HUNGER also recently got a terrific review at the Starmetal Oak Book Blog.

And you should stop by Figment, where I am interviewed by Lisa (protagonist of HUNGER) and Missy (protagonist of RAGE).

Back in October, I showed a picture of Brian and Jen reading HUNGER on the bus to the Rally for Sanity and/or Fear. Here are more pictures of people with copies of HUNGER:

Here’s Julie, showing off her copy. So glad you enjoyed it, Julie!

And here is Neil Gaiman — my god of writing — holding up the copy that I sent him. A huge thanks to his phenomenal mystery aide, Cat Mihos, for the amazing picture!

If you send me a picture of you holding a copy of HUNGER, I’ll put it up on my blog.

Now that HUNGER has officially launched, and I’ve gotten past the initial wave of OMG OMG OMG AAAAAAAAAAH, I’m focusing on writing LOSS (think bullying, Pestilence, Alzheimer’s…and Robin Hood. I swear, I’ll make it work!), and getting ready for RAGE to hit the shelves in four short months. (Gulp.)

Speaking of RAGE, I’m thrilled that it’s a Junior Library Guild selection for spring 2011! I’ll have an updated cover posted soon — it’s the same as what I currently have on my website, but shiner, and with a fantabulous cover quote from the ever-amazing Heather Brewer. Her quote says:

“RAGE is raw and real, a truly dark, honest look at self-harm and teenage psyche. Kessler left me breathless.”

Last month, That Cover Girl interviewed me and cover artist Sammy Yuen about HUNGER and RAGE. Sammy’s interview in particular is a terrific read. Thanks again, That Cover Girl!

New stuff: there’s a new Post Mortem interview posted: Death talks to Laurel from Amy Brecount White’s lovely FORGET-HER-NOTS.

Amberkatze interviewed me on her blog — thanks, Amber!

Over November, more terrific reviews of HUNGER came in, including:

Icey Books

Wondrous Reads

The Diary of a Bookworm

Marie Loves Books

A Simple Love of Reading

Silent T’s Book Blog

Renee’s Book Addiction

CK2s Kwips and Kritiques

My Favourite Books

I once again want to thank all of the folks who have been reading and reviewing HUNGER. You all rock out loud!

GIVEAWAY: Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf has a terrific review of HUNGER…plus an ARC giveaway of the book! Thanks, Lauren!!!

On Wednesday, I’ll be over at The Book Smugglers for my Smugglivus post…which happens to also be my birthday, so there may be a RAGE ARC giveaway. Maybe.

Whew. Note to self: When I don’t blog for a month, there’s a lot of catch up to do!

Cool point of the evening? A trick-or-treater came by…with a Vlad Tod bag! I had to give him some smiley-fangy-face temporary tattoos.

Today is the last day of the Crossroads Tour! Today’s visit is with Late Bloomer Online. Which movie gets a hat-tip in my interview? Read it to find out! And then head over to the Crossroads Tour main page, answer all the questions, and submit your answers for a chance to win Really Cool Things!

A huge thanks to Judith Graves for organizing the Crossroads Tour, to all the terrific bloggers who hosted us, all the other YA paranormal authors for participating, to Shannon Delany for first telling me about the tour, and to all readers who commented and participated. You guys all rock!

And look – another HUNGER review:

Catcher Gone Awry

Finally, Jami at YA Addict is giving away a copy of HUNGER! Thanks for hosting the giveaway, Jani!

Brian Cortijo and Jennifer Fischer on a HuffPo Sanity bus

Jen and Brian, you guys ROCK OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wish I could have been there. I hope you had a terrific time!

Ahem.

Okay, back to blogging…

Today’s Crossroads Tour stop at Just Your Typical Book Blog is a little different — it’s not an interview, but rather a guest post in which I answer Amber’s question, “If I were sucked into one of my books, which book would it be, and what kind of reaction or hopes would I have.” The post is called “Let’s Talk About Death,” and in it, I get into how influenced I’ve been by books and comic books when it came to the character of Death — including Neil Gaiman, Piers Anthony and Terry Pratchett. Thanks so much, Amber!

After you read the post, head on over to the Crossroads Tour main page for today’s question. One day to go!

And hey, another HUNGER review, over at Teen Book Review Blog.

Finally, I’m signing copies of HUNGER today at The Little Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza, in Albany NY, from 2 – 3 pm. If you’re local, I hope to see you there! I can show you a shiny RAGE ARC.

Happy Friday! Today I’m visiting Alex at Electrifying Reviews. He asks me bluntly if the other books in the Riders’ Quartet end the same way that HUNGER did — and I actually give an answer! Come on by, and then go to the Crossroads Tour main page for today’s question. Getting close to the big Halloween finale!

More HUNGER reviews…

Candace’s Book Blog

A Backwards Story

Book Chic Club

And if you’re in the Albany NY area, I’m signing copies of HUNGER at The Little Book House tomorrow, Saturday, October 30, 2010, from 2pm – 3pm.

Crossroads Blog Tour, day 8: Wolfy Chicks. Among other things, I talk about the best writing advice I’ve ever received.

Crossroads Blog Tour, day 9: The Here, The Now, The Books. My interview isn’t live as of yet, but have patience. It will be.

That’s it for now. I’m off to take the Precious Little Tax Deductions to religious school — family program morning, so no writing for me — and then back home for lunch. This afternoon, I hope to finally get some writing in…both on LOSS and on a shiny new project. Rah!

Welcome to Day 7 of the Crossroads Tour! Today’s stop is at Supernatural Snark. By now, you should know the drill.

Just a quick post today! Happy Friday!

Welcome to Day 6 of the Crossroads Tour! Today’s stop is at Confessions of a Bookaholic. Stop by, then go to the main Crossroads Tour page for today’s question.

And look: More HUNGER reviews:

Phoebe North

Manga Maniac Cafe

And Oh My Books, which gives HUNGER five stars.

Plus…School Library Journal has given HUNGER a starred review! Here’s what will appear in the November 2010 issue:

*KESSLER, Jackie Morse. Hunger. 180p. Houghton/Graphia. 2010. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-547-34124-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Suicidal, anorexic Lisabeth thinks she is hallucinating when Death (who looks a lot like a certain dead grunge rock star) rings her doorbell, hands her a set of scales, and informs her that she is now one of the four riders of the Apocalypse–Famine, specifically. When ignoring the scales and the giant war horse grazing in the front yard doesn’t work, Lisabeth takes up the mantle of Famine and rides out to areas marked by the excess of gluttony and decimated by starvation. It’s not long before she learns how to spread hunger and discord, and maybe even how to balance the scales in the areas of the worst suffering. She meets fellow riders–War, who encourages her destructive tendencies, and Pestilence, who councils her to find balance because, “Well, if everyone dies, I’d be out a job, wouldn’t I?” At the heart of this slim novel is a teen struggling with serious food issues, and the storytelling is both realistic and compassionate. If the metaphor of an anorexic as Famine is obvious, the writing is never preachy, and it allows an interesting exploration of both intensely personal food issues and global ones. This book has an excellent hook and is short enough to recommend to reluctant readers.–Caroline Tesauro, Radford Public Library, VA

Again, I want to thank everyone who’s been reading and reviewing HUNGER and spreading the word about the book. You all rock!

Day 5 of the Crossroads Blog Tour brings me to A Simple Love of Reading! In this interview, you find out more about inspirations behind the main character, what made me first fall in love with reading, which paranormal authors I’m currently addicted to, plus much more! Be sure to also stop by the Crossroads main page for today’s question.

And look – more interviews…and HUNGER giveaways!

First, over at Book Lovers Inc., Susi has interviewed me about…well, lots of things, including my YA stuff and adult novels. And I’m answering questions in the comments! And Susi is giving away a copy of HUNGER! (She rocks!)

And over at Fragments of Life, Precious interviewed me and got me to talk about my weakness for chocolate (and Matt Damon)…and she’s giving away four signed small posters of the HUNGER cover! (She also rocks!)