NEWS: 'Smart Chicks Kick It Tour' begins September 13th!

Hi there!

It's me....the 'Insatiable Reader' coming at you over the weekend (if you can believe it) in more than one of the 'Roving Reader' posts!  Yes, they are fun, but this needed to have a slice of time to itself.  Perhaps you've heard and this will merely be a reminder, but if not, get ready to pack your bags and make your way to one of several chosen cities playing host to a FABULOUS author tour!

Beginning September 13th, it's time for....

What is this event?

Glad you asked....

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From the official press release.....

Unprecedented in terms of size, scope and its organization, the highly anticipated Smart Chicks Kick It Tour www.smartchickskickit.com launches an extensive North American tour on September 13th, 2010. The ambitious twelve-city, two week tour features eighteen of today’s most buzzed writers of paranormal romance – from international bestsellers and award winners to the genre’s hottest newcomers.

The Smart Chicks Kick It Tour is author-organized AND author-funded, with the 18 participating authors -- or “Chicks” -- coming from a wide variety of different publishers. This ground-breaking approach will, for the first time ever, provide fans of the incredibly popular romance, fantasy and science fiction genres the opportunity to meet and talk to some of their favorite authors at one time, even though the authors publish with different houses. Featuring six to nine Chicks at every venue, the author line up in every city will be different so no two events will be exactly the same.

In 2009 Melissa Marr, creator of The New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series, came up with the idea for the tour and, along with fellow author Kelley Armstrong, got to work pulling together a line-up of authors with books that had a central theme. “Strong heroines, smart heroines, capable heroines...real girls with real strengths, not necessarily out there kicking butt, but able to handle themselves in tough situations. It’s a message that both Melissa and I care deeply about and that we thought would really resonate with our fans,” remarks Ms. Armstrong, The New York Times bestselling urban fantasy author of the Women of the Otherworld series and Darkest Powers trilogy.

Melissa goes on to say, “We’re doing something really, truly unique and it feels great. The support we have received from our fans, the booksellers and our publishers has been overwhelming. We haven’t even hit the road yet for the 2010 tour and plans are already underway for Smart Chicks 2.0.” Together with Alyson Noel (The Immortals series), Melissa and Kelley will be headlining the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour and appearing at all twelve events.

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OMG!  To be in or near one of the cities this tour is traveling to would be amazing!  Perhaps you are?  Let's check out a listing of the dates and times....

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Smart Chicks Kick It Tour

September 13th, 2010 - September 25th, 2010

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September 13th, 2010, 7 PM

BOOKPEOPLE, Austin, TX

Appearing: Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel,

Holly Black, Rachel Caine, & Cassandra Clare

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September 14th, 2010, 7 PM

B&N THE WOODLANDS, Houston, TX

Appearing: Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black,

Cassandra Clare, Kami Garcia & Rachel Vincent.

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September 15th, 2010, 7 PM

The Refuge, hosted by BLUE WILLOW, Houston, TX

Appearing: Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black,

Sarah Rees Brennan, Margaret Stohl & Cassandra Clare

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September 16th, 2010, 6 PM

Plantation Commons, hosted by LEMURIA BOOKS, Jackson, MS

Appearing: Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black,

Cassandra Clare, Jessica Verday & Sarah Rees Brennan

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September 17th, 2010, 7 PM

Scottsdale Civic Library Auditorium, hosted by POISONED PEN Phoenix, AZ

Appearing: Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Holly Black,

Sarah Rees Brennan & Kimberly Derting.

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September 18th, 2010, 6 PM

Menlo Park Library, hosted by KEPLERS, San Francisco, CA

Appearing: Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa de la Cruz,

 & Kimberly Derting

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September 20th, 2010, 6 PM

VROMAN'S, Pasadena, CA

Appearing: Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine,

Melissa de la Cruz, Rachel Vincent, Margie Stohl, Kami Garcia & Mary Pearson

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September 21st, 2010, 7 PM

Encinitas County Library, hosted by MYSTERIOUS GALAXY, San Diego, CA

Appearing: Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Mary Pearson,

Rachel Caine, Rachel Vincent, Margie Stohl, Kami Garcia & Carrie Ryan

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September 22nd, 2010, 7 PM

Ventz Concert Hall at North Central College, hosted by ANDERSON'S Chicago, IL

Appearing: Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jackson Pearce,

Jennifer Lynn Barnes, & Carrie Ryan

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September 23rd, 2010, 7 PM

BOOKS & CO AT THE GREENE, Dayton, OH

Appearing: Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jackson Pearce,

Jennifer Lynn Barnes, & Kami Garcia

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September 24th, 2010, 7 PM

JOSEPH BETH Cincinnati, OH

Appearing: Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jeri Smith-Ready,

Jennifer Lynn Barnes & Margie Stohl

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September 25th, 2010, 2 PM

CHAPTERS BRAMPTON (Toronto) ON

Appearing: Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Melissa de la Cruz,

Jeri Smith-Ready, Kami Garcia, Margie Stohl & Jennifer Barnes

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See a name or two you recognize?

Perhaps a town or city near you?

If so....LUCKY!

If not....no worries!

One and all can still revel in the fun to be had with this event by following it's progress online via...

...the official blog...

...the official Facebook page...

...the official website...

Plus...there's even an option to purchase tour shirts and sweatshirts via their CafePress store.

Special thanks to Karen at Media Masters Publicity for all the great information!  Look for another post with a special Q&A with two of the fabulous authors participating in this event in the coming days.

Until next time....happy reading!