Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SIX contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the RED TEAM–but there is also a pink team, a gold team, a blue team, a purple team, a green team, a orange team, and teal team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!
If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
SCAVENGER HUNT POST
Amy K. Nichols holds a master’s in literature and studied medieval paleography before switching her focus to writing fiction. She is the author of YA science fiction novels NOW THAT YOU’RE HERE (Knopf 2014) and WHILE YOU WERE GONE (Knopf 2015). She is mentored by award-winning novelist James Sallis. Insatiably curious, Amy dabbles in art, studies karate, and has a long list of things to do before she dies. She lives with her family on the edge of the desert outside Phoenix, AZ. In the evenings, she enjoys counting bats and naming stars. Sometimes she names the bats. Visit her online at www.amyknichols.com.
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
Eevee is a promising young artist and the governor’s daughter in a city where censorship is everywhere and security is everything. When a fire devastates her exhibition—years in the making—her dreams of attending an elite art institute are dashed. She’s struggling to find inspiration when she meets Danny, a boy from a different world. Literally.
Raised in a foster home, Danny has led a life full of hurt and hardship until a glitch in the universe changes everything. Suddenly Danny is living in a home he’s never seen, with parents who miraculously survived the car crash that should have killed them. It’s like he’s a new Danny. But this alternate self has secrets—ties to an underground anarchist group that have already landed him in hot water. When he starts to develop feelings for Eevee, he’s even more disturbed to learn that he might have started the fire that ruined her work.
As Danny sifts through clues from his past and Eevee attempts to piece together her future, they uncover a secret that’s bigger than both of them. . . . And together, they must correct the breach between the worlds before it’s too late.
WHILE YOU WERE GONE tells the flip-side of the first Duplexity novel, NOW THAT YOU’RE HERE, following the story of the alternate Danny and alternate Eevee in Danny’s parallel world.
Sounds amazing, amiright?!
And what’s more awesome? Amy has been awesome enough to give us a guest post AND a peak at her first book below!
I’m so excited to be on Team Red for the YA Scavenger Hunt and to share some bonus material with you! While I’m here promoting WHILE YOU WERE GONE, the second book in the Duplexity series due to be published by Knopf on August 4, the scene I’m sharing with you today is from the first book in the series, NOW THAT YOU’RE HERE.
First, though, a little background.
WHILE YOU WERE GONE tells the story of Danny, a boy who jumps to a parallel world where he’s no longer an orphan, where he has a cool best friend, and where he even gets the girl. But the society his parallel self lives in is a police state about to implode. The people there are weighed down by and fed up with constant security and surveillance. Surprisingly, Danny’s jumping holds the key to solving the problem. With the help of super-secretive Warren, they devise a plan to take down the entire system. If their plan fails, though, they run the risk of sending Danny back to his old world for good.
WHILE YOU WERE GONE is the flipside of the first book, NOW THAT YOU’RE HERE, which tells the story of the alternate Danny and alternate Eevee. Danny jumps from a police state to a free society, only to discover his parallel self is an orphan living in a foster home. He’s a lonely loser who has no friends, let alone a girl. Still, super-smart Eevee who sits next to him in English agrees to help him figure out how he jumped there. With the help of her best friend Warren, they devise a plan to get him home, but now that he has Eevee, he’s not sure back home is where he wants to be.
If you’ve read NOW THAT YOU’RE HERE, you know about the date between Warren and Missy Bivins (which happens off-stage) and its wider implications. The bonus material I’m giving away today is that scene, in all its nerdy splendor. If you haven’t read NOW THAT YOU’RE HERE, I hope this scene piques your interest enough to give it a try. It’s a lot of fun.
Without further ado, I give you…
Caterpillars, Bantha Steak and Secrets
Captain’s Log Stardate 92799.92
I set course to rendezvous with a fascinating life form approximately 1.6 meters tall with astronomical mathematic skills and brown hair typically worn in braids. Melissa Bivins.
Also in the honors track at Palo Brea, Missy sits next to or near me in several classes. She smells of citrus blossoms and potassium iodide. On a number of occasions I’d considered pointing this out, but didn’t want to state the obvious. It’s my understanding that females tend to be deliberate about matters such as perfume choice. Besides, orange trees are in bloom in Phoenix this time of year. Most residents probably carry a certain amount of pollen, and thus the scent, every day without even knowing. Still, I’d resolved that, should the subject come up over the course of the evening, I’d mention it.
That moment came approximately three minutes after she answered her door.
“Hi Warren,” she said, turning a braid around her right index finger.
I moved my goggles—my best pair, the antique aviators—up onto my forehead and said, “Hi Missy.” Then we looked at each other for another minute and a half, and I said, “You smell like citrus blossoms and potassium iodide.”
My keen observation skills must have impressed her. “Thank you,” she said. “I like your shirt.”
I’d chosen the quasi-steampunk Tesla portrait for a number of reasons, the first and foremost being that Nikola Tesla is one of the greatest scientific minds to ever live. Second, the scrollwork and stylized font make it look classy and I wasn’t sure what Missy had planned and if we were going somewhere nice. Also, my favorite shirt, the cosmic Einstein, was dirty. “Tesla was one of the greatest—”
“Scientific minds ever,” she finished and we both smiled.
I followed her through the house to the backyard where she led me up a ladder into the limbs of an enormous mulberry tree. Of course she’d have a killer fort. Inside, the Milky Way stretched across the ceiling. “Did you paint this?”
“My father helped me. He’s an architect.” She picked up a mulberry flower that had fallen through the open window. “They look like caterpillars. Spilarctia luteum maybe?”
I picked one up, too, and inspected it, my mind spinning. A lepidopterist, too? Missy Bivins was full of surprises. “Or spilosoma lubricipeda.”
She held out her pseudo-caterpillar and I touched it with mine. “Cheers.”
We sat on a blanket set in the middle of the fort and ate the dinner she’d prepared with her mom. Lamta, hubba bread, bantha steak soup. The choicest selections from Jun Seros’ diner in Mos Eisley. “It’s really couscous,” she whispered, pointing at the lamta, but we agreed to pretend.
When the sun went down, the Milky Way above us glowed. We ate sugar-dusted pallie and talked about school and the severe lack of challenging homework. We debated DC versus Marvel and tried to solve unsolvable math problems. Then, in a most surprising turn, Missy reached across the blanket and took my hand. “Tell me a secret.”
My mouth went dry. Of course my first thought was the Faraday cage and EMP device I’d been building with Eevee in my garage at home. I wanted nothing more than to tell her about Danny Ogden. If he really had jumped here from a parallel universe, then we were sitting on a discovery that would blow the scientific realm wide open. The words gathered at the front of my brain like podracers revving at a starting line somewhere in the Outer Rim. But secrets are called secrets for a reason. I couldn’t tell her.
Or could I?
“Lle quena i’lambe tel’ Eldalie?”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “Is that Italian?” she asked, confirming my suspicion that she wasn’t familiar with the languages of Middle Earth.
In perfect elven, the secret poured forth from my lips. Somewhere, Tolkien smiled down on me.
“Amazing,” she said, her face beaming despite having no idea the incredible tale I’d just told.
Bolstered by a mix of relief and confidence, I added, “Oio naa elealla alasse’.” Ever is thy sight a joy.
At the end of the evening, when all the pallie and blue milk had been consumed, she walked me to her front door and kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you,” she said, and her finger went back to turning the braid.
I moved my goggles down over my eyes. “Lissenen ar’ maska’lalaith tenna’ lye omentuva.” Sweet water and light laughter till next we meet. Then I turned and walked home, filled with a sense that all was right in the world—or worlds, plural—all the while reciting the names of the stars above.
And don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Amy, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 17. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the red team and you’ll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
CONTINUE THE HUNT
But WAIT! There’s more!
Enter my bonus giveaway below! I’m giving away 1 copy of RENEGADE to 10 people. It will be signed HC if you’re in the US and e-copy if you’re International.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Eating unhealthy things after my kids go to bed!
The BBC series Sherlock is definitely my guilty pleasure!
My guilty pleasure is eating snacks when my children go to bed while reading.
Twilight. No, you know what, always loved, always will… no shame
My guilty pleasure would have to be staying up late to read and ignoring all text and calls.
I wouldn’t really say that I have guilty pleasures. But sometimes I watch GENERAL HOSPITAL with my mom and oh my gosh that show is so bad. Thanks for the giveaway!
Watching Pretty Little Liars. Actually, not guilty. Just fun. No shame!
Curling up with a YA romance even though I’m way past my teens.
Hmm, my guilty pleasure would probably be watching Grey’s Anatomy because they’ve killed off a few of my favorite characters and I’m peeved but I’m hooked, so I keep watching. Or The Vampire Diaries. Because I’m so done with that show I like The Originals so much more. But Ian Somerhalder is so darn sexy, I just keep watching TVD 😛
Thanks for the giveaway!
Chocolate!!!!!
I wouldn’t say I have a guilty pleasure, per se, but I DO love me some Dragon Ball Z 😉
Buying Legos!!!
Probably eavesdropping:/
Thanks for the giveaway!
Oreos with peanutbutter. So amazing!
Eeep! Can;t wait to read it Jess 🙂
And definitley watching reality TV lol
My
My guilty pleasure would have to be chocolate!
My guilty pleasure is definitely sneaking off to the drive-thru daiquiri place occasionally and getting me a “big girl” drink. 😀
BOOKS AND CRIMINAL MINDS!! CRIMINAL MINDS BOOKS… EVEN BETTER
My guilty pleasure is eating french fries with chocolate ice cream. It’s so delicious!
My guilty pleasure I gues would be reading yaoi manga when i come home from work.
Cooking, playing video games, playing with my daughter and reading!
Chocolate!
My guilty pleasure is Once Upon a Time. I don’t have a lot of time for TV and it’s not the best-written or -acted show out here but I love it!
My guilty pleasure is episodes of Sword Art Online! I love Kirito.
Reading bodice rippers
Buying makeup…I have way too much, but can’t seem to stop! Thank you for participating in YASH!!!
my guilty pleasure is anything paranormal! Books , movies or TV !
Mine is definitely reading and snacking lol Thanks for the giveaway!
CHOCOLATE!!!
Biggest guilty pleasure – jelly beans! No joke, I love them all year round.
Chocolate and reading late at night when I should be asleep. 🙂
My guilty pleasure is dark chocolate, signed books from my favorite authors, and coffee. 🙂
Other than reading?! Working out and hot baths.
Girl meets world is mine.
I try not to have “guilty” pleasures because if I enjoy doing something, I don’t want to feel guilty! That being said, I feel a little guilt with how much chocolate I eat.
My guilty pleasure is eating snacks!
Chocolate and lots of it!
You mean I have to just pick one? Umm… Reading, definitely. TV shows, too. And cheesecake. Mmmm key lime cheesecake… *drool*
My guilty pleasure is eating all of the extra batter after I’m done making cupcakes… But it’s just so tasty!
Diet soda. Definitely. 🙂
Watching Disney Channel
Books are definitely my guilty pleasure… I swear, they will be the death of me one day. (But I still love them! ) <3 🙂
Sleep and Books! 🙂
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING IN YASH 2015. EVERYONE ALWAYS HAS SO MUCH FUN!
Hiding by chocolate at work so I don’t have to share with the kids.
My guilty pleasure is probably cookies!
Guilty Pleasure? Probably stealing candy from children. Not only do I get candy, the sight of kids crying just makes me so happy. Though I admit, I don’t feel very guilty anymore.
My guilty pleasure is making fun of classmates with pictures!
My guilty pleasure is my complete love of chocolate!!!
My guilty pleasure would have to be beignets! I love them! Especially the ones at Downtown Disney!!! I would drive all night long just to get some!
Curling up with a great book instead of doing my mountains of homework.
i love to buy books, and make my tbr bigger then it needs to be lol
My guilty pleasure is most definitely chocolate, every time I go to the store I have to buy some!!
Books!:)
Trashy TV shows!! ;D
My guilty pleasure is staying up reading on my tablet when I should be sleeping…
Probably just a really good book. or sweets.
reading horror stories!
besides chocolate, i’ve become addicted to Tostitos and blanco queso ever since a daughter’s friends stayed with us for a month over the summer. she’s now burnt out on it and left us with this new and terrible craving.
My guilty pleasure is hiding some of the chocolates bought by my mom so when it’s gone I’d still have some for myself. Ha!
My guilty pleasure is secretly reading a book during class when I should be paying attention… 🙂
Shopping/buying make up that I’ll never wear. IT’s an addiction!
Buying too many books D:
Building lego houses! I know it’s childish, but I love it! 😉
Books and crisps!
My guilty pleasure is Milka’s chocolate with oreo’s. And buying too many books 😉
Oh my guilty pleasure? Peeps, I am obsessed with those little marshmallow chicks. Chocolate is also another guilty pleasure of mine.
~Emma
I would say reading a book when I should be studying would be my guilty pleasure.
My guilty pleasures are Lindor white chocolate . Oh man, I could eat a whole bag of those!
My guilty pleasure would be coffee, I guess? I put this stuff in protein drinks, desserts, you name it!
I have so many! I guess drinking sweet tea! Thanks for participating in the YASH! xo
PS Did you know the text of your comments is white? It’s hard to see what we’re typing LOL
DArk chocolate
I have a serious addiction to Chester’s Flamin’ Hot Fries! And I absolutely love watching Bring It! on Lifetime, I think? (sorry if this has typos, it’s just a completely white box until I click out of it. Text doesn’t show at all. Weird. Maybe it’s a Chrome browser thing?)
My guilty pleasure would have to be going to meals (college student here), ignoring everyone and everything – including food, and reading! I’m currently reading a couple of books for Modern Lit and Adolescent Lit-which this contest is actually helping with one of my assignments!!! So Thanks ^_^
Ordering way too many books on Amazon!
All the TV shows I watch
Forever on tv
I love to grab a latte while running the kids around to their lessons.
Chocolate, anything chocolate, I just cant keep away from it.
Basically any unhealthy food…:)
my guilty pleasure is is reading books for really small children, I don’t do it often bur when i do i feel like a toad again xP
chocolate
Chocolate and ice cream. Thanks for participating!
Doctor Who and romance novels
I found these coconut peanuts that my residence store sells and I’m sure they are full of all kinds of bad things but they are so good!
K dramas, k pop, and books are my guilty pleasures 🙂
Books! Or chocolate
My guilty pleasure is probably oatmeal. But I’m weird that way.
I have multiple guilty pleasures, but my ultimate is probably foregoing work in order to read a book way into the butt-crack of dawn. I usually end up with regrets, but then go back and do it all over again. Now that I think about it, my guilty pleasure is almost like an addiction. 🙂
My guilty pleasure is reading instead of doing more productive things. And also eating chocolate and watching Grey’s Anatomy!