This Week’s Topic:

This week’s question is extremely exciting!!! OK, maybe just moderately exciting… Semi-exciting… Meh…

Given the vast amounts of books and various celebrities at my disposal, I had near infinite possibilities. Spongebob reading Hamlet, Snooki reading quantum physics, OJ Simpson reading If I Did It. Dispite these numurous options only one celebrity sticks out, Betty White. She’s sweet (almost too sweet), jolly, and has experience with audiobooks both from her own If You Ask Me and her guest appearance on Family Guy. Obviously, because of her super sweetness, Betty White can only be cast as reading a dark, violent, sexy book like Venomous by Christopher Krovatin. It would be like your old Nana Betty telling all the youngins about her teenage years in New York, sprinkled with crazy parties, gruesome fights, a cat that can apparently play scrabble very well, and running from the po-po. Imagine Betty White telling you about running from the po-po, or even saying “po-po”. Still not convinced? Fine, I’ll tell you about the book. Venomous is about Locke Vinetti (Coolest Name Ever) coping with his overwhelming anger that is developing its own personality and trying to take over. Locke has a pretty good hold on his anger, called “The Venom”, until he meets Renee Tomas, goth extraordaire and younger sister of Andrew Tomas, meathead extraordinaire and Locke’s bully. Renee tries to help Locke get control of his anger and Locke tries to just figure Renee out. This book was pretty good, with a few parts that didn’t seem realistic. How many of you would ever walk up to your and use the phrase “improper advances” to describe a gay friend kissing you? Exactly.

Now, back to Betty, her sweet demenor would somehow make this book hilarious. You could invite some friends over, pop in the audiobook, and make a day of it. Even gruesome quotes become silly when said by a nice old lady. Imagine Betty White saying “So then I tackled Tommy Ferrero and bit off the tip of his nose.”

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YA Highway is a blog (www.yahighway.com) by a group of young adult authors from all over the world! And every Wednesday YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on their own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination, from their blog, and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

But, why not do the same thing on our blog every week? I’ll post their question and you can put your answers in our comments section, or on your own blog and link back to it in our comments (and theirs too, if you’d like, because I’m sure they’d enjoy reading your answers!)

This Week’s Topic:
Way back in November 2009, we asked what songs represent or influence your WIP. SEVENTY road trips later (seriously! seventy!), we’re coming back to the topic to ask:

If your WIP or favorite book were music, what song(s) would it be?

Of course, not all of you are writing a novel. If you’re not writing one, choose your favorite novel, tell us the title, author, what songs it would be, and why.

As for me, I’m going to choose Brian Jacques’ Redwall series. If it were a series of songs it would be the entire Pirates of the Carribean Trilogy soundtrack. Why? Because both pack a lot of adventure into them, there is romance involved in both, and a lot of the adventures both happen on ships in large bodies of water. What other music could be better for adventuresome woodland creatures?

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YA Highway is a blog (www.yahighway.com) by a group of young adult authors from all over the world! And every Wednesday YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on their own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination, from their blog, and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

But, why not do the same thing on our blog every week? I’ll post their question and you can put your answers in our comments section, or on your own blog and link back to it in our comments (and theirs too, if you’d like, because I’m sure they’d enjoy reading your answers!)

This Week’s Topic:
Assuming we make it through the 2012 apocalypse, what do you imagine the publishing world will look like 100 years from now?

This is a great question! But, I’m gonna say, if all the sci-fi books are right, publishing will be similar to ebooks, only everything will get downloaded right into our heads. It’ll be similar to the book Feed by M.T. Anderson, not that I like that idea, cause I don’t. And, I happen to like books in print. They have specific smell that’s sooo good! lol, and when you’re tired and your eyes hurt, it’s easier to read print than something on a computer. 

What do all of you guys think? Is there a book that you think most represents what the future might bring? How so? Is the wave of the future something you like, or are you against it? Let’s hear your thoughts!_____________________________

YA Highway is a blog (www.yahighway.com) by a group of young adult authors from all over the world! And every Wednesday YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on their own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination, from their blog, and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

But, why not do the same thing on our blog every week? I’ll post their question and you can put your answers in our comments section, or on your own blog and link back to it in our comments (and theirs too, if you’d like, because I’m sure they’d enjoy reading your answers!)

For me, I was obsessed with Alphabears by Kathleen Hague and illustrated by Michael Hague (who also illustrated The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien) when I was really young. In fact, my Dad read it to me so many times he eventually had the whole thing memorized. It’s still my favorite book today too and reading it was the last thing I did right before I got into the car to go to college because I wasn’t taking it with me. Why do I love this book so much? The illustrations are amazing and the rhymes are great! “F is for Freddy, a big frightful mess. What he’s been up to, no one can guess.”

After that, I was obsessed with the Thoroughbred series by Joanna Campbell because, well, duh, if you read the last post you know I love horse books. It’s about horses and girls who need to be given a chance to shine, and once they do… well, you get the idea. I love books like that. I would get one and spend the entire day reading until it was done, and then go get the next in the series.

My third obsession was the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Why? Well, let’s start with the adventures, the sword of Martin, fighting animals who have hilarious wit, animals who talk in various dialects, the feasts, everything is just awesome. They’re a great, enjoyable read, and Brian Jacques has the best narrative voice and was always entertaining when he did book signings.

So now that you’ve heard about my childhood reads, what are some of yours? Don’t forget to give us the title, author, and the reason why you loved the book(s) so much.

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YA Highway is a blog (www.yahighway.com) by a group of young adult authors from all over the world! And every Wednesday YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on their own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination, from their blog, and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

But, why not do the same thing on our blog every week? I’ll post their question and you can put your answers in our comments section, or on your own blog and link back to it in our comments (and theirs too, if you’d like, because I’m sure they’d enjoy reading your answers!)

This Week’s Topic:
Which book character would you like most as a next door neighbour?

This is a good question! There are soooo many characters I would LOVE to live next to, that it’s a tough choice. One of them would be many of the girls who love horses, or who live on horse farms, since I love horses. Or the superheros would be great to live next to as well, for obvious reasons.

So… who would you like to live next to? Perhaps the cute girl or the hot guy? Tell us your character’s name, author, and book title, unless you’re sighting a “type” like I did.

Road Trip Song of the Week:
“Hey Ya” by Outkast

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YA Highway is a blog (www.yahighway.com) by a group of young adult authors from all over the world! And every Wednesday YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on their own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination, from their blog, and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

But, why not do the same thing on our blog every week? I’ll post their question and you can put your answers in our comments section, or on your own blog and link back to it in our comments (and theirs too, if you’d like, because I’m sure they’d enjoy reading your answers!)

It could be someone that just inspired one specific trait in a character. Maybe your Main Character’s ex has a weird obsession with anime, kind of like a certain ex of yours. Or maybe the evil witch wreaking havoc on your other characters is straight-up Mrs. Hawkins, your 3rd grade math teacher. Confession time – who’s in your book?

As for me… I put some past friends in a story once when I was in college. But, I ended up not liking the story so I scraped it and moved on to something else. I’d like to think I portrayed them in a good light. They were good friends, afterall. It’s not something I would do again. I want my friends to continue being friends, and not everyone wants to be in a story, regardless of how well you portray them.  

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YA Highway is a blog (www.yahighway.com) by a group of young adult authors from all over the world! And every Wednesday YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on their own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination, from their blog, and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

But, why not do the same thing on our blog every week? I’ll post their question and you can put your answers in our comments section, or on your own blog and link back to it in our comments (and theirs too, if you’d like, because I’m sure they’d enjoy reading your answers!)

This week’s post is all about a brand new book release! Like Mandarin by  Kirsten Hubbard.

“In Like Mandarin, 14-year-old Grace Carpenter would give anything to be like 17-year-old Mandarin Ramey — the bold, carefree wild girl of their small Wyoming town. Many people I’ve spoken to experienced that sort of longing as a teen — a longing to be like someone else. A friend, a sister, a celebrity, an acquaintance, a cousin, a teacher or, as in Grace’s case, a girl you thought had no idea you existed.  I know I did!

I’ll be giving away a swag pack to one of the commenters* every day of the tour. All commenters are also entered to win a signed, annotated AND doodled-in copy of Like Mandarin.
But wait! there’s more! I also want READERS to participate. And I don’t know any group of readers who are more awesome joiners that YA Highways RTW participants! So: everyone who follows the prompt on their own blog, today or anytime before Friday, March 18th, will be entered to win a SECOND copy of Like Mandarin — also signed, annotated and doodled in! Plus swag.
*Just make sure your email address is in your comment when you post to the YA Highway Blog” -Kristen Hubbard

The link to the YA Highway blog is here: www.yahighway.com

So… what is the prompt? What’s the question you need to answer to get the free swag? Here it is:

“I would have given anything to be like…”

So, who do you want to be like? And why?

For myself, when I was a teen, it was always about being able to ride horses. I would have given anything to be like the girls in my favorite horse books, just because I love horses and love horseback riding. Especially out west. That always did look like a lot of fun in the warm sun, and adventurous too!

So, comment here, let us know who you always wanted to be, or still wish you could be… but don’t forget to post on the YA Highway blog to get free stuff!!!

This Week’s Topic:
Invent your own mythological creature!

Song of the Week:
One-Eyed One-Horned Flying Purple People Eater

I have to say, I LOVE the song of the week! It’s one of my faves, as well as the movie that was based on the song. The movie “The Purple People Eater” came out in the 80′s: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095930/ And there are some pretty popular oldies singers in the movie too! Check it out! I know it’s kinda cheezy, but hey, it’s got fantastic music, car chases, and purple monsters who want to sing in a rock ‘n roll band!

As for my own mythological creature, I think I’d have to go with my shape shifter character, who has large white feathered, angelic wings, which are bullet proof. So, he’s more human than creature, and hardly compares to Purple, but he could still become a myth legend very easily! Sadly, I can’t as of yet, point to a book and say you can read about him there. He’s still living in my head for the moment. But he is dying  to get out someday soon.

So, tell us about YOUR mythical creature! Post it to our comments page and let’s see those cool characters!

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YA Highway is a blog (www.yahighway.com) by a group of young adult authors from all over the world! And every Wednesday YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on their own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination, from their blog, and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

But, why not do the same thing on our blog every week? I’ll post their question and you can put your answers in our comments section, or on your own blog and link back to it in our comments (and theirs too, if you’d like, because I’m sure they’d enjoy reading your answers!)

This Week’s Topic is super interactive:

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YA Highway is a blog (www.yahighway.com) by a group of young adult authors from all over the world! And every Wednesday YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on their own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination, from their blog, and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

But, why not do the same thing on our blog every week? I’ll post their question and you can put your answers in our comments section, or on your own blog and link back to it in our comments (and theirs too, if you’d like, because I’m sure they’d enjoy reading your answers!)

This Week’s Topic:

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YA Highway is a blog (www.yahighway.com) by a group of young adult authors from all over the world! And every Wednesday YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on their own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination, from their blog, and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

But, why not do the same thing on our blog every week? I’ll post their question and you can put your answers in our comments section, or on your own blog and link back to it in our comments (and theirs too, if you’d like, because I’m sure they’d enjoy reading your answers!)