Winner!

The winner of this week's freebie is:

Melanie

Please send your mailing instructions to gerb (@) lindagerber (.) com and we'll get your TRANCE ARC sent out to you.

Everyone, remember that all comments to any posts this month earn you an entry for the Trance Countdown monthly drawing to be held next week. Be sure to come on back for another freebie and more chances to enter.

What's up this week?

I'm back! My family and I just returned from Japan. It was so absolutely fantastic and heartbreaking to be there again, seeing old friends - and meeting new ones. I miss Tokyo already. But it's good to be home.

Castle and Glee are back! Love. : )

We're talking Glee and bullying over at Teen Fiction Cafe. (TFC) Come join the discussion!

Mind-altering Twilight (MSNBC) Someone got paid to conduct this study. Ha.

Tweeting gets easier (NYT) At least that's what they say. We'll see.

Banned Book Week is coming! (ALA) Exercise your freedom to read and to decide for yourself. This is insane: (KSPR) (Examiner) (NewsOK)

Online YA Writing Workshop! (CRW) Writers, there is still time to register for this workshop (deadline is September 25.) Scroll down on the page for the October workshops to find "Get Real - or, How to Make Your YA Rock". I'd love for you to join us!

Happy Release Week to: Elizabeth Scott (GRACE), Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz (CRAVE), Yvonne Woon (DEAD BEAUTIFUL), Brenna Yovanoff (THE REPLACEMENT), Heather Brewer (TWELFTH GRADE KILLS), Emily Whitman (WILDWING), and to all the contributors to the ZOMBIES VS. UNICORNS anthology.

For an additional entry toward this month's TRANCE Countdown giveaway, leave a comment below about anything in this post.

This week's video link... OK Go with dogs!

It's Coming... DEATH BY BIKINI!

This is it! DEATH BY BIKINI hits the shelves TOMORROW!

I hope you'll join us to celebrate the launch right here on this blog. There will be giveaways, prizes and fun guest blogs by some of your favorite YA authors!

Meanwhile, here's what the reviewers are saying about DEATH BY BIKINI!

“Secrets, killers, and one hot guy
Make the wrong friend and you die.”
—Cute and Cranky, Jan Fields

"Refreshing read. (With) the right amount of intrigue, suspense, humor and romance!"
flamingnet.com

"DEATH BY BIKINI is an intensely suspenseful novel, packed with twists and turns on every page."
The Page Flipper

"An entertaining young adult mystery suspense thriller."
Genre-go-Round Reviews

"Death by Bikini is one of the more original novels I have read recently. Good combination of mystery and romance."
Book Muncher

"This suspenseful novel moves at lightening fast speed."
The Compulsive Reader

"Quick, enjoyable and suspenseful read! "
The Story Siren

"Definitely a page-turner."
Muffins.and.Books

"Lived up to my high expectations."
YA Books Central

Now, to kick off our fab DEATH BY BIKINI weekend, let me introduce the first contest... for your very own signed copy of DEATH BY BIKINI and a qualifying entry to win an iPod Shuffle, here's all you have to do: visit your local bookstore. Find DEATH BY BIKINI on the shelf. Take a picture and email it to me. And if you don't see DEATH BY BIKINI at your bookstore, tell them to get with it! : )

Let the celebrating begin!