Special Announcement: Release Week for The Clearing April 12-17th

Monday, April 12th, 2010 is the actual Release Day for my second novel for teen readers, The Clearing.

This book is a time-travel, paranormal YA romance published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. It's the story of Amy, a girl who moves out to the country to recover from an abusive relationship. All she's looking for is some peace at her aunt's farm, but in a misty field at the back of the property, she finds Henry, a boy living in the endless summer of 1944, staving off a tragedy that could rip his family apart. Both teens must gain the courage to face what is meant to be, even if it means losing each other forever.

Here at Booksboysbuzz.com, in celebration of Release Week, from Monday through Saturday we will be posting stories about where we'd would like to travel in time.

You can enter to win a signed copy of The Clearing each day, simply by responding to the post in comments. At the end of the week, we'll draw a winner from each day's commenters!

AND...

Because so many teens don't have a place to go to recover from abuse like Amy, I will also be making a donation to Teen Feed in honor of The Clearing's release. Teen Feed is a wonderful organization in my city that serves homeless teens hot meals and helps them find the resources to get identification and counseling that will lead to employment, housing, and a new life. I will donate 50 cents for each unique commenter during the release week, up to $250.

SO... please spread the word about Release Week for The Clearing and help me support teens who need safety from the streets and a life free of the emotional and physical abuse they've faced at home.

Love & Light,

Heather

www.heatherdavisbooks.com

The Clearing - April 12, 2010 HMH

Never Cry Werewolf - Out now from HarperTeen

School Visit, New Photo, and Help for Haiti

I have been a buzy bee, let me tell you what. I have spoken at several high schools and libraries and have been having an awesome time. I went back to the "homeland" of Pike County, Alabama, and spoke at six different schools.

I was in front of three hundred people at Goshen High School...where I dribbled water down the front of me...LOL...



I was mobbed at Goshen Elementary School where the kids wanted my autograph...



I also reunited with my high school cheerleader partner, Laura Ross Hixon, who is a teacher...



I went to my alma mater, Pike Liberal Arts School and saw my favorite English and writing teacher, Mrs. Hixon...



I even scored 100% on the Scholastic advanced reading test on GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING...phew! Wouldn't have been able to live that down...





And I spoke to a full house at the Monroe County Public Library in Key West thanks to their awesome librarian, Nancy Howanitz...





Finally, I did a full day at Carroll High School in Ozark, Alabama, thanks to their assistant principal and my former baton teacher growing up, Juli Botts Parrish...





During all of this, my sweetie, who is also a professional photgrapher, took my new author picture. It's done in infrared. I love how cool my eyes look!



And, to round out my post today, I wanted to add the link to my designer shoe auction on eBay. The proceeds of the auction will go to The Salvation Army for their relief efforts for the people in Haiti. Even if you don't fit the shoe size, please pass the URL around to your friends.

Hugs,
Marley = )

Baaad Boys Rock My World

These aren't your normal, everyday bad boys. Not motorcycle-riding or hotel-room-trashing Hollywood stars. Not the high school rebel boy who cuts class and defies dress codes. Not even the romantic hero with a rough exterior that secretly covers a sensitive heart (my favorite kind of hero, btw).

No, I'm talking about these baaad boys:


Okay, before you freak out and say, "Um, Tera. You're posting about sheep. Do you need a CAT scan?" hear me out. These aren't just any sheep, these are sheep donated by the Heifer Project to help families in undeveloped regions earn a sustainable living.

The Heifer Project is one of my favorite charities because, instead of just giving people money or food or whatever, they provide them with the skill and resources to support themselves. Their motto could be that Chinese proverb, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Heifer is all about teaching people to fish. (Or raise goats or rabbits or honeybees.)


For example, in areas of extreme climates, where traditional farming is impossible, Heifer might give a family a dairy goat along with the training necessary to raise her. From that simple gift a family will receive: several quarts of milk per day (extra can be sold--to pay for necessities, education, or medical care--or made into yogurt, butter, or cheese), manure that can be used to develop a vegetable garden, and 2-3 kids per year (which they can sell or keep to grow their dairy farm). This can change a family's entire life.


But that's not the end of the story. Heifer also requires the families to "pass on the gift." They must share the offspring of their gift animals, their knowledge, their skills, and other resources with neighbors so that they, too, will develop a sustainable life. Pay-it-forward in action.

This is one of the most forward-thinking approaches in the quest to end world hunger. What begins with a single family gradually grows into a neighborhood, a community, even an entire country able to feed, clothe, and educate themselves without outside help. As their mission strategy states, "As people share their animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources, and skills – an expanding network of hope, dignity, and self-reliance is created that reaches around the globe."

That totally rocks my world.

Check out their website, their gift catalog, and their mission statement.

Hugs,
TLC

Year End Buzz for the Little Animals

I hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful holiday season! I had a fantastic birthday yesterday with one of our sales guys making me b-day cupcakes and topped off with an exciting lunch with my new editor. Doesn't get much better than that!

But here's something that can get better...



As a writer, I always look to real heros (gorgeous ones at that!) to base characters on. Jason Taylor (above) of the Miami Dolphins was the insiration for my football player, DeShawn Pritchard, in my SORORITY 101 books. When this PSA announcement launched yesterday -- on my b-day! -- I knew I had to do something to pass the message along.

My husband and I support the MSPCA (the Massachusetts chapter), the ASPCA and the Humane Society. Even though our condo building doesn't allow pets, we feel we have to do what we can to help those who have no one. Since the year is drawing to a close and perhaps you're looking for a last-minute tax donation for next April's income tax, think about supporting the little animals who give us nothing but love and adoration. I just did.

Thanks so much!

Hugs,
Marley = )

SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (May 2008, Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (May 2008, Puffin Books)
GHOST HUNTRESS Series (Begins May 2009, Houghton Mifflin)

Dedicated to the memory of my Puddy Tat whom we rescued and brought into our home