And the Winner is ...

Sarah B.!

And to prove this was a totally random choosing, here is a picture of my son picking the name out of a hat. He looks thrilled for you, Sarah. Okay, he doesn't, but I'm happy for you. Email me your address at LeeXNichols at gmail.com and I'll mail you the book. Thanks everyone for playing. Sorry, there was only one copy to give out.

It's Giveaway Time!

And this time, it’s not my own book. I’d read about THE DUFF everywhere and since the author, Kody Keplinger and I are represented by the same agency I begged my agent for a copy of the ARC (advance reader copy), which is the copy I’m giving away. It's a different bubble gum-less cover which I like just as much.

From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home ...more 
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

Why you should try to win it:

Because the book is good. One of my favorite books this year. I completely identified with Bianca, loved Wesley and thought it read like real life. I fell for the romance, Bianca’s snarky sense of humor and the lust-worthy Wesley. 

I asked Kody a few questions about the book and here are her lovely answers. 

1. When I was seventeen I wrote bad poetry, it didn't even occur to me that I could write a book. In fact, I can remember thinking, How on earth do people do that? When did you realize you could actually complete a novel?

 See, I was the opposite.  It never occured to me that I COULDN'T write a novel.  I tired many times when I was little, little bitty.  LIke, my first "novel" attempt was at age nine after reading Judy Blume's DEANIE. I tried again, and finished what I thought was a novel when I was 11 - this one a Harry Potter rip off if there ever was one.  I tried tons of other times with varying amounts of success, and then for a while just did fan fiction.  But I never had that thought of "I can't."  I always knew I wanted to, so I just . . . did it. I try to approach everything in life - going away for college, spending a summer in NYC, making new friends - that way. Never think "I can't."  Always just know you want to and for that reason alone, it could happen.

2. How did you come up with the names Bianca and Wesley, which I love?

You know, no one has ever asked me this before.

With Wesley, I had been dying for a reason to use the name.  Ever since I started watching Angel and met the character of Wesley on there, I fell in love with not only him but the name.  There are so many good Wesleys.  Princess Bride anyone?  Anyway, I knew that it was my favorite name ever, and therefore this love interest should be named Wesley.

With Bianca . . . I have no idea.  I always kind of liked hte name, but by no means was it a favorite.  But when I started writing, I knew immediately that this girl was named Bianca.  Most of my girl characters are that way - the names just sort of come with their characters.

3. I read recently on your blog that you were just starting to read romance novels for the first time, yet I think one of the elements in The Duff that works so well, is the romance. Where did you get your wonderful sense of romance?

Lots and lots of TV.

The OC, Gossip Girl - hell, even Friends.  They all had/have great romances that kept me on my toes.  I just took the aspects of those that I thought worked and put them in book form.  It was so fun!

4. Do you feel like your career path is set, you will be a writer, or do you have other goals you hope to achieve?

I have a million and one things I want to try.  I"ll always write, but I want to do other things, too. I want to work in publishign on both sides. I want to experiment with screenplays. I love the theater, too.  I've got a load of interests and goals.  I enjoy chasing them.

5. What's your next book?

Well, I can't give details yet, but I can say that it will be out in Fall 2011 and it was super fun to write!

Check out Kody's website with links to Twitter and Facebook. She’s fun and funny to follow.

The rules:

All you have to do is comment here and I’ll put your name in the hat. Tweeting/FBing/bloging about the contest is highly appreciated. Help me get the word out for Kody.

Contest is open to U.S. residents until 7:00 a.m. Sunday, September 26, 2010.  Yes, that is a random date and time.

Good luck!

Lee