L.E. DeLano's Blog, page 39
March 8, 2017
What’s Up Wednesday – I Have Been A Busy Bee
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I had fully intended to post a cool deleted scene from Traveler yesterday, but the day got away from me. Look for that next week on “Tidbit Tuesday.”
Today, I’ll give you the scoop on what’s ahead.
First, I’ve got two new book signings to add to the list:
Barnes & Noble in Plymouth Meeting, PA 1-4pm
Barnes & Noble in Wyomissing, PA 1-4 pm
And stay tuned for more! I’ll also be popping up all over the place on a couple of different blog tours in the near future, so stay tuned for guest posts, interviews and excerpts – I’ll link to all of them as they go up.
In and around all of this, I’m putting the finishing touches on DREAMER, and scribbling here and there on the book that will follow it. Right now, I’ve got three warring in my brain. Here’s a breakdown – I’d be interested in knowing which one you’d like to read first:
An epic YA fantasy adventure based on the mythology of ancient Ireland – specifically the Tuatha de Danann, a race of superbeings/deities in ancient Ireland who existed in a parallel ‘otherworld.’ I’m sending a modern girl there on a quest, and there will be serious bad-assery, tons of snark, and so many plot twists your head will spin.
A YA Sci-Fi thriller with psychological components, involving a girl who has night terrors and the people (and things) she meets within those dark dreams.
A mystical YA fantasy about a magical realm, a dying mage, and the girl who must carry the story contained within his last breath.
So whatta ya think? Do any of those sound intriguing? Comment below and let me know!
March 6, 2017
“Be careful,” he says. . .
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“I’ll do my best,” I promise.
But I wonder how long that’ll last.
Whoever is after me is getting braver—and closer.
#LoveLines
From: TRAVELER
Topic: “Courage”
March 3, 2017
I’m Coming To Barnes & Noble!
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That’s right – mark your calendars!
I’ll be signing books at Barnes & Noble in Plymouth Meeting, PA – suburban Philadelphia on April 1st from 1pm until they’re tired of looking at me.
If you’re in the area, stop by and see me! I’d love to meet you!
March 2, 2017
Guest Blog: Fantastic Book Ideas And Where To Find Them
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Writer’s block got you down? Feeling a little creatively stunted? Check out my guest blog at Musings of Eternal Dreamers:
Fantastic Book Ideas And Where To Find Them: 5 Ways To Up Your Inspiration Game
February 28, 2017
She rolled on her back, staring up at the trees . . .
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The leaves were soft like snow, brushing her cheeks and
pillowing her body. The sun was pale, but she felt its warmth.
#2bitTues
From: TRAVELER
Topic: “Seasons”
February 27, 2017
My First Book Signing – And I Had A Blast!
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That’s me!
That’s actually me, doing a reading from my book! The book that I wrote! The one on the shelves! (I know I’m babbling, but it still seems a bit surreal.)
I had my first author event on Friday at Towne Book Center, with a terrific crowd and delicious glittery cake pops and the best damn coffee of my life!
Special thanks to the staff at Towne Book Center who were warm and welcoming – they also extended an invitation to their Young Writer’s Group, so I had a few of their members in attendance as well. They asked the best questions!
I also want to give a big thank you to my Swoon sister, Karole Cozzo for attending and for taking my picture for all posterity!
And of course, I want to take a moment to thank my family (my kids are amazing. Have I mentioned that? ‘Cause they are), my friends, and my fans (Val, I still can’t believe you drove all that way – thank you SO much) for making Friday one of the best nights of my life.
I am livin’ the author life and lovin’ it. You have no idea how much.
Next author event at Barnes & Noble in April – details coming soon!!
February 24, 2017
Book Signing Tonight! Stop By And See Me!
Just a reminder that tonight is my author event at Towne Book Center in Collegeville, PA at 7pm. If you’re in the Philly area and feel like checking out their new wine bar (and seeing me signing books with my awesome custom-made pen), be sure and drop in!
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February 23, 2017
Social Media & Mayhem -Trying To Keep Focus Is Hard
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One of the biggest plusses you have as an author is the advent of social media.
Unfortunately, it’s also one of an author’s biggest minuses.
Here’s the thing: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and my blog enable me to interact with readers and would-be readers from all over, to extend my reach beyond my friends, family and neighbors, and most of it without spending much (or any) money.
What it does cost me is time, and when you’re a single working mother, that time is oh-so-precious. Every hour I have to spend scheduling tweets and posts, or taking pretty pictures of books, or coming up with blog content is time I’m not spending on my writing. Which is not ideal.
Unfortunately, it’s the nature of the beast, and in today’s market, a presence in social media, particularly when you write YA, is critical.
So I spend six hours, one day a week front-loading a bunch of this stuff. I take my phone into the bathroom with me to retweet authors I know and “Like” the everloving hell out of Facebook and Instagram posts. I scour Reddit before bed at night and on lunchbreaks at my day job for interesting articles or really cool pictures to share, so I’m not always talking about my book. Everytime somebody posts a hilarious meme anywhere, it gets copied and re-used. I have posts set to duplicate out from the blog to Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr and from Instagram to Twitter, as well. I am a one-woman social media machine.
It’s the price of admission, if you want to stay on the ride.
February 21, 2017
Tidbit Tuesday: Jessa Asks Finn About His Past
In my YA novel, TRAVELER, Jessa has just learned she has the ability to travel through mirrors into other realities, where she steps into other versions of herself. In this scene, Finn – a fellow Traveler – has taken her through the mirror to an excessively sparkling reality for her first taste of Glitter Mousse. Jessa does her best to pry into his mysterious past . . .
“So you’re not from here?”
“Here?” Finn glances around at the shining chrome and sparkling chandeliers of glittery Mugsy’s.
“There,” I qualify. “Back where I’m from. You’re not from my reality.”
“No.” He looks uncomfortable.
“Do you know me, where you’re from?”
“I did.”
I let that hang in the air for a minute before I bite my lip and ask.
“Did I move away?”
He holds my eyes.
“No.”
“When—” I clear my throat. “When did it happen?” I can’t bring myself to ask how it happened. I get the feeling he was there.
“Three years ago.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, and I really am. I can see the hurt in his eyes. Whoever we were to each other, we were obviously close.
“It’s okay,” he says. “Not like I really lost you, after all. We’re Travelers. We’re always around somewhere.”
He gives me a stiff shrug, but it doesn’t quite cover the pain in his voice. I can’t help myself. I reach across the table for his hand. He rubs his thumb across the back of my knuckles, and the feel of his hand on mine is incredibly familiar.
“That’s got to be weird, though. Seeing a different me every time.”
“You get used to it.”
He says it, but something in his voice tells me you don’t, really.
TRAVELER is available now! Grab a copy and step through a mirror into adventure!
February 20, 2017
Check Out The Beth’s Bookcase Podcast Interview Of Yours Truly
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A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be interviewed by the charming Beth Ashley, who’s a podcaster, publisher, and writer in her own right in the U.K. for her podcast on “Beth’s Bookshelf.”
We had a fun and in-depth discussion on the things that make a writer, the issues of diversity and disability in literature, and all the things that make TRAVELER a really adventurous read (that brings in all the feels).
And thank you, Beth Ashley – let’s do this again sometime!
