Chosen on Technorati

Great job, Teen FIRST bloggers! We got Chosen, as well as three of Ted Dekker's other books, up on # 1-4 of most blogged about books on Technorati! Let's spread the word about this fabulous book to our friends and family!

Wild Card Tour: Finding Hollywood Nobody

For those of you who are not members of FIRST and want to a review copy of Finding Hollywood Nobody, go to FIRST Wild Card Tours. We're touring it on May 12...it is a Teen Fiction book.

FIRST is touring it on May FIRST...but you can tour it too!

Chosen by Ted Dekker

It's April 21st, time for the Teen FIRST blog tour!(Join our alliance! Click the button!) Every 21st, we will feature an author and his/her latest Teen fiction book's FIRST chapter!

Ted Dekker

and his book:

Chosen (The Lost Books, Book 1) (The Books of History Chronicles)

Thomas Nelson (January 1, 2008)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.

After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor's Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.

Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. To see a complete list of Dekker's work, visit The Works section of TedDekker.com.

Here are some of his latest titles:

Adam

Black: The Birth of Evil (The Circle Trilogy Graphic Novels, Book 1)

Saint

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


beginnings

Our story begins in a world totally like our own, yet completely different. What once happened here in our own history seems to be repeating itself thousands of years from now,
some time beyond the year 4000 AD.

But this time the future belongs to those who see opportunity before it becomes obvious. To the young, to the warriors, to the lovers. To those who can follow hidden clues and find a great
treasure that will unlock the mysteries of life and wealth.

Thirteen years have passed since the lush, colored forests were turned to desert by Teeleh, the enemy of Elyon and the vilest of all creatures. Evil now rules the land and shows itself as a painful, scaly disease that covers the flesh of the Horde, a people who live in the desert.

The powerful green waters, once precious to Elyon, have vanished from the earth except in seven small forests surrounding seven small lakes. Those few who have chosen to follow the ways of Elyon now live in these forests, bathing once daily in the powerful waters to cleanse their skin of the disease.

The number of their sworn enemy, the Horde, has grown in thirteen years and, fearing the green waters above all else, these desert dwellers have sworn to wipe all traces of the forests from
the earth.

Only the Forest Guard stands in their way. Ten thousand elite fighters against an army of nearly four hundred thousand Horde. But the Forest Guard is starting to crumble.

one

Day One

Qurong, general of the Horde, stood on the tall dune five miles west of the green forest, ignoring the fly that buzzed around his left eye.

His flesh was nearly white, covered with a paste that kept his skin from itching too badly. His long hair was pulled back and woven into dreadlocks, then tucked beneath the leather body armor
cinched tightly around his massive chest.

“Do you think they know?” the young major beside him asked.

Qurong’s milky white horse, chosen for its ability to blend with the desert, stamped and snorted.

The general spit to one side. “They know what we want them to know,” he said. “That we are gathering for war. And that we will march from the east in four days.”

“It seems risky,” the major said. His right cheek twitched, sending three flies to flight.
“Their forces are half what they once were. As long as they think we are coming from the east, we will smother them from the west.”

“The traitor insists that they are building their forces,” the major said.

“With young pups!” Qurong scoffed.

“The young can be crafty.”

“And I’m not? They know nothing about the traitor. This time we will kill them all.”

Qurong turned back to the valley behind him. The tents of his third division, the largest of all Horde armies, which numbered well over three hundred thousand of the most experienced warriors, stretched out nearly as far as he could see.

“We march in four days,” Qurong said. “We will slaughter them from the west.”

Hacked

Just to let everyone know...since Sunday, someone hacked my blogs at least twice. Does anyone know how to report this??? I've tried to report this to blogger, and have not received help yet. Does anyone know a sure way to get in contact with someone high up at blogger?

All FIRST tours are Free

Fear not. All the FIRST alliances remain free blog tours for all. This is a ministry, not a business. FIRST is no longer affiliated with the CFBA. I have removed myself from CFBA membership. I do not request anyone to do the same...that is totally up to you.

FIRST's new motto:

Free blog tours: it's a ministry, not a business.

The Summer of Cotton Candy by D J Reynolds (Debbie Viguié)

Here's a sample of a post I just did for the ARC of The Summer of Cotton Candy by D J Reynolds (Debbie Viguié)...it was one of the free books that Zonderkidz gave to those who requested it. This is not a regular Teen FIRST post, but if you need the link and picture, here they are! My endorsement is below.

Picture Link: Grab the HTML:

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9eGg0MaZvTFunnXTnABbd0_h0ivFNI3meJYD_Gyg3ZC6yW6jeLn11pFPlVbXZif7CgzfWL_fdMvR_dyfRf2p5FmjEtEZqnncZRbQkPSg8Uw_Cw9NEVxHlfqGgLZE4-_oaC-RWDHNkK96/s1600-h/summer+of+cotten+candy"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9eGg0MaZvTFunnXTnABbd0_h0ivFNI3meJYD_Gyg3ZC6yW6jeLn11pFPlVbXZif7CgzfWL_fdMvR_dyfRf2p5FmjEtEZqnncZRbQkPSg8Uw_Cw9NEVxHlfqGgLZE4-_oaC-RWDHNkK96/s320/summer+of+cotten+candy" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186957086652611170/"></a>


Book Link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/031071558X/


The Summer of Cotton Candy
by
D J Reynolds (Debbie Viguié)

Zonderkidz (May 2008)

The Summer of Cotton Candy had me reminiscing about fun in the sun, roller coaster rides, and the thrill of being 17. Alongside first job jitters, were cute masked men, teenage angst, and a whole lot of drama. Debbie Viguié described her dream theme park in such a great way that I want season tickets! I look forward to reading more of the Sweet Seasons novels.