Scott Westerfeld's Blog, page 4

Spill Zone Fan Art Contest

It’s one year since my graphic novel, Spill Zone, launched as a web comic! To mark this occasion, my publishers are having a fan art contest.

Note: If you haven’t read Spill Zone yet, you can buy it now or read the whole thing online!

The winner gets:

a signed and personalized copy;

a signed Spill Zone phone case with a variant cover design;

an exclusive Spill Zone art print;

the chance for their art to be featured at theSpillZone.com and in the official :01 First Second Books fan newsletter.

To enter, just follow :01firstsecond on instagram, and use #SpillZoneFanArtContest when you post your art. Contest ends Oct 31, 2017, aka HALLOWEEN.

We’ll post the five finalists at theSpillZone.com for a short voting period, after which we’ll have something even more exciting to announce!

For rule clarifications and legalese, click here.

The post Spill Zone Fan Art Contest appeared first on Scott Westerfeld.

Horizon 2 and NYCC

Hey, all! Two things: a new Horizon book and me at New York Comic Con!

The second book in my Horizon series just came out! This is a multi-author series, and book 2 is by Jennifer A. Nielsen. It’s called DEADZONE. You can get it in bookstores, libraries, and at Scholastic Book Clubs and Fairs.

Jennifer will be on tour in Provo UT, St. Charles MO, and La Grange, IL. Click here for details on those events.

And click here for the buzz on the Horizon series and book 1.

Here’s the cover, featuring everyone’s fave brooding loner, Yoshi!

Also, I’ll be at New York Comic Con, which takes place October 5-8. Two panels, a giveaway, and a signing!

GIVE-AWAY of SPILL ZONE FCBD Comics

Thursday, October 5th

2:30pm – 3:30pm

First Second Booth at NYCC

Comes pick up the Spill Zone Free Comic Books Day comic (200 copies!).

I won’t be there, but free stuff will be!

Advice to Young Writers and Illustrators

Sunday, October 8

10:45am – 11:45 AM

Room 1B03

Are you an aspiring writer and/or illustrator? This is the panel for you. Come listen to four great comics creators talk about how they got their start in the industry and give advice from their years of experience.

Kelly (Moderator), Nick Abadzis, Nidhi Chanani, Scott Westerfeld, Emily Carroll.

SIGNING / Scott Westerfeld

Sunday, October 8

12:00pm – 1:00pm

First Second Booth at NYCC

Come get things signed by me! There will be Spill Zones on sale, but bring anything!

Ready for Adventure? Action-(and Romance-)Packed YA Comics

Sunday, October 8

3:45 PM – 4:45 PM

Room 1A05

An exclusive look at new teen and all-ages titles—swashbuckling, world-traveling, magical and action-packed adventure comics! Romance and adventure await!

Patricia Lyfoung (Scarlet Rose), Scott Westerfeld (Spill Zone), Nidhi Chanani (Pashmina), and Valerie Vernay (Water Memory) and Ngozi Ukazu (Check, Please!). Moderated by Adam Kullbert.

Hope to see you in NYC!

The post Horizon 2 and NYCC appeared first on Scott Westerfeld.

Me at SDCC

Because my graphic novel, Spill Zone, just came out, I’m headed to San Diego Comic Con! I’ve got three panels and two signings.

Hope to see you there!

BOOTH SIGNING

Saturday July 22, 2017 11:00am – 12:00pm

First Second Booth

I’ll be signing SPILL ZONE. Buy at the book or bring your own. (And of course I’ll sign anything else you want me to, except confessions.)

Also we’re giving away Spill Night comics & tattoos!

YA IS THE FUTURE OF COMICS

Saturday July 22, 2017 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Room 7AB

One of the hottest genres in pop culture, YA books, movies, and comics aimed at middle-grade and young-adult audiences are creating legions of devoted fans all over the world. Join some of the most popular new voices in comics as they discuss the importance of YA, how to bring new readers to comic books, and the bright, diverse future of entertainment. Featuring Nidhi Chanani (Pashmina), Sarah Kuhn (Clueless), Tillie Walden (Spinning), Shannon Watters (Lumberjanes), Scott Westerfeld (Spill Zone), and Kiwi Smith and Kurt Lustgarten (Misfit City). Moderated by Brigid Alverson.

CAPTURING TEEN ANGST

Sunday July 23, 2017 11:00am – 12:00pm

Room 25ABC

Emotions are never more heightened than when you ae a teenager; every trial and tribulation is the end of the world. Mark Waid (Archie) finds out how to capture a teenager’s dramatic spirit with experts Dean Hale (Calamity Jack), Shannon Hale (Real Friends), Erica Henderson (Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), Victoria Jamieson (Roller Girl), and Scott Westerfeld (Spill Zone).

THE FUTURE IS BLEAK

Sunday July 23, 2017 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Room 25ABC

All stories require an element of conflict, but some authors see a darker vision than others when they gaze into the future. Panelists Alex R. Kahler (Runebinder), Scott Westerfeld (Spill Zone), Cory Doctorow (Walkaway), Annalee Newitz (Autonomous), and Scott Reintgen (Nyxia) serve as guides to poisoned presents, alternative timeline apocalypses, near and far future dystopias, and other not-so-cheery scenarios with Maryelizabeth Yturralde (Mysterious Galaxy).

We’ll all be signing after the panel.

1:15pm – 2:15pm

Sails Pavilion – Autographs AA06

The post Me at SDCC appeared first on Scott Westerfeld.

Tour Stops Maker

Scott Westerfeld Tour 2017



Santa Cruz, CA—Thursday, May 11, 7PM @ Bookshop Santa Cruz

Toronto Comic Arts Festival

  Sat 12:15PM – Prose to Comics/Comics to Prose—Marriott 200

  1PM – SPILL ZONE signing—First Second Booth 204/205

  2:45PM – Spotlight: Scott Westerfeld—Location: Marriott 200

  Sun 1PM – SPILL ZONE signing—First Second Booth 204/205

Austin, TX—Monday, May 15, 7PM @ Book People

Coral Gables, FL—Tuesday, May 16, 7PM @ Books & Books

Rhinebeck, NY—Thursday, May 18, 6pm @ Oblong Books

New York, NY—Friday, May 19, 6:30PM @ Kinokuniya Books



More at scottwesterfeld.com/tour

The post Tour Stops Maker appeared first on Scott Westerfeld.

Fierce Reads Tour

I’m still on tour, in Dallas at the moment, headed to Cleveland next. But I wanted to mention that for the next few events, I’ll be part of a group of authors known as Fierce Reads 2017.

This gaggle of scribes includes Erin Beaty, Taran Matharu, Kristen Orlando, and me. We’ll all be together in Parma OH, St Paul MN, Santa Cruz CA, Austin TX, and Coral Gables FL. They’ll be appearing without me in Menlo Park CA and Las Vegas NM. (And I’ll be doing solo events in Toronto CA, Rhinebeck NY, and NYC.)

Since we’ll be traveling together, appearing together, and eating together for more than a week, I thought I’d get to know them first.

This is what I discovered:

Erin Beaty

@ErinBeatyWrites

Book

The Traitor’s Kiss

Three things that describe your book:

“Spies, lies, and smooching.”

Strangest reaction you’ve ever gotten to your book?

“I begged my readers to give me feedback on the romantic scenes, but hardly anyone would give me more than a thumbs up. But then I got a lot of great feedback and specific advice from my mom, which was ewwwwwwwww.”

What were you doing when you found out you were going to be published?

“I was ironing a bunch of shirts for my brother-in-law’s wedding when my agent called to say I was going to an acquisitions board. When the offer itself came through the next week, I was getting ready for the wedding’s rehearsal dinner. After that, the whole night is pretty foggy.”

Taran Matharu

@TaranMatharu1

Book

Battlemage (Summoner series, book 3)

Three things that describe your book:

“Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Pokemon.”

Strangest reaction you’ve ever gotten to your book?

“I have had two marriage proposals from readers I have never met.”

What were you doing when you found out you were going to be published?

“The was actually about to go into one of those sensory deprivation tanks to clear my head, where you float suspended in water for an hour. You’re supposed to relax and let your mind go empty. Let’s just say it didn’t work out that way!”

Kristen Orlando

@KristenOrlando1

Book

You Don’t Know My Name

Three things that describe your book:

“Dangerous double life.”

Strangest reaction you’ve ever gotten to your book?

“I just got the most irate email from a reader: ‘HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO YOUR READERS????? I finished it a few minutes ago, threw the book across the room, and had to contact you immediately to express my great disdain about your ending. I feel sad and awful and empty and hopeless!!!! Why did you do that to me???'”

What were you doing when you found out you were going to be published?

“I was at work when I got the call. I went into the stairwell, jumped up and down and then called my husband.”

For details of all Fierce Reads events, click this link.

To check out the rest of my tour, click here.

Hope to see you all on the road!

The post Fierce Reads Tour appeared first on Scott Westerfeld.

On Tour NOW!

A quick reminder that I’m touring now for my upcoming graphic novel, Spill Zone, and my new middle grade, Horizon.

You can go here to my Appearances page for all the gnarly specifics.

Or here’s a handy cheat sheet for checking where I’ll be and when:

Hope to see you on the road. I’ll sign anything!

The post On Tour NOW! appeared first on Scott Westerfeld.

HORIZON is out TODAY!

My new book, Horizon, is out today, March 28!

What’s It About?

A group of Brooklyn kids on a robotics team are flying to a competition in Japan. But on the way their plane is seized by a mysterious force and crashes. When they step from the wreckage, they find themselves stranded, at odds, and in a jungle full of strange and terrible creatures!

Basically, it’s like Hatchet, but geekier. And like Lord of the Flies, but way less depressing. And like Lost, except the characters are lost but the writers aren’t.

Explosions! Survival! Who will lead them home?

Is There a Trailer?

No. I mean, yes:

Is This Book Standalone?

“Standalone”? I barely even know what that word means.

Horizon is the first in a seven-book series, one of Scholastic’s multi-author, multi-platform deals, like 39 Clues and Spirit Animals. I wrote the first novel myself and outlined all seven of the books, but six other authors will write the rest. They have to catch all the balls I’ve thrown in the air. (Suckers.)

The second installment is by Jennifer A. Nielsen, and the other authors are secret for now. But trust me, there are some cool people involved!

What Does Multi-Platform Mean?

Computer stuff!

There’s a Horizon game for computers, phones, and tablets. Download through your phone/tablet store or play through your browser right here. Also at that link is a big community of other fans exchanging clues and secrets and game hints.

I’m a gamer from way back (me in the 1970s, basically) so the game has been a blast to work on. My robotics team characters are based on the smart, nerdy kids I hung out with around the gaming table.

Wasn’t This Book Supposed to Come Out a While Ago?

Yes, January 17. But the super high-tech, fancy cover broke the printing factory, so it was delayed. That’s life on the cutting edge, my friends.

Our scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could make this cover, they didn’t stop to think if they should.

Are You Touring for this Book?

Yep, I’m headed all over the country for both this book and Spill Zone, my graphic novel. All tour details can be found right here.

Cities include: Holmdel NJ, Canton CT, Collegeville PA, Raleigh NC, St. Louis MO, Pasadena CA, Menlo Park CA, Washington DC, Athens GA, Buford GA, Dallas TX, Parma OH, St Paul MN, Santa Cruz CA, Toronto Comic Arts Festival, Austin TX, Coral Gables FL, Rhinebeck NY, and New York NY.

What’s the Age Level?

Fairly high middle grade. In other words, it’s closer in age and feel to my Uglies books than, say, Zeroes.

Read and excerpt or buy the book online by clicking here.

The post HORIZON is out TODAY! appeared first on Scott Westerfeld.

2017 Tours

I have two books out in Spring 2017, Horizon and Spill Zone, and will be touring for both of them!

If you want to come see me:

1) Check this list to find a town near you.

2) Scroll down to get the specific event details.

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

HORIZON TOUR

New York NY

Holmdel NJ

Canton CT

Collegeville PA (outside of Philly)

Raleigh NC

St. Louis MO

Texas Library Association (San Antonio)

SPILL ZONE TOUR

Pasadena CA

Menlo Park CA

Washington DC

Athens GA

Buford GA

Dallas TX

Olmsted Falls OH

St Paul MN

Santa Cruz CA

Toronto Comic Arts Festival

Austin TX

Coral Gables FL

Rhinebeck NY

New York NY

Okay, now here are the details, in the same order as the list above.

HORIZON TOUR

NY Teen Author Festival

New York Public Library, 42nd Street

South Court Auditorium

Friday, March 24

2:50PM

Strange and Unusual Fandoms

Reverse fan fiction! Authors write a short, short story about a teen fan of something strange and unusual. Me with Tara Altebrando, Gina Damico, JJ Howard, Bill Konigsberg, Barry Lyga, Michael Northrop, Lindsay Ribar, Lindsey Smith, Len Vlahos.

(I’ll also be at the NYTAF Megasigning on Sunday, March 26, in the 3:30-4PM slot.)

Holmdel, NJ

Barnes & Noble

Friday, March 31

7PM

Commons at Holmdel

2134 NJ-35

Canton, CT

Barnes & Noble

Monday, April 3

7PM

The Shoppes at Farmington Valley

110 Albany Tpk #305

Collegeville, PA

Towne Book Center & Café

Wednesday, April 5

7PM

220 Plaza Drive, Suite B-3

Raleigh, NC

Quail Ridge Books

Monday, April 17

7PM

North Hills

4209-100 Lassiter Mill Road

St. Louis, MO

St. Louis County Library HQ

Tuesday, April 18

7PM

1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis

(Books sold by The Novel Neighbor bookstore)

Texas Library Association

April 19-21

Details to come.

Not open to the public.

See you there, TX librarians!

SPILL ZONE TOUR

Pasadena, CA

Vroman’s Books

Tuesday, May 2

7PM

695 E Colorado Blvd

In conversation with Tracy Brown.

Menlo Park, CA

Kepler’s Books

Wednesday, May 3

7PM

1010 El Camino Real

Washington, DC

Politics & Prose

Thursday, May 4

7PM

5015 Connecticut Ave NW

Athens GA

Avid Bookstore

Friday, May 5

6:30PM

493 Prince

Warning: This is my birthday and I’ll cry if I want to.

Buford, GA

Galactic Quest

Saturday, May 6

FREE COMIC BOOKS DAY

9AM and through the day

Come and get Spill Night for FREE!

4264 Sudderth Rd NE

Dallas, TX

Dallas Museum of Art

Horchow Auditorium

Arts & Letters Live

Sunday, May 7

3PM

1717 North Harwood

This is a ticketed event.

Get tickets here.

FIERCE READS TOUR

This part of the tour includes a motley crew of authors: Erin Beaty (The Traitor’s Kiss), Taran Matharu (The Battlemage), and Kristen Orlando (You Don’t Know My Name) and me.

Olmsted Falls, OH

Cuyahoga County Public Library

Tuesday, May 9

7PM

8100 Mapleway Dr

St Paul, MN

Red Balloon Bookshop

Wednesday, May 10

7PM

891 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN

Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz Bookshop

Thursday, May 11

7PM

1520 Pacific Ave

Toronto Comic Arts Festival

May 13 – 14

Details to come.

This is not a Fierce Reads gig.

You must have a festival pass.

Austin, TX

Book People

Monday, May 15

7PM

603 N Lamar Blvd

Coral Gables, FL

Books & Books

Tuesday, May 16

Time tba

265 Aragon Ave

And two last solo events for Spill Zone:

Rhinebeck, NY

Oblong Books

Thursday, May 18

6pm

6420 Montgomery St

New York, NY

Kinokuniya Books

Friday, May 19

6:30PM

1073 Sixth Ave

Me at ECCC

Seattle-dwellers! This weekend I’ll be at Emerald City Comic Con, promoting my new graphic novel, Spill Zone.

Even if you aren’t attending ECCC, you can come see me at this public event:

Seattle Public Library Panel

Microsoft Auditorium, 1000 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104

Friday, March 3

7:00pm

Authors : Gene Yang, Scott Westerfeld, Box Brown, Penelope Bagieu, Matt Loux

Book signing follows!

And if you are attending ECCC, come see me at any of the following panels and signings:

My First Comic

Family Stage, ECCC

Thursday, March 2

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Our talented group of comics creators will talk to children and families about the first comic they read, how they went from reading comics to writing and illustrating comics professionally, and advice for kids who want to do the same!

Speakers : Matt Loux, Nidhi Chanani, Falynn Koch, Scott Westerfeld

Moderator: Gene Luen Yang

Departing Neverland: In-Conversation with Five Fantastic YA Creators

WSCC 603, ECCC

Friday, March 3

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

Magic! Adventure! The apocalypse! Wolves! Hockey! Join five YA

authors as they explore the universe with their fantastic creative works. Come and hear them talk about their latest books, their creative process, and the life of a writer and artist. Signing to follow, see below.

Speakers : Scott Westerfeld, Nidhi Chanani, Ngozi Ukazu, Natalie Riess, Ashley Poston

Moderators: Sierra Wilson

BOOTH SIGNING + GIVEAWAY

First Second Booth, ECCC

Friday, March 3

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Free Spill Zone ARCs!

BOOTH SIGNING + GIVEAWAY

First Second Booth, ECCC

Saturday, March 4

11:30 AM – 12:15 PM

More free Spill Zone ARCs!

Discover Why YA is the Future of Comics

TC 302, ECCC

Sunday, March 5

1:30 PM – 2:30PM

Authors: Shannon Waters, Liz Prince, Ru Xu, Scott Westerfeld, Nidhi Chanani, Ngozi Ukazu

Moderator: Dafna Pleban

BOOTH GIVEAWAY

Giveaway: Fierce Reads

Date : Sunday, March 5th

Time : 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM

Free coloring books, pens, and finished books

I’ll be on tour for both Horizon and Spill Zone over the next few months. Watch this space for details!

Spill Zone

Exciting news: I have a graphic novel coming out in May 2017, but you can start reading it now!

It’s called Spill Zone. It’s set in the aftermath of an unexplained event that destroyed a small city in upstate New York. It follows a pair of sisters orphaned by the Spill.

The oldest, Addison, is a young adult providing for her little sister by sneaking into the Zone and taking photographs of the strange phenomena there—the ultimate outsider art.

Her little sister, Lexa, hasn’t spoken since the Spill, but has an eerie connection with the doll she carried out from the wreckage of their hometown.

The question is, what really happened that night? And what connection does the doll Vespertine have with the Spill?

The cool thing is, you can start read the comic NOW online. It’s not all up yet, but we’re adding six pages every Wednesday.

Go to thespillzone.com or click here to start reading.

Or click here to pre-order the actual printed book!

By the way, the art is by the amazing Alex Puvilland, with colors by the wondrous Hilary Sycamore.