Win Paul Griffin's New Book!

Update: The winner of the book has been chosen. I went through the entries here and on my Facebook page, and the book goes to... LLBurk! Congratulations, LL!

Everyone else: Sorry, but I only have the one copy. Soon, though, I'll be giving away copies of my new books as well as copies of another author's debut! Stay tuned! (And hey -- visit your local bookstore or your local library and check out Paul's books -- they're magnificent.)

Paul Griffin is one of my favorite YA authors. His Ten-Mile River is like Huck Finn for the 21st century, and his new book -- Stay With Me -- is so good that I broke my usual policy of not blurbing books because I just couldn't get the damn thing out of my head. Here's what I wrote for the cover:

"Paul Griffin takes risks other authors never even contemplate. Stay With Me is beautiful and horrifying and bittersweet in the best way possible."

And, yeah, that's true. I'm not the only one who feels that way: Both Kirkus and School Library Journal have given the book starred reviews. Here's the official description:

An urban romance that will capture your soul, break your heart, and restore your faith in the human spirit

Fifteen-year-olds Cece and Mack didn't expect to fall in love. She's a sensitive A student; he's a high school dropout. But soon they're spending every moment together, bonding over a rescued dog, telling their secrets, making plans for the future. Everything is perfect. Until. Until. Mack makes a horrible mistake, and in just a few minutes, the future they'd planned becomes impossible. In this stark new reality, both of them must find meaning and hope in the memories of what they had, to survive when the person they love can't stay.

From award-winning writer Paul Griffin, Stay with Me is both heartbreaking and uplifting, filled with characters (both dog and human) that will forever change the way you look at the world.

All true.

I am fortunate enough to live in the same city as Paul, and I recently attended a reading where he read from Stay With Me. At the end of the reading, he signed the book he read from and handed it over to me.

And now I'm going to hand it over to YOU.

That's right -- Paul Griffin's signed, personal copy of Stay With Me (including some scribbles and highlighting and such) can be yours. How? Easy -- just tell me why you want it in the comments below. No need to wax poetic (unless the spirit moves you). Just tell me why you'd like to read this book.

I'll choose a winner at the end of the month.

Put simply: If you're reading this blog, then odds are you like my writing. And if you like what I do, you're gonna love what Paul does. Trust me -- you want to read this book. You may even need to read this book.

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1

Re: Win Paul Griffin's New Book!
By: Gabe on Tue September 13, 2011, 14:47:38

At the very end of the last sentence of your blog, you're absolutely right. I do like your writing. From books and of course, your blog. If its any indication that Stay With Me will be something similar to your work, then count me in. Plus, the story itself seems quite interesting and that's why I'd like the book.

2

Re: Win Paul Griffin's New Book!
By: Kate "K8" Tilton on Tue September 13, 2011, 20:20:30

You are right! Because I like your writing I NEED to read this book. Oh gosh I can't tell you how exciting this would be. I always get very geeky about signed book but this goes even further and is MARKED UP BY THE AUTHOR! AH! That is so exciting. What is better than to be able to have the own author's thoughts on his writing as you read? Gosh I can't even explain how cool I believe that to be. I am a crazy reader and have considered books to be my friends all through my life, this has not changed over all the years and now even more than before as I am working for an author I want to know more and more about the people behind the writing. I would love to win this book....I mean I would REALLY love to win this book.

3

Re: Win Paul Griffin's New Book!
By: Sobes on Tue September 13, 2011, 22:46:13

I'd love to win this book because I haven't read anything for fun in a million years (just textbooks and research papers), and I think a glowing recommendation from an author I like is a good place to start. Really, what are these "risks other authors never even contemplate"? What does Mack DO? Why does the dog on the cover look possessed? I MUST know!

4

Stay With Me - Gotta Read It
By: LLBurk on Wed September 14, 2011, 13:20:12

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I'd definitely be interested to read something that gets you excited and I have some spare time coming up. Due to some errant basal cells, the doc removed part of my nose, then cut skin from my forehead and sewed it to my nose while the skin was still attached. The extra protrusion sticking out of my eyebrows will be removed in two weeks and I'm suppose to stay reclined, so reading is about all I can do. I'd love to read Mr. Griffin's story. And if you chose me, I'll put it next to my signed copy of ArchVillian. (Can I send you my BoyToy to sign too?) Someone who has their forehead split open and has to wear a bandage to work for three weeks deserves to win some sort of prize. (And of course, I'm really, really curious to see what horrible thing can change someone's life in just minutes.)

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5

Win Paul Griffin's New Book!
By: bookweirdo on Thu September 15, 2011, 21:36:37

Just by your recommendation alone I know this book is going to be good. I want this book because I am passionate about YA literature. I love knowing that the author has written in this book. I follow many authors’ websites and blogs (not in a stalkerish way) and especially love when they are writing or have finished a book and talk about it. With this book I will see what Paul Griffin had to comment on after all the editing was done and his book was in print. Just reading this little synopsis though has my mind coming up with all the things that could have possibly changed two peoples lives so drastically.

6

Well, Then
By: QWERTY on Tue September 27, 2011, 20:57:46

Is it too late to enter? Because I want to read this book. I love down-to-earth books that aren't sugar coated. And this, well, seems like one. Especially since you recommended it.

Also, the word "urban."