Sunday I made the two hour trek to Oblong Books by myself because none of the people I usually drag to signings were available. Yet, it was worth it! I did not get lost or stuck in traffic. I only almost died driving once which is kind of a miracle, y’all, as Allison and my sister can attest to. Why would I make such a long journey alone? Yo. Sunday was the Fierce Reads Tour and you guys, I can’t resist fangirling over MULTIPLE AUTHORS like a total creeper. The authors in attendance were: Anna Banks (Of Poseidon), Leigh Bardugo (Shadow And Bone), Jennifer Bosworth (Struck), Emmy Laybourne (Monument 14) and Caragh M. O’Brien (Birthmarked).
In which I fail at taking pictures but make up for it with a bajillion live tweets
Because Macmillan Children’s is fit to bursting with WINNING ALL THE TIME, I got the chance to meet and greet the authors before the signing and ask them some deep and SERIOUS business questions.
My first question — it’s super insightful, y’all — what was the weirdest or most interesting place you’ve been during the tour?
Leigh Bardugo:Â All the stops were shockingly awesome, although she did hear a ghost train in one of her hotels.
Jennifer Bosworth: The stops have been cool in their own way. Lansing has a GREAT store.
Emmy Laybourne:Â There is an interesting story behind the name of one of the stores they went to. Third Place Store is named because we all have three places in our lives – home, the workplace, and a third place — a gathering place. Third Place is so cool because they have a wine bar and a coffee shop and a book store and a stage.
Anna Banks:Â Provo because they let her play with the mic a lot. Provo was tolerant for a long time.
My second soul searching question? As this is the Fierce Reads Tour, what is the Fiercest thing you’ve ever done?
Emmy Laybourne: A 100 foot scuba dive after a half hour lesson. Typically you do not dive 100 ft. on the first try. It was a stormy day, the ship was really rocking. Yet, the dive was a magical experience, according to Emmy.
Leigh Bardugo:Â Run a marathon. She intended to be someone who loved running, but that did not happen at all. As this was a hot day, her and her friend spent the marathon recapping the Harry Potter series to each other while running to stay entertained.
Anna Banks:Â Stole a car at 12 and drove across three state lines. She totally got away with it too and kind of wins the most badass author EVER award.
Caragh O’Brien:Â She associates the word fierce with anger and totally attacked her brother with a grapefruit. Not a weapon. Not a shank. A grapefruit.(Blogger’s note: that is a fierce weapon, if ever I’ve seen one).
Jennifer Bosworth:Â Break into houses and watch them. (Blogger’s note: SUPER CREEPY, but you guys really hilarious too)
My third question: As authors, you’ve built these awesome worlds in your books. Do you think you would actually be able to survive in the world you built?
Emmy Laybourne: She could live in Monument 14. She made the world and knows some tricks to stay safe. She also loves survival strategies. When she goes places she is usually casing the joint to decide what strategy to use in a disaster. FYI she said for Oblong Books, she’d move the bookcases in front of the windows and doors, to bar the entrances. The one problem would be food supply.
Jennifer Bosworth: She could survive, she does P90X. She would pretend to be a Follower, but then worries because she could be easily brainwashed.
Leigh Bardugo: It depends on the class of person she would be. If she’s a peasant, well that life is brutal. As a Grisha, she could survive. If she was a Grisha, she’d be a heart render.
Anna Banks:Â She already survived high school. She could also survive a 100 foot dive. If she had Emma’s powers of talking to fish, she’d tell them to get away from nets.
Caragh O’Brien: In Birthmarked, there is a split society with a wall between wealthy and poor. She already basically lives in this world, on the wealthy side of the wall – as we have technology, medical care, and education.
Finally, I asked the authors if your book had a theme song what would it be?:
Emmy Laybourne:Â It’s The End Of The World As We Know It by R.E.M.
Anna Banks:Â Animal by Neon Trees
Leigh Bardugo:Â Blinding by Florence + The Machine
Jennifer Bosworth:Â Thunderstruck by AC/DC
Caragh O’Brien: Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninoff
As this post is wicked long, I thought I would embed my live tweets from Fierce Reads:
Listening to @EmmyLaybourne talk about Monument 14 makes me want to reread it and make my boyfriend read it. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Despite darkness @EmmyLaybourne gives her characters a chance to show their humanity. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
"All of these books are about finding a way to be human" – @EmmyLaybourne #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Okay and omg I am dying to read Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Human lightning rods actually exist – @JennBosworth #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Apparently a man was struck by lightening 7 times and lived which inspired STRUCK. @JennBosworth #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
"one doomsday cult is not enough" – @JennBosworth #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
So @ByAnnaBanks didn't feel the market was ready for a sasquatch YA romance. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Of Poseidon was inspired by a documentary with giant squids. Maybe mermaids are real. – @ByAnnaBanks #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
In fantasy darkness is usually a metaphor. @LBardugo makes darkness literal in Shadow And Bone. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Lol @LBardugo panicked over hearing herself breathing in the country dark. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
No flagons of ale in @LBardugo's world. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Monument 14 sequel is going to be called Sky Of Fire. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Ooo @JennBosworth new book going to be called the Knife Sharpeners Daughter. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Oooo the sequel to Of Poseidon will be called Of Triton. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
FYI Shadow And Bone can be read as a standalone even though there are sequels. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Y'all if I am trapped in the end times I want @EmmyLaybourne on my team. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
A lot of YA isn't dark at all. Dark themes get attention bc they freak people out – @LBardugo #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Hurricane Katrina inspired part of Struck. @JennBosworth #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Underlying hope exists in YA – Caragh O'Brien. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
A lot of YA is about discovery of self and way outside world treats differences. – @LBardugo #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
So @JennBosworth is an emotional robot. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Now @ByAnnaBanks husband respects her now that she's published. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
When @LBardugo got the call she made a noise between a shriek and a bleat. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Caragh O'Brien wrote her first draft in 2 months. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Caragh O'Brien would go into stores and her book wouldn't be there. Her mom would be like where's my daughter's book? #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Also @ByAnnaBanks book was on shelves before May 22 release date. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Everything in Of Poseidon scientifically based instead of magic based. @ByAnnaBanks #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Oh! @EmmyLaybourne cover is based on a sketch she sent her editor. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Caragh Obrien revised book based on cover. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Neither @JennBosworth or @ByAnnaBanks had a hand in their covers. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
B&N didn't like Shadow And Bone original cover so they redesigned. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
Debut authors don't get a lot of say in their covers. #fiercereads
— April Books & Wine (@booksandwine) June 17, 2012
So, you’ve scrolled long enough. I am sure you’d fancy a giveaway! Okay, well I have signed copies from the signing. One winner takes all. This will be international and closes on my birthday, July 5th. Use rafflecopter to enter.
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Taste by Kate Evangelista is a Fierce Read!
Such an awesome selection of books… wish I could have been there too 🙂
Oops, forgot to tell you about a fierce read… well, I recently read and loved Cinder – I thought it was pretty fierce!
Hmmm… a fierce read… Well, I just came back from a Richelle Mead signing (not to brag, haha) and Vampire Academy is on my mind right now so I guess Vampire Academy! It definitely is fierce, haha.
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa is a fierce read because its a whole new spin on the vampire genre in my opinion and the main character is awesome 🙂
Divergent is WAY fierce! Thanks for the fab giveaway and for making it international! 😀
I actually kind of love this lots. I was late to the Fierce Reads stop at Books of Wonder (I love NYC, but the traffic is god-awful) so it’s extremely awesome seeing all of the awesomeness I missed. These guys are kind of really fantastic. I seriously think it’s impossible to attend one of their events and NOT fall in love with them.
Also, Anna Banks? TOTALLY badass.
I think I would so go for Hunger Games, ya i know it’s becoming really redundant in these comment boxes, but what can you do. It’s really good
I think the Hunger Games books are definitely Fierce Reads!
It looks like you had a great time at the event! thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I think Code Name Verity is a Fierce Read! SO much love for that book!!
Love the tweet updates 😉 I’ve been trying to reproduce the sound between a bleat and a shriek, but I don’t think I’m getting it right…
Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
I think Shatter Me is a pretty fierce read. 1 – The writing is so spectacular and 2 – Juliet is amazing and her power’s definitely fierce!
P.S. Sounds like the signing was amazing! Glad you had a good time!
My most recent fierce read would probably be Shadow and Bone, which is probably cheating XD
Glad you had such a great time! I’m so jealous because ahhhh you got to meet so many cool authors!
Definitely Daughter of Smoke and Bone. 🙂
GAME OF THRONES is what I would consider a fierce read.
I think City of Lost Souls is a fierce read. It had a killer main character with an attitude to match and determination a mile long. 😀 Clary ROCKS!
Silver Knight by Caron Rider!!!!!
I think Changeling by Phillipa Gregory is a fierce read.
Sweet giveaway! Nice selection of books!
BTW, I think a fierce read is Minion, by L.A.Banks! I love that book.
I just read Unleashed by Sara Humphreys and that was a Fierce read!
I think The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa is definitely a fierce read! Thanks for the giveaway and making it international! 🙂
Anna Banks stole a car at 12 and drove across three state lines? Wow! That is definitely fierce 😉
Thank you so much for the giveaway!
Oh, and the Vampire Academy series = totally fierce reads worthy
Ahhh! Thank you so so so much for this awesome giveaway 😀 Hmm. Well, Monstrous Beauty is a Fierce Read! Just read it. It is creepy and awesome! 😀
awesome giveaway! *all* of those books are on the top of my wishlist 🙂 I really liked Divergent.
First ones that sprang to mind were Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore. Super fierce!
Love your recap! I was at the Provo stop so I am glad it made it into the favorite places question. I just finished Divergent which I would certainly categorize as a Fierce Read.
I think The Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a Fierce Read!! 🙂
Great interview questions and recap! I think the book Starters is a Fierce Read. Thanks for the awesome giveaway 🙂
Of Poseidon 🙂
I usually attend the events at Oblong, but since it was my mom’s birthday and Father’s Day, I had no choice but to skip it. Thanks for the re-cap and the great questions:)
As for your question: Divergent/Insurgent!
These authors sound like a lot of fun. 🙂
I definitely think that Divergent is a fierce read.
You ask awesome questions! 🙂
Shadow and Bone looks like an awesome book. I am fascinated with all things Russian.
The entire Newsflesh trilogy by Mira Grant
I think Graceling is pretty fierce no? She’s got a killer talent ( pun intended) and that’s prettyyyyyy badass 😀
Angelfall by Susan Ee is FIERCE!
I’m currently reading STORMDANCER by Jay Kristoff and I think that’s a fierce read!
Shatter Me!
Blood red road by Moira Young is a fierce read for sure! Graceling (by Kristin Cashore) as well!
Thank you for the giveaway and Happy Birthday! 🙂 My birthday is on July 4. 🙂
And I just finished reading Hex Hall, that was fierce. And funny. 🙂
This is such an awesome giveaway! Have already read Shadow and Bone (totally a fierce read) but the others are defo on my TBR after this.
A fierce read that I absolutely loved, Heist Society. Any kids who can steal art in style are pretty fierce if you ask me!
Divergent is fierce!
I don’t read as often as most other book bloggers, but I can only think of The Hunger Games right now. :p
Well I’m reading Shadow and Bone now, and it’s definitely pretty fierce. I think I’ll go with one of my fave kick ass heroines, Katsa, in Graceling.
I think Blood Red Road is a fierce read!
Well, Shadow and Bone was a perfect pick. I also think that Hemlock is a “Fierce Read”! 😉
The Hunger games, probably! 🙂
Well, I´ve just finished Insurgent, so I’ll have to say that not only this book but this series is totally fierce!
Well, I´ve just finished Insurgent, so I’ll have to say that not only this book but this series is totally fierce!
A Fierce Read totally has to be Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Katsa was totally awesome, not to mention totally kick-butt. =)
Birthmarked it my fave book of all time. It is totally fierce:)
I enjoyed reading your live tweets from the event! It sounded like it was definitely a lot of fun 🙂
Oooh! So exciting! I can’t wait to read such Fierce Reads…
A fierce book? Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta…
Actually, the book is probably not really fierce… Not the way you meant it… But I LOVE it SO INSANELY much… It makes me pretty fierce, and that counts, right?… 🙂
Anyway, I would say that The Hero and the Crown & The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley are fierce. Totally awesome female mcs & they were legitimately the first books I recognized as fantasy that I loved. They are amazing books 🙂
Hrm…I think Article 5 by Kristen Simmons is a Fierce read. If you haven’t read it, you should check it out!
Umm.. I’m gonna say Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout! It fierce with emotions :DD or just I’m fierce, because I’m so obsessed wth it! 🙂 Thank you for the giveaway!
I think Graceling by Kristin Cashore is a fierce read.
First off, thanks for the great interview. I loved the Fierce question! It was hilarious! 😀 + Thanks for a great giveaway!
Second, it’s awesome that you give an extra point for teachers/librarians (I’m not one, but I <3 them, so that's is awesome!)
I think a Fierce read would be the Madly series by M. Leighton! 😀 I'm reading it now and really enjoying it!
I think Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready is a fierce read, awesome boo!
The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare is a fierce read for me.
Umm… a fierce book? Battle Royale 🙂
Thank you so much for the amazing giveaway! 😀
I think the Divergent series is a very fierce read. Also, Finnikin of the Rock. These books hold nothing back.
I think The Immortal Rules was a fierce read, thank you for the giveaway.
The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa is definitely a fierce read!
Hmmm… Vampire Academy- especially Last Sacrifice- was one hell of a fierce read! 😀 Thanks so much for the giveaway, I’m drooling over the books! 😛
I think This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers is a fierce read. Fantastic story, and so many zombies! What’s not to love?
THIRD PLACE IS MY BOOK STORE!!
Ahem.
I got a little excited there 😛
Anything by Jennifer L Armentrout seems to be a fierce read!
DUDE! This is an international giveaway! HOW DID I MISS THIS? (Likely because I have over 1000 unread blog posts in my reader. Ugh).
Fierce Read, you want to know? I actually think that Birthmarked by Caragh M O’Brien is a totally fierce read because I FRICKEN ADORED IT and the sequel. So there.
A fierce read..? Hmm..
I’d have to say: Defiance by Shelly Crane. I couldn’t put it down even once!
That has to count as fierce! 😉
Awesome giveaway! All these fierce books are on the top of my TBR list! There are so many books that I think are awesome fierce reads 😉 My ultimate fierce read has to be The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix (Sabriel, Lirael, & Abhorsen) Those were the books that made me love to read again 😀 <3
Gravey Mercy by R.L. LaFevers is a majorly fierce read!
Thank you so much for the giveaway 😀 My fierce read would be Divergent by Veronica Roth.
Oh, I sign in as Catherine Siborutorop 🙂
Fierce book? Definitely The Hunger Games!
Thanks for the chance! Fingers crossed!
Oh, aside Shadow & Bone? Well, the Fierce Read price goes to Tiger’s Curse Series (!!)
Thanks for the giveaway! I love Caragh. She seems so amazing! ;P
I have been dying to read each of these books! Thanks for the awesome giveaway and interview 🙂 A fierce read….definitely Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein!
I don’t think you can get any fiercer than Grave Mercy. Nun assassins? Poisons? CROSSBOWS?!
Oh, definitely the Graceling Realm series by Kristin Cashore 🙂
I think Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder is pretty fierce.
Fierce Read? DIVERGENT for sure !!!
Love this giveaway !!
I would have to say The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa! 😀
fierce read? across the the universe
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout or The fault in our stars by John Green.
Hmmm…. I think I’d have to go with The Vicious Deep!!! It was VERY VERY Fierce and amazingly awesome! I can’t wait until The Savage Blue releases 😀 Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
I think Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton is a pretty fierce read.
i think any of the mortal instruments books by cassandra clare are pretty fierce reads!
Hmm a ‘fierce’ book… I would say Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff. Very fierce!
I just finished Legend by Marie Lu, so I’m definitely picking that one!
I think a fierce read is ‘Of Poseidon’. 🙂
Asking me to pick 1 book? Seriously? Impossible! I’m a HS English teacher, a YA writer, and a book lover. This is the impossible equation! I could go a million directions with this. Since there are 4 or 5 Fierce Reads books, I think it’s fair to narrow a few suggestions to 4 or 5 of my own. Here are a few I love to teach:
1. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
2. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
4. Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
5. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
They all have statements to make to teens that are FIERCE and SIGNIFICANT. I hope my students will read these and the ones from the Fierce Reads Tour. Thank you very much for this opportunity!
@gdcribbs
I’d say The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.
I think Partials by Dan Wells is a fierce read. Thanks for the chance to win!
DIVERGENT series is DEFINITELY a Fierce Read 😀
If I Die by Rachel Vincent!
A definite fierce read is Divergent by Veronica Roth!
Article 5 by Kristen Simmons and Divergent/Insurgent by Veronica Roth are definitely Fierce Reads for me. 🙂
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi 🙂
Divergent by Veronica Roth!
I want to read Of Poseidon so bad! Thank you!
Hi! I really Love this giveaway! and the Fierce book that id choose would be Divergent! Yeah that was a really good book! Thanks again for this awesome giveaway!
Divergent by Veronica Roth. I could not put it down! Thanks for the giveaway.
Divergent, for sure.
Nevermore (oldie to everyone else, new to me) is pretty fierce too. I mean, we’re talking preppy cherleader who actually steps up and fights off some serious baddies.
Divergent and Insurgent, by Veronica Roth!! =)
Graceling!
Fire by Kristin Cashore.
I definetly think Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder is a fierce read 🙂 Thanks so much for the giveaway!