Monday, May 24, 2010

Book Birthday: HARMONIC FEEDBACK by Tara Kelly

Tara Kelly is an amazing debut author that I discovered through the good old-fashioned slush pile. She didn't have any special connections, she didn't know a secret password... all she did was write a DAMN GOOD BOOK.

The manuscript she sent me was astonishing. Sexy and funny and a little tragic, it was filled with rock-star energy and captured the voices of its characters, particularly the feisty heroine Drea, brilliantly.

I loved it.

I stayed up all night reading it.

This book isn't just good... it GLOWS with goodness.  And guess what? Now YOU get the chance to love it too. 

HARMONIC FEEDBACK is out. READ THE BOOK. Buy it, get it from the library, share it, talk about it, tell me what you think of it -- I believe that if you give the book a chance, you'll love it as much as I did. 

ABOUT HARMONIC FEEDBACK:
Sixteen-year-old, music- and sound design-obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."
 
Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a band after an impromptu, Portishead-comparison-worthy jam after school. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea's preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like-like Drea. 

It's obvious that Drea can't hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she's found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?

Tara Kelly is a musician, artist, web designer and self-described "Jill of All Trades". HARMONIC FEEDBACK is her first novel. Check out this fantastic interview with Tara.


REVIEWS:

Alternately heartwarming and heartbreaking, Harmonic Feedback is a book about acceptance, exclusion, joy, pain, love, loss, and finding your way in a world that makes no sense to you. In short, it is a very real view of what it means to be a teen today and a fine first novel for Tara Kelly.
—Ellen Hopkins, New York Times bestselling author of Tricks, Identical, Crank, and Glass
"A beautifully written novel." —Elana, age 15
"This is a nuanced, sympathetic portrait that earns its hard-hitting climax.” --Kirkus Reviews

*CONTEST CLOSED*

38 comments:

PAMELA ROSS said...

Thanks for the heads-up and ears-open for this book, Jennifer. It sounds (ahem) like =my= kind of book and I look forward to reading it. Well wishes to Tara!

-Pamela Ross

PAMELA ROSS said...

If I didn't include my Twitter name in my original comment, I apologize. It's WriterRoss.

And now, sing on!

-Pamela Ross

Leah Petersen said...

I'm always up for free books. This one sounds great. I love the "issues" being Aspergers. What a challenge and an interesting angle. Hope I win!

@LeahPetersen

Cher'ley said...

I've already retweeted it. Twitter@Cherley

I'll post a link to it on my current blog about my cozy "Stamp Out Murder". http://stampoutmurder.blogspot.com/?psinvite=ALRopfXv_5i8dfQSFXMBodihbA6hsfuy9Yd1bAbcofIHlhwYpdnboYgWVNzqEhSIQjYwUX-9Mb0eMY3V1ajYsjOyu8IjlhCEaA

Before long, I'll be seeking representation on a tween book I'm on the final draft of at this time.

Leah Petersen said...

Blogged about it!

www.leahpetersen.com

http://leahpetersen.blogspot.com/2010/05/will-blog-for-books.html

Brodie said...

I soo want to read this! I read a fantastic review of Harmonic Feedback from Sara at The Hiding Spot blog, which now has me more than interested! It sounds terrific. I would love to be entered if this is open internationally :)

I RTed with the username @peacelovebooksx

Thanks!
hanging.by.a.moment_@hotmail.com

veela-valoom said...

veela_valoom

*crosses fingers*

Melissa said...

Ohh...this sounds like a great book, and will go along with something I'm going to be reading/reviewing soon on my blog by a Canadian author, named Jill Murray. :)

My twitter name is @YABookShelf

Thanks for this contest!

Brodie said...

I soo want to read this! I read a fantastic review of Harmonic Feedback from Sara at The Hiding Spot blog, which now has me more than interested! It sounds terrific. I would love to be entered if this is open internationally :)

I RTed with the username @peacelovebooksx

Thanks!
hanging.by.a.moment_@hotmail.com

(Sorry if this posted twice, my internet was messing up).

Vicki Tremper said...

Love the cover!
@vbtremper

Anne said...

I have been excited to read this book for a while! Giant congrats to Tara!

@Kanonei

Pam Harris said...

Oooh, sounds great! I tweeted about it! @pamharris81

jpetroroy said...

Sounds wonderful. I've read great things about this book.

I'm on twitter as @jpetroroy

Madeleine said...

I tweeted (@MadeleineRex)!

I'm really looking forward to reading this! :D

Abby Stevens said...

I would love to win this!

I Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/thetabbycatt/status/14631245872

and added it to my blog sidebar:
http://www.abbystevens.com

Shari Green said...

I've been waiting for this one. Yay Tara! Congrats to both of you. :)

tweeted @sharigreen

Shari Green said...

Looking forward to this one! Yay Tara! And congrats to both of you. :)

tweeted @sharigreen

kcoombs1 said...

My friend's son has Asperger's. I'd love to read this and pass it on to her.

californiameaghan said...

this book sounds great!

i am @meaghankoci

Linda Joy Singleton said...

Anything for an agent sister and chance to win books.

I just posted on Twitter about HARMONIC FEEDBACK. It'll also show up on my Blogger in a feed.
ljscheer@inreach.com

Jill of The O.W.L. said...

Awesome! Tweeted it :)

@justkeepreading

http://twitter.com/justkeepreading/statuses/14651231029

Laurie said...

What a great premise, I can't wait to read this. Thanks for the free book op, and congrats to Tara!

@laurielyoung

Laurie said...

I don't have a blog, so I tweeted it twice!
Thanks again,
@laurielyoung

Margay said...

I have a daughter with Asperger's Syndrome, so I would love a chance to win this book. It sounds very interesting and I would like to see if can help me understand more about my own daughter's condition.

I tweeted it here: http://twitter.com/Margay/status/14666589159

My Twitter id is @Margay

Margay

Llehn said...

I posted an interview with Tara together with a shout out about this contest on my LJ http://lesleysays.livejournal.com/

Happy release day, Tara!

Precious said...

I've always had my eye on this one. It sounds so interesting and I would love to be included if this is open internationally.

I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/precious_shusky/status/14682633487

my twitter username: @precious_shusky

Thank you!

precious_shusky@yahoo.com

Ansha said...

Sounds like an awesome book!
I retweeted under the Ansha Kotyk.
Happy Book Birthday!

Joanne Huspek said...

So you CAN get published through a slush pile?

Sounds like a great read!

natalieann said...

I love that you described it as "sexy." I love that her "issues" are described as a "touch of Asberger's." My cousin is a very talented young lady and some doctors might describe her the same way. I do look forward to reading this book. It also inspires me that maybe I don't need special connections to some day be published!

My twittername is thesadeianwoman and I've retweeted! :)

Juana said...

this sounds like an awesome book! love hearing about new authors, especially one you found through the slush pile! how inspiring is that?

@SlyJuana

ninidee said...

OOh this sounds like an intriguing read. I tweeted @yolaramunno

Please enter me.

Maribeth:)

Liyana said...

I've been waiting to read this for a while! Tweeted @dy0ulee: http://twitter.com/dy0ulee/status/14620707470

Fun: my word verification is 'bactie'. Who knew bacteria had a cool nickname?

Jeni said...

I tweeted (jeniw), and I've heard so many good things about this book. Congratulations to Tara!

L. L. McKinney said...

Looking forward to reading this book, either way. Heard/read about it twice before and this makes three. As they say, third time is the charm. Retweeted as @Tangynt on my account. Mmmm excited!

Lisa Amowitz said...

Sounds like great read! If I don't win--I'll buy it. (It was hard to resist the *sound* pun so give me credit for that, okay?)

Have fun at BEA

lisa_amowitz

noimnotfromseattle said...

Well, I prolly have no chance in the world of winning, but here goes :P.
*bites lip, crosses fingers, & takes on a hopeful expression*

http://itsdeeperthanyouknow.blogspot.com/

Literaticat said...

Congrats to @writerross for winning the HARMONIC FEEDBACK contest. Email me your address: literaticat at gmail dot com and I'll send your prize.

And everyone else, stay tuned, more contests to come!

JL

PAMELA ROSS said...

No Way.

The Night Owl catches the Worm. And the book!

Really? Can it be?

Is it normal to come online at
2:30 AM during the Memorial Day weekend and cheer for joy for Team WriterRoss?!

Please tell Tara her book is in good and happy hands. Very surprised hands. ;>

Thanks so much, Jennifer. See you in e-mail in a moment. {}


-Pamela Ross