Shift Blog Tour Wrap up and Grand Prize Winner!

Without any further ado…..here is the winner of the SHIFT Blog Tour Grand Prize Giveaway!

Randomizer has chosen #853 - the winner was from YA Book Queen's Blog Tour Stop - An Interview with Jeri 

Two Chicks On Books

You won:

* "Annotated"  copies of both SHADE & SHIFT

* A galley of SHINE - the third and final book in the Shade Trilogy, (for which there will be no ARC's) when it is ready in the fall

* An iPod Shuffle

*Note: All prizes from the tour may take up to 6-8 weeks for delivery.


Contact me at fwiw(dot)kea(at)gmail(dot)com

Congratulations and BIG BIG BIG thanks to everyone who commented, tweeted and helped spread the word about this Blog Tour. You were all amazing and made this a fantastic experience!

I want to thank all the people who participated in the tour. I've made some great friends along the way!! Here are links to all their blogs - go visit!

Mountains of Instead
He Followed Me Home
What’s on the Bookshelf
Addicted 2 Novels
The Book Smugglers
Mundie Moms
Jackie Morse Kessler
The "Fab 4": Books, Sweets and Other Treats, A Bookworms Haven, Booking it with Hayley G, and Brooke Reports
Just Another Book Blog
YA Book Queen
A & C Book Junkies
Bitten By Books
Ink Gypsy on Twitter #UFchat,

You can click HERE to links for all the postings if you missed any of the tour!

Thank you to Jeri and Simon Pulse for prizes for the tour and for making it international so everyone could join in.

A word from Jeri:

Thanks to everyone who blogged, commented, and spread the word about the SHIFT blog tour--from where I'm sitting, it was a big success, and that is because of all of you!  Thanks to Simon Pulse in the US, Canada, and the UK, who provided copies of SHIFT.  Thanks especially to Karen, for being such a gracious, organized, and generous host.

Now it's time for me to crawl back in my cave and finish the third book, SHINE, in time for my June 1 deadline.

But first, indulge me in a street-musician, pass-the-hat moment.

If you've enjoyed the blog tour and would like to see another one next year (with even more awesome prizes), please consider purchasing SHADE and SHIFT.  If you've received a copy for review or won one in a giveaway, please consider buying one for a friend or family member, or to give away on your blog.  Bloggers and readers really do make a difference! Thank you for all of your support.

Thanks again for making it so much fun.  Hope to see you next year on the SHINE blog tour!

Website: Jeri Smith-Ready
Twitter: @jsmithready
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jerismithready



My turn:
Warning: Unabashedly gushy!!

I first picked up Wicked Game by Jeri a few years ago. Her writing and playlist for that book set in motion a passion for music (my hubby thanks her for that) and is one of the inspirations for my starting a blog. I wanted to let people know about her books. I wrote her a fan letter telling her so and she was very kind. Then several months later I read her Aspect of Crow series - gah! What an emotional ride and I wrote her another email. This one, embarrassingly gushy and fan-girly. Once again Jeri could not have been nicer. I'm still shocked at the lack of a restraining order….lol This only encourages me to write further gushy emails (now about Logan and music). Don't encourage me Jeri!
Jeri is, of course, a talented writer but she is also a great person, always generous and always kind to her fans. I love her as an author and respect her as a person so this was an amazing thrill for me to be asked to host this blog tour.

Thank you :-)

Buy Shade & Shift at these fine places:



Amazon: Shade (Shade, Book 1), Shift (Shade, Book 2)

Barnes & Noble: Shade, Shift

For a personalized singed copy of Shade or Shift visit independent Maryland bookseller Constellation Books. Just mention when you order that you want your copy personalized.

Pre-order Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions a paranormal anthology with a short story "Bridge" told from Logan's POV. AMAZING story!! Releases September 20, 2011

Other authors in the anthology: 

Giovanni’s Farewell by Claudia Gray 

Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan 

IV League by Margaret Stohl 

Red Run by Kami Garcia 

Things About Love by Jackson Pearce 

Niederwald by Rachel Vincent 

A Mortal Winter King by Melissa Marr 

Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong 

Let’s Get This Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan 

Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready 

Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting 

Leaving by Ally Condie 

At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday 

Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson 

The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

Automatic by Rachel Caine

SHIFT Blog Tour Schedule

*Follow each day of the tour for more daily giveaways and to be entered for the GRAND PRIZE:

"Annotated" copies of both SHADE & SHIFT - PLUS - a signed galley of SHINE, the third and final book in the Shade trilogy. There won't be any ARC's for SHINE so this is a big deal!! AND an iPod Shuffle! Awesome right??

Click here for rules and details! Grand prize winner announced right here on May 11th!

Follow the tour:

Tuesday, April 26: For What It’s Worth – Kickoff, Guest post: presentation of Logan’s “Sucks to Be a Ghost (Sometimes)” playlist

Wednesday, April 27: Mountains of Instead – Guest post: All Things Scottish (especially Zachary)

Thursday, April 28: He Followed Me Home – Guest post: Deleted Logan Scenes from SHIFT

Friday, April 29: What’s on the Bookshelf – Guest post: Loving the Love Triangle

Sunday, May 1: Addicted 2 Novels – SHIFT review

Monday, May 2: The Book Smugglers – Video guest post: Newgrange & the Mysteries of Ireland

Wednesday, May 4: Mundie Moms – Interview with Jeri

Thursday, May 5: Postmortem (Jackie Morse Kessler) – Death Interviews Logan

Friday, May 6: Books, Sweets and Other Treats – Group Interview with Zachary by the "Fab 4": Books, Sweets and Other Treats, Bookworms Haven, Booking it with Hayley G, and BrookeWorm

Sunday, May 8: Just Another Book Blog – SHIFT Review

Monday, May 9: YA Book Queen – Interview with Jeri

Tuesday, May 10: A & C Book Junkies – Guest post: SHIFT playlist and Writing with Music

Wednesday, May 11: For What It's Worth - Wrapup and grand prize giveaway

Special Events :

Tuesday, May 3: Bitten By Books – Launch Day party! Live author Q&A all day long, big prizes

Saturday, May 7: Twitter Chat on #UFchat, hosted by Ink Gypsy, 6-7:30pm Eastern - Chat with Logan, Zachary and Aura - and Jeri of course!

Buy the books!

Shade:  Love ties them together.

Death can’t tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift. Shade (Shade, Book 1) 

   

Shift: Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart. Shift (Shade, Book 2)

Coming September 20, 2011: Anthology that includes a short story about Logan by Jeri Smith-Ready. Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions

**Visit Jeri on her website 
** Twitter @jsmithready
**Facebook: www.facebook.com/jerismithready

SHIFT Release Day!!

Happy book birthday to SHIFT by Jeri Smith Ready!!

"Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart."

My quick review: Shift picks up right where Shade left off giving us answers to the bigger mysteries of the Shift, resolving a few personal issues (not before a few rather big detours!) while still providing plenty of twists and turns.

If you needed a few tissues after reading Shade, then buy stock before you start Shift. I cried big weepy tears.

Jeri will be celebrating Shift's release day over at Bitten By Books with a live chat  and more....

Prizes: The winner will receive a box filled with the newest YA books and several highly coveted Advanced Readers Copies from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. Including:

Dust & Decay (Jonathan Mayberry) – ARC
Shift (Jeri Smith-Ready)
Invincible Summer (Hannah Moskowitz) – ARC
Clean (Amy Reed) – ARC
Crescendo (Becca Fitzpatrick)
Wither (Lauren DeStefano)
And more!

Where to find Jeri:

http://www.jerismithready.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jerismithready

Twitter: @jsmithready

Buy the books! Shade (Shade, Book 1), Shift (Shade, Book 2)

Next stop on the Shift blog tour is Mundie Moms, Wednesday May 4th. For the full tour schedule click HERE

SHIFT Blog Tour Kick-Off!! Logan's "Sucks to Be a Ghost (Sometimes)" playlist

Hi and welcome to the SHIFT blog tour!  Thanks to Karen here at For What It’s Worth for hosting, and thanks to all the bloggers who’ll be taking part.  Most of all, thank YOU all for coming to SHIFT’s Book Birthday party!

Before we get to the main topic of the day (Logan Patrick Keeley), I want to officially announce the title of the third book in the Shade trilogy.  

First, there was SHADE…

Then, there was SHIFT…

And next summer….

probably on May 2…

although that can always change…

(you know how things are in publishing)….

There’ll be….

SHINE!

Why SHINE?  Well, obviously, it’s a five-letter word beginning with SH.  But once you’ve read SHIFT, you’ll understand why SHINE is a perfect title.

(Titles rejected as less than perfect: SHAFT, SHOVE, SHAVE, and SHARK.  Also, SHRUG.)

On to the post!  I decided that today’s installment should be about Logan, since it would be hosted by one of his biggest fans.  The Other Guy gets a lot of female attention, (especially from women over 30―what’s up with that?), so it always makes me smile when someone declares themselves Team Logan.

Because Logan is a lot like me.  Now, I can’t sing or play the guitar.  I’m rarely the life of the party.  And I’m not seventeen, a guy, or, you know, dead.

But Logan and I have many of the same hopes and fears.  We’re both a little (a lot?) self-absorbed, we’re both major hams, we both get ecstatic over shiny new things, whether it’s a band or the latest Vans skate shoes.  We both could not live without music, especially the Irish kind.  And no matter how many friends we have, we secretly believe that everyone thinks we’re a jerk.  

Since Logan expresses himself best through music, it seemed fitting to base his post around one of the many playlists he made Aura.  He created “Sucks to Be a Ghost (Sometimes)” after his death, during the period that SHADE takes place.  Most of the songs are about Aura, but some are about his struggles with death and regret and feeling invisible.

You can think of it as sort of a SHADE playlist from Logan’s point-of-view, though it doesn’t follow the story chronologically like the SHADE soundtrack does.

This playlist is available―with my preferred choice of Flogging Molly song―for purchase from iTunes’s iMix site: Logan's Playlist: Sucks to Be a Ghost (Sometimes). Note: I make no money off the sales of my iMixes―I just like to spread the word about bands I love.

The first song, “The End is Where We Begin” by Our Lady Peace seemed like the perfect place to start, because of the title and the way it fades in.  These lines just killed me:

Here I am

Waitin' for one last chance,

'Cuz this time we got nothing left to lose,

And everything is ruined.

But the end is where we begin.

After he dies and comes back as a ghost, Logan and Aura pick up where they left off, but in a way they’re also starting over.  They can’t touch each other, so their relationship goes back to a more innocent, pure stage, when it was all about being together and sharing the things they loved, making each other laugh.  

For a while, anyway.

The line “everything is ruined” is total Logan.  He’s quick to declare disaster and blame himself for it, but just as quick to turn around and say everything will be fine―no, everything will be awesome, and he’ll be the one to make it so.

Nearly a year ago, Karen told me about Mumford & Sons, that they reminded her of Logan.  When I was writing his short story, I played their LP Sigh No More over and over, five or six times a day.  Often in tears.  Almost every track is made for Logan, and I imagine him singing different songs to different people in his life.

“Thistle and Weeds” at first seems like Logan wanting Aura to move on and stop wasting away with grief over him.

Plant your hope with good seeds.

Don’t cover yourself with thistle and weeds.

Rain down, rain down on me.

But then he screams, “I will hold on” again and again.  He can’t let go, not yet.

Interesting note?  The thistle is the national symbol of Scotland.  So maybe when Logan is telling Aura, “Don’t cover yourself in thistle and weeds,” it’s code for, “Stay away from that Scottish dude!!”  (It’s anyone’s guess who the “weeds” might be.)

Coldplay’s “Til Kingdom Come” appeared at the end of the SHADE playlist, and appears again at the beginning of SHIFT.  Aura describes it this way:

The one Logan created after he died, “Sucks to Be a Ghost (Sometimes),” was ending now, with a hushed acoustic tune. One voice, one guitar, the way he’d played for me so many times. The song was a bonus track―an afterthought for the artist, but a thread of hope for us.

A few minutes before Logan dies unexpectedly at the beginning of SHADE, he kisses her, his lips cold from drinking way too much, and whispers against her mouth, “Wait for me, Aura.”  They were his last living words.  When he disappears near the end of SHADE, he tells her not to wait for him.  He knows she needs to move on.

But she does wait, every night, listening to the mix CDs and playlists he made for her.  “Til Kingdom Come” ends like this:

I don't know which way I'm going,
I don't know what I've become.

For you, I'd wait 'til kingdom come,
Until my days, my days are done.
Say you'll come and set me free,
Just say you'll wait, you'll wait for me.

So time and time again, Aura and Logan hold on to each other, through life, and death, and much, much worse.  

Logan will have his own short story coming in September, in the ENTHRALLED anthology.  He is very excited about that.

Buy the books!

Pre-order Enthralled
Buy Shade (Shade, Book 1)
Pre-order Shift (Shade, Book 2)

Giveaway!

If you’ve read SHADE and/or SHIFT, what do you think of Mr. Logan Keeley?  (I promise not to feel bad if you think he’s a selfish, immature brat!)  Do you want to smack him or hug him?  If you haven’t read SHADE, what are some of your favorite love songs?  You know the kind I mean, the ones that rip your heart out.

Answer one or more of these questions, or ask Jeri a question, in the comments below to enter today’s drawing.  There will be two winners.  (leave your email address so I can contact the winner)

The Prizes: 

1) a signed copy of SHIFT, plus Logan’s playlist on iTunes, courtesy of Jeri.  (Note: due to iTunes’s rules, the playlist may only be gifted within the US.  International winners will receive a $15 iTunes gift card instead.)

2) an unsigned copy of SHIFT, courtesy of Jeri’s publisher.


*You are automatically entered to to win the Grand Prize by commenting.


*Contest open 24 hours after posting - Ends Wednesday April 27th at 9:00 AM

Open to international entries!


This daily Giveaway is open for 24 hours - winner announced tomorrow. Each stop on the tour will have a giveaway!
Every comment enters you to win the GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY - which is just made of awesomesauce!! 


*Grand Prize: Annotated copies of both SHADE & SHIFT, plus a galley of the third book SHINE. There will be NO ARC's so this is an awesome prize!
Plus and iPod Shuffle!
Read all about it and comment on this post to enter.

*Author Bio: Jeri Smith-Ready’s next release is SHIFT (May 3), the second in the YA ghost trilogy that began last year with SHADE (which just came out in paperback April 5).  She loves to hear from readers, so please visit her at www.jerismithready.com, or better yet, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jerismithready) or Twitter (@jsmithready), where she spends far too much time.


Karen here! I just want to tell you guys what a thrill it is for me to be hosting this blog tour. I have loved all of Jeri's writing for several years now.
As for the Logan question - yes, he's a selfish, immature brat! But what can I say, he loves with everything he's got and lives (or is dead??) in the moment. I love him and I'm always rooting for him. 
Team Logan!! C'mon you three girls out there! Who's with me??


One more thing - I happened to have got an early sneak peek at Logan's short story for Enthralled and it is one of my favorite things Jeri has ever written.

Next stop on the tour - Mountains of Instead - All things Scottish (Especially Zachary)

SHIFT Blog Tour Schedule and Grand Prize Giveaway Rules

Welcome to the SHIFT Blog Tour

A Giveaway Everyday!

**Each stop on the tour will be giving away two copies of SHIFT , plus an extra surprise gift**

And at the end of the tour a GRAND PRIZE to one lucky commenter!!

Grand Prize:

"Annotated" (with notes by Jeri) copies of both SHADE & SHIFT

A signed galley of SHINE - Book 3 in the Shade series, for which there will be no ARC's, when it is ready this fall!

PLUS - an iPod Shuffle!

(rules at the end of this post)

Start following the tour!

Tuesday, April 26: For What It’s Worth – Kickoff, Guest post: presentation of Logan’s “Sucks to Be a Ghost (Sometimes)” playlist

Wednesday, April 27: Mountains of Instead – Guest post: All Things Scottish (especially Zachary)

Thursday, April 28: He Followed Me Home – Guest post: Deleted Scene from SHIFT

Friday, April 29: What’s on the Bookshelf – Guest post: Loving the Love Triangle

Sunday, May 1: Addicted 2 Novels – SHIFT review

Monday, May 2: Book Smugglers – Video guest post: Newgrange & the Mysteries of Ireland

Wednesday, May 4: Mundie Moms – Interview with Jeri

Thursday, May 5: Postmortem (Jackie Morse Kessler) – Death Interviews Logan

Friday, May 6: BBooks, Sweets and Other Treats – Group Interview with Zachary by the "Fab 4": Books, Sweets and Other Treats, Bookworms Haven, Booking it with Hayley G, and BrookeWorm

Sunday, May 8: Just Another Book Blog – SHIFT Review

Monday, May 9: YA Book Queen – Interview with Jeri

Tuesday, May 10: A & C Book Junkies – Guest post: SHIFT playlist and Writing with Music

Wednesday, May 11: For What It's Worth - Wrapup and grand prize giveaway

Special Events:

Tuesday, May 3: Bitten By Books – Launch Day party! Live author Q&A all day long, big prizes

Saturday, May 7: Twitter Chat on #UFchat, hosted by Ink Gypsy, 6-7:30pm Eastern

Rules:

1. Contest open to International entries

2. To enter the daily contests, simply comment on that day's post. After 24 hours, a winner will be drawn for the daily prize. All daily contest commenters will be automatically entered in the grand prize drawing.

Winner will be chosen for the Grand Prize Contest will be drawn using a random number generator.

3. Odds of winning depend upon the number of participants.

 

4. Names of daily winners will be posted on the hosting blog's page the next day. Follow their directions for claiming prize.

5. Grand prize drawing will take place Wednesday, May 11th, and will be announced in a blog post on Wednesday, May 11th on For What It's Worth. The winner will have one week to claim his or her prize by contacting me via e-mail at fwiw DOT kea AT gmail DOT com. If the winner does not contact me by that time, I will draw another name at random.

6. No purchase is required.

*Author Bio: Jeri Smith-Ready’s next release is SHIFT (May 3), the second in the YA ghost trilogy that began last year with SHADE (which just came out in paperback April 5). She loves to hear from readers, so please visit her at www.jerismithready.com, or better yet, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jerismithready) or Twitter (@jsmithready), where she spends far too much time.

Buy the books!

Shade (Shade, Book 1)

Shift (Shade, Book 2)

Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions (September 20, 2011) Anthology with a Logan short story

Have Fun!

Shift Blog Tour and Grand Prize Giveaway!

Welcome to the SHIFT Blog Tour

A giveaway everyday!

**Each stop on the tour will be giving away two copies of SHIFT, plus an extra surprise gift **

Start following the tour!

*Tuesday, April 26: For What It’s Worth – Kickoff, Guest post: presentation of Logan’s “Sucks to Be a Ghost (Sometimes)” playlist

Wednesday, April 27: Mountains of Instead – Guest post: All Things Scottish (especially Zachary)

Thursday, April 28: He Followed Me Home – Guest post: Deleted Scene from SHIFT

Friday, April 29: What’s on the Bookshelf – Guest post: Loving the Love Triangle

Sunday, May 1: Addicted 2 Novels – SHIFT review

Monday, May 2: The Book Smugglers – Video guest post: Newgrange & the Mysteries of Ireland

Wednesday, May 4: Mundie Moms – Interview with Jeri

Thursday, May 5: Postmortem (Jackie Morse Kessler) – Death Interviews Logan

Friday, May 6: Books, Sweets and Other Treats – Group Interview with Zachary by the "Fab 4": Books, Sweets and Other Treats, Bookworms Haven, Booking it with Hayley G, and BrookeWorm

Sunday, May 8: Just Another Book Blog – SHIFT Review

Monday, May 9: YA Book Queen – Interview with Jeri

Tuesday, May 10: Book Junkies – Guest post: SHIFT playlist and Writing with Music

Wednesday, May 11: For What It's Worth - Wrap-up and grand prize giveaway

Special Events

Tuesday, May 3: Bitten By Books – Launch Day party! Live author Q&A all day long, big prizes

Saturday, May 7: Twitter Chat on #UFchat, hosted by Ink Gypsy, 6-7:30pm Eastern

Grand Prize Giveaway!!

Follow every stop on the tour and leave a comment. Not only will you be entered to win the daily prizes but you will automatically be entered for the GRAND PRIZE:

"Annotated" (with notes by Jeri) copies of both SHADE & SHIFT

A signed galley of SHINE - Book 3 in the Shade series, for which there will be no ARC's, when it is ready this fall!! 

PLUS - an iPod Shuffle!

RULES:

1. Contest open to International entries

2. To enter the daily contests, simply comment on that day's post. After 24 hours, a winner will be drawn for the daily prize. All daily contest commenters will be automatically entered in the grand prize drawing.

Winner will be chosen for the Grand Prize Contest will be drawn using a random number generator.

3. Odds of winning depend upon the number of participants.

4. Names of daily winners will be posted on the hosting blog's page the next day. Follow their directions for claiming prize.

5. Grand prize drawing will take place Wednesday, May 11th, (24 hours after the last post on The Book Junkies blog) and will be announced in a blog post on Wednesday, May 11th on For What It's Worth. The winner will have one week to claim his or her prize by contacting me via e-mail at fwiw DOT kea AT gmail DOT com. If the winner does not contact me by that time, I will draw another name at random.

6. No purchase is required.

Please email with ANY questions you have about the tour or giveaway at fwiw DOT kea AT gmail DOT com

And HAVE FUN!!!