TBR Tuesday: A Long, Long Sleep

It's Tuesday again - time for another book we can't wait to read in our To Be Read pile. This week I'm doing A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan. I've already read the E-ARC (it is the best book I've read in MANY, MANY moons.  Stay tuned for book review) but I can't wait to get my hands on a hard copy.
Publisher: Candlewick
Release Date: August 2011(yes, I know, it's ENTIRELY too far away. 

Goodreads synopsis:

Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for 62 years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically-induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten sub-basement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long dead, and Rose - hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire - is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes - or be left without any future at all.

Make sure to add this at goodreads and pick it up when it comes out. 

 Also, as a courtesy to friend and fellow blogger, Ebyss Writer, we'd like to pass around something she's doing to help students in her class to help them learn to love and enjoy books.



Here in her words:

I work with lower income and special students who want to expand their knowledge through a college education, but they are struggling with reading and/or mathematical concepts.

I would like to start a book drive. This way these students can improve their reading scores through practicing what we all love to do----read. As we know, the more you read, then the better you get. Plus, I hope to ignite in them a passion for exploring other worlds and other people through the written word.

I am asking for you to help me by donating books for this cause. Any MG or YA books would be greatly appreciated.

New or used--doesn’t matter. Fiction or non-fiction—doesn’t matter. The only thing I would like to do is keep the reading lvl at MG and YA.

What I plan to do when I get with these students is let them choose a book for them to keep. A lot of these students don’t read—at least by choice—and I’m hoping to expose them to great novels.

If you would like to help, please leave a comment, message me on twitter or leave me a message on facebook. Also, if you could plz retweet this or like on facebook with a link to spread the word would be appreciated.

Thanks so much.

Thanks everyone who can help or pass along the word.  If you leave a comment on here for her, I will pass it along.  I'm already going through my books to see what I can give her.

Sanctuary in Your Strength

I've noticed that it seems my Oasis sisters (including myself) have already had some sad or tough moments in 2011.  Moments that might leave us scratching our heads wondering "why?" And as I know first hand, when you get into that mindset, it's so easy to let yourself spiral downward.

So today, I'd just like to encourage everyone to find sanctuary not in a stolen moment, a hot bath, or a favorite ritual... but in your own strength.  Wherever you are on your writing journey, you can do this!  Keep believing in yourself, because you're the only one who's truly invested in making your dreams come true.

So crank up the volume on your computer, hop up out of your chair, and BELIEVE these lyrics: you're a firework!

Lyrics to the "somewhat" odd video -- they're inspiring!
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting throught the wind
Wanting to start again

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards
One blow from caving in

Do you ever feel already buried deep
Six feet under scream
But no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that there's still a chance for you
Cause there's a spark in you
You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gonna leave 'em all in awe-awe-awe"

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on slet your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gonna leave 'em all in awe-awe-awe

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon


**As always, Oasis for YA encourages you to purchase songs from the artists and listen responsibly**

Friday Freestyle: March Madness (the reading variety)

I'm not talking college basketball here, people.  I'm talking books.  Holy year of awesome new releases in YA!  I'm already "behind" in all the reading I want to do and the releases coming out this month certainly aren't going to lighten my load any. 

And this won't help either -- but it'll be fun!  I thought I'd mash Tuesday Trailers in here and pick up some of the books that've already released but that we didn't feature.  The catch?  These are all trailers from 2011 releases currently in my TBR pile. 

In the spirit of "I'll show you mine if you show me yours," I want to hear what's on your list too.  I'm sure the end result will be more to read, but if you're like me, you won't want to miss anything good.

Currently reading: The Vespertine (releases 3/7/11)


TBR Pile of Already-Released Books:

Warped by Mourissa Guibord (released 1/11/11)


Falling Under by Gwen Hayes (released 3/1/11)


Clarity by Kim Harrington (released 3/1/11)


What's in your TBR pile from 2011?