Rebecca Ross's Blog, page 47

What a magical night. ✨ The launch party for THE QUEEN’S...

What a magical night. ✨ The launch party for THE QUEEN’S RESISTANCE was everything I hoped it would be. I’m sharing some pictures of the launch in my stories today, so even if you couldn’t attend you can catch a little glimpse of last night. ✨ The bookshop was brimming, I got to see some wonderful friends and meet new readers, I received some lovely gifts—thank you @virginia__jane for the coffee ☕️ (AKA writing fuel) and @casey.alane for the absolutely beautiful MacQuinn the Steadfast Falcon artwork

I read the Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, and it is literally perfection! Honestly the best book I’ve read since your book! If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it—I LOVED the story and the writing style (and it actually seemed quite similar

I actually haven’t read that one (I am so ashamed to admit

Local friends! My launch party for THE QUEEN’S RESISTANCE is...

Local friends! My launch party for THE QUEEN’S RESISTANCE is tomorrow evening at the amazing @avidbookshop in Athens. We’re starting at 6:30 PM & there’ll be a brief talk, Q&A, a door prize (I have a sneak peek of what’s up for grabs in my stories!

Today, my second book comes out, and I honestly can’t even...

Today, my second book comes out, and I honestly can’t even believe it!

A few weeks ago, a reader asked me about the song Merei creates...

A few weeks ago, a reader asked me about the song Merei creates for Brienna in Chapter 9 of TQR.

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our...

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”

—W.B. Yeats ✨

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My days have been rather hectic with the release of THE QUEEN’S RESISTANCE only three days away (!!!) but last week I had an idea bloom in my imagination. I started jotting things down in my journal, and then I opened a word doc and started typing, and suddenly after months of feeling like I had no stories living in me, of feeling empty and frustrated and truly wondering if I had burned myself out, the words started to flow again. ✨ I find myself stealing away to work on this new story. And it feels like magic. ✨

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Also, I stood beneath this whimsical light at an antique store this afternoon and felt all kinds of inspiration. ✨ (at Georgia)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuhYE5qnZY7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=116kiowm58bwf

So many of you have entered my preorder campaign for THE QUEEN’S...

So many of you have entered my preorder campaign for THE QUEEN’S RESISTANCE and I just wanted to say thank you!!

“A well-read woman is a dangerous creature.” —Lisa Kleypas...

“A well-read woman is a dangerous creature.” —Lisa Kleypas ✨

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I have so many fantastic books in my TBR stack! I started THE WINTER OF THE WITCH by Katherine Arden this past week and it’s so breathtakingly exquisite and I never want it to end!

How do you get over fears of public speaking/being known publicly now that you’re kind of a celebrity/public figure as a published author? It’s my dream to be an author like you but I hate public speaking and giving presentations at school, etc. Do you eve

Oh yes. I have always been slightly terrified of public speaking. I am super introverted and quiet and was an accomplished wallflower all throughout school. Publishing my book, however, has forced me to do a lot of things that previously terrified me. My book has made me braver, because it has brought (and continues to bring) so many new opportunities to me. I do not want to miss out on things, and so I have had to coach myself to be brave and to go on this adventure. 

Here’s a good example I want to share with you, because it is a process:

A few months before TQR released, I had an acquaintance approach me and say, “I would love to have you come speak at my book club soon!” And I was very honored and told them, yes, I would love to do that. But inside, I was like, “OH MY GOSH NO I AM WAY TOO SCARED TO GO SPEAK TO A BOOK CLUB.” 

A few months go by. My book comes out. I begin to have amazing opportunities to travel and present and speak to people about TQR. I tell myself that I will regret it if I back out because I am afraid. So I take all the opportunities that come to me. I travel and speak and present. 

And then the acquaintance touches base with me again about coming to speak to their book club. I didn’t feel so scared anymore, because I had already spoken so much about my book to multiple groups of people. So I go to the book club. I have a wonderful time. The ladies there are amazing. I enjoy it. I basically talk myself hoarse because there is so much to say and talk about and the ladies have wonderful questions. I go on to speak to 2 more book clubs that summer. 

I also go on to also present to 200 middle school students and 200 high school students at a private school. Was I terrified? Absolutely. This was the biggest audience I had ever spoken to before, and I wanted to tell myself that I was not capable of doing it. But you now what? I was and I am. I spoke to those students about TQR and writing and the process about publishing. And maybe some of those students were bored, but there were a few in that crowd who soaked up everything I said, who I encouraged because writing is their dream, too. That is the best way to look at public speaking: even if most of the people only half-listen to you, think about the people who ARE raptly listening, who you are encouraging and uplifting and connecting with. The nerves are worth it, then, when you think about fueling someone else’s dream. 

I will not deny that that fear is still real. The worst moment for me is right before I begin to speak. But I have to firmly tell myself, “Becca, you can do this.”

So the next time you have to make a presentation, tell yourself you can do it. That your words are going to inspire the people listening to you.

And like anything else, practice and preparation does help you conquer and improve your skill. 

Hi! Please give an update of your favorite YA fantasy books! I need some suggestions from my favorite author (you!) :)

Here are some of my favorites:

THE LUMATERE CHRONICLES by Melina Marchetta (I don’t reread very many books, but I reread this series every year)

THE BOOKS OF PELLINOR by Alison Croggon

THE SHADOWFELL TRILOGY by Juliet Marillier

THE CRUEL PRINCE and THE WICKED KING by Holly Black

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE by Laini Taylor

THE WINTERNIGHT TRILOGY by Katherine Arden

CIRCE by Madeline Miller

WINTERSONG by S. Jae Jones

SPINNING SILVER and UPROOTED by Naomi Novik

CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber

THE STAR TOUCHED QUEEN by Roshani Chokshi