Guest Post: #AtlantiaBelow Inspiration by Ally Condie

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

Atlantia by Ally Condie

October 8th, 2014 by Dutton Juvenile

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You can find Condie at her website

The Little Mermaid was the beginning inspiration point for the story of Rio in ATLANTIA. It is, in my opinion, one of the saddest and most beautiful fairy tales of all. I am one of the lucky people who encountered what I think of as the real version, the Hans Christian Anderson version, before I encountered the Disney version. As was so often the case with the good things in my life, this happened because of my grandmother, Alice Todd Braithwaite.

Matched Book #2 is Called...

The great Ally Condie posted the name of her next book in the Matched series...

Here is what she was to say...

CROSSED, the sequel to MATCHED, will be released November 1, 2011.

Obviously the cover is not final. And other things might change too. But for those of you who have been asking (I love you for asking!) that is the latest news. And the third (untitled) book in the trilogy will be out in November of 2012.

Thank you for wanting to read more of Cassia’s story!




YAY! Can't wait!

Happy Reading!

Q&A; with Ally Condie & Giveaway Updates

As many of you are probably already know, I fell in love with MATCHED over the summer! This book literally blew me away. I so needed a good book after a few doozies. Ally was sweet enough to answer a few fun questions for us!

Your pen name used to be Allyson Braithwaite Condie - why the change to Ally Condie?

*Actually, I wrote another book in 2008 (Freshman for President) under the name Ally Condie as well. (I go by "Ally" rather than "Allyson" in real life.) We decided to do this back then because that book was a national market title instead of an LDS fiction title, so we wanted to differentiate between the two. When the name issue came up for MATCHED, it made sense to go with the name that I'd used on my other national market book. And, "Ally Condie" looks much more streamlined on that gorgeous, spare cover! :)

Cassia is an interesting name Where did it come from?

*My sister Elaine is the one who found the name Cassia for me. It's a perfect name because it's classical and unusual and has a botanical element to it (which I loved, as that has significance in the book). 

In MATCHED, people are allowed to own one artifact. What would yours be?

*Definitely my engagement ring. My husband is such a sweetheart and he bought it for me when he was flat broke and had very little money at all. It means a lot to me.

What job would you be given if you worked in the City?

*I definitely wouldn't be a sorter--I am horrible with numbers and math! I'd probably be a teacher (that's what I used to do before I started writing). Or maybe I'd work in the Arboretum like Cassia's mother.

When you were 17, who did you want to be matched with? 

*Ooh. Probably Christians Bale or Slater. Those two actors were very high on my crush list back then! 

Thanks Ally!

*Thanks for the very fun questions, Jen! :)

Wanted to remind everyone that you can win your very own copy (ARC) of MATCHED by entering in my 250, 300, 350 Follower Giveaway! Contest ends November 24th. Enter HERE

You can also enter to win a signed copy of Love Drugged HERE

You can also enter my Gratitude Giveaway HERE

Happy Reading. 

250/300/350 Follower Giveaway + New Item Added!

UPDATE #2!

Look who passed 300 this wknd! As promised, I am throwing in a little somethin' somethin'. If I get to 350 followers by the end of the contest - Wednesday, November 24th - I will throw in this lovely item (arm not included):

That's right....a Vlad Bag! If you are the lucky 250, 300, make that 350 Follower winner, you will receive an ARC of MATCHED, hardback CLOCKWORK ANGEL, and a Vlad Blag! What are you waiting for....go enter below! (don't forget to comment on this post for that extra entry) Good Luck!

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UPDATE!

Welp, I made it past 250 follower thanks to you all! As promised, I am upping the prize and the contest has turned into a 300 Follower Giveaway. Here is what I have decided to add:

'Dat's right....a hardback copy of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. If you haven't heard of the this book or Cassie's Mortal Instrument series...get out from under your rock and enter to win this book! ;) If I reach 300 followers....the winner will receive Matched and Clockwork Angel. Ohhhh, ahhhhh.

PS, for those of you that want an extra point - you need to comment who your "match" would be on this blog post. Not just on the form. If you already entered and didn't do this...do it now, and I will make it count. I love hearing your answers!

Now.....get to it!

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Awe, sounds precious doesn't it - just 250 followers? To me, that's fantastic! I started this blog for school and since August, I have been able to use I READ BANNED BOOKS for me and my little book addiction. So here we are, almost at 250.

Here is what I have up for grabs when I hit 250:

My coveted ARC of MATCHED by Ally Condie - out November 30th. I read this book and was instantly hooked! Here is a little of my review:

"Personally, I rank this book up there with other wildly popular 

dystopian YA novels - The Giver, The Hunger Games, The Uglies, etc...

 It really is that good and one of my favorite books of the year. "

If I get to 300 while the contest is still going on...I'll add something extra. Something good (book, signed swag, etc..), maybe even put it up for a vote. If I get more than 300 follower...you can pick me up off the floor! 

My full review of Matched HERE

Visit Ally Condie HERE

Contest Rules:

US, CAN, and why not....International!

Must be a follower - it's called "250 Follower Giveaway" for a reason

Contest ends at midnight November 24th - so I can mail before pub date

Winner will be chosen using Random.org

Must fill out form below to be officially be entered

Good luck! 

*Giveaway closed*

Matched Review

So many times a highly publized book doesn't live up to the hype. NOT in this case! I absolutely loved this story! I read an ARC (black cover with no art) and couldn't put it down. So cliche, but so true! 

Cassia lives in the future where life is seemingly perfect. There is no disease, no worrying over what to wear, what to eat or where to work. Everything is decided for you - controlled. Food portions, exercise routines, clothing, and even her mate are chosen for her. We meet Cassia the night of her Match Banquet; the ceremony where she will learn who her mate for life will be. She is nervous about seeing her partner for the first time on the giant screen, but knows that whoever the boy will be, he will be perfect for her. Officials have gathered her genetic information and personality traits to calculate the best possible mate. Cassia was no reason to be nervous; the Officials never make mistakes.

From here, things get very interesting. The Match Banquet goes surprisingly well, but within a few days, things start to fall apart. People are not who they seem to be, and a "glitch in the system" leaves Cassia thinking that maybe this seemingly perfect life isn't so....perfect. 

Personally, I rank this book up there with other wildly popular dystopian YA novels - The Giver, The Hunger Games, The Uglies, etc... It really is that good and one of my favorite books of the year. 

Matched will be released November 30th, but you can pre-order now. 

Visit Ally Condie at her website,  http://www.allysoncondie.com