Lucienne Diver's Blog: Lucienne Diver's Drivel, page 16

How the World would be Doomed if We were Action Heroines

Hey, all!  I’ve been crazed with work, a contest to judge, my wonderful sister and friends from the old days in town, so I’ve been a bit behind on my blog.  Posts will probably be a little fast and furious this week, so stay tuned.

To begin with, here’s Amy Christine Parker’s and my YA Rebels vlog from last week on How the World would be Doomed if We were Action Heroines!

 

New Releases and a New Vlog

Awesomely exciting day today, because of two new releases (well, paperback reissues of wonderful hardcover originals) and a new vlog from Amy Christine Parker and I, this one on writers’ block.

New releases!

These are the first two novels in Molly Cochran’s wonderful YA series featuring Katy Ainsworth.  I love the way the author combines contemporary, historical, myth, magic, suspense, mayhem…all of my favorite things whipped up into a witches’ brew.  Check out these great quotes:

Praise for Legacy:

“Will satisfy readers hungry for a little paranormal excitement and romance in a post-Twilight world… a quick, entertaining read.”—Kirkus



“an exciting and well-written tale of contemporary witchcraft and romance…should please the legions of paranormal fans looking for a sophisticated supernatural thriller.” —Publishers Weekly

“The well conceived history and culture of Katy’s magical world make this first title unique … The teasing epilogue promises a sequel, and readers will be ready for it.” —Booklist

“A fast-paced, electrifying read! My heart throbbed for the tender romance trapped in a world of boarding-school backstabbing. With a courageous yet achingly human heroine, Molly Cochran made me believe in magic!”–Jeri Smith-Ready, award-winning author of the SHADE trilogy

“An amazing debut crackling with magic and mystery!”–Shannon Delany, author of 13 to Life



“Wonderful book. Eerie and suspenseful, with a romance you root for all the way through.”–Janice Hardy, author of The Healing Wars

Praise for Poison:

“POISON is a strong story, filled with empathetic characters, in amazing circumstances. This Young Adult novel is a wonderful read not only for teens but adults as well.” —Fresh Fiction

“The introduction of Arthurian legend is intriguing, and the last few chapters are real nail-biters.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Cochran revisits Arthurian legend while continuing the adventures of powerful, young witch Katy Ainsworth. . . . Fans will be poised for the next installment.”—Booklist

“Fans of Arthurian legend will appreciate this alternative view of the infamous Morgan le Fay.”—School Library Journal

Best of all, if you like these, you can get more of Katy and her friends in Molly’s novella Wishes and in the third Katy novel, SEDUCTION, which releases in December of this year!

Let’s quickly talk about some other awesome books that have recently been released in lower priced formats:

 THE GOLDEN CITY by J. Kathleen Cheney – award-winning epic fantasy debut! (Sequel, SEAT OF MAGIC, coming July 1st!)

 GATED by Amy Christine Parker (with a brand new cover!)- a young adult thriller about a girl who lives in a cult and begins to doubt all she’s learned just as the “end times” come upon them (next book, ASTRAY, is coming August 26th!)

 THIEVES’ QUARRY by D.B. Jackson – second in the author’s wonderful “tri-corn punk” historical fantasy series (after THIEFTAKER and before A PLUNDER OF SOULS, coming July 8th!)

And now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for!  Amy Christine Parker and I vlog about how to deal with writers’ block.  Warning for the feint of heart – there may be a moment wherein you actually see my navel.  You’ll have to check out the vlog if you want to know more.

Two new vlogs

Hey, all!  I’ve been quiet for awhile because I’ve been crazy busy (all to the good).  Trying to make up for it today with TWO new vlogs, one a video interview the awesome Jean Marie Ward did with me for Buzzy Magazine.

The other is Amy Christine Parker’s and my latest YA Rebels video.  In this one, we talk to a panel of YA writers and teachers about teens, fiction and trends.  Check us out! (L to R: Amy Christine Parker, me, Heather Burch, Lisa Iriarte, Joe Iriarte)

I hope you enjoy!

Interview and Scenes from RT

First up, the fabulous Kerry Schafer interviewed me here due to my upcoming participation in the Colorado Gold Conference (Sept. 5-7).  I’m very excited to go back to Colorado, where I’ve encountered so many talented writers!  BTW, that new fiction debut that I couldn’t announce at the time of the interview because the contracts weren’t all signed, sealed and delivered?  I’m pleased to announce now Michelle Belanger’s sale to Titan Books!

Professional ghost-hunter Michelle Belanger takes a page from her real life adventures to fashion a gritty world half a step off from our own in which angels, vampires, and powers darker still are arrayed against Zack Westland, a man faced with a mountain of mysteries, not the least of which is his own past, and allies as deadly as his enemies.  CONSPIRACY OF ANGELS and sequels sold to Steve Saffel of Titan Books via Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency .

So excited!

Next, I promised pictures and a write-up of the Romantic Times Convention.  I’m still playing catch-up with my inbox, so in brief…THE CONFERENCE WAS AMAZING.  I love RT because while my dance card is full, it’s not so full that I don’t have time to chat with long-time friends and have unforeseen good times, like hanging out in the bar playing Cards Against Humanity with Tiffany Reisz, Andrew Shaffer, Angela Roquet Mothersbaugh, Jenn LeBlanc, Romancing Rakes and Tristan Edwards.  I also got to spend some great quality time with my authors who were there, Rachel Caine, Faith Hunter and Chloe Neill (seen below and in yesterday’s YA Rebels video) and with other friends, old and new.  I got to shake my groove thing at the Samhain party, which others may have video of, but I very determinedly DO NOT.  There were multiple meetings with editors, all of us relaxed from the wonderful setting.  Plus, there was New Orleans itself.  What an amazing, vibrant place.  Even if all you do is eat, shop and people watch, it’s so worth the trip.  And now, without further ado, I present pics:

 

The Romantic Times Conference and Convention Survival Tips

Back from the Romantic Times Convention in New Orleans this past weekend, which was wonderful, amazing, inspiring, exhausting, exhilarating and just incredible.  I got to spend quality time with so many friends and make new ones.  Business meetings should always be conducted over beignets.  Always.  I hope to post more pics, etc. on this tomorrow, but here’s a taste for today:

 

Featured:

Faith Hunter, author of the Jane Yellowrock and Rogue Mage series: http://www.faithhunter.net/

Rachel Caine, author of the Morganville Vampires series and PRINCE OF SHADOWS: http://www.rachelcaine.com/

Jennifer Estep, author of the Elemental Assassin, Mythos Academy and Bigtime series: http://www.jenniferestep.com/

Chloe Neill, author of the Chicagoland Vampires and Dark Elite series: http://www.chloeneill.com/

Cecily White, author of the Angel Academy books: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cecily.white.5

Wishes and Congrats!

 

A few things I’m really excited about today.  One is wishing J. Kathleen Cheney HUGE congratulations for finaling in the Locus Award for Best First novel for her wonderful fantasy THE GOLDEN CITY (to be followed July 1st by the sequel, THE SEAT OF MAGIC).  Such a worthy book in such prestigious company!

     

More exciting news: those of you already familiar with Molly Cochran‘s wonderful YA novels for Paula Wiseman Books/S&S will be thrilled to know that there’s a new Katy e-novella out called WISHES (and for only $1.99)!  Those of you who aren’t yet familiar, there’s no time like the present to dip into the world, especially with the specially priced novella out and the paperbacks of the first two books soon to be released: LEGACY and POISON.  Her third Katy book, SEDUCTION, is scheduled for December 2014.

New Rebels Vid, New Release!

Yesterday, Amy Christine Parker did a wonderful YA Rebels vlog about A Day in the Life of a Full-time Writer.  Too funny and waaaayyyy too accurate.  For your viewing pleasure:

 

A really fun, wonderful new book released yesterday – THE KLINGON ART OF WAR!  Please join me in wishing Keith R.A. DeCandido a happy book birthday!

THE KLINGON ART OF WAR by Keith R.A. DeCandido (Pocket Books/Star Trek)

Passed down from the time of Kahless,ten precepts have shaped Klingon culture and indoctrinated Klingons in the Way of the Warrior. With this new translation, people from all walks of life—and all worlds—can harness the ancient Klingon wisdom and learn to embody courage, discipline, and honor.

• Choose your enemies well.

• Strike quickly or strike not.

• Always face your enemy.

• Seek adversity.

• Reveal your true self in combat.

• Destroy weakness.

• Leave nothing until tomorrow.

• Choose death over chains.

• Die standing up.

• Guard honor above all.

Fangirling

Do you think authors and agents are born cool?  Oh no, we have many embarrassing moments before we harness the powers of our inner geek girls (and guys).  For YA Rebels this week, Amy Christine Parker and I talk about our best/worst fangirl moments.

Giveaways and Chats and other Goodness

Tonight, the place to be is the Angry Robot live chat with Ramez Naam, among others.  Just look at this line up here!  It’s happening at 8:30 p.m. EDT, so I’m a little late posting, but it’s been so busy today that I never even got my second cup of coffee.  For those of you who know me, don’t worry, I have not actually taken anyone’s head off…yet.  The night is still young.

 Saturday, however…Saturday, May 3rd you’re going to want to chat with fellow YA author Sherry D. Ficklin and author-me over at Jessica Porter’s Read On because not only will we be vastly informative and entertaining (I hope), but we’ll be doing some awesome giveaways.  Free stuff!  The chance to pick our brains!  What more could you want?  (Yes, yes…world peace, the man or woman of your dreams, the winning lottery ticket, but aside from all that!)

 The above may go straight out the window if you’re in California.  I get that entirely, because in CA Saturday is California Bookstore Day, and I insist that you hie thyself to your closest brick and mortar store and browse their selection, meet visiting authors, get signatures, etc.  If you’re in the San Fran area, you might want to do this at Village Books where amazeballs erotic author Jasmine Haynes will be signing from 4-6, along with other authors popping in at various times, schedule here.

Rebel Reads

Amy and I are back at it…check out our latest Rebel Reads!

(And yes, I did have to reread and paraphrase the back cover copy for UNWIND by Neal Shusterman, determining after several takes that it’s a darn hard book to talk about, given the issues involved, but excessively well worth reading.  Also, it’s a book that I suspect will be a vastly different experience for everyone reading it.  For example, reading it as a parent…terrifying.  Reading it as a teen whose fights with said parents sometimes rage out of control…I can only imagine.  Definitely a book that makes you think and leaves you, well, horrified, but better for it.)