Guest Post by author Derek Clendening {& Giveaway for a Kindle Fire!}

Very often I’m asked why I would a story about vampires. Granted, the people asking also like to ask why I write horror at all. I write horror because I must. Vampires . . . well, let’s just say they have a broader scope than other genre creatures like werewolves and zombies. As much as they seem done to death, countless new stories are possible. To me, only ghosts have a broader scope.
     Now for a confession: The Vampire Way was nothing special at its conception. I was very young when I began writing it and I first tried to tell a run of the mill vampire tale. As I matured, the story blossomed into something much greater. Immortality has long been a word used in vampire fiction. I wanted the novel to endeavor to truly explore and understand it. To do that, I ramped up the role of the vampire depicted in the novel, and even gave some ‘Sympathy for the Devil’, so to speak. I doubt I ruined anything by doing so. Really, I gave vampires a different dimension, a reason to side with the vampire who doesn’t sparkle. 
     Rick Thompson, my protagonist, is a human in the midst of a vampire attack, and has long yearned to understand immortality. Thanks to the vampire attacks, and the ensuing emotional fallout, he is able determine what immortality is.
     No spoilers here. Rick endures an entire process to learn what immortality is. To do that, Rick faces some very dark circumstances. I’m often questioned about dark topics too. My response is that everyone encounters dark circumstances in their lives and fictional characters are no exception. By fighting vampires, Rick embarks upon a journey of self-discovery, maturity and strength. You could say that he couldn’t have become a better person had a vampire not walked into his life.
     The good news is that the novel has a little something for everyone. For readers who demand a scary vampire I have given them . . . well, a scary vampire. The novel offers heady doses of emotion for the Twilight crowd. For those who love series books, this is the first of a three book series, so stay tuned.
     The concept’s freshness is what you as a reader will have to decide. I love to hear from readers and I always respond to e-mails. Let me know if The Vampire Way uncovered new ground for you.

    To enter to win a Kindle Fire, leave your name and e-mail address in the comment form below. You can enter once per blog stop. Visit each blog stop to increase your odds of winning. If I crack the Kindle Top 100, I will give away another Kindle Fire. E-mail me for the tour newsletter including a full listing of tour stops at derek(dot) r (dot) clendening (at) gmail (dot) com.
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Review: Boyfriends With Girlfriends by Alex Sanchez {#JustContemporary}

 Boyfriends With Girlfriends by Alex Sanchez

Hardcover, 224 pgs.

Published April 19th, 2011 by Simon & Schuster

Reading Level: Young Adult

Source: Library

Lance has always known he was gay, but he's never had a real boyfriend. Sergio is bisexual, but his only real relationship was with a girl. When the two of them meet, they have an instant connection--but will it be enough to overcome their differences?Allie's been in a relationship with a guy for the last two years--but when she meets Kimiko, she can't get her out of her mind. Does this mean she's gay? Does it mean she's bi? Kimiko, falling hard for Allie, and finding it impossible to believe that a gorgeous girl like Allie would be into her, is willing to stick around and help Allie figure it out.
Boyfriends with Girlfriends is Alex Sanchez at his best, writing with a sensitive hand to portray four very real teens striving to find their places in the world--and with each other.

You know how most YA books can be enjoyed by adults just as much as the young adults?  Well, this one wasn't really that way.  This was a book without much plot other then the teens exploring their sexuality.  Finding out what they might want from their relationships, etc.  There's a lot of dialogue and to me it just wasn't really very interesting.  Now if there had been more plot maybe it would have been better for me, but there just wasn't.  However, I think a teen who is maybe confused with their sexuality and might think they are bi, gay or lesbian would likely connect with the story.  Or those who have friends who are or think they might be.  Maybe even parents whose children are confused.  

There's quite a bit of talk of sex and some quite descriptive sexual acts.  And this book was very in your face about being gay, lesbian or bi.  That was solely what it was about.  With the issues that these teens had to go through.  I'm all about people being who they are and I enjoy reading GLBT books, but since I'm straight, and in this case, an adult, I like there to be more to the story.  However, like I said before, I'm just not the right person for this book and for the right person this book could be perfect and exactly what they are looking for.  

Find the author:

Website

Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher {#JustContemporary}

I've had this book on my shelf since July and have wanted to read it since before then.  When I signed up for Just Contemporary {find out more about this event HERE} I knew that I HAD to fit it in.  And I am SO glad I did.  This was an absolutely amazing story.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Paperback, 288 pgs.

Published Oct. 2007 {first publication}

Reading Level: Young Adult

Source: Gift

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier.
On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

 This was a powerful story, I mean, how could it not be?  And while I knew it wasn't going to be some happy go lucky tale, I had a feeling it was an important story.  How often have you known someone who committed suicide?  Hopefully not many, but I know I've known several and the thoughts of why went through my head plenty.  Getting an idea of how things can spiral out of control, to get into the mind of someone who did commit suicide, is a unique experience and I thought was a brilliant idea for a novel.  The little things that happen in our interaction with other people really can impact their lives.  Positively or negatively.  In this case we mostly see all the negative.  These people for the most part are normal teens.  They do stupid stuff, they say stupid stuff, they do little things that negatively impact others.  And all those little things add up.  

Clay gets this box of tapes and once he starts listening and discovers that Hannah made this for all the people that had a hand in destroying her he doesn't know what it is he did.  He liked Hannah, he really liked her.  So as the story progresses the urge to find out what his part is only gets stronger.  I grew attached to Clay almost right away.  With his thoughts being thrown it was clear he was a good guy.  Anything he could have done had to have been accidental.  I just had to read faster to find out.   

I highly recommend you pick this one up if you haven't already.  It's a powerful story that will make you want to be a better person.  It's totally unique {at least I've never read anything like it} and it really makes you think.  It's also very fast paced and easy to fly through.