What Do I Want 2 Read???

Well that's an easy question to answer, although it could take a while.

Nope. I won't do it to you. If you're anything like me, you still have too many errands to run before the big present-unwrapping-morning. I am so far behind this year. Can I hear an AMEN??

I decided to give you two reads that I've been wanting to read. And guess what? I just WON both books on the author's blog!! Too cool and just in time to say "Merry Christmas to me!"

I'm talking about Hilary Wagner's awesome tale about rats. Yup, and both are some awesome storytelling. Although these are MG in nature, I believe most YAers will love this tale.

Deep beneath a modern metropolis lies the Catacombs, the kingdom of remarkable rats of superior intellect. Juniper and his maverick band of rebel rats have been plotting ever since the Bloody Coup turned the Catacombs, a once-peaceful democracy, into a brutal dictatorship ruled by decadent High Minister Killdeer and his vicious henchman, Billycan, a former lab rat with a fondness for butchery. When three young orphan rats--brothers Vincent and Victor and a clever female named Clover--flee the Catacombs in mortal peril and join forces with the rebels, it proves to be the spark that ignites the long-awaited battle to overthrow their oppressors and create a new city--Nightshade City. View the trailer on the Nightshade City website! NightshadeCity.com

Book II of the Nightshade Chronicles begins three years after Juniper and his rebel band liberated the Catacombs from Billycan's vicious control and established the democratic Nightshade City. A sense of peace has settled over Nightshade, but it is a false one. Billycan, the White Assassin, has been found deep in the southern swamps, where he now rules a horde of savage swamp rats eager to overrun Nightshade City. With the help of an ancient colony of bats and an uneasy alliance with the swamp snakes, Juniper and his council set out to thwart Billycan's plans. When a shocking secret is revealed everything changes. The fate of Nightshade City and the life of Juniper's only son depend on Juniper's decision: should he help his mortal enemy? The past resurfaces with devastating impact in this sequel to Nightshade City, a dark tale of intrigue, deception, and betrayal.


Do they not speak for themselves?? 


You still have time to pick up both before the holidays arrive. Amazon & Amazon, or visit Hilary's website to find out more.

Thankful What???

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day than to think about all we are grateful for?? And here, on Oasis for YA, we have lots of reasons to give thanks.

1. We share a joint love for Young Adult literature, which, I believe, can change the world.
2. We welcomed a new Oasis Sister this year, Larissa!
3. The publishing world is ever-changing, giving us more say in our futures.
4. Collectively, we belong to YAlitchat-the most amazing YA writing community.
5. Each of the Oasis Sisters has gained ground in the writing/publishing/marketing/platform world.

• Jessie just celebrated her release of DESTINED!
• Jessica is fast at edits for her book deal!
• AE is out on sub with eleven publishers!
• Nikki is hard at work on her stories and has material out with agents!
• Larissa is working on her stories and is as much a ray of encouragement as ever!
• And me, one of my short stories was just published in a collection of short stories. (Yeah, in a real book!) I have material out with agents and am hearing positive responses.

Mostly, we are thankful for YOU, our devoted followers. Thank you for choosing to follow us and join in on YA discussions, as well as sharing our love and journeys in the publishing world.

The Oasis Sisters

Now, what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving Day?

Who's Your Favorite Winter Character??

Seeing how we (you & me specifically) won't be together again before Christmas, I'd like to personally wish you a wonderful weekend and holiday celebration with you and yours. Thank you for supporting our little Oasis. ~Sheri~

I've been thinking since last week about how I could mix-up our normal music exploration, here on Tuesday Tunes. Finally, I got some inspiration.

My snowman.

Isn't he adorable??
He's made of springs. I can make him tall or really short.

I'm a huge snowman fan and also a major musical fanatic. When I was thinking about snowmen being my favorite winter character and music that would fit the season, it was inevitable that Frosty the Snowman would cross my mind. What was it about Frosty that got me clinging to the television screen each and every year as a child?

Was it that he was round or that he wore that rocking black hat? Maybe it was his eyes made out of coal, or the fact that no matter how much snow fell in Maine my snowman never looked quite as dapper as Frosty.

When I really thought about it, I realized that it was his character, plain and simple. He was genuine, and so was the song that indelibly etched his image into my childhood. Yeah, I'm a sucker for the true dude, and Frosty is one of the truest characters I've ever know. He would have done anything, including melting to death, to keep that little girl from being scared. (Not sure why that fact never scarred me as a child, but...) 

This might sound funny and maybe even a bit ridiculous, but the next time you're looking for some inspiration developing the innards of a character think of Frosty. He's simple yet dimensional, and somehow still whole.

Now, I have to leave you with one of my favorite all-time songs about him. The video is a bit scrappy, but it's just how I remember watching it as a child.



Who's your favorite winter character and is there a song that captures his/her image???

AMERICA: My Beautiful

In honor of America’s greatest holiday, the Fourth of July, I thought it’d be fun to compile a group of songs fit to celebrate our independence. I also wanted to keep with the theme of summertime, BBQ’s, and the beach. Or in my case, the back fields. I grew up in the puck-a-brush.


We did have The Cove, where we’d stupidly leap off a 10, 30, or 60 foot cliff. Eh…yeah, I never made it past the 10 footer. But that really can’t compare to the warmth of a sandy beach or the salty breeze wafting off the ocean water.


Stupid human info: Is the Pacific Ocean warmer than the Atlantic Ocean? Any answer gets a round of applause by the Oasis ladies. Maybe we’ll even to a happy dance.


When I began combing the catacombs of my brain for related songs, the first one that hit me was “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen. It reminds me of grit and grime, and what it truly took to make this country work.


Neil Diamond’s “America” was next. This is one of my ultimate favorite songs. I can picture myself guitar in hand, hips gyrating, and the crowd going wild. Oh, sorry. That was my dream last night. Erase visual please.


And how could we celebrate the Fourth without Don McLean’s “American Pie”? Can’t be done.


Bye, bye miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this will be the day that I die
this will be the day that I die


You can hear it as you read it, huh?? Love that.


One of my personal faves is from Phil Vassar, “American Child”. I think we all can relate to this song. It captures the true essence of growing up in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

(Supporting a wonderful artist.)

And here are a few great songs to upload onto the iPod and jam to while barbecuing this weekend.


“American Woman” The Guess Who
“Back in the U.S.A.” Chuck Berry
“Born to be Wild” Steppenwolf
“Blowin’ in the Wind” Bob Dylan
“Independence Day” Martina McBride


Of course there are songs like “America the Beautiful”, “God Bless America”, and even “Take me out to the ballgame”. Yeah that one is different but it’s all American.


May we be thankful to those who have come before us and ensured our way of life. May we also celebrate the wonderful culture we have in our music, how it carries us and inspires us.


Happy Fourth of July, everyone.