Thursday, April 3, 2014

YA Scavenger Hunt 2014!!


I'm Sara B. Larson ------> 

 I'm the author of the YA Fantasy DEFY! 

(The sequel is coming out in early 2015--stay tuned for more details!) 

(For more info on DEFY go here)



Now on to the reason why you're here--the YA Scavenger Hunt! This tri-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors (Mine is the first scene in DEFY told from Marcel's point of view instead of Alexa's!)...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

Go to the YA Scavenger Huntpage to find out all about the hunt. There are THREE contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the BLUE TEAM--but there is also a red team and a gold team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt home page!
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: 

Below, you'll notice that somewhere in this post is my favorite number (in blue!). Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). 

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure to 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 SUNDAY, APRIL 6, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

I'm also hosting a personal giveaway at the bottom of this post where you could win a signed copy of DEFY, plus an awesome swag pack (and an extra little treat)! So make sure to stick it through to the end!

Now on to the fun!!

Today, I am hosting the lovely, awesome:



 Jessica Spotswood! Jessica is the author of the Cahill Witch Chronicles: BORN WICKED (2012), STAR CURSED (2013), and SISTERS' FATE (August 2014). She grew up in a tiny, one-stoplight town in Pennsylvania, where she could be found swimming, playing clarinet, memorizing lines for the school play, or - most often - with her nose in a book. Now Jess lives in Washington, DC (Where I hear they have at least 21 stoplights) with her playwright husband and a cuddly cat named Monkey. She can be found drinking tea, teaching writing workshops for teens, or - most often - with her nose in a book. Some things never change. 






 About STAR CURSED: With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.



Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.


TO BUY THIS AWESOME BOOK GO HERE!!!


I just love Jessica--she's one of the nicest, most giving authors I've ever met. (Even though we've only "met" online...so far. Hopefully someday in person!) And now, for your bonus content!!



(Warning: this bonus content contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the ending of BORN WICKED. It is the very end of BORN WICKED, rewritten from Finn's point of view.)



*
*
*
*
*


"Miss Catherine Cahill," Brother Ishida booms. "Come forward to declare your intention before the Lord."

Cate rises from her spot in the Cahill family pew and approaches the dais. Whispers slither through the church; she's not due to declare an intention just yet, and the suddenness of the announcement has caught our neighbors by surprise. I catch the name McLeod and clench my fists. Of course they'd think it's him. He made his own intentions clear enough; he's come back to Chatham to court her. 

But she doesn't want McLeod, I remind myself. Perhaps he could give her more in the way of money, prestige, protection--

I cut off those thoughts. Stare down at my new black cloak and the silver ring of the Brotherhood on my finger. Not anymore, he can't. And he couldn't love her more. 

Ishida drones on about the seriousness of declaring her intention while I shift impatiently on the hard wooden pew. Sitting in the front row with all the other Brothers will take some getting used to. They all grinned at me and shook my hand this morning. Welcomed me as one of them. Brother Winfield commended me on taking my mother in hand. It looks good, closing the bookshop. The sort of thing a devout man would do. The men around me think I've finally seen wisdom and fallen in line. 

Self-loathing crackles through me. But Cate's worth it and more. 

She steps up onto the dais, beautiful as ever, and I flush with heat, remembering her slim body pressed against mine. It still seems incredible. A few weeks ago, I thought her proud and prim and standoffish. Now I can't imagine my future without her.

She holds herself tall, but her face is pale and drawn, and there are blue shadows beneath her eyes. Did her sisters raise a fuss about her marrying me? They'll come around. I'll show them how much she means to me. Marrying me, she'll stay here in town; I won't take her away from them like McLeod would. And I'll share the heavy burden that's plagued her since her mother died. Keep her safe. Make her laugh. I'd never judge her for what she is. I know she thinks I love her despite it, but her magic is part and parcel of her, just like her blond hair and pointy chin. 

"Catherine Cahill, what is your intention?" Ishida asks, and I prepare myself for a swarm of congratulations and back-slapping.

She does not hesitate. "In the hearing of the Lord and all those who witness my words, I offer myself to the Sisterhood," she says, her voice clear and unwavering.

The Sisterhood? 

No, I must have misheard - misunderstood. But no one's offering congratulations. And Cate - she isn't smiling. She's staring out over the congregation with her mouth set like a straight pin. I gape at her, willing her to meet my eyes.

After what seems an eternity, she does - and her hand flies to a small cut on her cheek. 

Someone hurt her. They're forcing her - the Brotherhood - no, that doesn't make any sense. That manipulative governess of hers, then. She must have tricked her into it. Threatened to expose her as a witch - or her sisters. I reach for the pistol tucked into my boot. I won't let her throw her life away like this. She's already sacrificed too much. I've sacrificed too much.

I don't think of the Brothers' guards standing at the back of the church or the hundreds of our neighbors between us and the doors. I don't think, period. I only know I've got to get her out of here -- but Cate shakes her head as if she can sense what I'm thinking. Her eyes - the gray blue of a summer thunderstorm - are still fixed on me, and she looks - defeated. 

"Catherine Cahill, the blessings of the Brotherhood are upon you," Ishida says. "You may go in peace to serve the Lord." 

She bows her head. "Thanks be."

The congregation echoes her and then everyone is standing, stretching, gossiping, greeting one another. I shove past the Brothers around me. That governess of hers has already snaked through the crowd to Cate's side. Is leading her down the side aisle. I dart through an empty pew just in time to hear, "The carriage is waiting." 

Good Lord. They can't mean to take her away now, today, without so much as--

Cate looks over her shoulder at me, then back at the governess. "Could I have five minutes? To say goodbye?" she pleads.

My jaw clenches. This isn't her own choice. It can't be. Less than twenty-four hours ago, I asked her to be my wife. Gave her my mother's ring. She said yes. What's changed?

"I don't think that's wise, do you? Why prolong the inevitable?" the governess asks, with a tiny, insufferable smile. I've never done violence to a woman, but Lord help me--

"May I go home to gather some of my things, at least?" Cate begs, and it is begging. I can read the shame of it on her face. This woman is in charge, controlling the situation, controlling Cate. But how? Why? We had a plan. She could - should have -- come to me; we could have figured this out together.  

"Your sisters and I can take care of that for you," the governess says. "We'll send them soon. Come, Cate. No stalling."

I reach out, catching at Cate's wrist. It's not proper, but the hell with proper. She was meant to be my wife.

I feel her tremor at my touch. "Goodbye," she chokes out, but she won't meet my eyes. Hers are fixed on the wooden floor as she fumbles in her pocket and then grabs my hand. Presses something cold into my palm. Closes my fist around it. Her hands, ice-cold, linger on mine, but only for a second. Then she steps away.

I glance down at the object in my palm. My mother's ruby ring. She's given it back. She's given it back, and now she's leaving. Going to New London to lock herself up in the guise of a nun and study the magic she hates. To become a weapon for people she doesn't trust. 

I don't understand it. I loved her enough to forswear myself to the Brotherhood. Enough to let my mother close the bookshop that was my father's dream. I went through with my end of the bargain, and now--

Could she have changed her mind? I don't want to think it. It's a good deal easier on my pride to imagine that they're forcing her, that they've threatened her sisters. But Cate's a witch, and a powerful one at that. She can erase people's memories. Why isn't she fighting back?

"Cate," I say, my voice hoarse. "Why?"

She doesn't answer. Doesn't even acknowledge the question. Simply stands there, frozen, her eyes still trained on the wooden floor.  

"Come along," that hateful governess says, taking her arm and leading her down the aisle.

Cate's sister Maura comes running up. "Let me go instead. Please, Cate, don't leave me here with her."

With who? The governess? Cate looks at her sisters, and it's then that I know it for certain. This isn't what she wants. She might leave me, but she'd never choose to leave Maura and Tess. 

"You'll have Tess," she tells Maura, and the way she holds herself, so tall and straight and determined - it's brave. Brave and misguided. There's got to be some way around this. "Look after each other."

Then she walks down the aisle and out the door and out of my life.

Only - no. I watch as Maura sobs, heedless of our neighbors' gawping. As Tess wraps a comforting arm around her. As Cate disappears into a carriage out front.

This isn't a permanent goodbye. Cate might be too frightened to fight back, but I'm not. 





How awesome was that?!?! Thank you so much for sharing that with us, Jess!!



CONTINUE THE HUNT

To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author--the incredibly funny and wonderfully talented Jaye Robin Brown! CLICK HERE!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

62 comments:

Unknown said...

I think the hunt is so much fun and I have met alot of new authors. Also I love Defy it is one of my all time favorite fantasy books. I already own a copy but I would love to have my own signed copy!!!

Unknown said...

I love that helps me find authors newsletters. I actually really love being on their mailing list to know what's going on.

Megan said...

Defy sounds amazing! I'm really excited to read it in the near future. It sounds a little like Mulan to me and I love that movie! Thanks for the giveaway, I really hope I win! :)

Unknown said...

I love YASH because even though I have to get up at 6 a.m. tomorrow I'm still not going to bed (living in the Netherlands so it's a bit later over here) I still want to read all the bonus materials, I just love it! :D

Tiffany said...

This is so great! I love your books!!

Fallon said...

I love YASH because it gives you a chance to explore authors pages and see what projects they are working on and enter some amazing to win some amazing prizes. I can not wait to read and review Defy!!!

Fallon said...

Thank you so much. This is such an awesome event with all of my favorite authors. Plus I love find out sneaks or reading Q & A's.

Unknown said...

i think YASH is so much fun and a great way to promote YA authors and to get people to read. i want to win defy because the cover is beautiful and the whole book sounds amazing!!

BA Wilson said...

I love YASH, because I get to learn about all the great new books that I should read and buy for my library (and force all my students to read). :)

Stephanie said...

This is my first time participating in YASH, but I am loving it because I get to learn more about other authors and books that I might not know about. And finding out the special bonus content is awesome too!

Michka said...

This is my first time with YASH but oh my gosh, I'm learning about some INCREDIBLE SOUNDING books! And just when I was looking for some new reading material. I'm psyched!! And these bonus contests just add a little cream on top! <3

Stephanie T. said...

I love the YASH because I get to learn more about authors I haven't had the pleasure to hear about! I think this event is a great thing.

Unknown said...

I love the YASH because I can find new authors and get to play an awesome game on top of it. Didn't know about Defy until now. I really hope get chance to read it!!

Unknown said...

I love YASH just to see all the new books and comeacross new authors!

Unknown said...

I love YASH because it helps me to find incredible authors and wonderful reads! :) DEFY sounds good, too, and I can't wait to have the chance to read it soon! :)

Brittany said...

I love YASH because my friend and I nerd out and get to have our moment as we try and win more books!

swimwriteliv said...

I love books! I love new authors! MUCH LOVE, SO HAPPY!!!:) THank you for participating in the hunt!:)

anonymous said...

I haven't read them yet :(

Dumbledore's Army Marauder's Map said...

I love the YA Scavenger Hunt because of all the new books and new authors we get to meet.

Unknown said...

I love the YA Scavenger Hunt because it introduces me to authors I may not know of yet, and books I haven't read yet. (Plus, the YASH itself is fun!)

Melissa @thereaderandthechef said...

YASH is an amazing event! I love reading the exclusive content about each book, even if I haven't read them all. And I love DEFY because it's awesomely kick-ass and an epic adventure. I'm very much looking forward for the sequel. :D

Unknown said...

I love YASH because I get to know new and upcoming authors and their books. I hope I win because I got really good grades this semester and this could be an awesome reward lol

Anonymous said...

I love YASH cause I get to discover new authors and exclusive content from some authors I already love. I hope to win because I'm always looking for great new reads to share on my blog and with my kiddos. Thanks for the giveaway and being a part of YASH! (:

Anonymous said...

I love YASH cause I get to discover new authors and exclusive content from some authors I already love. I hope to win because I'm always looking for great new reads to share on my blog and with my kiddos. Thanks for the giveaway and being a part of YASH! (:

PamM said...

I love finding new authors and books. I want to win because I have heard great things about the book.

Raychelle Steele said...

I love the YASH because I get to learn about new authors and find out more about books/authors I already enjoy! I want to win because I would love to have a signed copy!

werehunterfan1995 said...

I love YASH beacuse I can find new books to read and DEFY sounds awesome.

Unknown said...

I love YASH because it introduces me to some authors that I haven't heard of before. I would love to win this giveaway because the books sounds great and a couple of my friends have told me that I need to read it.

Kassiah said...

We LOVED Defy and can't wait for more from you! I love YASH because it gives me the reason to visit all of the participating authors' sites and see what they're up to!

viridiana ruiz said...

I love YASH because i like reading extra-materials from my favorite books

LiisaStyle said...

First YASH:
I just love this hunt!
There are a lot of interesting authors and books that i have never heard of! And the special exclusive content that you can discover from every author is great :)

Second question -> DEFY!
I just discoverd this book through the hunt and I so want to read it right now! I love stories about strong female characters and this sounds just like my kind of story :)

So thany you very much for practicpating in this years YASH and for the giveaway of course ;)

Reese's Reviews said...

I love YASH because I am always afraid I will run out of books to read even though there is no possibility of that happening, so when YASH comes around I get all kinds of excited about all the books I can add to my want list. Thank you for the giveaway.

Dandelion Quilts said...

I am a MS teacher. I love YASHMAK because a it helps me pick out books for my classroom and my school library. I think Defy would be a great read. I can see myself book talking it to students now.

Unknown said...

I love reading through the websites and discovering new authors in the process!

Unknown said...

I love these ya hunts, i find so many new authors and books! I love Defy because it sounds like a great story and I love female leads or heroines. I want to win because I love to get new books and what is better than a great book(s), than a free one?

Rachel G said...

I love the scavenger hunt because I find so many new authors and also the chance to expand my book collection is super cool!

Unknown said...

I love YASH because of the extra content and the chance to win swag and books for my ever growing library. I'd love a chance to with Defy so I can read it, instead of having to wait for my birthday in November or Christmas to obtain a copy.

Brianna Clay said...

I love YASH because I learn of new authors and books, and I also get to read cool exclusive bonus material from the authors I do know and the ones i just discovered. I haven't read Defy yet, but I'm really excited to read it because it sounds great. I really hope I win so i can read and actually own all of these amazing books!

Joanna said...

I love YASH because it's fun to hop from site to site and view all the extra content from your most loved stories and maybe even discover new ones. Getting and seeing Finn's POV was a nice touch. And I haven't read Defy yet, but I actually love faerie stories, so it's been on my radar.

Unknown said...

YASH is a great opportunity for us readers to discover great books by amazing authors and along with it we get the chance to win a great prize: tons of books! Who wouldn't love that? :D

Unknown said...

Your books look awesome!! Thanks for joining YASH and giving me an opportunity to find out about you:) x

Unknown said...

I love YASH because it is a great opportunity to learn about new authors and their books. I would like to win Defy, cause from the second I saw it for the first time I knew I had to read it!

Anonymous said...

I love YASH because it gives readers an opportunity to connect with authors. I hope to win because, well, Defy looks freaking awesome.

CYP @ A Bookalicious Story said...

I'm one of those people who loves a good love triangle, and I LOVE fantasy, especially YA with a badass heroine and lots of feels in the story. ;) Thanks for the giveaway! (Now I'll have to go look for the Defy excerpt)

Anubha said...

I <3 YASH because it introduces me to awesome new authors along with a superb chance to win awesome giveaways :D

magicseal said...

I love YASH because it introduces me to new authors and gives us an opportunity to win their awesome books!

Unknown said...

YASH is awesome! It introduces us to new authors and gives out great prizes! :)

Liliana said...

The hunt is just so much fun and we get to see a lot of great exclusive content! The giveaways don't hurt either ;) I'd love to win because there are many authors whose books I have not read yet and this is just a great way to discover some of those great author and their books!

Michael said...

This is my first YASH and it's been a blast! I can't wait to read Defy! :)

Anonymous said...

I would love to win because I've been apart of YASH since it began and I've loved winning some of the authors extra swag here and there.
I love YASH because it gives me a chance to expand my repertoire of different genres among YA and to discover new authors.

Jessica said...

YASH is my favorite way to find new books I need to read. :) I would love to win Defy because it's been on my TBR list since late last year when I found it on someone's Waiting on Wednesday post.

Unknown said...

Defy was definitely different for me. I loved how unique it was and how it kept a giant grin on my face the whole time I was reading it! I can't wait for book #2!

Luisa said...

I love YASH because it gives me a chance to win a lot of books that I am sure I will love.

Eli Yanti said...

This is the 3 times i join this YASH and I really love this giveaway, I got to know so much new author and ofcourse so happy so far I won the book from the author and all of their book is really great :)

eli_y83@yahoo.com

Caroline B said...

I hope to win because I recently discovered this series through YASH and I can't wait to read it! Thank you so much for the opportunity!

Arlene said...

Thanks for hosting an extra giveaway! This is my 3rd YASH and I love it because I always add a ton of books to my TBR pile =]

Anonymous said...

At the moment, I'm not loving the YASH as it's 1:42 AM, and I'm a slave to my futile hopes of winning books and wasting precious life on a mostly hopeless thing. I should quit now and watch the Blair Witch Project on netflix and eat sour patch kids, then reading some of Dorothy Must Die, which I got today. I might do that soon. It sounds great. But I probably won't because I don't want to regret not taking this chance.
Well, aren't I a bundle of joy?
Thanks for being awesome, though. Your book seems freakin' amazing.

Mary H said...

I love the YASH because I think it's amazing that all you authors are so interested in interacting with your readers and giving us all these bonuses and sneak peeks. Thank you both so much for participating!

Fly to the Sky said...

I absolutely love YASH! Each ear I look forward to the hunt! It's so much fun and it's often how I discover some new and exciting books!
As for Defy, I absolutely love the Mulanesque feel to it! I love the whole gender swapping too and I love the love interests! (I mean who wouldn't?!)
Thanks for participating in the hunt and for hosting an incredible giveaway!

Shell said...

YASH is amazing! I get to read fun stuff from some of my favorite authors like Amy Plum and C.J. Redwine. I also can find new books and authors that I need to check out. Plus there's that giveaway. ;)

**Rachelle**

Litza said...

I read an advanced copy of Defy and loved it to bits! I'm fairly certain the characters were my favorite part of the book. It's so captivating! I also love YASH to bits! So many amazing new books to check out and heaps of awesome bonus content. Not to mention some stellar giveaways. :) Thanks very much!

Triquetra said...

I love Defy because it's such an amazing book with great characters!

I even wrote a review about it on my website. http://triquetrareviews.blogspot.com/2014/03/review-defy-by-sara-b-larson.html