The students involved in this conference were chosen for their accomplishments and interest in writing.  I mean, is this awesome or what?  To have a school district celebrate writing in this way.  These students asked intriguing questions, laughed at my stupid jokes, and talked about books and characters that they loved.  ANd while I was giving my talk on generating ideas, we had some really good conversations about things that work in YA novels and things that don't, and let me tell you, I was INSPIRED.

It is such a rare thing to get to be surrounded by people that love the process of writing, so I was just geeked out over the whole experience.  These kids were so smart, so ready to conquer the world.  I can't wait to read their best sellers in a few years.

Here's a picture with me talking with my hands too much.  (And note to self, I keep wearing the same outfit to all my speaking engagements.  Change it up!)

Next up: Downers Grove Bel Aire!  Can't wait to meet you all!

Because too often, I feel like the young female as protagonist doesn't get her due.  Critics and reviewers want to give it some label like chick lit or something that devalues it.  Marks it as fluff.  However, if a novel has a male protagonist, a young one in his teens, such as THE ART OF FIELDING or CATCHER IN THE RYE, well, of course, that book is hailed as the NEXT BIG THING!  Don't get me wrong, I loved those books, but we need to see young females as important as well, as having a lot to offer to the world of serious literature.

Well, these books below are getting the respect they deserve, and they have young female protagonists.  These book have universal, coming-of-age-type plots, and they are being lauded as the REAL DEAL, and I am so glad.  Being a young girl, having one as an MC, these things do not automatically equal frivolous and supercilious.  

Okay, enough with my rant.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home  by Carol Rifka Brunt

Such a real, authentic teen voice.  And a heartbreaking relationship between sisters, set in the 80s.  It's just a study in family relationships and what it means to grow up and know your parents and elders as people.  I loved it.

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson

This book was spellbinding.  Just the kind of book I love, realistic, contemporary, with an edge of sci-fi.  Oooh, it was creepy and cool, hitting a little too close to home at times.  And the narrator was a teen girl, with a real, interesting, three-dimensional voice.  I think I just read this is getting made into a movie.  I hope so!

Swamplandia!  by Karen Russell

Just so good.  The setting is a character in this book, and it is done so well.  The swamp itself alienating the kids works on so many levels.  The narrator's voice in this one, as she grows up, losing her innocence, I can't think of a better character arc, better writing.  This book is HOW IT'S DONE.

Email me at gina (at) ginalinko.com.

And I'll make sure you get entered into that form!  Thank you!

I am told that INDIGO will soon be available on Netgalley, and if you would like to request an e-ARC, please click on the link and fill out the quick form.  You will then be able to access INDIGO as soon as it is available!  

Here is the link:  ARC request form for INDIGO

I owe so many book bloggers and reviewers so much for their time and efforts in reviewing FLUTTER!  I have found the YA book blogging community to be so supportive.  It is really overwhelming and just AWESOME what you bloggers do for spreading the word about YA books.  Anyway, I hope that this form can make it easier for you to get your hands on an early copy of INDIGO!  

Also, you can always email me at gina (at) ginalinko.com with any questions or problems.

Thank you! 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Indigo

by Gina Linko

Giveaway ends April 05, 2013.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

A gift?

A curse?

A moment that changes everything. . . .

Caught in an unexpected spring squall, Corrine's first instinct is to protect her little sister Sophie after a nasty fall. But when Corrine reaches out to comfort her sister, the exact opposite occurs. Her touch--charged with an otherworldly force and bursting with blinding indigo color--surges violently from Corrine to her sister. In an instant, Sophie is dead. From that moment on, Corrine convinces herself that everyone would be better off if she simply withdrew from life.

When her family abruptly moves to New Orleans, Corrine's withdrawal is made all the easier. No friends. No connections. No chance of hurting anyone. But strange things continue to happen around her in this haunting,  mystical city. And she realizes that her power cannot be ignored, especially when Rennick, a talented local artist with a bad-boy past, suggests another possibility: Corrine might have the touch. An ability to heal those around her. But knowing what happened to her sister, can Corrine trust her gift?

http://cariblogs.blogspot.com/2013/02/young-adult-paranormal-giveaway-hop.html

And check out the exciting teaser:

A gift?

A curse?

A moment that changes everything. . . .

Caught in an unexpected spring squall, Corrine's first instinct is to protect her little sister Sophie after a nasty fall. But when Corrine reaches out to comfort her sister, the exact opposite occurs. Her touch--charged with an otherworldly force and bursting with blinding indigo color--surges violently from Corrine to her sister. In an instant, Sophie is dead. From that moment on, Corrine convinces herself that everyone would be better off if she simply withdrew from life.

When her family abruptly moves to New Orleans, Corrine's withdrawal is made all the easier. No friends. No connections. No chance of hurting anyone. But strange things continue to happen around her in this haunting,  mystical city. And she realizes that her power cannot be ignored, especially when Rennick, a talented local artist with a bad-boy past, suggests another possibility: Corrine might have the touch. An ability to heal those around her. But knowing what happened to her sister, can Corrine trust her gift?

I mean, aren't you just dying to find out what happens to Corrine?  I love this story, and it is so close to my heart.  More on why and my inspirations later.  Anyway.

You can win an INDIGO ARC in my contest, and you will be able to read this MONTHS before the October 22 release date. 

And if that isn't cool enough, you can also win bookmarks, which I don't have a picture of YET.

And you can win this:

Yes, you can win an iPod Shuffle!  I'll even let you choose the color!

Well, some fabulous book bloggers are going to help me out with this giveaway, and I will give you all the details next week.  BUT...  one way to get MANY entries into the drawing is to buy FLUTTER!  So get on that if you already haven't!!!

If you buy FLUTTER, you could win INDIGO! 

Stay tuned!!!

Commence my heart beating out of my chest and my face melting off because of the awesomeness. 

I mean, they're actually letting me have another book out?!  One wasn't too much, world?  I am so grateful.  An embarrassment of riches for me today.  I LOOOOVe this book so much.

More on the plot, my inspirations, and who Corrinne Harlowe is on this awesome/creepy/cool cover later.

Oh, wait.  One more pic.  Of the sisters.  

The cover for my next book is here.  

I LOOOOVE it.  There arent' enough adjectives in the world to explain how much I love it.  

It is awesome, and I can hardly even handle the creepy/coolness.  This cover is Corrine Harlowe and her indigo touch.  Hence, the awesome blue tones.  And the font for the title is so New Orleans-esque with the corn-stalk-ironwork-ish embellisments, and the tagline.  Dude.

Some gifts burn. 

I am so excited for you to meet Corrine and read her story and go on her journey with her.  It is, for me, a very personal and hopeful journey.  More on that later.

Check out the flap copy:

How can the gentlest of gestures cause the most harm?

Caught in an unexpected summer squall Corrine’s first instinct was to protect her little sister Sophie after a nasty fall. But when Corrine reached out to comfort her sister, the exact opposite occurred. Her touch—charged with an otherworldly force and bursting with blinding color—surged violently from Corrine to her sister. In an instant, Sophie was dead. From that moment on Corrine convinced herself that everyone would be better off if she simply withdrew from life.

When her family abruptly moves to New Orleans, Corrine’s withdrawl is made all the easier. No friends. No connections. No chance of hurting anyone. But strange things continue to happen around her in this moody, mystical city. And Corrine realizes that this power cannot be ignored, especially when Rennick, a talented local teen artist, suggests another possiblity: Corrine's ability to read peoples' physio-electricity might actually be a sixth sense that can be controlled.

For librarians and teachers everywhere who match books with young people, I thank you.  

And I am not saying that FLUTTER is going to change anyone's life or reach a kid in that dire moment that they need to know they aren't alone, but I know that books can do this.  Books save kids. And so do librarians and teachers.  They save kids.  By getting them reading.  It rescues their minds, shows them that they have this space between their ears that is all theirs, and they can live a thousand lives in there.  They can find strength from that, and a path away from the things that are so HARD in adolescence.  Away from hard home lives. From dwindling self-esteem.  From peer pressure.  From bullies.  And from that feeling that they are alone in the world.  

So thank you for that librarians and teachers.  

And thank you for the lovely reviews in the journals I mentioned.  It kinda makes up for when you get a snarky review -- not naming any names.  **cough** (Kirkus) **cough**  

Here are some of my most favorite quotes from the library journals:  

"A unique blend of romance and science fiction, Flutter offers readers a captivating mystery and an even more engaging heroine. ... [T]rying to determine the true nature of Emery's loops provides a fascinating journey and a distinctive look at the struggle between science and faith, as well as what it means to find hope and true independence in a complicated world."  VOYA

" ... Linko takes the reader on a reflective journey that will inspire discussion."  Booklist

"Flutter is an interesting read, and the characters are well-rounded ... the plot progresses nicely and combines suspense, family drama, science fiction and romance."  School Library Journal

Enter here if you are a librarian or teacher for a free copy of FLUTTER for your collection!

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