QoTD Week: Queen of the Dead Soundtrack, teaser + giveaway!

Don't we all love music in one form or another? I sure do. Often times when I read a book I wonder about that song that fits the plot perfectly, as I'm sure a lot of readers do. Today Stacey's sharing with us not only a glimpse of her music taste, but also her choice of songs for QoTD! Check it out:

Here is a portion of the playlist I used when writing QOTD and actually some of the third book (title to be determined) as well. I'm not sure that these match up to any particular scenes, but they evoked the mood I needed to be able to write certain parts. A huge thank you to my friend Magan Vernon for pointing me toward the songs on the second half of the list and to my sister for telling me about "If I Die Young."

Um, *clears throat* I may have also spent a great deal of time listening to my Ke$ha Pandora station, but that is neither here nor there. ;)

Breathe Me by Sia

Haunted by Taylor Swift

If I Die Young by The Band Perry

Tell Me I’m a Wreck by Every Avenue

Teenagers by My Chemical Romance

Pieces by Sum 41

Only One by Yellowcard

Make You Smile by +44

Thank you Stacey! Being the most un-savvy of music ever, I have not heard most of these songs, but now that I've listened to them I find that I've been missing out! Now I can't listen to these without thinking of Will and Alona ;p

Just the Girl by Cick Five

This is another song which I have known for years but only just recently connected with Will and Alona - I thought I'd add this and let you judge. It's super sweet and from the very first line Alona's definitely just the girl!

Are you ready for some more QoTD teasers?

Will: Yes, Alona was, in theory, already dead, but you don't spend eighteen years as a ghost-talker without realizing there are all kinds of dead, and some kinds are preferable to others.

Giveaway, Day 7.

We have several copies of Queen of the Dead and The Ghost and the Goth up for grabs this week, so if you want your hands on this awesome series, post a comment below and check back in tomorrow for more! For more information on how the giveaway runs, check it out HERE.

RULES.

• Open worldwide.
• You do NOT have to be a follower to enter - everyone is welcome!
• You DO have to comment on this post - because the giveaway is comment-based, use the same username to comment throughout the week.
• Extra entries welcome!
• Deadline for entries will be on 1st June 2011, 12MN BST.
• Winners will be drawn through random.org.
• Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise a new name will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will never be passed on to any third party.
• Fill out the form below!

QoTD Week: Giveaway galore + more teasers!

Now that you've heard from our main protagonists, as well as from Stacey Kade, known who the ideal faces for the characters are, it's time to test your wit and creativity! Winners will be chosen, based on the answers and reasons given, by the author herself.

For our special giveaway post, all you have to do is show how creative you can get by answering the question - If you were Will, what would you give Alona Dare for her birthday? Why? 

Not only is Alona going to nitpick your present of choice, she's also already dead. So let's hear all the interesting things you'd give this wayward spirit for her special day!

Before that though, here's today's QoTD teaser -

Alona: Still, I didn't like the way he was looking at [Mina], like she was some kind of miracle delivered to his door. So she could see spirits. Big deal. I could, too.

Aww.

RULES.

• Open worldwide.
• You do NOT have to be a follower to enter - everyone is welcome!
• Deadline for entries will be on 1st June 2011, 12MN BST.
• Winners will be drawn through random.org.
• Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise a new name will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will never be passed on to any third party.
• Fill out the form below!

QoTD Week: G&G and QoTD Movie Casting, teasers + giveaway!

I have long wanted a Ghost and the goth movie and as nothing is in the works just yet, the next best thing for me to do was to see which character fit what actor according to the author herself! Today Stacey's giving us a glimpse on who's who in a movie casting ensemble. Here's what she had to say -

This is tricky. First, I totally agree with you - the cover models look exactly like what I would want Alona and Will to look like. Second, I suspect I'll be terrible at this, lol. I have actors or actresses in mind for nearly every one of these roles because that's how I write. But they're often not the right age. That's one of the great things about books is you can say, I want this person to look like so-and-so but when so-and-so was ten years younger, lol! 


So, I guess, everyone should assume that the actors would all be age appropriate! I'd also be happy to hear suggestions on who people would like to cast. The actors I'm listing provide an idea of what I think that character should look/sound like, nothing more. And I'd be very interested in hearing what people come up with. Also, it should be stated, I am soooo not an expert at this and should a movie opportunity ever come around, I would happily defer to the producer, director, casting people, etc. on all of this. :) This is just based on what exists in my head.

Director:

 

Mark Waters (left), director of Mean Girls or Will Gluck (right) of Easy A - two of my favorite movies!

Will Killian:

Landon Liboiron - Really, really liked him as Sam on Life Unexpected.

(Dwayne: He looks a little like Dan Radcliffe in his other photos, but he looks good as Will here!)

Alona Dare:

I haven't found someone yet who embodies Alona to me, other than the cover model whose name I really wish I knew. Curious to hear who others think should be Alona.

Mina Blackwell:

 Mila Kunis - Okay, again, ten years younger and with some serious wacked out hair.

Principal Brewster :

Oh, this is tough. I have a picture in my head, but I don't know the actor's name! Ack! I'm pretty sure he played a mean drill sergeant in a movie, but I don't know which one.

(Dwayne: Principal Brewster show yourself!)

Joonie:

 A younger Azura Skye.

Lily Turner:

One of the few who is close to age appropriate--Sosie Bacon (middle). 

Eric Hargrove:

Eric Szmanda in a powder blue tux.

Liesel Marks:

Amanda Seyfried with appropriate 70s hair and dress! 

I love the choices for Eric and Liesel - but I thought Mila Kunis was a fantastically superb choice for Mina! Pity we don't know much about the cover model as Alona, but she is perfect for the role.

What do you think? Did you have any particular person in mind to play Alona? Or perhaps Will? We'd like to know what you think!

Casting aside, here's some more teasers from QoTD for you -

Alona: Touch me with that, you freaky haired bitch, and I will make you regret the day you decided to home perm.

I looove this quote! It embodies Alona very strongly - the fighter and the survivor in her, her attitude to fashion notwithstanding :D

Giveaway, Day 5.

We have several copies of Queen of the Dead and The Ghost and the Goth up for grabs this week, so if you want your hands on this awesome series, post a comment below and check back in tomorrow for more! For more information on how the giveaway runs, check it out HERE.

RULES.

• Open worldwide.
• You do NOT have to be a follower to enter - everyone is welcome!
• You DO have to comment on this post - because the giveaway is comment-based, use the same username to comment throughout the week.
• Extra entries welcome!
• Deadline for entries will be on 1st June 2011, 12MN BST.
• Winners will be drawn through random.org.
• Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise a new name will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will never be passed on to any third party.
• Fill out the form below!

QoTD Week: Author Interview with Stacey Kade II + teaser + giveaway!

So far in Queen of the Dead week, we have heard from Alona (twice) and Will and met Mina Blackwell. Today we continue with the interviews, but slightly different this time - I have the one and only, Stacey Kade! 

We discuss QoTD, the Ghost and the Goth series, and perhaps - book three? Check out our interview below -

As you spent more time with your characters in writing QoTD, what of Alona, Will and the other characters did you learn more about?

Oh, you always learn a little more about everyone. For me, I think I learned more about Will's dad and uh, without getting too spoilery, other people's family members. :) It was also interesting to learn how Will and Alona handled Mina being around. So many things NOT said, you know? Makes it kind of complicated!

QoTD readers would never have seen the big twist coming - was that on your part planned, or was it simply something that came abut as the story progressed?

Planned from the get-go. :)

If you can describe Will and Alona's relationship in one word - what would it be and why?

Balanced, I think. Not necessarily in the "gee this is healthy" kind of way but in the "they need each other" way. Kind of like two people on a see-saw. Each needs the other to keep things level. :)

You know I looove the blossoming romance between our ghost and goth - but would you rather read a book about forbidden romance, the-more-you-hate-the-more-you-love romance or a best-friend-turned-boyfriend romance?

I'm all about the forbidden romance! I think there's always an inherent vulnerability to falling in love and when it's forbidden, it just kind of ups the ante. You don't know whether it'll be just your heart that's destroyed or, you know, your whole life. I was a HUGE fan of Buffy and Angel. :)

Were there any particular challenges in writing QoTD that you had to overcome?

Oh, I was definitely my own worst enemy on this one. It was so hard trying to find a way to tell a story that was similar enough to the first book so as to be recognizable as part of the series but also different enough that people didn't feel it was repetitive. I kind of made myself crazy on this one, overthinking it. Lots of rewriting went on, but in the end, it is definitely a better book because of it.

Was there more pressure on you in writing this book in comparison to writing G&G?

I want fans and readers to love the story, obviously! :) But that can get kind of crazy because not everyone wants the same thing from a particular book. So, instead, I always try to focus on doing my best for the characters, trying to hear them as clearly as I can and tell their story truthfully. So from a pressure standpoint, I think it was more about wanting to make sure I got it right for Alona and Will.

Were there researches that you had to do for QoTD?

I did some digging to learn about the worst fires in U.S. and Illinois history, more for context than anything that would make it into the book.

In retrospect, was there any part of the book you wished you have written differently?

Actually, I think I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. :)

Is the 3rd book going to be the last in the series or are we readers granted more?

Third book is, as far as I know, the last in the series.

(Dwayne: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

Are there any deets you can share with us about book 3? Because I know I am not the only one desperately waiting to know what happens next!

I'm afraid I'm still sworn to secrecy for the moment. Actually, because we're still working on the book now, some things may yet change. :) But I loved writing the third book!

So not much info about book three for now, as it turns out. Be sure to catch up with Stacey for more news and information at her website, www.staceykade.com or on twitter (@staceykade).  You can also check out my first interview with the lovely Stacey here.

Here's our QoTD teaser for the day!

Alona: There's always that one thing, right? A particular action that is your own personal line in the sand. The nuclear threat you keep in your back pocket, never even mentioning it because it will escalate any conflict beyond the chance of reconciliation.

And yet, here I was, declaring war, turning that line in the sand into a mere dot in the distance behind me.

Giveaway, Day 4.

We have several copies of Queen of the Dead and The Ghost and the Goth up for grabs this week, so if you want your hands on this awesome series, post a comment below and check back in tomorrow for more! For more information on how the giveaway runs, check it out HERE.

RULES.

• Open worldwide.
• You do NOT have to be a follower to enter - everyone is welcome!
• You DO have to comment on this post - because the giveaway is comment-based, use the same username to comment throughout the week.
• Extra entries welcome!
• Deadline for entries will be on 1st June 2011, 12MN BST.
• Winners will be drawn through random.org.
• Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise a new name will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will never be passed on to any third party.
• Fill out the form below!

QoTD Week: Presenting Mina Blackwell + teaser + giveaway!

So far during the QoTD week, we have heard from our headstrong cheerleader-from-the-afterlife Alona (twice) and from Will. Today it's my pleasure to introduce a brand new character from Queen of the Dead who I'd have to say, spices up the book some more. Here's Mina Blackwell!

Hey Mina, describe yourself in one word. And why so?

Fighter. Nobody's ever handed me anything. I didn't end up with all the right genes to make my life easier.

What is Mina Blackwell into?

Training. Improving my echo-handling skills.

If you were to die and find your spirit still on earth, what do you reckon you'd do?

Would never happen. It doesn't work that way. But if there's an echo of me left behind, I hope the Guardians will address it on my behalf.

If you weren't doing what you're doing now, which field of work do you reckon you'd end up in?

This is my life. I can't imagine not being a part of [redacted for spoilers] in some way. But if that wasn't a possibility, maybe something in law enforcement. I like helping keep people safe.

Any particularly memorable spirit you've bumped into in your uhh, career?

Nope, bag 'em, tag 'em, and move on. Plus, the more attention you give the echoes, the more difficult they become. They start thinking they're souls or people or something.<

What is your greatest success?

Tracking down a red-level echo.

And what is your greatest fear?

Failure.

Do you ever think of moving away from home and perhaps teaming with a spirit guide like Will's doing?

Absolutely not.

We know you believe that the world would be a better place without these spirits around, but is there anyone dead you'd want to meet and you know, chat with?

Nope. Like I said, talking to them only makes things more complicated. Besides, they'll tell you anything they think you want to hear if they think it'll keep you on their side. So there's no point in it.

What is Mina Blackwell's pet peeve?

Alona Dare. Does that count?

Will Alona ever learn, do you think?

*snorts* That princess? No.

What was your first impression of Will Killian? And I'm sure Alona would like to hear what you thought of her too.

Cute, but stupid. Well, not stupid exactly, I guess. Just naive and soft, untrained.

As for her...is there really any question what I thought of her at first? SPOILED. DEAD. PRINCESS. Yeah, that about sums it up, I think.


Thank you Mina! I'm not sure Alona loved this interview, but I sure did! It's great fun getting to know Mina more - she's an interesting character so say the least, and you guys should really look forward to the role she'll be playing in the Queen of the Dead!

And here's a short but meaningful teaser for you from Alona's words of wisdom:

If nothing else, you have to love being dead for the dramatic exits. 


Don't you just looove Alona? :)

Giveaway, Day 3.

We have several copies of Queen of the Dead and The Ghost and the Goth up for grabs this week, so if you want your hands on this awesome series, post a comment below and check back in tomorrow for more! For more information on how the giveaway runs, check it out HERE.

RULES.

• Open worldwide.
• You do NOT have to be a follower to enter - everyone is welcome!
• You DO have to comment on this post - because the giveaway is comment-based, use the same username to comment throughout the week.
• Extra entries welcome!
• Deadline for entries will be on 1st June 2011, 12MN BST.
• Winners will be drawn through random.org.
• Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise a new name will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will never be passed on to any third party.
• Fill out the form below!

QoTD Week: An Interview with Will Killian, teaser + giveaway!

Day 2 of our Queen of the Dead week celebrations here at Girls Without a Bookshelf and today I have had the privilege of sharing with you an exclusive, and very rare one-to-one interview with surely one of the most awww-some heroes in the YA world - Will Killian!

Of course as an unexpected bonus we also have - surprise, surprise - Alona Dare tagging along to annoy, irritate, make Will feel uncomfortable, support Will!

Hi Will. Since Alona is also here, why not talk about her? Any secrets of the legendary Alona Dare you wish to divulge now that you can?

Will: Yeah, no. Sorry, but I still have to work with her. So, the fact that she has six toes on each foot will have to remain a secret forever.

Alona: *Elbows him. Hard.*

Will: Ow! I was just kidding! Besides you told them I talk in my sleep.

Alona: You do!

Will: So you say.

Alona: Do you really want me to record it? Bring others in to witness it? Because seriously, that could be arranged.

Will: Never mind.

What's the most irritating thing a spirit has ever done to you / asked of you?

Will: Some of them really don't respect boundaries. There have been a few, uh, peeping incidents...

Alona: I told you that was an accident! Don't be in the shower at 7:03, okay?

Will: *sighs* Not you. This was before I met you. Or, you know before you, uh, crossed over.

Alona: Seriously? Ew. Let me know if that happens again. I will so not be putting up with that...on your behalf, I mean.

Will: Right.

How much has life changed for you since Alona came into your life? (Err - positive or negative.)

Will: For all the hassle and strife and pain in the--

Alona: Hey!

Will: --my life is better. I feel, I don't know, safer, more sane, better able to deal with whatever's thrown my way. Some of that is having her around. Some of it's because of the changes she pushed me to make, like telling my mom the truth.

Unfortunately, I also now know way too much about cheerleading, Krispy Kreme, the Lifetime channel, and Bath and Body Works scent rotation schedule.

When was your first ghostly encounter?

Will: I don't really know. When I was little, I didn't know the people I was seeing weren't alive or that others couldn't see them. The first time I realized all of that was when I was six and talked about seeing my grandmother, who was dead. I think my dad had been hoping I wouldn't inherit his ability, but he wasn't all that surprised. My mom freaked, of course.

You HAVE to tell me this: how exactly did your little crush on Alona Dare begin?

Alona: Yeah, Will. Let's hear all about when you started adoring me.

Will: *shifts uncomfortably* I'm not really sure that's a good idea. And besides, I don't really remember...

Alona: Liar.

Will: *glaring* Fine. It was raining outside and you came in from recess with your hair all puffed up and--

Alona: Oh, my God, you liked me when my hair was FRIZZY? What is WRONG with you?

Has Alona begin forcing you to dress differently yet? Will you?

Will: No. But she's limited, and frustrated, I think, by the fact that she can't buy clothes for me. So she's reduced to sighing, rolling her eyes a lot and making snide comments. Will I change the way I dress? Probably not. What's wrong with it?

Alona: *sighs* Don't EVEN get me started.

Now that you've shed some light on your father's past, have you ever speculated about his death?

Will: I've always been caught between trying not to think about it and trying to understand why. I think he must have thought he had no choice, that he was caught between two impossible situations.

Have you ever considered a future where you'd make your ability a business?

Will: Interesting that you should ask that. Alona has mentioned it a time or twenty, especially recently.

If there's one thing your spirit guide has taught you in the two months of being with her, what would you say it was?

Will: That my life is worth living, even if it's difficult. Because you only get one.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years' time?

Will: Right now, I'm just focusing on one day at a time. Sometimes just an hour at a time.

(Apart from Alona Dare,) what is Will Killian into?

Will: Movies, graphic novels, hanging out with my friends...the few I have left.

Your father aside, is there anyone from the afterlife you'd love to meet and talk to?

Will: No. My life is already complicated enough. Definitely not looking find any more ghosts to talk to.


Thank you, Will, for sharing a part of you with us. And uh, thank you to Alona also for uh partaking in Will's supposed solo interview.

Teasers anyone? How do you feel about a little romantic quote from our resident goth?

Will: Her scent filled me, overwhelmed me with the desire to shut out everything but her. This girl who equally drove me crazy and made me care more about her than I should. She was the only one who understood. The only one who could make what I was more bearable, even if she occasionally tortured me in the process.

Giveaway, Day 2.

We have several copies of Queen of the Dead and The Ghost and the Goth up for grabs this week, so if you want your hands on this awesome series, post a comment below and check back in tomorrow for more! For more information on how the giveaway runs, check it out HERE.

RULES.

• Open worldwide.
• You do NOT have to be a follower to enter - everyone is welcome!
• You DO have to comment on this post - because the giveaway is comment-based, use the same username to comment throughout the week.
• Extra entries welcome!
• Deadline for entries will be on 1st June 2011, 12MN BST.
• Winners will be drawn through random.org.
• Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise a new name will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will never be passed on to any third party.
• Fill out the form below!

Note - Rather than the 'username name you used to comment on Alona Dare's interview post', I meant 'the username name you used to comment on Will Killian's interview post.' Either way, you should have given the same name and commented on this post to enter.

QoTD Week: Getting to know THE Alona Dare, teaser + giveaway!

This girl needs to introduction. Let's welcome the prettiest and most popular cheerleader of them all ... Miss Alona Dare, also known as Queen of the Dead.


Hi Alona! So let's start with this - What was a typical day like for (a living) Alona Dare?

Get up super early, track down my mother in the house--hopefully she's in the house and not passed out in the garage. Clean up whatever mess she's made and make sure her head is tilted to the side so she won't choke if she gets sick again. Get showered and dressed in the outfit I picked out the night before (possibly switching to my back up outfit, depending on how I feel). Arrive at school in time for zero hour and then meet up with Misty and Chris and keep them from fighting with one another (oh, if I'd only known then what I know now...).


Go to classes, dispense helpful fashion advice here and there, ignore the weirdos and losers (do not want contamination by association), field several calls from my dad about whatever he wants my mom to do.


After cheerleading practice, go to Misty's house to hang out until I have to go home. At home, check to make sure my mom is alive and breathing (usually obnoxiously drunk again by that point) and then retreat to my room and lock the door to do homework and prep for the next day.


Lather, rinse, repeat.

You have to be completely honest about this, Alona - what do you think is Will's best asset?
And his worse?

He really does try to see the best in people. To understand and sympathize with them. Which can also be completely frustrating, I might add.


He doesn't stand up for himself. Getting him to believe he's worth something and therefore has a right not to be pummeled by the undead has just about killed me...again.

Is undead life more difficult to live than living life?


It depends. Undead life never really changes, you know? It's like there's a giant reset button every morning. And there's something kind of reassuring about that. Makes it very easy to plan. But that also means there's never any really new experiences to be gained. And that kind of sucks.

What do you miss most about living?

The food! Not just the choices, but the actual act of eating and tasting...you don't think about it that much until it's gone.

What do you like best about your new job?

I do like helping people. Contrary to what Will and some others might think, I was always trying to be helpful. Some people just don't know how to appreciate me and my particular brand of helpfulness, I guess.

If you can change one thing about your undead life as a spirit guide what will it be?

Being dragged to wherever Will is at 7:03 every morning. Oh, yeah, it was fine and good during the school year. But after graduation and with him working, yeah...there were a few "shower" incidents. I mean, how hard is it to remember: don't be naked at 7:03 a.m. Seriously.


Not that I'm complaining exactly...the boy has abs. ;)

You've obviously hated how quickly your "friends" moved on after your death. How long do you suppose is a respectable mourning period?

Duh. Forever. I should have been such a loss to them that they'd never properly recover. Isn't that how we all want it to be when we die?

Are there any secrets of Will you can share with us now that you're tied to him at the hip?

Oh! I know so many, many things. :) But not anything I'm willing to share here. Information is currency, you know, especially for people in my condition.


But I will say this, which might be something even Will doesn't know about himself. He talks in his sleep, occasionally.  :)

What quote do you abide by?


Pretty is as pretty does...and pretty does a lot. :)

(Note from Stacey: I'm not sure Alona's interpretation of this saying exactly matches the traditional understanding of the quote...)

Any advice for the newly dead?


If you need us, try to find us. We'll do our best to help you. Or, Will will do his best, and I'll provide helpful commentary. But don't lie to us. It's really annoying.

What is Alona Dare's pet peeve?

People who won't fight for themselves and expect others to do it for them. And black licorice. Gross.

I see you've met Mina Blackwell, though not in the best of circumstance.Of course, as the Queen of the Dead, any fashion advice to this girl?

Please. Where do I begin? Honestly, she should burn her wardrobe--if one could even call it that--and start fresh. It's not hard to find cute clothes at a good price. There are lots of resale shops around, if she could be bothered with it, which I doubt. She also needs a major hair intervention.

Oh I adore you Alona!

She's super awesome - and more so after Queen of the Dead, I assure you! And speaking of Queen of the Dead, I'm sure you'd like to read the excerpt now, so here it is. Enjoy!

Will: I just looked at her. Since [Alona] hadn't had anything to eat or drink in well over enough, I seriously doubted that was a concern. Besides which, I hadn't ever heard of any ghosts visiting a bathroom, unless, of course, they'd died there. (No, I've never met Elvis, but it's an educated guess.) 

Check back in tomorrow for more teasers, plus a rare interview with Will Killian with a special participation of ... Alona Dare. Again.

Giveaway, Day 1.

We have several copies of Queen of the Dead and The Ghost and the Goth up for grabs this week, so if you want your hands on this awesome series, post a comment below and check back in tomorrow for more! For more information on how the giveaway runs, check it out HERE.

RULES.

• Open worldwide.
• You do NOT have to be a follower to enter - everyone is welcome!
• You DO have to comment on this post - because the giveaway is comment-based, use the same username to comment throughout the week.
• Extra entries welcome!
• Deadline for entries will be on 1st June 2011, 12MN BST.
• Winners will be drawn through random.org.
• Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise a new name will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will never be passed on to any third party.
• Fill out the form below!

QoTD Week: The Giveaway!

Do you want to win ...

... this?

... plus this?

... and some more of this?

Well then here's your chance! From today until the release of Stacey Kade's Queen of the Dead, we'll be giving away several copies of Queen of the Dead plus The Ghost and the Goth too! 

All you have to do is to comment on the posts this week to be eligible - the more comments you give the more chances of you winning! Sharing the link will also give more entries so spread the word! 

Fill out the form at the end of each post everyday to submit your entry for that day and at the end of the week, we'll add them up for you and choose our winners from the pool of entries!

So now all there's to do is to check out Alona's interview, comment and fill out the form to submit your Day 1 entries!

Will's Interview for Day 2 is up - check out how Alona tagged along, comment and fill out the form to submit your entries for the second day!

Presenting Mina Blackwell is our day 3 feature. Meet a fresh character from Queen of the Dead and don't forget to comment to enter your day 3 entries!

Check out our Author Interview with Stacey Kade for day 4!

Want to know who's who in Stacey's Ghost and the Goth and Queen of the Dead movie casting choices? Check our Movie Casting post for more!

Giveaway Galore post - a fun, creative challenge to compete over!

Check out the Music Playlist for Queen of the Dead - selected by Stacey herself!

Finally, here's what I think about Queen of the Dead - QoTD Review!

Good luck ;)

Author Interview: Stacey Kade + Giveaway!

I love The Ghost and the Goth. I do, I do!
Today I have the fabulous Stacey Kade, author of The Ghost and the Goth, for an interview!

Welcome Stacey!

1. In terms of writing, are you a plunger or a planner?

Interesting! I've never heard the term plunger before, but I'm pretty sure that's what I am. :) I don't like to plan too much advance. When I'm writing, I prefer it to be similar to the experience of reading, where I don't know what's going to happen next exactly. :) Of course, these days, with deadlines, I have to do a little more planning. But left to my own devices, I would probably only figure out the end of a story when I came to it!

2. How did you come up with the title for The Ghost and the Goth?

You know, I'm not really sure. When I'm writing, if I don't have a title pretty near the beginning, I've always got some part of my brain thinking about possibilities. With The Ghost and the Goth, what I liked about it was that Will and Alona might be called those things (a goth, a ghost) by people who didn't know them. But, in fact, they don't see themselves that way. So, it sort of fit with the whole theme of people judging by what they see on the outside without knowing what's really going on inside. :)

3. How do you choose your character names?

It kind of depends. Sometimes I name them. Sometimes they show up with a name! :) I knew Will's last name was Killian from the beginning and that people might call him by that sometimes. Figuring out his first name was a little harder. Sometimes names sound okay spoken aloud, but when you put them on the page, they don't look right.

Alona is named for the fabulous actress Alona Tal. Plus, it just sounded like who she was. She *sounds* like an Alona, to me.

I use baby name books and websites for inspiration, usually searching by meaning first.

4. Which character was more difficult for you to write, Will or Alona?

Alona, actually. Don't get me wrong--she's fun to write and there's nothing like hearing her nasty/funny comments come rolling through my head. :) But Will's experience in high school was more like mine. Not that I can see ghosts or anything, but I certainly wasn't Homecoming Queen, either!

5. The Ghost and the Goth has a motif of High school hierarchy. Was this based on a personal experience?

I was frequently the "new kid" in school and shy, so observing and trying to figure out how the system worked was the only way I knew how to survive. :) I did move to a new school in the middle of 8th grade and therefore started high school only knowing a few people. And there was definitely a hierarchy, though perhaps not one quite as strictly defined as the one at Will and Alona's high school. We did have a cafetorium, though! And where you sat said a lot about who you were--or who people thought you were.

6. Who/What is your greatest inspiration?

I just love the experience of meeting new characters. I never know who is going to show up or what they're going to be like, and they continually delight and surprise me. And that, I think, is the best inspiration and motivation for telling stories! :)

7. What is by far the greatest advice given to you?

Write a crappy first draft. It's from the book Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. If you focus too much on trying to make something perfect, it'll never get written and you'll drive yourself crazy. Better to write a crappy first draft and know that you can fix it.

8. Book you wish you wrote? Why?

Oh, boy. I admire many, many books and authors, and I love learning from them. But I think the joy of doing this is getting to see a story you tell yourself in your head come to life. So, I'm not sure the experience would be the same because many of the books I love and admire, I NEVER would have come up with myself! :)

9. Have you any ghostly encounter at all?

Not really, and what most people find strange is that I don't really want to! :) They say we write about things that scare and fascinate us, and I'd say that's true. I love thinking about ghosts, the afterlife, all of that. I would prefer, though, never to see a spirit personally. I'd probably faint!

10. What can we expect from the sequel, Queen of the Dead?

More trouble for Will and Alona, more bickering, more kissing...
Specifically, there is a new person in town who is likely going to cause some strife between them.

11. And, if it isn't too much, can I also ask if Alona can change clothes in the afterlife? I'm sure she hates being stuck in Gym clothes and seriously, this question has been intriguing me! :D

Ha, yes, she TOTALLY hates it. As far as I know, spirits of people who died violently and/or suddenly are generally stuck in the clothes they died in. However...well, I can't say more without spoiling, so I'm going to have to let that go for now! :)

Thank you, Dwayne, for having me here today!

You're very welcome Stacey! Thanks you for being such a star! I cannot wait for Queen of the Dead. I already miss Alona and Will's antics! :)

Visit Stacey's webpage at www.staceykade.com and don't forget to follow her on twitter @StaceyKade.

Haven't read The Ghost and the Goth yet? Lucky for you, I'm giving one away! Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win one brand spanking new copy of this ultra fabulous title!

Rules.

• Open to wherever Book Depository ships. 
• You do not have to be a follower to enter - but of course, extra entries to my lovely followers!
• Deadline for entries will be on 30th September, 12MN BST.
• Winners will be drawn by random.org
• Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to response. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will not be passed on to any third party.

P.S. The winners for my The Sequels Giveaway will be announced later tonight. Check back to see if you've won! G'luck! :)

Book Review: The Ghost and the Goth (Stacey Kade)

After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck here in spirit form with no sign of the big, bright light coming to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser/outcast type who hates the social elite. He alone can see and hear her, but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.

Can they get over their mutual distrust—and this weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?

I don't think I've ever smiled so broadly after reading a book than I did with Stacey Kade's The Ghost and the Goth. Vibrant and full of life, this book just downright loveable. Yep, you totally should get this, and devour it right away.

Alona Dare - three-time homecoming queen, varsity cheerleader co-captain, technically perfect - is such classic Queen Bee (warning: can be bitchy). I love her voice - undeniably feminine, saturated with unyielding confidence and with an admirable tenacity. What endears me most to Alona is not the fact that she has hidden issues or that she is afterall imperfect, but more because she's not infuriatingly arrogant. She may be ruthless, but this only stems from one trait: frankness. Unlike the conventional miss perfect, she's not being mean for the sake of it. It's simply just her defense mechanism, the one way she knows how to survive the big world with.

Similarly, Will Killian is a charming character with many faults and vulnerabilities. Although commonly labelled the school freak, hidden behind the drone of music and the colour black is really just a boy longing to live his life in peace. In the world's unlikeliest partnership (that's not even considering the fact that she's dead and he's not), Alona and Will will find answers, help and drive each other mad. And tell you what, I love every single bit of Alona-Will moments!

It's hard to find fault in either of these wonderful pair. It's one of those rare books with characters so magnetic you immediately connect with them - that's what it was like to me. They are charming by themselves alone and so hilariously uplifting together. Alona's and Will's narrative occur alternatively in this book, interwoven to ensure a continuous flow of all the positive vibes I could ever get in a book. But no, I'm not implying the book is everything fun and happy. It has depth and morals too. The plot spends time in highlighting the transition of Alona and Will's relationship with each other from aversion to acquaintance to friendship and beyond, and in doing so emphasises their acceptance of each other by seeing more than just the superficial. As they begin to trust each other, their smallest acts become significant and carry with them a major 'aww' factor. So very cute!

As the plot progresses, the focus shifts more towards seeking answers both Alona and Will are looking for and generally turns to its darker side. Sub plots also become more prominent in the second half of the book, as do the secondary characters. Unconnected links are finally drawn together and a very fresh, very inventive take on the afterlife is conjured in the Ghost and the Goth. It's slightly vague at parts, but there should be some more answers in the sequel, and there was nothing significantly amiss. Of course, Alona and Will learn to accept, if not understand each other too. In doing so, their respective characters really develop and mature. Together, these two seems to have an endless supply of surprises that had me giggling and grinning and being extremely happy!

The Ghost and the Goth is one of the most endearing books I have ever read. Uplifting, funny and loveable beyond compare, it's also one of my utter favourites! Loving the cover as much as I do is not harm either, right? What am I to do whilst waiting for Queen of the Dead?

I rate this Five Stars!