Ally Condie's Blog, page 20

new news!

Today on the official blog tour I got to visit with The Compulsive Reader! You can find the interview here.

And, here is some fun news! The Provo Library is going to host a party for Matched on Tuesday, December 7th. Books will be available for purchase and, of course, signing! This event, and the launch party on Saturday, December 4th at The King's English in Salt Lake City, are the last two events I have scheduled until March (and that one will be out of state). I would love, love, love to see anyone who can make it to The King's English or to the Provo Library! Click over on the Events page for more details.

blog tour continues…

…here on Brenna Yovanoff's blog (and she's giving away copies of MATCHED)!

…here at Presenting Lenore.

And I posted on Throwing Up Words today about some of my favorite books of 2010. Come on over and let's discuss!

blog tour begins!

I'm probably going to be posting every day until MATCHED comes out. I hope it isn't Ally/Matched overload and you all leave, never to return. But the bloggers have been AMAZING and the interviews have been so fun–how can I not share the links? It is impossible.

First of all, check out the official website for MATCHED. It is awesome. There's even an app where you can Match with someone. And a scary clicky camera. This is such a beautiful site and I adore everything about it. Kudos to Penguin and the designers!

Second of all, the wonderful Brenna Yovanoff (author of THE REPLACEMENT) is hosting me on her blog this week. Click here to visit Brenna's site.

And here are some awesome blog interviews. This one here at Forever YA still makes me laugh out loud whenever I think about the fact that they MASHed me and I married Draco Malfoy and bore four of his children.

Today I'm over at Mundie Moms (thank you, Mundie Moms)!

And the wonderful bloggers at YA Reads have chosen MATCHED as their Book of the Month for November. And Reading Teen is featuring Matched as their Reading Clean Spotlight this month, which I think is such an honor. Click here for their feature and for an awesome vlog.

Big thanks to Anna and Allison at Penguin for organizing and coordinating the blog tour and keeping me on track. I am so scattered lately. If there are links I've forgotten to post, blame me, and blame this sequel. I am spending every second I can writing this thing. I love this book–don't get me wrong, it's been very fun to write–but it just can't quit me.

P.S. The trip was amazing. Big thank-yous to all of the booksellers who took time out of their busy days to come chat about MATCHED and about books in general. And to Katy, Allison, Sheila, Allan, Dawn, and Biff at Penguin for making it all happen. It was one of those experiences that was lovely to live and that I will always remember. Especially because: look at this picture of me with these excellent booksellers in Chicago! Not only were they incredibly nice, but they also allowed me (at 5′ 3″) to look tall. (Note to self: Ally, pull down your skirt. No one wants to see your knees.)

questions and answers. part one.

So I got all excited after my last post because I thought I'd figured out how to reply to each individual comment, and away I went replying, and then when it posted I realized they all just went straight to the end of the comment chain. Urgh. I will keep trying. I'm sorry about that!

And, before I get into the Q & A, I also want to let you know that Kirsten Miller, the lovely author of the New York Times Bestselling The Eternal Ones, is hosting me on her blog this week (THANK YOU, KIRSTEN).

And away we go with the questions and answers (and thanks to everyone for the great questions)…

Karenof 4 asked: As a mother and wife, how do YOU balance all your life responsibilities with writing? I'm always interested in learning how other moms do it. Thank you!

I've answered some of this before in A Conversation On: Writing with Small Children (which you can find if you click on the categories for this post), but the answer is really just this: not well. I take care of my kids all day. I try to write about 3-4 hours each night (or during naptime). Other than that, it's just sort of putting out fires all the time. The house is a mess, I'm scattered and the people in my neighborhood think I'm crazy, etc. Karen, I'm sorry. I don't know if that answer is helpful or not. I would love to have more balance but I'm beginning to wonder if that will ever happen.

Lynsey asked: Have you got the ideas all mapped out for the next 2 books in the Matched trilogy or are you working it out as you write? I'm interested to know if you sat down to write Matched and knew exactly what was going to happen from start to finish from the get-go or whether you're making it up as you go along.

Thanks for the question, Lynsey! While I don't do a formal outline, I keep a folder of notes about the books that I add to constantly. So I always have lots of ideas about where I want the series to go, but until I write it out completely, things could change (except for about 20 key plot points that I've had in mind for the series since I knew it was going to be a series). Book Two is in revision. I have about 100 pages of Book 3 written that I'm sure I'll have to rethink and rewrite. So…I am kind of making it up and I also kind of know where I'm going. Does that make sense?

Sue Bowman asks: Will you be doing any book signings anywhere NW Arkansas? If not I would like to purchase Matched signed but not surewhere or if that is possible.

Sue, that is really awesome of you. We don't have any plans right now for NW Arkansas or anywhere very near, but I think I will be signing stock at The King's English (a great independent bookstore here in Utah) on December 4th. I think you can order books from them if you call. I've linked to their site over on the Events page. I hope that helps!

Remilda Graystone asks: As for my question, What was the most surprising thing to happen to you after Matched was snatched up by a publisher? And what's the most exhausting thing about being a published author? Also, I don't know if you answered this in a post–that I have missed, if you did–but where did the idea come from?

The most surprising thing has been all of it. The attention the book received. The fact that it got starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. The fact that people are talking about it! It's all a bit surreal.

The most exhausting thing about being a published author is making sure you get the writing done and that it's the best it can be, while still doing everything you can to promote the book (social networking, etc., which I am terrible at but try to do).

As for where the idea came from: Matched was inspired by several experiences—specific ones, like a conversation with my husband, chaperoning a high school prom, and listening to my pharmacist brother-in-law talk about drugs and pharmaceuticals—and general ones, like falling in love and becoming a parent. The catalyst was a conversation I had with my husband that helped me bring all these things together.

Karen St. Louis asks: There's been a lot of buzz about Matched, and I'm wondering whether that's making you feel like you're under pressure to perform well as you write the sequel(s.) And if so, does that sort of pressure stimulate you or intimidate you? (Hope that's not too personal.)

No, it's not too personal, and absolutely I feel pressure. Which is why I'm really excited that I've written so much of Books 2 and 3 before Book 1 even hits. It's nice to have things set out on paper in advance. But, I am also a bit of a "bring it on" kind of person. Not in that I'm confrontational or that I like to get in people's faces–I am not into that at all–but I do like to challenge myself. Most of my motivation is internal. I am always my own harshest critic. If the pressure is getting to me, it's usually something a good long run can fix. (Thanks again, Coach Corry!)

Emy Shin asks: How long does it take for you to start a project after you get the initial idea?

I usually start right away by writing some notes. Those notes might sit for a while. But I usually want to capitalize on that first rush by writing a page or two of a scene I think could be in the book, or a conversation between characters, etc.

Sara B. Larson asks: As for a question… how about… what's your favorite meal that DH makes for you?

This is a tough one. He is a great cook. Right now I'd say tikka masala and sour lemon cream pie (this is what I requested for my birthday dinner this year and it rocked).

Ruth asks: I keep hearing about how stressful it is when you get an agent and/or get published. So my question: Is it worth it? I love writing but I wonder if some of the joy is gone when you are under so much pressure.

Getting an agent actually made my life much less stressful because she is so amazing–and because it feels like you've been writing alone for a long time and now you have someone who is on your team. I love it. As for the publication part, I guess I don't totally know. I've loved being published before with my smaller publisher. And I am already loving my current publisher. It is totally worth it, from where I stand right now.

Jen Bigheart asked (in an earlier post): LOVED Matched! Can't wait for the rest of the world to read. Any plans to come to TX? TLA in April?

Jen, thank you! And there might be something in the works for TX in April. So keep an eye on the Events page.

And the question that started it all from Karen: So I'm curious – did you ever have moments when you were writing Matched or its sequel when you DID feel like you were writing "the worst book ever," or were you more confident with these books all along?

Since I've written five books before Matched, I did feel more confident. That isn't to say I didn't have plenty of seesaw moments like you described, or that it was all easy. But Matched was really, really fun to write for the most part.

And that's it for now. I'm on my booksellers' tea tour (to Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia, and Boston) this week, but I'm still posting over on Throwing Up Words tomorrow. I'll see you there! And I hope you're all having excellent Novembers.

ask me a question. please.

So every writing brain cell I have is being spent on this revision. Every cell. All five of them. And I am traveling next week, and I want to write next Tuesday's post before I go. And I was reading the comments from the last post and Karen had a really great question, and I wondered, do any of the rest of you have questions for me? Then I could answer them for my next post. (And Karen, I will totally answer your question, of course.)

Any takers?

In other news, the ceiling literally caved in on us today. Bonus: the kids have been incredibly intrigued by all the repairmen and like to follow them around and stare at them. I bet they love it. What I bet even more is that my husband loves that my littlest boy has started calling the most impressive of the workmen "Dad."

a month until matched! and other items

I meant to post this Saturday, and then I had all these cute little people to get into costumes and to make spooky feasts for, so up it goes today.

There is only a month left until the release of MATCHED!

I am so excited. Everything has happened so quickly (this time last year, we hadn't even sold the book to Dutton/Penguin yet). And yet I still can't wait for November 30th. I've seen the hardcovers and they are beautiful. I've never had a book come out in hardcover before. It's so satisfying to knock on the book and hear that "thunk" and crack the spine when you open the book for the first time.

The launch party for MATCHED will be at The King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City on Saturday, December 4th, at 2:00 p.m. And this is the first time I've ever had an official launch party for a book! I can't wait.

So what am I going to do to keep myself busy until then?

Well, there's the sequel. Some of you thought from my last post that I was talking about the sequel when I told my husband I was writing the worst book in the world. That quote was actually from an earlier book. But I am working really hard on the sequel. I've been writing it for a year now and I want it to be the best it can be.

Also, I get to go on a mini-tour! Next week I'll be in Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia, and Boston for some bookseller teas. I am over the moon about this. It's a chance to meet with and talk to the booksellers who actually put books in people's hands. But it's such a fast trip (five days for all four cities!) and it's booked so solid that I think I'm going to miss out on seeing awesome friends and also two of my husband's sisters and their darling families (they live in Chicago and Boston). I think the solution is that I will just have to come back. (Thanks in advance again to my mom for coming to help out while I'm gone!)

And this past weekend, in addition to all the Halloween fun, there was the incredibly excellent Teen Book Fest at the Provo City Library. Wow. What an incredibly well-run event (shout out to Gene Nelson and Courtney Lowe of the library). And Scott Westerfeld was a great speaker. If you are in the area, you must try to go to this next year!

And also I have three small boys of incomparable cuteness to keep me doing things like assisting in homework, making sandwiches, playing blocks, reading books, washing tiny footed pajamas, etc.

And a quick two-day trip to Florida for ALAN/NCTE, which I kind of can't believe is happening. I always wanted to go to NCTE as an English teacher, and now I'm going as an author. It's funny how life works sometimes.

And Thanksgiving with my awesome family (my husband and kids of course, and also my dad, mom, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, grandma) coming up at the end of the month. We have a lot to be grateful for this year.

November 30th is going to be here before I know it.

advice and conversations

I was re-reading a few old posts, trying to get an idea for a new one, and was happy all over again to see my husband's guest post and your excellent responses. And then I thought of the following conversation with him and I smiled. Since you "know" him a little, perhaps you'll like it too:

Him: "How did the writing go today?"

Me: "It was fine, considering I'm writing the worst book ever."

Him (thoughtfully): "I'm pretty sure that's statistically impossible."

And then I thought of a conversation I had with my dad back when I was in college. My dad and I talked on the phone a lot then and we talk on the phone a lot now (he lives a few hours away). I was lamenting the fact that I had a lot going on with school and student teaching, etc., etc.

Me (crying): "Dad, I just don't know if I can do it. There's so much on my plate."

Dad (kindly, but firmly): "Well, you have to do it. That is how life is. You have to get the s&*! off your plate now because there's just going to be more there tomorrow."

Ah, tough love. Sometimes it is just what I need. As I've been working on this book and trying to manage everything, I've thought of both of these pieces of advice/conversations often and laughed and kept writing. They've helped. A lot.

winners of nightshade!

The winners of the two hardcover copies of NIGHTSHADE are:

Julie@myfivemonkeys

and

Karen St. Louis!

Congratulations!

Will you e-mail me your mailing addresses (my e-mail is over in the FAQ) and I'll get these books out to you ASAP? And, if either of you ladies already have a copy, could you let me know and we'll try again? You have until midnight Wed. night (MST) to claim the prize. Congrats again!

the penguin five: q & a with andrea cremer

And now for a Q & A with Andrea Cremer to finish off the week of NIGHTSHADE. This is also your chance to win the second of two hardcover copies…so make sure to comment by midnight tomorrow (Saturday) night, MST. (Contest open to US only.)

1. Andrea, welcome! Can you tell us the top five things you think we should know about you?

5) I have two dogs: a pug and a border collie.

4) My middle name is Darrelle, after my father, Darrel.

3) I'm a history professor.

2) I don't like the Beatles.

1) Calla and I have the same favorite book: Watership Down.

2. You've mentioned on your blog that you draft at an intense pace and that your manuscript really consumes you until you finish that initial draft. The pacing in Nightshade is INCREDIBLY well-done. How did you accomplish this? Do you think it is partially because of that wonderful/terrible consuming rush of the initial draft? Or is it something that comes out later in revision?

Thank you so much, Ally. Pacing is really important to me. I think the result is a combination of how absolutely lost I become in the first draft (I don't mean lost in a wandering sense, but lost as in I forget about the real world for awhile) and refining that passion during the revision process.

3. Andrea, sometimes you and I joke about sharing a muse (we both love similar poems, etc.). How do you get your muse to come visit while you're writing? What do you do to invite creativity into your life and writing?

My muse doesn't visit, she holds me hostage. When I'm writing I have a hard time doing anything else. I get in the shower and get out again, forgetting to wash my hair. I pour orange juice on my cereal. I throw clothes in the garbage instead of the hamper. My muse is fueled by music and coffee and I would say the music does jumpstart my creative process. I create playlists for each of my novels.

4. Can you share with us one of your favorite paragraphs/passages from Nightshade?

Sure! This is one of my favorite lines from Calla: "Don't ever, ever try to pet a wolf. It's just insulting."

5. And, finally, what are you reading right now?

I just finished Beth Revis's debut, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (January 2011). It's amazing. Now I'm reading Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER.

Thank you, Andrea! And congratulations again on the release of NIGHTSHADE!

the book trailer for MATCHED premieres!!

Click here to see the trailer! I love it. Once again the people at Penguin have blown me away with their vision for this book. Many thanks to all who were involved!