Writer Wednesday: Jeri Smith-Ready

I am a sucker for all things ghostly and dark, which is why I went ga-ga for Jeri Smith-Ready's YA debut SHADE. I came by it on recommendation from one of my crit partners, and it did not disappoint. Spooky, sexy, sublime. LOVES it, I do.

To sum up what the lovely SHADE is about, we turn to Jeri's website:

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.

SHADE is the first in a planned trilogy, the second installment of which--SHIFT--is set to hit the shelves on May 3, 2011. Less than two months away! I can't wait! The third book in the series will come out in 2012, and Simon Pulse has also acquired at least one post-SHADE YA book from Jeri.

Not only is Jeri the author of this ghostly YA series, she has written a number of releases in the adult market as well, going back to 2001 with her debut REQUIEM FOR THE DEVIL. Some of her adult works include the ASPECT OF CROW and WVMP RADIO series. She makes her home in Poe's state of Maryland, so we know where she gets her spooky side from, and what makes her even in cooler in my eyes is that she's a fellow friend to animals. Not to mention, she is active on Twitter and super cool and sweet.

Jeri Smith-Ready's Online Haunts: Website, Blog, Twitter

Where to buy SHADE: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders