• The Winter YA Scavenger Hunt is Here!

    Welcome to the winter YA Scavenger Hunt! I’m Victoria Strauss, and I write fantasy and historical fiction for adults and teens. The tri-annual Scavenger Hunt was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this Hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the Hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the Hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours. There are TWO contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter either one or both. I’m on the RED TEAM, but there is also a blue…

  • PASSION BLUE Virtual Book Tour Stop — Black Friday!

    It’s Black Friday! I don’t know about you, but I’m staying away from stores and malls today. On the craziest shopping day of the year, I’d rather hang out with friends and look for bargains online. Today’s stop on the Passion Blue Virtual Book Tour: An author spotlight and giveaway at Writers’ Alley. I’m chatting with S.A. Larsen about writing, publishing, and whether or not a debut author needs a platform. You can also win a signed hardcover of Passion Blue. There are more tour stops coming up through the end of November, with more chances to win. For the full Virtual Tour schedule, click here.

  • PASSION BLUE Virtual Book Tour Stop for Friday, Nov. 16

    Today’s stop on the Passion Blue Virtual Book Tour: I’m chatting about writing YA, and my research for Passion Blue, at Katie’s Book Blog. Katie is also kindly hosting a giveaway for a signed hardcover and swag. There’s still time to enter my own giveaway for an awesome Passion Blue prize pack. Next tour stop: an interview with Natalie Aguirre at Literary Rambles on Monday. For the full tour schedule (more giveaways to come!) click here.

  • PASSION BLUE Virtual Book Tour Stop for Thursday, Nov. 15

    Today’s stop on the Passion Blue Virtual Book Tour: a fun interview at Get Lost in a Story, in which I answer questions about writing, reading (and responding to) reviews…and tea. Tomorrow’s tour stop: an interview and giveaway at Katie’s Book Blog. There are many more tour stops coming up this month, with more reviews, interviews, and giveaways! For the full tour schedule, click here. And don’t forget to check out my own giveaway to win a fabulous Passion Blue prize pack.

  • PASSION BLUE Virtual Book Tour Stop for Wednesday, Nov. 14

    Today’s stop on the Passion Blue Virtual Book Tour: Cindy of Books Complete Me is very kindly hosting my guest blog post about writing historical fiction, writing fantasy fiction, and why I think the skillsets involved are so similar. Fantasy writers create worlds that never were, while historical writers re-create worlds that no longer exist–both are acts of imagination, fueled by research. I think that’s why I’ve always felt so comfortable moving back and forth between the two genres. Cindy will be posting a review of Passion Blue next week. Tomorrow’s tour stop: an interview at Get Lost in a Story. (For the full tour schedule, click here.)

  • PASSION BLUE Virtual Book Tour Stop For Monday, Nov. 12

    Today’s stop on the Passion Blue virtual book tour: a review, guest post, and giveaway at The Bookish Babe. From Andrea’s lovely review:  “A story of fate, choice, and love beyond romance, Passion Blue is a story that will make you think and make you feel.” My guest blog post is about Passion Blue’s complicated journey to publication. Every book has an origin story; this is mine! And don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed hardcover plus swag. Next stop on the virtual book tour: a review and guest post at Books Complete Me. (For the full tour schedule, click here).

  • PASSION BLUE Virtual Book Tour Stop — Sunday, Nov. 11

    Today’s stop on the Passion Blue Virtual Book Tour: Tammy Sparks of Books, Bones, & Buffy interviews me about art, astrology, and my research for Passion Blue. Tammy is also hosting a giveaway! You can enter for a chance to win signed hardcovers and swag. Read Tammy’s four star review of Passion Blue here. Tomorrow’s virtual tour stop: interview and giveaway at The Bookish Babe. (For the full tour schedule, click here).

  • PASSION BLUE Virtual Book Tour Stops–Friday, 11/9

    The Passion Blue virtual book tour continues! Today’s stops: – An interview and giveaway at The Book Monsters, in which I talk with Book Monster Kate about my research for Passion Blue and Renaissance art. Oh, and there’s also a giveaway! – An interview at Kirkus Reviews’ YA blog. Kirkus’s Erika Rohrbach asks me about art, astrology, and Passion Blue. There are lots more tour stops coming up, and plenty more chances to win books and swag. Check the full tour schedule. And don’t forget to enter my release celebration giveaway for a chance to win a Passion Blue prize pack!

  • PASSION BLUE Release Celebration Giveaway

    To celebrate the release of Passion Blue this week, I’m conducting a special giveaway. Enter the Rafflecopter below to win a Passion Blue prize pack! There are 3 prize packs. Each one includes a signed hardcover and related swag (5 each of bookmarks and postcards), plus a $25 Amazon gift card. For more chances to win, check my virtual book tour schedule. There’ll be giveaways (along with interviews, reviews, and guest posts) all through November. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • Release Day for PASSION BLUE!

    Passion Blue officially releases today! I’m super excited that it’s finally out there in the wild, and for the wonderful reviews it has been receiving. I’ve got a terrific virtual book tour scheduled for this month–there will be reviews, interviews, giveaways, and more. The schedule is below; I’ll also be posting and tweeting links daily, so be sure to check back. 11/6    WTF Are You Reading? (review and giveaway) 11/7    The Book Muncher (giveaway) 11/9    The Book Monsters (review, interview and giveaway) 11/9    Kirkus Reviews YA Blog (interview) 11/11   Books, Bones & Buffy (interview and giveaway; review already posted) 11/12   The Bookish Babe (review, guest post, and giveaway) 11/14   Books Complete Me (review and guest post) 11/14   Twitterchat! Guest slot at #YALITCHAT, discussing YA historical fiction (9:00pm EST) 11/15   Get Lost in a Story (interview) 11/16   Katie’s Book Blog (review, interview and giveaway) 11/19   Literary…