Mandy Hubbard's Blog, page 12

Books I want to read!

Man, SO MANY amazing books have come out lately. Here are some I'm dying to read:

THE BAD QUEEN by Carolyn Meyer



From the moment she was betrothed to the dauphin of France at age fourteen, perfection was demanded of Marie-Antoinette. She tried to please everyone—courtiers, her young husband, the king, the French people—but often fell short of their expectations. Desperate for affection and subjected to constant scrutiny, this spirited young woman can’t help but want to let loose with elaborate ...

AT ANY COST now shipping from Amazon!

Guess what shows as "IN STOCK" On Amazon??




*runs scared*

ALSO! RT Book reviews reviewed my story and said, "Hubbard brings quirky and charismatic young characters to life.”

The Five

1. Did you know in an offer/contract for a book, it includes Theme Park Rights? True story.

2. Filed under "Kids say the darnedest things: ME: You're a very opinionated little girl. Her: "I don't want a penny! I'm a big girl!" Also, she seems to think telling my pants are "really huge!" is a compliment.

3. Next week I get to do my best impression of Ebay.

4. In "Books I read this week": LIAR SOCIETY By Lisa and Laura Roecker, which rocked, rocked, rocked (BEST LINE EVER: "Suck on that, Nancy ...

On Trends... Part II

So, last week I blogged about trends. About what you should make of them, and what some of them are.


Now,  I wanted to further drill it home that there is ROOM FOR EVERYTHING. I thought it might be interesting for you guys to see some of the things editors have told me to send them..... their "gimme gimme" list, if you will. I think you'll find it englihtening, and hopefully encouraging.

Because bottom line? I'll say it again: There's ROOM FOR EVERYTHING. 

Also, when I say "pub" I  mean an impr...

Full YOU WISH cover!

RIPPLE Mini Teaser

From the last week's work on RIPPLE:

I’d been so stupid. I walked back through the party and grabbed three beers, smiling at Rihanna in a light, breezy way that felt anyting but real as I flung open the sliding glass door. Once outside, I slid it shut again, and the sounds from the party muted, and the whisper of the ocean met my ears.

The need inside me built, bubbled, grew. I popped the top off the first beer, angrily gobbling it down.

I hated who I was, because what I was meant leaving...

So.... What's with the pen name?

I get this question about once a week, so I thought it would be good to explain. On the books page of my website you'll see, near the bottom, coming in 2011 is a book called SHATTERED, written under the pseudonym Amanda Grace. And the next question is always: WHY?

Pen names are used for many, many reasons, whether it's becuase your real name is weird or shared with someone unsavory, or if, like me, it's part of a career plan/strategy.

I have no problem writing two books per year, and it was my...

The Five

1) I've been having a blast this week fielding heated interest on one of my client's projects, including the first offer. Next week should be exciting, indeed. *throws confetti*

2) GLEE This week? Totally made up for the horrid episode last week.

3)  Fulls sent before May 4th and Queries sent prior to May 6th have all been answered. If you dont have a request/reject, shoot me an email.

4) I read FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB by Antony John this week:


And OMG: AWESOME. I didnt expect it to be so emotional...

In Which Mandy opens herself up to humiliation....

One of the hardest things with author blogs is deciding how much to put out there, and what your blog's "brand" will be. Some blogs are personal, some focus on the business news, some share pictures from jet-setting author tours.

I started this blog in 2005, with one main goal: Honesty.

I wanted to be myself and I wanted to be real, and I wanted to show everything-- the ups and downs and dips and curves. And I've been incredibly lucky that my roller-coaster has finally started climbing.

On Chasing Trends.... And why you should just write the book you want to write...

Everyone in publishing likes to talk about trends, it seems. Its one of those things that comes up constantly in tweet chats, conferences, phone calls, PW articles, etc.
 
What's hot? What's not?  How can I capitalize on that?

Here's the problem:
A) The next big thing never looks like the last big thing, so you'll never be able to predict it
and
B) As a writer, by the time you hear about a trend, its too late to jump on the bandwagon if its not already written.

Case in point: About the time PERCY ...