Sekrit Projects Mostly Revealed!

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I’ve been working on some super top secret collaborative projects and generally sneaking around like a stealthy little ninja this month, so I figured it was time for an update!

Sekrit Project #1: fLiP iT fRiDaY

Bloggers work hard to spread the word about great reads through book reviews, contests, author interviews, and lots of other fun stuff. To show a little love for their tireless efforts, we’re flipping things around, shining the spotlight on bloggers for a change!

Starting May 1, every Friday at SarahOckler.com is fLiP iT fRiDaY, where we’ll get to know another YA book blogger as he or she answers pressing personal questions about daily life, favorite things, books, blogs, and of course, plans for the upcoming apocalypse. So far, we’ve got over 40 bloggers signed up! If you’ve got a book review or library blog for YA reads and would like to be featured on fLiP iT fRiDaY, contact me!

Sekrit Project #2: Operation ARC

Okay, getting advanced review copies (ARCs) is not that much of a secret, but it is kind of a mission. This week, after receiving the highly coveted ARCs for HATE LIST by Jennifer Brown, ASH by Malinda Lo, and FREAKS AND REVELATIONS by Davida Hurwin from T.S. of Must Love Books, I rendezvoused at Strand in NYC with the aforementioned T.S. and Sharon of Sharon Loves Books and Cats for a little more digging, coming home with these finds (I was relatively good. Sharon is a bad [I mean good] book-buying influence!):

  • BUSTED by Antony John – can’t go wrong with my agent brother.
  • TOUCH by Francine Prose – Francine has been involved with Lighthouse Writers Workshop, so I have the highest expectations for this one!
  • BECAUSE I AM FURNITURE by Thalia Chaltas – I’ve heard good things and I’m looking to expand my novel-in-verse collection.
  • THE CHOSEN ONE by Carol Lynch Williams – highly recommended from Sharon.

Sharon with ARCs

Check out Sharon guarding our Strand loot and showing off the coveted Little, Brown ARCs at Union Square! Thankfully the cops I overheard nearby a few hours earlier had cleared out (“I got my gun and I’m wearin’ a vest so even if I get shot I’ll be fine. Come on, let’s do it.” is officially on my list of top ten things you don’t want to accidentally overhear from a cop standing a foot away from your own head, but that’s a story for another day!).

Oh, and moments after this picture was taken, Sharon saved me from getting hit by a bus, which prompted a whole conversation about selling author brains on eBay, but that’s a story for another day, too!

Sekrit Project #3: Singing in Public

Confession. During a reunion of family, old friends, and new friends at Japas 38 in Manhattan last night, the aforementioned T.S. cajoled/guilted/strongarmed me into singing. A song. In public. There may or may not have been multiple froo-froo drinks and a shot of tequila leading up to this unprecedented breaking of my cardinal rule about not singing in public (second in strictness only to my no public dancing rule), especially considering that one of our new friends was English, and I just kept waiting for him to give me the ol’ Simon Cowell “What the bloody hell was that” beat-down.

Thankfully he was distracted during my less-than-stellar performance of Matchbox 20’s Push, but it’s not something I’ll forget anytime soon.

Sekrit Project #4: Um, Still Sekrit

This one is still kind of secret, but details are coming very soon. For now, we’re on a need to know basis. And for now, you only need to know one thing…

There will be ninjas. Oh yes, there will be NINJAS!

*swish swish swish*

Okay, I’ve spilled way too many secrets for one blog post!

*Places tape over mouth*

12 thoughts on “Sekrit Projects Mostly Revealed!”

  5. I love that I’m part of 2/4 sekrit projects. Also, every time I see “sekrit” spelled like that, I think it’s Sekhmet (the Egyptian goddess). LOL!

  7. you see, my computer broke, and so my file. Yup the “sekrit” one was lost *criesssssssssssssssssssss* btw wants Touch…*stabs TSM you should’ve gotten me TOUCH! ;_;* okay rant over. I hate this weather. oddly hot like SUMMER!

  8. I hope you got my answers? I took a week, but I finally sent them 🙂

    I get to visit The Strand very soon!! Sharon insists you come to BEA to meet us 🙂

    • Got them! 🙂 Thank you!

      And yes, I’m trying to swing BEA somehow! Hope to meet you soon!

  9. Hello Sarah! I’m the marketing manager for THE CHOSEN ONE and it was simply a lucky chance that, yesterday, when I was doing an online search for blogs that had mentioned THE CHOSEN ONE, I stumbled across your blog. This is serendipitous not only because I’d LOVE to hear what you think about THE CHOSEN ONE once you’ve read (I truly loved this book…) but also because… and allow me to gush a moment here… I picked up the galley for 20 Boy Summer about a month ago and it’s one of my favorite books I’ve read so far this year! I was completely taken by surprise since I expected it to be a lighthearted, sillyfun read (like eating a box of Peeps) and was really taken aback by how deeply I felt the story and what the main character was experiencing… (Much more like have apples and peanut butter, yummy and fun but filling and hearty too.)

    Okay. I’m done gushing. But do know, I loved your book and I’d love to hear what you think of Carol’s when you’ve finished! Perhaps if you’re doing any events in NYC sometime soon, I can even come and get my galley signed… 🙂

    All best,

    (Another) Sarah

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