Ghost Code by Sarah Negovetich Release Day Launch

The wait is over! From the bestselling author of the Acceptance series, comes an all new YA-standalone that's sure to be the first summer smash-hit! Sarah Negovetich delivers and you won't want to miss out. Grab your copy today!

Title: Ghost Code
Author: Sarah Negovetich
Genre: Young Adult/Sci-Fi
Release Date: May 15, 2017

"Ghost Code is a fast paced thrill ride that will take you to the very edge--of life and of love--and leave you begging for just one more page." 

-Bestselling Author Sherry D. Ficklin (The Hacker Series)

"Without dreams, what's the point of being awake?"

After a lifetime of fighting cancer, eighteen-year-old Viv Quiroga is dying. But she’s determined to go out on her own terms. Instead of wasting away in a hospital watching her mom worry over their mounting debt, she volunteers for a private research program.

For thirty days she’ll live in a coma as a human lab rat. When her time is up, they turn off the machines and pay off all her medical bills.

It’s supposed to be a one way trip.

Until Viv wakes up and learns what it really means to live.

     

Sarah Negovetich

Sarah Negovetich knows you don't know how to pronounce her name and she's okay with that.

Her first love is Young Adult novels, because at seventeen the world is your oyster. Only oysters are slimy and more than a little salty; it's accurate if not exactly motivational. We should come up with a better cliché.

Sarah divides her time between writing YA books that her husband won’t read and performing on stage at BE Theatre. Her goal in life is to never grow up.

FIND SARAH NEGOVETICH

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | WEBSITE

Happy Release Day Sarah and Ghost Code! Join us in wishing Sarah all the best with her new release by reaching out to her via Facebook or Twitter at the links above you will not regret it!

Grab your copy today!

Rite of Revelation (Acceptance #2) by Sarah Negovetich Review

Hey Readers! Ethan here on this Sunday evening for the first of two reviews I'll be sharing. I've been on a reading spree lately and I am so excited to share my thoughts. First up is the sequel to one of my favorite reads from 2015, a novel from a debut author that really opened my eyes to an amazing part of the book world. This time on the chopping block? Rite of Revelation by Sarah Negovetich. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author!

Rite of Revelation (Acceptance #2)
Author: Sarah Negovetich
Release Date: December 4, 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Dystopian

          

The Cardinal plans to execute seventeen-year-old Rebecca Collins, just as soon as he gets what he needs to solidify his rule over the United Territories. Faced with certain death, Rebecca discovers not everyone is under the Cardinal's control. A new alliance helps Rebecca and her friends escape the PIT, giving Rebecca a chance to live the life her Rejection took away.

But the Cardinal needs her in order to stay in power, and he doesn't care who has to die to bring her back to justice.

Her last fight was a push to survive. This time, Rebecca has a life that might be worth dying for.

Sarah Negovetich

Sarah Negovetich knows you don't know how to pronounce her name and she's okay with that.

Her first love is Young Adult novels, because at seventeen the world is your oyster. Only oysters are slimy and more than a little salty; it's accurate if not exactly motivational. We should come up with a better cliché.

Sarah divides her time between writing YA books that her husband won’t read and working with amazing authors as an agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Her life’s goal is to be only a mildly embarrassing mom when her kids hit their teens.

You can learn more about Sarah and her books at www.SarahNegovetich.com.

Goodreads * Website * Twitter * Facebook

*****

My Thoughts:

In a bookish world gone crazy, it takes a whole lot for a debut series to stand out above the crowd. For a while now, nay-sayers have been howling that "dystopian is dead", pushing people away from the genre in fear of no original content. To this people I say, ARE YOU CRAZY? Woah. Flashback to one year ago when I got my hands on, and devoured, the first installment of this series, Rite of Rejection. I was absolutely astounded. Blown away to the point where a book I read at the very end of 2014 became one of my favorite books all year. Crazy right?

How could Rite of Revelation ever hope to live up?

Book one ended us on a humongous cliff hanger. Probably one of the biggest ones I've seen in the genre, but boy did it pay off! While I will admit that I was slightly disappointed that book two doesn't pick right up where book one left off (can't say why for spoiler reasons), Negovetich more than makes up for it with the incredible twists and turns we see right from the first pages of Revelation. It's a fast-paced non-stop plot that keeps you moving until the very end. There is not a lull in this story at all. Action packed sequences of turmoil and heartbreak will forever change your views on revolution from the eyes of Rebecca and the gang. 

One of the most intriguing aspects of Revelation was Negovetich's methods of developing her characters. We still follow the same gang (now with a few new additions), but each and every character trait we discovered in book one is magnified tenfold. We can really see each character's tragic flaw in such full detail that makes their development at times much like a disaster, so hard to watch, but so hard to look away. Negovetich really upped the ante this time with her characters. Emotions are explored, uncertain futures are tried, and we find our characters facing the toughest decisions of their entire life. Sure, life in the PIT was awful, but is the outside world any better? Can a rag-tag group of outcasts really hope to make a difference?

I don't know about other readers, but the biggest themes I got out of Revelation were the theme of forgiveness and redemption. Acceptance is key in the lives of Rebecca and the gang, but the ability to forgive those who have done them wrong, their society, their world in an effort to move forward. Not only forgiveness, but their individual character's respective journeys towards redemption is such an emotional crutch in this series. That takes strength the likes of which most novels never scratch the surface. I think that's quite possibly the reason this series is so close to my heart. It is so much more than a 'surface' level story. There is a lot at stake her, but on the forefront and the background for all the characters involved. 

Negovetich really brought her A-game with the setting in book one. As I previously have noted, her setting of the PIT was one of the most well-written settings I have read. While book two took us away from the PIT, we still see some incredible writing on Negovetich's part. The descriptions alone are enough to have you smelling the pine of the forests and feeling the thick tension in each dramatic scene. I am really excited to see what Negovetich can do with the next installment of the series which will take our gang to new places with new adventures on the search for justice in revolution. 

Original, thought-provoking, and exceeding all expectation, Negovetich soars with Rite of Revelation. An action-packed sequel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, begging for book three! 

As you can clearly see, I absolutely loved each and every second of this second adventure with Negovetich and her beautifully crafted tale of dystopian amazingness. Rite of Revelation was everything I wanted and more. It should come as absolutely no surprise that I am granting this incredible novel a well-deserved 5-star review! I highly recommend this read to all fans of dystopian, young adult, or sci-fi fiction. You will not be disappointed. Add this series to your TBR today!

*****

Book One, Rite of Rejection available now! Click the cover to see my thoughts on book one!

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Rite of Revelation by the incredible Sarah Negovetich. This is one series that you do not want to miss. Add this to your TBR ASAP! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Rite of Revelation (Acceptance #2) by Sarah Negovetich Release Day Launch

Hello readers! Today I am so excited to present to you the release day launch for the newest novel from Sarah Negovetich, Rite of Revelation. This sequel to last year's hit, Rite of Rejection is available TODAY! Don't miss your chance to add this incredible novel to your shelves!

Rite of Revelation (Acceptance #2)
Author: Sarah Negovetich
Release Date: December 4, 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Dystopian

          

The Cardinal plans to execute seventeen-year-old Rebecca Collins, just as soon as he gets what he needs to solidify his rule over the United Territories. Faced with certain death, Rebecca discovers not everyone is under the Cardinal's control. A new alliance helps Rebecca and her friends escape the PIT, giving Rebecca a chance to live the life her Rejection took away.

But the Cardinal needs her in order to stay in power, and he doesn't care who has to die to bring her back to justice.

Her last fight was a push to survive. This time, Rebecca has a life that might be worth dying for.

Sarah Negovetich

Sarah Negovetich knows you don't know how to pronounce her name and she's okay with that.

Her first love is Young Adult novels, because at seventeen the world is your oyster. Only oysters are slimy and more than a little salty; it's accurate if not exactly motivational. We should come up with a better cliché.

Sarah divides her time between writing YA books that her husband won’t read and working with amazing authors as an agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Her life’s goal is to be only a mildly embarrassing mom when her kids hit their teens.

You can learn more about Sarah and her books at www.SarahNegovetich.com.

Goodreads * Website * Twitter * Facebook

*****

Excerpt

Daniel grabs my hand and I reach out to grab Patrice standing next to me. All around the room, heads nod in unison. I take another look at their faces, my family. Molly should be here. A sharp knife of pain and loss hits me, and I push it down. No time to deal with that now. There are more of us standing together, and that would make her happy. In the flames of discontent and rebellion, our family grew stronger. And now, we’ll get to be the wildflowers we were always meant to be. Eric snaps off the light stick and we plunge into darkness.

I squeeze Daniel’s hand and follow the group back into the night. Even this far out, the noise of destruction carries on the salty breeze. I’ve no idea what’s going on, but I don’t care so long as it keeps the guards distracted for a little while longer.

My shoes beat out a rhythm on the hard ground just a tad slower than the fast pounding of my heart. We’ve been here before, so close to freedom I could taste the ocean saltwater on my lips. But that night led to death and disaster. I squeeze Daniel’s hand tighter. I can’t do that again. Adrenaline speeds through my veins, pumping my legs even faster. I can’t decide if it’s from excitement or terror.

Eric freezes in front of us and turns, panic radiating from wide eyes. “Run.”

*****

Book One, Rite of Rejection available now!

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Rite of Revelation by the incredible Sarah Negovetich. My review will be coming this weekend and trust me, you won't want to miss it! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Top 10 Most Anticipated Reads of Fall 2015

Hey readers! Ethan here on this first day of Fall 2015 with an exciting post for you all. Fall is, without question, my favorite season. Ethan here hates the summer heat. I love the back to school feeling, the harvest time, all things Halloween, and so much more. Bonfires, hayrides, and MY FREAKING BIRTHDAY all sit just on the horizon and will be filling my next few months. Who wouldn't be excited?

Fall has historically been known to present me with my favorite books of the entire year as well. Last year was a huge winner so 2015 has a lot to live up to. I thought I'd start out the season by showcasing my Top 10 Most Anticipated Reads of Fall 2015 with you guys so you can add them to your TBRs as well!

Please keep in mind that some of these novels do not have covers, official synopses, etc as of yet, but I'll include whatever I can! Without farther adieu, here are my top 10!

*In no particular order*
*My thoughts in orange*

1. Playing with Fire (Hacker #1) by Sherry D. Ficklin

With the incredible Sherry Ficklin at the helm, what's not to be excited about? I've seen her tackle history, paranormal, and even sci-fi. I know she's got the perfect skills to knock this story out of the park! As one of my favorite authors, I couldn't have more faith in Sherry if I tried!

One brilliant young hacker.
One experimental government aircraft.
One chance to keep it all from going up in flames.

Still recovering from her troubled past, Farris is no stranger to change. But when the military transfers her father across the country to an experimental aircraft squadron, settling in to a new life is the least of her problems. As a series of apparent computer glitches threaten the security of the fleet and the blame falls on her father, she decides to put her computer skills to use digging up the truth. Soon she’s drawn into the perilous world of a hacker who is determined to ground the fleet—at any cost.

When all signs lead to someone close to her as the mastermind, Farris will have to burn more than bridges to get to the truth. She will have to risk her fragile new life to uncover the identity of the cyber criminal before they can escalate from harmless tampering… to all out murder.

Release Date: October 27, 2015

2. Redemption (The Sophisticated #3) by Christina Manzari

Last year I spent a long time with a serious bookish hangover after devouring the first two novels in this series. I've been anxiously awaiting the finale of this trilogy ever since! So far this year, Manzari has unleashed two AMAZING NA Romances on us, but I am so excited to see her get back to the roots I fell in love with with Redemption!

No synopsis for this one yet, but check it out anyway!

Release Date: Early December 2015

3. Fatal Beauty by Nazarea Andrews

Any of my followers will know that I am more than a slightly obsessed with Nazarea Andrews. This woman has tackled more genres than any other author I know. I have massive amounts of respect for Andrews and have yet to read something of hers that didn't completely blow me away. I'll also add a confession here, I'm kind of on a dark romance kick (thanks KB Nelson) right now, and this couldn't speak to me any louder if it had a megaphone!

Charlotte was a good girl.

Sweet and innocent, a debutante with her Daddy’s credit card and a fiancée who doted on her.
She was destined for a perfect picture life in Charleston.
Until everything goes wrong.

EJ grew up with everything she could ever want, and bored as hell.
Nothing surprises her and nothing ever changes, and she wants out—whatever it takes.
Getting involved with Anthony Jacobs is probably the worst idea she’s ever had—and that makes it irresistible.
Until Charlie needs her.

New Orleans. Memphis. Vegas.
Beautiful girls who know just how to get exactly what they want.
It’s all fun and games, sexy nights and wild parties.

But you can only manipulate your way out of so much, and the body count is rising. When their past catches up, not even a pretty smile will get them out of trouble this time.

Release Date: October 6, 2015

4. For the Memory of Dragons (Dragons of Eternity #2) by Julie Wetzel

You guys may remember this series as the one that first turned me on to dragons. Prior to Julie Wetzel, they were my least favorite fantasy trope, she made me a believer! I was lucky enough to already devour this one, but I'm super pumped about the print release in October so I can rave about it all over again!

What do you do when a dragon crash-lands in your backyard?

That’s the question Terra’s faced with when one of these creatures plows down into her cornfield. Should she help out the hunk of a man the dragon turns into, or turn him over to the trigger-happy ‘authorities’ that have come looking for him? The deciding factor—he has no memory. Giving him up just doesn’t seem right… at least until she knows the truth of who he is.

Alex has forgotten a thing or two—his name being one of them—but he knows there is something important that he needs to remember, if he could just get his battered brain to work properly. A little rest might help, but there’s no time for that when the bullets start flying.

Now, he has to follow the few clues he has to discover who he is, and why people are trying to kill him. But that’s the easy part. The hard part will be keeping his hands off the lovely lady helping him.

Release Date: October 20, 2015

5. Ignited (Donovan Circus #4) by Liz Long

Okay. Anyone who knows me is aware that this is one of my all time favorites. Liz's writing gets better with each passing installment and this one is no exception. I've beta read this and I'm dying for the final copy so I can add this beauty to my bookshelf. This may be my favorite of the series thus far. Fans of Liz and her Donovan Circus are definitely going to love this one!

"Maybe I had to accept that the Donovan Circus no longer felt like home." 

Lucy might've beaten Alex the Chameleon, but the cost of his defeat was too much to bear. After losing a beloved member, Sheffield Donovan temporarily disbands the show. Abandoned by the ringmaster and her friends, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of their ruined circus - and defend it against those waiting for the opportunity to strike. During one of these attempts, Lucy learns of Augustus Rivers, the leader of his so-called gifted mafia. When Lucy is offered a chance to infiltrate the Rivers' household, she jumps at the opportunity to seek vengeance on the mastermind. Augustus instead surprises everyone by proposing that the powerful female Firestarter work for him. It's everything the Donovan Circus isn't, an offer Lucy finds more enticing than she ever expected. With the Donovan Circus in shambles and the gifted world on the cusp of war, can Lucy Sullivan figure out who she's meant to be? Or will her fire destroy everything they've built?

Release Date: October 30, 2015

6. After Alice by Gregory Maguire

Gregory Maguire is my all-time favorite author. The man has changed my life in more ways than I could ever type out. His track record of retelling classic tales has forever secured him a spot on my auto-buy list. Imagine my delight and surprise when I found out he was tackling yet another of my all-time favorite worlds and stories? Maguire was born to re-write Wonderland. I have no doubt it'll be absolutely amazing!

When Alice toppled down the rabbit-hole 150 years ago, she found a Wonderland as rife with inconsistent rules and abrasive egos as the world she left behind. But what of that world? How did 1860s Oxford react to Alice's disappearance?
In this brilliant new work of fiction, Gregory Maguire turns his dazzling imagination to the question of underworlds, undergrounds, underpinnings — and understandings old and new, offering an inventive spin on Carroll's enduring tale. Ada, a friend of Alice's mentioned briefly in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, is off to visit her friend, but arrives a moment too late — and tumbles down the rabbit hole herself.

Ada brings to Wonderland her own imperfect apprehension of cause and effect as she embarks on an odyssey to find Alice and see her safely home from this surreal world below the world. If Euridyce can ever be returned to the arms of Orpheus, or Lazarus can be raised from the tomb, perhaps Alice can be returned to life. Either way, everything that happens next is After Alice.

Release Day: October 27, 2015

7. Eternal Sacrifice (Mortal Enchantment #3) by Stacey O'Neale

This series. Oh man. I can honestly say I've never been so hooked on a series so fast as I was with Mortal Enchantment. From the very first page, I knew this was a YA series to be reckoned with. It's become one of my favorites! I'm Stacey's self-proclaimed biggest fan and I have been constantly bugging her for into on the final installment! Elemental fiction at its' finest right here! Definitely going to be a bittersweet story. The end of an era for Stacey and this series! Excuse me while I sob in the corner come release day.

No synopsis for this one yet, but check it out anyway!

Release Date: Early December 2015

8. Rite of Revelation (Acceptance #2) by Sarah Negovetich 

Rite of Rejection (book one) was the final book I read of 2014 and ended my year on a really high note. In a bookish world where dystopian novels are everywhere, it takes a special author with true talent to stand out above the crowd. Thankfully Sarah Negovetich has just that. I absolutely cannot wait for this one to hit the shelves! 

No cover or synopsis for this one yet, but check out book one in the meantime!

Release Date: November 5, 2015

9. The Professor Woos the Witch (Nocturne Falls #4) by Kristen Painter

Last month, I devoured the first three novels in this series in record time. A town where it's Halloween every day? Sign me up! These stories were exactly what I needed at the time: short, sweet, and full of fun! Even after nearly a month I still get giddy just thinking about them! Can't say enough awesome about this Nocturne Falls series from Kristen Painter. We may not have a cover yet, but with as great as the past few have been, I can only imagine it'll be awesome. I'm kind of hoping for a green-theme with this one!

No cover or synopsis for this one yet, but check out book one in the meantime!

Release Date: October 2015

10. The Fifteenth Minute (Ivy Years #5) Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen is, quite possibly, my favorite New Adult author of them all. Each and every one of the novels (and novella) in this series have topped my 'best of' lists. In fact, one of them is one of my all-time favorite NA stories! Lianne really grew on me in book four so I have no doubt this this one will become a quick favorite! Plus, Sarina is just amazing. Like 'bow down and exalt' amazing. Long Live Queen Sarina!

Freshman Lianne Challice is known to millions of fans as Princess Vindi. But sometimes a silver screen sorceress just wants to hang up her wand, tell her manager to shove it, and become a normal college student. Too bad that’s harder than it looks.

She’s never lived a normal life. She hasn’t been to school since kindergarten. And getting close to anyone is just too risky — the last boy she kissed sold the story to a British tabloid.

But she can’t resist trying to get close to Daniel "DJ" Trevi, the hot, broody guy who spins tunes for hockey games in the arena. There's something haunting his dark eyes and she needs to know more.

DJ's genius is for expressing the mood of the crowd with a ten second song snippet. With just a click and a fade, he can spread hope, pathos or elation among six thousand screaming fans.

Too bad his college career is about to experience the same quick fade-out as one of his songs. He can't get close to Lianne, and he can't tell her why. And the fact that she seems to like him at all? Incredible.

Release Day: October 13, 2015

*****

Alright guys, there you have it: my Top 10 Most Anticipated Reads of Fall 2015! With my favorite season starting and all these amazing books on the horizon, I've got ten huge reasons to smile! Be sure to add all these reads to your TBR and come on back later in the season to see my thoughts on each of these novels. I can't wait! What are YOUR most anticipated reads of the season?

Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time, Happy Reading (and Happy Fall)!

-Ethan

Book World: Behind the Scenes {2}

Hey readers! Ethan here introducing to you a brand new blog series!

Getting a book from a word document and onto the shelves at your local bookstore takes a lot of work and, often, a small army to do it. Many believe that the authors are the only rockstars in the business. After over a year of blogging, I've learned that this simply isn't true. There is an entire community of 'unsung heroes' doing the hard work behind the scenes to get the book ready for our hands!

In this series, I'm honoring those awesome unsung heroes.

Book World: Behind the Scenes will be a weekly post, each Thursday, that will spotlight one awesome individual from the book world. I will not only be spotlighting that person, but also conducting a one-on-one interview with them covering an array of topics such as the current state of the book world, trends they are seeing, and some information about their background in the field.

I think this is an incredible opportunity to show readers and the rest of the bookish community just how much work goes into making a book successful! Let's give those unsung heroes a moment in the spotlight!

Week One: Meet Sarah Negovetich

Coming off such an amazing debut of this series, I can't think of anyone better to follow Marya than the incredible Sarah Negovetich. Any of my 'regulars' will recognize Sarah's name. Sarah is special for more than a few reasons here at One Guy's Guide to Good Reads. On top of being a literary agent, she's also my bookish boss. I intern under Sarah through our work at the Corvisiero Literary Agency. On top of that, Sarah is also the debut author of one of my top reads of 2014, Rite of Rejection! Sarah is just all around awesome. While I first met Sarah through her work as an author, I really grew to love and respect Sarah through her work as a literary agent. She's been such an amazing source of inspiration to me. One of the busiest women I know, Sarah is always on the move. From reading queries, to negotiating contracts for her clients, Sarah Negovetich is truly a jack of all trades! I'm so honored to call her a friend and to host her here today to share her experiences in the book world.

Sarah Negovetich

Sarah Negovetich knows you don't know how to pronounce her name and she's okay with that.

Her first love is Young Adult novels, because at seventeen the world is your oyster. Only oysters are slimy and more than a little salty; it's accurate if not exactly motivational. We should come up with a better cliché.

Sarah divides her time between writing YA books that her husband won’t read and working with amazing authors as an agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Her life’s goal is to be only a mildly embarrassing mom when her kids hit their teens.

FIND SARAH NEGOVETICH

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | WEBSITE

*****

Interview with Sarah Negovetich

Name: Sarah Negovetich
Location: The stars at night are big and bright (clap, clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas
Book World Occupation: Literary Agent
Years in the Business: 2 1/2
Currently Reading/Last Book You Read: The Saints by Lex Thomas

1. We’ve read your bio, but tell us a little more about yourself and your work within the business. What exactly is your role in helping a book get from a word document and into the reader’s hands?

My part is all the stuff that that falls in the middle of the publishing process that I never even knew existed until I got into publishing. I work with my clients to polish up their manuscripts, give advice on what projects to work on next and provide a sounding board for ideas. After that, I reach out to editors who I think will love the book as much as me and hopefully we find a match.

2. What kind of training do you have? What prepares you for this type of work?

I don’t think anything can really prepare you for becoming an agent. It’s a lot of responsibility to be given charge over someone’s book baby and dreams. There really isn’t a special training course to take to become an agent (I wish there was). I was lucky enough to land an internship and worked my way up from there learning everything I possibly could along the way. The only absolute qualification you need is a true love of books and an understanding of the magic they contain. Everything else can be taught.

3. As a literary agent, you have one of the most important jobs when it comes to the publishing industry. It’s also one of the most misunderstood roles in the book world. Tell us a bit about what an agent is and why having (a good) one is important for both the author and their readers.

I actually think I have one of the smallest roles in publishing. Certainly an author is the most important cog in the engine. I think the easiest way to understand the role of an agent is to imagine we are a compass. We work for our authors and are there to help guide them and their book toward publication. We help keep them on the right path and from getting lost along the way.

There are so many pitfalls that authors can fall into. We point to the new publishers all the time and warn authors to be careful, but even established publishers can trip up an author if they aren’t careful about the contract they sign. A good agent can make sure that an author is getting a fair deal for their work and aren’t agreeing to something that is going to come back and hurt them in the future.

4. Not only are you a literary agent, but last fall you also published your first young adult novel. How has being a published author changed your role in the literary world? Do you see the literary world different now that you’ve seen the author side of things?

I don’t think my role has changed. I’ve always been a writer and I bet you’d find that a lot of agents enjoying writing on the side. We tend to be creative folks. What has changed for me is that I am now able to relate to my authors on a new level. I completely understand the panic that happens a week before publication when you realize that yes, it is too late to make any more changes. I understand the dead weight of that first negative review and manic inducing chaos that is Amazon rankings. I hope that having been on the other side helps me to be more empathetic because I can sincerely say that I completely understand what they are going through during the publication process.

5. As someone in such an important part of the business, I’m sure you see some great and some… not so great, work. What are some of your pet peeves when it comes to publishing? What makes Sarah Negovetich tick?

There isn’t a whole lot that sets me off, however, one mistake will make me write off an author faster than you can name your favorite Harry Potter book: Unprofessionalism. I realize that emotions are high for writers in the query trenches and dreams are on the line. But finding an agent is a career decision, much like applying for a new job. I don’t expect perfection, but I do expect authors who query me to be respectful and take their query seriously. Nothing irritates me more than a query that start “I know you ask for x, y, z, but I decided to ignore that and do my own thing.” You’d be surprised by how many queries I get like that. Those are always automatic rejections for me. I’m only interested in working with authors who understand that while being an author is fun, it is not a game.

6. Publishing, much like the books themselves, goes through phases and trends. What are some of the more common trends we are seeing in the current book market?

One change I’ve noticed lately is that more of the big houses are opening up additional imprints to focus on more specific genres and styles. I think this is great. Books are a growing market and readers have varied tastes. There is a lot more variety coming out now. Publishers are getting a handle on the eBook market and we are seeing more risks taken on books that might not have been considered publishable a few years ago.

7. What advice would you have for an author who is looking for an agent? What criteria do you think is most important when searching? With so many to choose from, how is an author to decide who best to represent their vision?

I advise authors to not get hung up on searching for their perfect agent. Social media can make it feel like we know everything about someone, but that’s just not true. And determining someone’s fit with your manuscript based off a few tweets and blog posts is impossible. Instead, search out agents who are actively looking for manuscripts in your genre and query widely. Once you get further in the process, you can have real conversations with agents about your book and start making decisions off those.

Above all, you need to feel like you can trust your agent. You will be putting your work into their hands and trusting them to find a home. Maybe they will and maybe they won’t, but you need to be able to sleep at night knowing that your agent is doing the best job they can for you.

8. In a world where self-publishing is as easy as uploading a document and hitting that shiny ‘publish’ button, why would you say having an agent is important?

Self-publishing is great, but it isn’t for everyone. It’s a ton (A TON) of work and not something that is a good option for certain types of stories. And even if you are self-publishing, you still may want an agent. I represent a self-published author and focus only on her sub rights. As a self-published author myself, I have an agent and I’m glad I do.

9. As an agent, I know that you read constantly. What are some of your all time favorite reads?

You do realize that asking a question like this is like asking me which of my kids is my favorite. If I’m talking about all-time favorites I have to include the Harry Potter series. I also love 1984 by George Orwell. And I have to mention The Wheel of Time epic fantasy series by Robert Jordan (and finished by Brandon Sanderson when Jordan passed away). There are so many more, but I can’t list them all.

10. Where can we learn more about Sarah Negovetich and her work with the Corvisiero Literary Agency?

You can check out the agency at www.CorvisieroAgency.com. I also blog regularly at www.SarahNegovetich.com. Every Monday I post agency lessons to help authors still out there in the query trenches and post marketing articles twice a week.

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This past week, I had the amazing honor to meet Sarah at UtopYA in Nashville, Tennessee. Sarah and I did a whole lot of bonding with the boss-lady. While we took a few pictures, I haven't the slightest clue where they all are. Unfortunately, all I can find right this moment is this blurry one, but don't worry, I'll add a new one when I can find one!

Sarah Negovetich and Ethan Gregory at the Fourth Annual UtopYAcon Awards

 

Please don't hesitate to check out Sarah's page on the Corvisiero website to learn more about what works she is looking for and her submissions guidelines! Who would want to miss a chance to work with Sarah and her incredibly attractive intern? Exactly. 

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Alright everyone, that's all I have for you on Sarah Negovetich during this week's Book World: Behind the Scenes! I hope you've enjoyed learning a little bit more about some of the BTS work that goes into making our favorite reads awesome! Be sure to join us next week when we meet another amazing industry professional! 

Thanks so much for stopping by. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

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Are you an author? Do you work with an incredible someone who holds a career in one of the above fields? Are you a blogger who has worked with one? I want to honor those awesome people!

I already have a handful of interested parties lined up, but I'd like to add more. If you would like to nominate someone for a spotlight, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Interested parties are encouraged to fill out the Goodle Doc by clicking here or to contact me (Ethan) directly by shooting an email to OneGuysGuidetoGoodReads@gmail.com.

Google Doc:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YGWFHnUYU2FZ3CnqKU70pmuKk4JaNxKB8CugxHZTn_4/viewform?usp=send_form

I think this is an incredible opportunity to show readers and the rest of the bookish community just how much work goes into making a book successful! Let's give those unsung heroes a moment in the spotlight!

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Countdown to UtopYA Author Spotlight Series Day Seven: Meet Sarah Negovetich

Hello friends and welcome to an exciting week here at One Guy's Guide to Good Reads. For the next week, my beautiful bookish soul-mate, Christina Marie from LuLo Fangirl and I will be hosting an incredible new feature series to get everyone PUMPED for UtopYAcon in Nashville, TN next week!

After WEEKS of deliberation, Christina and I have hand-picked FIFTEEN of our favorite authors attending UtopYA and will be spotlighting one each day for the next 7 days. These posts will include an interview with 15 special guests, ranging from seasoned literary vets to first-time debut authors. Each post will also feature a quick spotlight of the authors latest or upcoming works. You are not going to want to miss out on this awesome series!

Each day Christina and I will feature a different author on one of our blogs and will be cross promoting between the two. We really want to get the word out to all of our readers. As a special incentive, we are offering an exclusive UtopYA giveaway for a signed book from ANY participating UtopYA author! How exciting! We can't wait to share this awesome series with you all and look forward to an awesome time in Nashville!

Happy Reading!

2 DAYS UNTIL UTOPYA

Day One: Meet Sarah Negovetich

Sarah Negovetich

Sarah Negovetich knows you don't know how to pronounce her name and she's okay with that.

Her first love is Young Adult novels, because at seventeen the world is your oyster. Only oysters are slimy and more than a little salty; it's accurate if not exactly motivational. We should come up with a better cliché.

Sarah divides her time between writing YA books that her husband won’t read and working with amazing authors as an agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Her life’s goal is to be only a mildly embarrassing mom when her kids hit their teens.

FIND SARAH NEGOVETICH

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | WEBSITE

Intro to Sarah Negovetich:

Let's see. Where do I even begin to introduce you guys to Sarah? Last... hmm... October, was it? Right after my birthday, it was, I was approached by this debut author who was gathering reviewers for her upcoming novel. Our experience was unique from the very first correspondence. Not only did she offer me a copy of her novel for review, she went the extra mile to actually read my reviews, my 'about me', and go through my 'Hall of Fame' so that she could really get to know me as a blogger before offering me her debut novel. I'll never forget that first email. From sharing our mutual love of theatre and our passion for literature, it was brought up that she was also a literary agent and was looking for an intern. I jumped on that ship and from there a beautiful bookish friendship has been born! I devoured Rite of Rejection (her debut novel) and then jumped on to her team at the Corvisiero Literary Agency back in November and have been working under Sarah ever since. We make an awesome team and she puts up with my crazy every day. I couldn't ask for a more awesome industry professional to work under! I have never met Sarah in real life, even though we talk... several times a week. I am BEYOND excited to meet her in person this week at UtopYA! We will both be fanning out to the max! If you see one of us, I'm sure the other won't be too far behind!

Let's learn a bit more about Sarah and her work:

Latest Release by Sarah Negovetich

Rite of Rejection by Sarah Negovetich

Straight-laced, sixteen-year-old Rebecca can’t wait for her Acceptance. A fancy ball, eligible bachelors, and her debut as an official member of society. Instead, the Machine rejects Rebecca. Labeled as a future criminal, she’s shipped off to a life sentence in a lawless penal colony.

A life behind barbed wire fences with the world’s most dangerous people terrifies Rebecca. She reluctantly joins a band of misfit teens in a risky escape plan, complete with an accidental fiancé she’s almost certain she can learn to love. 

But freedom comes with a price. To escape a doomed future and prove her innocence Rebecca must embrace the criminal within.

          

Seriously one of my all time favorite YA Dystopian novels!

Exclusive UtopYA Interview with Sarah Negovetich

1. Tell us about your experience with UtopYA. What's your history with UtopYA and why do you attend?


This is my first UtopYAcon and I couldn't be more excited. I love that the focus is on speculative fiction which is my jam. I also love how female friendly this conference is. Science fiction and fantasy have long been considered male dominated territory so it's great to see so many amazing female authors get the spotlight for some really fantastic additions to the genres. Even though I'm an author, I totally plan to fangirl my little heart out.

2.What is your favorite Nashville attraction and why? If this is your first time attending UtopYA/visiting Nashville, what are you most excited to see?

I have not been to Nashville since high school, which was a depressingly long time ago. However, I do remember that they have a fun minor league baseball team (the Nashville Sounds), so I'd love to take in a game. Of course, I'm just as happy hanging out at the hotel making tons of new friends.

3.What makes UtopYA different from any other book convention/signing?

Since this will be my first time, it's hard to say for sure. But I don't think I'll miss the panels where the one or two guys takes over and talks all over the other female authors.

4. When not attending the conference, where will you be spending your week in Nashville?

I have two kiddos at home so I'll be coming in and out just for the conference. I'll be staying at the conference hotel, which I highly recommend for anyone attending a conference. Yes, there are cheaper options pretty close to the conference that you could easily drive to. But so much of attending a conference is all the amazing networking that happens when the official conference schedule is done for the day. I plan to get as little sleep as possible so I can spend my time making at least a hundred new friends.

5. What are you reading right now?

I just finished The Saints, the second book in the Quarantine series by Lex Thomas and the final installment of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor. Up next on my TBR is Sabriel by Garth Nix. I've heard such good things about this series and for some reason I never read it. It's sitting on my night table right now, taunting me to get my work done so I can start reading.

6. What are some of your favorite summertime reads? What recs do you have for your readers to check out this summer?

I've been trying to read more NA books lately and recently finished The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen after some really great blogger recommended it to me (hint hint: it was Ethan). It was everything I wanted from a NA and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series soon. I also usually reread a few Jane Austen books each summer. I'm pretty certain Jane Austen is my spirit guide.

7. What can we expect next from you?

I am working so hard to hurry up and finish my edits for Rite of Revelation, the second book in the Acceptance series. This one has been hard for me since it ins't a book I ever planned to write. But I'm slowly falling in love with the way my characters continue to grow and surprise me. I was initially planning for an early summer release. That clearly isn't happening, but I promise readers it will be worth the wait.

Quick, don't think!

-Favorite summertime beverage? Bourbon Slushy

-Favorite Ice Cream flavor? Chocolate

-Favorite part about summer? Camping and sitting around the fire.

-Lounging on the beach or summer road trip? Road trip.

-Favorite 'song of the summer’? Shut Up and Dance by Walk Off the Moon

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Alright readers, that's all I have for you today during our UtopYAcon Author Spotlight Series! I hope you've learned a lot about our featured author, Mrs. Sarah Negovetich! Words cannot say how absolutely PUMPED I am to meet her this week! She's been such an inspiration and huge supporter of mine for the past several months and I can't wait to see her in real life!

Don't forget that Christina is also hosting an amazing spotlight over on her blog today, her guest is Tia Bach! Click the LuLo FanGirl banner below to check out Christina's post!

Be sure to enter the giveaway before you leave! You won't want to miss another surprise guest tomorrow! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan