Blog Tour: Pieces of Us - Margie Gelbwasser - Author This or That

Margie Gelbwasser is here today with an author this or that courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her book, Pieces of Us. Thank you for being here today, Margie! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Pop or Coffee: Coffee, definitely. Can't start a day without it.

Rock or Rap: Bon Jovi, Springsteen, Beatles—rock all the way

Skirts or Pants: Jeans are my go to style

Lipstick or Lip gloss: Why wear it if you can't see it? :-)

Writing or reading: I'm going to cheat and say both. I need both to survive.

Toaster Strudel or Pop tarts: My health has been eh and I'm on a gluten free diet now, so unfortunately neither.

Tom boy, or girly girl: Girly tom boy maybe? I like to hang with the guys, but want to look cute doing it.

Serious and sweet, or carefree and reckless guys: As a teen, I was into the reckless, class clown type guys. As an adult, I'll go for the sweet, but they don't have to be serious all the time. :-)

Comedies, or Action movies: I like both, but not usually rom-coms or chick flicks.

Summer or Winter: Definitely summer. I'll take one snowfall so my kid can get the sledding out of his system, and then bring on the warmth.

Mountains or Beach: I like hiking a lot, and the ocean. If we're talking vacation spots, the beach will probably win.

Thank you for sharing your preferences with us, Margie; and thank you so much for being here today!

Margie Gelbwasser can be found on her website, her blog and on twitter. 

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Two families. Four teens.

A summer full of secrets.

Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives.

Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it.

Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Blog Tour: Forbidden - Megan Curd - This or That

Megan Curd is here today with an author this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new release, Forbidden. Thank you for being here today, Megan! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Sunshine or Thunderstorms? I love thunderstorms! Curling up on the couch with my son, a good book, or my xBox on a rainy day is the best. But, if it’s sunny, I’ll be floating the Chippewa River with friends if I’m in Eau Claire and it’s summer.

Hot or Cold? Cold if there’s snow involved. I love to snowboard, so I’m the weirdo who actually enjoys Wisconsin winters.

Camping or Cabin? Cabin by far. I love being outdoors and enjoying the woods, fishing, etc, but I NEED a bed. With cell phone reception and wifi if possible, lol. I’m all about being connected.

Sweet or salty? Generally salty. I love McDonald’s French fries, but if I’m in a sweet mood, give me cheesecake. I’m all about tiramisu cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory!

Magazine or newspaper? Magazine. I like getting a specific type of thing to read.

Contemporary or Fantasy? Definitely fantasy. I love being able to get away and be in a different world for a little while.

Pen or pencil? Pen. I hate the sound a pencil makes against the paper. Call me crazy, it just drives me nuts. I have to use a pen! Lol

Yogurt or Ice cream? Ice cream…I’m so bad, haha. My mom actually had some awesome ice cream I raided – pumpkin pie cheesecake! It was soooo good!

Zombie or Unicorn? Unicorns are too girly for my taste, but I am deathly afraid of zombies or any other scary thing. I used to love scary movies, but now if I watch them, my brain goes nuts afterward. My husband can’t handle me after scary movies. Every light is on in the house for like a week afterward. If a zombie apocalypse happens, I’m the first to go I hope. My heart can’t take anything else lol.

Gothic or Victorian? Can I vote steampunk? It’s a happy medium, and there’s so much cool stuff for it!

Slytherin or Ravenclaw? Ravenclaw! They’re so clever. If the zombies come after me, I want a Ravenclaw on my side. With the elder wand. And an invisibility cloak. And preferably a broom. 

Movies at the theater or on dvd? I like DVDs, because they usually have extra material, and I love seeing stuff behind the scenes!

Lip gloss, or lipstick? Lip gloss. I’m a total tomboy, and I always seem to lose my lipstick anyway. Lip glosses tend to have better tastes, too. :-P (ah, the important aspects of makeup!)

Thank you for being here today, and sharing your preferences with us, Megan! 

Megan Curd can be found on her website, her blog, and on twitter. 

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Levi's job is to protect his human until it's their time to go. That's what a Guard does. He's done it for years on end, and he'll spend his eternity doing the same, mundane thing, following the same, mundane rules.

...Watch from afar.

...Never share your name.

...And above all, never touch a human.

What Levi doesn't know is that his newest human to protect, Hannah, just might be the catalyst to tipping the scales between good and evil, and he will be forced to decide which side he belongs to. Which friends will he side with, and who will he ultimately protect: his human, or the delicate balance that hangs on stopping the heartbeat of the person he has sworn to protect?

And, when you're already condemned, what's there to lose by breaking the rules?

THE GUARDIAN CHRONICLES: FORBIDDEN will take you into a world of Guards and Guardians, Light and Darkness. What side will you take?

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Metamorphosis - Devon Ashley - This or That & Giveaway Details

Devon Ashley is here today with a this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her newest release, Metamorphosis. Thank you for being here, Ashley! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy! 

Mongoose or Meerkat – LOL…are they not the same thing? Wait, let me look it up while I put you on hold…elevator music…pretty close, but the meerkats are definitely cuter!

Music or Solitude - Music

Policemen or Firemen – What?! FIREMEN!!!

Board games or puzzles – Wow…they still make those in non-electronic versions? Hmm….gonna go with board games.

Hobgoblins or Leprechauns – both nasty little buggars, but I’ll go with the one with the loot!

Buffy or Faith – BU-FFY! BU-FFY! BU-FFY! (come on, you know you wanna chant along with me)

Musicals on DVD or on Broadway – Broadway

Victorian or Gothic : Victorian

Angel or Spike – AN-GEL! AN-GEL! BOOTH! (whoops!)

Cheese or Peanut Butter – Cheese

Pop Rocks or Nerds – Actually, I’m thinking both at the same time would be totally awesome!

Country or Rock – Rock

City or Country – Country

Heroine or Hero – Bring on the booty-kickin’ women!

Comic Books or Superhero Movies – I’ve honestly never read a comic book in my life.

Thanks to Corrine for picking up my series for another blog tour! Don’t forget to stop by my Crazy Dream Blog for a chance to win a copy of Metamorphosis signed with a personalized doodle-graph. Giveaway ends November 30th.

Thank you so much for being here and giving us your preferences, Devon! 

Devon Ashley can be found on her blog,. 

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Change is not always a good thing...

Some survived the battle – but not without a price. As one heart starts up again, another dies down. The pure vampires learn their immortality isn't as strong as they'd thought – the status of their hearts determines their vulnerability. And when the truth gets out, a betrayal by one of their own will cost more lives.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Finding Somewhere - Joseph Monninger - This or That List

Joseph Monninger is here today with an author this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for his new release, Finding Somewhere. Thank you for being here today, Joseph! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

The Black Stallion or Fury? Black Stallion.

Male or Female POV (to write or to read)? Can’t pick one, really. Refuse!

Fantasy or Contemporary? Contemporary

Goblins or Witches? Witches. (I was frightened by witches as a kid.)

Victorian or Gothic? Victorian.

Puzzles or Board Games? Board Games. I love Monopoly.

Hiking or Sailing? Hiking. I live in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

Beach or Mountain? Mountain.

Pop or Rock? Rock

TV shows or movies? Movies

Music or solitude? Solitude.

Thank you for being here today and for sharing your preferences with us, Joseph.

Joseph Monninger can be found on his website. 

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Two girls: Best friends Hattie and Delores feel that life in their small New Hampshire town is a dead end.

One horse: Old and about to be put down, Speed gets a reprieve when Hattie and Delores decide to save him.

A road trip: Determined to set Speed free, Hattie and Delores drive him west in search of rangeland. But the road takes some unexpected turns as the girls get their own taste of freedom—and as they confront the reasons they left home.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Variant - Robison Wells - This or That List

Robison Wells is here today with a this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for his new release, Variant. Thank you for being here today, Robison! You can follow along with the tour here. Enjoy!

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Snickers or Kit Kat: Kit Kat. I wish I had a deep philosophical reason for that answer, but I don’t.

Raccoon or Possum: Raccoon. I grew up in the city, but we lived near an open creek, and we’d frequently have raccoons harassing our dog and stealing its food. My dad hated them, but I grew quite fond of them. They seem smarter than the average animal—less like scavengers and more like cunning thieves.

Socks or barefoot: Socks AND shoes. Whether it’s a work day or a lazy Saturday, I will wear shoes from the minute I wake up until the minute I crawl into bed. I don’t know why. I just think they’re comfortable.

Coffee or Tea: I’m a Mormon, so neither. But when my friends want to go to Starbucks my drink of choice is the hot caramel apple cider. It’s divine.

Cat or Dog: Dog, definitely. I don’t own a dog (I can hardly keep three kids clean and fed, let alone a dog), but I love them a lot. It’s an annual tradition to watch the Westminster Kennel Club dog show and to try to guess the winners.

E-book or Physical: If you’d asked me six months ago, I would have definitely said physical, but my wife got me a Kindle for my birthday and I fell in love with it. I now also have an iPad, which I don’t like as much as an eReader—I still prefer the Kindle—but it’s rare I’ll read a physical book anymore. Ebooks are just so dang convenient.

Pen or Pencil: Pen, definitely. I’ll search my house, looking under couch cushions and in kitchen drawers for a pen before I’ll settle for a pencil.

Rock or Pop: Of the two, I prefer rock, but I have nothing against pop. However, I realized recently that the one playlist on my iPod that gets the most airtime is actually folk. I don’t know how that happened; apparently I got old. My two favorite musicians (aside from The Beatles, which are in a different category), are Natalie Merchant and Iron and Wine.

Peanuts or Cashews: Cashews, but a peanut butter sandwich is always my late night snack.

Boat or Train: TRAIN. I’m so glad you asked. I’m a train fan, and I read about them and purposely get stuck at train crossings just so I can watch them go past.

True story: when my wife and I were engaged, we were on a late night road trip down to visit friends in New Mexico, and below us in the canyon we could see the lights of trains as they passed through a coal yard. I asked my wife “Do you know what I like better than trains?” She now tells the story that she was expecting something romantic, like “I like you better than trains” or “I like that we’re getting married”. And then I said “Trains at night.” Because, you know, trains at night are really awesome.

Love your answers, Robison! Thank you for being here today! 

Robison Wells can be found on his website and on twitter. 

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Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Witch Song - Amber Argyle - This or That List

Amber Argyle is here today with a This or That list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her book, Witch Song. Thank you for being here today, Amber! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Musicals or Concerts? Musicals. Concerts are too loud, crowded, and overstimulating.

Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? Ohhh, that’s a tough one. I like the LOR movies better than the Potter ones. But I like the Potter books better than LORs—kinda. Sorta. Both. I can have both, right?

Arabian or Thoroughbred? Quarter horse, all the way.

The Black Stallion or Flame? Today, I pick Flame, because I’m in the mood to support an underdog.

Beach or Pool? Beach, as long as the water’s warm (I’m one of those people who’s always cold).

Spring or Fall? Definitely fall. I love that its cooler, the smell of the leaves, the colors.

Firemen or Policemen? Firemen. They don’t hand out tickets.

Sweet or Salty? That totally and completely depends on my mood. Sometimes one, sometime the other. Sometimes both combined.

Pop Rocks or Nerds? Neither.

Historical or Fantasy? Fantasy.

Witches or Wizards? Witches . . . because of Witch Song. ;)

Hard cover or Paperback? Hard cover

Sunrise or Sunset? Sunset. I’m not much of a morning person.

Victorian or Gothic? Victorian (my blog is very Victorian).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Dark Angel? Buffy.

Love your choices! Thank you for being here today, Amber! 

Amber Argyle can be found on her website, her blog, and on twitter. 

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The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons--but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Blog Tour: Wildcat Fireflies - Amber Kizer - This or That List & Giveaway

Amber Kizer is here today with a This or That list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her book, Wildcat Fireflies. Thank you for being here today, Amber! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Hot Dog or Hamburger? Hamburger. Preferably with cheese, bacon, and the works. With fries—preferably the curly seasoned ones. It’s hard to have a burger without fries.

Chocolate or Vanilla? This one isn’t easy. Are we talking ice cream or cake, people or flavors, flower color or wall color?…too many options. Ice cream—I’d rather have both with a couple other flavors thrown in and pecans. Cake—chocolate. People—if chocolate is passionate and vanilla bland, then I’ll take the chocolate personalities every time. Chocolate cosmos are gorgeous, but real vanilla bean is extremely sensual…I have to choose? Why? :)

Archie comics or Marvel comics? Don’t have an opinion. I know, I know, shoot me. I like graphic novels, not old school comics.

Hero or Villain? Villains are usually that way for a reason and sometimes they’re more interesting people.But to write from a character's point of view I am most invested in them personally above everyone else in the book.

Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? Never liked Lord of the Rings in any form. Harry definitely.

Policemen or Firemen? We’re talking their hottie calendars, right? LOL. Then firefighters. If we’re talking need for protection then policemen! I’d rather not live without either, thanks!

Summer or Winter? Winter is easier to write during. Summer feeds my soul. Winter is really hard on my legs because the weather worsens the disease I live with. Summer is hard to write during because the sun seduces me and I want to be out in it!

Music or solitude? When I’m writing it’s always music. Always very specific playlists, mostly of music I only listen to while writing that book (by the time I’m finished writing I’m usually sick of it all). Sometimes it takes weeks or months for me to get the sound right to write to. I don’t mind being alone though so solitude has its place.

Fireflies or dragonflies? I think dragonflies are gorgeous and beautiful but there’s something magical about fireflies.Unfortunately we don't have them in Western WA.

Fantasy or Contemporary? Both. They are so different it’s impossible to compare.

Paper or Computer (for writing.) I type so fast that I stop thinking and my fingers just move. I know, I don’t STOP thinking, but my brain gets to take over and instead of composing in my head, I just get it on the page. But I also take notes when I’m reading at night or on the stationary bike or out and about and those are handwritten. I don’t have to always type—I could still do my job if computers went away, it would just take way way longer.

Hot or cold drink? Cold nine times out of ten. Tea either way.

Gothic or Victorian? Victorian. Lots of reviewers called MERIDIAN gothic and I laughed because I never considered it that (not that I saw it as Victorian either).

Baking or Cooking? Baking. No question.

Football or Basketball? Basketball. No question. But if that’s not an option football is good too.

Thanks very much for having me!

Readers can find me online and are welcome to email me with questions: Amber@AmberKizer.com (I reply in order they are received so please be patient!) I do send signed bookplates and bookmarks to readers anywhere in the world since I can’t go everywhere to sign books! Be sure to check out www.AmberKizer.com for more information. Many more questions are answered at my FAQs on www.MeridianSozu.com, and www.OneButtCheek.com

Thank you for being here and listing your preferences, Amber! 

Giveaway

Amber Kizer has graciously provided Lost For Words with one copy of WILDCAT FIREFLIES, and one copy of 7 KINDS OF ORDINARY CATASTROPHES for giveaway.

Thank you, Amber! 

There will be TWO winners. One for each book. Books will be signed and personalized to the winners. 

Giveaway is US only. 

Giveaway will end July 14, 2011. 

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, will not be counted as entries. 

Thank you!! =)

Blog Tour: Don't Stop Now - Julie Halpern - This or That List

Today, Julie Halpern is here with a this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her book, Don't Stop Now. Thank you for being here, Julie! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy! 

Hot Chocolate or Cappuccino: Hot chocolate. I have never had more than a sip of coffee. I drink hot chocolate on a regular basis.

Mystery or Romance: Romance. I like straightforward. Mysteries are too confusing. Kisses aren’t as much.

Vampire or Wizard: WIZARD

Sunrise or Sunset: Sunrise. I am a morning person.

Dolphins or Horses: Dolphins. They are the second most intelligent beings, according to Douglas Adams, after all.

Gothic or Victorian: Neither. Or both. Which is which again?

Sweet or Salty: Sweet. Always.

Male POV or Female POV: Female.

Swimming or Skiing: Swimming

Zoo or Aquarium: Neither. They both make me feel guilty.

Paper or Computer (to write): Paper. I write all my books by hand first.

Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden: This goes along with my mystery thing, so neither. Although as a librarian I liked giving them both to kids. Great covers.

Movie Theater or DVD at home: DVD at home for the lack of annoyances, but Movie Theater for the escapism and the excuse to eat crap.

Thanks for sharing these with us, Julie, and thank you so much for being here!

Julie can be found on her website, and on her blog.

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On the first day of Lillian’s summer-before-college, she gets a message on her cell from her sort-of friend, Penny. Not only has Penny faked her own kidnapping, but Lil is the only one who figures it out. She knows that Penny’s home life has been rough, and that her boyfriend may be abusive. Soon, Penny’s family, the local police, and even the FBI are grilling Lil, and she decides to head out to Oregon, where Penny has mentioned an acquaintance. And who better to road-trip across the country with than Lil’s BFF, Josh. But here’s the thing: Lil loves Josh. And Josh doesn’t want to “ruin” their amazing friendship.

Josh has a car and his dad’s credit card. Lil has her cellphone and a hunch about where Penny is hiding. There’s something else she needs to find: Are she and Josh meant to be together?

Blog Tour: Hourglass - Myra McEntire - This or That List

Myra McEntire is here today with a this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her soon to be released, Hourglass. Thank you for being here, Myra! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Romance or Mystery? A mysterious romance? See. I'm difficult.

Firemen or Policemen? Firemen. There are a few in my family.

Waffles or Pancakes? Pancakes. Blueberry, please.

Otter or Giraffe? Otter. SO CUTE.

Sunrise or Sunset? Sunset. The light is so perfect.

Truth or Dare? Truth.

Blow dryer or Straightener? Neither. I'm a scrunch and go kind of girl.

Pop Rocks or Nerds? POP ROCKS.

Country or City? Country.

Ocean or Mountain? Mountain.

Brawn or Brains? I mean ........... why can't I have both? (Difficult.) Brains.

Rap or Hip-hop? Hip hop!

Music or Solitude? (When writing) Music.

Paper or Computer? (When writing) Paper when brainstorming, computer when writing.

Unicorn or Zombie? I feel like this puts me distinctly on a side, and I'm not sure I want to pick sides. UNICORN WITH SPARKLES.

Thanks for that informative list, Myra! Definitely not difficult. I would have a hard time choosing between some of these myself! ;) 

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One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Family - Micol Ostow - Character This or That for Henry

Today, Micol Ostow stops by with a "this or that" list for Henry, one of the main characters in her recent release, Family, courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for Family. Thank you for being here, today Micol! You can follow along with the tour here. Enjoy this look into Henry's preferences. 

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I'll try and answer these from Henry's point of view, as best I can.

Coffee or Tea? - Probably tea, but probably spiked with something harder. I think Henry's vices are a little bit stronger than caffeine.

Organized Religion or Spirituality? - Spirituality. The only religion he believes in is His own! (Does that mean he supports organized religion as long as it's his own organization? Maybe that's a better way to phrase it.)

Book or Newspaper? Both - for himself, not his family. He likes to be the one to pass information along to his followers at his own discretion.

Music or Solitude? Music. He believes that music is the key to fame, and therefore to spreading his own message.

Sunrise or Sunset? Sunset. The family is mostly night owls.

Black or White? Black, dark, bad, evil, chaos.

Family or Friends? Friends ARE family, and much more reliable - and pliable - than the family we're born with, who are all damaged and who project damage onto us.

Honesty or Lies? Lies and manipulation that are presented as honesty.

Singing or Dancing? Henry sings; his acolytes dance for him.

Art or Science? Art. Science is social manipulation and an effort to control by the educated, empowered "haves."

Mountain view or Beach view? Any natural landscape, as long as it's set apart from the mainstream.

Cottage or Tent? Tent. Henry is a survivalist.

Afterlife or no afterlife? We'll find out after Helter Skelter....

Thank you for that look into Henry's preferences!

For more on Micol, you can find her on her website, her blog, or on twitter.

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i have always been broken.

i could have. died.

and maybe it would have been better if i had.

It is a day like any other when seventeen-year-old Melinda Jensen hits the road for San Francisco, leaving behind her fractured home life and a constant assault on her self-esteem. Henry is the handsome, charismatic man who comes upon her, collapsed on a park bench, and offers love, a bright new consciousness, and—best of all—a family. One that will embrace her and give her love. Because family is what Mel has never really had. And this new family, Henry’s family, shares everything. They share the chores, their bodies, and their beliefs. And if Mel truly wants to belong, she will share in everything they do. No matter what the family does, or how far they go.

Told in episodic verse, family is a fictionalized exploration of cult dynamics, loosely based on the Manson Family murders of 1969. It is an unflinching look at people who are born broken, and the lengths they’ll go to to make themselves “whole” again.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: With or Without You - Brian Farrey - This or That List

Today, Brian Farrey is here as part of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for his book, With or Without You. Thank you for being here, Brian! You can follow along with the tour here. Enjoy!

Hear ye! Hear ye! Court is now in session. The Honorable Brian Farrey presiding. All in attendance should note that all decisions rendered by the Honorable Brian Farrey are final, binding, and absolute. So neener, neener, neener!

Coffee or tea: Definitely tea. Coffee makes me ill. Tazo Wild Orange tea is probably my fave. I like fruity or herbal teas best but very little beats a good English Breakfast with milk and honey. If you’re ever in St. Paul, you must go to the Tea Source and try Evening in Missoula. Sometimes I think it tastes like bubble gum. Other times I think it tastes like root beer. Either way, it’s awesome.

Victorian or Gothic: Um… maybe a little of both?

Comedy or Tragedy: I love both but when forced to choose, I’ll go for a laugh first. It’s true what they say, that comedy is hard. Especially since humor is so subjective. So I really admire an intelligent sense of humor.

Pastry or Cookie: Hmmm…. I’m very picky about cookies. I like mushy, soft cookies. I will thoroughly soak an Oreo in milk until it’s soggy before eating it. Given the choice, I’d probably go for a pastry because, chances are, it’s already soft and chewy. Napoleons are my favorite. If you ever meet me in person, ask me about my college car pool, the napoleons, and the raffle ticket wars.

Unicorn or Pixie: To what use am I putting these creatures? Do I need them for a ride? If so, unicorn. Do I need an assassin? Then it’s gotta be pixie.

Snape or Voldemort: Snape. Severus lives!

Theater or at Home: My husband would kill me if I didn’t say theatre. I’m typically a homebody but when we go out, it’s most likely to see a live performance.

Kettlecorn or Butter Popcorn: Sorry, this one’s a “neither.” Can’t stand popcorn of any kind.

Modern or Abstract Art: You know, this one really depends on my mood. I think that, more often, I’d seek out Abstract. But I’ve been known to indulge in the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis from time to time. They got some funky modern stuff.

Zebra or Okapi: I tend to like to say ‘Okapi’ more than ‘Zebra’ so let’s go with Okapi!

Brian Farrey’s debut YA novel, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, will be published May 24 by Simon Pulse. He tweets @BrianFarrey and he blogs at www.brianfarreybooks.com/wordpress.

Thank you so much for those unique and wildly wonderful answers, Brian! I love the thought you put into them, especially the unicorn or pixie. ;)