Belle Whittington

Attention, Lovelies!  I’ve got a contest going right now for Romanian and Croatian book bloggers! Enter to win an autographed paperback of “Cicada”! <3

Today I have Belle Whittington author of Cicada in the spotlight!

Welcome to the blog Belle, What inspired you to write CICADA? 

There’s not any one thing that inspired me to write Cicada. I find inspiration in everything around me, and there are a lot of cumulative memories of inspiration from over the years that all culminated 

Growing up in Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas, afforded me summers full of adventure with my friends. I call on those adventures and memories a great deal for my YA stories. Cicada has a lot of the energy of those childhood adventures spun throughout. One of them is something that actually happened to me when I was thirteen years old. I was on one of my adventures in the woods with my dog, Dusty. We made our way through the woods to a neighboring pasture and crawled through the barbed wire fence. When we got to the top of one of the rolling hills in the grassy field, I realized I was standing in the middle of a giant circle imprinted in the pasture grass. No one had ever told me about crop circles at that time in my life, so I just thought it was an odd occurrence that there was a strange circle in the tall grass. Now that circle is forever memorialized in a YA novel, Cicada! 

Indie publishing- Why do you think it’s becoming so popular? 

Traditional gatekeepers (agents, etc.) have long held the power of setting trends of what was published and when it was published, thereby deciding for the masses what would be in vogue in the writing world. The pendulum has swung toward the readers and book bloggers/reviewers, who are now the new gatekeepers. I think Indie Publishing is becoming so popular because authors finally have a venue to publish their works without having to conform to what the traditional gatekeepers want. Indie authors are now able to offer readers a wider variety within each genre, which is better for the reader. Also, there are so many viable options for indie publishing available now, allowing authors to create quality books for readers. That’s my two-cents-worth! 

CICADA has become a movie, who is playing your main character and why? 

Oh, I really do love this question, because I actually have in mind a list of actors who could easily step into the shoes of my characters. By no means did I pattern my characters after these actors though. However, I feel they would fit the parts very well! How about I go a step further and show you who I think could fill all their shoes? Drum roll………..

We have a winner! Congrats to Sherry G.! She won an e-copy of Cicada and an assortment of chocolate molded insects from The Chocolate Vault! <3

There’s still another chance to win an e-copy of Cicada over at Inspiring Indies Book Blog!

First of all, the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous. This is one of those books that I would touch in a bookstore (don’t judge, I touch books).

What a unique story idea, and not to mention, slightly creepy.  I really wondered how the title of the book came into play when I started this book, but it becomes fairly obvious while reading it.

It all started with the crop circle, and then it went on from there, getting more and more intriguing as the story went on.  I found myself getting anxious when they went to the “haunted woods” because I had no idea what was out there.

As much as Blair and her friends (well, most of them), completely trust what is happening with what they stumble upon, I myself found it hard to trust their judgment. I was POSITIVE that something horrific was going to happen and it kept me turning the page to find out if I was right.

Click here to read the rest and ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Post by Jenny

Hello my lovely followers. I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday.Today I would love to share with everyone a guest post written by author Belle Whittington. I was asked to read her new book, Cicada and while I do not have the time right now Belle and I decided she would write up a guest post for my readers. She would also like offer my readers ONE free e-book as a giveaway. Very cool! Cicada sounds like amazing book and I am sure the winner will love it.  I hope everyone will enjoy this post and learn more about the new young adult author,  Belle Whittington and her new book.

Go here to read the post and ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Post by Beckie

Cicada

by Belle Whittington 

Summertime had always been carefree and fun for Blair Reynolds and her friends—until they came upon something that was not human. As the group of friends band together in a fight for their lives, Blair’s true love becomes something more than human…something unnatural. And their existence relies on their ability to keep a secret.

To enter, all you have to do is head to Belle’s page (I will post the link in the comments section) and show your thanks for the giveaway, then come back here and comment on this post. The giveaway is open for 24 hours and the winners will be drawn using Random.org. Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

Cicada Holiday Companion Story

            Christmas in our small, inconsequential, southeast Texas town is usually a cold and rainy time of the year.  In retrospect, the snow and sleet that covered everything, including the haunted forest, in a blanket of white must have been a harbinger that everything was about to change.  However, at the time we thought it was a good omen.  At the time we thought that all the sadness of losing our father and brother would finally disappear and we could recall the memories of Christmases past without shedding tears or hiding the pain under a pillow at night when all the rest of the world had fallen asleep, dreaming of sugar-plums and Santa Clause.

Click here to read the rest and ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Don’t forget to show Donna’s lovely blog some love! <3

When I started Cicada I knew only 2 things: it was a sci-fi book, and a cicada is an insect. As I tore through the pages of this fluid and easy to digest novel, I fell in love with the simple Texas story of love and more. Yes it has science fiction elements, but it’s not only a book about impossibilities it is also a book about everything that is possible in life, even those things we never expect.

Cicada is a summer story, which made me yearn for long and lazy warm days. I found Belle Whittington to be an author who doesn’t just spell things out for the reader but makes you search for information in her writing, and I loved that. While a fun and easy read in the beginning Belle beefs up the story quite a bit by the end with twists in the story and just enough suspense to keep any reader on their toes. She also creates beautiful scenes in the readers mind of what is happening in the story. I could easily picture everything from the old ranch to the bakery that Blair’s mother owns.

It’s a book about so many things but when I think of Cicada the word that pops into my mind is change. Everything changes for this young group of characters in the short months leading up to college and for Blair, leading up to senior year. Some of these changes have been good and some not.

Click here to read the rest of the review and enter the giveaway…

When it came to Cicada by Belle Whittington I wasn’t quickly sold. I’ve been played and duped by gorgeous covers before, and Cicada, without a doubt, has a gorgeous cover. It wasn’t until I had the chance to dig into the synopsis that I realised how intrigued I was to discover what the title was about. You see, it doesn’t really dig deep into what the novel is about or what happens, it leaves the reader with an overwhelming sense of mystery that will have them clawing their eyes out in frustration. Was I curious? Oh, curiouser then a cat. Luckily, my wonderful blogger friend Bree from The Magic Attic contacted me in regards to participating in the Cicada blog tour she was organizing and I happily leapt at the opportunity to finally quench my thirst for this mysterious novel with the wickedly anticipating premise.

Unsuspecting And Out Of This World

Thank you to everyone who has entered! I have selected a winner: Congratulations to Katie of Book Bowl   Be on the lookout for Belle’s email
Here’s what Katie has won: Cicada Belle Whittington Released July 14th, 2011
Goodreads / Purchase

Summertime had always been carefree and fun for Blair Reynolds and her friends—until they came upon something that was not human. As the group of friends band together in a fight for their lives, Blair’s true love becomes something more than human…something unnatural. And their existence relies on their ability to keep a secret.

          

Want to know what I thought of Cicada? If you didn’t win, make sure to head on over to the purchase link to get your very own copy. Only 2.99$ for the Kindle. Click here for my review.

Post by Giselle

Happy Sunday!! I have a fantastic interview to share with you today :o) Belle Whittington, author of the new YA paranormal novel Cicada, is visiting the blog! She’s also offering up an ebook giveaway, so enter the giveaway after you have a blast reading this interview! Also, be sure to check out her novel, Cicada. Here’s the blurb and cover:

Belle Whittington - Cicada

• Pub. Date: July 2011
• Publisher: Belle Whittington
• Format: eBook 63758 words (approximate)
• Age Range: Young Adult

For 17-year-old Blair Reynolds and her friends, being the bearer of secrets is getting really old. But it’s something she learns to deal with, because there’s no other option. If the people in her small town ever found out what she and her friends discovered in the woods and hid in the storage room, the whole town would be up in arms…literally. You see, folks here don’t believe in aliens from outer space. Besides, if they ever found out what two of those aliens did to one of their own, well, let’s just say what would follow would be all out war.

As the months unfold, their summer becomes consumed with secrets, puzzle pieces that don’t quite fit together, and a fight for their lives that leaves one of them at death’s door.

Go here to see the interview and enter the giveaway!!!

My friend Cindy at Princess Bookie is hosting this giveaway!
Summary: What’s a girl to do when meeting The One means she’s cursed to die a horrible death?
Life hasn’t been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she’s irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can’t stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma’s been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.
By Cara Lynn ShultzDonated by Lisa (Publicist)Paperback EditionOpen To United States and Canada Only

How about a HUGE Young Adult BLOW OUT Giveaway?!?!? Yep, we think it’s time for one, don’t you? I mean, were not really giving much away throughout October. Yeah, RIGHT! Lisa and I had a bunch of books donated and extras that could use a good home. There will be 3 winners, and TONS of amazing books in each of the prize packs. So, lets see just what you have a chance to win, shall we?Go here to enter the giveaway…

Okay so the author Belle Whittington offered up one e-book copy of her book Cicada for giveaway to one lucky winner. All you have to do is fill out the form that I have provided and you will be entered to win!


Summertime for Blair Reynolds and her friends had always been carefree and fun…until the summer they happened upon something that was not human. As they band together in a fight for their lives, Blair’s true love becomes something more than human. Something unnatural. And their entire survival depends upon their ability to keep a secret.

- International
- Being a Follower isn’t required but is very much appreciated
- Must be 13 or older
-Please DO NOT enter more then once
-Make sure you fill out the form below
-Ends October 16th 2011

Go here to visit Fable Fairy and Win a Copy of Cicada!

Post by Hayley

Erin won a copy of Cicada in a contest on Romancing the Book!

There’s still one more chance to win a copy on the same blog by leaving a comment here…