A Chat with Amy Christine Parker and GATED Giveaway

You may recognize Amy's name from my post last year thanking my YA critique partners (CPs). But more than likely you recognize Amy Christine Parker's name because her suspense YA debut GATED is due out from Penguin Random House next week and has been getting great reviews in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus. Yay, Amy! Amy and I met on WriteOnCon via a kind of "match up" where you read someone's synopsis on a forum, requested to see more, and then you switched work. If you liked each others writing and found the feedback was helpful BOOM you had yourself a connection. Amy was one of the first people I connected with and I am so, so very thankful for that.

JENN: So, what stuck out to me about Gated was the first line (Shoot to kill, okay) What?!? I was all over it as soon as I read it. And then I kept reading it and you sorted out concerns that we had discussed and perhaps you discussed with Krystalyn and Stefanie as well but what I admired (what I additionally admired) was that you were able to zero in on this stuff and get it done so fast! 

AMY: I remember when we met thinking that I loved the way you critiqued. You were just the queen of finding all my inconsistencies. I was beyond excited that I was able to snatch you up! And thanks for thinking that I’m compartmentalizing so well!

JENN: You compartmentalize your time not just as a writer but as a reviewer as well. As a full-time mom and writer and doing everything you do from participating in activities with your kids/their school and reading others work and trying to find time for yourself and your husband it can be so much. That balance is crucial.

AMY: Truth be told I think I spend most days juggling everything like mad and hoping I don’t drop too many balls. Balance isn’t really achieved so much as I make my writing a priority no matter what. I wanted to be a writer--specifically a published writer--so badly that I literally let go of every unnecessary chore/obligation/frivolous time wasting thing that I could. My house is rarely entirely clean. My kids eat takeout just about as often as they get a home cooked meal. The laundry piles up. The balance thing is an ongoing goal I hope to one day come close to achieving. But even if I never do, I’m happy because I’m doing something that I love every single day and my family is happy because I’m much better at being a mom and wife now that I’ve allowed myself to go after my dreams.

JENN: I also realized when reading Gated how specific and unique the story was. This was a story that wasn't being told and could actually happen which upped the creep factor exponentially and it's telling as well that Penguin Random House has so much faith in the story itself but also your writing. Perhaps as writers we kind of zero in on what scares us because there's an internal thrill to it that we can control. When I was a kid my mom had A LOT of Stephen King books. So I read that. And I got into R.L. Stine from there and read some Anne Rice as a teen. I was growing out of BSC and Sweet Valley High/University to reading The Stand. So my mom's taste definitely influenced my own for awhile as I was growing up and lead to me writing this horror story I wrote in high school called "Terror at Bowne." I even did a sequel.

AMY: Stephen King was huge for me growing up, especially his short stories. I was a fairly shy kid and spent tons of time hiding out in the library at school. Uncle Stevie’s books were the ones I pulled off the shelves to keep me company. The short stories were perfect because I could devour them in one library session. To this day, his short stories are what have stuck with me most out of all that I read as a kid and probably had the biggest influence on what I choose to write now. Although...there were also these creepy story records I used to listen to with my cousins when I was really little (yes, I am that old, I had vinyl records AND 8 track tapes). I forget almost everything about the stories on those records, but I will never forget the sounds and the tone of the people’s voices as they told the stories. It made my hair stand on end and afterwards I would have the worst time sleeping. After every “up all night” session I had I’d swear off listening to them, but then I could never actually make myself do that and before long I’d be listening to them all over again. Scary stories have always, always been my favorites which is funny I guess, because my mom is much more of a sci fi/fantasy reader who likes things to stay light. When I tell her my latest ideas, she’s always a little freaked out! She’s wondered out loud more than once where my fascination comes from. I think for me it isn’t so much a thrill I can control, but more of a way of explaining evil and how it works to my readers and maybe most often, to myself. I think on some level maybe I’m looking to understand it so I can see it coming in people or situations and avoid it...but really, on the surface I think it’s mainly that I find scaring and being scared to be a lot of fun!

Obviously you know that now I’m completely curious about your “Terror at Bowne” story. You’ll have to dig it out and send it to me!

THE GIVEAWAY

Amy is being super generous by offering up a GATED prize pack with her debut's release! See the pictures of the items below. Ohhh. Ahhh.

Now that we're done with the admiration here's how you can enter. Via the Rafflecopter below. This prize pack will only be sent to those who reside in the U.S., sorry. And you have 2 weeks to enter. So spread the word. Add GATED to your TBR pile and follow Amy while she preps for some touring and updates on her site and more of her work on Fiction Femme Fatale.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm a Giver...for World Book Night US (@wbnamerica)!

I had heard about World Book Night (WBN) after seeing literary agent Ayesha Pande's exclamation about it on her Twitter feed last year. So I delved into it further and found it to be an awesome cause! I made sure to be on the alert when it came time to apply and huzzah last week I found out I was accepted to be a WBN Giver on World Book Night (April 23rd) in the United States.

You get to choose three books from the list of titles available on WBN's site and are then given one of your choices. I chose two I read: Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and Jesmyn Ward's Salvage the Bones (two fave reads from 2012). I also chose a book I haven't read Bossypants by Tina Fey.

What I will be distributing on April 23rd is:

I'm particularly psyched about this because in my neighborhood I think the tale of Esch and her family will resonate with the urban community I live in and near in Queens.

There will be numerous other givers throughout New York City and the nation on April 23rd. And it doesn't stop in the US, it'll be happening in the UK and Ireland too. Givers may be in front of libraries, bookstores, on random streets, working with non-profit communities and so forth to encourage you to read! I've already seen tweets from people in NYC, editors, agents, writers, and readers alike excited to help spread the written word.

You can keep updated with World Book Night on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, tumblr, and YouTube.

My New Addiction: Red Jacket Orchards Juices (@redjacketny) & Giveaway!

Red Jacket Orchards apple juice is a staple at farmer's markets in New York City and at Whole Foods (their juices can also be found at fine outlets in Pennsylvania & Ohio). The familiar logo and font calls out to those who know the brand and others who may be interested. Apple juice/cider is one of those drinks that is healthy, tasty, and when warmed over the colder fall/winter months can leave you feeling calm and aching for a mug of steaming juice/cider while laying on your couch watching items from your Netflix queue. Red Jacket Orchards has a long history stemming from 1917, but it's true start as the orchard we know now began in 1980. It expanded in the early 90s where the first apple fruit juice combos were developed and has continued to do so expanding in New York and having a warehouse in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

So what differentiates Red Jacket Orchards juices from others? First off, they're all natural. I know, I know. What isn't 'all natural' or 'organic' these days? Well this really and truly is. It's not "natural" (with items from concentrate). It's not proclaiming to be 100% juice (with additives). It's natural juice in the form that we should have and continue to experience it. Each of Red Jacket Orchards juices I've tried has ingredients I know. Their juices are not loaded down with additional items and flavors to capture what you think you should be tasting when it comes to fruit.

I had the opportunity to try several juices from Red Jacket Orchards and was really happy with the flavor combinations that they are offering. I even shared some with my co-workers, making the slump of 3pm "juice hour!"

The Juices!

Blackcurrant Apple Juice: Blackcurrant may be more known to the eastern European palate. I was first introduced to blackcurrant when I went to Dublin, Ireland for a study abroad years ago. Blackcurrant tends to be bitter, reminding one of a cherry to an extent but different. I did not taste the bitterness of blackcurrant but the apple comes through all the way. This juice isn't overly sweet but crisp and satisfying. I'd recommend this for people who want a bit of diversion from their apple juice, yet still that hint of flavor.

Tart Cherry Stomp: A tad tart but not too much so. As my co-worker John said, "the slight apple taste dovetails into cherry." He's good. There's a hint of apple as it hits your lips that goes full blast cherry tartness that won't make your lips pucker. A nice treat for fans of cherry and my co-workers are. In this one the cherry is very evident, more so than in the black currant. This was the fave amongst my co-workers. They LOVED the tartness the cherry brought to the table. Loved it!

Fuji Apple Juice: This one is solid apple juice. It is sweeter than the combo juices tasted thus far (cherry & blackcurrant). The ingredients list reads: apple, fuji apple, and vitamin C. So there's a mixture of apples in this juice and fuji, being on the sweeter side in general, ups the ante! The color looks more like concentrate ones or a bit orangey so you may think of an orange/apple hybrid but it is all apple and delicious. If you're a fan of apple juice having an additional bit of sweetness than this one is for you.

Strawberry Apple Juice: This tasted like a strawberry/apple juice hybrid. I repeat, it tastes like strawberry! Real strawberries, not the syrupy sweet fake 'flavor' of strawberries, but strawberries in the raw from the market! It's a tad sweet, especially compared to the tarter flavors but not overly so. This is my favorite of the bunch for the more natural strawberry taste that has apple right up on its tail when you take a sip. If you like strawberries this is the juice for you. Raspberry Apple Juice: Like many of the juice combos the raspberry hits your tastebuds initially. And similar to the strawberry apple this one has a real raspberry taste so it's light. The organic aspect of the strawberry and raspberry juices work well together in their lightness being a good combination for the apple juice and nothing overtaking the other in terms of flavor. A great coupling if you ask me. Refreshing. Grape Apple Juice: Solid taste that is all grape, very little apple. So in essence it's like a lighter grape juice. I would choose this over any of the ridiculously saccharine grape juices on the market (especially from concentrate, which it seems most are). Nice and light and doesn't leave my mouth feeling sickly sweet and no after taste like with other brands I recall drinking from my youth. I'd recommend this to you grape lovers out here.

In summary, Red Jacket Orchards is the real deal, my friends. The Pittsburgh-Post Gazette calls them a "fresh find," I call it them New York gem.

The Giveaway!

For the next two weeks you can enter for a nice giveaway of your own six-pack (12 oz/each) of juices! You can mix and match or just have one juice. I'll send them to you via the Red Jacket Orchards' site. (Limited to US residents only)

You can enter by leaving a comment and submitting to the Rafflecopter below. You can gain extra entries by following/liking Red Jacket Orchards on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest (please note this in comments).

The contest runs for two weeks exactly. So last day to enter is 11:59pm on March 7th and I'll announce the winner on Monday, March 11th. Should I not hear from the winner once I contact him/her within 24 hours I'll have Rafflecopter choose another entrant.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Trust me, these juices are delicious! And the 12 ounce bottles are good for travel and especially to pack with kids' lunches. So take advantage and also look for Red Jacket Orchards brand in your nearby store or request that they purchase them!

Thanks a ton to Danielle Raymo with Red Jacket Orchards for allowing me to sample their juices.

DUB Pies for #SandyRelief

In light of the recent events of Superstorm Sandy affecting many in the tri-state area, especially New York City and New Jersey, the giveaway I had intended is now to feed those in need post-Sandy.

I want to sincerely thank Gareth of DUB (Down Under Bakery) Pies for being generous in providing 16 pies to people who've been affected by Sandy and may not have had a hot meal in a week or so amidst many losses.

Gareth informed me that DUB has their own storefront in Brooklyn called The Pie Shop where visitors can not only get pie but their daily caffeine fix. I'm glad to hear this homegrown business was one that was not hit hard by Sandy last week. I'm always happy to hear about eateries that start off small whether online or mainly in markets and then grow because of steady patronship and good product. DUB Pies is one of those such success stories.

DUB Pies has been named the Meatiest Meat Pie by The Village Voice and has been noted in New York Magazine and Time Out New York. 

I will be delivering frozen or warm pies from DUB's menu. I'm reaching out to Occupy Sandy to aid in providing warm and delicious pies to those in need. If you have any further information or know of others who may be in need of items don't hesitate to let me know via email and also check Occupy Sandy, Food Bank of NYC, and Red Cross on ways to help Sandy Relief efforts.

A little about DUB Pies...

What makes DUB Pies different from other savory items you may have eaten? First off, it's pretty much all savory (except for offering the American staple apple pie). Second, these are some hearty pies stuffed to the gills with meat and/or veggies in non-traditional crust that is both buttery (made with shortening/lard) yet thick and not so much flaky to cater to the fullness you'll feel after eating it. What makes NYC a food mecca is that you can get so many variations on ethnic cuisine and DUB is no different. Gareth is a native of New Zealand and brought his native culinary skills and ingredients to NYC to broaden our pallets in terms of the meaty/savory pie realm.

Winner of the "Cake Pops" Cookbook Giveaway!

And the winner of Cake Pops by Bakerella is:a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats Noreen! I'll be emailing you in a bit to get your address so I can send this awesome book along. Please send pics when you start using it! Such cute pops.

Thanks to all who entered and happy fall and baking!