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Archives for Nov 2009

• ARC Giveaway Monday: The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein!--And the winners are...

  Nov 30, 2009

  The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein by Libby Schmais is the story about Lotus Lowenstein and her three loves: anything French, her best friend Joni and the new cute boy Sean. Unfortunately for Lotus, Joni feels the same way about everything, including Sean! What is going to happen when all three head to Montreal for the annual French class field trip?!
  
  Have you ever found out that you and your best friend have a crush on the same person? If yes, how did you resolve the situation? If no, what would you do if this situation ever happened to you? Tell us your love triangle story or share your thoughts on the subject for a chance to win an ARC copy of The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein! Check back here to see the winners.

  
  

  Thank you to everyone who submitted a response! Below are the 5 RANDOMLY SELECTED WINNING RESPONSES:

  humanbookworm There is a guy I know who has more friends that are girls then friends that are guys and he likes a new girl every other week. Oddly enough though, every girl likes him. Last spring, he liked me. The only reason I liked him was because HE liked ME and I felt special and wanted a boyfriend, of that makes any sense. I turned him down because I didn't think that was such a good idea. Now, of course, I DO like him for real, but my one friend, who actually goes to the same school as him, has the HUGEST crush on him. I let her have him, because I would rather be friends with her then have him as a boyfriend anyday.

  
  cories One time, my friend's friend really liked me but she liked him first.  I could care less and told her she could have him, but she didn't tell him how she felt about him so I ended up with him for about a year.  After the relationship ended, I felt I did my friend a favor by dating him as she was spared the drama of dating that guy.

  
  PinkDaisy Thankfully, I have never been in that position. Without experience, it's hard to say how I would respond. I'd like to think that I'd talk it over with my best friend and settle things with no hard feelings. Honestly, we'd probably both simply drool over him from afar without taking any action.

  Cynthisizer That has happened to me and my friend. I decided to give up on the boy and let her have him, but she said that he liked me and not her, and so she gave him right back to me. That's why I love my friend. We would never fight over a boy, we'd rather let the other one have him than fight over him, because our friendship is way stronger than any relationship with a boy can be.

  
  shanrich96 When I was in 8th grade, my best friend and I liked the same guy.  She ended up dating him for 3 years..which is the amount of time that I didn't talk to her.  Her reason for dating him was that she saw him first.  I was really mad and guess I am good at holding a grudge.  When she called to tell me that they had broken up and needed someone to talk to , I was there.  Not because I was glad that they had broken up and I forgave her, but because I missed her and didn't know how to say I was sorry.  Being there when she was upset was as good as I could do.  It was stupid to argue over a boy..It was stupid to give up 3 years of friendship over a guy.  We are still friends...and even like the same guys now and then, but no guy will ever come between us!

  Congrats to the winners! Please look for a message from the HeadBuzzer regarding how you can claim your prize.

  by HeadBuzzer | 32 comments |
  Filed under: ARC The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein

• Author Lauren Kate Visits Random Buzzers This Week!

  Nov 30, 2009

  We are so excited for Author Lauren Kate's visit to Random Buzzers starting today Monday, November 30th. She'll be here to chat with you about her new book Fallen and so much more! Make sure to stop by here to welcome Lauren back to Random Buzzers and leave all of your messages and questions for her to respond to.


  
  Here is a letter she wrote to you:

  Hi Random Buzzers,

  Can you believe it's already that time of year? I, for one, have been working on a Thanksgiving scene for the sequel to Fallen since the sweltering days of August, so I'm thrilled that everyone else around me is finally sharing my holiday cheer. This week, I'm feeling especially cheery about the chance to chat with all of you. Thanks for having me!

  I first got the idea for Fallen when I came across a line in Genesis, which tells about a group of angels who fell in love with mortal women. In the bible, these renegades are casts out of heaven, end of story. But for me, that was only the beginning. I started thinking about how a normal girl would respond to an angel having a crush on her. Imagine the baggage he must have! And what would her seriously overprotective father think? From there, a whole world unfurled in my mind-only it wasn't just angels anymore. Demons, secret sects, reincarnations, and the End of Days were also all battling for a piece of the action.

  But I've always been a hopeful romantic, and I wrote Fallen soon after meeting my husband, so the heart of this book is Luce and Daniel's story. Like any true love, theirs transforms them-but for reasons you'll soon find out, it also has the power to transform the rest of the world. For better or for worse...

  I can't wait to discuss love and transformations, reading, writing, movies and music, the fascinating history of angelology (any takers??), embarrassing tales from around the old family Thanksgiving table, or whatever interests you!

  All my best,
  
  

  Lauren Kate

  
  

  P.S. I loved reading on The Buzz what so many of you have "fallen for!" I've fallen for my almost two-year-old niece, Jordan, and my new home in Laurel Canyon, way up in the Hollywood Hills. Now I just need to learn how to surf like a proper southern California girl. Anyone out there have pointers?

  by HeadBuzzer | 2 comments |
  Filed under: Buzz Author Fallen LAUREN KATE

• Random Hour #62: Giving Thanks

  Nov 25, 2009

  Often in our lives we don't realize how lucky we are.  Sometimes we are so busy wishing for things that we want, that we take for granted what we already have.  The funny thing about life is that sometimes it takes losing something, or someone, to make us realize how important it really was, and how much we wished we realized this when we still had it, or them.
  
  Maybe if we spent more time focusing on the things that we already have, and less time looking across the fence wishing for what other people have, we'd realize how fortunate we are.

  What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

  by HeadBuzzer | 15 comments |
  Filed under: Random Hour

• Lauren McLaughlin's Blog Tour- Buzz Bucks Opportunity!

  Nov 24, 2009

  Happy Tuesday Buzzers! We want to know how many of you met Recycler author, Lauren McLaughlin, on her blog tour? We would like to hear your stories of meeting Lauren on her blog tour! Submit your stories here and make sure to review one of her books in our review section here for 100 buzz bucks!!

  In case you need a refresher, here were Lauren's blog tour dates:

  
  

  11/9-11/13: RandomBuzzers.com: www.RandomBuzzers.com

  11/15 The Page Flipper- http://thepageflipper.blogspot.com/

  11/16 Cheryl Rainfield Reviews-http://www.cherylrainfield.com/teen-books.html

  11/17 The Children's Book Review-http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/

  11/18 Book Chic-http://bookchicclub.blogspot.com/

  11/19 Write for A Reader-http://writeforareader.blogspot.com/

  11/20 Y Pulse-http://www.ypulse.com/wordpress/wordpress/category/book-publishing

  11/21-11/22- RandomBuzzers.com    http://www.randombuzzers.com/forums/topic/102895/#post_102895

  11/23 Beatrice.com- http://www.beatrice.com/wordpress/

  11/24 MTV.com "Hollywood Crush" blog-- http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/

  by HeadBuzzer | 1 comment |
  Filed under: Lauren McLaughlin

• Castration Celebration Reviewed by YLIN0621

  Nov 24, 2009

  Castration Celebration by Jake Wizner (May 26th 2009-Random House)
  Grade: 4 stars out of 5
  
  

  Summary: "Did you know that in imperial china, eunuchs had their testicles, penis and scrotum removed?
  Olivia does. She's done the research--after walking in on her dad fooling around with one of his grad students. On her stay to an arts summer camp at Yale University, she's decided to write a musical called Castration Celebration.
  Max, on the other hand, is a big fan of the penis--intact. As an actor, he always has the right line, especially for the ladies. He's going to camp to hone his skills, both acting and otherwise. And when Oliva and Max meet...oh, the drama! Olivia and Max have their roles down pat. Before camp is over, they'll perform Olivia's musical onstage and in real life--though the ending may turn out different than either expects. Peppered with original songs like "Horny," "I'm in Love with Dick," and the titular, "Castration Celebration," Jake Wizner's a whole new level in a bawdy uproarious romp that's laugh-out-loud funny."

  
  Review: This review will be short and simple.
  I loved this book. That's all I have to say. It was disgusting, lewd, perverted, and "holy cow" worthy. Don't believe me? Here are some quotes then: "‘Menstruating Mandy," Callie said. "Wind her up and watch her squirt." Or how about this one, it might look familiar:' "You know the book Twilight?" asked Max.
  "I've heard of it."
  "It's about this vampire who hooks up with a teenage chick. They never do more than kiss, but I was thinking if he ever went down on her while she was having her period it would be like winning the lottery."' Fun enough for you? This book is not the most politically correct book, but it was just downright hilarious. Would I recommend this for everyone? Absolutely not. There are things in there that probably offends someone in this country but that does not mean it cannot be enjoyed.
  
  If you have a slightly twisted humor, you will love this book. It you have a more sane humor, read it still! Grab it from the library, your friend, or stay in Borders for 3 hours! I don't care, just read it!
  Overall: Wow.

  by HeadBuzzer | 7 comments |
  Filed under: Buzz Blogger Castration Celebration

• Last Chance: Win an ARC of FALLEN Today!

  Nov 24, 2009

  Today is your last chance to win a copy of one of winter's most anticipated books Fallen by Lauren Kate!

  All you have to do to be eligible to win is head on over to Lauren Kate's forum and ask her a question today.

  She'll be visiting Random Buzzers next week and will answer your questions then!

  Trust us, you don't want to miss this ARC.

  About Fallen:

  There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
  
  Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
  
  Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.
  
  Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

  To read the first chapter click here.

  AND THE 5 (RANDOMLY SELECTED, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER) WINNERS ARE:

  Berriesrbest: What character that you've written is most like you?  What character in any book (by any author) is most like you?
  
  Thaisari: If Fallen was made into a movie, who would you want to play the main characters Luce and Daniel?

  Punkrocker12: What kind of music did you listen to while writing Fallen? Or did you listen to any?

  Sheba201: Why did you choose to write a book so similar to the twilight saga?
Or is it just pure coincidence?
Or did you feel that you could shed some light on the fact that a book can be like twilight however completely different and individual.

  MissDanaidae: What type of research did you do for Fallen, if any? Did you draw on any particular myths about angels or put different mythoi together?

  by HeadBuzzer | 6 comments |
  Filed under: ARC Fallen LAUREN KATE

• Friday Giveaway-- Win an ARC copy of Legacy!

  Nov 20, 2009

  What if your deadbeat dad was a superhero?
  
  For 18-year-old Lucas in Tom Sniegoski's Legacy, the choice is an easy one: he's not going to leave behind his mother and his comfortable life for a father who's never shown any interest in him. But his father-known officially as billionaire Clayton Hartwell, and secretly as the vigilante superhero The Raptor-tells Lucas that as he is dying, evil is growing, and the world needs Lucas to become the new Raptor.

  What would you do if you found out one of your parents was secretly a superhero? How would you feel if they asked you to take over the family business and become a superhero too? Submit your comments here for a chance to win! Check back here to see the winners.

  AND THE 5 (RANDOMLY SELECTED, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER) WINNERS ARE:

  winter0058: If my dad ever told me he was a superhero, i wouldnt really be surprised. To me he is a superhero being the normal everyday dad he is he doesnt need super powers to establish that, even though that would be prettyy awesome. If i did have to take over the "family buisness" i would probably be really scared but excited. i mean who would be? you get powers! =]

  booksobsession: If I found out that my dad was a superhero, at first I'd be very skeptical. I'd want to know ALL about it - like how long he has been one, what he's capable of, and where the powers came from. After I finally got it through my head that he was, in fact, a superhero, I'd be so excited! Especially the thought that I would "take over the family business". That would be amazing, and I really would be considered unique.

  vroengirl08: If one of my parents told me that they were secretly a superhero and that they were dying and I was destined to take their place, I honestly don't know how I'd feel. Scared about taking over for them. Angry because they hadn't told me. Sad because they'd be dying. Nervous about keeping evil at bay...and maybe, just maybe, really excited. As a new superhero, I'd of course get to confide in one of my best friends, and that means bragging rights. Would that be totally pig-headed of me? Yes. But it would be one of the only upsides of losing a parent and becoming responsible for the rest of the world's safety. And besides, my best friend would totally understand...as long as she gets to poke fun at me wearing underwear over my clothes.

  abbierose97: If my parent was a superhero, I would ask him to fly and get me a piece of pizza.  :) If he asked me to be a super hero, I'd say "Um, no."  I have too much stuff to do already.

  xollinzolox: If my parents were superheroes, I would make them act out my favorite superhero scene from movies from me :) Jumping from building to building from a spider web and running on water. Very cool. I would definitely want to join them. As long as I could wear one of those cool red jumpsuits from The Incredibles.

  by HeadBuzzer | 45 comments |
  Filed under: ARC Friday Giveaway

• Blogging

  Nov 18, 2009

  A discussion with YLin0621:

  Blogging. Books. Words that both begin with the letter B so of course someone would eventually combine the two and form this ever-growing community! Book blogging has developed over the past few months into something unbeknownst to the pioneers-into an addiction that attracts authors, publishers, and hundreds of bibliophiles. But how does this affect the bloggers?
  
  On a personal take, reviewing books may have somewhat stolen my childlike joy in just reading a book. I'm more nitpicky than I typically was before. In some ways it is better this way in the sense that I know what good books are and what books will soon disappear from the trend. There are just some books that stand out from the others and will be a quintessential mark in writing a book with that appropriate theme. Take for example Dracula, Frankenstein, and all those other novels that surpassed their expiration dates. They have transcended their time and are what we call the classics.

  Aside from books there are the authors. They are regarded more as an idol at times so it is refreshing to communicate to them as regular people who not only enjoy reading, but writing it as well. I've set up countless interviews, ways to promote their books and the authors themselves, about books that I felt passionate about.

  Combine this and the fact that I'm basically talking about what I love (books) and it's the perfect reason why I blog. Blogging does open up a lot of doors.

  
  

  by HeadBuzzer | 1 comment |
  Filed under: buzz bloggers

• Random Hour #61: FAT CAT : Reading the Labels.

  Nov 18, 2009

  Have you ever gone to the grocery store and spent too many hours trying to decipher the gibberish that is the ingredients label? If you’re like me, you can relate to this feeling of “what the heck is xanthan gum and why is it in my ice cream?!?”

  
  I find today’s system of food labels to be so unfair—how are we supposed to make healthful choices when we can’t understand what’s in our food? Yes, there are ways to educate yourself on the terminology by spending hours on the Internet or asking a nutritionist, but most of us don’t have that kind of time.

  
  I wish the FDA would come up with some new system of labeling so that anyone at any age could understand. I bet if we knew exactly what some of those ingredients are in our favorite ice cream, we’d think twice before eating an entire pint!

  
  So have you ever been stumped as to what those food labels say? Do the ingredients labels factor into your decision when buying food? If you were in charge, how would you rewrite the labels so everyone could understand them easier?
  

  If you haven't already, make sure you head on over to the Buzz Boards and talk about this topic and more with FAT CAT author Robin Brande, who was coincidentally the first author EVER to appear on Random Buzzers, back when it was called BibleGrrrl and was about her debut novel: Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature.

  by HeadBuzzer | 5 comments |
  Filed under: Fat Cat Random Hour robin brande

• ARC Giveaway Tuesday: FALLEN

  Nov 17, 2009

  We're excited to announce that today we're having a spontaneous ARC Tuesday in celebration of one of winter's most anticipated new book Fallen by Lauren Kate.

  We're changing things up and all you need to do is answer this question in the comments below to be eligible to win. We're giving away 5 copies of Fallen to winners that we choose at random.

  You have until 5 p.m. EST tomorrow, Wednesday, November 18th, to enter. We'll post winners at that time.

  Without further ado....

  QUESTION IS: We all fall for different things - a favorite food, a favorite shop, vacation place, author, book series, food... significant other What is something/place/one you've fallen for?

  Answer in the comments below for your chance to win a copy of Fallen!

  About Fallen:

  There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
  
  Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
  
  Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.
  
  Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

  To read the first chapter click here.

  Good luck, Random Buzzers!

  AND THE 5 (RANDOMLY SELECTED, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER) WINNERS ARE:

  • carpenoctem: I have FALLEN for helping others! Through middle school I felt like something was missing and felt a hollow space inside of me needing to be filled. I started volunteering at the local hospital my freshman year and the hole started to fill. I have realized I love helping people and making them feel better. I can't get enough of caring and helping others. I have FALLEN head over heels for it!
  • p51tracker: I have fallen for Nichole, my wonderful and beautiful girlfriend. =) I don't even know what I would do without her now.
  • Lyon: I have fallen for reading, in every possible form. I can live without a lot of things, many different things that I could give up, from the computer and TV, to even food. But I will never be able to give up reading. I have fallen for it, completely and totally.
  • Hallia: I have fallen hopelessly for writing. I've been an avid reader all my life, after growing up with my mother reading me epic fantasies...almost as soon as I could construct a sentence I began writing my Hello Kitty mysteries. xD When I was twelve I wrote my first novel, and now I'm participating in NaNoWriMo. =)
  • PinkDaisy I've fallen for the beautiful Matt Bomer of the television show, White Collar. Yes, that may make me a bit superficial and a lot pathetic, but he is gorgeous.

  Have no fear if you didn't win, we'll be giving away 5 MORE copies of Fallen on Monday! Make sure you check back in with us then!

  
  

  by HeadBuzzer | 69 comments |
  Filed under: ARC Fallen LAUREN KATE