NEWS! (of the great persuasion)

I've been sitting on a bundle of good news for a quite a few weeks now, and today I finally got permission to spill it all.

So. Here's the spilling.

If you're a regular reader of the blog you've probably heard me talk about Cutthroat Novel once or twice. The project I started writing in October 2011 (there's even video proof: Cheating on my WIP). It was such a different story, so unlike anything I've ever seen on bookshelves, that I wasn't really sure if writing it would pay off. But, the world and the characters and their story took my heart and never really gave it back. I believed in the story so much that I even left my former agent (who didn't think she could sell it) and found new representation.

Tracey Adams at Adams Literary believed in Cutthroat Novel just as much as I did, and we sent it out into the world. With fluttering wings, hopes and hearts.

And guess what? It landed.

Alvina Ling at Little, Brown (both the editor and the company are people I've been wanting to work with for a long time!) bought THE WALLED CITY, which they're going to publish in Fall 2014. (Which means I have two books out next year!! *nervous gulp*)

But wait! That's not all! Little, Brown also bought my next two-book series! (Which I am SUPER stoked about.) And THE WALLED CITY has already been picked up by the UK with Orion Children's Books/Indigo.

Phew. That was a lot of spilling. 

You guys, I am so SO happy that I get to share THE WALLED CITY with you. It is without a doubt the book of my heart. And I'm so glad the world will get to see it!

You can read the official write up of the deal here!

You can read the official write of the UK version of the deal here! (<--I talk a little more about the project in this version. Plus my UK editor has some very nice things to say about the book!)

PS: If you're on Goodreads, you can add it here!

the wonder of ARCs

So. This happened today.

At around 6:00 I got an email from my agent telling me she'd just gotten two ARCs of ALL THAT GLOWS in the mail. So naturally, I spent the next few hours glued to the window, watching for the great brown bearer of packages that is known as the UPS truck.

When it finally pulled up, I was ready. The following scene occurred.

Me: *bursts out of the front door, arms flailing*

UPS man: *stops at the gate, uncertain*

Me: I WAS HOPING YOU'D COME TODAY! YOU HAVE A PACKAGE FOR ME!

UPS man: Um. No. No, I don't.

Me: YOU DO! YOU DO!

UPS man: This is for Ryan. *

Me: I'm Ryan.

UPS man: No you're not!

(At this point I was getting fairly nervous, because there was still a chain link fence between us, and, seeing as I acquired a leash-burn injury on my daily jog, I was confident he could outrun me. Even with a box of 15 paperback books in his hand.)

Me: No. Really. I am.

He didn't back away from the gate quickly enough, so I succeeded in acquiring the box. And giving him a signature. That quite clearly said RYAN.

I took the box inside, opened it, and THIS is what I found:

....

....

....

A lovely note from my editor.

ALL THE EMRYSes!

Aren't they gorgeous?! It feels so surreal to actually HAVE A PHYSICAL THING that embodies these last 3.5 years of work (I started writing the rough draft in March 2010). It really makes all those early morning writing sessions, rejection letters and months and months of waiting worth it!

Me & Emrys being besties.

And the inside. Oh you guys. The inside is pretty.

Even the chapter headings are pretty. Magical curly wisps abound!!

So yes. I'm happy to finally be hanging out with a real paperbound Emrys! Woot!

Do you want to hang out with her too?

They're still giving away an ARC at YA Books Central, though you'll have to hurry, since I believe the contest ends in 8 days!!





*This is not the first time in my life that people have refused to believe that my name is actually my name. Because, clearly, I am not a boy.

wolf-dog sings the song of his people.

I have done a wolf-pup post in a while. Actually, in the span between, he's graduated to wolf-dog (I suppose that's necessary once your beastie reaches 100 lbs. He's not so wee anymore). In fact, he's so tall he can put his head on my desk and breath all over my computer without any additional help.

the research of zoom.

All novels require some sort of research. Whether it's watching Youtube videos of Kate Middleton attending a gala, lugging around tomes of Civil War books or eating dumplings in Chinatown.

Latest project (Motorcycles & Tattoos), has required a bit more in depth research than most of my books. It does involve maps and tomes of a war, but by far the best research I've done so far made me go outside. In the sunlight! (Believe me, when you start spending weeks on weeks in your writer's cave, this becomes a commodity). 

Actually, it was my wonderful husband who surprised me. He's been very excited about Motorcycles & Tattoos, but has rightly insisted that I learn how to ride a motorbike. He told me we were going on a day-long date and brought me to a dirt bike course!!!

The point was to A) learn how to operate a motor-bike. B) learn how to drive said motor-bike over tumultuous terrain. I'm always up for acquiring new life skills, so I was really eager to get on and drive. 

But first I had to put on a helmet that smelled oh-so-distinctly of sweaty boys. (Blurgh). My husband patiently guided me through the kickstart and the shifting of the gears. We practiced weaving around cones in a gravel lot. And then--THEN--we tackled this:

I think it's safe to say that this map was a mixture of happy, thrill and terror. (Combined those trails are hundreds of miles!!) Even the "easy" trails looked daunting, with hills and mud and sharp turns! We tackled it bit by bit. There were a few falls. A few expletives. Many bruises. I started to feel very, very bad for my main character.

Once we tackled the easy trail we moved on to "moderate."

Haha. Moderate.

Moderate saw an exponential rise in the expletive department. (Though, fortunately, this did not correlate with the bruises). And I felt even worse for my poor MC.

Poor MC.

Though on the bright side, we did forage berries from the trail:

So, there you have it. I can now drive a dirt bike. And describe riding a motorcycle on less than pristine roads!

in which i gush about my cover

One of the most exciting things about the publishing process has been getting a cover! Usually, when I start a new project, I'm daydreaming about the cover as well! HarperTeen did such a great job capturing the feel of ALL THAT GLOWS in this beautiful image:

The mist and the elegant script and the stars (THE STARS YOU GUYS! THE STARS!!!! (I love stars)) really give the cover an ethereal feel, which is very much in line with the tone of the novel! It captures the exquisite mystery of the Fae.

And the model? You guys, she's perfect! I was really stunned when I first opened the email. My editor Alyson did SUCH a great job with the casting. She looks exactly the way I imagine Emrys: a gorgeous, fierce and fiery redhead. She still holds the mystique of a Fae too!

Plus it's pretty dang cool to see my name down there. :)

Also, there's an ARC giveaway over at YA Books Central, who so graciously hosted the original cover reveal! Go on over and enter for a special chance to read ALL THAT GLOWS before anyone else. I'll also sign it and personalize it for you too!!

my cover!!!

So this is one of those super surreal THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING author moments! The cover of ALL THAT GLOWS just went live! Go and check it out HERE.

More thoughts later! I'm running off to tweet up a storm! ;)

tomorrow, tomorrow

The cover of ALL THAT GLOWS will be released into the wild! For all to see! Keep an eye out, I'll be posting a link to the cover reveal here.

There's also a chance to win a signed and personalized ARC (advanced review copy), so you don't want to miss out!