I got into the Desires of the Dead Acknowledgements!!!

WHOOT!

I got into the Desires of the Dead acknowledgments page! Check me out on the fourth paragraph, last sentence!

WHOOT! (x100000000)

It was a complete surprise when I saw my name on there! Kim kept it hush hush and I wasn't even the one who discovered it! My friend, Ena found it when she was flipping through the book! The convo went something like this:

"Dude, you're name is on here...that's so cool...such a coincidence,"

"Really?!? Where?"

"Here," *shows the part*

Cue Reggie's hyperventilation: "AHHHHHHHH!"

"DUDE! WTF?!?"

"DUDE! That's me!"

"It's probably just a coincidence, Reggie,"

"No it isn't! She wrote about the bathtub!"

"..."

"Seriously! I dropped her first book, The Body Finder, in the bathtub!!! It's an inside joke," *feels special*

"Okayyyyyyyy,"

"I'm totally going to show Mrs. Thompson!"

"Dude, you're such a nerd,"

"But, I'm in a book!"

"Exactly."

---End Convo---

Thank you so much to Kim who put me there!!! OMG! I was showing everybody! Me and Justine (my other friend, who looooves TBF) were screaming and doing the happy dance!!!

(Do you like ^this^ picture? I'm such a pro photographer =) JK!)

Read more...

Swoon-Worthy: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting!!!

Hey guys! Look at this fantastic cover! It's Kimberly Derting's sophomore novel and sequel to The Body Finder; Desires of the Dead!!!

It releases March 15th (5 days after my birthday), next year!!! So stay tuned!!!

Read more...

Character Connection: Jay Heaton (Character Interview)

So, some of you might be wanting to read something with Jay in it! If you've been living under a rock and haven't read The Body Finder, he's the really cute hot guy in it...he really can't be mistaken =) I also interviewed Violet yesterday over here, so go on ahead and check it out! Anyway, here's my quick interview with him! Enjoy! Tell me what you think in the comments =) I'd love to hear from more Jay fans like me!!!

What do you think of Violet's ability?
Are you kidding, it’s awesome! Especially when we were little and she used to uncover these cool dead animals. I used to be jealous of her!

How is it like to deal with Violet's ability? Do you feel helpless sometimes?
I didn’t used to until she decided to go hunting for that psycho killer. Now I’m worried that she might try something like that again, and what if something happens to her?

What's your favorite memory of you and Violet?
Don’t tell Violet, but when we were in the fifth grade, we kissed once. She thought it was gross, but I liked it. A lot!

What's your deepest, darkest desire/secret?
It’s probably not very dark, or very deep either, but I kind of wish I was the one who could find bodies. Like I said, I was always a little jealous of Vi.

What's your favorite song?
Coldplay has a song called Violet Hill and I kinda like, although it really has nothing to do with Violet. *shrugs* I probably just like it because it has her name in it.

Are you very protective over Violet?
I don’t want to be over-protective, but I guess you could say that I watch out for her and worry about her. I can’t imagine losing her.

When did you first realize that you were in love with Violet?
Way before she ever did, that’s for sure. I think I’ve loved her since that first kiss, I just had to wait for her catch up. Thank god she finally figured it out.

Read more...

Character Connection: Violet Ambrose (Character Interview)

Hey guys! I have Violet Ambrose from Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder here! And also, it's Kim's birthday so go tweet her happy birthday at @KimberlyDerting! Here's my chat with Violet!

What do you think of your 'ability'? Do you think it's a talent? Or a curse?
I used to think it was more of a curse; I just wanted to be normal like everyone else. But when I realized that it might be useful in tracking down a killer, I realized it might not be so bad to be different.

What's your favorite memory of you and Jay?
When we were younger, Jay and I used to play in the woods for hours, building forts and making treasure maps. Sometimes he would have to wait while I’d dig up an animal that called out to me, but he never complained. Jay’s just like that, kind of sweet, even about my ability.

How did you meet Jay?
He moved to our school in the first grade and he didn’t have any friends. I told him that if he kissed Chelsea Morrison I’d be his best friend. Of course, I didn’t think he’d really do it, but he did. And Chelsea did what I’d expect her to do, she pushed him down. The school had a no-tolerance policy when it came to any physical contact (like kissing or pushing), so the principal called all of our parents and we got in trouble. But we’ve been best friends ever since.

What's your favorite book?
I had to read To Kill a Mockingbird once for a class, and I really liked it! But if I’m being totally honest, I really liked Carrie by Stephen King. Now she had a creepy ability!

Do you wish that you never had your ability? Or do you wish that there were more people with your ability?
I used to, like I said before, I just wanted to be normal. I’m not sure I wish there were more people with my ability, but sometimes I wish there was someone I could talk to who really understood what it was like, being different. I wish I could talk to my grandmother about what it was like for her.

What's your biggest fear?
Losing someone I love, isn’t that everyone’s fear? I’d do anything to protect my friends and family.

Do you fear your ability?
No. It’s kind of weird, I guess, growing up with something like that you never know anything different so it’s not scary. It probably helps that my parents are so understanding about it. If they were freaked out about it, maybe I would be too.

Read more...

The Body Finder Release Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is the official release day for The Body Finder!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats to Kim on her release day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so so so happy for her debut!!!!!!! It's amazing! Here are some links you might like:

My review: http://theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com/2010/03/body-finder-by-kimberly-derting.html

My interview with KD: http://theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com/2010/03/secret-agent-uncovered-kimberly-derting.html

SO GO BUY IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's amazing and totally totally worth it!!!!!!

Read more...

Author Uncovered: Kimberly Derting (Author Interview)

Hi guys! Today, I have the completely and utterly awesome Kimberly Derting! She's THE best author I've ever talked to, and she wrote THE best book ever!!! Here's a little more about her! Enjoy!

Why did you choose to write Paranormal YA?
It wasn’t actually a decision, it was just the story I ended up telling. My husband was actually the one who came up with Violet’s ability (kind of…) when we were driving one day and he said: “What if there was someone who could find dead bodies?” Of course, my imagination took over from there, and by the time we got home, I had already worked out most of the details of Violet (and her creepy ability).

What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses as an author?
My strength is probably that I can become totally obsessed when writing, which sounds kind of like a bad thing. My husband calls it single-mindedness. I like to call it passion. I truly love what I do!
One of my big weaknesses is that I’m not an outliner, which makes it nearly impossible to synopsize a novel in advance (which agents and editors tend to like). But I really enjoy working on the fly. I pretty much know where my story is going (in fact, I usually have a really good idea how it’s going to end), I just don’t know exactly how I’m going to get there. But that’s half the fun…figuring it out as I go.

Who is your favorite character from The Body Finder?
I love them all, they’re kind of like my babies. But I do have a special soft spot for Chelsea of all people. You’ll get to see more of her in Desires of the Dead, the sequel to The Body Finder, but I just really like her smart-ass (can I say ass?) sense of humor. And in Desires, she reveals (just a little) of her softer side as well.

What's the most interesting thing a reader has ever said to you?
Interesting, hmm? I recall a reader emailing to tell me that she dropped her copy of The Body Finder in the bathtub when someone walked in on her.
Wait! Was that you…???

How does it feel to be anticipating the release of your debut book?
Honestly? Terrifying. I mean it, the closer it gets to my release date, the more I’m freaking out [insert eye twitch here]. It can be a little crazy-making, but I’m kind of loving the ride!

Is being a 10'er fun?
Fun doesn’t begin to describe it. The Tenners are hilarious, smart, and just an all-around supportive group of extremely talented authors! In other words, they’ve got my back! What more could a girl want?

Book you've faked reading:
I usually don’t fake reading. I did, however, pretend to be reading on the plane one time just to avoid talking to the guy next to me. When the book wasn’t enough to make him leave me alone (he actually said to me: “So, you like reading?”), I tried my iPod (headphones and all). Eventually, he got the hint and I got some peace.

That’s still one of the funniest pick-up lines I’ve ever heard!

Book you've bought for the cover:
Wicked Lovely. I was perusing Amazon one day, when I came across it and fell in love with the colors, the image, just everything about it. I’d never read a fairy book before, and thankfully it delivered…I can’t wait for the next installment in this fabulous series.

Book you're an evangelist for:
LEAVING GEE’S BEND!!!!!!! Did you hear that, people???? Here, let me try again: LEAVING GEE’S BEND by Irene Latham.
I loved this book so much that after I read it I emailed the people that run the Scholastic Book Fairs (you know, the book clubs in schools?) and told them they should include it in their lineup. I still don’t know if my begging suggestion had any impact, but it really is a beautiful story of hope that everyone should pick up!

Anything else you'd like to add? Are you working on any new projects?
I’m almost always working on something. I just finished revisions on Desires of the Dead. And I have a super-secret project that I just turned in to my agent. I have no idea what will happen with that one…it’s completely different than anything I’ve done before, but I will say that I’m completely in love with it! Hopefully I’ll be announcing something soon (which in publishing lingo means in the next year or so!).

Oh, and the next time you’re reading THE BODY FINDER in the bathtub, don’t forget to lock the door!

Haha! That's one of the most hilarious interviews ever! Now you know the reason why I dropped my ARC in the bathtub!

Read more...

The Body Finder Birthday Cake!!!

My mom got me this totally awesome Body Finder cake for my birthday! The Body Finder was printed on gum paste and then moved on top of some really really yummy cake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check it out!

This is the cake from the top =)



Yay! Finally 15 =)


The candles are lit! Doesn't it look pretty?!?


Me with the cake =) I just came home from school, so I look kinda retarded! LOL!


Time for blowing! I'm the most epic candle-blower you will meet! LOL! The one in the pink shirt is my sister (The Bookologist).



Yummy cake! *nom nom* It was really really good...


There you have it folks! My Body Finder Birthday Cake! Thank you so much to my mom and dad for getting me this cake =)

Read more...

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Body Finder (Book 1)
Author: Kimberly Derting
Pages: 336
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: March 16, 2010

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

Echoes. Do you hear them? Do you smell them? Do you taste them? Do you see them? If you do, you're like Violet. She keeps her ability a secret to everyone except those closest to her...including her best friend Jay Heaton. After an uneventful summer, she is faced with dead girls' bodies, a murder on the loose, and a growing romance with her best friend. Violet is the only one who can catch the killer. But time is running out. Soon, she won't be sensing other people's echoes, but rather, she'll be getting her very own.

The Body Finder is an original, edgy read that will pull readers into a convincing and authentic world of passion, romance, and suspense. Derting's prose is sharp, magnetic, and detailed. Fitting this with The Body Finder's enigmatic plot creates a solid and concrete semblance and ultimately captivates readers with its many innate elements. The idea of an 'echo' only adds to the curiosity and intrigue of The Body Finder and once readers are introduced to Violet's strong and genuine narrative, they will eventually connect with her on a more in-depth level.

Throughout the entirety of The Body Finder, readers will always have a feeling of unwavering intensity and passion. The whole book is one big climax, and when the real climax actually happens, it creates an even bigger boom of action. The same tone is potent between Violet and Jay. The tension between them builds up as they start to realize their feelings for each other. And when they do, there is a great sense of revelation and realization, but the depth and emotion is never lost. Their chemistry is apparent from the very start, and their background as friends only makes their romance more believable. Jay's fierce protectiveness of Violet is completely justified, but so is Violet's stubbornness. This clashing and conflict towards each other is what fuels the tension and the building excitement between them.

The Body Finder alternates between Violet's and the killer's perspective and provides a deeper look into the psyche of two very different people; a teenager, and a killer. Having the killer's point of view evokes more enigma and mystery, while Violet's narrative is made an opportunity to show teenage realism and the grappling struggles of teens whilst still pertaining to Violet's ability. Derting skillfully balances everything and perfectly combines touches of reality with fantasy.

Kimberly Derting's debut novel is sure to amaze readers with its unique, perceptible ideas that is completely balanced by the reality and fluctuating thoughts of a convincing narrator. The Body Finder is a passionate and engaging read that readers will never forget. It's a fusion of suspense, mystery, romance, and major drama. Let's just say that The Body Finder will never have its own echo...it'll never die out! The Body Finder has left me breathless with anticipation for its sequel, Desires of the Dead, coming in 2011. A+ =)

The Bottom Line: It's the face of TUBL! What other proof do you need for its awesomeness?

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 100/100 (A+) !!!This is one of the NINE books that hold the title: The Holy Grail - Beholder of the Perfect 100!!!

Read more...

The Body Finder Epic

So, you know how I love The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting so much? Well, I've decided that it's going to be the face of The Undercover Book Lover!!! Meaning that The Body Finder will be the book that will be promoted the most on this blog. Not only that, but from time to time (maybe once a month), I'll be holding The Body Finder-related contests...not just for books and swag, but other meaningful knick-knacks that are related to The Body Finder. They would be different kinds of contests (not just leave your email and enter) and I'm really excited!

March 16th is going to be the official start of The Body Finder Epic on TUBL!

Read more...