Richelle Mead's Blog, page 16
May 15, 2012
Age of X process #3
Lots to say today. If you looked for tangible evidence of my work this last week or so, you wouldn't find a whole lot. I've been adding on to my character and world building notes, and the more I work on those, the more the plot unfolds in my head. So much of what I do is character driven that having them fleshed out goes a long way to build the book. Their personal stories are just as important as the book's main conflict.
I mentioned before how useful it is to write these bios and notes as though I'm explaining them to someone who knows nothing about the story. This is becoming more and more true. There are a few gray areas in my head that I thought I understood, but when forced to write them out in detail, I realized some things didn't make sense yet. And if they don't make sense to me, how will they make sense to the reader when I actually write the book? These exercises have forced me to make sure I've got everything thought out. There's a group of people in the book who are instrumental to the plot, and I thought I understood them inside and out. But, as it turned out, there were a few snags, which forced me to step back and reevaluate things.
I'm often asked how to deal with writer's block. For me, the best way to overcome it is to prevent it in the first place. Writer's block often happens because you don't know what's going to happen next. If I can figure it all out before I write the book, then most of my battle is fought. Now, this method isn't for everyone. In the writer divide of plotters and pantsers (as in, those who write by the seat of their pants), I'm definitely a plotter. Some people don't need to know anything in advance. They can sit down and figure out their book on the fly. But, if you find yourself stalling out and staring at the screen for a long period of time, it might be beneficial to join the plotter ranks.
The other thing I've hammered out is the book's big arc, which I divide into three acts. A lot of books naturally fall into this pattern. For me, Act 1 is usually the set up--catching up with our characters, finding out the status quo, etc. Act 2 is when the main conflict initially unfolds and the characters are working to achieve their various goal. Act 3 is when the conflict really explodes, the characters must deal with it, and many of the secrets woven throughout the book come to light. To use Vampire Academy #1 as an example (spoilers ahead), Act 1 is Rose and Lissa returning and readjusting to school. Act 2 is them trying to work through their goals and the consequences that unfold: Rose training and falling for Dimitri, Lissa fighting her madness, Mia, mysterious notes, etc. Act 3 is when things really hit their crazy point (the lust charm, Rose and Lissa's fight) and then result in the ultimate dangerous showdown at Victor's. This is also when all the secrets about spirit come out and when the characters have to wrap things up afterward (a happy romantic ending for Lissa, less so for Rose). Again--this doesn't happen for all books, but it does for many. It's not a cookie cutter pattern. It's another way of looking at the "rising conflict" diagram you may have learned about in school. Stories that hook us having building action and tension. The three act system helps me break that down.
And, since this is part of a series, the series also has an overarching plot that also has three acts. The VA series very neatly splits off into two books per act (this will not always be the case). VA and Frostbite are the first act, setting up the world and characters. Shadow Kiss and Blood Promise are when things go bad, ending the act with the OHMYGODHOWCANTHEYGETOUTOFTHIS moments. And Spirit Bound and Last Sacrifice are when the C4 comes out and they have to work to fix Act 2 and wrap everything up. That's why those middle books in a series often have the jaw dropper endings--not because I hate the number three, but because so often in storytelling, the second third is when you deliver the sucker punch. So, as I work on Age of X, I have to be conscious of each individual book's structure, as well as how those books fit into the big structure of the series. It also means I need to know my end game (i.e. the conclusion of the series) to really make the other books count. And along the way, there will be countless details and subplots that need to be worked out.
It boggles the mind. And I'd best get back to it.
I mentioned before how useful it is to write these bios and notes as though I'm explaining them to someone who knows nothing about the story. This is becoming more and more true. There are a few gray areas in my head that I thought I understood, but when forced to write them out in detail, I realized some things didn't make sense yet. And if they don't make sense to me, how will they make sense to the reader when I actually write the book? These exercises have forced me to make sure I've got everything thought out. There's a group of people in the book who are instrumental to the plot, and I thought I understood them inside and out. But, as it turned out, there were a few snags, which forced me to step back and reevaluate things.
I'm often asked how to deal with writer's block. For me, the best way to overcome it is to prevent it in the first place. Writer's block often happens because you don't know what's going to happen next. If I can figure it all out before I write the book, then most of my battle is fought. Now, this method isn't for everyone. In the writer divide of plotters and pantsers (as in, those who write by the seat of their pants), I'm definitely a plotter. Some people don't need to know anything in advance. They can sit down and figure out their book on the fly. But, if you find yourself stalling out and staring at the screen for a long period of time, it might be beneficial to join the plotter ranks.
The other thing I've hammered out is the book's big arc, which I divide into three acts. A lot of books naturally fall into this pattern. For me, Act 1 is usually the set up--catching up with our characters, finding out the status quo, etc. Act 2 is when the main conflict initially unfolds and the characters are working to achieve their various goal. Act 3 is when the conflict really explodes, the characters must deal with it, and many of the secrets woven throughout the book come to light. To use Vampire Academy #1 as an example (spoilers ahead), Act 1 is Rose and Lissa returning and readjusting to school. Act 2 is them trying to work through their goals and the consequences that unfold: Rose training and falling for Dimitri, Lissa fighting her madness, Mia, mysterious notes, etc. Act 3 is when things really hit their crazy point (the lust charm, Rose and Lissa's fight) and then result in the ultimate dangerous showdown at Victor's. This is also when all the secrets about spirit come out and when the characters have to wrap things up afterward (a happy romantic ending for Lissa, less so for Rose). Again--this doesn't happen for all books, but it does for many. It's not a cookie cutter pattern. It's another way of looking at the "rising conflict" diagram you may have learned about in school. Stories that hook us having building action and tension. The three act system helps me break that down.
And, since this is part of a series, the series also has an overarching plot that also has three acts. The VA series very neatly splits off into two books per act (this will not always be the case). VA and Frostbite are the first act, setting up the world and characters. Shadow Kiss and Blood Promise are when things go bad, ending the act with the OHMYGODHOWCANTHEYGETOUTOFTHIS moments. And Spirit Bound and Last Sacrifice are when the C4 comes out and they have to work to fix Act 2 and wrap everything up. That's why those middle books in a series often have the jaw dropper endings--not because I hate the number three, but because so often in storytelling, the second third is when you deliver the sucker punch. So, as I work on Age of X, I have to be conscious of each individual book's structure, as well as how those books fit into the big structure of the series. It also means I need to know my end game (i.e. the conclusion of the series) to really make the other books count. And along the way, there will be countless details and subplots that need to be worked out.
It boggles the mind. And I'd best get back to it.
May 14, 2012
Autographed copies of The Golden Lily and Frostbite graphic novel
Between supervillains and the writing process, we haven't talked much about my upcoming books in a while. This past weekend marked one month until the release of The Golden Lily, which comes out June 12 in English-speaking countries. I'm really excited by this book and think the ending will leave a lot of people saying, "Whaatttt?" If you haven't read the first chapter yet, it's here.
As usual, I will be autographing copies of The Golden Lily for University Bookstore. If you want an autographed copy, the detailed instructions are here on my website. The bottom line is that you order through their site and then note in the comments who you want the book (or books) made out to. University Bookstore can't ship TGL before its release date of June 12, so if you want a signed copy, you'll have to wait for it to get to you. (If you can't wait and don't need an autograph, pre-order at your local bookstore!). To make sure your book ships on release day, place your orders no later than about four days in advance of release date. The sooner, the better. I'll come in and sign a big ol' bunch of books, and then the store will ship them out!
And next week, we've got something else good: the Frostbite graphic novel comes out on May 24! (It's out in Australia/NZ already). If you've read the regular books, you know Frostbite is when things start to get crazy, so this is a good one. I'll also be autographing these for University Bookstore, and you can order them by following the same link above. To find the graphic novel on their website, do a title search for Frostbite and scroll down until you see the cover, which looks like this:
The Frostbite graphic novel can't ship before its release date of May 24, so it's the same deal. Place your order in advance, I'll sign it, and out it goes on release day. If you order both of these new books together, neither will ship until the later release day (June 12) unless you pay separate shipping. The store carries all of my other titles if you want signed copies of those, and they ship internationally. Direct questions to: ubsmail@u.washington.edu
Phew, that's a lot! I hope it all makes sense. I also want to add that although the store goes out of its way to get new books out on release day, it can't be held responsible for delays that are out of their control. Sometimes they don't get their shipments on time. Or, you know, I could break my hand. Those are unlikely, but I just want you to have the heads up. And of course, this is all only for signed books. You have lots and lots of other options to get my books elsewhere! However you manage it, I hope you enjoy them. This is going to be a good spring. :)
As usual, I will be autographing copies of The Golden Lily for University Bookstore. If you want an autographed copy, the detailed instructions are here on my website. The bottom line is that you order through their site and then note in the comments who you want the book (or books) made out to. University Bookstore can't ship TGL before its release date of June 12, so if you want a signed copy, you'll have to wait for it to get to you. (If you can't wait and don't need an autograph, pre-order at your local bookstore!). To make sure your book ships on release day, place your orders no later than about four days in advance of release date. The sooner, the better. I'll come in and sign a big ol' bunch of books, and then the store will ship them out!
And next week, we've got something else good: the Frostbite graphic novel comes out on May 24! (It's out in Australia/NZ already). If you've read the regular books, you know Frostbite is when things start to get crazy, so this is a good one. I'll also be autographing these for University Bookstore, and you can order them by following the same link above. To find the graphic novel on their website, do a title search for Frostbite and scroll down until you see the cover, which looks like this:
The Frostbite graphic novel can't ship before its release date of May 24, so it's the same deal. Place your order in advance, I'll sign it, and out it goes on release day. If you order both of these new books together, neither will ship until the later release day (June 12) unless you pay separate shipping. The store carries all of my other titles if you want signed copies of those, and they ship internationally. Direct questions to: ubsmail@u.washington.edu
Phew, that's a lot! I hope it all makes sense. I also want to add that although the store goes out of its way to get new books out on release day, it can't be held responsible for delays that are out of their control. Sometimes they don't get their shipments on time. Or, you know, I could break my hand. Those are unlikely, but I just want you to have the heads up. And of course, this is all only for signed books. You have lots and lots of other options to get my books elsewhere! However you manage it, I hope you enjoy them. This is going to be a good spring. :)
May 12, 2012
Seattle has a supervillain
When you live in a world of fiction, it's sometimes hard to return to the real world and accept its truths. Like, most romantic banter isn't all that witty or even really bantery. Magical forces can't be summoned in times of need. And there are no superheroes and villains waging epic battles in our midst.
Until now.
Meet Rex Velvet, Seattle's self-proclaimed "people's villain." I admit, I was surprised to learn that Seattle had a supervillain who was challenging our city's superheroes because I hadn't known we had those either. But, apparently unbeknownst to me, Seattle's been a battleground for costumed superheroes walking our streets. Their leader is named Phoenix Jones, who appears to be the main target for Rex Velvet's villainy. Rex released a video on YouTube earlier this month, calling out Phoenix and stating that Seattle would no longer put up with costumed antics.
Rex's declaration caused a ripple of excitement in the internet community and among pop culture geeks in general. Immediately, people began making suggestions of crazy supervillain things that Rex should do in our fair city: steal North Face jackets, put a handlebar mustache on the Space Needle, and hijack the monorail to...well, nowhere. Rex got a Facebook page and a Twitter account, and people waited to see what was next. "Next" was another impressively well-made video, in which Rex again reiterated his position against superheroes. He even offered up anti-superhero poster for people to download and post. There was no mention of other villainy and mayhem, although we did learn that Rex has an astonishing car collection.
Personally, I'm a fan of Rex Velvet. He has a handlebar mustache, an eye patch, a scar, and a bowler hat. You can't get much more villainous than that. He also has a mustache ring and a bottle opener that looks like the Space Needle. Plus, his name makes me think of red velvet cupcakes. I'm a sucker for hilarious well-made videos, and I would love to see a battle of videos and other social networking ensue between Rex and Phoenix. Unfortunately, based on Phoenix's recent comments, it doesn't sound like he's going to play ball. This means one of three things has to happen, or else Rex is going to fade into obscurity:
1) Another superhero with a better PR machine needs to come forward on YouTube
2) Rex needs to start a major merchandising campaign of mustache swag
3) Rex needs to unleash a dastardly plan, like stealing all non-prescription glasses from hipsters on Capitol Hill
How's the Emerald City going to get out of this one? I guess we'll all have to stay tuned to find out.
Until now.
Meet Rex Velvet, Seattle's self-proclaimed "people's villain." I admit, I was surprised to learn that Seattle had a supervillain who was challenging our city's superheroes because I hadn't known we had those either. But, apparently unbeknownst to me, Seattle's been a battleground for costumed superheroes walking our streets. Their leader is named Phoenix Jones, who appears to be the main target for Rex Velvet's villainy. Rex released a video on YouTube earlier this month, calling out Phoenix and stating that Seattle would no longer put up with costumed antics.
Rex's declaration caused a ripple of excitement in the internet community and among pop culture geeks in general. Immediately, people began making suggestions of crazy supervillain things that Rex should do in our fair city: steal North Face jackets, put a handlebar mustache on the Space Needle, and hijack the monorail to...well, nowhere. Rex got a Facebook page and a Twitter account, and people waited to see what was next. "Next" was another impressively well-made video, in which Rex again reiterated his position against superheroes. He even offered up anti-superhero poster for people to download and post. There was no mention of other villainy and mayhem, although we did learn that Rex has an astonishing car collection.
Personally, I'm a fan of Rex Velvet. He has a handlebar mustache, an eye patch, a scar, and a bowler hat. You can't get much more villainous than that. He also has a mustache ring and a bottle opener that looks like the Space Needle. Plus, his name makes me think of red velvet cupcakes. I'm a sucker for hilarious well-made videos, and I would love to see a battle of videos and other social networking ensue between Rex and Phoenix. Unfortunately, based on Phoenix's recent comments, it doesn't sound like he's going to play ball. This means one of three things has to happen, or else Rex is going to fade into obscurity:
1) Another superhero with a better PR machine needs to come forward on YouTube
2) Rex needs to start a major merchandising campaign of mustache swag
3) Rex needs to unleash a dastardly plan, like stealing all non-prescription glasses from hipsters on Capitol Hill
How's the Emerald City going to get out of this one? I guess we'll all have to stay tuned to find out.
May 7, 2012
Age of X process #2
In my last Age of X post, I mentioned that I was building this series from the ground up. I should clarify that I'm not making it all up on the spot this week! This is a series that's been stewing in my mind for years and that really got finalized when my son was born last summer. When you spend half the night feeding a baby, you have lots of time to plot. So, for months, my mind's been practically overflowing with all these details and ideas, which is why it's great to start organizing and committing them to paper. A lot of it still needs to be fleshed out, but the majority of the material is there.
On Friday, I felt confident enough to start writing bios for my main characters. I finished two out of three. I've done this for previous books, though it's been a number of years. I'm the only one who reads these, but I write them as formally as if I'm going to show them to someone else. It's a good exercise for me and often helps me fine tune a few details that were up in the air. Knowing who my characters are and where they come from also helps me eventually develop the book's detailed outline. The book will have some "actiony" plot and conflict, but the characters' personal experiences are a huge part of the plot as well.
My bios were about a thousand words each and were roughly divided into three sections. The first part explains who the character is--particularly in regard to what he/she does for a living. Remember, I write this as though I'm introducing the characters to someone who knows nothing about the world, so these roles I've created need explaining. The second part--the largest part--is the character's history, leading up to the start of the book. This is part of the "ice berg" mentioned in my last post. Readers don't need to know all this background at the start of the book. I like to dole it out slowly throughout a book or series (think of Georgina's flashbacks in the succubus series) and wrap it into the present plot, if possible. This helps develop the book's structure since usually, someone's past influences their present. The last section of my bio consists of the character's basic traits: looks, likes, personality, etc.
Once I finish the characters, writing out the world details will be my next step. (Note: this doesn't take place on another planet or anything. "World" is the usual writing term for the setting, circumstances, and rules of a book). That too will be written as though it's for someone who is completely new to it all. Working on these character bios has helped me with this because it reminds me which rules and background info I need to elaborate on. Although I do explain the characters' current vocations at the bios' beginnings, there are lots of references to the setting and its history that aren't delved into. That's what my world history will cover, and I've been making a list of points to add to that world write-up as I work on the bios.
But that section is yet to come. Today: more characters.
On Friday, I felt confident enough to start writing bios for my main characters. I finished two out of three. I've done this for previous books, though it's been a number of years. I'm the only one who reads these, but I write them as formally as if I'm going to show them to someone else. It's a good exercise for me and often helps me fine tune a few details that were up in the air. Knowing who my characters are and where they come from also helps me eventually develop the book's detailed outline. The book will have some "actiony" plot and conflict, but the characters' personal experiences are a huge part of the plot as well.
My bios were about a thousand words each and were roughly divided into three sections. The first part explains who the character is--particularly in regard to what he/she does for a living. Remember, I write this as though I'm introducing the characters to someone who knows nothing about the world, so these roles I've created need explaining. The second part--the largest part--is the character's history, leading up to the start of the book. This is part of the "ice berg" mentioned in my last post. Readers don't need to know all this background at the start of the book. I like to dole it out slowly throughout a book or series (think of Georgina's flashbacks in the succubus series) and wrap it into the present plot, if possible. This helps develop the book's structure since usually, someone's past influences their present. The last section of my bio consists of the character's basic traits: looks, likes, personality, etc.
Once I finish the characters, writing out the world details will be my next step. (Note: this doesn't take place on another planet or anything. "World" is the usual writing term for the setting, circumstances, and rules of a book). That too will be written as though it's for someone who is completely new to it all. Working on these character bios has helped me with this because it reminds me which rules and background info I need to elaborate on. Although I do explain the characters' current vocations at the bios' beginnings, there are lots of references to the setting and its history that aren't delved into. That's what my world history will cover, and I've been making a list of points to add to that world write-up as I work on the bios.
But that section is yet to come. Today: more characters.
May 6, 2012
A little spice for your Sunday
Here's the US mass market cover for Succubus Dreams, which will be out in November. It originally came out in trade/large paperback. That cover is today's avatar. Which do you like better?
May 3, 2012
Age of X process #1
People often ask me about my writing process, and I think my answer's a little boring sometimes. I talk about how I outline and then sit down each day to write what the outline tells me. That's easy when working in a series I know so well. But now, I'm in a new position. I just turned in the first draft of Bloodlines #3, so it's off my plate until my editor sends it back with revision notes. And so, now, it's on to my new adult series, Age of X.
Age of X puts me in a situation I haven't been in for almost seven years: starting a new series. Technically, I started a new series with Bloodlines, but it was built off of the VA world. That was difficult enough, and the biggest hurdle there was simply getting used to a new narrator and her view of the world I'd already created.
Age of X was sold to Dutton with a concept and storyline, but the first book (Gameboard of the Gods) hasn't been written. The full details of the world and characters also need to be fleshed out more in order for me to write. So, I've got a lot more to do than my usual task of simply outlining a book. I have to outline the series (you've probably heard me say I need to know the ending in advance) and also finalize the world and its rules, as well as character backgrounds. Yikes!
I thought it'd be interesting for people to follow this process, creating a series from the ground up. I'm going to do a series of blog posts as I progress and number them, like the title of this one.
So where are we at? The work I'm doing right now is a little weird. It's not the kind of stuff you can just sit and type. It's the part of writing a lot of people don't understand: thinking. And that can't always be done at a desk. Yesterday, I sat in front of my whiteboard and scrawled (with no real order) what I know so far about my characters and what the big beats of the first book/overall series are. It was a messy whiteboard.
I then sat down at my computer and spent the afternoon researching a couple of topics I needed to progress. I ended up with a lot more info than I was ready for! My brain hurt by the end, and I was kind of confused. But as the evening went on, and even this morning, I've had time to process it all. I've been able to pull the pieces of that research that I need and organize it in my head. Today I'll probably sit with a notepad and try to order some of those plot points from yesterday, combining them with the new info. I'm creating the "iceberg" you may have heard about in writing. When it comes to background info in a book, the author needs to know it all, but readers only need to see the tip of the iceberg. So even though you guys may only get a little bit of what I'm researching, I've still got to spend time and become the ultimate expert.
Stay tuned...
Age of X puts me in a situation I haven't been in for almost seven years: starting a new series. Technically, I started a new series with Bloodlines, but it was built off of the VA world. That was difficult enough, and the biggest hurdle there was simply getting used to a new narrator and her view of the world I'd already created.
Age of X was sold to Dutton with a concept and storyline, but the first book (Gameboard of the Gods) hasn't been written. The full details of the world and characters also need to be fleshed out more in order for me to write. So, I've got a lot more to do than my usual task of simply outlining a book. I have to outline the series (you've probably heard me say I need to know the ending in advance) and also finalize the world and its rules, as well as character backgrounds. Yikes!
I thought it'd be interesting for people to follow this process, creating a series from the ground up. I'm going to do a series of blog posts as I progress and number them, like the title of this one.
So where are we at? The work I'm doing right now is a little weird. It's not the kind of stuff you can just sit and type. It's the part of writing a lot of people don't understand: thinking. And that can't always be done at a desk. Yesterday, I sat in front of my whiteboard and scrawled (with no real order) what I know so far about my characters and what the big beats of the first book/overall series are. It was a messy whiteboard.
I then sat down at my computer and spent the afternoon researching a couple of topics I needed to progress. I ended up with a lot more info than I was ready for! My brain hurt by the end, and I was kind of confused. But as the evening went on, and even this morning, I've had time to process it all. I've been able to pull the pieces of that research that I need and organize it in my head. Today I'll probably sit with a notepad and try to order some of those plot points from yesterday, combining them with the new info. I'm creating the "iceberg" you may have heard about in writing. When it comes to background info in a book, the author needs to know it all, but readers only need to see the tip of the iceberg. So even though you guys may only get a little bit of what I'm researching, I've still got to spend time and become the ultimate expert.
Stay tuned...
April 25, 2012
The Golden Lily Tour!
Exciting news around here, guys. I'm very pleased to announce that the tour dates and locations for The Golden Lily have been released! As I often say, it's impossible for me to be everywhere, and my publisher tries its best to get me to a wide variety of areas. Since my baby's still young, this is a shorter tour and a domestic one. I may have a few scattered signings in other places later this year, so keep checking my website or sign up for announcements if you want info about that. I hope those of you in these cities can come out to see me!
Tuesday, June 12th - Lansing, Michigan - 7pm
Schuler Books & Music
2820 Towne Center Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48912
Wednesday, June 13th - Lexington, Kentucky - 7pm
Joseph-Beth
161 LexingtonGreen Cir # B1
Lexington, KY 40503
Thursday, June 14th - Fort Lauderdale, Florida - 7pm
Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale
(Books sold by Books & Books)
One E. Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Saturday, June 16th - Seattle, Washington - 4pm
University Bookstore
4326 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
Monday, June 18th - Santa Monica, California - 7pm
Barnes & Noble
1201 3rd Street Promenade
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Tuesday, June 19th - Houston, Texas - 7pm
West Houston Community Center
(Books sold by Blue Willow Books)
725 Bateswood
Houston, TX 77079
Important tour info: Tour events usually start with me reading from the new book and then answering questions. You may bring your own books, from any of my series, and/or also purchase books at the store (which is nice to do, since signings are a lot of work and cost for them!). There is a three book limit per person--one will be personalized and the other two simply signed. Since that's per person, you can get more books signed if you have your mom, friend, etc. come and bring some of your books too! Plus, they'll keep you company in line. Pictures aren't guaranteed, but we try really hard to make time to do them! Some stores have bracelet systems or pre-order information. I'll post that as we get it, so please check my website in June for more details. Hope to see you soon!
Tuesday, June 12th - Lansing, Michigan - 7pm
Schuler Books & Music
2820 Towne Center Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48912
Wednesday, June 13th - Lexington, Kentucky - 7pm
Joseph-Beth
161 LexingtonGreen Cir # B1
Lexington, KY 40503
Thursday, June 14th - Fort Lauderdale, Florida - 7pm
Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale
(Books sold by Books & Books)
One E. Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Saturday, June 16th - Seattle, Washington - 4pm
University Bookstore
4326 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
Monday, June 18th - Santa Monica, California - 7pm
Barnes & Noble
1201 3rd Street Promenade
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Tuesday, June 19th - Houston, Texas - 7pm
West Houston Community Center
(Books sold by Blue Willow Books)
725 Bateswood
Houston, TX 77079
Important tour info: Tour events usually start with me reading from the new book and then answering questions. You may bring your own books, from any of my series, and/or also purchase books at the store (which is nice to do, since signings are a lot of work and cost for them!). There is a three book limit per person--one will be personalized and the other two simply signed. Since that's per person, you can get more books signed if you have your mom, friend, etc. come and bring some of your books too! Plus, they'll keep you company in line. Pictures aren't guaranteed, but we try really hard to make time to do them! Some stores have bracelet systems or pre-order information. I'll post that as we get it, so please check my website in June for more details. Hope to see you soon!
April 15, 2012
RT 2012 Report
Yes, it's that time of the year again: another Romantic Times Booklovers Convention. You may remember RT from other blog posts about things like faery balls and the Mr. Romance pageant. This year's RT just wrapped up and took place in, as you'll soon see, the very aptly named Windy City of Chicago. Usually I do the full 5-day RT experience, but I couldn't leave the baby for that long. So, it was just a weekend trip for me this year, just enough to say hi to friends and readers, do a couple workshops, and sign some books.
Oh, and to wear some awesome 80s t-shirts.
Although I've made great strides in recovering my pre-pregnancy body, a lot of my usual tour dresses still don't fit. So, I decided to kick it Seth Mortensen style this weekend and wear 80s pop culture shirts, like the above "That's What She-Ra Said" one.
I wasn't at the con long enough to have many truly wacky experiences. I didn't even make it to some of the big parties. I did, however, make it to the giant book fair on Saturday, where I got to sign and meet awesome readers for three hours. It was great. I also got to meet childhood hero Francine Pascal, creator of Sweet Valley High:
If you grew up in the 80s, then you know what I'm talking about. If not, you can get recaps of all the Sweet Valley books here. I even brought books that Francine Pascal kindly signed, including Sweet Valley High #82, Kidnapped by the Cult, in which heroine Jesisca Wakefield gets involved with, well, a cult. And yup, I'm wearing a Jem and the Holograms shirt in that picture, in keeping with my 80s theme.
On Saturday, I discovered that the awesome people at Penguin put together this really cool poster showing a timeline of events from the VA series. These were given away at the teen party, and I got to sign a lot of them along with the books.
Despite all the amazing parties going on, I ended up spending a lot of my down time just hanging out with friends. On Saturday night, a bunch of us ended up getting room service and watching the hotel's ambient music channel. Yeah, you heard me. The hotel had an ambient music channel. It was all this synthy techno music paired with really surreal images, like so:
And so:
As you can see, we were kind of mesmerized.
When Sunday came, most people went home. Not me. Chicago is only a 20 minute flight from my hometown in Western Michigan. For various reasons, I've really needed to have a visit there, so I decided to hop on over...for the afternoon. I flew over, stayed for 6 hours, and then headed back to Chicago to catch a Seattle plane. At least, I tried to. When I was leaving Michigan, Chicago got hit by a line of bad storms, which more or less shut down the airport and created all sorts of delays for incoming and outgoing flights. Let me tell you, it's kind of terrifying landing in a thunderstorm in a regional jet (that's code for "really small plane"). After a lot of delays and me literally running through the airport to make a connection, I finally got on the plane taking me home to my husband and baby, whom I miss terribly. We're in the air as I type this, two hours behind schedule, meaning I have a late night ahead of me.
Despite the craziness, this was an otherwise great trip. It was wonderful to see people again and be out signing books. This was my first trip away from the baby, so it was really tough in a lot of ways, but hopefully I can find a way to balance it all in the future. Thank you so much to everyone who came out to see me in Chicago. You made my return to signing an awesome time!
Note: the She-Ra and Jem shirts came from 80stees.com.
Oh, and to wear some awesome 80s t-shirts.
Although I've made great strides in recovering my pre-pregnancy body, a lot of my usual tour dresses still don't fit. So, I decided to kick it Seth Mortensen style this weekend and wear 80s pop culture shirts, like the above "That's What She-Ra Said" one.
I wasn't at the con long enough to have many truly wacky experiences. I didn't even make it to some of the big parties. I did, however, make it to the giant book fair on Saturday, where I got to sign and meet awesome readers for three hours. It was great. I also got to meet childhood hero Francine Pascal, creator of Sweet Valley High:
If you grew up in the 80s, then you know what I'm talking about. If not, you can get recaps of all the Sweet Valley books here. I even brought books that Francine Pascal kindly signed, including Sweet Valley High #82, Kidnapped by the Cult, in which heroine Jesisca Wakefield gets involved with, well, a cult. And yup, I'm wearing a Jem and the Holograms shirt in that picture, in keeping with my 80s theme.
On Saturday, I discovered that the awesome people at Penguin put together this really cool poster showing a timeline of events from the VA series. These were given away at the teen party, and I got to sign a lot of them along with the books.
Despite all the amazing parties going on, I ended up spending a lot of my down time just hanging out with friends. On Saturday night, a bunch of us ended up getting room service and watching the hotel's ambient music channel. Yeah, you heard me. The hotel had an ambient music channel. It was all this synthy techno music paired with really surreal images, like so:
And so:
As you can see, we were kind of mesmerized.
When Sunday came, most people went home. Not me. Chicago is only a 20 minute flight from my hometown in Western Michigan. For various reasons, I've really needed to have a visit there, so I decided to hop on over...for the afternoon. I flew over, stayed for 6 hours, and then headed back to Chicago to catch a Seattle plane. At least, I tried to. When I was leaving Michigan, Chicago got hit by a line of bad storms, which more or less shut down the airport and created all sorts of delays for incoming and outgoing flights. Let me tell you, it's kind of terrifying landing in a thunderstorm in a regional jet (that's code for "really small plane"). After a lot of delays and me literally running through the airport to make a connection, I finally got on the plane taking me home to my husband and baby, whom I miss terribly. We're in the air as I type this, two hours behind schedule, meaning I have a late night ahead of me.
Despite the craziness, this was an otherwise great trip. It was wonderful to see people again and be out signing books. This was my first trip away from the baby, so it was really tough in a lot of ways, but hopefully I can find a way to balance it all in the future. Thank you so much to everyone who came out to see me in Chicago. You made my return to signing an awesome time!
Note: the She-Ra and Jem shirts came from 80stees.com.
April 9, 2012
Back on the road...to Chicago
Plans for The Golden Lily tour in June are still being finalized, but this coming weekend will be my first "warm-up" trip since having the baby. It's only three days, but I'm still pretty anxious about leaving him. I know I'll miss him a lot, but hopefully seeing a bunch of awesome readers will help distract me!
Here's the scoop. I'll be attending the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Chicago from April 13-14. The full con is five days long, and if you're attending the whole thing, you can learn all about different genres, meet authors and agents, go to fun parties, and get some writing tips. The conference's official website is here, and it will give you the full itinerary and registration costs. On Friday, I'll be part of two panels: "Kick-Ass Characters that Make Us Cry & Keep Us Coming Back For More" and "Seven Minutes in Urban Fantasy Heaven." On Saturday, I'll be part of "Feeding the Fire: Conflict and Action in YA Novels."
Now, if the cost and time commitment are too much for you, here's another option. You can just come for Saturday's Teen Day, which means you get to go to a giant book fair (more on that later), attend YA specific workshops, and then go to a party with over 60 YA authors and cool book bag giveaways (some of which will include early copies of The Golden Lily!). The cost is a low $25 for the whole day and will admit one young adult (up to age 20) and one adult chaperone. So if you're a young adult, head on over. If you're an adult, grab a teen (not in a creepy way) and head on over. Teen Day details are here.
Now, if you don't have a teen handy or can't spend the whole day, here's the last option. You can just come for the Giant Book Fair, which is on Saturday from 11am-3pm. Admission is $5, but there are literally hundreds of authors there, writing in all sorts of ages and genres, waiting to sign your books and take pictures. You don't have to attend the con; just drop on in. It's open to the public, adults and young adults alike! You can buy books there or bring your own. Last year, I seriously saw people bringing suitcases full. This is a really amazing chance to meet a ton of your favorite authors. I'll be there, ready with my sharpie! I'm hoping to be able to take pictures and have a big book limit. My usual is three books (any of them) per person, with one personalized and two just signed. I'm hoping to up that to four or five, but it'll depend on the turnout. And since that's per person, feel free to make your mom or best friend carry some of your books. Here are the details and full author list for the book fair.
Whew, lots going on! If you're in the Chicago area or somewhere you can drive there from, I hope you'll come by, at least for the book fair. I'm super excited to see readers again and hope we can kick off my first trip with a big turn-out! Stop by, get some books signed, ask questions, and all that good stuff. All of this is going down at the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont, right by O'Hare. I say this all the time, but it's true: very often, after I visit a city, someone says, "When are you going to visit [the city I just visited]?" Chicagoland, don't miss out!
For those waiting on The Golden Lily tour, that news will be out in the next couple of months. Keep checking back here or sign up for my announcements list to receive updates right in your inbox.
See you soon, Chicago!
Here's the scoop. I'll be attending the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Chicago from April 13-14. The full con is five days long, and if you're attending the whole thing, you can learn all about different genres, meet authors and agents, go to fun parties, and get some writing tips. The conference's official website is here, and it will give you the full itinerary and registration costs. On Friday, I'll be part of two panels: "Kick-Ass Characters that Make Us Cry & Keep Us Coming Back For More" and "Seven Minutes in Urban Fantasy Heaven." On Saturday, I'll be part of "Feeding the Fire: Conflict and Action in YA Novels."
Now, if the cost and time commitment are too much for you, here's another option. You can just come for Saturday's Teen Day, which means you get to go to a giant book fair (more on that later), attend YA specific workshops, and then go to a party with over 60 YA authors and cool book bag giveaways (some of which will include early copies of The Golden Lily!). The cost is a low $25 for the whole day and will admit one young adult (up to age 20) and one adult chaperone. So if you're a young adult, head on over. If you're an adult, grab a teen (not in a creepy way) and head on over. Teen Day details are here.
Now, if you don't have a teen handy or can't spend the whole day, here's the last option. You can just come for the Giant Book Fair, which is on Saturday from 11am-3pm. Admission is $5, but there are literally hundreds of authors there, writing in all sorts of ages and genres, waiting to sign your books and take pictures. You don't have to attend the con; just drop on in. It's open to the public, adults and young adults alike! You can buy books there or bring your own. Last year, I seriously saw people bringing suitcases full. This is a really amazing chance to meet a ton of your favorite authors. I'll be there, ready with my sharpie! I'm hoping to be able to take pictures and have a big book limit. My usual is three books (any of them) per person, with one personalized and two just signed. I'm hoping to up that to four or five, but it'll depend on the turnout. And since that's per person, feel free to make your mom or best friend carry some of your books. Here are the details and full author list for the book fair.
Whew, lots going on! If you're in the Chicago area or somewhere you can drive there from, I hope you'll come by, at least for the book fair. I'm super excited to see readers again and hope we can kick off my first trip with a big turn-out! Stop by, get some books signed, ask questions, and all that good stuff. All of this is going down at the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont, right by O'Hare. I say this all the time, but it's true: very often, after I visit a city, someone says, "When are you going to visit [the city I just visited]?" Chicagoland, don't miss out!
For those waiting on The Golden Lily tour, that news will be out in the next couple of months. Keep checking back here or sign up for my announcements list to receive updates right in your inbox.
See you soon, Chicago!
March 30, 2012
Inspiration and stuff
People often ask me the Seth Mortensen question: "Where do you get your ideas from?" And I usually say, "From life." I then try to explain how everything we go through, whether it's monumental (love, despair) or tiny and silly (people watching at a coffee shop), it can all provide ideas to go into a book.
Here's an example of the "tiny" category, from a conversation my husband and I had last night:
Husband: They gave us dinner at work tonight. But I didn't stay for dessert.
Me: What was for dessert?
Husband: I don't know. I didn't see it all. There were some pies.
Me: Pies and other stuff?
Husband: Yeah. Pies and stuff.
Me: That'd be a good name for a store.
Husband: Pies and Stuff? What would they sell?
Me: Stuff.
Husband: And pies?
Me: Yeah. Pies and Stuff. I should work that into a book.
Husband: You should.
And there you have it, inspiration in the making! Guess where the Bloodlines gang will be eating soon?
Here's an example of the "tiny" category, from a conversation my husband and I had last night:
Husband: They gave us dinner at work tonight. But I didn't stay for dessert.
Me: What was for dessert?
Husband: I don't know. I didn't see it all. There were some pies.
Me: Pies and other stuff?
Husband: Yeah. Pies and stuff.
Me: That'd be a good name for a store.
Husband: Pies and Stuff? What would they sell?
Me: Stuff.
Husband: And pies?
Me: Yeah. Pies and Stuff. I should work that into a book.
Husband: You should.
And there you have it, inspiration in the making! Guess where the Bloodlines gang will be eating soon?
