Spring 2015 Scavenger Hunt!

Welcome to the YA Scavenger Hunt! 

Hi y'all! I'm Lynne Matson, your hostess for this leg of the Hunt. Welcome to the home of the #NILtribe! *passes coconut cup* 

I'm super stoked to be a part of this hunt! This cool annual event was organized by the awesome Colleen Houck to give readers exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some amazing prizes! In this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt--a secret number. Add up the numbers and enter to win the sweet prize--a signed book from each author on my team! Woot! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours only! 72 hours of awesome! Hunt ends April 5 at noon PST!

You can start right here or go to the YA Scavenger Hunt home page.

You're currently hunting on TEAM ORANGE!!!!

How cool are these dudes? SO COOL.

ORANGE ROCKS.:)

Looking for my sekrit NIL UNLOCKED bonus content? YAY! Keep looking . . . somewhere on this awesome blog hop, I've hidden some seriously cool bonus content to get you stoked for NIL UNLOCKED: a special scene from Rives' perspective. It's Thad's last moments on NIL...through Rives's eyes. (Warning: if you haven't read NIL, my bonus scene is spoilery. Just an FYI!)

But first--a few rules.

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number in ORANGE. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the orange team and add them up (feel free to use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.


Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by April 5, 2014 at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information won't be considered.:(

OFFICIAL SCAVENGER HUNT POST

Phew! Now that all the technical stuff is out of the way, on to the post! I'm super stoked about the author I'm hosting today. She's the lovely & talented . . .

TERA LYNN CHILDS!

Tera Lynn Childs is the RITA-award-winning young adult author of the mythology-based Oh. My. Gods. series, the Forgive My Fins mermaid romance series, the kick-butt monster-hunting Sweet Venom trilogy, and the Darkly Fae series. She also writes the City Chicks sweet chick lit romance series and is co-writing the Hero Agenda series with Tracy Deebs. Tera lives nowhere in particular and spends her time writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages.

(Lynne here--yes to monster hunting. Yes to any series with the word HERO in the title. Yes to caffeine. WIN. Hunt on.:D)

Tera Lynne has been a part of #YASH before, but the book she's promoting this Spring is THE HERO AGENDA: POWERLESS.

never underestimate a girl on a mission

Kenna is tired of being “normal.”

The only thing special about her is that she isn’t special at all. Which is frustrating when you’re constantly surrounded by superheroes. Her best friend, her ex-boyfriend, practically everyone she knows has some talent or power. Sure, Kenna’s smart and independent, but as an ordinary girl in an extraordinary world, it’s hard not to feel inferior.

So when three villains break into the lab where she interns, Kenna refuses to be a victim. She’s not about to let criminals steal the research that will make her extraordinary too.

But in the heat of battle, secrets are spilled and one of the villains saves her life. Twice. Suddenly, everything Kenna thought she knew about good and evil, heroes and villains is upended. And to protect her life and those she loves, she must team up with her sworn enemies on a mission that will redefine what it means to be powerful and powerless…

Sounds amazing, right? AND JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THE BONUS MATERIAL.:) Read on . . .

--Special Bonus Material from Tera Lynn Childs--

For YASHer eyes only!

Get early access to heroagenda.com, the online headquarters for the Hero Agenda series. Check out the fun bonus goodies and read the very first public excerpt from Powerless. Then be sure to bookmark the site because the heroagenda.com is only going to keep growing with even more extras, graphics, behind-the-scenes, insider info, fan art and fan fiction to come. To access the site early, go to heroagenda.com and enter the password "kenna" (no quotes, all lowercase).

Ahhhh... I <3 bonus material!!! Thanks Tera Lynn! If you're intrigued, you can learn more about Tera Lynn and THE HERO AGENDA: POWERLESS on her website. Or . . . you can find her here:

 E-mail at tlc@teralynnchilds.com.

 Follow Tera Lynn on Twitter.

 Send her a message on Facebook.

 Ask her a question on Tumblr.

 Or GoodReads.

 Follow her on Instagram.

 Subscribe to her YouTube.

CONTINUE THE HUNT

And don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win heaps of signed books from all the #YASH authors, including a hardback of NIL UNLOCKED!!! To enter, you need to know that 10 may be the best number EVER. I'm not kidding. My birthday is on November 10 and I can eat 10 Thin Mints in less time than it takes to enter the giveaway below (this last one may or may may not be true.;D) Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the orange team and you'll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

To keep going on your quest for world domination the hunt, you need to check out the next #TEAMORANGE authors, Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki!!!!

BUT BEFORE YOU GO...

To say thanks for stopping by my blog, as a bonus #YASH giveaway, I'm giving away a signed hardback of NIL! Enter below, and happy hunting! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Hunting!
xo
Lynne

#YASH Is Coming!!!!!!

Y'all!

I'm so excited to announce that I'm part of this spring's YA Scavenger Hunt! Go TEAM ORANGE!!!! The full author announcement listing ALL the participaring authors is on the #YASH website and you definitely should go check it out. Plus, that's your main link for all the #YASH info.:)

Here’s a quick and dirty on the AWESOMENESS THAT IS THE #YASH:

Eight teams.

Tons of prizes.

Heaps of sekrit book scoop.

Amazing, right? IT TOTALLY IS.

The Scavenger Hunt runs from April 2nd through April 5th beginning and ending at noon Pacific time on those days. 

If you’ve never been a part of the hunt before you should give it a try! It runs like a giant blog hop, introducing you to new YA authors and books along the way. There are tons of prizes including a grand prize for each team. If you win one of the grand prizes you will get a book from each author on that team! For more information and to make sure you get hunt updates, sign up for news on the #YASH website. 

Not only will I be hiding an exclusive never-before-revealed sneak peek of NIL UNLOCKED, but I will also be giving away a signed ARC of NIL UNLOCKED on my website!!!! 

Don’t miss this fabulous and fun event! AND PLAY FAST-- the hunt is only live for three days.

Okay, ready to meet #TEAMORANGE? BECAUSE CLEARLY TEAM ORANGE IS THE BEST.;D

Click and it gets less blurry. Promise.:)
GO TEAM ORANGE!!!!!!

I WANT ALL THOSE BOOKS, DON'T YOU?!:)

GET READY!

THE HUNT BEGINS ON 4/2/215!!!!!

Tribal Tuesday! A Chat with Rives!

Hey y'all--

Just a quick note to say pop over to the  NIL UNLOCKED website  and find out how Rives is doing at the end of Nil . . . and the start of NIL UNLOCKED.

Does he miss Thad? 

What's his new obsession?

What's the strangest part of Nil for Rives? 

And will he ever risk his heart again?

Check out today's NIL UNLOCKED feature post! And if you missed it, don't forget to discover the Top 10 Places You Don't Want to Wake Up Naked On Nil!:)

xo
Lynne

Cover reveal: SWEET MADNESS by Lindsay N. Currie & Trisha Leaver

I'm SOOOOOO excited to be a part of today's cover reveal for SWEET MADNESS, the latest YA release from epic writing duo Lindsay Currie & Trisha Leaver. SWEET MADNESS releases on Sept. 18, 2015, BUT THE COVER IS OUT TODAY. *throws confetti*:)

As y'all may remember, I helped unveil the cool cover for their debut, CREED, here too. Sweet friends, amazing storytellers.

If y'all enjoyed CREED, just wait for SWEET MADNESS. Confession: I haven't read SWEET MADNESS, but the early buzz is FABULOUS. And I've read CREED plus individual books by both Lindsay and Trisha, and I can honestly say that the two writers are both incredibly talented. Both can weave a story that you won't want to put down . . . and will keep you up at night.:)

Without further ado... I give you THE REVEAL.

SWEET MADNESS

September 18, 2015

from Merit Press

Lizzie Borden took an axe

And gave her mother forty whacks.

When she saw what she had done,

She gave her father forty one.

Who was Lizzie Borden?

A confused young woman, or a cold-hearted killer?

For generations, people all over the world have wondered how Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, met their gruesome deaths. Lizzie, Andrew’s younger daughter, was charged, but a jury took only 90 minutes to find her not guilty. In this retelling, the family maid, Bridget Sullivan, shines a compassionate light on a young woman oppressed by her cheap father and her ambitious stepmother.

Was Lizzie mad, or was she driven to madness?

Pre-order on Amazon

Pre-order on Barnes & Noble

About the Authors

Trisha Leaver lives on Cape Cod with her husband, three children, and one rather irreverent black lab.  She is a chronic daydreamer who prefers the cozy confines of her own imagination to the mundane routine of everyday life.  She writes Young Adult Contemporary fiction, Psychological Horror and Science Fiction and is published with FSG/ Macmillan, Flux/Llewellyn and Merit Press. To can learn more about Trisha’s books, upcoming shenanigans, and her quest to reel in the perfect tuna, visit her website www.trishaleaver.com

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Lindsay Currie lives in Chicago with her three awesome children, husband, and a one hundred and sixty pound lap dog named Sam. She has an unnatural fondness for coffee, chocolate and things that go bump in the night. She spends her days curled up in the comfortable confines of her writing nook, penning young adult psychological horror, contemporary fiction and science-fiction and is published with Flux/Llewellyn, Merit Press and Spencer Hill Contemporary. Learn more about her at www.lindsaycurrie.com

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Giveaway

Behind the Scenes Nil Scoop

Happy Tribal Tuesday!

On today's NIL UNLOCKED website, I'm talking about The Top Ten Places You Don't Want to Wake Up On Nil.

Um, that's pretty much everywhere, right?:)

As you'll see from that post, there are lots of pictures, all taken in Hawaii when I went on a trip with him. Hawaii is where the inspiration for NIL and the Nil world struck. You can read all about where I got the idea for Nil in my guest post on John Scalzi's The Big Idea last year.

But I also did a fun post for Jenna's Does Books last year, for her Bookapalooza. I thought I'd share it here too, because it explains the story behind first scrub brush picture in today's Top Ten Places You Don't Want to Wake Up On Nil post.

Here you go!:)

--posted originally on Jenna Does Books book blog--

Today I thought I’d give some behind-the-scene scoop about NIL. A slightly embarrassing and funny and totally true impromptu adventure that crept into Charley’s story.

I’ve talked before about how NIL was born on the island of Hawaii.  The big island, specifically. My husband had won a trip with his company, and as we flew in, we could see the full breadth of the island from the air. It was gorgeous: lush and green in parts, on fire in others, barren in stretches, all with a coastline dotted with cliffs and sandy beaches.  And I’ve talked before about leaving the airport after landing, and driving through miles of ancient lava fields and being awed by the broken red rock stretching endlessly on each side. There were no roads, no buildings, no people–just the sound of wind blowing over the barren rocks. I remember thinking how scary it would be to wake up in that lava field by yourself, not having a clue where you were or how you how got there, and what if–because isn’t this every person’s worst nightmare?!–what if you woke up naked? NIL was born in that moment.  Every experience I had over the next week added fuel to my NIL fire . . . like what happened the next afternoon.

The next day started strong, with my husband surfing, me watching him and chilling out on the shore…and taking heaps of notes for the book (NIL) exploding in my head. After surfing, we tooled around the coastline in a rented Jeep. Being the total tourists that we were, we had a guidebook:

Best guidebook EVER. For real.

This book was AWESOME. Packed with glorious pictures and insider tidbits, we thought we had ALL THE ISLAND SEKRITS. (If only…:D lol)

As we drove north along the Queen K highway, I read a blurb about Kiholo Bay and as promised, the view from the highway was GORGEOUS. Black sand beaches, clear water. Unbelievably cool. And when I spotted mile marker 81, I screamed, “Stop!” Because according to the handy guidebook, there was a trail just south of mile marker 81. A trail that--and I quote--“from the highway to Kiholo Bay takes 15-20 minutes.” Supposedly when the trail turned into a gravel road, it would curve to the left and we’d pop out at the Bay.

Easy peasy, right?

Wrong.

My sweet husband pulled over, and we found what appeared to be the start of not one but TWO trail heads about ten feet apart. And by “trailhead” I mean an unmarked gap in the scrub brush. We stood there staring, wondering which was THE trail, when an elderly couple in Bermuda shorts and sun hats joined us.

“Which one is the trail?” the fellow asked curiously, as if we had a clue.

Waving my handy guidebook, I replied, “No idea.”

The women nodded. Smiling, she pulled her sunhat tight.

“Let’s go this way dear,” she said, pulling her husband’s gnarled hand. To this day I wonder what she saw that we didn’t.

They disappeared into the scrub brush to the left. Meanwhile, a twenty-something dude with a North Face t-shirt and sling pack appeared beside us.

“Hey.” He smiled, and without hesitation, headed into the brush on the right.

I looked at my husband (who happens to have a kick-butt sense of direction unlike me) and he nodded. “Right,” he said.

(In hindsight, very wrong.)

We went right.

An hour later, we were trekking through a back lava flow that was totally hot and unforgiving.

This rock. Gorgeous. AND HARD. And really, really hot.

Occasionally the rocks slipped, not often, but enough that we had to step carefully. Plus, there were small cracks and deep crevasses that hid in plain sight, black on black, and so not only did we have to watch our step, we often had to go wayyyyyyy around a crack, stretching out the short twenty-minute hike *laughs hysterically* into an hour in no time. Meanwhile, we were sweating like pigs and were SO THIRSTY because the few water bottles we had didn’t last long. Soon the twenty-minute hike had turned into a two-hour ordeal, with us alternatively laughing and groaning and wondering where-the-heck we went wrong. And did I mention that I was wearing Reef flips flops (my standard uniform) and a bathing suit and cover up?  Yup, totally NOT dressed for this impromptu hike.

Here’s proof:

See? Reef flip flops. WHAT??!

But eventually…as twilight fell, we made it to the Bay--and it was SO worth it.

This photo inspired Black Bay in NIL. :)

The sand was as black as coal, the water as clear as glass. And the funniest part? The elderly couple sat on the rocks, sharing a picnic and clearly hadn’t broken a sweat. By the looks of their food, they’d been there awhile.

“How long did it take ya’ll to get down here?” I asked.

The man rubbed his silver goatee. “About twenty minutes,” he said. “Give or take a few.”

As we groaned, he pointed to a gravel road. “There’s the trail end right there. Easy walk up,” he added.

“We took the long way,” I said.

“And he took longer,” the woman said, her eyes twinkling as she pointed.  Off in the distance north of us, there was the twenty-something North Face dude, still fighting his way through the black rocks and scrub, a good fifteen minutes behind us.

It turns out that the route we took sent us into into the Mauna Loa Flow of 1859. Totally unplanned, ridiculously out of the way, and yet it turned into one of the best experiences of the trip. Parts of our adventure shaped Charley’s Day One, and I’m SO glad we pulled over--and that we took a wrong turn. Sometimes the wrong turns are the best.:)

Proof of post-hike happiness:

"We made it! And the sweet couple gave us water! Yay! WE SURVIVED!" lol 

And just for fun, here's a picture of my husband surfing in Hawaii that day so you can see just how gorgeous the island is:

Big waves. Gorgeous water. Spiky red rock.
Yup. Looks like Nil.;)

SOOO gorgeous, right?:) Perfect inspiration for the world of NIL & NIL UNLOCKED!

So . . . are you ready to jump back into the world of Nil?!

If so, go check out the NIL UNLOCKED website!:)

xo

Lynne

Tribal Tuesday

Hey y'all! It's Tribal Tuesday on the blog. . . and on the NIL UNLOCKED website.

New content up today! You can go back to where it all began and read the first chapter of NIL . . . and then you can head over to Wattpad for more!!!!

Each Tuesday we'll post new NIL UNLOCKED content on the website, so check back for all kinds of cool stuff!:)

Also, tomorrow is a #WinNIL Wednesday on Twitter and IG. You an enter to win an advance copy of NIL UNLOCKED...

That's right.
You can win an advance copy of this baby TOMORROW.:)
You're welcome.:) 

So check back in tomorrow!:) Contest goes live at 6 am, EST! Good luck!

xo
Lynne

Early Buzz for NIL UNLOCKED! + NU website scoop

Hey y'all!

So, I'm a *little* stoked about the early buzz for NIL UNLOCKED.

From Kirkus Review:

"A fast, tense gift for readers wanting to return to Nil.”

From Scholastic Library Journal:


“VERDICT: A must-have for fans of the first installment.” 

Ahhh! THOSE REVIEWS MAKE ME SOOOO HAPPY!!!! :) (I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. :D)
And you know what else makes me happy? 

The awesome website that super blogger Eli Madison made for NIL UNLOCKED. (THANK YOU ELI!!! YOU ARE AMAZING!!!) Each Tuesday --hello Tribal Tuesday!!!-- on the NIL UNLOCKED website we'll be revealing new NU content, like character interviews, guest bloggers, bonus material and more. Check it out! Right now Eli did an interview with me about how NU came to be!

Also, over at Eli's blog you can enter to win a hardback copy of NIL...so pop over to his new blog,  The Silver Words asap!

Last but not least, next week is March's #WinNIL Wednesday contest. The Prize? An ARC of NIL UNLOCKED!

To all my readers, thank you. For reading NIL, for stopping by, and for embracing the Nil world! Y'all are the best!!!! *hugs all the #NILtribe*

xo

Lynne

P.S. I'm going to leave you with this...:)

I'm stoked! Are you?:)