All posts in Invisible Touch

"Blogtoberfest Halloween Short & Giveaways!"

By Kelly On 10/09/2009 In Invisible Touch, Win Stuff With Comments Off Permanent Link to "Blogtoberfest Halloween Short & Giveaways!"Permalink

It’s time again for another Invisible Touch short story with Kara and Anthony. Here’s a quick Halloween scene from Kara’s sign-seeing world for author Jeri Smith-Ready’s month long Blogtoberfest, with many more cool authors and giveaways. So check back to the fest all month long!

In the mean time, read about Kara, Anthony, and a little ghost…and leave a comment to enter to win a copy of Invisible Touch. Contest ends October 16th!

But wait–there’s more just in time for Halloween! (haha)

Three more chances to win at Free Book Friday Teen! Read my interview with Jessica Brody and leave a comment to win Touch by October 16th!

Thanks!

~Kelly

"Color Online’s HHM Recommended Reading List"

By Kelly On 09/21/2009 In Invisible Touch, YA Lit With Comments Off Permanent Link to "Color Online’s HHM Recommended Reading List"Permalink

Hispanic Heritage Month runs Sept. 15th-Oct. 15 and Color Online provides their Community HHM Recommended Reading List.

Thanks so much for adding Invisible Touch to the list! And it’s an honor to be listed with such a great selection of titles!

1.Rogelia’s House of Magic by Jamie Martinez Wood
2.The Holy Tortilla and a Pot of Beans by Carmen Tafolla
3.Voices in first person edited by Lori Marie Carlson
4.The Smell of Old Lady Perfume by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez
5.White Bread Competition by Jo Ann Yolanda Hernandez
6.I Wanna be Your Shoebox by Christina Garcia
7.Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra
8.Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
9.Who’s Your Daddy? by Lynda Sandoval
10.Mexican White Boy by Matt de la Pena
11.Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos
12.The Brothers Torres by Coert Voorhees
13.Gringolandia by Lyn Miller Lachmann
14.Down To The Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole
15.The Meaning of Conseulo by Judith Ortiz Cofer
16.The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
17.Journey of Dreams by Marge Pellegrino’s
18.The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales
19.Leaving GloryTown by Eduardo F Calcines
20.Petty Crimes by Gary Soto
21.Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
22.Haters by Alisa Valdes Rodriquez
23.Honey Blonde Chica by Michele Serros
24.Sofia Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico by Malin Alegria
25.Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork
26.La linea by Ann Jaramillo
27.The Poet Slave of Cuba by Margarita Engle
28.Adios to My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer
29.Amor and Summer Secrets by Diana Rodriquez
30.Gamma Glamma by Kim Flores
31.Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa
32. Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz (MG)
33.Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz (MG)
34.So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez
35.Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez
36. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
37.Jaguar by Michele Dominguez-Greene
38.The Whole Sky Full of Stars by René Saldaña Jr
39.Cubanita, Riding the Universe by Gaby Triana

"Reasons to Read Invisible Touch"

By Kelly On 06/22/2009 In BSP, Invisible Touch With 2 Comments Permanent Link to "Reasons to Read Invisible Touch"Permalink

I’ll be the first to admit, I had some trip ups with Invisible TouchMy first release date was supposed to be September 2008.  I didn’t know if this was the perfect date, but I planned all of my promotion for September.  Then, the strangest thing happened…my Advanced Reader’s Copy was printed instead of my edited manuscript. The publisher graciously fixed this and reprinted my books with the correct edits, but my release date was pushed to October 2008.  I moved my launch to a month later, but somehow it still felt a little off and promotion for the book hasn’t been the greatest.  So I’ve come up with a list of reasons you might like to read Invisible Touch!

1. I commissioned this cool book video about the story…it really captures the suspense and premise of the novel.

2. Touch had the weirdest printing snafu that I mentioned above. Come on, my book has a supernatural storyline and this weird glitch happens. *shiver*  Is that like a sign??

3. It’s listed in a Goodreads “THE ULTIMATE SUMMER ’09 READING LIST” currently @ #14. (Coolio!)

4. It’s been said to have a surprising ending in various reviews! (My lips are sealed!)

5. It’s been given the “Gold Award of Excellence” from TeensReadToo.

6. It has a romance between a tough guy and a girl both struggling with secrets.

7. Enchanting Reviews gave Touch 5 Enchantments!

8. Invisible Touch is on the Fresno Library Summer Reading List (this was found by chance) and this is a quick blurb from the site: “There’s romance, Latino culture, mystery, and a touch of the paranormal, witten by the author of Graffiti Girl. It’s better than an asada burrito at El Pollo Loco!” Love that one!

9. Bestselling author Laurie Faria Stolarz said, “Invisible Touch is a blending of mystery, romance, and deep and dangerous secrets.” *sigh*

10. Ultimately, I wrote Touch for two reasons.  1) for the reader to have an entertaining read. I know as an author you can’t please every reader, but I hoped to entertain as many readers as I can.  2) I lost two important men in my life and I dedicated this book to them. It was a way to say goodbye and I put a lot of my grief into the book. There was a time I was writing the book and I was so deep into Kara’s POV, I spaced.  When I finally snapped out of it, I had a whole page written. I blinked and it was one of those weird moments that you’re not sure what happened, but something weird did indeed happen. Still trips me out…

:)

"Blog Tour Continues…"

By Kelly On 10/27/2008 In Interview, Invisible Touch With 3 Comments Permanent Link to "Blog Tour Continues…"Permalink

Hello!

Busy, busy, busy, as usual.

This is the final week of the Secret Fates Extravaganza–yes, the final week! Wow. I really think its been a great experience, and a lot of work. :)

Here’s the line-up:

Week 5

Monday, October 27th: Simone Elkeles offering up a winner’s choice…

Tuesday, October 28th: Antonio Pagliarulo offers THE CELEBUTANTES: TO THE PENTHOUSE …

Wednesday, October 29th: Stephanie Kuehnert with I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE…

Thursday, October 30th: Marley Gibson with an ARC of GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING. …

Its been a terrific month, but I am looking forward to a little quiet in November!

And the Invisible Touch blog tour continues with interviews with these great authors:

Stacy Dekeyser asks me about surprises and chocolate.

April Henry asks me what scares me.

Megan Kelley Hall chats with me about the writer’s club and my writing sisters.

Eileen Cook interviews me about how I was in school.

Jennifer Echols chats with about Spring Break!

More links tomorrow! :)

"Blog Tour"

By Kelly On 10/23/2008 In Blog Talk, Interview, Invisible Touch With Comments Off Permanent Link to "Blog Tour"Permalink

This week starts my blog tour with the Girlfriend’s Cyber Circuit for Invisible Touch. GCC is a group of authors hosting each other’s new releases on our blogs.

Here are a few interviews for today:

I’m chatting about writing, fave guotes and licorice at author Wendy Toliver’s myspace blog.

On author Karin Gillespie’s blog, I’m talking promo and writer’s block.

I’m chatting about my writing desk and my favorite series on author Alyson Noel’s blog.

And on author Shanna Swendson’s blog I share what I have in common with Kara from Invisible Touch and what insight I would like to have.

Thanks for reading!
~kelly

"Invisible Touch Book Signing"

By Kelly On 10/21/2008 In Book Stores, Events, Invisible Touch With 4 Comments Permanent Link to "Invisible Touch Book Signing"Permalink

The book signing was very nice!

I had family, friends, and readers stop by for my first Invisible Touch book signing. The morning started off with a review, “Kelly Parra’s novel is visionary”, in the Salinas Californian with “Five Gold Pens” for Invisible Touch. Check out the full review here.

Here I am before the signing…

Touch Signing 01

A pic with my kiddos sitting with me.

Touch Signing 03

My modest line during the signing! :)

Touch Signing 04

And reader Rei’ Monique, who I first met at a Graffiti Girl signing and her mom was kind of enough to bring her to get my latest book.

Touch Signing 02

It was great day and I’m gearing up for the next one with Shelley Adina this weekend! :)

"Invisible Touch Promo"

By Kelly On 10/16/2008 In Interview, Invisible Touch, My Writer Journey With 2 Comments Permanent Link to "Invisible Touch Promo"Permalink

MTV’s totally cool publicisit, Erica, sent me the news that INVISIBLE TOUCH was spotlighted during October on the Girl’s Life website, and received 1,134 entries! Very cool.

October Girl's Life GiveawayOctober Girl's Life Giveaway

And if you’d like to check out my latest print article click here!


I’m always afraid of how the article might turn out or if I totally babbled, but this one came out nice. Here are a few lines from the article:

“Budding local author Kelly Parra creates characters with a challenge ahead of them.

‘I like to write about girls who are strong at heart,’ she says. ‘They have their faults, but they have a journey to overcome.’”

“Like Invisible Touch, Graffiti Girl featured a young female protagonist drawn into a somewhat taboo underworld. In Invisible Touch, the main character is drawn into the occult; in the first novel, she is drawn into the graffiti subculture.

‘I guess there is a little rebel streak in me,’ Parra says. ‘I like things that are a little different.’ Graffiti appealed to Parra, who felt that the subculture was largely demonized. ‘I really believe that graffiti is an art form,’ she says. ‘There is vandalism out there and I don’t advocate that, but if you take it the level where people are expressing themselves, there are amazing artists out there.’”

“Parra’s mission is ultimately to put books in the hands of teenagers who might not otherwise find materials that interest them. ‘I remember in high school, there really wasn’t much out there that I related to,’ she says.”

"Invisible Touch Release Day is Here!"

By Kelly On 10/14/2008 In Invisible Touch, My Writer Journey With 5 Comments Permanent Link to "Invisible Touch Release Day is Here!"Permalink

Its finally here, the official release day for Invisible Touch! Yay! :) :)

Last year, Graffiti Girl started showing up at stores a week early. This year Amazon released Invisible Touch 2 weeks early, haha. Hopefully stores will release Touch today!

Click here to read an excerpt and check out a couple raves for Invisible Touch:

“A magical blending of mystery, romance, and deep and dangerous secrets. Kelly Parra’s Invisible Touch is an action-packed coming-of-age novel, sure to keep readers turning pages and begging for a sequel.”

— Laurie Faria Stolarz, Bestselling author of Blue is for Nightmares and Deadly Little Secret

“The Gold Award of Excellence! An amazing, touching novel that deals with big issues in an original context.”

— TeensReadToo, Reviewer Lauren Ashley

And for my release day my character Kara’s secret blog post is up on Secret Fates…comment to win Invisible Touch. Winner will be announced October 19th. Thanks! :)

"Secret Fates: Week 3"

By Kelly On 10/13/2008 In Invisible Touch, Win Stuff With 1 Comment Permanent Link to "Secret Fates: Week 3"Permalink

Invisible Touch
Yes its a new week…and here we are with our third week of the Secret Fates Extravaganza. Wow, I can’t believe it’s already the third week of secrets. It really is flying by.

Here is this week’s line-up…

Week 3


Monday, October 13th: Alyson Noel shares about EVERMORE …

Tuesday, October 14th: Kelly Parra (me!) dishes on INVISIBLE TOUCH

Wednesday, October 15th: Marianne Mancusi offers RAZOR GIRL …

Thursday, October 16th: Melissa Walker gives away VIOLET IN PRIVATE …

Friday, October 17th: Sara Hantz offers up THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN…

Saturday, October 18th: Heather Davis shares a secret and gives away NIGHT ROAD by A.M. Jenkins…

Yikes, tomorrow is release day. *giggle*

"Secret Fates: Week 2"

By Kelly On 10/06/2008 In Invisible Touch, Win Stuff With 1 Comment Permanent Link to "Secret Fates: Week 2"Permalink

IT’S WEEK TWO OF THE SECRET FATES EXTRAVAGANZA!
Invisible Touch
And here we are with our second week of the Secret Fates Extravaganza, and its been a lot of fun. Last week winners have been posted.

Just a reminder of how this works:

Through the month of October, I’ll be posting an author secret and giveaway every day except for Sundays. You will have the week to post a comment on the author’s secret, then on that following Sunday I will announce the winners for the week. Then the next week we start again with a new group of talented authors.

Here is the new line up:

Week 2


Monday, October 6th: Jenny O’Connell shares about LOCAL GIRLS…

Tuesday, October 7th: Anne Frasier offers PALE IMMORTAL and GARDEN OF DARKNESS…

Wednesday, October 8th: Alex McAulay gives away OBLIVION ROAD…

Thursday, October 9th: Jana DeLeon shares about her next release and offers UNLUCKY…

Friday, October 10th: Jennifer Echols offers up THE BOY NEXT DOOR and MAJOR CRUSH…

Saturday, October 11th: Stephanie Hale has two books up for grabs, REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN and TWISTED SISTERS…

Don’t forget…

If you help spread the word through the month of October about the Secret Fates Extravaganza (by sharing a link http://secretfates.blogspot.com + the promo video) on your blog, myspace or facebook, and leave a comment on the first Secret Fates post with a link to the blog or post or telling me how you helped, you’ll be entered to win a copy of GRAFFITI GIRL and INVISIBLE TOUCH by me, and your pick of one of Secret Fates Extravaganza participating authors’ novels. (If you’ve already read one of my books I’ll replace it with one of the author’s novels, too. Either way, you win 3 books.) The more you spread the word, the better chances of winning!

Jenny’s secret is now posted…

I’m excited to read more secrets! Hope you are too. :)

~Kelly

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