Notice for Review Requests

I receive review requests weekly. However, my personal schedule is hectic and I no longer review actively. (I also manage another blog called The Toronto Cafe and Food Blog). I do read every request sent but I apologize in advance that I do not reply to them all.

If I do take on a request, I will forewarn that it may take some time before I can review it. I am now looking to review adult fiction and self-help books instead of young adult fiction because I have grown out of it. If you are to request a review for either adult fiction or self-help, I will more likely to give it a shot.

In the meantime, Stop, Drop, and Read! serves as an archive book review blog. When I have the time, I may post a review. Thank you for understanding.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Saffron and Emer from The Dust of 100 Dogs with A.S. King

Known for her bloody and action-packed novel of a fearsome female pirate, A.S. King has dominated part of the YA fiction world with her novel, The Dust of 100 Dogs! Today the author herself is here with her two characters, Emer and Saffron, to get some questions that readers may have cleared up. You're on Amy!

~~~

Hey Diana!

Congratulations to you on your blogoversary! I think book bloggers are an essential part of this business, and I think that’s happened because so many intelligent and talented readers and reviewers have chosen to be heard through their blogs. Thank you for what you do and I wish you many more years of success!

Now—for my crazy idea. I want to put Emer and Saffron in a room together and toss out reader comments and questions!

AMY: Hey guys. We get a bunch of reader mail—did you know that?

(Emer & Saffron look at Amy like she has nine heads. Emer looks especially cranky and seems to be whittling a stick with a small sharp knife. Never a good sign.)

AMY: So, I wanted to bounce some stuff off you, and see what you think. First off, I get a lot of compliments about how the two of you alternate your stories throughout the book, but I have heard also that some people don’t understand if you are the same person or two different people. Do you have an answer for them?

SAFFRON: I’m a whole person all by myself, thanks. And I’m a lot smarter than Emer was. She was too ruled by her ugly childhood and her temper. I’m calmer and have over three hundred years of experience.

EMER: (picking teeth with recently whittled stick.) She’s a coward. Wouldn’t stand up to a fly. You can’t swashbuckle with yer brains.

AMY: Saffron, which experiences taught you more, do you think? Your dog lives or your time as Emer?

SAFFRON: I don’t know. I think both taught me a lot. It took me over a hundred years as a dog to see where Emer went wrong, and to understand how. I mean, there she was, with everything she ever wanted, and she blew it. By the time I was born, I knew that humans were too focused on money and material things to see the important things they live with every day. Their families. Their loves.

EMER: Here! I knew well what love was worth! And what fool headed cow would say such a thing to me about family? You try my life and report back.

SAFFRON: If you knew, then why didn’t you cancel the whole Spanish fleet plan?

EMER: (in mocking tone) Why didn’t you cancel the Spanish fleet plan? For the love of all holy things, Saffron, yer not as smart as you claim to be. Could I have canceled it? What would my crew have thought? And what of their hard work and dedication? It wasn’t all about me, you know. It was about them.

AMY: Okay—new subject. Saffron, some readers are appalled by your inner thoughts and feel you are a homicidal maniac. What do you think about that?

SAFFRON: I think people who think that must be very out of touch with their own brains. (Not to mention sarcasm and metaphor.) Everyone has unspeakable thoughts. Everyone. Anyone who says they don’t, is lying. Seriously. Some humans are so freaking judgmental, I want to scream.

EMER: I’m having unspeakable thoughts right now.

AMY: So, it doesn’t bother you that people think you’re homicidal, Saffron?

SAFFRON: Nope.

AMY: Emer, I’ve had several readers complain that I told the truth about what happened to you. Are you sorry you allowed me to do that?

EMER: I wager most people hate the truth. So, if you tell it, you’ll always get a complaint. Tis the nature of yer business, King. You’re thick skinned same as I am. We got this way by facing the truth. Let the lily livered go and wallow. I’m not ashamed of what others did to me! Why should I take the burden of Cromwell on me own back? Or the others?

SAFFRON: They say the truth will set you free.

EMER: (rolls eyes) Sounds like modern rot to me…but the girl has a point. The acts done to me were done to millions. Still are—whether it’s the act of one man or many. Being quiet about it never got us further. Have we cured it yet? Well, then. Quit yer bitchin and lend a hand.

AMY: Another one for you, Emer. I get complaints about how violent you are.

EMER: Did they not know I’m a pirate?

AMY: No, they know.

EMER: So—are they drunk, then?

SAFFRON: I can’t figure that out, either, Amy. Seems to me most people used to know that pirates are violent murderers, for the most part. Maybe they thought because Emer was female, that she’d be nicer?

EMER: Watch yer tongue!

SAFFRON: What?

EMER: You know what. Just because yer so smart doesn’t mean I won’t slice you.

SAFFRON: (shrugs) I don’t get you, Emer. I was just stating the obvious.

EMER: Just don’t badmouth yer own kind, girl. We have to stick together. And don’t be telling me that in modern times things got brighter for the (mocks) females. Yer still as disrespected as I was. Only in a different way.

AMY: Ladies, why do you think whenever I get you in the same room, you’re at odds? You’d think you’d have a lot in common.

SAFFRON: She scares me.

EMER: She bores me.

(Emer begins to whittle a second stick while Saffron twiddles her hair and looks around uncomfortably.)

AMY: One last thing. Readers have asked if there will be a sequel. Some feel the ending was a cliffhanger. Any thoughts on that?

SAFFRON: Uh Amy—the ending wasn’t a cliffhanger.

AMY: I know. But some think it is.

SAFFRON: Huh. Not sure what to say. I’m pretty sure I know what happened in the end. Do a lot of people think this?

AMY: Not really. Just a few.

SAFFRON: Well, what do you think?

AMY: I don’t know. I guess I’m aware the book takes a minute to digest, so I know some readers aren’t used to that. I also think to get a good idea of the ending, you have to consider the entire book and the vibe of it. The tone. I think it’s pretty obvious from what’s there.

To go further—a book is just a series of dots. Every reader connects those dots in a different way depending on their own experience and their own needs. So, though many know that the ending is a happy one, a few need it to be spelled out completely. Anyway, I can’t see a sequel. I’m glad readers want more, but I’m afraid three hundred and sixty two years inside one book was quite enough!

EMER: You can’t please everyone. Yer job is to keep writing books. But not about us. Aye. I’m done.

SAFFRON: Yeah. Me too. I agree with Emer. Go and write stories about other people.

(Emer & Saffron nod, both obviously dying to get out of this interview. Emer is now chewing the tip off the sharpened stick and spitting the tiny bits of wood at Saffron.)

AMY: Ladies, please thank our hostess and wish her a happy blogoversary. Diana, thanks so much for having us!

SAFFRON: Yes! Thank you! And happy blogoversary!

EMER: To our fortunate proceedings and good success! Clear the decks for pleasant action!

~~~

Thank you Amy, Saffron, and Emer for being here with us today! We appreciate it very much! I look forward to
your future novels, Amy!

Prize(s): A signed copy of The Dust of 100 Dogs
# of Winners:
1
Eligibility:
International

How to get entries: (please put keep it in the format below when you comment!)
+1 Comment

+1 New follower

+2 Old follower

+1 Linking this contest once somewhere else around the web


You can read more about A.S. King and
The Dust of 100 Dogs on her website or blog!

post signature

74 comments:

Jessica B said...

I have been DYING to read this. Thanks for the giveaway! When does it end?

+2 Old follower.
+1 On sidebar.

shutupjessicasreading(at)gmail(dot)com
Jessica

Lenore Appelhans said...

May I say I love everything Amy does? You are all kinds of awesome Amy!

Unknown said...

pleasure meeting you. great blog. i'm following you now. you should pop in/follow mine. i have all things books...
xo

Anonymous said...

Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks!
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I am an old follower of your blog.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

The Compulsive Reader said...

Ooh, cool! I love Amy! She's so funny and talented! Great idea.

Tirzah

Libby's Library said...

I would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks for the contest.
+1 New Follower

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Cecelia said...

Oh...gorgeous cover, and hilarious/awesome dialogue. Can't wait to read this!
+1 Comment
+2 Old follower
+1 Linking this contest on sidebar.

Emma said...

+2 Old Follower.
+1 On Sidebar. http://bookingthrough365.blogspot.com

We had Amy of fiveawesomeyafans.ning.com and she seemed delightful! I wasn't able to find the book, but I've really wanted to read this one.

sekritsister@hotmail.com

wdebo said...

Haha AWESOME guest post!

+1 Comment
+2 Old Follower
+1 On Sidebar (Too lazy to link :)to blog)

Wdebo :)

electricalbookcafe@yahoo.com

A.S. King said...

Man, this turned out so well! Thanks for having me, Diana, and happy blogoversary again! Here's to many more years!

ps--Emma--from the reports I'm getting, and what I'm seeing, Barnes & Noble has D100D on the teen table or in stock. But don't forget--you can always order it while you're at your bookstore, and pick up later! (of course, you might win it first...)

tawndam said...

sounds great!

+1 comment
+2 old folower

Ella Preuss said...

+1 Comment
+2 Old follower
+1 Linking this contest once somewhere else around the web (my blog)

I'd love to read this! It's been in my TBR List for a while!

Thanks for making it international!

Katie said...

Enter me! I'm already a follower.
katiesbookshelf@ymail.com

The Obsessive Reader said...

This sounds really good and I loved the three person interview.
+1 I'm a new follower
+1 On my sidebar

rconnell94@yahoo.com
Rachel

The Obsessive Reader said...

If you ever have time come look at my blog http://theobsessivereader-rachel.blogspot.com/ and give me some critics or just check it out.

pepsivanilla said...

I've heard that this book is awesome! I would love to read it :)

+1 comment
+2 old follower

pepsivanilla14(at)hotmail(dot)com

Hailey said...

This sounds like an awesome book! Please enter me.

+1 Commenting
+2 Old follower!

Shadowofwonder47[at]yahoo[dot]com

Ren @ All By Myshelf said...

+1 comment
+1 new follower
+1 linked at DahliasEclecticMind.blogspot.com

eclecticdahlia@aol.com

Sarah said...

Plz enter my name! Thnx ;)

+1 Comment

~~Sarah
luckywolf15@yahoo.com

Orchid said...

Dust of 100 Dogs sounds really good.
+1 Comment
+1 New follower
+1 Linked on my blogs sidebar.
http://hauntedorchid.blogspot.com

hauntingorchid (at) aol (dot) com

M.A.D. said...

Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

+1 Now THIS really looks like a terrific read!!!! I'd so enjoy this one :)

+1 New Follower here ~

Sue said...

Looks really good! Thanks for sharing this one.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Awesome, thanks!
+1 comment
+2 old follower
adrienne2093(at)comcast(dot)net

deltay said...

Awesome formatting! Very amusing :)

+1 Comment
+2 Old follower
+1 Sidebar linked

Bianca said...

Would love to win this book!

+2 old follower

infinitemusic19 at gmail dot com

a flight of minds said...

I'm just in the middle of reading The Dust of 100 Dogs now, and would LOVE to own my own copy. I'm reading a library copy.

+1 commenting
+2 Old follower
+1 Linked here: http://aflightofminds.blogspot.com/2009/08/and-more-contests.html

Thanks!
Alex (& Lauren) at aflightofminds(at)hotmail(dot)com

Gina said...

I've seen this title in stores and I've been meaning to add it to the TBR mountain. This would be great to win! Count me in!

Gina
grgenius(at)go(dot)com

+1 Comment
+1 retweet! (@GRgenius)

Sheere said...

Thanks for the giveaway!

+2 Old follower

By the way, when does it ends?

sheere.dry@gmail.com

Mavie said...

I've been wanting to read this book!

+1 this is the comment
+2 old follower
+1 linking about this contest in my sidebar (contests)

http://bookreviewsya.blogspot.com/

Great contest!
bookreviewsya@yahoo.com

Erica said...

This book sounds great!

+1 comment
+2 old follower

:) Erica
thebookcellar@wi.rr.com

Lilixtreme said...

+1 comment
+2 old follower
+1 linked to contest on sidebar: http://lilibethramos.blogspot.com
+1 tweeted about contest: http://twitter.com/Lilixtreme/status/3310738992

lilibethramos@live.com

Mardel said...

boy this book looks interesting. I loved the interview/reader comments that Saffron and Emer answered.

I'm now a follower of your blog.

Ashley said...

I really wanna read this!
booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com

+1 commenting
+2 old follower
+1 posted on my sidebar at http://booksobsession.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

cintiaq@aol.com

+1 Comment
+1 New follower
+1 Linking this contest at a blog in pulseit http://pulseit.simonandschuster.com/_1st-blogoversary/blog/513482/107649.html

Belinda M said...

+1 comment

+2 old follower

Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at CoolCanucks.ca


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Llehn said...

+1 I've so many good things about this one!

+2 Old follower.

lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I've been wanting to read this for a while. :)

harrypotterfan6991@hotmail.com

Miriam said...

I like the look of this book, and I heart the cover. I'd like to be entered, please.

+1 Comment
+1 New follower

miriamfrancos[at]dsl[dot]pipex[dot]com

miriam x

throuthehaze said...

Count me in please!

+1 comment
+1 new follower

throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I loved the post and can't wait to read the book. Thanks.

+1 comment

carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

Jenny N. said...

+1 Enter me please. I've been wanting to read this book.
+1 New follower of yours

jen4777[at]hotmail.com

Chloe said...

This sounds really good! Please enter me :D

lookaftermyheart1901(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I love reading books about pirates! please enter me
andreaartist24@yahoo.com
+1 Comment
+1 New follower
+1 I linked this contest on my blog
www.elenagraffino.wordpress.com

Brittany said...

I REALLY want to read this. THANKS
+1 Comment
+1 New follower
+1 Linked on sidebar
http://thelifeofateenlibrarian.blogspot.com/

teensatthelibrary[at]yahoo[dot]com

Bunny B said...

+1 Pirates are sexy! This sounds really fun :) I wanna read this so bad!!
+1 New follower
+1 Linked http://bunnymoney9.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-and-cool.html

bunnybx at gmail . com

~The Book Pixie said...

This sounds really good and has been on my list for a while. Definitely count me in!

+1 comment
+2 old follower
+1 linked in sidebar here:
http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/

~Briana
thebookpixie(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bookumss said...

+1 now following you

+1 comment!

+1 Tweeted! http://twitter.com/BookumsXLibro/status/3423676277

Crazy for words said...

+1 Comment
+1 New follower
+1 Linked the contest in the sidebar here: http://crazyforwords.livejournal.com/

Sarah said...

Haha, I love the character interview. So cute.

+1 Comment
+2 Old follower

Thanks for the contest!

Limerick
two_of_hearts_101 at yahoo dot com

Midnight Cowgirl said...

I've been wanting to read this!

butterflythunder(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Cindy said...

+1 Comment
+2 Old follower

enter me!

cnhand84 @ yahoo dot com

chocowafer said...

It's so cool of you to this!

+1 comment
+1 new follower
+ linked it on my sidebar:
http://fictiondoesitbetter.blogspot.com/

austenfanblogs[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

Please add me in.. germaine.perera@gmail.com

Sarah said...

Please add me to the draw.
+1 Comment
+1 New follower

Anonymous said...

I already left a comment, but I also shared this on my blog.

http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/giveaways-in-blogland-14/

+1 sharing

carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

Kristen said...

Count me in!

+2 for being an old follower

Dominique said...

this book looks great! :D
please count me in!

+2 Old follower

thanks,
Dominique
bookvault(at)yahoo.com

Wrighty said...

I've been looking forward to this one too! Please include me and thanks so much!

+1 comment
+2 already follow
+1 added to sidebar
www.wrightysreads.blogspot.com

5wrights1[at]verizon[dot]net

Beth said...

Please enter me.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

nfmgirl said...

+1 Teenage girl pirate? Count me in!

+1 New follower

+1 Blogged:
http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-08-22-09.html

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Allison said...

Never read anything with pirates before but this sounds really interesting. Count me in!

+1 Comment
+1 New follower

killercliffhanger at hotmail dot com

Ellz said...

Please count me in!
+1 comment
+1 new follower
zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

L said...

Enter me please!

+1 Comment
+2 Old follower
+1 sidebar:
http://violeteyesroaming.blogspot.com/

lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

Kiara said...

+1 Thank you for this contest. I really want a copy of this book!
+1 I'm a new follower
+1 I linked this on twitter here. I'm @shinodita

My e-mail adress: kiara.dg(at)gmail.com

Book Sp(l)ot said...

I have this as part of my Amazon cart for the next time I order something because my whole entire library system still won't buy it and I so, so want to read it!!! *crosses fingers*

+1 for commenting
+1 for follwoing (apparently I wasn't already no matter how much I thought so)

book.splotATgmailDOTcom

Dani. said...

Dust of 100 Dogs? Pirates? I have been wanting to-read this book for soooo long and have been dying to get my hands on it! It has been residing near the top of my list and I reallyreallyreally want to read it! :)
Dani.
lightningstreak123@comcast.net

Extras:
+1: Commented!
+1: Follower!
+1: Linked on Sidebar-
http://danidlion.blogspot.com/

Beleth said...

Thanks for giving us the chance to read this book! Im always looking for pirate books :D!
im a new follower and my email is:
battyaboutbats(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I have been eyeing this book for a while now. I am a new follower and looks like your blog is great. I posted this on my sidebar.

http://thenovelhovel.blogspot.com/
Thanks
Kristan

booksrmysoul said...

Blair W
blairwlewis@gmail.com

Thank you for this chance to win this book!!

+1 Commenting
+1 New Follower
+1 I twetted http://twitter.com/booksrmysoul/status/3645669488

3 points

YA Book Realm said...

would love to read this. Guest blog was awesome. =)

bookrealm@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Acacia
bucsfan12@rocketmail.com

Thanks for this chance to win enter me into this giveaway please.

+1 I am a New Follower of this blog
+1 I commented
+1 I twetted:https://twitter.com/lovenibs2/status/3668525679

3 points

Korianne said...

+1 I NEED this book! I have wanted to read it rather badly since meeting Amy in NYC. She's awesome and I assume her book is too!

+2 Old follower

koriannespeaks@gmail.com

Lovely,

Korianne

Ezzy said...

All your giveaways are absolutely fabulous but i think it would be nice if you mention the ending date as well !!

+1 New follower

itzme.insi@gmail.com