Carrie Ryan! She writes! She talks! She reads! She's awesome!

Hey, readergirlz! Exciting day! Carrie Ryan's here, and we announce a giveaway toward the bottom of this post.

Carrie Ryan is on a blog tour right now to celebrate the release of The Dead-Tossed Waves, the companion book (in the same world! with zombies!) to The Forest of Hands and Teeth.





Today, Carrie's with us. We couldn't be happier to host her! We've got a video conversation with Carrie, me, and Holly Cupala!

Carrie talks about: How The Forest of Hands and Teeth was born from a worry over tuna.


Carrie talks about: Having a fiance who's also a writer and how they work together. (He'll become her husband on April 1!)


Carrie talks about: Her writing process.


Carrie talks about: What she's publishing next -- lots! (Also, Holly does her motherly duties with our adorable unseen audience member.)

Go here for more about Zombies vs. Unicorns, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier, and with stories by lots of readergirlz faves including this month's featured author, Scott Westerfeld (woo!).

Special treat! Carrie reading from The Dead-Tossed Waves. She gave the audience a choice between Kissy Scene and Zombie Scene, and the audience promptly chose zombies. There's still plenty of kissing in it. :)

Many thanks to University Bookstore for giving us space to talk with Carrie, and for hosting an awesome Zombie Pizza Party with her, even if they might've only been kidding about brains on the pizza. Note the awesome forest/fence scenario they set up for Carrie to read in front of. Also had a soundtrack of waves going.


*****Giveaway alert!*****
Carrie signed a copy of The Forest of Hands and Teeth for one lucky readergirl! Comment on this blog post, and we'll pick a random entry to win!

Check out more of Carrie's blog tour. Here's where she's just been:
The Page Flipper
Through A Glass, Darkly

And here's where she'll be next:
Mundie Moms
Cheryl Rainfield

Follow along!

Also! You can talk to Carrie on www.RandomBuzzers.com, Random House's interactive author site. She'll be answering questions there from tomorrow, Mon, March 22 through Sat, April 2.

So get reading The Dead-Tossed Waves and The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and then get talkin' to Carrie!

You can also friend The Dead-Tossed Waves on Facebook, and view Carrie's book trailers there. Plus, check out www.CarrieRyan.com to learn more, see trailers, visit Carrie's blog and follow her tweets.

Far be it for me to deny you readergirlz anything, so here's the latest Liz with Author photo (slightly modified classic pose).










Plus, bonus super-cute Holly with Author photo!

Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan:

"Wow. That's all that needs to be said! But for all of you reading this, I will try to put words to how this book made me feel. Carrie Ryan's first book is nothing less than an amazing success as far as I am concerned!

"Living in the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse, Mary tries to help her mother make it through the sad days after her father's turning. Constantly striving to protect themselves against the Unconsecrated is a formidable task the city lives with every day. Their gates are rattled by the fists of those who have returned from the dead, always attempting to take more victims every chance they get.

"The story opens on the morning that Mary’s mother finally succumbs to the Returned on the other side of the fence. Now alone, Mary is left to wade through guilt and fear as her mother slowly dies and then returns again, to be sent to live Unconsecrated on the other side of the fence. With no man willing to speak for her at the upcoming marriage ceremonies, Mary is sent to the all-knowing Sisterhood, living in their mysterious silences.

"The action doesn't end there, though; this book has it all. From Mary's tumultuous dealings with love forcing her to choose between two brothers, to the day that she is assured that life exists beyond the city's fences, Mary comes alive. Written in heartfelt first person, her brave voice resonates hope to the reader. When the Unconsecrated attack, she retaliates, never backing down from protecting the people she loves. When the Sisterhood gives no answers, she finds them on her own, determined to believe that life continues beyond the Forest.

"With no boring moments, The Forest of Hands and Teeth will have you grabbing scythes and spears of your own as the story comes to life, keeping you awake late into the night." -Vanessa