10 for 2010: Most Anticipated for 2011

The best thing about being a book blogger this year is I get to find out about all the new titles coming out in the next few months and years. Before, I’d just rely on bookstore releases and sometimes I find out about them late! Thanks to the great blogging community and social networks, I find out about future releases so early! So early that sometimes the waiting time is unbearable. :P

So presenting today’s 10 for 2010: Most Anticipated Books for 2011.

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

1. What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (May 2011) – If you’ve known me for a while now, you’ll know that Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite contemporary YA authors ever. Just Listen got me started on the contemporary YA genre, and I’ve devoured all her books ever since I read that. When I found out that she’s releasing a new book in 2011, I squeed. I absolutely cannot wait for this next novel — in fact, I am already planning a Dessen marathon to prepare myself for this new release. :)

2. Deadline by Mira Grant (May 2011) – Feed was one of my favorite books for this year, and the one year wait for its sequel is already long enough, don’t you think? More zombies, more politics and more blogging must be in Deadline…and maybe even a radio thing? I don’t know. But I am definitely looking forward to this one.

3. Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal (March 2011) – Two words: Sweet. Valley. Need I say more?

4. Bumped by Megan McCafferty (April 2011) – I loved the Jessica Darling series, and I like Megan McCafferty. This dystopian sounds really awesome, and I’ve seen very good reviews about this, too. :)

5. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan (March 2011) – While there are other zombie books that I liked more than Carrie Ryan’s series, I am still in love with her writing. After I’ve read The Forest of Hands and Teeth and The Dead-Tossed Waves, I cannot miss the third one. I hope more questions will be answered by then. :)

One of Our Thursdays is Missing6. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde (March 2011) – Just like Sarah Dessen, Jasper Fforde is on my auto-buy list. Thursday Next is one of my favorite heroines, so it’s imperative I get a copy of the sixth book. And maybe refresh myself with the series, too.

7. Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews (May 2011) – I think I’ve professed my love for the Kate Daniels series enough this year? :) If not, I must say it again: I love this series. And like all the other fans I know, I cannot wait o get my hands on the next installment in the series. :)

A Monster Calls8. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (May 2011) – Okay, so I’ve only really read one book and a novella from him, but I like him already. While I wait for his new book, I will finish the two other books in the Chaos Walking series. Yes, I will.

9. Winter Town by Stephen Emond (Fall 2011) – Happyface is undoubtedly one of my most favorite books in 2010, so knowing that Stephen Emond will release a new book is just exciting. I love the premise too: “…told from two perspectives and accompanied by scrapbook entries and comics, childhood friends grow up, grow apart, and eventually fall in love.” Being the president of his fans club, it is my responsibility to get a copy of this as soon as its released. :P

10. Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (Summer 2011) – This is my most anticipated collaboration for 2011. Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee, two of the big names in Christian fiction — this is going to be good, I can tell. :)

Runners Up:

  • Allison Hewitt is TrappedAllison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux (January 2011) – I saw this book on The Book Smugglers and I loved how it started out as a blog, too. Blogging and zombies again – one of my favorite combination. Must get this one.
  • Sweetly by Jackson Pearce (August 2011) – I love the cover, and I love the Hansel and Gretel retelling idea. I enjoyed Jackson Pearce’s Sisters Red, so I am excited to get my hands on this one, too.
  • Where She Went by Gayle Forman (April 2011) – I loved If I Stay, and the idea of the sequel is just…well, awesome. I can’t wait to know what happened after Mia’s ordeal.

Check out my other 10 for 2010 posts!
10 Favorite Male Characters
10 Favorite Female Characters
10 Favorite Couples
10 Favorite Authors

I’m giving away some of my favorite books in 2010 in my Anniversary Giveaway! Know why Patrick Ness is one of my auto-buy authors now through The Knife of Never Letting Go! Every comment you leave is one entry — the more comments you leave, the more entries you get! :) Click the image for the mechanics and the list of prizes!

Waiting on Wednesday: Deadline by Mira Grant

It’s the first day of December, and this means Christmas! And since it’s nearing Christmas, I think it may be just fitting to post something about a book I desperately want?

Okay, I’m just making excuses. Besides, even if I desperately want this book, I can’t get it until next year, so I would really still have to wait. Anyway, I was browsing through my friends’ wish lists yesterday in Goodreads when I saw that one of the books I am definitely looking forward to next year now has a cover. Excuse me while I squee. :D

Deadline (Newsflesh # 2) by Mira Grant
Out May 31, 2011

Shaun Mason is a man without a mission. Not even running the news organization he built with his sister has the same urgency as it used to. Playing with dead things just doesn’t seem as fun when you’ve lost as much as he has.

But when a CDC researcher fakes her own death and appears on his doorstep with a ravenous pack of zombies in tow, Shaun has a newfound interest in life. Because she brings news-he may have put down the monster who attacked them, but the conspiracy is far from dead.

Now, Shaun hits the road to find what truth can be found at the end of a shotgun.

[cover and blurb from Goodreads]

It’s no secret that I loved Mira Grant’s Feed this year, and it was the cover that reeled me in when I first saw it. When I saw that the next book’s cover is out, I wished that it was already available so I can have it in my hands. :D

I’m quite partial to the first cover:

Feed by Mira GrantBut I think Deadline‘s is just as cool. :D What do you think?

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

(Closed) Book Giveaway: Feed by Mira Grant

CONTEST CLOSED!

I found out about Feed by Mira Grant when I was doing my book blog rounds in my Google Reader. I remember coming across the cover and seeing the RSS logo and thinking, “Oh cool, it’s an RSS logo.”

Then I read the blurb and my next thoughts were:

Blogging…and zombies? OMG AWESOME. I must have this!

I ended up getting the Kindle edition of this book, and I ended up loving it so much that I knew this is one of the books that I would want to have an actual copy of…and because I really, really love it so much and I want someone to talk to about this, I bought two copies of this book so I can hold a *drumroll*book giveaway.

Yes! I figure, One More Page is already six months old, and what better way to celebrate that by giving away one of my favorite books in 2010!

Feed by Mira Grant giveaway

Feed by Mira Grant
Book # 1 of the Newsflesh Trilogy
Published by: Orbit Books

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.

NOW, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

→ Read my review of Feed at Pinoy Pop
→ Read an excerpt of Feed

I will be giving away one brand new copy of Feed by Mira Grant, fresh from Fully Booked. Since I love the book so much, I want to share it with others and this is your chance to get to read the awesomeness that is zombies and blogging. :)

How to enter the contest: just leave a comment on this entry, with an answer to this question: What would be your weapon of choice in the case of a zombie apocalypse? (I am serious about this question, I want to know your answers!)

To get an extra entry, just share this contest on Twitter (see that retweet button up there?). Leave a comment with the link to your tweet, or just include my twitter handle in your tweet — @tinamats .

More chances! Blog about this contest and leave a comment with the link to your blog! You can answer the zombie apocalypse entry there, too, if you want. :) I’d love to read your entries.

The contest will is open up to June 30, 2010. This contest is open to residents of the Philippines only. Unfortunately, I can’t afford international shipping just yet, but you can get Feed by Mira Grant on Amazon.com.:)

Book Happy Friday # 2

So the other day, my friend Jana tweeted one of her high’s for the day. I was at the gym then, but thanks to Wifi, I was updated with their tweets. Her tweet made me stop short from what I am doing:

high #1 Feed by Mira Grant…on paperback :P

So right after I worked out, I headed to Fully Booked Eastwood to check if they already have a copy. They don’t. I was heading to Shang that afternoon for an office thing, so I thought I’d pass by.

I didn’t get to pass by Fully Booked in Shang, and I was already getting agitated. I need to get a copy of Feed, stat! So when I got back to the office, I made a phone call. Turns out there are no more copies in Shang, but there may be some at The Fort. I called The Fort, and success! I got them to send my copy to Fully Booked Eastwood.

I was expecting it to arrive next week, since they said it would take 3-5 business days. But surprised, I got a text message earlier and now…viola.

Don’t you just love that RSS logo on the cover? :)

But wait, there’s more:

I bought two copies of the book. One for myself and one for…well, you’ll find out in this weekend. ;)

Wait, you don’t know what Feed is about? Read my review here!

So it’s another Book Happy Friday! I found a lot of awesome books in Fully Booked earlier, too, and too bad I’m over my monthly book allowance…and I still have a ton of books on my TBR list. I must exercise control.

Right. But happy weekend, fellow bookworms! :)

When will you rise?

Feed by Mira GrantFeed by Mira Grant

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.

NOW, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

Note: Will you just look at that awesome cover???

It was a normal afternoon at work. My colleagues and I were preparing to attend a required meeting when the boys started discussing their last Left 4 Dead 2 gaming session. I listened to them talk about how hard it was to get through whatever level they were in and how they blasted the zombies in the game, then I interrupted them with a question: “What if a zombie apocalypse actually happens?”

That simple question started a string of discussions about what could happen if zombies actually walk among us, hungry for our brains. We talked about the zombie apocalypse at length and what we would do: where to hide, how to kill zombies effectively, what weapons to use given our location, how to survive, even what to do if one of us were to get infected. Answers drew from sources of zombie wisdom ranging from movies like Zombieland to games like Resident Evil and even Plants vs. Zombies, all discussed with absolute seriousness, as if a zombie invasion was a real possibility.

In Mira Grant’s Feed, the first book in the Newsflesh trilogy, zombies have become a part of the normal everyday existence…click here to read the rest of the review.

Rating: [rating=5]

2010 Challenge Status:
* Book # 28 out of 100 for 2010
* Book # 12 out of 20 Fantasy books for 2010

→ Get Feed by Mira Grant on Amazon.com
→ Mira Grant’s website
→ Newsflesh Trilogy website