Ellen Jensen Abbott's Blog, page 4

Why I love writing (at the moment…)

…because a few days ago, I looked up the characteristics of a shrapnel wound (really nasty pictures, by the way) and learned how quickly and to what extent such wounds would get infected. I also learned various techniques for cleaning these wounds. Today, I looked up sea monsters and found this really cool Maori monster called the Taniwha which can be good to a certain tribe and terrifying to others. Sometimes it lives in the sea, sometimes in rivers. What other job allows you to pursue such a wide collection of questions and call  it “research”? One click leads to another, and pretty soon was I was learning about cryptozoology, which is a search for animals whose existence has not been proven. Who knew?

(and yes, there are some clues to what might be happening in the next Abisina installment in this post!)

Paperback is almost here!

I expect to receive a box of the Watersmeet paperback any day now! Look for it in stores and on Amazon.com! Meanwhile, I'm hard at work on Book #3…..

Cool interview!

Check this out! My Journey Sister, Bev Patt, interviewed me for a blog she's part of:

http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2012/02/fantastic-fantasy-discussion-author-ellen-jensen-abbott/the-centaurs-daughter/

An overdue report!

Well, school is back in session and taking over my life! As a high school junior and senior English teacher, I spend much of the fall giving advice on college essays and writing recommendations. I love the work–talking about writing? What could be better!–but it means things like blogging go out the window.

There are a few items to report in the world of Seldara: the paperback for Watersmeet comes out around March 1! Yay! I can't wait to have a less expensive book to sell! I hope more  people will discover Abisina and her adventure!

The Centaur's Daughter is selling well–it's possible that they're going to reprint soon so keep your fingers crossed! (And get your copy soon because there might be a period when it won't be available!)

I got a GREAT shout out from Cynthia Leitich Smith on the blog Teen Voices: http://www.teenvoices.com/2011/10/17/part-2-the-%e2%80%9ccynsation%e2%80%9d-of-cynthia-leitich-smith/ Cynthia is the amazing author of Tantelize, Blessed and Eternal, among other books. She's also the blogger behind Cynsations, a 'must-visit' for writers and book lovers. I have to pinch myself each time I realize that she enjoyed my books!

Joanne Fritz also posted an interview with me on her blog: http://mybrainonbooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/ya-friday-pa-authors-part-two-centaurs.html Joanne is a writer and a bookseller and she knows A LOT about YA lit (and children's too). Check out her blog!

It's still college season, but I'm hoping I've gotten the biggest crunch behind me and will actually get working on BOOK 3!! I'll keep you posted!

Check out my guest blog post!

It's on Jenn Hubbard's two blogs and she is a great blogger! Check it out at one of the following two blogs:

http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/263398.html

http://jenniferrhubbard.blogspot.com/2011/09/fear-loathing-and-joy-writing-second.html

Another blog posting! Check out this interview…

…with yours truly on The Enchanted Inkpot! Please stop by and leave a comment!

http://enchantedinkpot.livejournal.com/102269.html

Check out my post on Cynsations!

I have a guest blog post today on Cynthia Leitich Smith's blog, Cynsations, a very popular children's lit blog. Check it out!! I'm very exicted to be included on this blog!

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2011/09/guest-post-ellen-jensen-abott-on-pain.html

It's called "Writing a Sequel: A Pain in the Backstory."

Quick! Get in on a contest to win a Centaur’s Daughter ARC!

Only a couple of days left! Go to http://www.mangamaniaccafe.com/?p=5480 and enter to win an Advanced Reader’s Copy of my new book! There is also a review on this website! Contest ends 9/12!

Quick! Get in on a contest to win a Centaur's Daughter ARC!

Only a couple of days left! Go to http://www.mangamaniaccafe.com/?p=5480 and enter to win an Advanced Reader's Copy of my new book! There is also a review on this website! Contest ends 9/12!

TIME CHANGE for PAYA Festival!

Due to the coming of HURRICANE IRENE, there have been some changes in the PAYA Festival plans. It's still on for tomorrow, August 27 but the times will be from 11-2. The organizer has also had to cancel the workshops.
 
There are still loads of authors coming, some from quite far away, so it's a great chance to meet a whole lot of YA authors at once! Put it on your schedule! What else will there be to do on a rainy day?
 
It is going to be held at: 1585 Paoli Pike West Chester, PA.
 
Hope to see you there!!