PS I mailed some of the prizes off today! So winners, look to your mailboxes for good things!

You can learn more about Alyson at her official website.

The Latest
Cruel Summer is the story of Colby Cavendish, who is looking forward to a long hot season of parties, beach BBQ’s, and hopefully, more hook-ups with Levi Bonham, the hottest guy in school. But her world comes crashing down when her parents send her away to spend the summer in Greece with her “crazy” aunt Tally. Stranded on a boring island with no malls, no cell phone reception, and an aunt who talks to her plants, Colby finds herself worrying that her new friends have forgotten all about her. But when she meets Yannis, a cute Greek local, everything changes. She experiences something deeper and more intense than a summer fling, and it forces her to see herself, and the life she left behind, in a whole new way…

The Q&A
Here’s my question for Alyson…

You’ve lived in a lot of different places…but where would you live if you could live anywhere (family included, of course)?

And her answer…

Well, it’s actually a toss up between a tiny garret apartment in the left bank of Paris, or a palatial seaside estate right here in Laguna Beach, CA. Either one would be fine.

And Alyson’s question for me…

If you could live inside any book, which would it be?

And my answer…

Wow, that’s a tough question. There are so many books that it would be interesting to experience from the “inside.” There are the magical worlds in Harry Potter and the Narnia Chronicles. And Clive Barker’s very inventive Hours in Abarat. And what about Piers Anthony’s Xanth novels? Oh, to be able to try some of that Boot Rear and argue with Grundy! And what about Anne McCaffrey’s Pern novels? To be able to see (and possibly ride on) dragons? Oh, and geez, what about Terry Pratchett’s Discworld?? That might have to be my final answer. And I’ll have to stop thinking about it or else I’ll just keep going on and on with possible answers (oh, hm, what about Douglas Adams’ books? Or…okay, seriously, am going to stop myself now or I’ll be here all night.)

The Giveaway

Okay, so I just know you wanna read Cruel Summer, right? How about the chance to win a signed copy of it? So, all you gotta do is visit Alyson’s website and then send me an email at kim @ kimberlypauley.com with the subject line “Oh Alyson, Don’t Be Cruel!” (which is, of course, an Elvis reference…and bears no relation whatsoever to Alyson’s potential cruelness because she’s not cruel…eh, you know what I mean) and tell me…what book has she read at least 15 times?  (hint: check out the About Alyson page) And get your entries in for this one by September 8th!!

And just a reminder if you’re popping in directly to this post…be sure to check out all the details about the Sucks to Be Me Book Launch Party ’cause there’s lots more stuff to win (and learn! Didn’t I tell you these were some awesome cool people??)