Katie Alender is a 2009 graduate of the Debutante Ball and the author of Disney-Hyperion’s thriller series for teens, Bad Girls Don’t Die. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found reading, sewing, or hanging out with her dog and husband!
She can be found online at KatieAlender.com, Twitter, and Facebook.
Katie talks about her summer beach reads!
(First things first: Wow! It’s so amazing to be back at the Ball! Not only are my Deb memories wonderful ones, but the friendships I made while I danced here are still some of the most supportive and rewarding relationships in my authorly life.)
This week’s topic is “beach reads.” I’m sorry… “beach”? What is this word?
Okay, I confess: I grew up in sunny South Florida, about a four minute drive from the beach, and in my childhood, I spent more than my fair share of time digging holes, being knocked over by waves, and collecting shells. But in my adult life, blistering sun, foot-burning sand, withering heat, stinging salt water, and crowds of skinny-minnies in teeny-weeny bikinis are pretty much off my radar.
My idea of a perfect summer day? Well, right now is a pretty good example. It’s about 62 degrees outside and delightfully cloudy. It even whispered rain this morning. In LA, we call it “June Gloom,” meaning the marine layer that rolls in every night and doesn’t burn off until mid-afternoon. Now that’s what I call a tropical paradise!
So it follows that my idea of beach reads is as warped as my appreciation for sunburns and jellyfish. Not for me the vision of being stretched out on a lawn chair by the pool—I’ll take bundled up under quilts with a fire in the fireplace, please! Preferably while rain falls just outside the window.
Or at the very least I’ll need a comfy chair with the air conditioner blasting.
And here are the books I’ll be indulging in this summer:
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
An eternal classic and one of my ultimate favorite books ever. I re-read this every year or two, and also cycle through every film adaptation and the audiobook. Reading about chilly, rainy England is the best antidote to a sunny day.
Under the Dome by Stephen King
I’ve owned this forever and never gotten to sit down and read it. That’s a lot of shelf space for a book I’m not sure if I love. So it’s time to crack it open and give it a read.
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
One of the big YA titles from this spring. It has a ton of great buzz and I’m dying to know what happens. How cool is it that sci-fi oriented stuff is hitting the young adult mainstream?
Lit by Mary Carr
I read The Liars’ Club last year and loved it. Then I waited about a year for Cherry to come up on my library’s holds list (and realized the reason it took so long was that I’d ordered the large-print edition… d’oh!) and never read it. I think I’ll go ahead and read this newest one since it’s close at hand!
Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann
I bought this book on Kindle the day it came out, and then I got swept away in revisions for my third book. I’m determined to read it–after all, what says “summer read” more than a spooky ghost mystery?
Populazzi by Elise Allen
If I have a “little sister” Deb, it’s Deb Elise! So naturally I’m dying to check out her book when it pubs in August!
And I’m sure I’ll pick up more books along the way. My to-read stack is getting perilously tall, but that’s just how I like it!
Thank you so much for having me back!
The Bad Girls Don’t Die series is the story of Alexis, a pink-haired loner, and how her life–and her relationships with her family and friends–are changed by the evil ghosts she encounters.
MTV’s Hollywood Crush says, “Katie Alender’s ‘Bad Girls Don’t Die’ series might just be the most intriguing YA series you haven’t been reading.”
From Bad to Cursed is the second book in the series, and it’s available wherever books are sold!
To win a copy of From Bad to Cursed (US only!), leave a comment below! We’ll announce the winner next week!
And check out the book trailer!
Wow, the trailer! Chilling! What’s the name of the first book, or is it the series title? I’d like to read the first one before I read the second (of course).
Where does a book trailer play? TV? Internet? I’ve seen a lot of book trailers lately online, but rarely see one on television.
OK, that trailer is something else! I spilled my coffee on myself when…well, I won’t spoil it, but I’m still mopping up. LOL
Looks like Katie has some great book plans for the summer. I’ve only read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE on her list, but each of the others is in my TBR pile. Sigh. Need…more…reading…time. 🙂
Oooh, great trailer! The Bad Girls Don’t Die series sounds fantastic.
I appreciate an occasional chilly, rainy day in the summer (if we’re lucky enough to get one). A break from the heat, as well as an excuse to curl up with hot tea and good cozy read suits me fine.
Holy cow – I almost screamed at the end of the trailer! Amazing, Katie!
Katie, it’s so fun to have you back, and the trailer is awesome. Hurray!
I didn’t know you grew up in South Florida – I lived there for 10 years! It’s a small Deb world.
Shakespeare, the first book is called “Bad Girls Don’t Die”. The trailer plays mostly online. A few very high-profile authors have their trailers played on TV or in movie theatres, but (especially with a YA audience), the internet is a pretty highly effective way to reach them. And much less expensive! I’d venture to say that most publishers don’t have “TV” money reserved for their more midlisty authors. I know my publishing house only does TV stuff for a couple of their big star authors. (But a girl can dream…)
Oh, Kay, oops! Sorry about the coffee! And I’m so with you on the reading time. I don’t know what’s changed–I guess it’s promoting two books instead of one (is that like having two kids instead of one?)–but last May I read 13 books, and this May I read ONE! (Which was, admittedly, a lower total than it could have been.)
Linda, thank you! If you do check it out, I hope you like it! So far, most of our summer days have been lovely and cool, especially in the mornings. Last year I had finally braced myself for the super-heat, and then in July, the average high was 78 or something. I was in heaven! And now I’m spoiled and crossing my fingers for another mild summer!
Sorry, Sarah! But thank you. 🙂
Thank you, Eleanor! I’m so happy to be back. I loved my time here at the Ball! And yep, I grew up near West Palm Beach… I can hardly go back, though–the humidity just about takes me down!
Love that trailer!
And I second your vote about POPULAZZI being a great beach read. I had the divine pleasure of enjoying it on the beach in Kauai. Heavenly!
Tawna
Yay, Katie! Congrats on the release of From Bad To Cursed (which is on my summer reading list) and you already know this, but I love the trailer! p.s. you’ll love Cryer’s Cross – so creepy.
Hey, Big Sis! Love love love the trailer, and can’t wait to read the book! You will love Under the Dome, which is a great beach OR June Gloom read!
Great to have you back at the Ball!
love the trailer!!! congratulations!!! and thanks for the chance to read your latest novel 🙂
I keep hearing about this book, great to see it at the Deb Ball!
Katie, I kept hoping the Trailer would premiere in TDW’S book presentation/review but somehow it feels more appropriate to have my first viewing here. LOVE it and honestly got goosebumps of fright despite knowing the story!
FROM BAD TO CURSED does your debut proud. Brava, Katie!
Tawna, I can’t wait to read it!
Joanne, thank you! And yes, Cryer’s Cross has been burning a hole in my TBR list since I got it!
Elise, 🙂 yes–it’s time for me to conquer the dome!
Karen, thank you! And you’re welcome, LOL.
Sara, yay! And it’s so fun for me to be back here.
Larramie, if only the timing had worked out better… we ended up shooting this June 11! Talk about procrastination. Thank you, as always, for your support and kindness!
OMG love it! I know the book is going to be awsome. I hope i win because i cant find the book anywhere! I loved Bad Girls Dont Die. you are my FAvorite Author!
Love,
Taylor;]<3
Congrats on the new release! I have been looking forward to it since I finished the first book.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
I’m so excited about this new book for my granddaughter. And then she can lend it to me:)
You don’t know how excited I am to read this!
LOVE the trailer can’t wait to read From Bad to Cursed…. I know that it will be just as good as the first one!! Also hoping that the new one is just as scary as the other one!!!