Andrea Cremer's Blog, page 10
January 13, 2011
Breathless Reads Tour
I'm thrilled to announce that I'll soon embark on a five-city national tour in the company of some truly fabulous authors.
Penguin has organized an official Breathless Reads tour!
If you loved Matched, The Eternal Ones, Across the Universe, The Replacement, and Nightshade - this is the tour you've been waiting for ;)
Ally Condie, Kirsten Miller, Beth Revis, Brenna Yovanoff, and myself will be descending en masse for an event in each of our home cities. I cannot wait - it's sure to be a blast!
Here are the cities and the dates:
New York - Wednesday, February 9
Books of Wonder, 7 p.m.
Minneapolis - Thursday, February 10
Hennepin County Public Library (Ridgedale Branch), 7 p.m.
Denver - Friday, February 11
Tattered Cover (Highlands Ranch), 7 p.m.
Salt Lake City - Saturday, February 12
King's English Bookshop, 2 p.m.
Raleigh - Friday, February 25
Quail Ridge Books and Music, 7 p.m.
I'm guessing one of the first questions to come right on the heels of this post will be: None of those cities are near me - when are you coming to my city?
Keep in mind that publishers schedule tours based on how well events are attended. If you want to have future tours in your area - the best way to make that more likely is to get the word out about this tour.
On that note: I'll be holding a contest from now until February 1st - tell me in the comments how you're sharing the news about the Breathless Reads tour and when the tour month rolls around I'll give away a set of all five hardcover Breathless Reads books!
Penguin has organized an official Breathless Reads tour!
If you loved Matched, The Eternal Ones, Across the Universe, The Replacement, and Nightshade - this is the tour you've been waiting for ;)
Ally Condie, Kirsten Miller, Beth Revis, Brenna Yovanoff, and myself will be descending en masse for an event in each of our home cities. I cannot wait - it's sure to be a blast!
Here are the cities and the dates:
New York - Wednesday, February 9
Books of Wonder, 7 p.m.
Minneapolis - Thursday, February 10
Hennepin County Public Library (Ridgedale Branch), 7 p.m.
Denver - Friday, February 11
Tattered Cover (Highlands Ranch), 7 p.m.
Salt Lake City - Saturday, February 12
King's English Bookshop, 2 p.m.
Raleigh - Friday, February 25
Quail Ridge Books and Music, 7 p.m.
I'm guessing one of the first questions to come right on the heels of this post will be: None of those cities are near me - when are you coming to my city?
Keep in mind that publishers schedule tours based on how well events are attended. If you want to have future tours in your area - the best way to make that more likely is to get the word out about this tour.
On that note: I'll be holding a contest from now until February 1st - tell me in the comments how you're sharing the news about the Breathless Reads tour and when the tour month rolls around I'll give away a set of all five hardcover Breathless Reads books!
Bon Anniversaire, Nightshade: Lune de Sang
Today is Nightshade's book birthday in France and Belgium! Tres bien!!
Merci beaucoup to all those readers who join Calla and her pack on the wild hunt.
Merci beaucoup to all those readers who join Calla and her pack on the wild hunt.
January 12, 2011
WITW: Day 3
Today's clues for a chance to win a signed hardcover of Nightshade. And I'm delighted to report that I have as yet avoided sunburn, which is near miraculous for me. Hooray for SPF 50!
Clue #1
Clue #2
Clue #3
Clue #1
Clue #2
Clue #3
January 11, 2011
WITW: Day 2
Today I went parasailing! It was one of the coolest, and surprisingly, most tranquil activities I've ever taken part in. Absolutely loved it. Pictures will come in the next week :)
And here are today's clues. Post your guess as to where I am and all correct answers will be put into a drawing to win a signed, finished copy of Nightshade:
Clue #1
Clue #2 (note: I'm not on a cruise, but cruise ships dock here)
Clue #3
And here are today's clues. Post your guess as to where I am and all correct answers will be put into a drawing to win a signed, finished copy of Nightshade:
Clue #1
Clue #2 (note: I'm not on a cruise, but cruise ships dock here)
Clue #3
January 10, 2011
Where in the World?
Unable to endure the Mother Nature's overly enthusiastic take on winter this year, I've escaped to much friendlier climes. Since I'm in need of serious R&R I won't be online as much as normal. Even so, I thought it would be fun to hold a little contest.
Over the week I'll post pictures from my vacation spot. Leave your guess as to where I am (the photos will be pretty generic to start and give more obvious clues as the week goes on). Correct guesses will be entered into a drawing for a signed, finished copy of Nightshade.
Here are the photos:
Clue #1
Clue #2
Clue #3
Over the week I'll post pictures from my vacation spot. Leave your guess as to where I am (the photos will be pretty generic to start and give more obvious clues as the week goes on). Correct guesses will be entered into a drawing for a signed, finished copy of Nightshade.
Here are the photos:
Clue #1
Clue #2
Clue #3
January 5, 2011
At the Bookshop
Amid all the debates about publishing deaths and e-book revolutions, I always wonder about how far said revolutions can go simply because of aesthetics. I was wandering around the mall with my brother yesterday before taking him to the airport. We did some browsing in the Apple and *shinynew* Microsoft stores - which, by the by, are facing off against each other in the mall, both sporting futuristic all glass fronts and both feature employees wearing oppositional colors: Apple - all red shirts, Microsoft - all blue shirts.
My brother and I decided that someone needs to stage a YouTube flash of a mid-day mall rumble between these two stores.
But despite all the shiny, futurey goodies, I get tired of looking at screens, flashing lights, and consoles. The only place I spent money yesterday was at the bookstore. And the bookstore is also where we spend the bulk of our time.
There's something so wonderful about wandering through aisles of books, not knowing what you'll pick up, what you'll discover. As much as I'm used to reading books by author friends or books recommended by booksellers or blogger, it's still incredibly exciting to pick up a book you've never seen or heard of only to be captivated by its premise and prose.
Instead of waiting to post reviews of some new books, I decided that today I'd post about recent books I've purchased, but have not yet read, and why I picked them up. It's a mix of books I'd been anticipating and a few I just found and am really excited about.
David Levithan's Lover's Dictionary
David is not only an incredibly talented writer and editor - he's a genuinely exceptional human being who I am honored to call my friend. I've been super excited for his first adult novel. It's beautiful and so creative. I've only read a few pages (I just got it!) but I'm in love!
Cynthia Hand's Unearthly
I haven't met Cynthia in person, but she is a friend of my friend - the amazing poet and scholar Kristin Naca - and Kristin introduced (via the internet) Cynthia and I to each other. Like me, Cynthia is an academic trying to balance teaching and writing and so I feel instant kinship with her. I also loved this review of Unearthly and Nightshade together.
Matt Haig's The Radleys
The cover snared me on this one. And then I read a few pages. Suburban vampires. Commentary on abstinence and the repression of animal instincts. Wow. Yes.
Cherie Priest's Boneshaker
Zombies. Alternate Civil War. Steampunk. My next project is steampunk, as well as being alternate history. I'm psyched about this book.
Terry Pratchett's The Wee Free Men
I adore Terry Pratchett and this series has been on my TBR list forever. Finally picked it up.
Andrew Shaffer's Great Philosophers Who Failed at Love
Maybe wins best title ever?? Andrew is a fantastic columnist for Huffington Post, a master of wit, and I have been really looking forward to this book.
So what makes you pick up a book? Have you been surprised by any recent literary purchases?
My brother and I decided that someone needs to stage a YouTube flash of a mid-day mall rumble between these two stores.
But despite all the shiny, futurey goodies, I get tired of looking at screens, flashing lights, and consoles. The only place I spent money yesterday was at the bookstore. And the bookstore is also where we spend the bulk of our time.
There's something so wonderful about wandering through aisles of books, not knowing what you'll pick up, what you'll discover. As much as I'm used to reading books by author friends or books recommended by booksellers or blogger, it's still incredibly exciting to pick up a book you've never seen or heard of only to be captivated by its premise and prose.
Instead of waiting to post reviews of some new books, I decided that today I'd post about recent books I've purchased, but have not yet read, and why I picked them up. It's a mix of books I'd been anticipating and a few I just found and am really excited about.
David Levithan's Lover's Dictionary
David is not only an incredibly talented writer and editor - he's a genuinely exceptional human being who I am honored to call my friend. I've been super excited for his first adult novel. It's beautiful and so creative. I've only read a few pages (I just got it!) but I'm in love!
Cynthia Hand's Unearthly
I haven't met Cynthia in person, but she is a friend of my friend - the amazing poet and scholar Kristin Naca - and Kristin introduced (via the internet) Cynthia and I to each other. Like me, Cynthia is an academic trying to balance teaching and writing and so I feel instant kinship with her. I also loved this review of Unearthly and Nightshade together.
Matt Haig's The Radleys
The cover snared me on this one. And then I read a few pages. Suburban vampires. Commentary on abstinence and the repression of animal instincts. Wow. Yes.
Cherie Priest's Boneshaker
Zombies. Alternate Civil War. Steampunk. My next project is steampunk, as well as being alternate history. I'm psyched about this book.
Terry Pratchett's The Wee Free Men
I adore Terry Pratchett and this series has been on my TBR list forever. Finally picked it up.
Andrew Shaffer's Great Philosophers Who Failed at Love
Maybe wins best title ever?? Andrew is a fantastic columnist for Huffington Post, a master of wit, and I have been really looking forward to this book.
So what makes you pick up a book? Have you been surprised by any recent literary purchases?
January 3, 2011
Resolved!
It's the first Monday in January, which makes me want to run around shrieking and pulling at my hair. Why? Because now all that "I don't really have to get anything done - it's the holidays!" mantra has vanished and reality has come crashing through the door.
Does anyone else feel this way?
I'm approaching the 'real' New Year with excitement and trepidation. I see lots of good things on the horizon, but I'm also wary of the plate spinning I'll be doing to balance writing, teaching, and life.
That's where my 2011 resolution comes in, I'm talking about the big one here. There are also little ones about exercise and meditation, etc. but the big one is this:
I resolve to work with passion and then let it go.
2010 was an amazing year, but it also involved a lot of hand-wringing on my part. Too many questions, all of the what if followed by a negative thought variety, kept me from savoring the journey as much as I could have.
In 2011 I'm working hard to focus on doing what I love and letting the universe do what it will what that effort. I want to spend less time on self-doubt and anxiety and more time observing the joys that grace my life and being thankful for them.
Given that I'm an intensely self-critical, quasi-obsessive perfectionist this will not be an easy task. And yet, I am resolved!!
What are your resolutions for the New Year?
January 1, 2011
Cover Love!
The results are in, and I'm thrilled to announce that the Urban Fantasy Cover Awards for 2010 have treated Nightshade very, very well.
Nightshade won Best Debut Cover and COVER OF THE YEAR!!!
If that wasn't peachy enough, Wolfsbane was honored with Best Sneak Peek Cover for 2011!
Thank you so much to everyone who voted I am giddy over this honor. And I would be remiss if I didn't say thank you, especially, to Suza Scalora - the incredible artist whose photographs have made the Nightshade covers so unique and beautiful!
I have a feeling that 2011 is going to be filled with great adventures and joyful surprises. I look forward to sharing the new year with all of you!
Nightshade won Best Debut Cover and COVER OF THE YEAR!!!
If that wasn't peachy enough, Wolfsbane was honored with Best Sneak Peek Cover for 2011!
Thank you so much to everyone who voted I am giddy over this honor. And I would be remiss if I didn't say thank you, especially, to Suza Scalora - the incredible artist whose photographs have made the Nightshade covers so unique and beautiful!
I have a feeling that 2011 is going to be filled with great adventures and joyful surprises. I look forward to sharing the new year with all of you!
December 31, 2010
Out with the Old
The close of one year and the opening of the next always leaves me in a restless state of mind. I remember a year ago, on the eve of 2010 and the excitement with which I approached the year of my greatest dream coming true - the publication of my novel, Nightshade.
Any expectations I had were far exceeded by the experience that was 2010. I am so grateful to Penguin and InkWell for the amazing work they did to make my dreams a reality. And I will never have enough thanks to all the readers (that's you!!) who took Calla and her pack into their hearts.
2011 brings more excitement and I'd just like to wish you a Happy New Year and thank you again for being with me on the adventures that each new day brings!!
December 28, 2010
Pub Date Across the Pond!
Hooray!!! Nightshade is officially out in the UK today!
Thanks so much to the amazing team at Atom Books - I'm ecstatic that Nightshade is making friends in England, Scotland and beyond even as I write this message.
If you haven't yet checked out the UK Nightshade web site, you should as it is soooo very pretty.
Since it's very, very wintry from Minnesota to New York to London I thought this might be an appropriate song to celebrate the day. I hope you'll brave the elements to go pick up your own copy of Nightshade and give it a nice, cozy new home!
Thanks so much to the amazing team at Atom Books - I'm ecstatic that Nightshade is making friends in England, Scotland and beyond even as I write this message.
If you haven't yet checked out the UK Nightshade web site, you should as it is soooo very pretty.
Since it's very, very wintry from Minnesota to New York to London I thought this might be an appropriate song to celebrate the day. I hope you'll brave the elements to go pick up your own copy of Nightshade and give it a nice, cozy new home!
