Christine Fonseca, Author

Giveaway time - Young Adult Paranormal Activity Hop...

2012-02-23T19:00:00.000-08:00

I am so excited for today's giveaway announcement! From today through 2/28, I am participating in the Young Adult Paranormal Activity giveaway hop sponsored by I Am A Reader Not A Writer. With over 100 blogs participating, there are literally TONS of books and bookish things being given away.

For this giveaway, I thought I'd give one lucky winner Two of my favorite paranormal reads released in the past few months -

CINDER (Not strictly Paranormal, but it fits...)

AND

EVERNEATH (just finished it and LOVE it!)

Entering is easy. Just follow my blog in some way and leave a comment! Get up to two extra entries for spreading the word in some way - just let me know what you did. Easy Peasy!!! Contest ends 2/28 and is open to the US only.

Be sure to check out the rest of the hop:

WOOT!

A Bookanista Interview with TATTERED Author LK Gardner-Griffie

2012-02-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THURSDAY everyone! Welcome to another edition of Bookanista Thursday. I am EXCITED to have LK Gardner-Griffie with me today. But before I bring her interview, here's what the rest of the Bookanista's are up to:

Corrine Jackson announces Change Write Now: Round 2 signups are open
Carolina Valdez Miller adores UNDER THE NEVER SKY - with giveaway
Jen Hayley has a passion for PARTIALS
Jessica Love shares some TIME BETWEEN US cover talk
Tracy Banghart jumps for CATCHING JORDAN
Stasia Ward Kehoe contemplates middle grade series
LiLa Roecker is enthralled with THE NIGHT CIRCUS
Shelli Johannes-Wells visits with author Elle Strauss

And now, my special Bookanista interview with LK Gardner-Griffie.

About the Book:

Give me the blurb forthe book in 140 characters or less: Day in court—backstabbing friends—relationship triangles=life for Katie McCabe. Books go up in flames & Katie's world rains down in tatters.
Do you have a favcharacter and why? I always have a hard time with picking favorites, because I love most of my characters for different reasons. And it goes without saying that Katie McCabe will always have a special place in my heart, and I think she'll always be with me—even when I'm writing books that she doesn't appear in. We've been together so long it would feel wrong without her.

But if we narrow the selection to favorite new character in Tattered, then hands down it is Sunny Li. Sunny is an Asian Goth, with a quirky sense of humor, a wicked talent in murals, and underneath a hard exterior, vulnerability peeks out when you least expect it. Sunny started feeding me one-liners before I even knew who she was, and was difficult to get to know. But she had a story to tell, and was passionate about ensuring it wasn't trivialized.
What do you hopereaders will get from your book? Another tough question… An enjoyable read. A sense of connection to the characters and situations. I don't write to preach or send a message, I write to chronicle the lives of my characters. So I guess in a way it means I hope readers gain compassion and understanding for those who are different, recognition and acceptance that everyone makes mistakes, and being human means feeling a gamut of emotions.

About theAuthor:

What inspires you? There are so many things I take inspiration from. The smallest thing, which someone else overlooks, may send skyrockets off in my head. But for the grand scheme inspiration… music and nature. Music carries the passion of life in its notes, it evokes a mood which comes from the core of our being, it can make us feel triumphant, or bring us to tears. For nature, there is the vastness of the ocean, with its ebb and flow that brings a peace to my soul—where the moonlight on the waves can look like twinkling stars or bring a tear to my eye. The whisper of wind carrying secrets as the breeze rustles through leaves on a tree—it can either delight or bring melancholy. But in both music and nature, they both feed my soul and center me, allowing my imagination to take flight.
Hardest aspect ofwriting? Best? Hardest aspect=keeping the butt in the chair. And along with the physical part of sticking with the work, it is the mental aspect of keeping myself from getting distracted while working. Maintaining focus. But once I'm in the zone, the house could fall down and I'm not sure I'd notice. The best aspect of writing are those moments of surprise when the story takes an unexpected but necessary twist… and it's something YOU would never have thought of. When the characters are fully in control and telling their story in their way. It doesn't get better than that.
Who is your writinghero? I'm torn between Louisa May Alcott and Agatha Christie. Alcott because she penned a character in Jo March that still speaks to writers and inspires people to write. And Agatha Christie because of the way her mind worked and the number of books she wrote.

Randomness:

o Sweet or salty? Sweet, but not too sweet.

o Beach or mountains? I really want to say both. The beach at night and mountains during the day.

o Online or in person? I love my online friends, but love even more when I get to meet them in person.

o Ebook or print? Ebook – mainly because of my severe allergies. Ebooks don't decompose in quite the same was as print.

About theFuture:

What’s next for you? The immediate next is editing an action/adventure Middle Grade novel, which I'm very excited about. And for the Misfit McCabe series, finishing the draft of One Way Ticket Home, the fourth book in the series, and writing the fifth and final book. And I have another Middle Grade contemporary book I have notes for and an older Young Adult.
One outrageous goalfor the future? Go skydiving

If you are now as intrigued as I am about LK and her books, check out her website and get her books. Stat!

What's in your TBR pile right now?

WWO Wednesday and Finishing Edits

2012-02-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday. I hope you guys have been accomplishing your goals of late. I have been on fire. I had a nice long weekend and used it to catch up on everything from the laundry, shopping (bought three pairs - THREE PAIRS - of epic new shoes), blogging, and cleaning through my email to my manuscript edits.

That's right, I said edits. I actually did it! I FINISHED EDITS on Lacrimosa.

JUST KIDDING!!! When I first planned this post, I really did expect to be finished with edits. But...NOT EVEN CLOSE! Seriously. I have been working, working, working...and yes, they are not quite finished. Close, but not yet.

But, they MUST be in by Friday in order to meet my publication deadlines.

And no, this is going so slowly because of anything big. No, it's just my own neuroses that keep getting in the way as I poured over each and every word, each and every scenes, each and every plot thread. And yes, the neuroses is definitely born from my need to turn out the best product possible. A noble cause, yes. But turning that cause into a lesson in my OCD-ish tendencies, probably not a good thing. Oh well, it is almost done, and soon I will get a chance to see what the rest of the world thinks!

Next up, I need to write a short story (Mea Culpa), outline another, and get ready to start drafting book 2 (Libera Me) in the Requiem series. Whew, nothing like being busy.

What are you guys working on?

Oh! And Kelly Hashway featured DIES IRAE in a YA Bound spotlight yesterday. I'm also over on the Honestly YA blog talking about teen love. And finally, Katie Davis put together a fabulous podcast of the ins and outs of book promotion - and yes, I am part of that podcast. She will be visiting the blog next week for a pretty fun vlog with BOTH of us. Let's just say I am a little animated when I speak. Too animated. Be sure to come back and check it out.

And the TEN clues continue...

2012-02-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the next stop in Gretchen McNeil's ingenious hop to celebrate the release of the cover for her latest creeptastic novel, TEN. By now, you've (hopefully) gathered the clues you need to be able to enter the giveaway for a signed and annotated copy of the unbound galley of TEN. Seriously! That is an EPIC prize. And knowing Gretchen as well as I do, I bet the notes she's written on it are...well...FANTASTIC.

Before I give you my little clue, I want to give you my little tease of TEN. First, the synopsis:

And their doomcomes swiftly. It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives – threedays on Henry Island at an exclusive house party. Bestfriends Meg and Minnie each have their own reasons for wanting to be there,both of which involve Kamiak High’s most eligible bachelor, T.J. Fletcher. Butwhat starts out as a fun-filled weekend turns dark and twisted after thediscovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.
Suddenly, people are dying and the teens are cut off fromthe outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry thatisn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent andthe teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die?Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

My two cents:
I've had the chance to read TEN and let me assure, this is one of the BEST books I've read in a while. I LOVED IT!!! Murder, Mystery, Angst, Cheesy (and hilarious) nods to the whole teen-cult-murder-mystery genre....
Oh yea, this book has it ALL. Trust me , you HAVE to read this book!

Now, the clue...

KENNY

That's it!
Tomorrow, head on over to Kimberly Sabatini's blog for her clue. You need all ten clues in order to enter the giveaway. Miss any of them? Hop on over to Gretchen's blog for all of the stops.

GOOD LUCK!

A Special Monday Edition of Tip Tuesday with Krissi Dallas

2012-02-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, yes, I know it is Monday, not Tuesday. But I have a special post all set for tomorrow so I thought I'd doing Tip Tuesday on Monday. LOL!

Today I am joined by talented author and teacher, Krissi Dallas. She is the author of WINDCHASER and WINDFALL - the first two books in the young adult fantasy Phantom Island series that just released nationally in December. The third installment, WATERCROSSING, will be released in the Spring. Like her fictional heroine, Krissi is also a gray-eyed Aerodorian from Texas with a ridiculous fish phobia. (Not sure what a Aerodorian is? Read her books to find out!) Krissi teaches junior high Advanced English and Language Arts and enjoys hanging out with her husband, Sam, the teens at Fusion Student Ministries, and her two wicked Yorkies. Her life is currently overrun with teenagers and she likes it that way. For more info, check out her website at www.KrissiDallas.com In the meantime, check out her fabulous post and POV and writing. Take it away Krissi:

Stick to the Point(of View, that is)

If you were a middle school student sitting in my classdiscussing literary terms, I would start off with a question like: “What is‘point of view’ in a story?” You would probably then say something like, “howthe story is told” or “who tells the story.” And you wouldn’t be quite right,but you’d be better than the kid who, when asked what a ‘protagonist’ was,said, “Ooh, ooh! I know! That’s the character who waits until the last minuteto do everything!” (No, sweetie, that’s a procrastinator.But good try.) We would then seek to better define the concept together in ournotes and I’d go with this one...

Point of View – the perspectivefrom which a story is told

I’m assuming that those of you reading this already know thedifferent points of view a story can be told in; however, please humor me asthe teacher in me needs to make sure I’m clear. Though there are many subcategoriesof POV, I’ll stick with our major ones being 1^st person (participantpoint of view, using first person pronouns—I, me, my, etc.), 3^rdperson limited (non-participant point of view, using third person pronouns—he,she, they, etc.—limiting the inner thoughts and experiences to one or a fewmain characters), and 3^rd person omniscient (entering the minds andexperiences of all characters). I never formally teach 2^nd personPOV in class, but am rethinking that now that I recently met Charles Benoit,author of You, a YA novel toldcompletely and uniquely in 2^nd person…all because his wife dared himto do it (Check it out! He’s fabulous.)

But, really…choosing the right point of view for the novelyou’re writing is an important first step. I’ve noticed that writers (myselfincluded) tend to classify themselves into one category of POV writing. I thinkof myself as a 1^st person POV writer—and my Phantom Island series istold in 1^st person through Whitnee’s eyes. To be honest, I foundthat writing Whitnee was almost like writing myself. So 1^st personin her voice (which is often like MY voice) came very easily. I never imaginedI’d want to write in any other point of view…until I got the Shiny New NovelIdea. And as I considered the dynamics of writing the Shiny New Novel, I knew Iwanted some secrets revealed to my readers before one of my main charactersknew about them. I wanted to cast light and shadows in the plot in such a waythat I would have to be free to leave characters at specific times. Not onlythat, but in Shiny New Novel, my characters have less of ME in them. Maybe thataccounted for this need to tell the story from an outside narration. Whateverthe case, if I stayed in 1^st person POV, I’d be confined to onecharacter’s experiences and perceptions OR have to try switching 1^stperson POV constantly among characters. Nope. The Shiny New Novel Idea is soenticing to me that I have now forsaken my comfort zone and am attempting anovel in 3^rd person. EEK.

I’ve heard nightmare stories of writers who went back andrewrote an ENTIRE NOVEL in a new point of view, because they realized what theystarted with didn’t work for the story they wanted to tell. So how can we avoidthat? My advanced students and I threw around some thoughts in our classdiscussion that you might consider (especially if you write YA)…

1^st PersonPOV

Positives:

--The art of writing suspense is really easy with 1^stPOV, because the character is limited to what they can know or observe. Thismeans Unknown Plot Forces can be brewing and more easily surprise thecharacter, and thus the reader too.

--You can have a LOT of fun with voice in 1^stperson. Your MC is telling the story, so they get their own unique voice andtone. (Or you can lean at times on your OWN voice, which some of us unknowinglydo in our first projects.)

--Your reader gets to really know and understand your MC andwe all know that when a reader makes a connection with a character, the storywill resonate strongly with them.

Warnings:

--You are limited to only tell what your MC can observe andexperience. This makes it super important to write a main character that can carryan entire story. That MC has to be where the action is and the world of thestory must usually revolve in some way around them.

--You have to be careful not to have your MC “notice” toomany obvious things without connecting the dots with the reader. This is whenMCs lose credibility with their readers because the reader saw something in theplot that the MC should have seen too, but didn’t… even though the MC narratedthe observations.

--You have to write in a voice that will not “get old” orannoying in the telling. I’ve heard the complaint that 1^st personnarrators can come across arrogant or self-centered. Well… this is somewhattrue...in a way. They are the MC because they ARE in the center of what’shappening. But if they’re not really a self-centered person, be careful how youwrite their voice.

What My Students Say- “I like 1^st person POVbooks because…

“…it gives me a point of reference for what’s happening. Idon’t have to get confused by character names or who’s talking in the scene.”

“…it lets me see other characters through a real person’seyes-the same way I might see them in my own mind. It makes the minorcharacters seem more real. Not the way an objective narrator wants me to seethem.”

“…I always feel closer to the main character when they tellme their story. It’s like making a friend and hearing about their life.”

3^rd PersonPOV

Positives:

--You definitely have more freedom to explore other places,people, and circumstances that your MC does not get to see.

--You can have multiple MCs that open up new perspectivesthroughout the plot.

--It’s a lot easier to jump through, in, and around time asyou please. The sequence of events can be told in any order you think willbenefit the storytelling.

Warnings:

--Sometimes you sacrifice suspense in order to tell a biggerstory – this is usually seen more in 3^rd person omniscient POVs.

--The story can feel more about the plot than thecharacters, sacrificing someone’s ability to get truly close to one or twocharacters.

--If not written carefully, sometimes readers can feel asdisconnected from the story as the fly on the wall who is narrating it.

What My Students Say- “I like 3^rd person POVbooks because…”

“…I like getting points of view from different characters andseeing the conflicts from all angles.”

“…I like experiencing what’s happening through the personit’s happening to, not through a main character who is trying to describe to mewhat other characters are going through.”

Overall, in YA fiction, my students are openly more drawn to1^st person POV right now. That being said, I say choose the POV thatwill make for the best storytelling. You know your story, you know yourcharacters, and hopefully you know at least a general structure of the plotoutline you’re following. Use those details, along with a self-assessment ofyour writing strengths, and then go with the POV that you think will work best.However, don’t be afraid to branch out and try a new POV style than just whatyou’ve “always” done. I’m finding it strangely freeing to try 3^rdperson POV in the Shiny New Novel Idea… Maybe one day I’ll even venture outinto different tenses…Ha. One step at a time, Dallas.

Now it’s your turn. If you’re a reader or a writer, whatpoint of view do you prefer and why? What positives or warnings would you addto these lists?

Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop

2012-02-16T17:46:00.000-08:00

***GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED. CONGRATS TO KIMBERLY R***

I am so excited for today's giveaway announcement! From today through 2/21, I am participating in the Random Acts of Kindness giveaway hop sponsored by I Am A Reader Not A Writer. With over 150 blogs participating, there are literally TONS of books and bookish things being given away.

For this giveaway, I thought I'd give one lucky winner ONE copy of a YA title of their choice. Yep, YOUR CHOICE. And, in sticking with the theme, I will donate the SAME title to the library of the winner's choice too. WOO HOO!!! Oh, and of course, I will also be adding a copy of my newest release, DIES IRAE to the winner's prize too. Such fun! LOVE doing giveaway!

Entering is easy. Just follow my blog in some way and leave a comment! Easy Peasy!!! Contest ends 2/21 and is open to the US only.

For more giveaway fun, check out the other blogs participating in the hop:

Way to have some fun...Yes???

Bookanista Booyah for The Secret of Spruce Knoll

2012-02-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THURSDAY everyone! Welcome to another edition of Bookanista Thursday. I am EXCITED for today's review of THE SECRET OF SPRUCE KNOLL. But before I bring my review, check out what the other Bookanistas are up to:

Christine Fonseca surrenders to THE SECRET OF SPRUCE KNOLL

Corrine Jackson delights in CHOPSTICKS

Stasia Ward Kehoe presents a Stunning Seconds interview with A MILLION SUNS author Beth Revis

Jen Hayley gives a shout-out to the classics

Debra Driza celebrates CINDER – with giveaway!

Katy Upperman raves over JELLICOE ROAD

Hilary Wagner is all about LEXAPROS AND CONS – with giveaway

Carolina Valdez Miller talks about the tremendous cover of TEN

Jessica Love has high ratings for THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

On to my Bookanista shout out for THE SECRET OF SPRUCE KNOLL by Heather McCorkle

Release Date: 8/3/2011

Basic Blurb: (from Amazon)

It's hard enough being a teenager under normal circumstances; imagine being orphaned, sent to live with an unfamiliar aunt-and learning that there really is magic in the world. Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with her aunt. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with so-called "channelers"-a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands.
Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they-and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Now, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charming tricks show her being a channeler isn't all bad; in fact, it's kind of cool. But is it Aiden's abilities or Aiden's looks that Eren finds so fascinating?
As Eren and Aiden's relationship blooms, so too does a mystery in Spruce Knoll. The town holds many secrets-and many enemies. It soon becomes apparent that the untimely death of Eren's parents was no accident and that her life might be in danger, too. Only time will tell if young, inexperienced Eren has the power to protect the people she has come to love.

Why I liked it: I really like this story. I sort of came to the series in a backwards manner, reading BORN OF FIRE and another Channeler short before finally reading this novel. I was hooked into the world and premise walking in; but it was the characters that kept me hooked. From the first page to the last, I found the character development strong. These are real, flawed, people working through issues that we can all relate to.
Add to that beautiful setting descriptions and a rich emotional context and you have the recipe for a fabulous story. I am so excited to read the next book in the series, CHANNELER'S CHOICE.
Great job Heather!

What are you reading these days?

WWO Wednesday: Jumping into Edits

2012-02-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday. I hope you guys have been accomplishing your goals of late. Me, not so much. I seemed to have hit a wall last week, and have been slow to recover. Fortunately, I got my final edits back on LACRIMOSA and they are not that bad (whew!). So, my focus this week is edits. Nothing but edits. My publisher is including the first chapter as a special preview in a digital book being published next week, so I have to get the polished up chapter to them ASAP.
Good thing edits are probably my favorite part of the process. I've been through this particular manuscript so often, I could likely quote every line/ every page. But that is how it is by this point. My goal is to have this turned in my the weekend in order to make the tight turn around we have on the novel.

Then it is time to draft. My hardest thing. I always go through a sort of mini panic attack when I need to begin a new project. It's silly, really. But something about the blank page -- the uncharted waters-- always gives me pause.

Oh well, there is nothing I can do but jump in with both feet. Guess it's time to bug my CPs and have them torture me a bit to get me started. LOL!

What have you guys been working on?

Be sure to check out my crazy video on Elana's blog today. And yes, this is exactly how we talk - pretty much every day!

Oh, and I almost forgot to share more good news....

COMPASS PRESS is releasing a PRINT VERSION of DIES IRAE, along with two Channeler Series shorts (including Born of Fire) by Heather McCorkle.

So for those of you who have been itchy for a print version of the novella, it's on its way! Release is set for March, just in time for LACRIMOSA and some other EPIC surprises, including Goodreads giveaways! While I am waiting for the giveaways to get started, go add the special edition BORN OF FIRE/DIES IRAE to your goodreads list!

WOO HOO, what a month!

A Valentine's Kiss

2012-02-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. I thought that I'd share a little snippet of my writing today, something I haven't done in a while. Since it is Valentine's day, a kissing scene seemed in order. So here you go, a little smooching from DIES IRAE:

Our lips touch for a briefmoment. She pulls back and the distance is unbearable. I lean in, wrapping myarms around her waist. I brush my lips against her cheek, her jaw. Releasing asmall moan, she gives into me. Our lips meet and we are at once lost to amoment that should never be.

Time ceases to have meaning.Our kiss explodes into a million pieces, our lives irrevocably changed.

A heart beat passes, andanother, before the kiss ends.

Demi pulls away, slowly openingher eyes. There is no joy, no passion, no peace in her expression.

Only pain.

Regret.

~ Pg 39, DIES IRAE

There you go, a little romance for today. What are some of your FAVORITE smooching/romance scenes?

And don't forget to check out my tour stops today. Click on the blog tour tab for more information.

Exciting News on the Nonfiction Front...

2012-02-13T03:00:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I promised some exciting news this week. And today, I will be sharing some...

But first, I want to let you know about this week - the last week - on the tour:

Michelle from Book Briefs gave her review of DIES IRAE late yesterday
Nisa Swineford is featuring an interview with me all week
Danyelle Leafty is interviewing me and Kathleen Doyle is hosting a guest post from me about love in YA books on 2/14
Elana Johnson and I share a crazy convo over on her blog on 2/15
Kristen Yard conducts on last interview on 2/16
And Ali Cross and I end the tour with a crazy character video between Mikayel and BECOME's Desi. Yea, crazy!

I hope you've enjoyed the tour overall. Be sure to check the left sidebar for any remaining giveaways this week.

I am just starting to prepare for LACRIMOSA's tour - and trust me, I have some MASSIVE fun planned. If you want to be part of the mayheim, click here and complete the form.

Okay - time for the news:

Prufrock Press is publishing my third nonfiction book, entitled:

REDEFINING NORMAL: A Girl's Guide to Embracing Her Identity and Realizing Her Potential

It's current scheduled to be out in Fall 2013. WOOT!!! So excited for this one to hit the shelves. For more information about that book, or to participate in the some of the research for that book, check out today's post on my other blog.

And be sure to come back throughout the week for more exciting news, giveaways and more. WOOT!!!

Serenity Sunday

2012-02-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday. I hope your weekend is going well. I decided to step away for a day yesterday, and WOW...it was fabulous. I stayed in my PJs pretty much all day. ALL DAY! Just what I needed.

The tour is still going strong. Friday, Laura Diamond shared her review of DIES IRAE. Saturday, I stopped by her blog and shared my opinion about writing novellas vs writing novels. And today, Book Blogger Michelle from Book Briefs hosts a stop, with a review and a guest post.

The tour finishes up this week with crazy stops at Elana Johnson's blog, Ali Cross's blog and many others.

In addition to the tour stops, I have some exciting blog posts including not one...BUT TWO special announcements (Monday and Friday), some "love" for Valentine's day and other things! I hope to see you all week!

Oh! And today is my day to post on the Downtown YA blog. My topic - getting into your characters. Stop by and say hi!

Fabulous Friday!

2012-02-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy FRIDAY!!! I don't know about you, but this has been a CRAZY week. Here are my tour stops for today (and there are many!):

C. Michelle Jefferies is hosting a guest post about book promotion.
Katrina Lantz is hosting a guest post wherein I talk about the elements of Gothic and Thriller genres.
Matthew MacNish hosts a guest post about my transition from nonfiction to fiction.

I hope to see you guys on the tour. There are still various giveaways, as well as reviews popping up. It is a fun/interesting/exciting ride!

Since we are talking about tours, I've decided to do something WILD AND CRAZY....and EXCITING for the tour for LACRIMOSA. If you think you may want to:
a) participate in the tour, or
b) review the book
click on this link and complete the form.

As soon as the tour for DIES IRAE finishes next week, I will be sending info regarding e-arcs, the tour, the crazy fun, etc...

EEP!!!

In the meantime, what plans do you have this weekend? Me, I am hopefully writing.

Hopefully.

Bookanista Love for A MILLION SUNS

2012-02-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THURSDAY everyone! Welcome to another edition of Bookanista Thursday. I am EXCITED to talk about Beth Revis' A MILLION SUNS today. But before I bring her interview, it's also Day 9 of my blog tour, and I will be hanging out with Bonnie Harris today.

Check it out. And also, check out what the other Bookanistas are up to:

Christine Fonseca takes a shine to A MILLION SUNS

Carolina Valdez Miller falls for FRACTURE

Jen Hayley surrenders to THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED

Stasia Ward Kehoe is dazzled by DARK COMPANION

Nikki Katz wonders at THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

Debra Driza is overwhelmed by UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Jessica Love gives a trophy to BEAUTY QUEENS

Shelli Johannes-Wells takes you on a tour of The Reading Room

Tracy Banghart has double-love for THE SILVER PHOENIX and FURY OF THE PHOENIX

Hilary Wagner is in the grips of THE GATHERING STORM

On to my Bookanista Shout out for A MILLION SUNS by Beth Revis

Release Date: 1/10/2012

Basic Blurb: (from Amazon)

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.
It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.
But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.
In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

Why I liked it:

WOW! This book is easily one of my favorites! This is one of those rare occasions when the sequel SURPASSES the original! Revis has really found her stride in this series with this latest book. Packed with adventure, mystery and a building sense of doom, I found myself unable to put the book down! When I eventually did have to stop reading (you know, for work...or food...or life...) I found myself thinking and thinking and thinking about it. LOVE IT when that happens. Can not wait for more from Ms. Revis!!!

What are you reading these days?

Wild Wednesday

2012-02-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Weds. I can not believe Dies Irae has been out for a week. HOLY COW!!! Surreal.

Today I am hanging out with the FABULOUS Stina Lindenblatt talking about using setting in your stories. WOOT!

Tonight I am presenting a webinar related to giftedness for UCI - very exciting. And yes, I have some VERY EXCITING news to share...soon. Hopefully really soon!

In the meantime, I really need to get writing. Like...this weekend....

What have you guys been up to?

Truthfully Tuesday

2012-02-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday. It's been a while since I did a Truthful Tuesday post, and after a few things yesterday, I thought it fitting. But before I get to that, here is the scoop on my spots for the blog tour -

Melanie McCullough hosts my top five random things about me
Angela Brown hosts a guest post about writing what you know.

And, congrats to NATALIE AGUIRRE - she one a copy of my ebook. WOOT!

Okay, now, my truth...

Yesterday I got a horrible review. And yes, it sort of hurt. I know, I know - we aren't supposed to talk about these things. We aren't supposed to read our reviews - aren't supposed to "care".

But yea, I am always wondering WHY NOT? I don't mean we should bash ANYONE for being HONEST in their feelings about our books - we should welcome it. But, to not admit that it hurts to get a lukewarm review, or that a little part of us dies for a moment when we read a crushing review....
well, that's just silly. Of course it hurts. A lot.

But, it's the nature of this business. We will get rejected - by agent, by publishers, by our readers. Writing - and reading - is subjective by nature. There will be plenty of people who don't get, or don't like, what we were trying to accomplish. And that's fine.

In truth, I knew the less-than-favorable review was coming. And part of me was glad - it lends credibility to everything. Some people will like my work, some people will not. I knew, too, that the genre of the novella itself would be problematic for many. And it is. Am I mad about it? No, actually. Just disappointed that I let a few readers down. Will it keep me from reading my reviews? No. I actually find value in the reviews, the feedback.

So, how should I react. Honestly. It hurts. That's normal. But after the pain, it's time to move on. Period. Like Elana Johnson said in one of her posts, reviews are for READERS, not writers. And like Lisa Schroeder said in a similar post, it is NOT the reader's job to supply emotional feedback to the author. In other words, read the review - or don't. Acknowledge the sting of a review, because that is honest. Beyond that, let it go and write something new. At least, that is what I am doing.

What do you think? How do you (or would you) handle the less than favorable review?

Monday Musings - To Unplug or Not to Unplug (and a little giveaway)

2012-02-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the end of the first full week of the blog tour for DIES IRAE. Before I get into today's post about unplugging, I wanted to tell you where I'm stopping today -

Supagurl Books hosts my top five movies (and gives a review of DIES IRAE)
Rebecca Enzor hosts a guest post about the inspiration behind DIES IRAE.

Now, back to my Monday musings -
Way back on January 1, I made a decision to take the first full week of every month OFF of blogging. I had been dealing with a lot of angst brought on by just too much to do - transitioning to a new job, writing the series, more sekrit projects I can not yet announce, family obligations, etc, etc. So, one week a month I would take off, get caught up on writing and just veg. Of course, this grand plan was BEFORE my release date moved up for DIES IRAE. Now, I am not sure what to do - how to take off the week and still promote the tour.

After staying offline for most of the weekend, I came to a decision to just post links about the tour, and maybe a few other surprises.

Like Today - I am doing a random giveaway for one copy of DIES IRAE, here on THIS blog. Just leave a comment answering the following question:
HOW OFTEN DO YOU UNPLUG?

That's it. Contest closes at midnight.

Oh! And I'm making an impromptu stop on Lisa A's blog today - and she is reviewing DIES IRAE too. Eep!

Super Bowl Sunday, and the Tour...

2012-02-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Superbowl Sunday. I hope today finds you all having fun with family and friends - and maybe even watching the game. I know I am! But, I am also on tour at the following stops:

Eric Stallsworth is hosting a guest post about my feelings about writing a series - Especially one I never planned.
BE Sanderson is hosting a guest post about my thoughts on STRESS and writing. Okay, really it is about coming face-to-face with quitting and making the choice to keep at it.

I hope to see you around the blogosphere today. Later this week promises some fun posts and updates. I had originally planned on taking the week off in order to stick with my New Year's resolution of taking off one week a month. But with the tour and all, I am still doing a couple of posts!

Anyway, have a great one today. And, BTW - who are YOU rooting for?

2012-02-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Sat. I hope to see you along the tour today! Here are my stops for today:

Artist Nata Romeo is hosting an interview and hopefully sharing her thoughts about DIES IRAE
Simon C Larter is sharing another interview with some more fabu questions.

In the meantime, what plans do you have this weekend? Me, I am working. Remember how I mentioned the new job. Yea, well I am still quasi working two jobs as I transition. So the workload is endless. I will, however, be spending some quality time with the family and cooking for a Superbowl party!

Teen Talk Friday - Author Events

2012-02-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

Since I am in the middle of my Blog Tour for DIES IRAE, I thought we would talk with the teens about author events. But before I get to that, here are my stops for today:

Gretchen McNeil with one of my fav interviews (she asked some fun questions)
Jen Merrill with my thoughts about writing for GT (gifted) teens.

Now, back to Teen Talk Friday - I go to a lot of events - book signings, author chats, launch parties. And most of the time they are attended by a ton of writerly peeps and a few teens. Given that most of these events are for my YA author friends, I am also wondering how to get more teens to come to the events.

So, I decided to ask my teen group what kinds of things THEY like to attend, and what will make them more likely to attend.

Here are some of the things they had to say:

"I love going to book signings, but most of the time they are during the week and I am swamped with school and work."
"I like signings with multiple authors at book stores or places where I can get the book right there."
"I really don't go to signings. But I like it when authors come to my school."

When I asked about virtual events - blog tours, twitter thingys, scavenger hunts, etc, this is what they said

"I never do blog tours, or whatever. I go to live events. And sometimes I do the scavenger hunt things. I do love fb, so when there are things related to fb, I do them."
"Yea, I am the same. I am online -youtube, FB, sometimes twitter. But I don't really follow authors' blogs and such."
"I actually do read author blogs. I never comment, but I like hearing about events and stuff. Of course, I want to write novels, too...so that may be why."

There you have it. I am going deeper into the social media part next week, so be on the look out for that.

AND...I have asked my girls to round up a few more guys to have a "part 2" post about covers, from the male POV.

Have a great weekend all, and be sure to check out the myriad of giveaways going around for DIES IRAE. And if you've read the book, I would love to hear your thoughts.

A Bookanista Interview with Denise Grover Swank

2012-02-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THURSDAY everyone! Welcome to another edition of Bookanista Thursday. I am EXCITED to have Denise Grover Swank with me today. But before I bring her interview, it's also Day 2 of my blog tour, and I will be in three fabulously places today -

Nicole Zoltack hosts a guest post about the courage to create (and my personal creative philosophy)
LK Gardner-Griffie hosts a guest post about embracing the shadow in your writing
and Bookanista Stasia Ward Kehoe is hosting a fabulous interview.

Check it out. And also, check out what the other Bookanistas are up to:

Christine Fonseca interviews author Denise Grover Swank

Jessi Kirby and Jen Hayley are wowed by WANDERLOVE

Corrine Jackson is mesmerized by MAY B.

Stasia Ward Kehoe interviews DIES IRAE author Christine Fonseca

Debra Driza is entranced by HEMLOCK

Katy Upperman delves into THE DISENCHANTMENTS

Nikki Katz celebrates CINDER

Tracy Banghart marvels at JULIET IMMORTAL

Jessica Love spotlights SHINE

Gennifer Albin spreads some love for the trailer for STARTER

And now, my special Bookanista interview with Denise Grover Swank. First, a little about Denise:

BIO: Denise Grover Swanklives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri and has two previously published, award winningbooks—Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes, a humorous southern mystery and Chosen,an urban fantasy. Denise is the single mother of six children ranging in agefrom four to twenty-four. Her fourteen-year-old daughter is quick to point outwhat she gets wrong about teenage behavior in her books—and what she getsright.

Website link: www.denisegroverswank.com

Twitter: @DeniseMSwank

Facebook: DeniseGrover Swank

And a little about her YA title, HERE:

Blurb: Sixteen year old JuliaPhillips buries herself in guilt after killing her best friend Monica in a caraccident. Julia awoke in the hospital with a broken leg, a new talent fordrawing and false memories of the accident, in which she dies and Monica lives.The doctors attribute this to her head injury, but no one can explain how abracelet engraved with her name ended up at the scene of the accident. Abracelet no one has ever seen before.

Classmate Evan Whittaker paid Julia no attention before the accident, let aloneafter. Now suddenly he’s volunteering to tutor her and offering to drive herhome. She can't ignore that his new obsession started after his two-daydisappearance last week and that he wears a pendant she’s been drawing formonths. When the police show up one night looking for Evan, he begs Julia torun with him, convincing her that Monica is still alive. Julia agrees to go,never guessing where he’s really from.

And now, my interview with the amazing Denise Grover Swank -

About the Book:

Give me the blurb forthe book in 140 characters or less: - Julia lives with the guilt of killing her bestfriend, until she falls for a boy who says her friend is still alive – inanother universe.
Do you have a favcharacter and why? - Julia. I love watching her growth throughout the book.
What do you hopereaders will get from your book? - I hope that my characters feel Julia's painand hopelessness as the book starts but see that there's always hope, even whencircumstances seem impossibly dire.

About theAuthor:

What inspires you? - Everything. Book,movies, TV shows, music, my children, current events. Sometimes it's like mybrain is a sieve that filters out everything going in to pick out afew things to use here and there.
Hardest aspect ofwriting? Best? - I think the hardest part of writing is writing even when youdon't feel inspired. But sometimes once I get started, an idea will pop into myhead and re-inspire me. The best part is creating magic, because when Iwrite a book and it all falls into place, it's like magic.
Who is your writinghero? - Wow,I don't have just one and it depends on my current writing situation.
Randomness:

o Sweet or salty? - Salty

o Beach or mountains? - Beach

o Online or in person? - Online

o Ebook or print? - I used to be print but I've been switchingmore and more to ebooks

About theFuture:

What’s next for you? - I'm finishing an editof Sacrifice, the third book in my urban fantasy The Chosen series. ThenI'll write Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons, the second book in my humoroussouthern mystery series. And then I'll write THERE, the second book in the Onthe Otherside series.
One outrageous goalfor the future? - To make a living writing books. I used to think it wasoutrageous. Now it seems obtainable.

If you are now as intrigued as I am about Denise and her books, check out Amazon and Barnes and Noble and start reading :D

What are you reading these days?

Launch Day Party!

2012-02-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

IT'S HERE! The official Launch Day for DIES IRAE. Yes, the book showed up in the wild early, but the official Blog Tour starts today with stops at Michelle McLean's blog and Heather McCorkle's blog. Check out the posts and learn a little about me and my angels. The entire tour features everything from the things that inspired the story, to who I would cast as the characters if it were a movie. Most of the stops include giveaways and other special things, so be sure to check it all out. I will post where I am every day, but in case you want to see the whole schedule - just click on the BLOG TOUR tab above.

Oh! And Ali Cross and Elana Johnson surprised me with their own Book Birthday posts featuring major giveaways for the book. Check it out!

While you guys are checking out the tour, I am madly finishing up edits on the novel and writing the rest of the story. I am pounding out a "special" treat for you guys (Yep, it's a sekrit....sorry), and working on book 2 in the series (due out later this year...YIKES!). Oh, and with luck, I'll be able to share some other sweet things in a few weeks. Man I LOVE 2012!

What are you all working on?

Oh! And join Ali Cross and I, with host Tiffany Mahaffy, for a fun twitter chat on #YABookChat at 9pm (EST) today. WOOT!

Tip Tuesday - The Night Before My Launch

2012-01-31T03:00:00.000-08:00

Wow, I really can't believe this day is here - the eve of the official launch day for my first venture into fiction. I should warn you, this post may be a little personal, and I may actually be typing it through tears. But I just wanted to share a little bit about this journey to all of you.

I always thought my first published works would be fiction. That was back when I was naive about how hard it can be to break into this industry. After attempting to get an agent with my first books, I switched gears and jumped into nonfiction, my other passion. The process was smooth in many respects, and I quickly found both an agent and a book deal. And then another. Within a couple of years, I had two books on the shelves and a bright speaking career.

But, I still had made little to no headway with my first passion - writing fiction. While I was busy breaking into nonfiction, I wrote an angel-demon story and queried it. The response was great. But not great enough. So, after a year of querying and coming VERY CLOSE with a small press, I decided to shelve the book.

Over the next year, I lived on a roller coaster. I published my second nonfiction book, had two additional nonfiction books get passed over in acquisitions, and parted ways with my agent. In my personal life, I got seriously ill, went through a fatal round of cancer with my mom, and struggled to find balance at work.

Shortly after my mom passed away, I wrote what I thought was my best work. I edited it, and queried it. For months. And like the novel before, I came very very close. But, I did not find an agent.

In a moment of desperation, I seriously considered quitting. More than once, actually. Many of you who followed this blog during that time know how much I struggled.

An then the miraculous happened. I fell into a book deal that has changed everything, breathing life into what I thought was a dead fiction career. In addition, I got a promotion at work, started several exciting new projects related to my nonfiction, and lost much of the weight that was literally holding me down.

Interesting how life turns, isn't it?

And now, on the eve of my fiction career becoming more than just an idea, I find myself humbled and thankful for the journey, with all its twists and turns. I have a long way to go before I'll achieve what I have set out to achieve. But I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to connect to readers with my fiction. And I am thankful for the reactions it is getting thus far.

What's next? Um...breathing. In and Out. Every day.

I'm Proud To Announce...

2012-01-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

The RELAUNCH of my other blog, An Intense Life. Dedicated to the world of gifted children, their social and emotional development, education, and life in general, this blog is one of my favorite endeavors. However, with my current busyness, there was no way I could maintain that blog.

Enter my crazy idea to bring on more contributors. I approached a few of the organizations I belong to and voila...I now have the most amazing group of contributors adding their unique view of giftedness and issues facing gifted adults and teens.

Today marks the official relaunch of that blog. Hope on over and check it out. I've posted a nice post introducing my new contributors and a little about the schedule.

I am so excited!

On the Chain: Evoking Emotions

2012-01-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

It's Blog Chain time again, and this time the topic comes from Kate who asked the following:

Post pictures, songs, movie clips, poems, or novel excerpts that make you feel. Feel what, you ask? Feel anything. Happy. Sad. Angry. Nostalgic. Hopeful. Hopeless. Jealous. Joyful.

When I first read this post, I thought "Hmm, no problem. I get emotional about everything. It comes with being intense." And then I thought, "Oh man, I get emotional about EVERYTHING! How on earth am I going to streamline my thoughts into a coherent post. Yikes!"

I never did come to a decision on how I was going to streamline my thoughts. See, I approach the world from a very intense place. This poem sums it up best:

Thetruly creative mind in any field is no more than this:

Ahuman creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive.
To him...
a touch is a blow,
a sound is a noise,
a misfortune is a tragedy,
a joy is an ecstasy,
a friend is a lover,
a lover is a god,
and failure is death.

– Pearl Buck

As a result of my intensities, everything elicits some kind of emotional response inside. Writing has enabled me to harness that emotional response and funnel it into something more creative.

But, back to the question. Given that I am inspired and emotional just by getting up most mornings, I thought I would focus this question into the things that inspired the emotions behind DIES IRAE and the Requiem Series.

It started with Mozart's LACRIMOSA from Requiem.

This particular video encapsulates the original emotions I was working through with the series, and it is still my "go-to" song when I need to "find" the voice of the series. This section of the Requiem Mass inspired everything that followed, including the decision to title each of the stories based on the section of the mass it represented.

Next, some pictures that inspired the story of DIES IRAE, the prequel novella to the series:

Each one of these images (which are in my trailer for the series) inspired some aspect of the emotional content of the story.

And finally, the opening quote from DIES IRAE that focused the storyline for me:

“Day of wrath! O day of mourning!

See fulfilled the prophets' warning,

Heaven and earth in ashes burning!”

~DIES IRAE, Requiem Mass

English Translation by William Josiah Irons (1849)

So, there you go. Some of the things that evoke the emotions of my writing. Each story I write, each concept I approach has its own music and pictures that help me harness my emotional self and pour it onto the page.

What inspires your emotions?
For more from us, check out Jon's post from yesterday, and Abby's post tomorrow.

I Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Post....

2012-01-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have this FABULOUS Teen Talk Friday post about social networking and Teens. Sadly, it just wasn't finished in time to post it today. I have just been too insanely busy with events, real life, everything (see Monday's post for more on that...)

So, I preempted the unfinished post and decided to let you all know that DIES IRAE is up and available on Amazon.
I also found it up on Barnes and Noble.

WOOT! I am sort of in shock right now, as my real life and my writerly life collide via fiction. Somehow this is much more surreal than my experience with nonfiction....

Surreal!

Have a great weekend. I'll be back next week with my regular features, the start of the tour for Dies Irae and hopefully some actual progress with Book 2. What are you guys planning for the weekend or next week?

A Special Guestanista Review of Sprinkles and Secrets

2012-01-26T03:00:00.001-08:00

HAPPY THURSDAY everyone! Today, Erika (age 11) returns with her review of Lisa Schroeder's SPRINKLE AND SECRETS. But before we get to that, I wanted to give a quick WOOT to Elana Johnson and her NEW, PRETTY covers for the POSSESSION Series.

Just check this out:

The new cover for POSSESSION

The new cover for SURRENDER

What do you think?

Now, check out what the other Bookanista's have on tap:

Christine Fonseca brings you a special Guestanista review of SPRINKLES AND SECRETS

Shannon Messenger delights in DEAD TO YOU – with giveaway

Beth Revis interviews TEMPEST author Julie Cross – with giveaway

Jessi Kirby takes a shine to the SURRENDER and new POSSESSSION covers

Stasia Ward Kehoe adores IN HONOR

Jen Hayley gushes over THE GIRL WHO LOVED A CITY

Veronica Rossi is crazy for INCARNATE

Nikki Katz marvels at A MILLION SUNS

Gennifer Albin is on fire over CINDER

Tracy Banghart is all about THE OTHER LIFE

Jessica Love wonders at THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

Hilary Wagner mourns over THE DEATH OF YORIK MORTWELL -- with giveaway

On to my special Guestanista Review for SPRINKLES AND SECRETS. Take it away Erika:

SPRINKLES AND SECRETS by Lisa Schroeder is an amazing book and a great sequel to IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES. Told from a new prospective, it fills readers in on Sophie's thoughts, dreams and goals. Sophie is faced with a major dilemma that will either ruin her career or her friendship...or both. With help from new friends, and a little bit of humor along the way, she manages to keep it together. In addition to Sophie's happenings, the book answers the question that hung in the air after the first book--Did Isabelle win the contest? I just loved this book and I can't wait for the next one...there is a next one, right? There had better be...or I will be so sad. This book realy deserves another SWEET sequel (with a cherry on top!)
As Always,Erika!

Thanks for you great review Erika! She will be back with her take on another sequel in a few weeks.

Until then, what are you reading lately?

Oh! One more thing - I am over on the Pots N Pens blog talking about my favorite things. Food and writing. Check it out and see exactly what meal I would serve for some of my characters.

See you next time...

What are you reading these days?

WWO: The DIES IRAE Blog Tour

2012-01-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy WWO Wednesday! I can't believe the day is almost here - the beginnings of the blog tour and official launch of DIES IRAE. I have been honored, humbled, thrilled with the early response as the book has begun to find its way into the world. Here are a few of the comments from Goodreads:

"Dies Irae is a fast paced story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Once you set your eyes on this book you will find it very and I mean very difficult to walk away from. It overflows with emotion: love, anger, and lust."

"Ho. ly. wow. Talk about a whirlwind of emotions. This is just a taste (novella) of the series to come and I cannot wait to read the rest. It's dripping with emotion. Betrayal, confusion, heartbreak, desire, they don't seem to be strong enough words to describe it. This book is both powerful and dynamic."

Yea, humbled. THANK YOU!!!

DIES IRAE has been uploaded and is starting to be distributed out into the world. I would love to hear your thoughts if you decide to read it.

In the meantime, I wanted to share my tour stops with you. I will be doing many, many giveaways for those who comment AND as gifts, so be sure to stop by and check it all out!

TOUR DATES - 2/1 through 2/17

2/1 ~ Michelle McLean (Character Interview) and Heather McCorkle (Author interview)
2/2 ~ Nicole Zoltack (Guest post - Courage to Create) and LK Gardner Griffie (Guest Post - Embracing the Shadow)
2/3 ~ Gretchen McNeil (Interview) and Jen Merrill (Guest Post - Writing Stories for Gifted Kids)
2/4 ~ Simon C Larter (Interview) and Nata Romeo (Interview)
2/5 ~ Eric Stallsworth (Guest Post - Writing a Series) and BE Sanderson (Guest Post - Backing Away From the Abyss)
2/6 ~ Supagurl Books (Top 5 movies) and Rebecca Enzor (Guest Post - The Inspiration Behind Dies Irae)
2/7 ~ Melanie McCullough (Top 5 Randomness) and Angela Brown (Guest Post - Write What You Know)
2/8 ~ Stina Lindenblatt (Guest Post - Using Setting to Enhance a Story)
2/9 ~ Bonnie Harris (Interview)
2/10 ~ C.Michelle Jefferies (Guest Post - Top 5 Book Promotion) and Katrina Lantz (Guest Post - Elements of Thrillers and Gothic Stories) and Matthew Macnish (Guest Post - Writing FOR children instead of about them)
2/11 ~ Laura Diamond (Guest Post - Writing a Novella vs Writing a Novel)
2/12 ~ Book Briefs (Top 10 Facts re Dies Irae)
2/13 ~ Denise Grover Swank (Interview) and Nisa Swineford (Interview all week)
2/14 ~ Danyelle Leafty (Interview) and Kathleen Doyle (Guest Post - Love in YA)
2/15 ~ Elana Johnson (Crazy Video Interview)
2/16 ~ Kristen Yard (Interview)
2/17 ~ Ali Cross (Character Interview)

Before I close this post, I want to share a tiny snippet of DIES IRAE with you as well - just a teaser:

My cheek stings with Demi’s anger. On my lips, the taste of her skin lingers. The two sensations mix, intoxicating me. It’s all too much. And yet, it’s all so much more real than anything I’ve experienced before. I want to drink it up, let the rush crest over me. I feel alive. Powerful.

And I want more.

What do you think?

Next up for me---Working on LACRIMOSA's final edits and beginning the drafting of book 2, LIBERA ME. I am beyond excited to get started on it! I will give you all an update sometime next week. Eep.

What are you all working on???

Tip Tuesday with Renee Pace - Writing In Multiple Genres

2012-01-24T03:00:00.000-08:00

Today I am joined by Renee Pace for another installment of Tip Tuesday. Renee writes both erotica/romance and YA. She is joining us today to talk about this difficult switch and handling the jump between genres. Take it away, Renee.

The Two Sides of aWriter

By Renee Pace

Like many authors I juggle a lot. Mother to four children,part-time work from September to May and full-time work in the summer and thenof course my writing. And, like many authors I also juggle writing in two verydifferent genres. I write erotica/romance under the name Renee Field and youngadult under the name Renee Pace. I used to worry about the cross-over (sighwhat if a reader finds out I write hot sensual books?). Well I’ve given upworrying. I can’t control everything in my life and while I try my best to keepthe genres separate with different twitter/facebook/website accounts, Isometimes cross promote on both, especially if I’m talking about the craft ofwriting.

And it is that craftof writing I’d like to discuss today. My brain when I’m writing YA, which Iusually write in 1^st POV can only function when I’m totally focusedwith my teen characters. I can’t seem to switch genres. One day romance thenext YA. I really wish I could, but I’ve discovered that when I do that itusually takes me a good week to get back in the head of my teenager. And thatgot me thinking why? I usually work ontwo romance novels at the same time so why is it that switching genres is sohard for me as a writer. I think the answer lies with my investment. My romancewriting is total escapism for me. I write about smart, sexy women and hunky,Alpha males usually with a paranormal twist.

My YA is always muchmore personal and hard hitting, and sometimes controversial. I also find I’mdredging up childhood memories, sometimes painful memories, to incorporate intomy YA characters. But for 2012 I’m hoping for a lighter feel with my YA with mynew series. I’m currently working on a Sci-fi YA in 1^st POV and sofar I’m loving it. Now, my girl in this story has her own issues but addingthose sci-fi elements, which incorporate my love of the oceans and outer spaceis very thought provoking for me. In fact when I started to plot out how Iwanted this series to go I engaged my 16 year-old in a debate. In fifty yearsdo you think scientists will find life on other planets? Strangely we boththought yes and that got us thinking what type of life form would that be? Hesaid something water-based and voilà, the story I’m working on came to life.

I’d love to hear from other authors who juggle writing indifferent genres. If any have tricks of the trade please let me know.

Thanks Renee for joining me and giving your advice. As an author who juggles between educational nonfiction and YA, I can relate to the difficulties.

For a little more info:

Renee Field launched Rapture, a sensual paranormal in November 2011 on Amazon. Check out www.reneefield.com.

Renee Pace launched Off Leash in October and Off Limits in December 2011 on Amazon. Check out www.reneepace.com for her YA writing.

How do you juggle multiple genres/projects?

Remembering to Breathe...

2012-01-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday All!

I don't know about you, but I had an insane weekend. See, I am currently spread a little too thin...okay a lot too thin.

I got a promotion at work and am trying to close up one job while prepping for another. In addition, I have the novella coming out in a few days (EEK!) and edits on the novel due shortly after that. And then there is the parenting/carpooling/cooking/real life stuff

Yep, it is a lot. A WHOLE LOT!

So, how am I getting through it with a measure of sanity?

BREATHING.

Yep. Breathing in and out. In and out.

That is all I can do right now. Narrow my focus, concentrating on one thing at a time, and just breathe.

How do you regain your balance and remember to breathe?

Teen Talk Friday - Cover Love

2012-01-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first installment of Teen Talk Friday. Okay, so today, I thought we'd talk covers - their importance, what kind of covers my teen group likes, etc.

But first, who is my teen group? Named T-Cubed (The Think Tank) by me, my teen group consists of a group of 5 to 15 teens (it varies a lot), all between the ages of 13 and 18, mostly girls, and all in honors programs at my local high schools. They are voracious readers, and some of them what to be writers as well.

I asked my teen group the following question:

How important are book covers to you when deciding what books to buy, and what are some of your favorite covers?

Overwhelmingly, my group said that book covers were very important in getting them to check out the book. They did NOT cite covers as a reason for buying, but it is a major determiner of whether or not my teens look at the book in the first place.

As to the second part of the question - here are some of the book covers they really like:

The theme I see....blue works! LOL!

What are some of YOUR favorite colors? Do you have any questions for T-cubed? Leave them in the comments or drop me an email.

A Bookanista Booyah for WOLFSBANE

2012-01-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THURSDAY everyone! I've been busy getting things ready for the launch of DIES IRAE on 2/1; but in between the busyness, I've been trying to knock out a few books from the TBR pile, finishing 4 books in the last few weeks. WOOT!

Now, before I get to my Bookanista shout out for one of those books, I wanted to wish a HUGE Bookanista welcome to our newest Bookanistas - Tracy Banghart, Genniger Albin, Jessica Love, and Hilary Wagner. I am so thrilled to have these wonderful peeps join the insanity!!!

Now, check out what the other Bookanista's have on tap:

LiLa Roecker adores AUSTENTATIOUS

Christine Fonseca is wild about WOLFSBANE

Stasia Ward Kehoe gives cover love to GETTING SOMEWHERE

Nikki Katz takes a shine to UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Katy Upperman is dazzled by A MILLION SUNS

Shannon Messenger welcomes four wonderful new Bookanistas

Gennifer Albin joins the Bookanistas with a great giveaway

Tracy Banghart is wowed by ON FORTUNE’S WHEEL

On to my Bookanista Shout out for WOLFSBANE: Book 2 in the Nightshade Series by Andrea Cremer

Release Date: 7/26/2011

Basic Blurb: (from Amazon)

This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended-Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer-one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack-and the man-she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

Why I liked it:
I'll be honest - I am very jaded when it comes to sequels. While I typically love companion novels, I struggle with many sequels. I don't know if this is because of the backtracking, or because some stories deteriorate into a tangled mass of cliches. Whatever it is, I am jaded.

Enter Wolfsbane. I really enjoyed it. And yes, there were moments when it was a tangled mess of love triangle cliche, lies and such. However, it was also so much more. There was a deeper exploration of the mythos behind the story, a deeper delve into the past history. And THAT is what I loved and appreciated so much.
I am truly looking forward to reading Bloodrose, the last of the trilogy, and will likely buy it soon.

For more about the Bookanistas, our own upcoming books, and our reviews, check out our website - The Bookanistas. You can also find us on Facebook, and find our crazy celebration vlogs on YouTube.

Yea, we're crazy like that!

What are you reading these days?

Before I Draft.

2012-01-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy WWO Wednesday. Today I am talking about drafting. You know, writing that dreaded first - or in my case, zero - draft. As I've stated before, I am a thinker. I plot and plan and stew long before I can write a single word. That said, I am not at all rigid in my writing process. It's very fluid, allowing me the freedom to change direction or plot based on the whims of my characters.

I know what you're thinking - those two things, plotting and freedom, don't really go together. For me the freedom is IN the plotting. By having a loose structure, my mind is able to go where ever the character wants it to without worrying about getting lost in the muck.

So, what do I actually DO before I sit down to write that first draft. How do I instill a little structure in which my characters can play?

Here is a brief, and NOT all inclusive list of my typical pre-draft activities:

Premise - I always start here. What is the basic situation and problem in the story?
Theme - What are the BIG themes in the story?
Plot Points - Once I know the basics of the premise and theme, I sit down and sketch out (very loosely) the major plot points. For me, this means I use Blake Snyder's beats. For others, this could be a basic plot line. The point is that I need to have some sort of structure for the story.
Music - yea, I know, music. Soundtrack music to be exact. See, I can not write without music. Period. And for me, the music I listen too has to emulate the mood of the scene(s) I am writing. So, I spend time searching for just the right music.
Time - Once I pull that together, the book will start unfolding in my thoughts. I'll see snippets of scenes, get a feel for little pieces of the characters. At this point, I stew. And stew. I obsessively listen to the "right" music and steep myself into the vibe of the story. This process may last a day, a week, a few weeks.
Characters - During my period of stewing, I begin to have mental conversations with my characters. I get to know them in my thoughts. I may start doing some character writing exercise, asking them questions about love, anger, rage, hope - all the base emotions. As I write their answers down, I usual start to feel the story
Once these things are done - and the process varies highly for every book and every project - I start writing. And writing. I prefer to get the zero draft done FAST, though up until recently, I was not good at FAST. Now, I draft in 10 - 15 minute increments, and I get through the book in nothing flat.

There you go - my process. It's weird, maybe even wacky. But it works for me.

What do you guys to pre-drafting? Anything?

Tip Tuesday with Robin Reul - The Waiting Game

2012-01-17T03:00:00.000-08:00

Today I am joined by Robin Reul for our first real installment of Tip Tuesday. Robin is a contemporary YA author repped by Bill Contardi at Brandt & Hochman. In her spare time she loves to foster her Facebook addiction, drink copious amounts of caffeine and enjoy her good standing as an equal opportunity cupcake lover. She lives in Southern CA with her husband and two kids. Her novel BAND GEEK is currently on submission.

Robin is talking about the waiting game with us, something she is very familiar with being on submission. Take it away, Robin.

(this post originally appeared on her blog, Robin's Nest.))

Things To Do While You're Waiting To Hear Back From The Publishing World

Today I might, possibly, be one of the most impatient people in the world. I admit it. So, it's obviously completely ironic that I've chosen to be a writer and enter the world of publishing, which far surpasses the world of "Hurry up and wait" that the film industry is. But I survived that, and I'll survive this too, because there are many lessons to learn from the tortoise rather than the hare.

First and foremost, when things are moving at the speed of molasses, it offers a great opportunity to work on your craft, and it might give you the spark that you've been looking for. Here are some great things you can do while waiting:

READ EVERYTHING YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON IN YOUR GENRE
When I'm not writing (or packing lunches, shuttling kids, squeezing in time for a shower or doing laundry), I try and read everything I can in my genre. It's great to know what is selling and why. Further, it allows you the opportunity to learn from published writers that write in a style similar to your own. When I read, I will often sit with a notebook and pen and write down key phrases or lines of dialogue or things that caught my eye as well written. I may have written, or will write, similar things, but I study the eloquence with how they crafted those sentences and break them down to see why they worked so well. It's like a free master class. Further, as I query agents, I can use an example of an author they may know (or represent) to give them a sense of what to expect from my writing. Authors will often thank their agents in the acknowledgements, and it becomes a perfect way to target someone who might be an appropriate fit for your work.

USE WRITING PROMPTS
Many authors (like Laurie Halse Anderson, who does this often on her blog) will offer up writing prompts to help inspire you to write. If you have a day where you are simply looking at the blinking cursor on the page, this is a great way to get inspired. Who knows what it can bring forth story-wise? At the minimum, it means you are writing, and whether or not you trash every word or write something amazing, the key is to aim to get words on a page daily, to make it a habit like brushing your teeth or drinking your coffee.

READ WRITING BLOGS
There is such a wealth of free, insanely good writing advice out there on numerous blogs, many from agents and writers themselves. These tips can help you ask yourself the right questions when revising, hear their personal experiences to help you know you're not alone, etc. Often, agents will even put up stats like where they are in their query letters or slush pile, which can help you calm down and refrain from biting your fingernails to nubs, wondering why you haven't heard anything.

SUBSCRIBE TO PUBLISHERS MARKETPLACE
For just $20 a month, you can get a daily email elivered to your inbox that tells you what is selling, in what genre, who is representing it and what publisher bought it. This may also help you hone your focus and know if the work you are trying to get out there is something that certain agents/houses might be interested in. You can also track Agent Deals and find out what agents represent what authors.

ATTEND WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES
Workshops and conferences are excellent networking oppportunities - you never know who you will meet! Often, they have manuscript critiques available for that critical first ten pages, and it can be extremely helpful to get that insight from a variety of industry professionals, even if you've had it done previously. I have yet to go to a conference or workshop where I didn't leave with some new nugget that I carry forth and incorporate, and I can't find enough words to describe, at the minimum, how inspiring it feels to be in the company of fellow writers. You can't help but leave this environment and not want to go home and get busy. It doesn't matter if it's an SCBWI event, or something at your local community college. Get yourself out there and get involved. It will help keep up your momentum.

BLOG
If you don't have one, start one. You're helping establish your presence in the marketplace, getting your name out there, and offering yourself another outlet to write. See? I'm procrastinating today's writing by writing this blog right now!! Just kidding. (sorta)

And above all, keep on keepin' on. Don't give up!!

Thank you Robin. This is a great list! What do you guys do when waiting - for an agent, an editor, whatever????

And the Winner Is...

2012-01-16T20:01:00.001-08:00

Just a quick post to say CONGRATS to

LAURA PAULING!!!

She won the little cover reveal contest on my blog from last week. WOOT!!! Thanks to everyone for all of the fabulous support these last few weeks. The launch is now just over two weeks away, and there are a slew of giveaways associated with the tour. More information coming soon.

Eep!

Marketing Watch Monday - Understanding Rights

2012-01-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

I've been stewing over this post for a while, wanting to share a little of my thoughts regarding protecting the rights to our work - our stories. In this age of digital formats, etc, it is increasingly easier to violate copyrights, loose track of the various rights delineated in our contracts, etc. And as more and more authors are forging this road alone, it is important to read up on the basic legalese and understand things. (and have a lawyer or agent to work through some of this with).

My thinking on this was spurred by a recent interview I listened to with The Firm author John Grisham. He was talking about how the original movie of his book, The Firm, came to be. It turns out that someone had obtained a bootlegged copy of his book and liked it. That someone was hooked up with the film industry, and the rest is history, as it were.

I mention this not to condone bootlegged copies, per sea, but to acknowledge that they've been around. For ever. This is not something new with the digital age, but it is something that now has a bigger impact.

As luck would have it, I read a couple of great posts dealing with copyrights and rights in general this week. So, I thought I'd share a couple of links from these articles with all of you.

Iona McAvoy @ Downtown YA - Iona blogs twice a month on the Downtown YA blog, always talking about legal stuff. This particular post was great, and talked about copyrights with reference to not just print - but the exploding world of digital formats. It was well worth the read, and something I think we all need to be aware of, and open to.
Ash Krafton @ QueryTracker.net - Ash talks about rights and includes a couple of helpful links at the end of the post.

What are your thoughts about the changing face of publishing and the impact to our rights as authors? Do you know the various types of rights discussed in contracts? Even if you have a lawyer and/or agent, I think it is important to be self-informed. What do you guys think?

Blog Chain: Childhood Memories, Wherein I Exposed My Inner Geekness

2012-01-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

It's Blog Chain time again, and this time the topic comes from Jon who asked us to the following:

Imagine the home(s) where you grew up, and start drawing a floor plan. As you draw, memories will surface. Grab onto one of those memories and tell us a story.

I consider my childhood home this fabulous old tutor I lived in until I was in high school. It sat on a corner lot and had more charm and character than most homes. My mom, my only parent in those days, was a bit of a bohemian-wanna-be-gypsy. And that bohemian-gypsy style found its way into the home. We had an art room that boasted a macrame wall, a kitchen will geometric shapes painted all over the walls, a private patio that I claimed as my "fort", and a partially finished attic straight out of some scary story. Yep, the house had loads of charm. And yes, I have often thought of using it in a story, and I likely will.

But that isn't what this prompt it about - this is about memories. Our childhood memories in our home.

Hmm....I have lots of memories to choose from, but the one that most readily comes to mind is likely the most geeky of them all. So, consider yourself warned.

I was a HUGE Star Wars fan. No really, HUGE. I saw the movies, often. I memorized the lines and the music. Watched the TV specials. And even analysed the mythology within the movies. Yep, I was a fan (still am.) .

The movie that meant the most to me, however, was the middle movie - Empire Strikes Back. I saw that movie 30+ times, wrote articles for my church and for school about the mythology and quest motifs, memorized every line. In fact, I still remember most of the lines.

Well, one day after seeing the movie yet again, I went to bed, thinking about the tragic reality of facing Darth Vader and how hard that must have been for Luke. I thought about Yoda, and the wise Zen-like beliefs he held. I thought all of this as I drifted off to sleep in my bedroom of my childhood home.

My room was in the front of the house, and my bed was next to the front windows. They had curtains and gave me a perfect view of the streets next to my home. At the foot of my bed was a fish tank filled with angel fish. And in the corner, diagonally from the bed, was my bedroom door.

As I drifted off to sleep, dreams overtook me, throwing me into the world of Leia and Han, Luke and Yoda. And of course, Darth Vader. While I no longer remember most of the dreams of that night, I do remember waking up (or at least, thinking I had woken up). I remember sitting up in bed, my breath coming in fast short spurts. And I remember feel afraid. Very afraid.

I sat, trying to shake of the veil of sleep, but my nerves wouldn't relax. My fear wouldn't yield. I stretched my neck, my back, my shoulders, all the while reminding myself that my fear wasn't real. I had been dreaming, nothing more. I moved the sheer curtain and stared to the street.

There, in the middle of my quiet suburban neighborhood, was Luke's X-wing fighter. I blinked once, twice, three times, jabbing my palms with my nails. I looked again. The X-wing was still there. My brows furrowed as my brain tried to embrace the hallucination.

And then I heard it, the deep rumbling sounds of breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
My flesh erupted in a flurry of chills. I slowly turned my head, looking towards my door. A massive figure covered the doorway, cloaked in shadow, blending into the darkness of my room.

My heart pounded too loud in my ears. My mind spun away from me. And still his breathing continued...

There you have it, one of my most vivid memories. Even now, sharing the story with you, I can remember my sense of fear as I think of his breathing. In and out. In and out.

What is one of your childhood memories?
For more walks through more memories, check out PK's post from earlier today and Tere's post tomorrow

And the Good News Just Keeps Coming...

2012-01-13T02:00:00.000-08:00

I had this great intro post for my FABULOUS teen group all planned for today. Um, yea...NOPE. I received some amazing news (plus, one of my teens wants to design their logo!) so I pre-empted that post with this one.

First, I want to remind you that today is the last day to enter my cover reveal contest for LACRIMOSA. Just click here for that.

Now, today's news:

DIES IRAE IS NOT launching on Feb 22. Nope....

IT IS LAUNCHING ON FEB 1!

Yep - just over two weeks from now my novella will be in the world. To celebrate, I made this widget -

(Which may or may not be working when you read this)

Then I made this "grab it" badge -

And then, I started planning the blog tour. Which led to thinking about the LACRIMOSA tour. Which led to so much more that I can not yet share...

Suffice it to say I am planning some majorly awesome and epic things.

Stay tuned for more news...and you know I would just love it if you'd grab the widget or the badge for your blogs.

Thanks for all of your support and for helping me SPREAD THE NEWS!

Have a fabulouso weekend. I'll be back Monday with my fab new features and more exciting fun!

What fab news do you have??

Bookanista Books - what an amazing 2012!

2012-01-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THURSDAY everyone! I've missed doing these reviews and am SO GLAD to be back! Today I'll be talking about some of the Bookanista Books coming out. But before I get to that, check out what the other Bookanista's have on tap:

Christine Fonseca introduces some fabulous reads for 2012
Stasia Ward Kehoe takes a shine to A MILLION SUNS and UNDER THE NEVER SKY
Veronica Rossi adores EVERNEATH
Debra Driza is in a frenzy over LARKSTORM with giveaway!
Katy Upperman sings the praises of BEFORE I DIE
Shannon Messenger delves into DOUBLE with an arc giveaway

I am blessed to be surrounded by these Bookanistas - all fabulous writers in their own right, with amazing releases coming up. Just check out this list of the releases coming out this month:

January:

Under The Never Sky - Veronica Rossi (1/3) ~ (from Amazon - Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.
Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.
A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.)
A Million Suns - Beth Revis (1/10) ~ (from Amazon - Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.
It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.
But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.)

Fracture - Megan Miranda (1/17) ~ (from Amazon - Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine -despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it? Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?)

On The Bright Side - Shelli Johannes Wells (1/31) ~ (From Goodreads - As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, Skyphones and InnerNets are all the rage. At her first Bright ceremony, G.O.D., the automated assignment system, spits out Angela Black, Gabby’s arch nemesis and longtime fencing rival. As a Bright, Gabby has to protect Angela, her assigned mortal, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven.
Back on earth, Angela starts hitting on Michael, Gabby’s crush and should-have-been boyfriend. Gabby’s pranks to quell the love are harmless at first until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, Celestial Sky Agent, Clarence, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, steps into reveal that Angela has big problems, and what she really needs is Gabby’s help. Determined to right her wrong and ease her mother’s grief, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to earth for just one day. But if Gabby’s not careful, her well-meaning mission just might shift the very foundation of Heaven, Earth, and every place in between, causing the danger of the dark side to roam free.)

Other releases I can't wait for from my fellow Bookanistas include:

In Honor - Jessi Kirby
If I Lie - Corrine Jackson
Ten - Gretchen McNeil
Surrender - Elana Johnson
Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger
MILA 2.0 - Debra Driza

What are you reading these days?

OH! And I've started contributing to a new blog - DOWNTOWN YA. Stop by today and check it out (and find out more about me than you probably wanted to know!)

Whatcha Working On?

2012-01-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

For my first installment of W.W.O Wednesday, I though I would fill you guys in on my current projects.

As you all have guessed by my updates, etc, my time is consumed with the Requiem Series for now. I've turned in final edits for DIES IRAE, and am turning in edits on LACRIMOSA this week. Next up, writing the next two books in the series. (cue the picture - my motivation)

I am an outliner, so I am spending the rest of the next couple of weeks outlining (loosely) both books. I have a short story idea related to the series that I need to get on paper as well. Then, hopefully, I will be able to begin drafting book 2 by the end of next week. My day job is back in full swing, so most of my writing time is usurped with my RL obligations. So, I am working on carving time to write - in the morning, at night, whenever I can.

I am so excited to be drafting these stories. SO EXCITED!

What are you guys working on?
OH! And I finally posted a review of Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley at Afterglows Book Reviews. Check it out!

New Year, New Look, New Schedule

2012-01-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

Well, 2012 is well underway, and things are already fabulous! In honor of a new year - a crazy busy year - I thought I would streamline a few things related to my blogging schedule. So, I will be blogging M-F for now, but only 3 weeks a month. And, my posts are sort of following themes (just to make life easier for me.)

Monday - Market Watch Monday: I'll recap articles or share my thoughts related to the ever-changing business of publishing.
Tuesday - Tip Tuesday: This is the column for writing and publishing tips. And not just from me - but from you guys too. I'm hosting guests to share their tips as well. Interested in participating? Just drop me an email at christine(at)christinefonseca.com or leave me a comment.
Wednesday - Whatcha Working-On Wednesday (WWW): Time to share snippets of my work, progress on the various projects, or just share news. Gotta a question for me? This is probably where I'll answer it!
Thursday - Bookanista Reviews: Yep, I am sticking with my Bookanista Review Thursdays. I love sharing books, covers, author interviews - and this is where/when I will be doing it.
Friday - Teen Talk Friday: I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by teens every day. So, when I have a question about a story, the importance of cover blurbs, cover-art, or pop culture, I just ask them. Now, I want to share that information with you. On Fridays, I will do just that - pose a question to my teen group, and see their answers. Topics will range from writing, to stories, to pop-culture, and everything in between. It's time to let our readers weigh-in on their ideas regarding the world of YA. Gotta a question for my teens? Drop me an email at christine(at)christinefonseca.com or leave a comment.

In addition to the schedule above, I still plan on participating in blog hops, giveaway hops, my blog chain, and other fun things. So, of course, my schedule is fluid!

I mentioned above that I will be only blogging three weeks a month. That's because I am unplugging - COMPLETELY - once a month. Typically, this will be the first full week of the month, but I will always let you guys know when I am unplugged. I figure this should help with the whole balance thing, right???

And finally, I am also contributing to a few other blogs now:

Afterglows Book Reviews - my goal is 2 times a month
Downtown YA - the 12th and 26th of every month
An Intense Life - this is my blog related to giftedness. I am overhauling it at the moment, but I will be back at it in February, with regular posts.

Whew! What a schedule. Hopefully this will bring me closer with all of you while continuing to provide high quality content.

Do you ever look over your blogging purpose and schedule and change things up?

Another Sekrit Revealed (and a little contest)

2012-01-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

Finally, the day is here - the day when I can reveal my AMAZING new cover for Lacrimosa, the first length novel in the Requiem Series.

Ta-Da!

Well, what do you think? I am madly in love with this cover. THANK YOU COMPASS PRESS!!!

To celebrate the cover, and the countdown to the releases of both Dies Irae and Lacrimosa, I thought I'd have a little comment contest.

So, leave a comment, follow this blog and you may win a $15.00 gift certificate to Amazon or Barnes and Noble. WOOT WOOT!!!

Want an additional entry? Spread the word in some way (twitter, fb, blog) and you can receive extra entries - up to three. Just let me know what you've done to spread the word.

Oh! And if you're so inclined, add LACRIMOSA and/or DIES IRAE to your TBR list on Goodreads.

THANKS for sharing this special moment with me! Contest closes on 1/13, and I will announce the winner next week. Good luck!

Another little tease

2012-01-06T16:49:00.000-08:00

My dear friend and fellow author, Heather McCorkle, just released her Channeler short story, BORN OF FIRE as a free ebook downloadable through Smashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/120401

The story is fab. And much to my surprise you get a little bonus with it - an excerpt from DIES IRAE, my Requiem novella.

So, curious about the story? Check out it. Afterall - BORN OF FIRE and the excerpt are free. WOOT!

Could I? Should I?

2012-01-06T12:05:00.001-08:00

I am DYING to share another little sekrit with you; dying to reveal something that has been done for a very weeks.

So, should I? Could I?

Well? I guess I could share a little...a taste...an amuse bouche...

Yea, I know. I'm a tease. Come on back on Monday for the full reveal AND a little contest to celebrate. See you then.

And in the meantime, take a look around. The remodel is almost done. And I have to thank my teen for my snazzy new header and post signature! You like?

What a way to start 2012....

2012-01-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I woke up nice and early this morning, ready to spend a few hours editing. After getting comfortably ensconced into my cave, I opened the document. In truth, I wasn't feeling it. You know what I mean - I was feeling a little too angsty, too...whatever.

So I went online and chatted with a couple friends. Finally, after squandering away too much time, I settled back into work, reading through the manuscript one more time to focus this round of revisions.

After an hour or so, I took a quick internet break. I cleaned through my emails, deleting a few announcements, and such without reading. Until I got an email saying congrats for the news in Publisher's Lunch.

What??? I didn't have news in Publisher's Lunch Weekly.

Or did I?
I looked through my trash, found the announcement and read this:

Children's: Young Adult
Christine Fonseca's DIES IRAE, and the Requiem series, in which the battle between good and evil just got a little more complicated, pitched as a Romeo-and-Juliet tale of demons and angels, to Compass Press, in a nice deal, in a four-book deal, for publication in February 2012 (US).

AHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! What a way to start the year! I know most of you knew I was publishing the series from my announcement a few weeks ago, but I wanted to share the news officially.

If you are interested in participating in the blog tour for DIES IRAE or the first book in the series, LACRIMOSA - just fill out the form linked here.

And thank you all for your support over the last several years. This series is near and dear to my heart. I am so excited to get to share it with all of you.

Okay - back to cleaning, etc for me. I will be back on Monday with new features and new fun!

Cleaning Up for 2012

2012-01-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I hope the beginnings of 2012 finds you happy and healthy. As is typical for me at the start of a new year, I am cleaning house - and my online presence. I am streamlining, cleaning, changing, etc.

So, for the next week, I will be unplugged while everything gets a bit of an overhaul. Oh, sure, you may stop by this week and see things in a bit of disarray. But, I assure you it will all be cleaned up by 1/9. And I will be back with new features and some exciting things to share. Maybe even a contest or two.

WOO HOO!!!

See you then.

Dear Christine, What a year!

2011-12-31T03:00:00.001-08:00

Dear Christine of 2010 -

2011 is going to be harder than you think. You will be faced with darker feelings, harder times, bigger obstacles. But, don't be afraid. Don't hide in your room, under the covers and wait for it to be over. You'll want to - oh man, will you want to.

But now is not the time for that.

Now is the time to square your shoulders and face each blow. Now is the time to stand up, no matter how often you are knocked down. There are great things on the horizon for you, but only if you are willing to stand up once again.

You will want to cry, scream, wail. And you will do all of those things. It will be harder than you know, harder than you think possible.

You will also want to laugh, cheer, jump for joy. And you will. Often.

You will meet friends and build connections. You will change and grow.

And you'll miss your mom even more.

But you will also speak with her in your heart. Every day. She will be closer than you can imagine. And she will help you in ways you won't believe.

So, Christine of 2010. Be ready. 2011 will be a hard year. And a blessed year. It will start with great sadness, deep grief. And it will end will great joy, and profound love. You will grow more than you ever have, and deepen your understanding of life.

Be ready. Be prepared. And be open - to everything.

Love,
Christine of 2011.

A Special Thank You!

2011-12-30T03:00:00.002-08:00

"Being a writer is a whole way of life, a way of seeing, thinking, being..." ~Natalie Goldberg, Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life

The above quote sums up everything being a writer means to me - it is a way of interacting with the world. And once you travel along this path, once you begin to see the world in a new way, there is no going back. Even if you cease to write.

I believe writing is a team sport. Yes, we writers tend to be solitary, secluding ourselves in some cave, writing for hours on end and ignoring our friends and family while the muse has her way with us. But, we do emerge from the cave at times, ready to catch our breath and reconnect. We reach out to our writerly friends - other writers addicted to the same muse. People who understand the world we belong to. Friends who motivate, support, critique, and push us to become better than we ever thought possible. We rely on these connections. And so many more -

Which leads me to a special thank you for the writing community - the entire writing community. Readers, writers, editors, agents, publishers, book sellers, everyone.

To the writers - Thank you for connecting and understanding me; thanking you for sharing your wisdom, your ups and downs, your joys and sorrows. Thank you for your stories that inspire and entertain. And most of all, thank you for connecting and helping me know I am not alone.

To the agents - Thank you for digging through the slush and finding the gems. For tirelessly dedicating yourself to the craft and pushing authors to new levels of excellence. Thank you for support and guidance, wisdom and mentoring.

To publishers and editors - Thank you for dedicating yourself to brings readers books that will engage and enlighten, entertain and teach. Thank you for remaining open minded in the face of great change; and for moving confidently forward, even though it may be scary.

And most of all, to readers - Thank you for being life to our stories through your love, through your reading. Your love of stories, need for adventure, and hunger for more keeps me writing. Thank you for challenging the status quo, pushing all of us to write more, do better, go deeper. Thank you for keeping us honest, loving words and connecting.

Thank you!

Why I Write...

2011-12-29T03:00:00.001-08:00

I once read a great book about writing in which the author challenged all writers to examine why they write. And not the superficial "I write because I like it" self-examination, but a deep soul-searching that requires writers to examine all of the reasons we choose to remain in an industry that is so difficult - why we hear and respond to our "calling" to write.

You know how I love an excuse for more soul searching. So, of course I have gone through this exercise - often actually.

Most recently, before my book deal and such, I had a major crisis of faith - a moment when I was certain that quitting was the best thing for me to do. I soul searched, prayed, contemplated -
and ultimately, reaffirmed all of the reasons I continue to write -

Writing to me is so much more than stringing the words of a particular story together. It is my chance to explore what it means to be completely human. All aspects of this shared experience called humanity is worthy of exploration - the light and hope, as well as the shadow and darkness. Writing allows me to explore things I may never get to directly experience, as well as connect with people on a more intimate level. And I am all about connections.
I write for the adventure. The chance to go to new places, embrace new things, experience depths of emotion I would not otherwise know.
I write for the transcendence it brings - the things I learn from the story itself, from my characters, from the experience of writing, and the feedback of readers.
I write because although I have tried to walk away more times than I care to admit, I am inexplicably chained to the form of expression, this type of art. As my mother was tethered to her need to create through painting, I am forever linked to my need to create through words.

Your turn. Time for you to explore the reasons behind your passion. Why do you (fill in the blank)? Your answers may just surprise you!

Favorite Writerly Advice

2011-12-28T03:00:00.001-08:00

Time to bring another list of favorites. This one focuses on advice. I've been really lucky over the last three years, making friends with an amazing group of writers and learning from some of the best. So, I've collected some of my favorite tips I've gotten over the past few years and put them into a list just for all of you -

10. Read, read, read. And not just in your genre, but in many genres. The more good books you read, the better writer you become.
{I actually first heard this at a book signing with Cassandra Clare. I've never forgotten it!}

9. Remember that this is a business first and foremost. Treat it as such and remain professional - always.
{This came from my dad originally, and changed by me to fit writing}

8. When editing, remember that they are all just words. They can be moved, deleted, changed. Never get so attached to them that you are unwilling to change them.
{My CPs and I remind each other of this on a sometimes daily basis!}

7. At the same time, remember that YOU are the author. You know the story you are trying to create. When taking suggestions from CPs, betas and even your editors, remember that you are the architect of the story. YOU.
{Another nugget from my CPs}

6. Always read your work out loud. Or even better, use the text to speech feature on your computer or your kindle. You will catch many many many more errors this way!
{I know this from my work as a developmental psych, actually - but I was reminded of it recently by one of my betas, LK}

5. When drafting, don't think. Just write.
{Write or Die has helped solidify this in my head}

4. Writing is an adventure - so take a deep breath, muster your courage, and jump!
{My publisher and friend Heather always says I am a brave writer. After many conversations and a little soul searching, I finally understand what she means - I am always willing to jump off the cliff for the story}

3. Even in the depths of the muck you can find your inspiration.
{I have endured some difficult years recently. It was through the most intense of those moments that my best stories have been born.}

2. Give yourself permission to SUCK! To write the worst stuff ever written.
{This has been one of the hardest things for me - the perfectionist and inner editor just won't have it. But thanks to my amazing CPs, I am finding my through this little pearl of wisdom, and drafting with more freedom!}

1. When in doubt, write!
{Yea, I covered this one yesterday. Bottom line - I must write, something, daily. Even if it only a sentence.}

What is your favorite piece of writerly advice?

I have more exciting things to talk about over the next few posts - I hope you'll join me!

Favorite Reasons NOT to write

2011-12-27T03:00:00.001-08:00

Happy last week of 2011. Can you believe it? I'm not certain I can!

Today I'm talking about excuses. That's right, all of the excuses we give ourselves for why we can't do what it is we want/need to do. In particular, I'm talking about excuses for not writing. You know, all those reasons you give yourself for not getting you butt in the chair and writing.

Oh come on, you know you do it - we ALL do it!

And I'm about to share my excuses with all of you (why, I don't know.....)

Okay, my top ten ~~reasons~~ excuses I don't write as often as maybe I "should"

10. The house/office/cave/whatever is just too noisy
{ The truth is, a headset and some blaring tunes and I can work through Armaggedon!}

9. I'm just too busy with work/life/kids/whatever
{The truth, now that I have write or die on my iPad, I can literally draft in 10 minute increments ANYWHERE - so much for that excuse}

8. I am about to launch/promote/whatever my new book - I have to focus on that
{The truth, while that is important, if I don't draft the next book, I may not have another launch to prep for. Life is about balance}

7. I've got nothing to write about
{The truth, inspiration is all around me. I simply need to open my eyes. And my mind}

6. It's hard
{The truth, nothing worthwhile is easy. And really, drafting is not hard. The words are all changeable. If I'm stuck in the "it's hard" mode, it's only because my inner editor is going a little nuts}

5. Oh, look....SHINY!
{Yes, yes - I do get distracted. But I'm committed to being a career author - so, um, this excuse won't fly!}

4. I'm stuck in the story
{When in doubt, outline. Period. So, rather than being stuck and wasting my writing time, I need to move on, outline, write out of order....something}

3. I need to work on my website/fb page/blog/whatever
{None of that matters if I am not also drafting/editing/writing}

2. So-and-so doesn't write everyday, lots of authors don't - so why should I?
{Yes, I know. Lots of authors don't. And that works for them. But, for me - I do much better if I write something - anything - every day}

1. I just don't feel like it.
{Yep, the ultimate excuse. For me, I can usually "write" my way out of the problem. And sometimes, it doesn't work. But I ALWAYS feel better for the attempt.}

The Bottom Line:
I am the queen of excuses at times. But, I've set some lofty goals for my writing future. AND I have some serious, fast deadlines - deadlines I am only going to make if I demonstrate a little discipline.

Guess it's time to tame my excuses a bit.

What are your favorite excuses not to write?

And, for the record, I am NOT saying it is necessary to write everyday, every other day, or whatever. I think it is important to figure out what works best for YOU as a writer - and do that.

Winners, Wishes, and Christmas

2011-12-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas Eve!

I wanted to sneak in and share the winners of the angel book giveaway celebrating the sale of my YA Gothic Romance series. I just finished a round of revisions on the novella DIES IRAE today, and I am so very excited. The story is some much more complex and rich that I expected from a novella. I really hope all of you enjoy it as well. I am hoping to share a tiny snippet in the upcoming weeks - just a little amuse bouche to wet the appetite!

But now, the winners -

BECOME by Ali Cross - JEN @ Midnight Book Thief
HUSH HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick - Danyelle Ferguson
CRESCENDO by Becca Fitzpatrick - Kathy Fenton White
CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra Clare - LT Elliot
CLOCKWORK PRINCE by Cassandra Claire - Kayla Beck

Congrats to all the winners.

I wish for all of you a wonderful end to 2011. May the wishes of the year by magnified in your heart, filling you with peace and joy.

Merry Christmas Google!!!

2011-12-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!
I am happy to report that I AM BACK!!!!!!!!!! Google very quickly took care of whatever the problem was and I can now access ALL of my accounts once again.

Thank you Google, for fixing whatever the problem was.

Merry Christmas!

Learning from Evan Almighty...

2011-12-22T06:28:00.000-08:00

The other night my family and I were watching the movie Evan Almighty. It's one of my favorite, feel good movies. And it has one of my all time favorite scenes.

Joan (the wife) has just watched her husband go a little nuts and claim that God told him to build an arc. She leaves him to figure things out. This scenes takes place right afterwards, when she is with the kids at a restaurant. The kids go to the restroom, leaving her all forlorn. God (played by Morgan Freeman), posing as a wait names Al Mighty (gotta love that) talks with her, and in the conversation this is what he says -

Let me ask you something. If one prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If they pray for courage, does God give them courage, or does he give them opportunities to be courageous? If one prayed for their family to be closer, you think God zaps them with warm, fuzzy feelings? Or does he give them opportunities to love each other? Well, I got to run. A lot of people to serve. Enjoy.

I LOVE these lines. Every time life gets a little difficult and I can't really find my balance I remember that I am being given opportunities to practice .... something. Sometimes it's patience. Or grace. Or humility. Sometimes its compassion. Once I remember that the things that happen in my life are merely growth opportunities I weather these periods so much better.

2010 and 2011 brought me many many months of opportunities to practice everything from love, bravery, compassion and so much more. And now, as we end the year and I FINALLY feel like I am in balance (most of the time) I can reflect on the amazing things I have had the opportunity to learn.

I wish all of you a wonderful end to 2011, and an amazing start to 2012.

I will be back on Sat to announce the winners of my EPIC Angel giveaway (Have you entered?) and next year I will give you a little of my "Best of" to end 2011.

Thanks again to all of you for your continuing support for my work. It means more than you will ever know!

A Visit From An Angel

2011-12-21T06:03:00.000-08:00

Wow! I can't believe Christmas is so close. And the end of 2011. Where did the year go?

I promised that I'd share one of my favorite Christmas memories...

When I was very young - maybe 4 or 5 - my mother (then a single parent) made these amazing shadow boxes to sell at a local craft festival during the holidays. The festival was very well-known, themed around the Renaissance period during Christmas.

On December 23 of that year, my mom let me come with her to the festival. Actually, I think I came by default - no babysitter is my guess. Regardless, I distinctly remember the different craft booths, the smells of hot chocolate and roasting chestnuts, and the beautiful costumes everyone seemed to wear. My mom and I walked around for a bit before she left me at a child-care center located within the faire.Later that night, a quartet from the Robert Shaw Chorale was singing at the festival. They walked throughout the faire, dressed in historical garb - minstrels singing the most beautiful songs.

One of their first stops was the child-care center. I remember hearing them sing and knowing that a group of angels couldn't possible sound any better. One particular singer - the soprano - stood out from the group. Her voice was more beautiful than anything I had ever heard in my young life.The minstrels finished their songs and moved on to the next booth. I couldn't bear to have them leave, so I snuck out of the center and followed them.Kate, the soprano, talked with me, held my hand and made sure I didn't get lost. I really don't remember them singing, but I do remember Kate trying to help me find my mother's booth.

After some time past - in my 5-year old mind it seemed like it was the whole night - we made our way back to the child-center, unable to find my mother's booth. Mom was waiting for me. And after she was done chastising me for leaving, she thanked Kate.Before Kate left, I pulled off the bracelet I was wearing - a special charm bracelet given to me by my grandmother. The stone of the charms spelled out the word "dear". Kate tried to refuse the present, but I told her that Christmas was about giving and since she had given me the gift of her voice, I simply had to give her the bracelet. Reluctantly, she took my gift and left.

The next day was Christmas Eve. I remember listening to a recording of the Robert Shaw Chorale over and over again. I just knew I could hear Kate's voice in the chorus, sounding every bit as angelic as she did at the festival.

The next morning, Christmas morning, I raced out of bed to see if Santa had come. Mom joined me and I opened my stocking. Tucked at the bottom of the stocking was a little package completely different from the rest. Carefully, I unwrapped the little gift until it lay in my hand - a mosaic pin with a little note.

Thank you for your kindness at the festival. You reminded me just how special Christmas and music are. Love, Kate

I couldn't believe it. How did she manage to get a present into my stocking? Surely she must be an angel.

To this day, I listen carefully anytime Joy to the World by the Robert Shaw Chorale is played, straining to see if I can hear the voice of my angelic Kate.

What special memories do you have about this season?

Yes, Virginia...

2011-12-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

Today I thought I'd share one of my favorite stories of the season - the letter to the editor of the New York Sun, 1897.

I first read this to my children when they were young - really young. And I am convinced that I've never had to field the "is there really really a Santa Claus?" question BECAUSE of this editorial. My children, 11 and 15, still hold belief in their hearts.

And what more could I possibly wish for them then faith?

And now - the letter:

Dear Editor--

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

- Virginia O'Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Ah yes - nothing is as beautiful as the innocence of childhood and the hope it brings. Tomorrow I will share one of my fondest memories of Christmas. And I would love to hear/read about YOUR favorite memories too.

And don't forget my angel book giveaway to celebrate the sale of my Requiem Series. Click here to enter. The contest ends in a few days - 12/23.

WOOT!

Happy holidays!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

First, let me start with a humble thank you for all of your support and kindness with my announcement last week. You're kind words filled me with a joy and excitement I can't really express. I am excited for the series release in 2012, and excited to keep all of you in the loop through this adventure.

But all of that is for a different post.

Today, I wanted to take a moment and share on of my favorite Christmas poems of all time.

I first found this when I was researching various poems for use on my Christmas card several years ago. I shared with my mom, who also used it for her holiday newsletter. Since that time, this poem has been reprinted in books, cards, stationary and countless other ways.

And now I am sharing it with you:

AMAZING PEACE

by Maya Angelou

Thunder rumbles in the mountain passes

And lightning rattles the eaves of our houses.

Flood waters await us in our avenues.

Snow falls upon snow, falls upon snow to avalanche

Over unprotected villages.

The sky slips low and grey and threatening.

We question ourselves.

What have we done to so affront nature?

We worry God.

Are you there? Are you there really?

Does the covenant you made with us still hold?

Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters,

Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope

And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.

The world is encouraged to come away from rancor,

Come the way of friendship.

It is the Glad Season.

Thunder ebbs to silence and lightning sleeps quietly in the corner.

Flood waters recede into memory.

Snow becomes a yielding cushion to aid us

As we make our way to higher ground.

Hope is born again in the faces of children

It rides on the shoulders of our aged as they walk into their sunsets.

Hope spreads around the earth. Brightening all things,

Even hate which crouches breeding in dark corridors.

In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.

At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.

We listen carefully as it gathers strength.

We hear a sweetness.

The word is Peace.

It is loud now. It is louder.

Louder than the explosion of bombs.

We tremble at the sound. We are thrilled by its presence.

It is what we have hungered for.

Not just the absence of war. But, true Peace.

A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies.

Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.

We clap hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas.

We beckon this good season to wait a while with us.

We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.

Peace.

Come and fill us and our world with your majesty.

We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,

implore you to stay awhile with us

so we may learn by your shimmering light

how to look beyond complexion and see community.

It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time.

On this platform of peace, we can create a language

to translate ourselves to ourselves and to each other.

At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ

Into the great religions of the world.

We jubilate the precious advent of trust.

We shout with glorious tongues the coming of hope.

All the earth’s tribes loosen their voices to celebrate the promise of

Peace.

We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,

Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.

Peace.

We look at our world and speak the word aloud.

Peace.

We look at each other, then into ourselves,

And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:

Peace, My Brother.

Peace, My Sister.

Peace, My Soul.

I wish you all a blessed holiday season, and a joyous, peace-filled New Year!

I will be back all week sharing some of my favorite holiday things. What are you doing to end 2011?

My Big News - ((aka Move Over Sparkly Vampires...

2011-12-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

...I've got Kick A** Angels!))

Ha! It's finally time to share new news - news I have wanted to scream for a few weeks! But first, a teaser -

Did that get you going?

Here's the full story - My YA Gothic romance series, THE REQUIEM SERIES, is being published by Compass Press for release in 2012 and 2013.

Yep, that's right - 2012 and 2013.

The series starts with a special digital novella, DIES IRAE, which will release on or around February 22, 2012.

Don't you love the cover?

And the blurb:

Some sacrifices should never be made – even forlove.

Mikayel lives by one rule – obey the orders of theangelic Council at all costs. That is, until he and his friends, Azza and Demi,are sent to Earth. Assigned as Watcherswhile they await their decision of which angelic order to serve, the threeassume the bodies of teenagers and experience life as human.

The sensations are overwhelming, especially forAzza. Determined to experience everything humans do – rage, terror, love - hetempts Demi to break one of the unbreakable rules – never fall in love. But being human isn’t the only problem facing thethree angels. Unbeknownst to the Council, demonic activity is on the rise,threatening to break a tenuous peace that has existed for a millennia; a peaceAzza seems bent on destroying.

Caught in a struggle for power with unseen demonicforces and Azza, and fighting against his rising emotional attachment to Demi, Mikayelmust now decide how much he is willing to sacrifice for his new found love – adecision that could reignite an ancient war and will threaten the only thingthat matters to the angels, the survival of humanity.

Next up is my novel, LACRIMOSA, book #1 in the series, which releases in March, 2012 in print and digital formats.

Here's a little more -

As if casting out demons isn’t hard enough,five-hundred-year-old Nesy has to masquerade as a teenage girl to do it.

Nesy is the best of an elite group of angels –warriors called Sentinals – charged with the job of vanquishing the fallen.She’s never made a mistake, never gotten emotionally involved. But when shecomes face-to-face with Aydan, she freezes.

He is evil incarnate. A fallen angel that feeds offthe souls of others. Everything Nesy is supposed to hate. But she can’t,because he’s also the human love of her former life as a teen; a life thatended too soon, tying her to the emotions she was never supposed to feel. Now she mustchoose between doing her duty – damning Aydan to the fiery depths of hell – orsaving him, and condemning herself.

EXCITING YES???? I'm planning some fun things around both launches, so be certain to check back and get in on the fun. If you want to participate in any of the tours or the fun, fill out this form.

But, that's all later. For now, it's time to celebrate. So, I am doing a little giveaway between now and Dec 23. Just follow this blog, leave a comment and you could win one of FIVE separate giveaways - each containing one of my FAVORITE angel/demon stories! Which books am I giving away, you ask? Just check it out:

BECOME by Ali Cross

HUSH HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick

CRESCENDO by Becca Fitzpatrick

CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra Clare

CLOCKWORK PRINCE by Cassandra Clare

So, follow the blog, leave a comment and I will draw FIVE winners! WOOT WOOT!!! Contest is open internationally, and closes 12/23 at 11:59pm PST. I will announce all the winners on 12/24.

Thanks for all of the support over the last couple of years, and I really hope you will enjoy my new series!

Winner of Day #4 giveaway

2011-12-16T00:30:00.000-08:00

Hey guys - just a quick announcement for Thursday's winner of SHIVER....

SUPAGURLBOOKS! (AKA Heather)

Woo hoo!!! Congrats to everyone. And come back in a couple of hours when I reveal my big news and a MASSIVE giveaway!!!

AHHHHHHH!!!!!

A Giveaway And Some Opening Lines...

2011-12-15T05:25:00.000-08:00

Here we are at Day 4 of my Random Giveaway Week. Yesterday, I gave away BEFORE I FALL. And the winner is:

JEMI FRASER!!

WOO HOO!!!!

For today, I am giving away something by another amazing author - Maggie Stiefvater -

SHIVER - (blurb from Amazon) -From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 9 Up—Grace, 17, loves the peace and tranquility of the woods behind her home. It is here during the cold winter months that she gets to see her wolf—the one with the yellow eyes. Grace is sure that he saved her from an attack by other wolves when she was nine. Over the ensuing years he has returned each season, watching her with those haunting eyes as if longing for something to happen. When a teen is killed by wolves, a hunting party decides to retaliate. Grace races through the woods and discovers a wounded boy shivering on her back porch. One look at his yellow eyes and she knows that this is her wolf in human form. Fate has finally brought Sam and Grace together, and as their love grows and intensifies, so does the reality of what awaits them. It is only a matter of time before the winter cold changes him back into a wolf, and this time he might stay that way forever. Told from alternating points of view, the narrative takes a classic Romeo & Juliet plot and transforms it into a paranormal romance that is beautiful and moving. Readers will easily identify with the strong, dynamic characters. The mythology surrounding the wolf pack is clever and so well written that it seems perfectly normal for the creatures to exist in today's world. A must-have that will give Bella and Edward a run for their money.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY END --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

I loved this book from page one through the end. And I can honestly say, I was a bit influenced by her writing style...um, yep!

To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment and I'll draw a name! Easy peasy. Contest ends at 11:59pm PST and is open internationally. Be sure to come back tomorrow to see if you won AND...

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY! I was trying to think of something to tempt you with - a clue....something. But I've got nothing except this -

A few opening lines. They will have no meaning to you until tomorrow, most likely - but here you go:

#1 - "It always starts the same."
#2 - "Ishift in the booth, careful to remain hidden in the shadows."

Yea, I know - these don't help at all....
Oh well. Come back for my news (before I burst), some special reveals and more stuff I am giving away! It is gonna be EPIC! No really....
EPIC!

Day #3 of the Epic Random Giveaway Week

2011-12-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

Here we are at Day 3 of my Random Giveaway Week. Yesterday, I gave away THE BODY FINDER.
And the winner is:

NICOLE @THE MORE THE MERRIER!

WOO HOO!!!!

For today, I am giving away something by Lauren Oliver -

BEFORE I FALL ( in hardback) - (blurb from Amazon) -

Amazon.com Review

In this Groundhog Day meets Mean Girls teen hybrid, Sam Kingston is pretty, popular, and has a seemingly perfect boyfriend. But after a late-night party everything goes terribly wrong, and the life that she lived is gone forever. Or is it?

At the start of Before I Fall, Sam is self-consumed and oblivious about the impact of her actions on others. But as she repeatedly experiences slightly altered versions of the hours leading up to her death—and her relationships with friends, family, and formerly overlooked classmates bloom, end, or shift—it’s impossible not to feel for the girl whose life ends too soon. Oliver’s adept teen dialogue and lively prose make for a fast, page-turning story in which the reader is every bit as emotionally invested as Sam. --Jessica Schein

This is an amazing book that is still burning up the shelves!

To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment and I'll draw a name! Easy peasy. Contest ends at 11:59pm PST and is open internationally. Be sure to come back tomorrow to see if you won AND see the next giveaway.

And, um, a hint...okay, here are a couple:
1) No, I do not have a new agent
2) Yes, I am WAY TOO EXCITED
3) Yes, I am revealing more than one thing...

Day #2 of Random Giveaway Week

2011-12-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

Here we are at Day 2 of my Random Giveaway Week. Yesterday, I gave away INK EXCHANGE. And the winner is:

CARINA OLSEN

WOO HOO!!!!

For today, I am giving away something by Kimberly Derting -

THE BODY FINDER ( in hardback) - (blurb from Amazon) -

A gripping tale of a girl with a morbid ability that could lead her to a killer . . . and the boy who would never let anything happen to her.
Sixteen-year-old Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her unusual so-called gift. While her confusing feelings for her best friend are new, she has been able to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered—and the imprints that attach to their killers since she was a little girl. Violet has never considered her ability useful, but now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Fiercely protective of her, Jay agrees to help Violet search for the murderer. But even as she's falling in love, Violet is getting closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

I loved this book! If you haven't read it, you are really missing out...

To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment and I'll draw a name! Easy peasy. Contest ends at 11:59pm PST and is open internationally. Be sure to come back tomorrow to see if you won AND see the next giveaway.

Only 3 more days until my big news... should I give a hint? A teaser?....Hmmmmm

Random Giveaway Week!

2011-12-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

So, I love giving things away - I really do. And in honor of it being the LAST week of school for a few weeks, AND nearly Christmas, I thought I would give away some random books all week.
Cool? Cool!
And every giveaway will just be a plain ole' comment contest. But first, I want to announce the winner of Danyelle's ebooks -

Kayeleen Hamblin.

WOOT!!

For today, I am giving away one of Melissa Marr's books -

INK EXCHANGE (in hardback) - (blurb from Amazon) -

Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.The tattoo does bring changes—not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . . .

Ooohh....Cool, yes?

Just leave a comment and I'll draw a name! Easy peasy. Contest ends at 11:59pm PST and is open internationally. Be sure to come back tomorrow to see if you won AND see the next giveaway.

Oh! And did I mention that on Friday I have some epic news to share....mwahahahahaha!!!!

The Spruce Knoll Endangered Species Blog Tour

2011-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited today! A special edition of Heather McCorkle’s The Secret Of Spruce Knoll is releasing from Compass Press this month and she’s doing a special tour to go along with it. The special part, a percentage of the proceeds from every special edition sold (in every format) between its release date and 12-12-2012, will go toward Heather’s favorite charity that protects endangered species. Her goal is to make at least $10,000 for the charity.

WOO HOO!!!!! Books and charity - what a fabulous combination!

Of course there are prizes during the tour which goes from December 1^st through the 17^th. Prizes include a symbolic endangered species adoption of the winner’s choice (a $50 donation by Heather to the charity for the endangered species of the winner’s choice, and cute stuffed animal for the winner!), signed copies of her novels and great swag. For full details, and to enter, go here. http://heathermccorkle.blogspot.com

For the tour Heather has asked each blog host to pick their favorite endangered species and she will tell us a fun or interesting fact about that animal.

So I picked....

The Green Sea Turtle

I have had the pleasure of diving with these lovely animals off the coast of Maui - and they are amazing!

So Heather - what can you tell us about the Green Sea Turtle?

Heather: You’ve picked one of my favorite creatures! It breaks my heart that they have now been upgraded to the critically endangered list due to habitat destruction, hunting, egg collecting, and pollution. Much like humans, it takes sea turtles decades to be ready to mate and it takes two months for the eggs to incubate. Hatchling gender depends on the sand temperature.

Wow! I didn't know about the gender. That IS interesting.

Thanks for letting me be part of this, Heather. And if you guys want to be part of the fun, check out the full tour and the prizes at http://heathermccorkle.blogspot.com

And don't forget to check out the book - you won't be disappointed!

Buy links for the eBooks:

http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Spruce-Knoll-Channeler-ebook/dp/B006BL0WR8

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1036661905

BOOKANISTA THURSDAY

2011-12-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I am taking a few weeks off of book reviewing to finish some projects (more on this later - next week, in fact).
But, I wanted to give a quick shout out to Danyelle Leafty's Fairy Godmother Series (which I am giving away - check out this post) and post the links to the other fabulous reviewers this week:

Elana Johnson roars for FURY
Shannon Messenger marvels at A MILLION SUNS plus a preorder giveaway
Carolina Valdez Miller is all about HERE with a giveaway
Gretchen McNeil twirls for AUDITION
Corrine Jackson hails THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF ME AND YOU
Stasia Ward Kehoe is wild for DON'T BREATHE A WORD
Katy Upperman gets in the spirit with ELF ON A SHELF
Nikki Katz dishes on WHY WE BROKE UP

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for a special blog tour stop, and next week for the much awaited reveal of my sekrit projects. (yes, projectS - plural)

Until then, what are YOU reading?

Unofficial Danyelle Leafty Day - plus a giveaway

2011-12-07T05:36:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!
I bet you didn't know today was the unofficial Danyelle Leafty day. It is! Several of us have gotten together to throw out a little love for Danyelle and her books.

I first met Danyelle online and over the past few years we've gotten to know each other well. In fact, last summer we actually had a chance to meet in person - and she is every bit as amazing in person as she is online.

Danyelle reads most of my works, supports me and so many other writers, and is this wonderful voice of diversity in publishing. She is supportive of writers and seriously one of the most hard worker people I know.
And...she is an amazing writer in her own right!

Just check out the blurb for her book, CATSPELL - part of the Fairy Godmother Dilemma:

Catspell (from Goodreads):

Sixteen-year-old Breena never thought anything could be worse than being forced to leave the faerie realm. Then she got stuck with a fairy godmother. But if she has to choose between the two, she’d leave the Faerie Realm over getting bossed about by a faerie with a pointed stick any day. Unfortunately, her attempt to evade her fairy godmother gives her growing pains in the form of fur, whiskers, and a tail.
Turning into a cat is the least of her worries, though. The potion wasn’t meant to bring out her inner feline, it was meant to put her to sleep. Forever. If Breena wants to make it to her Happily Ever After, she’ll have to accept that sometimes a fairy godmother really does come in handy, after all.

This is a great twist on the fairy tale genre, with great characters and a wonderful story line. Her two other books in the series, FIRESPELL and APPLESPELL are also available for Nook and Kindle and are every bit as fabulous. Check them out! Or better yet, leave a comment and win your own copy of the ebooks here. Contest ends Monday, 12/12.

Check out these other blogs featuring Danyelle and her books!

Andrea Pearson Books
Notes From the Writing Chair - Giveaway!
Anne Bradshaw's Place
Diana's Amazing Book Adventures - Giveaway!
Roots in Myth - Giveaway!
Robin Weeks - Giveaway!
An Author Incognito
Janette Rallison's Blog - Giveaway!

And Epic Day With The TATTERED Tour, Including a Giveaway

2011-12-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to be part of LK Gardner-Griffie's blog tour for TATTERED - the latest in the Misfit McCabe series. For today, I have the author and some of the characters stopping by -

Take it away LK:

LK: First of all, I'd like to thank Christine Fonseca for hosting the Tattered tour.

For today's prize of a paperback copy of Misfit McCabe along with A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans, simply comment on this post.
To get a free ebook copy of Misfit McCabe:

Put together the puzzle and write down the code. Each day will give another part of the coupon code. Please note at the top whether it is for eBook or Print.
Once you have collected the entire code, go to Smashwords and purchase Misfit McCabe input the code and download whichever ebook version you need for free.

To get 50% off the print version of Misfit McCabe:

Put together the puzzle and write down the code. Each day will give another part of the coupon code. Please note at the top whether it is for eBook or Print.
Once you have collected the entire code, go to Griffie World Store and purchase Misfit McCabe input the code and receive 50% off the purchase price.

To win the KINDLE FIRE

Support this tour by commenting on each of the daily stops -- It's only 11 days, not even as long as the 12 days of Christmas.
And since Christine was nice enough to help me promote my new book, please [enter whether you'd like them to Like FB, follow on Twitter, subscribe the blog, tweets, etc. ]

Tattered is the third novel in the heartwarming young adult series, Misfit McCabe. A little about the book:

What do Sunday afternoon court proceedings, cheerleader tryouts, and a book burning have in common? Katie McCabe is back in action.

After her nemesis Harvey is found guilty and sentenced to community service, Katie wants to believe her troubles are over, but Harvey won’t rest until he gets revenge. When blackmail rears its ugly head, she’s caught between friends and enemies putting her growing relationship with Tom at stake. Books go up in flames and Katie’s world rains down in tatters.

Christine and I met on Twitter (is anyone sensing a trend here?) through a mutual friend. First I noticed her because I'd see retweets of her book launch and even then I thought, This is someone I need to get to know. She has two books out: Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students: Helping Kids Cope With Explosive Feelings and 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids. She's currently working on a couple young adult fiction offerings that I have had the pleasure to read BEFORE they make it to publication, so be looking for good young adult reads from Christine in the future. Now I'll turn things over to Katie McCabe, the fourteen-year-old main character of Tattered.

Katie: Hi Christine! Thanks for having us visit on this tour. It's kinda exciting to get to travel around to all of the blogs. Today I'm going to tell you a little bit about Sunny Li. I think Sunny is the reason people say, Don't judge a book by its cover. I'll be honest with you, Sunny and I didn't exactly hit it off when we first met. And it was all a HUGE misunderstanding. I didn't even know why she started picking on me. But when we got in trouble for fighting in the library, I thought my life would be over. I'd be grounded until the day I graduated... but that didn't happen, and somehow Sunny and I became friends. So much so that when some biddy started picking on her for having pink hair, I jumped in to defend her (and then got the shock of my life when the biddy turned out to be Tom's mom. Oops!) There's a lot about Sunny that you don't see on the surface. She keeps her feelings hidden most of the time. *leans in* Although, I do know that she likes Tim... he just doesn't see it yet. And he even talks about how the two of us are alike... not that I see it that way. I hope he wakes up soon. They'd make a cute couple. They're perfect for one another.

LK: Put the puzzle below together for part of the code to receive 50% off a paperback of Misfit McCabe. And make sure you visit Julia Swank, the YA Book Diva, on tomorrow's stop on the tour. And for all details on the tour, the prizes, and the stops, please visit Griffie World.

If the puzzle does not load correctly, please refresh your browser and it should display correctly.

Shelli Johannes-Wells Talks About Redefining Her Dreams

2011-12-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be hosting a leg of Shelli Johannes-Wells' Blog Tour for Untraceable. I know you guys have already heard about the book, and where to get it, and even a little bit about Shelli...so we aren't doing all of that here today.

For this stop, I really wanted to get into Shelli's head a bit and see what led her to indie publish. And let me tell you, her post is heartfelt and inspirational. I have absolutely no doubt that many, if not all, of us have experienced some of these feelings - maybe even right now!

So, without further adieu - take it away Shelli:

Redefining your Dream - Christina

For thelast several years – more like 8 years – I’ve been riding the publishing rollercoaster ride.

Since Ireally got serious about writing in 2004. I’ve had 4 books go to acquisitions. Two of those - a MG and Nonfiction book –went before I got an agent. After I signed with a top agent and a top NY agency,I had 2 more books go to acquisitions – a tween paranormal and this YA thriller– Untraceable.

Lastspring, at some point early in the submission process of Untraceable, after only a few rejections, my agent felt I shouldshelf my book after the first round. Most books get about 3 rounds and I wasdetermined not to give up on Untraceable.After some back and forths - we decided to part ways so I could get a freshperspective on my writing and the Book. I believed in this book that much.

Over thenext couple of months, I queried a handful of my top agents to see if theywould pick up Untraceable for acouple more rounds. Unfortunately, since the book had already been seen ahandful of editors – even thought it had gone to acquisitions at one house– noone wanted to touch the book. They were all more interested in my WIP that wasstill in its first draft and at least 6 months away from being complete.

I mustadmit, during this 6 months period from about April until Aug, I went into adeep depression. I’d been working so hard to get published for 8 years, gottenso close so many times with four different books. Through all that _ I hadworked hard to stay positive. But this time, it was different. This time Icould not pull myself up by the bootstraps and push forward.

What wasI doing wrong? Why am I the only one that’s not selling? What is wrong with me?Do I suck? Am I on the wrong path?

Myanxiety level over the last 2 years had magnified. The pressure to sell was overwhelming.The pressure to succeed was debilitating. And the constant failures left me rawand broken hearted. I was finally broken.

Unable towrite. Unable to be happy for anyone else who was moving toward his or herdream of publishing. Unable to see past my defeats.

I droppedoff line for several months. I could not see any success. I could not hear ofany deals. I could not talk to most of my writing friends.

Duringthat time, I began to see where my anxiety was really coming from. It wasn’t aboutwho was selling or for how much; it was because I was tired of someone else beingin charge of my own destiny and my own dreams. My gut was telling me to tryanother way. Even self-pubbing. But formonths I was stubborn- maybe even a little snobby – and my ego held me backthose 6 months. I felt traditional publishing was the ONLY way to go. I didn’twant to settle.

Overtime, I started to think more seriously about indie publishing. My writerfriends encouraged me to put my book out there. They felt it was good enough. Istill wasn’t sure. I paid for editing and when the editor told me it was ready,there was only one thing still holding me back. My ego. I even thought aboutusing an alias b/c I was embarrassed to put my stuff out under my name. I havea lot of friends in this industry – including agents and editors – and I didn’twant them to think I was indie publishing because I secretly sucked.

It wasn’tuntil a friend encouraged me to do it under my own name and blog about it –that I came out of my funk. You see, if I blogged about my fears and dreams andthe process. About my marketing. About everything. Then I was putting my heartout into the universe the authentic way.

In September,I decided to jump in and take the risk. What did I have to lose? Who cares whatpeople think? I decided to look at it as a fun experiment – to test out all mymarketing skills and see what I could do. The underdog in a cat dominatedworld. I let go of my ego – which was really the thing holding me back for solong – and knew it was time to go for it. But if I did it – I would do it theright way.

Theselast few months have been the best months of my last 8 years in writing. Therehas been no anxiety, no frustrations, no beating myself up.

Sure, attimes, I think I’m fooling myself. I wonder if I’ve made a huge mistake but Ijust keep pushing forward. I’m not in writing for the money. Oh sure – it’s begreat to make a living – but really - I just want my book to be the best it canbe – best cover, best story, best marketing.

I amproud of Untraceable that I did notcompromise my story at the suggestion of others, that I stuck by Grace, andthat I have created a great book. It is everything I ever wanted or imagined inmy mind and I would not change a thing.

I have noidea if Untraceable will be successful but somehow it doesn’t matter –

Because Idid my book - my way.

See - inspirational! THANK YOU Shelli for stopping by and I am so excited to jump into UNTRACEABLE. I will be reviewing it soon, so be on the look out for that.

You can find UNTRACEABLE at the usual haunts, including BN, Amazon, and iTunes. Get your copy today!

What are you reading?

A Big Dark YA Thank You!

2011-11-30T10:32:00.001-08:00

So, Weds is here and I was supposed to blog on Dark YA and the books I can not wait for. But, instead I shared my confidence and competition angst.

Since there are a ton of books I really am excited about - I thought I would just mention a couple:

1) TEN by Gretchen McNeil....SO SO SO AMAZING. I read a very early version, and HOLY COW - FABULOUS (you can read about the journey of TEN here)

2) SURRENDER by Elana Johnson - yes, I read and early version of that too - and it is amazing. Those who felt like you had a ton of questions at the end of POSSESSION will really LOVE this book

And next, I need to THANK HEATHER MCCORKLE for her lovely post about my writing. She brought tears of joy to my eyes when I read it this morning. You can read her post here.

Thanks to all of you for keeping me focused and moving forward. I have no words.

What Dark YA books are you excited about?

A Little Confession

2011-11-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday all. It's time for a little Christine confession -

But first, the set up. I have been thinking long and hard about my career of late. You see, it's feeling a little stagnant. My transition from nonfiction into fiction is marred with some serious lack of progress and far too much frustration.

Nothing necessarily surprising given the current state of publishing. But definitely crazy-making.

So, I decided to try a different route - I discovered another genre I LOVE to write (psychological thrillers), started drafting novels and again entered the query fray. I also developed a nice plan to forge a path into this crazy business on my terms (to a point), without sacrificing some of the long-term goals I have.

This all sounds good, right?

Fast forward a few months. My plans are trudging along. More bumps, more twists, and the plan is adjusted. Still, I am feeling really good.

And then it happens - a good friend develops her own plan for her own career path. It's also a FABULOUS plan. And I am completely confident that she will achieve her goals.

Fantastic, right?

Maybe....
Hmmm....something is amiss....

I am not feeling so right about everything. Not at all. What the heck is wrong?

Given that I am self-reflective by nature, I pick apart my feelings and motivations, trying to figure out where the new angst is coming from. Why my friend's new plan - one that has absolutely nothing to do with me or my plan, mind you - is bothersome....

And it hits me....

I am too freakin competitive.

UGHH!

I AM TOO COMPETITIVE

You see, even though her plan has nothing to do with mine - like at all - I am feeling angsty because I am so much more confident in her abilities to achieve her plan than I am in my own.

Yes, I know - you all think I am ridiculous now, don't you? It's okay - I think I am ridiculous too...
because I AM!

You see, being competitive is not a bad thing all by itself. BUT....
being competitive to the point of either a) feeling bad of your own accomplishments and goals because you know they won't measure up to someone else's, or b) being paralyzed due to fear of failure is just silly! Seriously.

After this little discovery, I had a nice chat with myself ("Self, stop it. You only feel this way because of your own angst and your own fear. It has nothing to do with anything else. It serves no purpose...so knock it off!") and I can happily report that I am back on track with no more feelings of yuck....

So...
there you go...
A little confession.

(bet you wish you hadn't read this post, huh??)

What's your Wednesday confession? I shared - it's your turn!

Finish Strong

2011-11-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I hope my US friends have recovered from the turkey/ham/feasting last week. I know I have. As much as I love having the family over, it is nice to get back into a routine.

And what a routine it is!

Last January I had several goals, including finishing a nonfiction and several fiction projects. While that has not completely panned out, I so expect to finish and accomplish some exciting things this year.
Towards that end, I thought I'd share with all of you my goals for the last month of the year:

Finish the sekrit project (I promise it won't be a secret much longer)
Finish a book trailer (yep, I can't wait to share this with all of you either - soon!)
Finish the draft of another novel (I am about 35% completed with this one)

Looks like December will be very NaNo-ish for me!

In order to complete these projects, I am sticking to a blogging schedule of three days/week - Mon, Weds, Fri.

What are you guys doing to FINISH STRONG this year???

PS - Thanks Elana J for the fabu pic!

Happy Thanksgiving, Adam Sandler Style...

2011-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Today is Thanksgiving in the US and I am spending it with my friends and family. As is tradition in my family, I want to share just a touch of the things I am thankful for in 2011 -

My family

My faith

ALL OF YOU!!!

That's right, I am thankful for all of you - for sharing a part of your life with me, and for caring about my life.

I am taking the rest of the week off but I thought I'd leave you with my favorite Thanksgiving Song...lol

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

WIP Wednesday and a Kissing Scene.

2011-11-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a while since I have shared any of my writing, so I thought I would share a steamy kissing scene from LACRIMOSA, my YA gothic romance.

His touch searsme. I pull away, barely able to speak. “Aydan? You’re here?”
            “Be with me,” he says, kissing myjaw, my neck, my shoulder. Every spot his mouth touches closes the empty spacesinside.
            A storm of desire gathers in mysoul. Not just desire – need. “I shouldn’t…can’t—”
            Aydan stops and looks at me, hisamber eyes as beautiful now as the day we met in Germany. “Tell me you don’tlove me.”
            I try to form the words. Try to lie.But every cell, human and angelic, reaches out for him. Every thought – onlyhim. I fall back into him, giving in to everything I desire.
            He wraps me in a hungry kiss,erasing the pain, the torment, the anguish. All that remains is my need. Mylove.
            "Let me have you. Loveyou," he says, his voice trembling.
            I open my mouth to respond, thewords nothing but dust. A single moan escapes as he draws me into another kiss.
Somehowhe reaches every dark corner of my soul, healing the betrayal and pain from solong ago. I want for nothing but him. This moment.
Foran eternity.

For more info about LACRIMOSA and to read the blurb and see the playlist I created for the story, check out last week's DARK YA post.
Don't you just love a kissing scene? Tell me, what's your fav??

Being AWESOME and POWERFUL...Words of Wisdom from Ali Cross!

2011-11-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

I am so thrilled to be part of Ali Cross's BECOME blog tour. Ali and I met through a mutual friend. As soon as we started chatting, I knew she was destined for great things. And then I read BECOME - not this version (this one is EVEN BETTER), but one of the versions while she was deciding what she wanted to ultimately do with it - query, shelve, indie publish. I knew the minute I read it this was NOT a book that should be shelved. And I am so glad Ali found the courage to follow her gut and her heart and see her dream realized. She has been such a source of inspiration for me.

But this post is about ALI and BECOME.

When I asked Ali to come over and visit my blog, I asked her if she could share a bit of her wisdom - tell us about her shift in thinking and how she has managed to embrace Indie publishing as she has. Man, she did not disappoint.

So, without further adieu, take it away Ali:

Self-publishing used to be a dirty word. And then it becamea trend. Well, no one likes dirty words and no one likes to be a follower. Weall want to be trend setters, movers and shakers, powerful and awesome.

So I’m here to today to say be awesome! Be powerful!Don’t follow a trend, define it.

I’m grateful to Christine for letting me post here today.She and I have been talking a lot lately about self-publishing and whether ornot it’s for her. Because it’s not for everyone. Traditional publishing requiresyou to put your faith in others (a hard thing to do), while self-publishingrequires you to put your faith in yourself (equally hard to do—maybe more so).

Self-publishing is nota dirty word. True, there are many who self-publish without properly vettingtheir novel. But just because anyone can do it, doesn’t mean everyone will doit well. But this road to publication isn’t a bad one, it’s just a differentone.

Sure, self-publishing is on the rise. It’s becoming more andmore acceptable to choose it. Choosing to go that route does not mean you’vefailed at publishing or that you are settling for something else—because thisroad isn’t a bad one, it’s just a different one.

Publishing today reminds me of the old Scottish song, TheBonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomand. You know the one that goes, “Oh! Ye’ll take thehigh road | and I’ll take the low road | and I’ll be in Scotland afore ye . ..” Self-publishing will get us to publishedsooner than traditional publishing, but it’s neither better nor worse.

You are not less for choosing to self-publish, nor are youfollowing a trend—not if you choose to travel this path for the right reasons.

Choose to self-publish because it’s the road you want totravel. Because you have faith in yourself and in your ability to publish well.Choose to publish traditionally because it’s the road that suits you. Becauseyou desire to work as a team, and you have the opportunity to bewell-represented.

Whichever road you take, make sure you are prepared for thejourney—that you are ready for what will come, for what will be asked of youand, most importantly, that your story is the very best it can be. Set your owntrend of awesome and whichever road you choose will take you exactly where youwant to be—published.

See what I mean! Isn't Ali amazing.

But don't take my word for it - go and read BECOME for yourself. Trust me, this book is amazing (I'll be reviewing it in the next week).