Winners Announced + Roxy the Rabbit!

Roxy went to obedience class last night dressed as a bunny :-)Fairy Week Winners are!!!

GRAND PRIZE Winner ANGELA
(aka Library Girl Reads)

Signed ARC FAIRY LUST by Cyn Balog
Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater
Kin (Good Neighbors) by Holly Black
Handmade Amethyst Faerie Wings (picture below)
Glamourkin pendant-"In the Court of Dark Shadows" (It is very very hard for me to give this one up, the only reason I even can is that I have one that has "She Comes Undone" on it.) Check the whole series out here.
Jasmine Becket-Griffith Strangeling print- "Lost but Not Worried"
Fairy wand with Skull detail
Halloween tricks and treats

Prize Pack #2 Winner EMILYHAINESWORTH (Lj):

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier
The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones
Black/Blue Faerie Wings (not shown/store bought)Glamourkin pendant-"She comes to the woods at the darkening hour" (not shown)Jasmine Becket-Griffith Strangeling print- "Camouflage" Fairy wand with Skull detail

Halloween tricks and treats

AND AND AND.... with a whopping 675+ entries into the Paranormal Powerball

duh duh duh

AMANDA (aka That Teen Can Blog)

BTW--loved her fairy entry: "I believe whenever my brother does something nice for me like buying me book, that it's the work of a faerie."

Personally I need a Spell Check and Grammar Faerie. I'd like a Green-light faerie. Or maybe one who could take the calories out of cupcakes. Speaking of too many calories--I ate too much Halloween candy, got a little buzzy off the sugar and then had the bright idea to put the bunny ears on her butt.

She's got a call into ASPCA.

Last Chance & Win UNDONE

http://brooketaylorbooks.blogspot.com/2008/10/monster-month-of-giveaways-faerie-week.html

Entry Deadline October 30th-midnight CST! All entries will be rolled into the super awesome and amazing Paranormal Powerball (see list below) to be drawn from the cauldron (seriously, I have one) on Oct. 31!


ALSO & maybe more importantly (ahem)!!

Rachel Vincent, an amazing urban fantasy author who is coming over to the dark side--I mean the YA side--is hosting a chance to win UNDONE + a $15 online gift card for Barnes & Noble!!

To enter, leave a comment on her post (HERE) by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, November 4 .

Paranormal Powerball:

ARC of EVERMORE by Alyson Noel
LILY DALE: AWAKENING by Wendy Corsi Staub
Sleepless by Terri Clark
Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra
Unleashed by Kristopher Reisz
The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1) - Kelley Armstrong
Old Magic by Marianne Curley
Girl Goddess #9 by Francesca Lia Block
Red Handed (Teen Alien Huntress) by Gena Showalter
and
Stake That! (The Blood Coven) by Mari Mancusi
(all in a "Wish Me Monsters" tote bag)

BRRRRAINS! + chance to win Undone

First off--I had soo much fun reading all of your comments--there were many many potential zombies with Bill Gates on the taste buds. And a few who would go after boyfriend stealers and the like. Clearly becoming a zombie is not for the squeamish, so I do hope that those of you who had trouble with the idea are never put in this situation. Personally, I don't even like cauliflower, so it would be hard for me as well. That said, the brain I'd most want to eat would be the jerk who abused my mustang Mari. Although, one could argue that he probably doesn't have much of a brain. Strictly for flavor, I think I'd go for Goldie Hawn's because I bet hers tastes like cotton candy. (And I love her for it!!)

WINNERS OF ZOMBIE WEEK ARE...

Prize Pack 1:
ARC! You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay
Zombie Blondes by Brian James

!!KissOfParadise!!

Prize Pack #2:
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Zombies Calling by Faith Erin Hicks

!!JustBlindedBook Reviews!!

If you didn't win, don't worry--all entries will be dropped into the Paranormal Power Ball cauldron, a winner will be hand drawn from said cauldron on Halloween! There is also the Faerie Week contest that just started yesterday--scroll down as I am too lazy to get the linkie-doo.

ALSO--Please watch Kelly Parra's Secret Fates blog (http://secretfates.blogspot.com/) for a chance to win UNDONE -- I believe it will go up tomorrow (Saturday). Good Luck!!

Monster Month of Giveaways--Faerie Week!

***EDIT: The deadline for the Faerie Week contest is OCT 30th, sorry for the earlier mistake! Darn those mischievous Faeries!!

***ZOMBIE week ends in a few short hours--deadline Oct 23 midnight***

!!!!WIN!!!!WIN!!!WIN!!!WIN!!!WIN!!!WIN!!!

I can't believe we're finally to Faerie Week! Seems like I've been wanting to post this contest week forever!! And you know what else will be like forever? Having to wait for Fairy Lust to come out--because it won't until like the end of June. Is that not the most cruelest thing you've ever heard?!?! I know!

Which is why, Auntie Brookie is going to be your super.cool fairy blogmother! (the dot was a typo, but I kind of like it(dot)love it. Huh?Huh? A new catch(dot)phrase maybe? No? You want me to stop right now? Fine.)

So, anyhoo--These ARCs are so brand spanking new the wings on the cover are still wet and Cyn Balog only has a few, but since she's also super.cool she's giving a signed one to our Grand Prize Winner! Squee!!!!

So how do you win, you ask--very simple--you leave a comment in which you answer one or both of the following questions (Deadline to enter Oct. 30, midnight CST):

1. In the spirit of How to Ditch Your Fairy (featured in Prize Pack #2!!!)--If you could have a personal fairy, what would their special powers be? (For instance in Justine's book the MC has a Parking Fairy who makes sure she gets the very best parking spots)

2. Tell me about something that has happened that you believe to be the work (or mischief) of faeries.

All entries will automatically roll over into the Paranormal Power Ball cauldron--for more info on the Power Ball prize or how to earn lots of extra entries go here and here!

Fairy Week Prize Packs:

GRAND PRIZE:
Signed ARC FAIRY LUST by Cyn Balog
Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater
Kin (Good Neighbors) by Holly Black
Handmade Amethyst Faerie Wings (picture below)
Glamourkin pendant-"In the Court of Dark Shadows" (It is very very hard for me to give this one up, the only reason I even can is that I have one that has "She Comes Undone" on it.) Check the whole series out here.
Jasmine Becket-Griffith Strangeling print- "Lost but Not Worried"
Fairy wand with Skull detail
Halloween tricks and treats

Prize Pack #2:
How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier
The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones
Black/Blue Faerie Wings (not shown/store bought)
Glamourkin pendant-"She comes to the woods at the darkening hour" (not shown)
Jasmine Becket-Griffith Strangeling print- "Camouflage"
Fairy wand with Skull detail
Halloween tricks and treats

FAIRY LUST by Cyn Balog:

Morgan Sparks and Cam Browne are a match made in heaven. They've been best friends since birth, they tell each other everything, and oh yeah- they're totally hot for each other.

But a week before their joint Sweet Sixteen bash, everything changes. Cam's awkward cousin Pip comes to stay, and Morgan is stunned when her formerly perfect boyfriend seems to be drifting away.

When Morgan demands answers, she's shocked to discover the source of Cam's distance isn't another girl- it's another world. Pip claims that Cam is a fairy. No, seriously. A fairy. And now his people want Cam to return to their world and take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Determined to keep Cam with her, Morgan plots to fool the fairies. But as Cam continues to change, she has to decide once and for all if he really is her destiny, and if their “perfect” love can weather an uncertain future.

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand - one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass - a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky - and equally dangerous - dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre.Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind. "Lament" is a dark faerie fantasy that features authentic Celtic faerie lore, plus cover art and interior illustrations by acclaimed faerie artist Julia Jeffrey.

***Maggie will be sending the winner a signed book plate as well!! YAY!

Kin (Good Neighbors) by Holly Black:

Rue Silver's mother has disappeared . . . and her father has been arrested, suspected of killing her. But it's not as straightforward as that. Because Rue is a faerie, like her mother was. And her father didn't kill her mother -- instead, he broke a promise to Rue's faerie king grandfather, which caused Rue's mother to be flung back to the faerie world. Now Rue must go to save her -- and must also defeat a dark faerie that threatens our very mortal world.

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier:

Welcome to New Avalon, where everyone has a personal fairy. Though invisible to the naked eye, a personal fairy, like a specialized good luck charm, is vital to success. And in the case of the students at New Avalon Sports High, it might just determine whether you make the team, pass a class, or find that perfect outfit. But for 14-year-old Charlie, having a Parking Fairy is worse than having nothing at all—especially when the school bully carts her around like his own personal parking pass. Enter: The Plan. At first, teaming up with arch-enemy Fiorenza (who has an All-The-Boys-Like-You Fairy) seems like a great idea. But when Charlie unexpectedly gets her heart’s desire, it isn’t at all what she thought it would be like, and she’ll have resort to extraordinary measures to ditch her fairy. The question is: will Charlie herself survive the fairy ditching experiment? From the author of the acclaimed Magic or Madness trilogy, this is a delightful story of fairies, friendships, and figuring out how to make your own magic.

The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones :

Swept away into a court of magic and beauty, she discovers she is Tania, the lost princess of Faerie. Since Tania's mysterious disappearance five hundred years before, Faerie has been sunk in darkness and gloom. With her return, Faerie comes alive again as a land of winged children, glittering balls, and fantastic delights. But Tania can't forget Anita's world, or the boy she loved there.

Torn between two loves and between two worlds, Tania slowly remembers why she disappeared, and realizes that she is the only one who can stop a sinister plan that threatens the entire world of Faerie.

These reminded me sooo much of the gorgy ones on Cyn's cover--if I'd kept them for myself I'd wear them when baking cupcakes or affix them to the top of my bookshelf. *sheds a tiny tear of jealousy for the winner*
Love these prints! This one reminds me of Kelly Parra's Graffiti Girl

The skull detail makes the wand, don't you think?

GOOD LUCK to all and THANK YOU for commenting and spreading the word!

Ghost Week Winners!

Ghost Week Winners Announced & Powerball Prize info!!!

***If you didn't win--have no fear, Paranormal Powerball is almost here!! All previous entires , including bonus chances, have gone into the cauldren for the Oct. 31st drawing!***

SO FAR the Powerball has the following books:

ARC of EVERMORE by Alyson Noel

LILY DALE: AWAKENING by Wendy Corsi Staub

Sleepless by Terri Clark
Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra
Unleashed by Kristopher Reisz
The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1) - Kelley Armstrong

Old Magic by Marianne Curley

Girl Goddess #9 by Francesca Lia Block

Red Handed (Teen Alien Huntress) by Gena Showalter

and

Stake That! (The Blood Coven) by Mari Mancusi

(all in a "Wish Me Monsters" tote bag)

Want to win? Want to increase your chances? When you enter the weekly contests, like this week's Zombie Book Giveaway or Faery Week which starts tomorrow!!--remember to post on each of my blogs: Brooke Taylor's Blog, Brooke Taylor Books MySpace, Brooke's Books Live Journal--that's 3 entries right there--and seriously my poor LJ and MySpace have been neglected by many of ya'll. Please show them some love too!

Want 5 more chances? Post about my Monster Month of Giveaways on your blog/website/whatever! Here's all the info:

http://brooketaylorbooks.blogspot.com/2008/09/monster-month-of-giveaways.html

BONUS!! Want 5 more chances? Sign up to "follow this blog" --and if you're already following it and have entered the contest you automatically get 6 entries and a BIG
THANK YOU!

Want to win my book UNDONE??? Be watching Rachel Vincent's blog in the next week or so--I'll post more when I have a linkie-doo and on Saturday Kelly Parra will be hosting a giveaway on her Secret Fates blog extravaganza (check it out now if you haven't already--she's giving away books every day!!!!)--and UNDONE is all about secrets and fate--so what a perfect match, eh?

OKAY--now for the winners of Ghost Week! Grand Prize: DIANA DANG!

After much deliberation Diana picked Prize Pack #2(Project 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz & Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley ) to go along with an ARC of Shadowed Summer

which means...

PRIZE PACK #1 (Must Love Black by Kelly McClymer & A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb) goes to JADED BEE!!

Whoo hoo! Congrats!! And Good Luck to those still in it to win it!

WIN!

WIN awesome Zombie Book prize packs! Here's the linkie-doo:

http://brooketaylorbooks.blogspot.com/2008/10/monster-month-of-giveaways-zombies.html

ALSO! I have exciting, no EXCITING news about the Paranormal Power Ball which will be drawn on the 31st! An awesome new ARC has been added to the pot. I'm very very jealous of the winner of this prize, in fact there was a time in my life I would have selfishly held on to such a lovely, shiny object--but this is a MONSTER MONTH of GIVEAWAYS--and I will not hold out on ya'll!

EVERMORE by Alyson Noel

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

HUGE THANK YOU!!! TO ALYSON!!!

Also added to the pot courtesy of my awesome publisher WALKER: LILY DALE: AWAKENING

Starting on Thursday it is Faerie Week--I have a few books on the for-sure list, but if you have requests, I'd love to hear them--so far I'm super super psyched to announce Cyn Balog has been so freaking awesome to donate a signed, fresh-off-the-presses ARC of FAIRY LUST!! Dude--it won't even be out until summer 09! Who can wait that long?!?!

ALSO--Afraclose, please contact me about your Vampire Week prize:-) Thanks!!

Monster Month of Giveaways--ZOMBIES!!!

***Last chance to enter Ghost Week Giveaway!***

!!!WIN!!!WIN!!!WIN!!WIN!!!WIN!!!

TO ENTER leave a comment with the answer to the following question:

If you became a Zombie tomorrow, whose brain would you most want to eat and why?

Deadline Oct 23 midnight CST. For extra chances to win click HERE for details!

***All entries will be automatically entered to win the Paranormal Powerball***

You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay

Fifteen-year-old Megan Berry is a Zombie Settler by birth, which means she’s part-time shrink to a bunch of dead people with a whole lot of issues.

All Megan wants is to be normal—and go to homecoming, of course. Unfortunately, it’s a little difficult when your dates keep getting interrupted by a bunch of slobbering Undead.

Things are about to get even more complicated for Megan. Someone in school is using black magic to turn average, angsty Undead into flesh-eating Zombies, and it’s looking like homecoming will turn out to be a very different kind of party—the bloody kind.

Megan must stop the Zombie apocalypse descending on Carol, Arkansas. Her life—and more importantly, homecoming—depends on it.

Prize Pack 1:

ARC! You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay

Zombie Blondes by Brian James

Prize Pack 2:

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Zombies Calling by Faith Erin Hicks

Both Prize Packs include:
Zombie Socks Zombie
Whack A Zombie desk set (what better way to de-stress than honing your zombie killing skills?)
What Would a Zombie Do (Don’t know whether you should plod, moan, drool, or hunt the living? Consult the spinner)
Graveyard Cookie Decorating set
Brain Ice/Jell-O mold
Zombie Finger Puppets donated by the awesome Carrie Ryan whose zombie book The Forest of Hands and Teeth will be coming out in March 2009
Zombie Survival Kit donated by Amanda Ashby whose zombie book Zombie Queen of Newbury High will be coming out in March 2009.
Brain Suckers & More Halloween candy-n-stuff

Love Brains Tote Bag

Zombie Blondes by Brian James

From the moment Hannah Sanders arrived in town, she felt there was something wrong.
A lot of houses were for sale, and the town seemed infected by an unearthly quiet. And then, on Hannah’s first day of classes, she ran into a group of cheerleaders—the most popular girls in school.
The odd thing was that they were nearly identical in appearance: blonde, beautiful, and deathly pale.But Hannah wants desperately to fit in—regardless of what her friend Lukas is telling her: if she doesn’t watch her back, she’s going to be blonde and popular and dead—just like all the other zombies in this town. . . .
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Phoebe is just your typical goth girl with a crush. He's strong and silent...and dead.

Zombies Calling by Faith Erin Hicks (graphic novel)

Joss's life sucks. She's in the middle of university exams, up to her neck in student loans, and when she's attacked by zombies, her roommates have the nerve to think she's making it up. But when the zombies turn out to be terrifyingly real, only Joss knows how to survive the undead invasion: by following the Rules of Zombie Movies.

Ghost Giveawy Extra Entry Opportunity!

Okay--one more ghost story, because I'm sooo loving everyone's ghostly entries in the Ghost Week Giveaway! (enter now--you could win a RARE ARC of SHADOWED SUMMER by Saundra Mitchell--among other super cool prizes--awesome, right?!?! Scroll down to enter!)

So one year for my birthday (Nov. 30) I wanted to take all of my friends up to our lake cabin for a sleepover weekend. We were probably 12 or 13 years old. It was pretty cold and rainy and at the time we were pretty obsessed with playing with the Ouija board and trying to find out which of the eighth grade boys were going to be our future husbands.

So naturally, as the sun fell and darkness rose up, we fished out the board and started asking questions. One of the ghosts was a little whack. He seemed to be asking us questions. Kind old dirty old man questions, specifically about one of my friends.

Now, I should mention that we all felt like one of the girls was moving the eye-thing. The Ouija board only seemed to work for her. *cough* wasn't me *cough* However, with this ghost it didn't seem to matter whose fingers were on it. It moved and it moved fast. It was starting to scare us, always asking about--we'll call her Suzy. And Suzy was not amused. We couldn't get him to go away.

I went up and and asked my mom what we should do. (How cute, right?) Mom suggested we put the Ouija board in the freezer. We all laughed, but gave it a try. About 30 minutes later we pull it out and asked if he was still there. He was! We asked if he was cold, LOL. He was! We asked him to leave. He asked us about Suzy. We put him back int he freezer. This last most of the evening. His responses got slower and slower, but he was always there.

I'm pretty sure that we sold with lake house with the Ouija board still in the freezer. I wonder what the new owners thought.

Does anyone else have spooky Ouija board stories--share one for an extra entry in the giveaway?

Still Time!

Share a ghost story/spooky moment to win awesome prize packs with books like Ghostgirl, A Certain Slant of Light, Project 17, Must Love Black! Grand Prize includes an ARC of Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell!!!

http://brooketaylorbooks.blogspot.com/2008/10/monster-month-of-giveaways-ghost-week.html

Boo-Yeah!

Vampire Week Winners & My Ghost Stories

First off--sooooooo loving all the wonderful ghost stories everyone is sharing for the Ghost Week Giveaway! OMG--the one about the clown that turns around totally freaked me out--clown creepy me out. I think there was a string of prime time scary clown movies when I was a kid or something.

Anyway, I've got a handful of stories to share as well, so I'll spread them out all week long... but my first one is an actual ghost sighting.

The Tooth Fairy: I was probably 7 yrs old and had just lost a tooth. In those days, I had a hard time sleeping in my own room alone and one of the tactics my parents used to keep me out of their room was to tell me that the tooth fairy wouldn't visit me if I wasn't in my own bed.

Okay--so I put my tooth under my pillow and go to sleep, but something wakes me up and I decide that the money isn't worth it and grab up my pillow to go sleep with Mom. Well, under my pillow is the tooth and the money--and in my doorway is a lady--white dress, see through body--the typical package. I follow her down the hall. You see, I'm not scared so much of ghosts as real life burglers and madmen and such. So anyway, I was toddling after the ghost and she goes into my parents room and disappears into the wall beside/behind an armoire-thing they had.

I never saw her again, but once I had this horrible nightmare while napping in my parents bed. I was engulfed in flames and it was very real, I woke up covered in sweat.

House of Night Winners!!!

HOK Prize Pack #1: Afraclose

HOK Prize Pack #2: Book Spot

YAY!!! Congrats and please email me with mailing addy at:

Brooke (at) BrookeTaylorBooks (dot) com

If you didn't win, hang in there--your entries will automatically be put into the giant black cauldren and you could win the Paranormal Powerball on October 31st!

Monster Month of Giveaways--Ghost Week!

***Don't forget to enter the Vampyre Week giveaway***

!!!!!WIN!!!WIN!!!WIN!!!WIN!!!WIN!!!!!
SUPER GRAND PRIZE PACK:

Advanced Reader Copy of Saundra Mitchell's February 2009 debut novel + your choice of Grand Prize Pack 1 or 2 (described below).

To ENTER: Leave a comment telling about a haunted place in your town, a ghost you've seen, so something that scared the beejeezzies out of you (books count of course!!).
Deadline Oct 16 midnight CST

For extra chances to win click HERE for details!

***All entries will be automatically entered to win the Paranormal Powerball***

ARC!ARC!ARC!
Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Iris is ready for another hot, routine summer in her small Louisiana town, hanging around the Red Stripe grocery with her best friend, Collette, and traipsing through the cemetery telling each other spooky stories and pretending to cast spells. Except this summer, Iris doesn’t have to make up a story. This summer, one falls right in her lap.

Years ago, before Iris was born, a local boy named Elijah Landry disappeared. All that remained of him were whispers and hushed gossip in the church pews. Until this summer. A ghost begins to haunt Iris, and she’s certain it’s the ghost of Elijah. What really happened to him? And why, of all people, has he chosen Iris to come back to?

Ghost Week Grand Prize #1:

Must Love Black by Kelly McClymer

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

String of Ghost Lights

Ty Ghost Bear "Sheetsies"

Fuze Magic "Haunted" Quartz Necklace

Ghost key chain & more fun ghostly goodies

Halloween Tattoos and Candy

Ghost Marshmallow Peeps

Lighted ghost bobble headband

Haunted Magic 8 Ball

Ghost Week Grand Prize #2:

Project 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley

String of Ghost Lights
Ty Ghost Bear "Sheetsies"
Fuze Magic "Haunted" Quartz Necklace
Ghost key chain & more fun ghostly goodies
Halloween Tattoos and Candy
Ghost Marshmallow Peeps
Lighted ghost bobble headband
Haunted Magic 8 Ball

Must Love Black by Kelly McClymer

NANNY FOR 10-YR-OLD TWINS. MAINE COAST. OWN ROOM & GENEROUS SALARY. MUST LOVE BLACK. "Must love black?" Sounds like a coffee-loving, seclusion-seeking goth girl's dream job. Philippa isn't fazed by the fog-enshrouded mansion on a cliff, the weirdest twins on the planet, or even the rumors about ghosts, "cause when she meets the estate's hot gardener, Philippa's pretty sure she's found her dream boy, too. Too bad Geoff's already taken by a girl whose wardrobe is head-to-toe pink. Still, Philippa can't get Geoff out of her head. What will it take to lure him to the dark side?

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

Someone was looking at me, a disturbing sensation if you’re dead. Though I could not feel paper between my fingers, smell ink, or taste the tip of a pencil, I could see and hear the world with all the clarity of the Living. They, on the other hand, did not see me as a shadow or a floating vapor. To the Quick, I was empty air.

Or so I thought.

In the class of the high school English teacher she has been haunting, Helen feels them: For the first time in 130 years, human eyes are looking at her. They belong to a boy, a boy who has not seemed remarkable until now. And Helen–terrified, but intrigued–is drawn to him. The fact that he is in a body and she is not presents this unlikely couple with their first challenge. But as the lovers struggle to find a way to be together, they begin to discover the secrets of their former lives and of the young people they come to possess.

Project 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz

High atop Hathorne Hill, near Boston, sits Danvers State Hospital. Built in 1878 and closed in 1992, this abandoned mental institution is rumored to be the birthplace of the lobotomy. Locals have long believed the place to be haunted. They tell stories about the unmarked graves in the back, of the cold spots felt throughout the underground tunnels, and of the treasures found inside: patients' personal items like journals, hair combs, and bars of soap, or even their old medical records, left behind by the state for trespassers to view.

On the eve of the hospital's demolition, six teens break in to spend the night and film a movie about their adventures. For Derik, it's an opportunity to win a filmmaking contest and save himself from a future of flipping burgers at his parents' diner. For the others, it's a chance to be on TV, or a night with no parents. But what starts as a playful dare quickly escalates into a frenzy of nightmarish action. Behind the crumbling walls, down every dark passageway, and in each deserted room, they will unravel the mysteries of those who once lived there and the spirits who still might.

Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

And if I should die before I awake,

I pray the popular attend my wake.

Charlotte Usher feels practically invisible at school, and then one day she really is invisible. Even worse: she's dead. And all because she choked on a gummy bear. But being dead doesn't stop Charlotte from wanting to be popular; it just makes her more creative about achieving her goal.

If you thought high school was a matter of life or death, wait till you see just how true that is.In this satirical, yet heartfelt novel, Hurley explores the invisibility we all feel at some times and the lengths we'll go to be seen.

Next Week: ZOMBIES!!!!! OMG!! YAY!

***Sneak Peek at Paranormal Powerball books***

Sleepless by Terri Clark

Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra

Unleashed by Kristopher Reisz

The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1) - Kelley Armstrong

+ more!!

The Roxy Report

I ate too many candy corn pumpkins and got really sick. You'd think that I'd have more self-control by now, but not when it comes to candy corn pumpkins. Of course, now I can't even look at one. So be safe out there this holiday season. Candy corn in moderation only!

Roxy as a wee-spry little thing

(now she is probably about 70 lbs. When standing on her back legs she is about 4 1/2 feet tall!).

So it sucks to be sick but having a crazy puppy makes staying in bed hard. Actually Miss Roxy Pup has been really good. I gave her this huge rawhide bone and protecting it has been a great time suck for her. On Sunday I took her to a new dog park clear across town. A friend of mine had gone on and on about this place, and for some reason when she talked about the big pond and the picnic tables, I got this image in my head of some gorgeous mecca. We pulled up and it was down this industrial street and you pull up right at the shelter kennels--so all the dogs start barking. And of course, it is heart breaking and distressing to have to pass them by. And then right as you go in, they have many of the shelter dog lose in another area and they go crazy barking. My poor puppy looked like fresh meat in a prison. She was scared to death, but followed me past them. We finally made out to the open area, and at first it was like--this is it? It was nothing. But then Roxy jumped in the pond and started swimming. And I don't know--she just had so much fun jumping in and out and swimming around and the other dogs were all so playful. It was great. Until she stole someone squeaker ball swam out to the middle of the pond and left it there. It was a good half hour before the wind carried to shore.

So Miss Roxy Puppy slept really good last night. :-)

Also on the weekend agenda was taking my two youngest horses to a new trainer. My last trainer was awful--not so much with the training but with their care and health. Such an idiot. I could tell the guy had never actually owned a horse--like with the intention of keeping it for the long haul. But when it comes right down to it, it doesn't matter how well trained a horse is if it is dead. IDIOT!!!

Anyway--I really like this new girl, and she really seems to get mustangs and their unique sensitivities--so fingers crossed that my wild girls will be trotting me down the trails very soon!

It's Friday...I'n in LOVE!!!

VAMPIRE BOYZ!!!

Okay, Brody's never played a vampire, but he's rumore to be one.

Monster Month of Giveaways--Vampyre Edition

!!!WIN!!WIN!!WIN!!WIN!!WIN!!WIN!!!

TWO Grand Prize House of Night prize packs are up for grabs! Leave a comment on this post before midnight (cst) Oct. 9, 2008 to enter. For extra chances click here!

All entries will be automatically entered in the October 31st Paranormal Powerball

(details will be forthcoming, but trust me--it will include tons of books!).

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire--that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

Prize Pack 1:

Marked (HOK #1) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Betrayed (HOK #2) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Dark Daughters Necklace (the bottom necklace w/ ballchain in the photo below)

Ty Beenie Vampire Bear

Harry Potter Blood Suckers

Black "Claw" Polish

Halloween Tattoos

Halloween Candy

Other Fun Halloween Stuff

ALL in a super cool tote bag that reads: "Never Kill a Boy on the the First Date".

Prize Pack 2:

Chosen (HOK #3) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Untamed (HOK #4) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Crescent Moon Necklace (the top necklace w/ black leather cord in the photo below)
Ty Beenie Vampire Bear
Harry Potter Blood Suckers
Black "Claw" Polish
Halloween Tattoos
Halloween Candy
Other Fun Halloween Stuff
ALL in a super cool tote bag that reads: "Never Kill a Boy on the the First Date"

For more info on the House of Night jewelry collection go here

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She’s come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.
Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies. And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey’s mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn’t have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity. Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare position of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey’s horrid step-father in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely reflects the truth…

Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead and unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel. (Recommended for readers age 13 and older)

*** Next Week's Monster Giveaway theme will be Ghosts! And I'm super psyched to be including an ARC of Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

****WINNERS of the Banned Book Giveaway are Lauren (Shooting Stars Mag) & Paradox! Please contact me with the banned YA book of your choice at brooke@brooketaylorbooks.com. Thanks & Congrats!!