Kristen Landon's Blog, page 6
June 1, 2011
Utah Festival of Books
Be sure to check out the Utah Festival of Books this Saturday, June 4 in Provo, Utah. This will be a HUGE FREE event with tons of fun activities for booklovers of all ages.
Click here or go to http://www.utahfestivalofbooks.com for all the info. I'll be signing books from 1:00-3:00 and then speaking on a panel at 3:00.
May 3, 2011
May 2011 Events
Come join the fun on Saturday May 7 at the Provo Utah Library's Children's Book Festival! Click here for all the details. This is my first time participating in this annual festival. It should be a party!
A little later in May, on the 12th, I'll be participating in a YA panel at the Utah Library Association's conference.
And be sure to attend the Utah Festival of Books on June 4 (okay, that's not quite in May–but get it on your calendar now. You don't want to miss this one) click here for all the info.
April 8, 2011
Stranger Danger
To the young man I walked up to at the store on Wednesday and started talking to like we were family–I'm so sorry! I'm really not as crazy as you must think me. All I saw was the height, build, baseball hat and black T-shirt that belonged to my son. Unfortunately they also belonged to another young man–a stranger to me. When I realized my mistake, I turned and walked away without saying another word. I'm taking the time here and now to publicly apologize to you, Mr. Stranger, and to tell you, yes. It is safe to go back into the store. Crazy ladies are truly rare. Besides, I'm done shopping for the week!
April 4, 2011
Dystopia Defined
The March 2011 issue of the Reader's Digest magazine featured Science Fiction terms as their Word Power theme. I was excited to see dystopia as one of the terms. Now, maybe–after people ask me what The Limit is about–I'll get a few less blank stares when I tell people that it's a dystopian thriller.
Reader's Digest definition of dystopia–a nightmarish society
March 23, 2011
Liesa and Me
I got to spend a lovely afternoon with my fabulous editor, Liesa Abrams, of Aladdin Books. She was only in Utah for a short visit and wanted to experience our beautiful mountains, so I took her on a nice drive. The weather was bright and sunny, and our mountains didn't disappoint. Here we are (I'm the tall one) at Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon.
Liesa is a delightful woman. It's so nice to know that I like my editor in person as well as over the phone and through emails!
March 9, 2011
Brandon Mull's New Book = I Get to Meet My Editor
I'm so excited because I get my first face-to-face meeting with my fabulous editor, Liesa Abrams, in just a few short days! She's actually coming out to Utah for the launch of BrandonMull's new book, Beyonders: A World Without Heroes (I've read it. It's great! I'm sure you can find details about the March 15 launch party on Brandon's website.) She's Brandon's editor as well.
Thanks, Brandon, for bringing Liesa to Utah so I can meet her.
February 4, 2011
SoJo
Thanks to Cindy and all the staff and kids at SoJo (South Jordan Middle School) for a great day! A special thanks goes out to the girl who helped me avoid disaster by stopping me from going into the boys' restroom and showed me to the girls' restroom. Another thanks to the girl who showed me how to turn on the tricky faucet in the girls' restroom.
I got to hang out with authors Clare Dunkle and Ann Cannon today. They're both awesome writers and some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.
I promised some of you at SoJo that I'd post a link to some information about a fantastic writers' conference that's coming up for teens only. Here it is! Click here
January 29, 2011
Busy Week Coming Up
I'm spending all day next Friday (Feb. 4) at SOJO (that's South Jordan Middle School) here in Utah. The theme for the day is dystopian fiction, and I'll share the stage with the amazing Clare Dunkle.
Saturday afternoon from 1:00-4:00 I'll be signing at the Sandy, Utah Barnes and Noble.
January 26, 2011
Crap Out Crud Okay
I had a heartfelt talk with my editor last week about . . . crap. She kept circling the word in my manuscript, so I asked her if I'm not allowed to use it at all. She said the rule is firm–no crap.
Now, you have to understand that I'm not the type of person who curses, and I don't allow my kids to use certain words. My husband is even more strict with his language than I am. But 'crap' is not on my 'banned words' list. It strikes me as funny that such a non-potty-mouthed person as I think myself to be had to be censored by her editor.
Okay. I'll comply. From now on you'll find no more crap in my middle grade novels.
However . . .
my editor said that 'crud' is just fine!
January 17, 2011
Revisions and Paperback
A few weeks ago I received the Simon & Schuster Summer 2011 catalogue, featuring the paperback version of THE LIMIT. This will be available on July 26, 2011! I also had fun spying a few of my fellow Utah authors in the catalogue–Elana Johnson's debut novel, POSSESSION, is coming out on June 7 and Carol Lynch Williams' GLIMPSE will come out in paperback on the same day as THE LIMIT.
I'm mentally gearing up for my latest round of revisions on my next book, OMEGA ALPHA. (We'll see if the title remains the same–I think it will. I think it's a cool title.) January is a good month to stay warm and cozy inside, typing away in my home office.
