Monday, January 6, 2014

New Year, New Books Day 6 (Part 2): Philip Siegel + The Break-Up Artist


Day 6: The Break-Up Artist

Welcome to Day 6 of New Year, New Books! Today we're going to be talking about zombiessssss, and brainnnnsss. Just kidding I'm actually just featuring Philip Siegel (whose name sounds a lot like Fill-Up Seagull, as it claims on his Twitter page) who has a kick- ass book out on April!

2) Philip Siegel
-author of The Break-Up Artist (April 29th, 2014)

*wave hello to Philip, everyone!*

Philip's here today with a really awesome post. He's showing us his writing space(s)! Everyone's got their personal spot, whether it's for reading or writing, and Philip is going to introduce you to his writing spot(s)! Before you check out his post, you can read more about Philip's upcoming novel!

Title: The Break-Up Artist
Author: Philip Siegel
Shelves: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publication Date: April 29th, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Goodreads|Amazon|B&N

Summary from Goodreads: Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. 



After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.

One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.

No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy.


Take a peek inside Philip's writing space!

Writing spaces. We all have them, and some are cuter than others. A few months ago, on Liz Fichera’s blog, I showed the world my little writing office. It’s a colorful room with a funky blue lamp that would inspire any writer. But I have to be honest. I only get about 10% of my writing done there.



That’s right. I don’t do much writing in my writing office. Ironic, huh? (Or Alanis Morrisette version of Ironic?) I get work done in a variety of different places throughout my day. Writing is squeezed into gaps in my schedule. “A little bit here, a little bit there” gets cobbled together and snowballs into an actual, full-length book or revised full-length book. So here are my other writing spaces:

1) The Living Room. It’s mere feet away from my office, but it’s so much comfier. I can recline while writing. To paraphrase Hannah Montana, it’s the best of both worlds. This is where I do much of my early morning writing, when I’m still half asleep and the thought of sitting at a desk sounds too painful.

2) The El. I’m lucky enough to always get a seat on the train in the morning. After a few stops to get adjusted (and check Twitter. #addict), I pull out my notebook and get in a good half-hour of writing. I usually pick up from where I stopped on my couch, or I work on a different project. It takes a few minutes to get in the zone, but once I do, I manage to be productive. I’ve had many plot breakthroughs on the El.

3) The library. I come here for a solid hour of writing and throw myself into the middle of 100+ other computer users. Why only an hour? Because that’s all I have. There’s a one-hour time limit on computer usage, and after that, the computer automatically logs you off. The timer ticks away in the corner of the screen. It’s like real life Write or Die. This is best for first drafting because I just let the words spew out, as many as I can before I’m logged off.

4) The other library. Sometimes, I go to another library on weekends closer to my home. I bring my laptop and sit at one of the workstations. I plan to get there right when they open and write until they close. That has never happened. Usually, I arrive in late morning/early afternoon, write for about two hours, then get so hungry that I have to leave and grab lunch. Still, I love writing at libraries. It’s so inspiring – the shelves, the smell of the books, the silence.

So there’s my dirty secret. My writing office is barely used for writing. Maybe because having a writing office and a writing desk is so daunting and scares me out of actually writing. Or maybe I just need a comfier chair. But it doesn’t matter where I write. The point is, I write.*

*Note: There are plenty of days where I don’t write, despite all the aforementioned opportunities. Sometimes I’m busy or running late or just plain lazy. I am far from perfect. Like really really far.  


And now, Philip has a really awesome giveaway! 
One lucky winner will receive an signed ARC of The Break-Up Artist! I am so honored to be able to host the first BUA giveaway!
I can't believe I have ARCs! pic.twitter.com/6zXeJidEtS

Rules of entry:
1) US/CANADA ONLY
2) No cheating with the entries, I always check!
3) The ARC will be sent out at the author's discretion.
4) Take the time to read this post with Philip, not just enter the giveaway. All the authors featured in New Year, New Books are crazy busy, and deserve as much love and attention as any giveaway you enter.
5) The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email; otherwise, I will be forced to pick a new winner.
6) GOOD LUCK!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
****GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY***
In addition to the individual giveaways each author is hosting, I am also going to have a grand prize giveaway that will run for the entire month. This is because some authors cannot contribute a giveaway, so I figured I'd give something of mine as well.

Grand Prize Giveaway:
2 Surprise 2014 ARCs + swag
Yep, these will be from my own shelf. Yep, this giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. Yep, it is a surprise and I am not telling you what the ARCs will be but here's an idea of what MIGHT be in it:



Any of these books are fair game! But in the end, the winner will only get 2. And I promise that the surprise ARCs will be good:)

Here are the rules of entry:
1) OPEN INTERNATIONALLY
2) The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email. If not, I will have to pick a new winner. 
3) The prize will be sent out at my discretion, so I might take me a little longer than a week to get it to you.
4) In order to earn the maximum amount of entries, you can comment on EVERY SINGLE DAY of New Year, New Books!
5) GOOD LUCK!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

16 comments:

  1. Ooo! Ever since I heard about this book, I've wanted to read it. *fingers crossed* (Also, I like that Alanis Morrisette reference. hehe)

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  2. I just discovered this book the other day and it is quickly becoming one of the books I'm looking forward to the most this year! This author seems awesome and his book looks perfect for me. I'm so excited to read it!

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  3. I am incredibly excited for this book. I remember hearing about it when it was first announced, and I immediately added it to my TBR list. So thrilled for Philip. I know it's going to be a wonderful read!

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  4. Ooooo, The Break-Up Artist sounds like an interesting concept. Although, I have to admit, even though he doesn't use it that much I would love my own writing space one day. I'm kind of jealous... haha. xD

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  5. Thanks for the giveaway. I love the concept for The Break -up Artist.I'd never heard of it until now.Looking forward to reading this!

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  6. Amazing Goveaway! Too bad I'm not in US or Canada... Break up Artist? It's a catchy title!

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  7. Ahhh! I'm so excited for Phil's book :)

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  8. I'm so excited about this book. I think it sounds incredibly interesting!

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  9. Ooooo another new book for me. Definitely adding this one!

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  10. This looks really good and the author seems like a good guy. Sky, down to earth and honest. Another for the list.

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  11. I want to read THE BREAK-UP ARTIST because it sounds good, and also because that cover is so pretty and eye-grabbing! And I give Philip props for having such a clean writing space--I don't think mine would ever look at that! Thanks for the giveaway, and great post!

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  12. This sounds like a great book. Congratulations to Phillip on all his success. P.S. I don't work in my writing space either (or at least not as much as I should).

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  13. Nornally this kind of book makes me hesitant but it seems like a cute and entertaining story! And I love Phillip's writing space!

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  14. Oooh, interesting plot concept! I'm not sure if it's my kind of thing, but it sounds like fans of contemporary romance will love it! :)

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  15. OMG. I love the background on the cover of this book! :-O

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  16. This book sounds so awesome, and I am such a huge fan of the cover art! I wish that I had found this giveaway in time. :( Still on the TBR though, so I will read it one day!

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