Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, 2007, 2008)(Listening Library, 2008)(audio sample) goes on sale in paperback in the U.S. July 22!The end papers of the novel include an excerpt of Eternal (Candlewick, 2008), which is the second book in the universe. Eternal features different main characters. The excerpt is told from the first person POV of the female lead. There also is an alternating first person POV male lead, who doesn't appear in those pages. Note: more stories in the universe are in the works, including stories featuring Tantalize characters.
To celebrate, I'm giving away three signed copies of Tantalize in paperback, each with a Sanguini's T-shirt of the winner's choice! Note: Sanguini's is the fictional vampire-themed restaurant in the novel.
In addition to the popular Sanguini's logo shirts, graphic design genius Gene Brenek has created the all-new "I 'heart' Baby Squirrel" shirt; the "Cell Phones Will Be Eaten" shirt; the "Drop In for a Late Night Bite" shirt; and both a birds-theme and a dragon-theme "predator or prey" shirt. See below; click for larger views. Note: I don't make any money off the sale of the tie-in shirts.
To enter the Tantalize paperback and Sanguini's T-shirt giveaway, email me (scroll for address) with your name, snail/street mail address, and preferred T-shirt design by midnight CST July 22! Please also type "Tantalize Paperback and Sanguini's T-shirt" in the subject line.
One prize will be awarded to a YA teacher or librarian (please specify school/library with entry; university professors are eligible) and two prizes will be awarded to any Cynsations YA readers.
Additional Sanguini's T-shirts of the winners' choice will be awarded to a member of Tantalize Fans Unite! at MySpace and to any YA bookseller.
To enter the Sanguini's T-shirt (only) giveaway, email me (scroll for address) with your name, snail/street mail address, and preferred T-shirt design by midnight CST July 22! If you are a member of TFU! please indicate that, and if you are a bookseller, please specify your bookstore. Please also type "Sanguini's T-shirt" in the subject line.
From the promotional copy:
"Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her hybrid-werewolf first love threatens to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. And just as she and her uncle are about to debut Austin's red hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef."Can Quincie transform the new hire into a culinary dark lord before opening night? Will Henry Johnson be able to wow the crowd in fake fangs, a cheap cape, and red contact lenses? Or is there more to this earnest fresh face than meets the eye?
"As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who's playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything? "
"If Joan Bauer took a crack at dark fantasy, the result would...be something like this gothic-horror comedy." --Booklist"Smith adds a light touch of humor to the soup, but the main course is a dark romance with all the gory trimmings." --The Horn Book
"Quincie must make a terrifying choice...that will have...readers weeping with both lust and sorrow." --Kirkus Reviews
New Designs
See larger and logo!
See larger and logo!
See larger and logo!
See larger and logo!
See larger and logo! Note: my favorite of the new designs!
Cynsational Notes
Tantalize will be released by Walker U.K. this fall, and production is coming along nicely. I heard this week from the copy editor on a handful of minor Texan to U.K. language translations. The announcement of other foreign editions is pending.
