MONTH9BOOKS EPIC 2nd BIRTHDAY and GIVEAWAY BASH!!!

Welcome to Month9Books Birthday Bash! We’re so excited you’re all stopping by!

This is going to be an awesome event with many tour stops featuring Month9Books authors! The full schedule is below and make sure to stick around for the EPIC Giveaway taking place!

Here’s a quick note from Georgia McBride, owner of Month9Books!

“Month9Books is turning 2 this year and I could not be happier. We are living proof that if you have a dream to write, create and inspire, you should follow that dream and let nothing keep you from realizing it. Thank you to all the readers, writers, agents, partners and friends who have made this possible. We write for you." 

While all of the posts are from Month9Books authors that have books out already we also want to look forward to some of the 2015 titles we can’t wait to share with you!

Here’s a slide show of some our 2015 books!

Month9Books has a ton of sequels coming as well as new books from awesome debut authors and are so excited to share them all with you! They have something for everyone from every genre from Sci-Fi to Fantasy to Paranormal and Horror!

GIVEAWAY

(1) New Kindle with touchscreen (US only) loaded with all of Month9Books titles. US Only.

(1) Paperback prize pack of 5 Month9Books Titles. US ONLY.

(2) eBook Prize Packs of 5 Month9Books titles. International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.

Meet the Authors and amazing host Blogs!

All posts will be live on October 31^st.

Jessica Arnold will be hosted by Read for your Future
Vanessa Barger will be hosted by Pretty Little Pages          
Lisa M. Basso will be hosted by In Vogue with Books
Sarah Bromley will be hosted by A Book and A Latte          
Steve Bryant will be hosted by Jump Into Books
Brynn Chapman will be hosted by A Backwards Story         
Nicole Conway will be hosted by Two Chicks on Books
Scott Craven will be hosted by Books and Ashes   
Ty Drago will be hosted by The A P Book Club       
Dorothy Dreyer will be hosted by Her Book Thoughts!
Dorothy Dreyer will be hosted by Oops! I Read A Book Again
Jennifer M. Eaton will be hosted by Book Briefs   
Kit Forbes will be hosted by Book Lovers Life        
Janice Gable Bashman  will be hosted by All Things Urban Fantasy 
Amanda Gray will be hosted by Aspiring Joy           
Kelly Hashway/Ashelyn Drake will be hosted by Book Geek Review
Elizabeth Holloway will be hosted by Tales of a Ravenous Reader
Missy Kalicicki and Abi Ketner will be hosted by Once Upon A Twilight
Nicola Marsh will be hosted by ReadWriteLove28
Georgia McBride will be hosted by YA Sisterhood
Jen McConnel will be hosted by A Dream Within A Dream 
Jackie Morse Kessler will be hosted by Dark Faerie Tales   
Beck Nicholas will be hosted by The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club
Michelle E. Reed will be hosted by Doodle's Book Reviews              
Heather Reid will be hosted by Bookish Things & More
A. Lynden Rolland will be hosted by Fiction State of Mind
Kristal Shaff will be hosted by Chicklit vs Fantasy
Pab Sungenis will be hosted by Classy Cat Books  
Rachel Tafoya will be hosted by Jessabella Reads
Vicki L. Weavil will be hosted by Magical Urban Fantasy Reads

Sesame Street's Furry Potter and the Goblet of Cookies

I grew up watching Sesame Street... *nostalgia*

Cookie Monster was always my favorite monster/character!

And if you know me, chocolate chip cookies are my favorite too!

And, of course, Harry Potter is my all-time favorite series ever!!!

Combine it all together and this is what you'll get :) 

Thank you, Sesame Street!

Book Blast (Giveaway): ADRENALINE CRUSH by Laurie Boyle Crompton (YA)

Nerd Blast

ADRENALINE CRUSH

by Laurie Boyle Crompton

Release date: September 23rd, 2014

Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan)

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Format: Hardback, eBook

SUMMARY

When a daredevil teen pushes herself too far, she must choose between two boys: the one who wants to keep her safe, and the one who dares her to return to her old self.

Seventeen-year-old Dyna comes from a family of risk takers and is an avid thrill-seeker herself, until the day she splinters her ankle in a terrible fall. Her whole life goes from mountain biking and rock climbing to sitting at home and attending group sessions at the bizarre alternative healing center that her hippie mother found. 

The boy who witnessed Dyna’s accident believes her injury is a wakeup call and he encourages her mild new lifestyle, but a young Afghanistan War veteran she meets at the healing center pushes her to start taking chances again. 

Forced to face the consequences of her daredevil impulses, Dyna finds herself in danger of risking the one thing she’s always treated with caution — her heart.

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE
BOOK DEPOSITORY

GIVEAWAY

- Must be 13+ to enter.

- Open Internationally.
- Winner will receive a Signed Copy of ADRENALINE CRUSH, 
Carabiner Key Chains, Bookmarks and Pins by Laurie Boyle Crompton!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Laurie Boyle Crompton

Laurie Boyle Crompton is the YA author of BLAZE (or Love in the Time of Supervillains), THE REAL PROM QUEENS OF WESTFIELD HIGH (Sourcebooks, 2013 & 2014) and ADRENALINE CRUSH from Farrar Straus Giroux.

Laurie graduated in her class from St. John's University with a major in English and minor in Journalism. She's written for national magazines like ALLURE as well as numerous trade publications and has appeared on Good Day New York several times as a Toy Expert. Yes, that is an actual thing that people sometimes get to be.

When she is not writing, Laurie enjoys hiking, cycling, reading, cross-country skiing, running, going to the movies and drinking tea by the gallon.

She lives near NYC, but loves to escape to the mountains in New Paltz, NY where she and her family can often be found climbing over rocks or tromping through the forest.

Official Website / Goodreads / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Waiting On Wednesday #107: A WICKED THING by Rhiannon Thomas (YA)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and, quite possibly, to make our shelves look all pretty too :)

What I'm waiting for...

A WICKED THING

by Rhiannon Thomas

Expected release date: February 24th, 2015

Published by: HarperTeen

Genre: Young Adult Fairytale Fantasy

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and what happens after happily ever after.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept. 

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

Rhiannon Thomas weaves together vivid scenes of action, romance, and gorgeous gowns to reveal a richly imagined world … and Sleeping Beauty as she’s never been seen before.

Why I'm waiting on A WICKED THING...

This! This is what real fairytales are all about!

Let's face it. In reality, there are no happy endings.

I've often wonder how these princesses always fall in love with these strangers just because he broke the spell with a kiss - how is that true love? 

Often, fairytales are about mythical creatures or exaggerated unlikely stories, but, they almost always have a moral lesson. And A Wicked Thing sounds like it is going to finally give us an honest "ending" to Aurora's awakening.

Cannot wait to get my hands on it!!! 

SO, what are you dying to get your hands on?!?!?!

Review: A MONSTER CALLS by Patrick Ness (YA)

A MONSTER CALLS

by Patrick Ness

From an original idea by Siobhan Dowd

Illustrated by Jim Kay

Release date: September 15th, 2011

Published by: Candlewick Press 

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Format read: Hardcover

SUMMARY

The monster showed up after midnight. 

As they do.

But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming...

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.

MY REVIEW

This book. There will never be enough words. My heart aches. So much. 

This is a book that you will have to read for yourself. 

I cannot tell you what it is about. I will do no justice in trying to summarize Conor's story. 

Nor the Monster's story. 

I do not trust my words. I will fail.

You will feel things. Many emotions. You will need something to wipe your tears away... 

And when you are done reading, you may need someone close by to hug. To hold you.

As a mother of three boys, this is one of my biggest nightmares. I don't know if this book would have affected me so severely had I read it before having children... 

There are a handful of books that have touched me. That I carry within my heart.

There is only one other book that I cannot speak about; one that I instantly cry over every time I think about it... this book has now joined that one.

But this book... will probably be the only one, that will forever live inside my soul.

Mr. Patrick Ness... thank you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Patrick Ness

Goodreads / Website / Twitter

Stacking the Shelves #74: October 2014 Book Haul (Part 2)

I hope that you are all doing bookishly well :) 

The germs have hit our household; we are a miserable bunch, to say the least, lol! Bad colds, achy bodies, teething baby, sleepless nights and overworked parents... we are just getting by. But books make it all better, am I right??? :) 

*I am participating in Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews!!!

*What I received for review...
From Penguin: 
- THE ANIMALS' SANTA (HB) by Jan Brett (C) 

From Macmillan:
- THE QUEEN OF BRIGHT AND SHINY THINGS (ARC) by Ann Aguirre (YA)
- BOYS DON'T KNIT (IN PUBLIC) (ARC) by T.S. Easton (YA)
- DREAM A LITTLE DREAM (Silver Trilogy #1) (ARC) by Kerstin Gier (YA)
- I'LL MEET YOU THERE (ARC) by Heather Demetrios (YA)
- THE BOY NEXT DOOR (ARC) by Katie Van Ark (YA) - from Swoon Reads

From Bloomsbury:
- THE MIME ORDER (The Bone Season #2) (ARC) by Samantha Shannon (A)

From HarperTeen: 
- NO PLACE TO FALL (ARC) by Jaye Robin Brown (YA)
- TOP TEN CLUES YOU'RE CLUELESS (ARC) by Liz Czukas (YA)
- LOVE & OTHER THEORIES (ARC) by Alexis Bass (YA)
- TRANSCENDENT (Starling #3) (ARC) by Lesley Livingston (YA)

From The Novl/Little Brown:
- THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST (ARC) by Holly Black (YA)

*From my #OTSPSecretSister... Thank you, Daphne at Gone Pecan!!!
- BITTER GREENS (HB) by Kate Forsyth (A)

Thank you so very much for stopping by today!!!

Please leave your links in the comments below; would love to come visit your blogs as well :)

Happy reading!!! xoxo

Blog Tour (Excerpt and Giveaway): FOLLOW ME THROUGH DARKNESS (Boundless Trilogy #1) by Danielle Ellison (YA)

FOLLOW ME THROUGH DARKNESS
The Boundless Trilogy #1
by Danielle Ellison
Release date: October 21st, 2014
Published by: Spencer Hill Press
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Format: Paperback, eBook 

SUMMARY

The truth won't always set you free.

Less than a year ago, Neely Ambrose’s biggest worry was having the freedom to follow a path that wasn't chosen for her.

Less than a year ago, she believed she could trust the Elders who said they had everyone’s best interest at heart and who said they were keeping them safe from the outside.

Sixty days ago, she discovered what they had planned for everyone she loved — and that all of it centered around her.

Now she’s on the run through a dangerous wasteland full of killing machines, secret organizations, and people who want to sell her back to the Elders for their own safety. The whole world outside the Compound is living proof that everything in Neely’s life was a lie manufactured by the Elders, which may even include the boy she loves.

All Neely wants is the truth, but each new piece of it drives her further from what she thought she knew. With only forty days until everyone she loves falls under the Elders’ mind control, Neely must decipher who to trust, what questions to ask, and how to get one step ahead of the Elders, who will do anything to keep their secrets buried.

EXCERPT

“Look, a shooting star,” Thorne says, pointing up. I see it too, a bright flashing light drifting through the star- filled sky and hurling down toward us. A dying star, the schoolhouse teacher taught us once. “Make a wish.”

“What?” I explore his face, take in as much of it as possible. The soft angles and warm colors that are all him. I know I won’t be seeing it much more.

“People in the Old World used to wish on stars. Shooting stars are the luckiest. Make a wish.”

Thorne closes his eyes tightly. A smile spreads across his face like he knows I’m watching him. I close my eyes, too. The words are all jumbled in my head because there’s so much I could wish for.

For all of this to be a dream. For me to not have to leave soon. For another way. For Thorne to come with me. For everything to go according to plan.

I don’t wish for any of those things.

When I open my eyes, Thorne is smiling down at me. His warm caramel eyes are bright in the darkness, and a smile plays on his lips. There’s this joy radiating from him that completely overtakes any of my own emotions, so overwhelming I’m tempted to let it consume me.

“What did you wish for?” he asks me.

I shake my head. “Isn’t it tradition that you can’t tell wishes?”

“That’s only for birthdays. They have more power if you speak them.”

I laugh. “I don’t want to risk mine not coming true.”

“You won’t.”


“What did you wish?” I ask, changing the subject from me. I don’t know how to tell him my wish.
 Thorne stretches his lean, tall body without his hand leaving mine. The movement is so swift and graceful. How did he end up being so good?


“I shouldn’t tell you...”


“Because you don’t want to risk it? I told you,” I joke.

He shakes his head. “I won’t be risking anything. I’m not worried because I already have you,” he says, locking eyes with me.

My heart slows down and speeds up at once. He captivates me, and his emotions run through the branding, all lust and joy and passion. I feel my own guilt bubbling to the surface, but I hide it away as much as possible.

I’m not sure who moves first, him or me. It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters except the feel of his lips on mine. Fire moves through me when we kiss, rushing over me like waves. His hand runs through my hair and over my skin, and I lean in so he’s closer to me. The branding is burning through my body while our mouths are entwined.

I steal a glance at the sky through half-closed eyes. I take back my wish, and I wish for him instead—forever.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Danielle Ellison

Danielle Ellison spent of her childhood reading instead of learning math. It's probably the reason she can't divide without a calculator and has spent her life seeking the next adventure. It's also probably the reason she's had so many different zip codes and jobs.

When she’s not writing, Danielle is usually drinking coffee, fighting her nomadic urges, watching too much TV, or dreaming of the day when she can be British. Danielle is also the author of SALT and STORM, a series about a snarky witch without magic. She has settled in Northern Virginia, for now, but you can always find her on twitter @DanielleEWrites.

Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook / Amazon / B&N 

HUGE Pre-Order Giveaway: FORBIDDEN by Kimberley Griffiths Little (YA)

On November 4th, HarperCollins unveils Forbidden, a seductive YA debut from award-winning middle grade author Kimberley Griffiths Little. 

Forbidden transports readers back in time to the deadly deserts and sweltering heat of Ancient Mesopotamia for a tale of danger, duty, and forbidden love. Jayden is on the brink of womanhood and betrothed to her tribe’s prince, cold-hearted Horeb. But when tragedy strikes, Jayden meets Kadesh, a mysterious visitor from the south who makes Jayden doubt everything she knows. Torn between loyalty to her tribe and the chance to escape her fate, Jayden must make a choice that will change her life forever.

FORBIDDEN

by Kimberley Griffiths Little

Expected Release date: November 4th, 2014

Published by: HarperCollins

Genre: Young Adult 

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

In the unforgiving Mesopotamian desert where Jayden’s tribe lives, betrothal celebrations abound, and tonight it is Jayden’s turn to be honored. But while this union with Horeb, the son of her tribe’s leader, will bring a life of riches and restore her family’s position within the tribe, it will come at the price of Jayden’s heart.

Then a shadowy boy from the Southern Lands appears. Handsome and mysterious, Kadesh fills Jayden’s heart with a passion she never knew possible. But with Horeb’s increasingly violent threats haunting Jayden’s every move, she knows she must find a way to escape — or die trying.

With a forbidden romance blossoming in her heart and her family’s survival on the line, Jayden must embark on a deadly journey to save the ones she loves — and find a true love for herself.

Set against the brilliant backdrop of the sprawling desert, the story of Jayden and Kadesh will leave readers absolutely breathless as they defy the odds and risk it all to be together.

PREORDER

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Indiebound

TRAILER

Kimberley is also offering a HUGE preorder giveaway from October 6th to November 4th (release day!) to celebrate. See below for full details on how to enter. TO ENTER:

• You must preorder Forbidden through an online retailer or your local bookstore, then email a photo of your receipt to forbiddengiveaway@gmail.com.
• Fill out the rafflecopter below
• US/Canada Only
• Ends at midnight EST on November 3, 2014
• Optional entries: share the trailer on your own site or social media, follow Kimberley on twitter, and tweet about the giveaway (can be repeated daily for extra entries!)
• Winners will be announced and contacted November 4th (release day!)
• If the winner does not respond with their mailing address within one week, a new winner will be chosen.

PRIZES

(1) GRAND PRIZE WINNER

1. NEWLY RELEASED Kindle Fire HD6 Tablet with 6" HD Display, Wi-Fi, Front and Rear Cameras, 8 GB -- choose your color! (Black, Magenta, White, Citron, or Cobalt)

2. GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson

3. CHAOS OF STARS by Kiersten White

4. Satin Belly Dance Skirt

5. Belly Dance 150-Coin Hip Scarf

6. Red Silk Veil (not pictured)

7. Red Middle Eastern Earrings

8. Belly dance DVD: Sensual Belly Dance with Blanca, a professional dancer (technique, choreography, and performances)

9. "Will YOU risk it all?" button (not pictured)

10. Set of 10 Book Club Cards

11. Jeweled bookmark (not pictured)

(1) SECOND PLACE WINNER

1. GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson

2. Red Middle Eastern Earrings

3. Red Silk Veil (not pictured)

4. Belly dance DVD: Sensual Belly Dance with Blanca, a professional dancer (technique, choreography, and performances)

5. "Will YOU risk it all?" button (not pictured)

6. Set of 10 Book Club Cards

7. Jeweled bookmark (not pictured)

(13) RUNNERS-UP WINNERS

1. Red Middle Eastern Earrings

2. "Will YOU risk it all?" button (not pictured)

3. Set of 10 Book Club Cards

4. Jeweled bookmark (not pictured)

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - 

Award-winning author Kimberley Griffiths Little was born in San Francisco, but now lives in New Mexico on the banks of the Rio Grande with her husband and their three sons. Her middle-grade novels, When the Butterflies Came, The Last Snake Runner, The Healing Spell, and Circle of Secrets, have been praised as “fast-paced and dramatic,” with “beautifully realized settings.” Kimberley adores anything old and musty with a secret story to tell. She’s stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland; sailed the Seine in Paris; ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan; shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria.

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Waiting On Wednesday #106: TEAR YOU APART by Sarah Cross (YA)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and, quite possibly, to make our shelves look all pretty too :)

What I'm waiting for...

TEAR YOU APART

(A sequel to Kill Me Softly)

by Sarah Cross

Expected release date: January 27th, 2015

Published by: Egmont

Genre: Young Adult Fairytale

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

An edgy fairy tale retelling of "Snow White" set in the world of Kill Me Softly for fans of Once Upon a Time and Grimm.

Faced with a possible loophole to her "Snow White" curse, Viv goes underground, literally, to find the prince who's fated to rescue her. 

But is life safe in the Underworld worth the price of sacrificing the love that might kill her?

Why I'm waiting on TEAR YOU APART...

Why wouldn't I????

And, I haven't even read Kill Me Softly Yet! lol

This is said to be a combination inspiration/retelling of "Snow White, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and Rumpelstiltskin"!!! 

These are all my favorites! If the author could have thrown in a touch of Little Red Riding Hood and Alice in Wonderland, well then, she would become my fairytale-godmother-goddess!!! 

I believe that this could be read as a standalone, but there are cameo appearances of characters from Kill Me Softly; I will be sure to read this one first, just to be sure :)

SO, what are you so anxiously waiting for???

Review: THE ANIMALS' SANTA by Jan Brett (C)

THE ANIMALS' SANTA
by Jan Brett

Release date: October 21st, 2014

Published by: Putnam Juvenile (Penguin)

Genre: Children's Story and Picture Book

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Format read: Hardcover from the publisher. 

SUMMARY

When Big Snowshoe tells Little Snow that the animals’ Santa is coming with presents for everyone, Little Snow wants to know who he is. The animals say they have never seen him.  Maybe he’s a badger, a moose, a polar bear, or a wolf, they tell him.  But this spunky little rabbit thinks they are just fooling him.

On Christmas Eve, Big Snowshoe finds a way to see the animals' Santa when a Snowy Owl in a red cap swoops down with a pack full of presents.  Never again will an excited Little Snow doubt that there is an animals' Santa.

MY REVIEW

Jan Brett is one of our most favorite children's writers and illustrators to date. Her books are so intricate, yet inviting and heartwarming. Her beautifully woven stories are fables that are thought-provoking and memorable...

In THE ANIMALS' SANTA, Big Snowshoe and his forest friends try to explain to his little brother, Little Snow, that the animals' Santa is coming. Little Snow wants to know who the animals' Santa is. But none of the animals have ever seen who it is that brings them presents every Christmas. 

The animals then proceed to tell Little Snow all the gifts they had received the year before. But Little Snow is convinced that it is all not true. Wouldn't someone have seen him by now? Or seen his tracks in the snow? All the animals then try to guess as to who the animals' Santa may be, since there is always snow at Christmas they begin to presume that it has to be large animals that can plow through the elements. But Little Snow gets upset, he is still unconvinced and thinks that everyone is teasing him and trying to trick him into believing in something that no one has seen.

On Christmas Eve, when they all go to bed, Big Snowshoe comes up with an idea... and soon enough, they are all awaken to a beautiful discovery!

The story itself is engaging and beautiful, however, the illustrations really bring it to life. Throughout the book, the larger panels support the main narrative between Little Snow, Big Snowshoe and the other animals. But on each page, there are smaller panels telling a smaller, quieter story that will engage your little ones curiosity - this side story will encourage your child to create their own story and make their own predictions as to who the animals' Santa could possibly be. 

All who love children's stories, pictures books and memorable holiday stories to share with their families will absolutely fall in love with this new heartfelt and joyous Christmas book.

*I received a hardcover copy from the publisher for an honest review.

All thoughts are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jan Brett

With over thirty three million books in print, Jan Brett is one of the nation's foremost author illustrators of children's books. Jan lives in a seacoast town in Massachusetts, close to where she grew up. During the summer her family moves to a home in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts.
As a child, Jan Brett decided to be an illustrator and spent many hours reading and drawing. She says, "I remember the special quiet of rainy days when I felt that I could enter the pages of my beautiful picture books. Now I try to recreate that feeling of believing that the imaginary place I'm drawing really exists. The detail in my work helps to convince me, and I hope others as well, that such places might be real." 
As a student at the Boston Museum School, she spent hours in the Museum of Fine Arts. "It was overwhelming to see the room-size landscapes and towering stone sculptures, and then moments later to refocus on delicately embroidered kimonos and ancient porcelain," she says. "I'm delighted and surprised when fragments of these beautiful images come back to me in my painting." 
Travel is also a constant inspiration. Together with her husband, Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. "From cave paintings to Norwegian sleighs, to Japanese gardens, I study the traditions of the many countries I visit and use them as a starting point for my children's books." 

Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter