Monday Musts #3

The Monday Musts is a new weekly meme hosted by Lovin' Los Libros, where you share what you consider a must-read book, a must-listen song/album/artist, and something that's a must see (TV show, movie, blog, pictures, etc).

My musts for this week:

~ Must Read ~

Upside Down by Lia Riley. Well, the whole Off the Map series for that matter, but this is the first book (there are three novels, plus two novellas). I love Lia's books, and Bran and Talia have a special place in my heart for a lot of reasons. These books are heavy on the feels and swoons, plus they're crazy sexy. They have a great balance of tough real life issues mixed in with humour and a whole lotta sexytimes. Definitely one of my favourite New Adult series.

~ Must Listen ~

Coldplay has been one of my favourite bands for a long time, and I love love love their newest single, Adventure of a Lifetime. The video is weird (as are a lot of their videos), but the song is amazing. I just want to get up and dance every time I hear it.

~ Must See ~

The adorable magnetic bookmarks Happy Hello makes. I kept seeing them on Instagram, and I finally caved and bought two sets a couple weeks ago (plus bought another set this past weekend). If you visit my blog regularly, you'll know I'm obsessed with London, so I couldn't resist the London bookmarks, plus I'm currently obsessed with Outlander, and while I technically bought these for my mum, I keep stealing them because they're just so freaking cute. I can see this becoming an addiction! Be sure to check out Happy Hello's Etsy shop.

**Don't forget, I have a giveaway going on right now for 2 ebooks from my list of favourites!**

What do you think of my musts? What are your musts for the week? Tell me in the comments, or if you participated in The Monday Musts this week, feel free to leave a link to your post in the comments and I'll visit you back!

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SOMETHING IN THE AIR Pre-Order Campaign

My 7th book, SOMETHING IN THE AIR, comes out Tuesday November 10th (4 weeks from today!), but it's available now for pre-order. Anyone who pre-orders the ebook (it's just $2.99!) and sends me proof of purchase, along with their mailing address will receive a special swag pack from me. This is open internationally. Want to know more? Keep reading!

About SOMETHING IN THE AIR:

When Rose Morgan put off her college plans to help her mother through a difficult time, she thought it would just be a bump in the road of her journey. She got a job to help pay the bills and started picking up the slack at home. But three years later, her bumpy ride hasn’t smoothed out yet, and Rose feels stuck. She’s working at a job she hates and living with a manipulative mother. She’s tired of feeling like her life has stalled, tired of the resentment and anger building inside her with each passing day.

Then Declan Connelly appears in her life, and even though the hot Irishman is seriously tempting, Rose is determined not to let him in. She’s afraid to suck anyone into her bizarre life, especially someone who seems too charming for his own good. She soon learns there’s more to Declan than his sexy accent and charismatic personality, though. He’s a good man, and he wants Rose in his life, baggage and all. He’s got his own, and he isn’t scared away like she originally feared he would be.

Everything in Rose’s life is changing quickly. It’s finally her time--time to figure out what she wants and what her future holds. Time to get swept off her feet and not fight it. But when her plans might take her away from all the amazing new things in her life, including Declan, Rose has to make a choice. Is she willing to chase her dreams, even if it means letting go of love?

What you'll get for pre-ordering:

• A SOMETHING IN THE AIR bottle cap charm*

• Signed SOMETHING IN THE AIR mini bookmarks

• A celtic knot charm 

*Bottle cap charms made by Jessica Sankiewicz at Impulsivities. Be sure to check out her shop!

Where you can pre-order SOMETHING IN THE AIR:

• Amazon US

• Amazon Canada

• Amazon UK

• Barnes & Noble

• iBooks

• Kobo

Pre-ordered your copy? Ready to claim your swag pack? Email proof of purchase plus your mailing address to sweetmarie.landry (at) gmail.com

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TAKE THEM BY STORM is out!

Take Them by Storm is out today! *runs around in circles, screaming excitedly* 

When I started writing Waiting for the Storm, I had no idea these characters would stick with me so much that I'd end up writing three books in the Angel Island 'universe'. Charlotte, Ella, and Sadie have become a big part of my life over the last couple years, and I'm so excited their stories have come full circle.

Sadie came out of nowhere when I started writing After the Storm. She started off as a character I thought would make a few brief appearances, and then all of a sudden she was talking to me as much as Ella was. She demanded to be a big part of the story, and she was. She was exactly what Ella needed, and as she revealed bits of herself to me (there were at least three big things about her that popped up with no warning), I knew she was something special. I'm not sure when exactly I knew she'd get her own story, but when After the Storm came out and people started telling me Sadie was their favourite character, I knew I had to write her book. 

This was one of the easiest, and yet one of the hardest books I've ever written. Writing a side character who's a lesbian is a lot different than writing a main character who's a lesbian. I had a lot of doubts going in. What if people wouldn't read it because it was LGBT? What if people questioned me about my own sexuality? What if I got hate mail from homophobes? What if I couldn't do this story justice? What if people didn't like it because it's an unconventional love story (I can't explain that one because of spoilers)?

Then I realized telling this story was worth getting past those doubts and fears. If people don't read it because it's LGBT, I think that's their loss. People who say they 'can't relate to LGBT characters' boggle my mind. Do you not relate to human emotion? To grief and joy and pain and love and adventure and new experiences? As for people asking about my sexuality...they can ask, but it doesn't mean I have to answer, considering it's nobody's business, right? ;-) I'm not one of those people who leads with their sexual orientation, mostly because I don't feel like it defines me. Once I got over all those fears, I had so much fun writing Sadie's book. I pulled from my own college experiences, which made me nostalgic, but it was also cathartic in a way to go back to that time, get out old pictures, and add in little inside jokes that only my college friends would get. If they ever read this book, they would likely see a lot of themselves (and me) in some of these characters. Sadie makes mistakes, she learns a lot, she falls in love, she discovers new things about herself, all while staying true to herself and being proud of who she is. 

I hope you'll give Sadie's book a chance. Through the course of writing it, I laughed, I cried, and I swooned, and I hope you will, too. If you haven't read Charlotte's and Ella's stories, you don't need to in order to understand this book, since the books are technically companions. BUT...they're on sale right now, so it'd be a good time to give them a chance. ;-)

{Add to GoodReads} 

Sadie Fitzgerald has always been different, and not just because she makes her own clothes and would rather stay home watching Doctor Who than party with kids her age. When it’s time to leave Angel Island for college, Sadie is eager to put her old life behind her. Small-minded people and rumors have plagued her for years, but with the love of her adoptive family, the O’Dells, Sadie has learned to embrace who she is. Now she’s not afraid to admit the rumors about her are true: she’s gay.

For the first time in her life, Sadie feels free to be herself. She dives into college life and begins volunteering at the local LGBT center, where she discovers her small-town upbringing left holes in her education about life outside Angel Island.

The world is a bigger and more accepting place than Sadie ever imagined. She’s finally found where she belongs, but with the reappearance of someone from her past, an unexpected new friendship, and a chance at love, Sadie soon realizes she still has a lot to learn about life, friendship, and love.

Amazon ~ Amazon CAN ~ Amazon UK 
Kobo ~ Barnes & Noble

Waiting for the Storm {Amazon || Kobo || Barnes & Noble} 
After the Storm {Amazon || Kobo || Barnes & Noble}

 

 Want to win a $10 Amazon gift card? YA Bound Book Tours is hosting a week-long book blitz for Take Them by Storm from the 5th - 12th, and I'm giving away a gift card! You can find the giveaway on YA Bound Book Tours, or included in any of the participating bloggers' posts.

Want to win a set of Angel Island swag (postcards, mini bookmarks, and stickers)? You can enter that giveaway here! Watch my Twitter, too, because I'll be doing giveaways there!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Marie's Birthday Celebration!

Today is my birthday! *hands out cupcakes* It's a big one too...today I turn...*chokes on words*...I turn 30. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaah!! It's okay. Really. It's not that bad. I'm not having a meltdown, I swear. I'm determined that this year I will embody the phrase '30, flirty, and thriving'. This year is going to be all kinds of awesome, because I'm going to make it all kinds of awesome.  How's that for optimism?

So as I say goodbye to my 20s *wipes away a nostalgic tear* I'd like to celebrate with you, my lovely, oh-so-wonderful bloggy friends. I've been at this whole book blogging thing for three years now and there have been a lot of ups and downs but I wouldn't trade a minute of it. I've made some incredible friends, had a chance to work with authors and publishers, and I've read a boatload of books, many of which touched my heart and left me changed. 

Despite my love of books, if it weren't for this amazing community, I don't think I would keep blogging. You guys - your passion and love and humour and insanity and support - make it worthwhile. I cherish each and every comment left on this blog, every follower, and every new friend I make.

And because I love you guys so much, I figured what better way to celebrate my birthday than by celebrating with you? How am I doing that? GIVEAWAYS! All year long I've been trying to come up with something fun...my #1 choice would have been to have 30 prizes, but alas, I can't afford that. So I came up with a few different things, and hopefully there'll be something for everyone. 

~Giveaway #1~

Signed, personalized Waiting for the Storm postcard, plus signed sticker (not shown) from yours truly

Scarlet bookmark signed by AC Gaughen 

The Archived bookmarked signed by Victoria Schwab

The Secret Diamond Sisters bookmark signed by Michelle Madow

Undeadly bookmark signed by Michele Vail

*Open internationally*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Giveaway #2~

Winner's choice of one (1) of the ebooks pictured here (the top four books are mine and the rest are books by friends and/or books I've read and loved)

Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry {GoodReads}

The Game Changer by Marie Landry {GoodReads}

Waiting for the Storm by Marie Landry {GoodReads}

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Marie Landry {GoodReads}

The Boys of Summer by CJ Duggan {GoodReads}

An Endless Summer by CJ Duggan {GoodReads}

That One Summer by CJ Duggan {GoodReads}

If Only We by Jessica Sankiewicz {GoodReads}

A Scottish Ferry Tale by Nancy Volkers {GoodReads}

Scotland by Starlight by Nancy Volkers {GoodReads}

Being Human by Patricia Lynne {GoodReads}

The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox {GoodReads}

*Open internationally*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Giveaway #3~

Last week I did an 'If we were having coffee...' post and I shared my mixed feelings about turning 30. My friend Suz told me I should watch Sex and the City because it's the best cure for the 'Turning 30 Blues'. I immediately got out my copy of season 1 and popped it in the DVD player. Later my mum told me she was going to get me the series set for Christmas, so I wondered what I should do with my barely used season 1...then I decided I might as well pass it along to a friend. This set is used, but I've only watched the first few episodes, the case is in great condition, and the discs are pristine. Sex and the City is one of my favourite shows ever, so I want to spread the love!

*Open Canada and US ~ must be 18+ to enter this one!*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*~*~*~*~

  While I have your attention, I just want to talk about the very first year-long challenge I'll be hosting in 2014: the Historic Fiction Reading Challenge. It starts January 1st, 2014 and runs until December 31st, 2014. Love historic fiction? Never really read it but want to give it a try? Consider signing up for the challenge!

Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me! 

What was your favourite birthday? What's the best gift you've ever gotten? What do you hope to do for your next birthday?

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In My Mailbox Week 11

In My Mailbox is weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.  The idea is to share books you've acquired during the week, whether you've won them, bought them, picked them up at the library, received them for review, whatever.  It's a great way to bring attention to books and authors and share the love!

 

 

 

 

 

Books mentioned:

 

Won:
Die For Me by Amy Plum {GoodReads}

The Rising Moon swag from Nilsa Rodriguez
 

Review:

Winnemucca by Laura A. H. Elliot {GoodReads}
Scorpio Rising by Monique Domovitch {GoodReads} 

Library:

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost {GoodReads}
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare {GoodReads}Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson {GoodReads}What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen {GoodReads}

 

Blue Sky Days on GoodReads || My FB writer page || My FB book page
 

Big thank you to:
Amy from Amy's Book Den
Nilsa Rodriguez

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

In My Mailbox Week 5

In My Mailbox is weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.  The idea is to share books you've acquired during the week, whether you've won them, bought them, picked them up at the library, received them for review, whatever.  It's a great way to bring attention to books and authors and share the love!  

This week in my mailbox, I got some swag that I won from Melissa over at Just One Opinion. Melissa is wicked-awesome, and if you don't already follow her blog, you really should! This was my first swag! Thank you Melissa! xo

*Overprotected bookmark, 2 magnets, and the theme song "Love Story" performed by Jennifer Joyce

*The Body Finder sticker

*Stakeout bookmark, signed by Bonnie J Doerr

Books for review, from author:

The Undertaker by William F. Brown {GoodReads || Amazon} 

From the Simon and Schuster Galley Grab Program:

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst {GoodReads || Amazon}

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez {GoodReads || Amazon}

 Library books:

Fallen by Lauren Kate {GoodReads || Amazon}

The Indie Author Guide by April L. Hamilton {GoodReads || Amazon}

So that's my loot for the week. What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Oh! While I have your attention lol...I'm just 3 followers away from 200 - a very exciting milestone for me. When I started this blog, I had no idea if anyone would even read it, but I've met some incredible people in the blogosphere, and I feel truly blessed. When I finally hit that 200 mark, I'm going to have a giveaway...I'm not sure what it will include yet, but I'm working on it! :-)

Book covers and trailers and swag - oh my!

I feel like I'm on a merry-go-round - but I don't want to get off!

Ever since I finished the 2nd revision of my novel last week and sent it off to my 4 (amazingly talented, wonderful, gifted, couldn't-do-it-without-them) beta readers, my mind has been going a million miles a minute.  There's so much to do and so much to think about.  I've got a break from reading, editing and rewriting, but now it's time to think book covers, trailers, publicity, etc. 

I've been searching for pictures to use as the book cover and have found a few good candidates.  Ideally, I would take the picture myself, but without models, it makes it a wee bit difficult.  I've also found some pretty good pictures for the trailer, have started checking out music for it, and discovered that I have Movie Maker on my computer and won't have to pay someone thousands of dollars for a minute-long trailer.  Since my budget for this book is next to nothing, that's a good thing!

I've come up with a huge list of ideas for publicity, and have had the help of my very own 'publicist', Jaime-Kristal, who is as full of ideas and enthusiasm as I am, as well as lots of help and info from self-published author Helen Laibach.  I've even started making a list of people who are interested in reviewing the book once it's done, and there's a blog tour in the works.  And to think, the book isn't even 100% complete yet!  It's all very exciting to me - I'm finally living my dream.

I'd like some input from all the lovely people in the blogosphere who review books, participate in giveaways and contests, etc.  What do you look for in a good book trailer?  What makes them really stand out, and what kinds of things do you think should be avoided?  Do you have a favorite book trailer?  Also, when you're participating in a giveaway, what kind of swag really draws your attention?  I have a few simple ideas like bookmarks, and one great, unique idea that I'm pretty excited about (and that will remain a secret for now), but I want to know what you guys think.  If you won something in a giveaway other than a book, what kinds of things would you like to receive that are related to that book?  

I would greatly appreciate any input and suggestions, and feel free to leave links to your favorite book trailers if you'd like.  Also, in case you missed the banner at the top of this blog, if you're interested in receiving a copy of my book when it's ready to go (most likely in PDF) in exchange for an honest review, please let me know.  Also, if you're interested in joining the blog tour, hosting an interview, guest post, giveaway, or anything else, let me know that, too.  You can read a synopsis of my novel, Blue Sky Days, here.