Visit my other (soon to be only -- yeah, I know, I'm breaking your heart) blog for information on innovative and easy ways to aid, support, and encourage those affected by the Victoria Bushfires.

And for a very pleasant diversion, read this fantastic interview with author Heidi R. Kling over at Juvenescence.

More fabulous YA and MG debuts..Sarah Maclean's The Season also exploded onto the scene. Great interview right over here!

Stacey Jay and YOU ARE SO UNDEAD TO ME made a big splash in Mississippi. And Erin Dionne's MODELS DON'T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES was a huge hit at our local Scholastic Book Fair; it's also blowing up the blogosphere, big-time.

Amazon links provided for book descriptions; if you can, pick up the books at your local independent bookstore.

Shadowed Summer, by the awesome Saundra Mitchell is out today -- don't miss it! Check out this interview with Saundra and some fascinating video glimpses behind the book, like this one.

Booklist called it "Highly atmospheric, with pulse-pounding suspense and an elegiac ending." Pick it up at your local indie, online...anywhere. I've been too chicken to read it yet, but I'm going to crack it open today. When I'm not alone.

WOOOOOOOO! (of both the scary and the huzzah! variety.)

New post up on AuthorsNow!; please share your 'book that changed everything' in the comments. Thanks so much to everyone who supplied such fantastic anecdotes.