BOOK TRAILER!!

Wanna see something awesome?

Sure you do.

Check out Susanne Winnacker's book trailer for The Other Life!

This book is SOOOO good. It's creepy and tense and scary! And there's even some romance!=)

LOVE THIS BOOK!!

My Love For TV Shows

Hey all! Hop on over to Brave New Words and catch my post on TV shows.
More proof that I love most things YA.

OH! And Happy November!

Happy Halloween!!

Hi there! Round three is done! Round three is done! And yes, there really wasn't much of a break between round two and three but I actually preferred it that way. I was able to stay inside the story and keep working. It was like a Mystique marathon.
And now? Now we wait for copy edits. *Cue scary music*

But today we celebrate Halloween. And in honor of creepiness I'm here to tell y'all about the most amazing book I've read in quite some time. Seriously. I LOVED it. It's one of those books after you finish reading it you wish you could get a memory wipe so that you can read it all over again.
Let me make this perfectly clear. I LOVED THIS BOOK.
Okay. Wanna know what it is?

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.

It's creepy and intense and funny and thoughtful. It has some of the best chemistry I've read between the two main characters. AND! The writing is awesome. Michelle Hodkin kept me absolutely intrigued from beginning to end. I CAN NOT wait for the next book. This one was so fun I really didn't want to finish it. And yet I had to. I couldn't stop reading.

So. Go on out and get your candy and when everyone else is watching scary movies where teenagers scream and get hacked into tiny pieces you can be thoroughly enjoying one of the creepiest and coolest books I've read in, well, ever.

Have a safe and candy-filled day!

The Book Fairy Is Coming Today!!

I've been very patient. I waited until after I'd finished round two of edits to order these fabulous books knowing that I wouldn't be able to keep from reading them once they arrived!

Wanna know what they are??!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I have been waiting and waiting for this book to come out! I tried to find it at BEA but I wasn't fast enough. If you haven't heard about this one check out the book trailer. Go ahead. I'll wait.
SEE!! I told you!



Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

If you haven't read Stephanie's first book, Anna and the French Kiss, go read it! Seriously. Go. And then once you're all smiley and in love with Etienne go check out Lola. I can't wait to read it!!









Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

I love this series. Mostly I love Patch. It's rare when I love the 2nd book more than the first. I'm hoping the third is my new favorite.









Last week I took a break from editing to venture out to a book signing. And it wasn't just any book signing, it was Laini Taylor reading from Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book back in May. And I know I should have given it away here once I finished it, but I just couldn't part with it. IT'S THAT GOOD!!
Seriously. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It isn't just the story or the characters that capture you, it's the beautiful way she tells a story. I know I've found another book to add to my list of favorites when I have to stop and reread a line just so I can take in the poetic way the author is getting her thoughts across.
I love this book.

And since we're talking books...

Here are some COMING SOON selections I can't wait to read. Look for them in the next few weeks!



How To Save A Life by Sara Zarr

Have you read anything by Sara Zarr? Of course you have. She's amazing.
I can't wait for her latest.









Crossed by Ally Condie

If you've read Matched you'll want to pick this one up. I can't wait to find out what happens next!






Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

This book looks SOOOO scary! I can't wait!

New Post!

Yes. Hello there. This is the post where I mention I've blogged over on Brave New Words and promise to post here more often now that I've turned in round two of edits. I double promise. Starting with Tuesday's post where I write about the books I've ordered from Amazon and how I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO READ THEM!!

Stay tuned.

The Difference Between a Bride and a Novel

So last weekend I shot a wedding. Did you know I do that?
Well I do. It's part of my other life, you know the one where I get paid to observe people and tell their stories through photographs instead of words.

There's one big difference between photographing a wedding and writing a novel: time.

It took me five months to write Mystique.

At a wedding I generally have about five minutes to figure out what I want to do before the bride and groom, and everyone else involved in the photos, starts wondering why they're still standing in one spot. DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
I don't have the option of turning to the bride and saying, "Do you mind if I wander over into those trees so I can listen to some inspiring music? You see I really need to figure out what your exact motivation is in the next shot."

And believe me, there are days when I'd love to do just that.

Sometimes the light is perfect and the location inspires and everywhere I look I have ideas of awesomeness.
And then sometimes... I've got nothing.

The reason I'm blogging about this today is because, well, I have this deadline stalking me right now and a few days ago I sat down at the computer and typed out some words that later fell prey to the delete button and I thought back on those days when I was writing Mystique and how I would throw my hands up in the air and admit defeat. "Today is NOT a writing day!" I would say. And then I'd get up from the computer, possibly stick my tongue out at it a few times, and then GO DO SOMETHING ELSE!

But I don't have that freedom right now. Every day is a writing day until THIS BOOK IS DONE!

Thankfully I'm in a much better place today than I was a few days ago.

Notice how most of the words in this post aren't capitalized and surrounded by exclamation marks. Notice how I didn't tell you about that dream I had where my editor was standing in a field, dressed in a wedding gown, except her wedding gown was made out of pages from my book.
Instead I've left you a photo of my beautiful wedding cake. Isn't it pretty?

So. That should tell you something.

Well, Hello There!

So I've been a bit MIA lately, but there are a few reasons for that...

Did any of you hear about that one storm that swept over the East Coast and stole all of our D batteries, peanut butter and water?

Yes, well, that was the least of it. Irene won't be invited back here any time soon. And for everyone who lost more than three days of power, my heart goes out to you.

And guess what else has been keeping me away?!

Round two of edits!!

You can read all about how I survive the process here!


I will be back soon, I promise!

In the meantime, please enjoy this. Does it get any better than Bon Iver covering a Peter Gabriel song?

When It Becomes Real

On Tuesday the fabulous Gretchen McNeil's book, Possess, hit the stores.
And do you know what that means??! Apocalypsies have entered the building!!

It's real, folks. All these books we spent years writing and rewriting over and over again are going to be real life books! Like in-the-store books! And in case you don't believe me...

Here's proof!



HOW AWESOME IS THIS?!

I know I still have some time before this is my book, but HOLY COW!!

Can someone PLEASE pass me a brown paper bag.

Brave New Words

Hello everyone!

So I'm a contributor on the fabulous YA Sci-fi blog Brave New Words! And if you head on over there RIGHT NOW you can read my very first post! It's all about sexy bad guys AND it includes pictures!!

If you like your YA Dystopian-flavored or a bit on the Sci-fi side then come join us! We are nice. And our books all debut in 2012!

Random

Welcome new followers!

I feel I should explain how every once in a while I post about random things that stumble into my world and pretty much make it into my daily life.

So here goes.

The coyotes are back!

A few days ago I spotted a coyote right outside my window. I haven't seen one since right around January so this is very exciting news. And yes, I realize as I type this that I sound a bit too much like Kevin Costner's character in Dances With Wolves and I should just stop RIGHT NOW!

But. I missed seeing the coyotes. So. There's that.

Last night my husband and I took off for Brooklyn to see Bon Iver. And they're awesome! I'm a big fan. Their newest self titled release is amazing. It literally got me through days and days of revisions on Mystique.

And last night it was pretty incredible seeing them live. IN-CRED-I-BLE!

So I've been cleaning and basically redecorating all things around me lately. Even the cats have been moved around. And you all know what that means...
I'm nesting a new idea. It moved in right before I finished my edits and now that round one has been turned in I can't stop thinking about it!

Now I just need to sit down and start writing.

I'm totally obsessing over The Vampire Diaries.
I have to admit, when I first heard about the show I totally rolled my eyes. I mean, come on! Enough with the vampires!! And then my fabulous critique partner, Tracy Banghart, recommended the show to me and I thought, alright, I'll try it out...

WOW! I haven't been this obsessed over a show since Buffy or Veronica Mars!! Or possibly Friday Night Lights.
I'm so hooked that last night, while we were driving home from Brooklyn, I was tempted to climb into the backseat and watch a few episodes, but then I realized, what with our six-year anniversary coming up on Saturday, that those were the thoughts of a crack addict and I should JUST STOP. I can go a day without Vampires.
Who'da thought.

And last but not least...
I have to share something delicious with y'all!

I tried macaroons for the first time.

WHY HAVEN'T I HAD THESE IN MY MOUTH BEFORE??!

So, yes. Enjoy your Thursday!

SOOO Exciting!!

Wanna see something awesome?!?

Sure you do!

Click me

See. I told you.

Susanne's book is amazing! It's creepy and intense and I had to get up and walk around the room before reading more because it was making my heart race!

Yeah. It's that good.

And The Winners Are...

YAY!!

Okay so this contest was awesome!! A ginormous THANK YOU! to everyone who entered!!

But in the end there can only be two winners. That is, for now. I have other books to give away so stay tuned!

Winner of Carrier of the Mark is:

Melissa!!

Winner of Forever is:

Kimberly Callegan!!

I will email you very, very soon. And then I'd love to hear your thoughts on the books once you've finished them!

BOOKS ARE FUN!

Time For Another Contest!

Who likes free books? Well since this is the second contest here on the blog I'm going to give away TWO books. YES TWO!!


Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Taken from Goodreads:
In Maggie Stiefvater's SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

And...


Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Taken from Goodreads:
A move to Ireland is about to introduce Megan to her destiny, her real destiny, can she embrace it and will she survive it?

A tragedy in Megan’s past set her on a predetermined course. A chain of events has been set in motion that brings Megan to Kinsale, a small town in the south of Ireland where her destiny awaits her. Her life starts to fall into place as she makes new friends and settles into her new school. However, the reclusive and distant Adam DeRís calls to her body and soul.

She finds herself increasingly drawn to Adam and his strange family. Adam knows a secret from her past and he and his family hold the key to her future. A future that binds her to Adam and his world, a world of power, mystery and ancient orders. A world that unbeknownst to her, she very much belongs in.

Both of these books are ARCs. Forever was released on July 12th but Carrier of the Mark doesn't come out until October 4th!

So. All you have to do is add up the following:

Comment on post +1

New Blog Follower + 1 / Old Blog Follower + 2

Tweet about contest + 2 (please tell me your twitter name or leave a link)

Blog about contest + 3 (Please leave the link in the comments)

YAY!! Oh! And let me know which book you'd prefer!

Contest will end August 1st! I will post the winners on Tuesday the 2nd.

GOOD LUCK!

Deep Breaths

Well, hello there!

Thanks for sticking around considering I've been a bit quiet lately. You see, I just finished my edits. YAY!!!
And it's summer, which means things are rather busy around Shariland. But I did get a chance to crawl out of the hole I've been hiding in for the last two months and go to this.

It was pretty cool hearing all those stories. I got to meet Nova Ren Suma and catch a snippet from her book Imaginary Girls, which I have to read now that I, um, can.
As well as Tara Altebrando whose books I absolutely love! What Happens Here is one of my favorites. That night she was reading from her newest book Dreamland Social Club which I read before my edits arrived! GO get it!
Everyone did a great job with their readings and my TBR pile is no longer resembling a pile, it's more like a rather large being that eats up the space in my bedroom.

AND!!! I finally got to hang out with my amazing critique partner, Susanne Winnacker, who was visiting from Germany.

AND!! While we were standing there one of the fabulous Apocalypsies wandered up and it was Leanna Renee Hieber whose book Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul is out November 1st!

(from left to right) Susanne Winnacker, Leanna Renee Hieber, me


Altogether it was a pretty amazing day!

It's All About The Cover

Let's face it. A story keeps you reading but without that eye-catching cover you are never going to pick the book up in the first place.

So. In honor of all the fabulous Apocalypsies covers being announced recently I figured we should just take a moment and let our eyes eat up the pretty.

Feel free to click the photos. You never know where they'll take you!



Jessica Spotswood
BORN WICKED



Brodi Ashton
EVERNEATH



Kristen Simmons
ARTICLE 5



Veronica Rossi
UNDER THE NEVER SKY



Jill Hathaway
SLIDE



Robin Mellom
DITCHED



Gretchen McNeil
POSSESS



Leanna Renee Hieber
DARKER STILL



Jodi Meadows
INCARNATE



Cole Gibsen
KATANA



Robin Bridges
THE GATHERING STORM



K.M. Walton
CRACKED



Miranda Kenneally
CATCHING JORDAN



Sarah Tregay
LOVE & LEFTOVERS



Jenny Lundquist
SEEING CINDERELLA



Megan Bostic
NEVER EIGHTEEN



Anne Nesbet
THE CABINET OF EARTHS



Sarvenaz Tash
THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST



Marissa Burt
STORYBOUND



Caroline Starr Rose
MAY B.


(COMING SOON)

Shari Arnold
MYSTIQUE

LUMINOUS!!

Today is the day I interview the fabulous Dawn Metcalf over on the Apocalypsies blog!

Her debut novel LUMINOUS is out June 30th!


And just because I think she's super cool, here is another link where she was featured as a Summer Beach Read on Seventeen.com!

YAY DAWN!

Halfway

As of last night I have reached the halfway point on my edits!

Now this may not seem like a big deal. Halfway means I'm not done, I'm halfway done.
But to me — the person who starts back at the beginning at least a zillion times before I move on — halfway means things are going to be moving a lot faster from here on out.

In all fairness I never would have reached this point without inspiration.
So. Here's some music that has gotten me through the sluggish beginning. And just in case you were wondering, you should definitely check them out.

Bon Iver

Their newest album is self titled. And it rocks!! Not in a "rock" kind of way, more like you could close your eyes and listen to it for hours while you create worlds inside your head. Go check it out!




Cloud Cult

I have been a bit obsessed with their album, Light Chasers. In fact one of the songs would work great for my book trailer...






Death Cab For Cutie

I've always been a fan. Their newest album, Codes and Keys, has one of my favorite songs so far, Monday Morning.

YAY music!!

And if you have some inspirational songs of your own feel free to share them!

Winner!

Thanks to all who entered and keep checking back in for more FREE BOOKS!

So today's winner is:

Thisbe!!

YAY!! You have won yourself an ARC of The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater!

Let us know what you think once you've read it!

Last Day!

Today is the last day you can enter to win The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.

All you have to do is add up the following:

Comment +1 entry

New Blog Follower + 1 / Old Blog Follower + 2

Tweet about contest + 2 (please tell me your twitter name or leave a link)

Blog about contest + 3 (Please leave the link in the comments)

I'm sure you all know Maggie from her Shiver series
in fact in my next contest I will be giving away the third book in that series, Forever.


Yay books!


I also wanted to share the news that I've joined Brave New Words, a new blog of YA sci-fi authors debuting in 2012!

Come check us out! We will be sharing our agent stories and "the call" stories as well featuring awesome giveaways and such.

So please spread the word!

The Truth About Editing

Now that the June birthdays have come and gone it's time to get to work.

And editing isn't easy. I have to say, I didn't expect it to be this difficult.
When I first got my letter I read through it, printed it out and then set it aside for a week or two.
I wasn't exactly ignoring it, but I just needed some space, you know, to work out a few issues and figure some things out.
The one thing I've learned from the whole revision process is that the easy fix is rarely the best fix.
As much as I'd love to just throw in a word or a sentence and say, "there, all better," it doesn't exactly work that way.
And that's why I needed some time to think.
I have a feeling this book is going to be much different than when I started. And that's a good thing.
The other thing I've learned through this process is that this is no longer just my story.
I now have an amazing editor who talks with me and brainstorms with me and encourages me to get it just right.
And that's new. Writing tends to be a rather solitary adventure.

Yay teamwork!

And the other thing that's new is that while I was working this little thought crawled up inside my mind and just sat there waiting for me to notice it.

This story is no longer just for you. Other people are going to read it soon.

At first I just ignored this thought. Isn't this what I always wanted?
Yes. Of course it is. And then it hit me, because obviously it didn't fully sink in when I got the call or signed the contract. Nope. I had to sit down and rewrite a scene for me to believe, for all of it to feel real.
My book is going to be published. My book. My words.

And soon.

So now that I have that going on, here's to rewrites and fixes and long nights of editing.

And lots and lots of chocolate.


Don't forget to enter the contest! Monday is the last day to enter!!