exploration. It doesn’t seem fair and raises so many big questions, as if you don’t have enough questions already.

For me, I found I numbed myself to the big “why’s” of life, and only much later really dealt with the loss and how to work it out in my head. In some ways I’m probably still doing that. But I think all teens, and all people, are different and process grief and loss differently. 

In LOSING FAITH, one of the main things I really hoped people would take away from Brie and the way she dealt with her sister’s death, is to pay attention. Don’t regret the time you didn’t spend with someone or the way you never asked the things you wanted to ask while someone was still alive. But even if there are unasked questions, you may find you knew people much more deeply than even you realized.  

One of my favorite books of the year, THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson also deals with death and grieving in YA. The main character, Lennie, is catapulted by her sister’s death from a bit of a socially inept girl into a place where she can lose herself in thoughts and desires for a boy. Two boys, in fact. It’s very authentically written, and we get right into Lennie’s head through her grief. 

Another recent YA release that deals with death is FREEFALL by Mindi Scott. FREEFALL tells the story of Seth McCoy, who found his best friend dead, feels responsible for it, and needs to process those feelings. I found it really interesting to be in a guy’s point of view in overcoming grief. I think Mindi did a great job of showing us a unique perspective in dealing with death, fighting between the urge to overcome and the urge to lose yourself completely. 

It’s probably due to my own background, but I have a real fascination with YA novels that deal with death, especially ones that show a unique and really true-to-life character. Even though there are so many great books that hit on this subject (I could go on and on with my favorites) I still think there is room for many more. I’d love to hear what some of your favorites are and what you like best about them!  

Thanks so much, Denise! I loved reading the post! 

Losing Faith

Death in YA Novels.

When I was sixteen, I lost one of my closest friends to a car accident. I’ve always felt that losing someone young, when you yourself are young, is a big subject for exploration. It doesn’t seem fair and raises so many big questions, as if you don’t have enough questions already.
For me, I found I numbed myself to the big “why’s” of life, and only much later really dealt with the loss and how to work it out in my head. In some ways I’m probably still doing that. But I think all teens, and all people, are different and process grief and loss differently.
In LOSING FAITH, one of the main things I really hoped people would take away from Brie and the way she dealt with her sister’s death, is to pay attention. Don’t regret the time you didn’t spend with someone or the way you never asked the things you wanted to ask while someone was still alive. But even if there are unasked questions, you may find you knew people much more deeply than even you realized.
One of my favorite books of the year, THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson also deals with death and grieving in YA. The main character, Lennie, is catapulted by her sister’s death from a bit of a socially inept girl into a place where she can lose herself in thoughts and desires for a boy. Two boys, in fact. It’s very authentically written, and we get right into Lennie’s head through her grief.
Another recent YA release that deals with death is FREEFALL by Mindi Scott. FREEFALL tells the story of Seth McCoy, who found his best friend dead, feels responsible for it, and needs to process those feelings. I found it really interesting to be in a guy’s point of view in overcoming grief. I think Mindi did a great job of showing us a unique perspective in dealing with death, fighting between the urge to overcome and the urge to lose yourself completely.
It’s probably due to my own background, but I have a real fascination with YA novels that deal with death, especially ones that show a unique and really true-to-life character. Even though there are so many great books that hit on this subject (I could go on and on with my favorites) I still think there is room for many more. I’d love to hear what some of your favorites are and what you like best about them!  

Thanks so much, Denise! I love this post so much!

Losing Faith

A terrible secret. A terrible fate.

When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don't know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.

As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith's final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger.

Find more of Denise Jaden and Losing Faith at:

Denise Jaden's website 

Denise Jaden's Goodreads page

Losing Faith's Goodreads page 

Losing Faith (Blog Tour)

`By: Denise Jaden
Series: I don't think there is one, but I'm not entirely sure.

Source: We Love YA Tours
Pages: 400 pages, paperback
Publishing info: September 7th, 2010, by Simon Pulse
Synopsis (via Goodreads):
When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don't know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.
As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith's final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger.




Intense. That is the best way that I can think to describe this book. Intense, sad, intense... A bit scary, and very good.

Brie, as a character, was a good character. But as a person (do you know what I mean?), she was kind of obnoxious. In some ways, this made for an interesting character. But in others, it just made her... annoying. Now that I think about it, not many of the characters were very great. The only two that really stood out to me were Alis and Tessa. They were both very well done and very unique, yet realistic. I could see him being a best friend of my own!

Brie had a great character arc. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that for a girl that started out as shallow and inconciderate as Brie, Wow!

The plot really made up for what the characters lacked. It was so different! So, basically, Brie, a girl on the path to losing her mind, loses her uber religious sister, Faith. A few things happen, including meeting creepy bad girl Tessa, even creepier Reena. And she meets Alis, the best boy she has ever met. But wait. It gets even better. Alis is Reena's brother. So when Brie decides that she is not satisfied with the story the police gave her and her family, she goes searching for answers, hence... the story. 


I was first attracted to this story because of the plot. It seemed so unique and I was super excited to see if it lived up to its summary. Boy, did it! It was awesome! I was always so excited to find out what happened next, and when reading it, it really sucked me in and didn't let me go! 


In all, I really liked this book. There were definitely its downs, but the plot and the writing made up for that! Definitely recommended!


Tour hosted by The Teen Book Scene

The Replacement (Blog tour)

By: Brenna Yovanoff
Series: None that I know of.
Source: We Love YA Tours
Publishing info: Published September 21st 2010 by Razorbill
Pages: Hardcover, 352 pages
Synopsis (via Goodreads):
Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?


I was really, really excited to read this one. I had been reading tons and tons of amazing reviews, and the cover was really interesting. I have a fear of butchers knives (thanks, Tell-Tale Heart), and so when I saw the cover, I knew that this book would be scary. And I knew that I wanted to read it. 


In some ways, I liked this book. In others, I didn't so much. 


I'll start with the characters. Mackie. See, the thing about Mackie is... He's not stereotypical. To make a non-stereotypical seems to take a ton of work. Mackie is a pale, white haired little 16 year old boy, and he's shy. He bothered me a bit. He seemed really... cut off from the world. He did have his friend, and he did have his crush, and all that, but still... I don't know....
Tate, on the other hand, was strange, yet... strange. I'm not exactly sure that she was "likeable", per se, but she was interesting. I'm not quite sure how to describe her. Dark? Intense, maybe? I don't know. But she was interesting, and kind of fun to read. 


The plot was interesting in itself, and I thought that it was original and fun. I felt that the relationship between Mackie and Tate was rushed, and the ending was not paced well, but other than that, it was good. It was well written and, though hard to understand at points, easy enough to follow. It was nice that it was quicker, yet not (usually) rushed. 


In all, it was a nice and fun read, and while it was not my favorite, I did like it. 


Tour hosted by The Teen Book Scene

Alien Invasions and Other Inconveniences Giveaway!

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

A polite race of telepathic killer aliens, a ten-second world conquest, and one teenage boy collide in this wry, gutsy adventure.

Jesse is in history class when a formidable, efficient race of aliens quietly takes over the earth in less time than it takes him to brush his teeth. Most humans simply fall asleep and never wake up. In moments, everyone Jesse knows and loves is gone, and he finds that he is now a slave to an inept alien leader. On the bright side, Jesse discovers he’s developing telepathic powers, and he’s not the only one. Soon he’s forging new friendships and feeling unexpectedly hopeful. When a mysterious girl appears in his dreams, talking about escaping, Jesse begins to think the aliens may not be invincible after all. But if Jesse and his friends succeed, is there anywhere left to go? Brian Yansky offers a funny, grim novel packed with everything boys and sci-fi fans love: aliens, humor, action, and a healthy dose of triumph.

Open to US only (sorry internationals!)

Contest closes Wednesday, November 17

 

Brian Yansky: The Interview (Blog tour)

I'm glad to have the opportunity to introduce to you Brian Yansky! He is the author of the YA novel Alien invasions and Other Inconveniences. He was really nice to be willing to do an interview. Here it is!

What made you want to write about aliens, of all things?

      I’ve got nothing against zombies and vampires and wizards, but they’re everywhere. You can’t throw a stone in the fictional universe and not hit one. I see aliens as a seriously underrepresented group. Someone needed to step forward and speak for them. I decided to be that someone. LET THE ALIENS SPEAK. 

      

Did you choose to write YA? If so, why? 

      I write both YA and adult fiction. Writing for young adults is exciting for me. It’s a time of great change and difficulty. Leaving behind childhood and moving toward becoming an adult is a very tricky business. In a way, most YA fiction is a coming-of-age story in all its many variations, and I’ve always loved that kind of story.

      Also, since I write speculative fiction, I’m able to explore these various issues through fantastical events and worlds.  

What are some of your inspirations?

      I’m inspired by small and large things. The telepathic aliens in my novel take over the world in ten seconds. They have this telepathic power that we humans (at least at the beginning of my novel) don’t have. But they’re arrogant about just how strong they are.

      One of my themes is, in fact, how the very powerful can be arrogant of other cultures and how this often leads to the destruction of those cultures. And sometimes the consequences of this arrogance aren’t so good for the powerful either. So one inspiration for this novel is human history. Thank you arrogant and powerful leaders of the past and present. Also, old Star Treks inspire me and many, many authors, from Kurt Vonnegut and Octavia Butler to Philip Pullman and J.K. Rowling and Terry Prachett and on and on. 

What made you want to write?

      I loved story. I love story. Once I started reading—and I didn’t read much fiction until I was a sophomore in high school—I think my fate was sealed even though I didn’t actually start writing fiction until later. 

Can you tell us a bit about your publishing experience?

      I say it took me ten years to get published, which is true but also a little misleading. I was doing other things. I was publishing short stories in literary magazines even as the publication of a novel eluded me. During that time I had four different agents. I was good at getting agents but not good at getting the right one. Until my current agent that is. She is a great agent and she is both encouraging and nurturing. She can also be helpful in revising a manuscript before she sends it out, so sometimes her criticism is as valuable to me as her encouragement. 

Alien Invasions and Other Inconveniences

A polite race of telepathic killer aliens, a ten-second world conquest, and one teenage boy collide in this wry, gutsy adventure.

Jesse is in history class when a formidable, efficient race of aliens quietly takes over the earth in less time than it takes him to brush his teeth. Most humans simply fall asleep and never wake up. In moments, everyone Jesse knows and loves is gone, and he finds that he is now a slave to an inept alien leader. On the bright side, Jesse discovers he’s developing telepathic powers, and he’s not the only one. Soon he’s forging new friendships and feeling unexpectedly hopeful. When a mysterious girl appears in his dreams, talking about escaping, Jesse begins to think the aliens may not be invincible after all. But if Jesse and his friends succeed, is there anywhere left to go? Brian Yansky offers a funny, grim novel packed with everything boys and sci-fi fans love: aliens, humor, action, and a healthy dose of triumph. 

Find more about Brian and Alien Invasions and Other Inconveniences at:

Brian's Website 

Brian's Goodreads page 

Alien Invasions Goodreads 

 

Freefall (And Giveaway!)

By: Anna Levine
Series: None
Source: Teen Book Scene for tour/Publisher for review
Pages: 272 pages, Hardcover
Publishing info: Published September 1st 2008 by HarperTeen

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

What would your life be like if military service was compulsory, not voluntary?

Aggie is eighteen and getting ready to do her service for the Israeli Army. She could get a cushy assignment—maybe pushing paper somewhere—or she could just take her chances. Only, Aggie isn't like that. Despite her small size and the fact that she needs to gain weight to even make the grade, and despite the total disbelief of her entire family (except her grandmother, who is an old freedom fighter and don't you forget it), Aggie is trying out for an elite combat unit.

Ben—Aggie's crush of the moment—isn't at all convinced that she's making the right choice. Shira, Aggie's best friend forever, is bewildered (and perhaps a bit too interested in Ben). Then there's Noah. And the serendipitous snow. And a good-bye kiss that turns into, well, a real kiss.

Luckily for Aggie, her backbreaking, sand-in-mouth, completely-lost-in-the-desert training produces an unlikely dividend: friends. The kind she never imagined she could have. The kind you'd go to war with—and for.

I'm not quite sure what to say about Freefall. I liked it. It was a nice, fun, quick read. But it was not the most memorable.

A lot of times, I didn't quite understand what it was talking about, because I don't know anything about the Israeli army. Things could have been explained better because sometimes it seemed like you were just expected to know what each thing meant.

Aggie was a really interesting character. She was great, but I felt like she wasn't very unique. Its like the story could have happened to any girl that was in the Israeli army, and that was something that I missed. I love reading books with unique characters, and thats where Freefall was lacking. 


In all, it was a good book, and it was worth the read. 


So do you want to read it know? Because I'm giving away a copy! Please note that this copy has been read once.

• Contest is open to US only! (Sorry!)
• Contest is open until Wednesday, November 10. (The day Anna joins me on Potter, Percy, and I for an interview!!!)
• I would prefer if you were a follower, but its not mandatory. Followers get extra entries!
• Winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email before I choose another winner!
• Now... GO!!!