Vicki Pettersson's Blog, page 10

Travelogue 1 – Tea time in Dallas.

Note: Operator Error led to yesterday’s post never actually being posted (until today when said Operator found her errant brain). So for the tour schedule, and info on the rockabilly dress-up contests (+ live band!), please check below.

Today? The travelogue …

Second arbitrary note: These will read more like journal entries than blog posts – I don’t know why. They just seem to want to come out in first person present tense. I’m also not getting a lot of new words on the page right now, so I think it’s cathartic for me. Sane author + tour = Good for Everyone. 

Anyhoodles…

*

THE TOUR.

And so it begins, and well it should. I’m not very good at waiting, as the longer I wait for something, the more knotted up about it I get. This is my first tour of length, and I’m anxious to get under way. I have some radio, tv and newspaper interviews scheduled in between signing stops, and I’m sincerely hoping I don’t drop the ball on any one of these things. However, my publicist, Kaitlyn, is a gift from God. I wish everyone was as detailed and competent at their job as she is. I’m more at ease because of her. Frankly, I think the world would spin more easily on its axis because of her.

It’s also been too long since I met readers. Real people, can you imagine that? So here I am, in Dallas, headed to my first stop at the annual DFW Readers/Boas and Tiaras event. I didn’t even pack in Vegas until two hours before my flight – I make that trip between Vegas and Dallas so often that it’s a non-event, rather like brushing my teeth – so I hope I actually remember my tiara. (It’s on a bookshelf in my Dallas living room. My family uses it to crown the winner when we play board games.)

At last year’s tea with reader Jackie. There’s a reason she’s smiling so big here, but it’s impolite to say. Let it suffice: she is cheeky.

B&N has agreed to sell THE TAKEN early at this event, which is normally a bad thing for an author, but hitting lists isn’t my focus right now. Reaching readers, letting them know I have something I love and that I think they’ll love too, that’s my deal. Oh, and the event is being held at a place called The Chocolate Angel (versus a hotel last year) so chocolate is kinda my deal, too. All work and no play … right?

I’m hoping to see some familiar faces on the road, and some newbies as well. I actually have a pretty good memory, and can usually claw back names from the past — and always faces. People tend to be surprised at that, I think because there’s one of me and many of them, but unless it’s a chaotic event – like a convention or a one-time meeting – I don’t see why. People are distinct. They come from specific places, have distinctive faces, and I tend to catalogue those differences. After all, someday soon I’ll be back in my writing cave, all alone, and I’ll need to draw on something for inspiration.

It’s also been far too long since I’ve introduced a new series to readers, and there’s lots of “new” with this one – Kit Craig is so different than Joanna Archer, so hopefully readers will come in with an open mind, and not simply expect more of the same. I’ve also switched POVs from first to third, which is more common in crime fiction than UF. I additionally alternate POVs with a male protag, Grif, who’s really the force driving this trilogy.

So all in all this is vastly different world than Zodiac. I’m hoping crime fiction readers will give it a shot, and longtime readers will take it for what it is, rather than what they hope it to be. Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, I’m personally anxious because there are edits to work on for the second Celestial Blues book. Yet my editor has seen the first draft, knows what’s on my plate – as well as what touring is (ie. all-consuming) – and told me to concentrate on the tour and not worry over the rest for now. She’s a real pro, and more than that, a real friend. So I’m going to do as she says and let it go on my travel days and concentrate on the readers. On the few days off I have, though, I’ll be both working out and touching the page, just so I don’t get too cold. THE LOST is slated to come out in March, and I want to do my part to ensure that happens.

Oh, and I’ve also packed rockabilly wear, to coincide with my protagonist, Kit’s, interest in the rockabilly lifestyle. I don’t have enough, so I won’t be a cool kitten for every stop, but I do have outfits for the three tours stops that are sponsoring rockabilly contests – LA, Redondo Beach & Vegas. I wrote the rockabilly aspect into the books because it interested me, and I made the series click in my mind, but my UF readers seem to have really taken to it, and I think I know why. It gives us all something otherworldly and fun to hang our mental hat on outside of the usual vampires and werewolves and witches, etc. You can dress up, but you can also dress up and go out in public with the police wanting to tase you. (I’m looking at you, Florida.) You get to be something “other,” but be a part of the world, too. And it’s just plain fun. I’ve found that just researching the rockabilly lifestyle has informed and influenced my life in unexpected ways. It’s surprising, yet not, that my art is now influencing me. And on we go.

Anyway, I’ll be uploading photos via instagram/twitter for all events. They’ll be organized on my gallery page, but if you wish to see/hear the play-by-plays of the tour, and the details that won’t make the travelogues, make sure to follow me on Twitter. (I can’t get my iPhone to work with my Facebook “Like” page, so am unable to upload there.)

Off to don my tiara. I hope to see you soon!

 

 

Road trip!

THE TAKEN goes on-sale next Tuesday, and I’m hitting the road! I’m on my way to Dallas today for my first event tomorrow, so check the schedule below and come hang with me if you can. This year I’ll be in Texas, Southern California, Cincinnati, Las Vegas and NYC!

Don’t forget, three stops are hosting rockabilly dress up contests (noted below). So bring your circle skirts or don your creepers — photos will be snapped! There will even be a rockabilly band performing at the Redondo Beach signing!

And if you can’t make it to a real stop, I’ll be working hard to bring you a virtual tour right here. Travel photos, updates, reader interactions, and behind-the-scenes peeks at what goes into a two week tour.

Meanwhile, Chapter 3 of THE TAKEN is now available for online reading! (Playing catch-up? Here’s Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.) Happy reading!

June 9, 2012 – 1-5 p.m.

DALLAS, TX – DFW Tea Readers Group/Boas & Tiaras; Chocolate Angel, 4709 West Parker Road, Plano, TX

June 12, 2012 – 7 p.m.

DALLAS, TX – Barnes&Noble; 7700 West Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX

June 13, 2012 – 7 p.m.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Dark Delicacies; 3512 W Magnolia Blvd Burbank, California 91505 – rockabilly dress-up contest. What will you wear?

June 14, 2012 – 7:30 p.m.

REDONDO BEACH, CA – Mysterious Galaxy; 2810 Artesia Blvd. Redondo Beach, CA 90278 – rockabilly dress-up contest. What will you wear? Also…LIVE BAND at 7:00 pm. Come early and get your swing on!

June 15, 2012 – 7:00 p.m.

SAN DIEGO, CA – Mysterious Galaxy; 7051 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard San Diego, CA 92111

June 16, 2012 – 4:30 p.m.

HOUSTON, TX – Murder By The Book; 2342 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005

June 18, 2012 – 6:00 p.m.

WAXAHACHIE, TX – Hastings – http://local.yahoo.com/info-18682723-hastings-books-waxahachie

June 19, 2012 –7:00 p.m.

FAIRVIEW, TX – A Real Bookstore; 113 Prarie Rd., Fairview, TX

June 20, 2012 –7:00 p.m.

CINCINNATI, OH – Joseph-Beth Booksellers 2785 Dixie Hwy., Crestview Hills, KY

June 21, 2012 – 7:00 p.m.

LAS VEGAS, NV – Clark County Library; 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119 – rockabilly dress-up contest. What will you wear?

July 12-14, 2012 – 4:30-6:30 p.m. NEW YORK, NY – THRILLERFEST (Note: Thrillerfest signings are open only to Thrillerfest participants … which is why I’m hosting an informal coffee klatch for my NY readers. Time and place TBR, but it’ll likely be that Friday or Saturday. If you’re in the NY area and you’d like to come chat with me, drop me a line here and let me know what day works best for you. Let’s see if we can’t make it work for everyone — I’d love to meet you!

Embracing the Unexpected.

I’ve been blown away this week by the general awesomeness of others. I love people. I do wish to tell you about one of my amazing readers, but that’s tomorrow. Today I want to talk about kismet, and happy coincidence, and those magical moments that spark every now and then in life just to let you know it’s all worth it.

Some of you might remember me talking about the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender, which I attended for *koff* research purposes for the third time this April. You may also remember me posting this photo:

The woman on the right is Elaina, and she couldn’t have been more gracious when I accost– erm. Approached her. She and her girlfriends just looked so cool hanging at the bar, and I had to stop to compliment them and get my picture taken with her. Anyhoo, we’ve struck up a correspondence since and she surprised me with this gift in my P.O. Box:

There’s so much that’s fantastic about this little package that I don’t know where to start. The gift, a cute purse hanger from her line of artwork? The thought that went behind bothering to think of me at all? The card that’s not only hand written, but gorgeously  written, and in an age where pixels usually suffice? (My handwriting has declined since I draft on a computer, so I’m determined to step up my game in that area again. I needed this stunning little nudge.)

It was tactile, thoughtful, and gorgeous — and meant so much to me.

Isn’t life full of wonderful surprises?

To see more of Elaina Soto’s ethereal and magical artwork, which speaks to the very reasons I was attracted to her – it’s distinct and vibrant and fun - go here. (I’m going to order a print as a post-tour gift to myself, but am having trouble deciding on one. Maybe the Klumpfisk?) And maybe consider if there’s someone who could benefit from a handwritten note from you. (I have two to write today myself.) Elaina provided me a small spot of joy and contentment in the madness of my pre-release schedule, and I think providing others with that sort of feeling is a way to answer one of life’s most important questions: Are people better off for having known you?

(Psst. I am, Elaina. Thank you.)

Where I’ll be this week:

Mornin’, Monday!

It’s just over a week until THE TAKEN finally hits the shelves, and all the puzzle pieces are starting to float together, almost of their own will. I have my first appearance at the end of the week in Dallas, where I’ll be signing copies of THE TAKEN three days early. Meanwhile, I’m hard at work on the second book in the series, so I’ll be scarce … except for when I’m not. Here’s the latest news as release day nears:

Vegas Magazine:

Click the link to view the full story, but this is pretty much as glossy as it gets. I love what they did with my city in the background — worth it, I think, for a 5 am call-time (remember that Facebook and Twitter friends?).

The Big Thrill Webzine: The webzine for the International Thriller Writers. Trust me, the article is thrilling.

The Debutante Ball blog: The Debs all have their first books coming out this year. They put my heels to the fire.

Publishers Weekly Q&A: This ran a few weeks ago, and was one of the first times I spoke about THE TAKEN.

Radio Interview featuring Kim Harrison/Jocelynn Drake/Moi: One of the first times I really spoke of THE TAKEN. We all talk what it’s like ending our old series’ and starting something new.

If hearing me talk is boring and you’d rather talk with me on the phone, Literary Escapism is hosting a PHONE chat this time next week (8:30 pm EST). Click the link for the call-in number. Let’s really chat.

Think you have nothing to say? Find something in the first two chapters of THE TAKEN, now up:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

As for the Tour, here’s the full schedule (listed on sidebar) but my first stop is this Saturday, and on release day, next Tuesday, I’ll be at the B&N in my adopted semi-hometown, Dallas.

And Harper is sponsoring a rockabilly dress-up contest at three of the tour stops! I’ll be there, of course, dressed to the nines, and I even have one reader who has just completed a design of the dress that’s worn on the cover of THE TAKEN. I can’t wait to see her! But you don’t need sewing skills to participate, just a sense of fun. More deets to come but participating stores are:

Dark Delicacies/Burbank on June 13

Mysterious Galaxy/Redondo Beach on June 14

Las Vegas Library on June 21.

Pop over to my Pinterest page for some rockabilly wear inspiration. I already have readers contributing to my boards, and it’s so much fun to see THE TAKEN come to life in images.

And for those of you who aren’t near any tour stops, I’ll be uploading photos via Instagram to Twitter (and hopefully Facebook, though I’m having a hard time with the interface). So be sure to follow me there for a virtual tour.

And that was link-heavy – phew!

I’m off to write…

A kick-ass post.

A rare weekend post for me, starting with a question:

Did anyone else just NOT see June sneaking up on them? I blinked and all of a sudden it’s 106 in the shade and my release month to boot. Weird.

Yet here we are. And today I am over at the Debutante Ball today with a Q&A about THE TAKEN, and supporting the Debs — all authors with their first books out this year! (HUGE congrats to them all – that’s so exciting!)  My longtime friend (and Writer’s Forum alum, where we both learned the craft) Linda Grimes interviews me, and her first book, IN A FIX, comes out September 4th. (Isn’t this a fantastic, fun cover?)

So stop by, say hi, and check out some of these new writers – you’re going to be seeing a lot of in the near future.

June 11/8:30 pm EST — I’ll be doing a live PHONE chat with Literary Escapism about THE TAKEN. The book comes out the next day, but don’t worry if you haven’t gotten an early copy. Jackie has read it, and will be asking pointed (spoiler-free!) questions — and, listen, I’d love to put voices to some of the avatars I’ve gotten to know so well via the web. You can hear my voice, too. One friend once called it ‘Minnie Mouse on Crack’ but she is no longer with us. Go HERE  for the call-in number, and jot it down on your calendars. I’d love to talk with you!

Vegas peeps – the just release June/summer issue of VEGAS MAGAZINE has a feature story on moi – being a local and all – and if you remember back in April when I had to be up at 4 am for a photo shoot — well, this was it. I haven’t seen it yet, but a good friend texted me yesterday to say she had.

“It was wonderful! If I didn’t know you already I’d pick up your books based on this article alone!” she said.

“But then you’d have to learn to read,” said I.

“F*ck off, Vicki,” she said.

And balance was restored to the Universe.

As for me, it’s a family weekend and the last one spent readying for my Tour. (This time next week I’ll be in Dallas for the DFW Tea Readers/Boas&Tiaras day-long event.) Like many of you, I’ve a lot of end-of-the-school-year schtuff going on as well. I even volunteered last night for an end-of-the-year party at school. I was assigned …

Face painting.

(!!!!)

Isn’t it sweet that the teacher thought since I could write that I have artistic abilities in other areas?

Ahem.

No.

Check out this poor girl’s cheek.

Is that the shittiest dolphin you ever saw or what? Not only that, I soon discovered that there was a … Professional. Face. Painer. In the next room.

Now I’ve never exactly aspired to being a kick-ass face painter, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t start brandishing that paint  crayon like a sword. Ah, Mommy Wars! I love the smell of estrogen in the morning!

Anyway, hope your weekend kicks ass, too.

THE TAKEN release heats up!

Happy Friday! I hope everyone is looking forward to a wonderful weekend. Summer has definitely hit the Vegas valley, though last weekend was uncharacteristically cool. Know that perfect day? The one where the air is just a tad cooler than body temperature, and you have good friends and food – along with a happy, healthy family – to go along with it? That was last weekend.

This weekend it’s 106 in the shade.

A lesson in stopping to smell the proverbial roses, I suppose. I attempted to recapture the cool weather by getting up early today (5:30) and have my first cuppa on the patio. Here’s a pic of my buddy, the little guy James and I call our Sentry. He lets the other quail know if it’s safe to enter the yard or not. Today? Not, as I was there.

But y’all don’t come here to talk about weather and quail. I’ve a brand spankin’ new interview up in THE BIG THRILL, via the International Thriller Writers organization, to which I belong. Guy Bergstrom interviewed me, and if you’re a writer you’ll want to check out his blog, RED PEN OF DOOM. The archives rock. Anyway, after we got past bonding over Scandinavian surnames, he chatted me up about THE TAKEN, and even made me talk a little smack. That’s a thriller writer for you — friggin’ edgy.

Meanwhile, my Facebook page has gotten a Facelift. I seem to interact more with my readers there than on any other social site, so I thought it worth the investment to make it a more permanent home (don’t mess this up for me Wall Street). Skilled designer Syd Gill spruced it, and there’s even exclusive new content for Facebook friends: the (very) short story that sparked the Celestial Blues series.

Also on Facebook, via my publisher, Chapter 1 & Chapter 2 of THE TAKEN. It comes out in less than 2 weeks, but you can start getting your Read on now.

I’ve also joined Pinterest, and am building boards there about Kit and Grif (my characters) about rockabilly, and about those things that inspired the series — all in prettah picture form. Check it out, feel free to comment, follow … I’ll probably follow you back. Pinterest is a great way to unwind at the end of a day.

Some fun news regarding the Tour, which starts in 8 days:

*DFW’s Tea Readers Group/Boas&Tiaras event will have copies EARLY. Three days. This is totally kosher with Harper and totally cool for you. Look up the event if you’re in or near Dallas. There are a lot of other cool writers attending, too.
*The Tour officially kicks off on the 12th at the Barnes and Noble in my adopted semi-hometown of Dallas. Please show up. I live there part-time now so it’ll be embarrassing if I’m there by myself, pointing people to the restrooms. Though not as embarrassing if that happened in Las Vegas on the 21st. In which case, Mama will have a fit. Or a breakdown. Possibly both. Let’s not dwell on that, shall we?
*Speaking of Vegas, it is one of the three spots on the tour chosen for (drumroll please) a … ROCKABILLY DRESS UP CONTEST! Yep, Harper is generously offering up prizes to the “best” rockabilly outfit. Of course, it’s not “dress up” for those truly into the scene, but I can tell you first hand that if you want to feel glam and retro and old-school Americana for an evening, this is the way to go. The contests are being held at these three stops:
Dark Delicacies in Burbank
Mysterious Galaxy in Redondo Beach
Las Vegas Library

 

And yes, I’ll be participating too, so if you do dress up expect to take photos together so I can post to the “virtual tour” for those who couldn’t attend. Make ‘em jealous … show up in your circle skirts with a greaser on your arm.

I’m off — I have some end-of-the-school-year mommying to do (it’s an action word!) so have a great weekend, and for those of you who told me you’re reading THE TAKEN this weekend … enjoy!

Contest winner!

Just a quick announcement to Yazmina, who won my first author’s copy of THE TAKEN. Shoot me your snailmail addy as per the directions beneath your post and we’ll send the signed book out to you asap — and well before the release date. Congratulations!

I also want to thank everyone who entered to win that sole, lonely copy. I had a great time hearing about all your introverted/extroverted tendencies…and did you know that there’s something/one called an ambivert? That’s someone with an equal measure of both introverted/extroverted qualities. Right down the middle. That’s not me, but it seems some of you might fit the bill nicely. Again, Susan Cain’s book and TED talk are worth a peek. I love any and all sorts of sexy social science, and am reading this now.

For those of you who didn’t grab this copy of THE TAKEN, I promise I’ll be holding more giveaways as soon as I get my author copies. However, to quench your immediate reading needs, two of my Urban Fantasy contemporaries have releases today:

Jaye is celebrating the final installment in her Sabina Kane series with BLUE-BLOODED VAMP. The series is wickedly funny, like Jaye herself, and you can even order signed copies from A REAL BOOKSTORE in Dallas. Give her a read if you haven’t already!

Also:

Rachel Vincent releases the second book in her Unbound adult UF series, SHADOW BOUND. Rachel and I started our publication journey together so I always try to stay up on what she’s doing. That’s not always easy given how quickly she writes, but if you haven’t read her yet (and why not?) then her newest is a great place to start.

As for me, I’m disappearing into my writing cave for a bit while I still can. I have the time and opportunity to make a good run at my edits for the second book in the Celestial Blues series, so I’ll be making headway on that for the rest of this week. If the crick don’t rise.

Hope you’re all reading something fabulous in the meantime.

Big Giveaway!

I’ve just discovered that William Morrow/Harper is giving away galleys of THE TAKEN in a huge thriller/mystery prize pack as a part of their Fan Appreciation Sweepstakes on Facebook! There are 52 different prize packages too, but the contest is only for the next 10 days, so head the the William Morrow Books Facebook Page to enter. Good luck to you – there are some fabulous prizes!

First chapter preview & a giveaway!

So if you guys haven’t noticed, my focus of late has shifted from the very private, internally driven activities of writing and drafting to externally driven things like interviews and reviews. The big diff for my readers? I’ll be doing giveaways*, interviews and signings in the next few weeks via all available outlets.The big diff for me? A dent in my work hours as I have to start brushing my hair more. Frex, I did an interview and photo shoot yesterday for Las Vegas Weekly, which took place at the Peppermill (readers of the Zodiac series will be well versed in that fab retro Vegas lounge), and which was one of the most creative shoots I’ve ever done. Clever peeps, those Weekly guys — I can’t wait to show you what they came up with. (A couple of goof shots are up on Twitter if you want to see the setting in advance. I still love the Peppermill.)

Anyway, while I was hamming it up for the camera** Harper/Voyager released the first chapter of THE TAKEN on Facebook! They’ll be releasing the first four chapters leading up to the June 12th release date, that’s one a week, and I’ll post those when they’re available too, but here’s the sneak peak of my new series, my new heroine and hero – Kit and Grif – and the new world of Celestial Blues. Happy reading!

BTW, for those of you who prefer audio, THE TAKEN will be released via Audible.com on June 12th. Oddly, there’s no place to pre-order, so I’ll nudge audio readers again on the 12th. For now, here’s a photo of THE TAKEN being recorded in studio — a male narrator this time, Peeps! I can’t wait to hear it so I an fall in love with Griffin Shaw all over again.

Meanwhile, another review rolled in: RT Magazine has named THE TAKEN a Top Pick! for June. They said: Pettersson’s new series is off to a rocking start with this compelling read…

Thank you, RT! And if you missed it and would like to hear more about the new series – and why I ended the old – here’s a half-hour radio interview I did a few weeks ago along with Kim Harrison and Jocelynn Drake. I listened to it again yesterday (while brushing my hair, natch) and it was so strange to realize that we all were ending long-running series’ and beginning anew. I’d forgotten, too, that Kim gives a few clues as to what her next project (outside of the Hollows) is going to look like. Joce is equally excited about her move from the Dark Days series with the first in her new series, ANGEL’S INK. She just revealed her cover yesterday too.

Anyway, that’s all for now. I’m about to dive deeply into edits on the second book in the Celestial Blues series, so any new updates and giveaways will likely arrive quick and pithy-like via Facebook and Twitter in lieu of the blog for now.

*I might as well start with a giveaway here. Hot-off-the-press copies of THE TAKEN have been spotted at Harper/Voyager, and I’ll be receiving my author copies any day now. Answer the question in the footnote below, and I’ll randomly give the first one away by midnight Monday. Good luck!

**Okay, so clearly I’m not remotely afraid of cameras. I know this isn’t true of all authors, but it comes from years of beating back other camera-hogging showgirls for face time. But, really, I’m as introverted as any other writer I know, and more than most. (I’ve always said, in both of my careers, that I’m an introvert by nature and an extrovert by profession.) I derive all my energy and peace from vast amounts of time alone and in complete silence. I need this space every day – usually get it with my writing – and get extremely jittery if I go too long without communing with my own mind. Someone like my mother, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. She’s extroverted in that she derives energy from being with others. All the time. Non-stop. Forever. So knowing whether you’re introverted (despite appearances) or extroverted is extremely helpful in learning how you best interact with the world. I’m reading – and highly recommend – the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. Also, this video is a great celebration of introversion, too.

So what do you think? According to this definition, are you a natural introvert or extrovert?

Book Radio with Kim Harrison, Jocelynn Drake, et moi!

Happy post-Mother’s Day! Did everyone have a good one? I did — and Mother’s Day has quickly turned into my favorite holiday. I was spoiled rotten with homemade cards, drawings, flowers, and gift cards. I’ve already bought three books. (Now if only someone could buy me some time to read them!) Mother’s Day was especially blessed this year as my grandmother, who had a stroke at New Year’s, came over. There was a time when we weren’t sure she’d make it to Mother’s Day, so I hugged on her especially fierce this year. It was a wonderful day.

So lots of interesting news filtering in. Realio-trulio copies of THE TAKEN have been sighted, fresh off the press. I haven’t seen them yet, but my publicist is dangling them like carrots in front of me — I think she’s in cahoots with my editor to get the second draft done on the next book in the trilogy before I’m allowed my goodies. So far, it’s working. I’ve rethought the plotline(s) and will be attacking today. I plan on hunkering down for a bit of a marathon for the next couple of weeks in order to get as much done as possible before my tour in only 3 weeks! (How did that happen?)

Today, though, I have a radio interview that I did a while back with these two fabulous ladies:

 

That’s Kim Harrison — who was generous enough to invite Jocelynn Drake and me to join her for a chat about worldbuilding, killing our darlings, and starting over: as in New Series’ for all of us. We all had such different answer to the choices we made in beginning again, too – from inspiration to POV choices to content. Click here to listen the full interview, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed doing it.

Have a wonderful Monday!