Lori Ann Stephens's Blog, page 5
August 28, 2013
Spilling Secrets over at Kelsey's Book Corner
As the butterflies start winging in my chest and the pub date of SOME ACT OF VISION nears, I'm sharing this little post that surprised even me this morning. Kelsey at Kelsey's Book Corner has posted an interview of me.
Surrounded by pink butterflies and some hot book trailers in the sidebars (wipes brow), I try to answer her questions honestly. Hop over there to find out what I failed to learn from my dear mother.
Thanks, Kelsey!
Surrounded by pink butterflies and some hot book trailers in the sidebars (wipes brow), I try to answer her questions honestly. Hop over there to find out what I failed to learn from my dear mother.
Thanks, Kelsey!
August 26, 2013
Evariste!
In January, I finished an opera libretto titled EVARISTE and sent it to the London-based Icelandic composer, Helgi Ingvarsson, to work his magic. This happened over the weekend:
Evariste Galois was an 18th-century math genius whose ideas were rejected by the leading mathematicians of the period; he spent the last two years of his brief life falling in love, fighting for democracy, and submitting (without success) his mathematical theories. After a short imprisonment and a doomed love affair, he died in a duel at the age of 20, but not before revising, one last time, his brilliant journal that would identify and explain group theory (and revolutionize 20th-century mathematics).
Hooray, Evariste!
Helgi also created a "Mutter Music Suite" based on the first scene in the libretto. The music was premiered in Salurinn, Iceland on August 7th by the Bartholdy Quartet and recorded live. I realized I was holding my breath as I listened to the music--it so perfectly captures the mood and lyrics. I'm looking forward to the next installment--music and lyrics together. And more more more. Bravo, Helgi! The chamber orchestra live recording is here.
Evariste Galois was an 18th-century math genius whose ideas were rejected by the leading mathematicians of the period; he spent the last two years of his brief life falling in love, fighting for democracy, and submitting (without success) his mathematical theories. After a short imprisonment and a doomed love affair, he died in a duel at the age of 20, but not before revising, one last time, his brilliant journal that would identify and explain group theory (and revolutionize 20th-century mathematics).
Hooray, Evariste!
Helgi also created a "Mutter Music Suite" based on the first scene in the libretto. The music was premiered in Salurinn, Iceland on August 7th by the Bartholdy Quartet and recorded live. I realized I was holding my breath as I listened to the music--it so perfectly captures the mood and lyrics. I'm looking forward to the next installment--music and lyrics together. And more more more. Bravo, Helgi! The chamber orchestra live recording is here.
August 15, 2013
10 Things a Hamster Can Teach You
A few years ago, I bought my son a hamster. His name is Artie. This is what he looks like:
(Not Artie, but very close)
Don't mock me. Artie wasn't a smoochy dog or a lap-cat, but he has found a way, somehow, to wriggle into my heart. Having a hamster, and a Djungarian hamster in particular, has taught me a few things:
Rodents are not evil or scary. Bubonic plague? Bah! They are cuddly in their own way, andthey make your heart soft when you hold them and can only pet them with one finger because you realize thatwhen you stroke them with your index finger, you can feel their tiny, bendy bones underneath, and you realize how big and potentially scary you must be to them, and so you feel powerful and scared at the same time. And thankful that they trust you enough to hold them.You learn that a bite is not a deal-breaker. All bites are not equal. There are curiosity-nibbles and "I'm tired of your holding me" bites and "You got me too excited" bites. And your heart still goes soft when you pet them next time.Hamsters are sneaky enough to escape even the best cage, and clever enough to survive in the back of your closet for a week.And if you've shown respect for the creatures, they'll crawl right back into your open palm when you discover them in your closet.They are fantastic entertainment when they're in a hamster ball, barreling down the hall at warp speed.You worry about your hamster. Is his cage big enough? Is he bored? Should I give him an apple slice? What is he thinking?You can get attached to such a fleeting little thing.Your heart will go soft too, flubbing around in your chest, when you have to move his tiny body to the terrible trash bag, where all hamsters must go. Your son will cry, and you will hold him, curled up in your lap, and stroke his back and notice how big and sturdy he's becoming. And your son will be too sad to say a word, but you'll try to "celebrate Artie's life" and talk about the way this rodent made you laugh. And you'll feel silly. But you'll also miss that little guy.
(Not Artie, but very close)Don't mock me. Artie wasn't a smoochy dog or a lap-cat, but he has found a way, somehow, to wriggle into my heart. Having a hamster, and a Djungarian hamster in particular, has taught me a few things:
Rodents are not evil or scary. Bubonic plague? Bah! They are cuddly in their own way, andthey make your heart soft when you hold them and can only pet them with one finger because you realize thatwhen you stroke them with your index finger, you can feel their tiny, bendy bones underneath, and you realize how big and potentially scary you must be to them, and so you feel powerful and scared at the same time. And thankful that they trust you enough to hold them.You learn that a bite is not a deal-breaker. All bites are not equal. There are curiosity-nibbles and "I'm tired of your holding me" bites and "You got me too excited" bites. And your heart still goes soft when you pet them next time.Hamsters are sneaky enough to escape even the best cage, and clever enough to survive in the back of your closet for a week.And if you've shown respect for the creatures, they'll crawl right back into your open palm when you discover them in your closet.They are fantastic entertainment when they're in a hamster ball, barreling down the hall at warp speed.You worry about your hamster. Is his cage big enough? Is he bored? Should I give him an apple slice? What is he thinking?You can get attached to such a fleeting little thing.Your heart will go soft too, flubbing around in your chest, when you have to move his tiny body to the terrible trash bag, where all hamsters must go. Your son will cry, and you will hold him, curled up in your lap, and stroke his back and notice how big and sturdy he's becoming. And your son will be too sad to say a word, but you'll try to "celebrate Artie's life" and talk about the way this rodent made you laugh. And you'll feel silly. But you'll also miss that little guy.
August 1, 2013
Winner of my last ARC!
I was lucky enough to have SOME ACT OF VISION be the CONTEST GIVEAWAY hosted every Monday by International Bestseller Amy Plum.
The winner is Jordan Gaylord of Oregon.
Jordan?
Seriously?
This is delightful. Maybe a wink of fate, given that my main character is Jordan.
Congrats, Jordan Gaylord! I hope you enjoy the ARC I'm sending you today.
And many thanks to Amy Plum. Her fans are the best.
The winner is Jordan Gaylord of Oregon.
Jordan?
Seriously?
This is delightful. Maybe a wink of fate, given that my main character is Jordan.
Congrats, Jordan Gaylord! I hope you enjoy the ARC I'm sending you today.
And many thanks to Amy Plum. Her fans are the best.
July 3, 2013
Riptide
This weekend, I read a YA novel (Young Adult novel) called Riptide by Lindsey Scheibe. I picked it up at the Writers' League Conference in Austin two weeks ago, and cracked it open for a light summer read as I curled up in bed. I teach a university course on coming-of-age themes, so YA literature is more than a "guilty pleasure."(Oh that I could teach a course on wine-tasting.)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738735949Riptide was not a light summer romance, which is what I thought it might be from the cover. It's a story of two teens, best friends who have fallen in love but, for several reasons, can't bring themselves to submit to their feelings. Grace Parker surfs to forget about her troubled home life and her confusing feelings for her best friend, Ford. And Ford is entangled in a tricky employment situation with Grace's father, which prevents him from confessing his love to Grace. Both Grace and Ford narrate alternating chapters. Perfect setup for a book for teens.
I couldn't put the book down for long. Literally. When I needed to take my son somewhere, I put the book in my purse so I could read it at Jules' tennis lesson or the car wash or the grocery story checkout line. I am not kidding. I even pulled it from my purse at red lights so I could read a few sentences. That's kind of embarrassing to admit. This is not literary fiction. It's full of surf jargon, teen angst, and "whatev"s. It's about how teens are cruel to one another, competitive to a flaw, and how, despite our feminist advancements, both girls and boys still see each other in (and limited by) the gender-constructs of the past. But that is one reason why I couldn't get my paws off the book. I was a teenager again, feeling those angsty emotions, in spite of the safe-calm of my current life.
The other reason is this: Grace is in an abusive situation at home, and the tension is cable-tight. I knew things were going to be okay in the end, but I needed to see Grace's decision, the one that would free her. And the end of the book was satisfying. All the little plot lines didn't magically resolve, and some were left stranded. But they needed to be abandoned. That's the point of the book. Sometimes we abandon things to make the right decision in life.
Teenagers who speak their own dialect are not stupid. Teenagers who suffer indecision and inconsistency are psychologically normal. Intense angst over romance/love does feature prominently in the lives of many (of not most) teens. And, unfortunately, so do "issues." One in every four girls will be sexually abused by the time she's 18, according to the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center. Imagine how many others suffer from physical (beating) abuse and neglect. These are the unfortunate ones that I wrote about in a previous post. Books like Riptide tap into the heart of the unfortunate readers, those who have secrets, shame, and fear. Someone else suffers. Someone else has found a way to not only survive, but to find real love. And books like Riptide give those "fortunate" readers--those who have never suffered abuse--a gift that will enlarge their souls: compassion.
July 2, 2013
When readers (sometimes) get it wrong
A Small Prelude: This post might just get me blacklisted.I hope not. I'd like to hear others' thoughts on this topic.And I hope it's a conversation about how and why we love books.
This weekend, I read a YA novel (Young Adult novel) called Riptide by Lindsey Scheibe. I picked it up at the Writers' League Conference in Austin two weeks ago, and cracked it open for a light summer read as I curled up in bed. I teach a university course on coming-of-age themes, so YA literature is more than a "guilty pleasure."(Oh that I could teach a course on wine-tasting.)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738735949
Riptide was not a light summer romance, which is what I thought it might be from the cover. It's a story of two teens, best friends who have fallen in love but, for several reasons, can't bring themselves to submit to their feelings. Grace Parker surfs to forget about her troubled home life and her confusing feelings for her best friend, Ford. And Ford is entangled in a tricky employment situation with Grace's father, which prevents him from confessing his love to Grace. Both Grace and Ford narrate alternating chapters. Perfect setup for a book for teens.
I couldn't put the book down for long. Literally. When I needed to take my son somewhere, I put the book in my purse so I could read it at Jules' tennis lesson or the car wash or the grocery story checkout line. I am not kidding. I even pulled it from my purse at red lights so I could read a few sentences. That's kind of embarrassing to admit. This is not literary fiction. It's full of surf jargon, teen angst, and "whatev"s. It's about how teens are cruel to one another, competitive to a flaw, and how, despite our feminist advancements, both girls and boys still see each other in (and limited by) the gender-constructs of the past. But that is one reason why I couldn't get my paws off the book. I was a teenager again, feeling those angsty emotions, in spite of the safe-calm of my current life.
The other reason is this: Grace is in an abusive situation at home, and the tension is cable-tight. I knew things were going to be okay in the end, but I needed to see Grace's decision, the one that would free her. And the end of the book was satisfying. All the little plot lines didn't magically resolve, and some were left stranded. But they needed to be abandoned. That's the point of the book. Sometimes we abandon things to make the right decision in life.
I was looking forward to writing about my goofy red-light reading and to recommending this book on my blog. So I was surprised when I stumbled across a few recent reviews on Goodreads that had criticized the book, in somewhat veiled terminology, for being an "issues" book. I expected a summer romance, but got an "issues" book instead. A few others were annoyed by the surfer lingo. "Whatev" and "hella," etc. Let me just make one thing clear here:
This is a Young Adult novel. YA novels are written for teenagers. Yes, 20- and 30-somethings (and even 40-somethings) read YA novels, but the book was not written for them. Get over it.
Teenagers who speak their own dialect are not stupid. Teenagers who suffer indecision and inconsistency are psychologically normal. Intense angst over romance/love does feature prominently in the lives of many (of not most) teens. And, unfortunately, so do "issues." One in every four girls will be sexually abused by the time she's 18, according to the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center. Imagine how many others suffer from physical (beating) abuse and neglect. These are the unfortunate ones that I wrote about in a previous post. Books like Riptide tap into the heart of the unfortunate readers, those who have secrets, shame, and fear. Someone else suffers. Someone else has found a way to not only survive, but to find real love. And books like Riptide give those "fortunate" readers--those who have never suffered abuse--a gift that will enlarge their souls: compassion. If you're an adult reading YA books because you want a fun-filled summer romance, do yourself a favor and go rent Grease instead. (Or buy a Romance book instead of a YA novel.) And remember that "issues" are children's lives.
We all have high expectations of the books we read, and that's a testament to the value our society still places on literature. Or is it the value we place on our own time: "this book better be worth my precious time and meet my preconceived expectations and speak to me at a personal level!"(Go away, inner cynic. Go away.) No, I still believe that our society values books that reveal some painful experience of the human condition. And perhaps that's why there are so many enthusiastic reviews, good and bad, on sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads.
Still, I think readers who review YA novels sometimes get it wrong. Book reviewers who have professional blogs are magnificent people who, much more often than not, dive into Young Adult books to remember the teenage experience, to pay homage to the coming-of-age journey that is bumpy and messy and thrilling and frustrating and magical. Not all reviewers want to return there. Or can't return there because they have bewildering high moral standards that they can't remember ever breaching. Maybe they want Summer Lovin', Grease-style. (And there's nothing wrong with Grease; I loved Grease. But Grease is not YA literature.) But please don't complain about reading an "issues" book--a book that among other things offers a glimpse into human suffering for the benefit of those who suffer and for those who love them.
A world (of kids) needs these books.
So, I'm wondering what others think about this topic. Authors AND readers. Have you read a response to a book that chapped your hide a bit because the reader expected a YA book to cater to a different audience? (a.k.a. the non-teen reader)
A last note here: I love book bloggers. I am still truly humbled when someone takes the time to read my stories, let alone review them. I hope I haven't offended book bloggers or sliced my own throat come September when Some Act of Vision is released. But I had to say something here because Riptide spoke to my old wounded, teenager's heart, and I wanted to say that books like these are important.
Your thoughts?
This weekend, I read a YA novel (Young Adult novel) called Riptide by Lindsey Scheibe. I picked it up at the Writers' League Conference in Austin two weeks ago, and cracked it open for a light summer read as I curled up in bed. I teach a university course on coming-of-age themes, so YA literature is more than a "guilty pleasure."(Oh that I could teach a course on wine-tasting.)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738735949Riptide was not a light summer romance, which is what I thought it might be from the cover. It's a story of two teens, best friends who have fallen in love but, for several reasons, can't bring themselves to submit to their feelings. Grace Parker surfs to forget about her troubled home life and her confusing feelings for her best friend, Ford. And Ford is entangled in a tricky employment situation with Grace's father, which prevents him from confessing his love to Grace. Both Grace and Ford narrate alternating chapters. Perfect setup for a book for teens.
I couldn't put the book down for long. Literally. When I needed to take my son somewhere, I put the book in my purse so I could read it at Jules' tennis lesson or the car wash or the grocery story checkout line. I am not kidding. I even pulled it from my purse at red lights so I could read a few sentences. That's kind of embarrassing to admit. This is not literary fiction. It's full of surf jargon, teen angst, and "whatev"s. It's about how teens are cruel to one another, competitive to a flaw, and how, despite our feminist advancements, both girls and boys still see each other in (and limited by) the gender-constructs of the past. But that is one reason why I couldn't get my paws off the book. I was a teenager again, feeling those angsty emotions, in spite of the safe-calm of my current life.
The other reason is this: Grace is in an abusive situation at home, and the tension is cable-tight. I knew things were going to be okay in the end, but I needed to see Grace's decision, the one that would free her. And the end of the book was satisfying. All the little plot lines didn't magically resolve, and some were left stranded. But they needed to be abandoned. That's the point of the book. Sometimes we abandon things to make the right decision in life.
I was looking forward to writing about my goofy red-light reading and to recommending this book on my blog. So I was surprised when I stumbled across a few recent reviews on Goodreads that had criticized the book, in somewhat veiled terminology, for being an "issues" book. I expected a summer romance, but got an "issues" book instead. A few others were annoyed by the surfer lingo. "Whatev" and "hella," etc. Let me just make one thing clear here:
This is a Young Adult novel. YA novels are written for teenagers. Yes, 20- and 30-somethings (and even 40-somethings) read YA novels, but the book was not written for them. Get over it.
Teenagers who speak their own dialect are not stupid. Teenagers who suffer indecision and inconsistency are psychologically normal. Intense angst over romance/love does feature prominently in the lives of many (of not most) teens. And, unfortunately, so do "issues." One in every four girls will be sexually abused by the time she's 18, according to the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center. Imagine how many others suffer from physical (beating) abuse and neglect. These are the unfortunate ones that I wrote about in a previous post. Books like Riptide tap into the heart of the unfortunate readers, those who have secrets, shame, and fear. Someone else suffers. Someone else has found a way to not only survive, but to find real love. And books like Riptide give those "fortunate" readers--those who have never suffered abuse--a gift that will enlarge their souls: compassion. If you're an adult reading YA books because you want a fun-filled summer romance, do yourself a favor and go rent Grease instead. (Or buy a Romance book instead of a YA novel.) And remember that "issues" are children's lives.
We all have high expectations of the books we read, and that's a testament to the value our society still places on literature. Or is it the value we place on our own time: "this book better be worth my precious time and meet my preconceived expectations and speak to me at a personal level!"(Go away, inner cynic. Go away.) No, I still believe that our society values books that reveal some painful experience of the human condition. And perhaps that's why there are so many enthusiastic reviews, good and bad, on sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads.
Still, I think readers who review YA novels sometimes get it wrong. Book reviewers who have professional blogs are magnificent people who, much more often than not, dive into Young Adult books to remember the teenage experience, to pay homage to the coming-of-age journey that is bumpy and messy and thrilling and frustrating and magical. Not all reviewers want to return there. Or can't return there because they have bewildering high moral standards that they can't remember ever breaching. Maybe they want Summer Lovin', Grease-style. (And there's nothing wrong with Grease; I loved Grease. But Grease is not YA literature.) But please don't complain about reading an "issues" book--a book that among other things offers a glimpse into human suffering for the benefit of those who suffer and for those who love them.
A world (of kids) needs these books.
So, I'm wondering what others think about this topic. Authors AND readers. Have you read a response to a book that chapped your hide a bit because the reader expected a YA book to cater to a different audience? (a.k.a. the non-teen reader)
A last note here: I love book bloggers. I am still truly humbled when someone takes the time to read my stories, let alone review them. I hope I haven't offended book bloggers or sliced my own throat come September when Some Act of Vision is released. But I had to say something here because Riptide spoke to my old wounded, teenager's heart, and I wanted to say that books like these are important.
Your thoughts?
June 27, 2013
Writers' League of Texas Love
I attended the Agents and Editors Writers' League of Texas Conference in Austin this past weekend, and boy did it deliver. I wanted to write about the conference as soon as I flew home, but other exciting things (including Neil Gaiman's Dallas reading and my cover reveal) jumped the gun (and there's this other thing called "putting my house on the market," which exhausted the living daylights out of me). But better late than never, huh?
First of all, if you're a writer, you need to become a member of the Writers' League of Texas. Even though I'm in Dallas and the majority of the events are in or around Austin, I find the membership's incredible network (filled with smart, compassionate people) well worth the annual fees. And there's this conference. This conference!
I didn't even think to take a lot of pictures. I was too busy taking notes and meeting other writers and agents. Frankly, friends, I haven't even had time to craft emails to some of the agents who requested full manuscripts. (*Jots note that I Must Do This tonight.)
You don't go to conferences like this expecting to leave with five agents begging to represent you. There are a few things you should expect to do:
1. You have to Shed the Shy and talk to people. It's a veritable gold-mine of writers there--some who are genuinely nice and will become published sooner than you can forget them, and conferences are the best places to make meaningful, lasting connections that last for years.
2. Be curious. Ask other people what they're writing and ask them questions about things you don't understand. The enormously talented (and adorable) Nikki Loftin teaches me this every time I see her. (Side Note: Nikki is going to be a star in Children's Literature. A huge, bright star. Mark my words.) She encourages writers and helps those whom she's read and admires. Writing and publishing can be a lonely, cut-throat, impossible business, and people like Nikki prove that the opposite can be true, too.
3. Be confident and mannerly when you approach agents to pitch them your idea. I did this most of the time. But good God, I didn't have my inner editor on when I approached one agent and told him he looked like Paul Rudd. (cringe) I love Paul Rudd, so this "compliment" kind of fell out of my mouth and into my wine glass. Thank God I didn't say "I love Paul Rudd!" That would have been even more awkward. He took my unsolicited comparison graciously enough, but I still... (cringe).
4. Go to Sarah Davies's panel (Greenhouse Literary Agency). She is brilliant. That is all.
I was finally able to meet/see in person the dynamic duo Cythnia Leitich Smith and Greg Leitich Smith. More good people who are talented and kind and probably hide superpowers, with everything they do. I also made a friend, Amanda Coffin (hi, Amanda!), and we talked about writing and other things for hours and ate sushi.
Amanda and me
The panels at the conference were expertly run, the munchies were filling, the coffee was mmmm, and as far as this attendee knows, everything went like clockwork. I'll definitely be back next year. Kudos and huzzahs to The Writers' League of Texas.
Now go join.
First of all, if you're a writer, you need to become a member of the Writers' League of Texas. Even though I'm in Dallas and the majority of the events are in or around Austin, I find the membership's incredible network (filled with smart, compassionate people) well worth the annual fees. And there's this conference. This conference!
I didn't even think to take a lot of pictures. I was too busy taking notes and meeting other writers and agents. Frankly, friends, I haven't even had time to craft emails to some of the agents who requested full manuscripts. (*Jots note that I Must Do This tonight.)
You don't go to conferences like this expecting to leave with five agents begging to represent you. There are a few things you should expect to do:
1. You have to Shed the Shy and talk to people. It's a veritable gold-mine of writers there--some who are genuinely nice and will become published sooner than you can forget them, and conferences are the best places to make meaningful, lasting connections that last for years.
2. Be curious. Ask other people what they're writing and ask them questions about things you don't understand. The enormously talented (and adorable) Nikki Loftin teaches me this every time I see her. (Side Note: Nikki is going to be a star in Children's Literature. A huge, bright star. Mark my words.) She encourages writers and helps those whom she's read and admires. Writing and publishing can be a lonely, cut-throat, impossible business, and people like Nikki prove that the opposite can be true, too.
3. Be confident and mannerly when you approach agents to pitch them your idea. I did this most of the time. But good God, I didn't have my inner editor on when I approached one agent and told him he looked like Paul Rudd. (cringe) I love Paul Rudd, so this "compliment" kind of fell out of my mouth and into my wine glass. Thank God I didn't say "I love Paul Rudd!" That would have been even more awkward. He took my unsolicited comparison graciously enough, but I still... (cringe).
4. Go to Sarah Davies's panel (Greenhouse Literary Agency). She is brilliant. That is all.
I was finally able to meet/see in person the dynamic duo Cythnia Leitich Smith and Greg Leitich Smith. More good people who are talented and kind and probably hide superpowers, with everything they do. I also made a friend, Amanda Coffin (hi, Amanda!), and we talked about writing and other things for hours and ate sushi.
Amanda and meThe panels at the conference were expertly run, the munchies were filling, the coffee was mmmm, and as far as this attendee knows, everything went like clockwork. I'll definitely be back next year. Kudos and huzzahs to The Writers' League of Texas.
Now go join.
Cover Reveal for SOME ACT of VISION
We'll, I'm pleased as punch.
My Young Adult novel finally has clothes. Are you ready for this?
The cover for SOME ACT OF VISION:
I think my favorite detail is the ominous purple mushroom cloud in her eye. And her "Mona Lisa" flair. And the somber tone. Or maybe my favorite part is the sa-weet blurb by Amy Plum , a fantastic YA writer that had me up till the wee hours of the morning reading by flashlight on the bathroom floor in Paris. (That's another story, but seriously, go read her DIE FOR ME series.) This cover is lovely. Fantastic job, Tim (he's the incredible designer) and ASD Publishing!
I'm wringing my hands, waiting for the pre-order link. It's not up yet, but you can bet your britches I'll post a link as soon as I have one. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for early reviews from some very special book bloggers. (I'll post links to those, too.)
I'll be pleased as spiked punch if you help me share the cover bliss.Here's what SOME ACT OF VISION is about:
After ten years of ballet lessons, Jordan Walker has finally landed her first principal role in Romeo and Juliet. Sweeter yet, "Romeo" has asked her to the May Fling Ball at Winston High. But a massive Texas earthquake triggered by the fracking activity nearby tears apart the community and Jordan's future as a dancer. The Walker family survives the earthquake, but wake up the next morning utterly invisible.
On the run from a military with nefarious plans, Jordan and her family are forced to abandon their old lives and flee to Galveston. It isn't until she meets Caleb, a blind musician, that Jordan dares to hope again. And the more their secret friendship develops, the more Jordan understands the danger she's placed everyone in.
If you want to know more about the book, hop over to my website and read the first chapter. September 17 is right around the corner. I hope you can join me in the hoopla!
(UPDATE: My website is being stubborn uploading the new cover. I might have to arm-wrestle with it, but the cover WILL be up soon.)
~Lori Ann
My Young Adult novel finally has clothes. Are you ready for this?
The cover for SOME ACT OF VISION:
I think my favorite detail is the ominous purple mushroom cloud in her eye. And her "Mona Lisa" flair. And the somber tone. Or maybe my favorite part is the sa-weet blurb by Amy Plum , a fantastic YA writer that had me up till the wee hours of the morning reading by flashlight on the bathroom floor in Paris. (That's another story, but seriously, go read her DIE FOR ME series.) This cover is lovely. Fantastic job, Tim (he's the incredible designer) and ASD Publishing!
I'm wringing my hands, waiting for the pre-order link. It's not up yet, but you can bet your britches I'll post a link as soon as I have one. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for early reviews from some very special book bloggers. (I'll post links to those, too.)
I'll be pleased as spiked punch if you help me share the cover bliss.Here's what SOME ACT OF VISION is about:
After ten years of ballet lessons, Jordan Walker has finally landed her first principal role in Romeo and Juliet. Sweeter yet, "Romeo" has asked her to the May Fling Ball at Winston High. But a massive Texas earthquake triggered by the fracking activity nearby tears apart the community and Jordan's future as a dancer. The Walker family survives the earthquake, but wake up the next morning utterly invisible.
On the run from a military with nefarious plans, Jordan and her family are forced to abandon their old lives and flee to Galveston. It isn't until she meets Caleb, a blind musician, that Jordan dares to hope again. And the more their secret friendship develops, the more Jordan understands the danger she's placed everyone in.
If you want to know more about the book, hop over to my website and read the first chapter. September 17 is right around the corner. I hope you can join me in the hoopla!
(UPDATE: My website is being stubborn uploading the new cover. I might have to arm-wrestle with it, but the cover WILL be up soon.)
~Lori Ann
June 20, 2013
Writers' League of Texas: Conference Time!
My bags are not packed.
My pitch is not prepped.
My house is half-scattered, half-renovated,
paint brushes, paint cans, scrapers, scrubbers,
toxic goop and wads and wads of paper towels everywhere,
prepping for the agent who will put our house on sale.
I'm peeking in on potential book covers for SOME ACT OF VISION, my YA novel to be published by ASD in September, and my heart is ker-flunking at the beauty of them.
And my head is a reel of rhyming verses for the new libretto that I'm creating for a Minneapolis composer.
But my boarding pass is printed, and I'm ready for the weekend at the Agents and Editors Conference in Austin. I'll blog my experience when I get back, just in case there are others who are wondering what this conference is, and if it's worth the $$. (I have the feeling it is.)
Bring it on!
My pitch is not prepped.
My house is half-scattered, half-renovated,
paint brushes, paint cans, scrapers, scrubbers,
toxic goop and wads and wads of paper towels everywhere,
prepping for the agent who will put our house on sale.
I'm peeking in on potential book covers for SOME ACT OF VISION, my YA novel to be published by ASD in September, and my heart is ker-flunking at the beauty of them.
And my head is a reel of rhyming verses for the new libretto that I'm creating for a Minneapolis composer.
But my boarding pass is printed, and I'm ready for the weekend at the Agents and Editors Conference in Austin. I'll blog my experience when I get back, just in case there are others who are wondering what this conference is, and if it's worth the $$. (I have the feeling it is.)
Bring it on!
May 25, 2013
Hoopla and Celebration
I couldn't be happier right now. I feel like these guys:
Contracts are signed and sealed in blood.
I'm delighted to announce that my Young Adult novel, Some Act of Vision, will be published by ASD later this year!
Austin Powers thinks it's groovy. Dancing is in order:
I'm busy busy busy juggling all kinds of tasks now. I'll be making a tumblr page (any folks want to help me on this one?) and other fun things as soon as I get back from Paris. Or maybe while I'm in Paris. Because, oh yeah, I'm selling my house when I get back to the states. Just another little thing I'll be doing on the side...
I'll keep you updated on my journey with this small publisher, who has fallen in love with my main characters and their uncommon adventure.
Here's a bit about Some Act of Vision to whet your appetite:
After ten years of ballet lessons, Jordan Walker has finally landed her first principal role in Romeo and Juliet. Sweeter yet, "Romeo" has just asked her to the May Fling ball at Winston High. But the script of Jordan's life changes when an earthquake tears apart her community and her future. Triggered by the fracking activity nearby, the earthquake releases a toxic element that raises the death toll. Jordan and her family survive the earthquake and the exposure to the lavender element, but not without consequence. They wake up to find themselves physically present, but utterly invisible…and in grave danger. Hiding from the military, who discovers the family’s secret and wants to unlock the mysterious reaction for its own strategic purposes, Jordan, her mom and brother escape to Galveston Beach while her chemist dad searches for a cure. Jordan's hope spirals until she meets Caleb, who hears and feels her, but because he is blind, does not know she's invisible. Yet the more she spends time with Caleb, the more she risks revealing her secret and putting herself, Caleb, and her family in a life or death situation.
I've read somewhere that adults comprise more than 50% of the Young Adult book-reading audience. So go ahead, friends. You have permission to read it. Guilty pleasures are the little necessities in life.
Thanks to all my friends, readers, and supporters!
Contracts are signed and sealed in blood.
I'm delighted to announce that my Young Adult novel, Some Act of Vision, will be published by ASD later this year!
Austin Powers thinks it's groovy. Dancing is in order:
I'm busy busy busy juggling all kinds of tasks now. I'll be making a tumblr page (any folks want to help me on this one?) and other fun things as soon as I get back from Paris. Or maybe while I'm in Paris. Because, oh yeah, I'm selling my house when I get back to the states. Just another little thing I'll be doing on the side...
I'll keep you updated on my journey with this small publisher, who has fallen in love with my main characters and their uncommon adventure.
Here's a bit about Some Act of Vision to whet your appetite:
After ten years of ballet lessons, Jordan Walker has finally landed her first principal role in Romeo and Juliet. Sweeter yet, "Romeo" has just asked her to the May Fling ball at Winston High. But the script of Jordan's life changes when an earthquake tears apart her community and her future. Triggered by the fracking activity nearby, the earthquake releases a toxic element that raises the death toll. Jordan and her family survive the earthquake and the exposure to the lavender element, but not without consequence. They wake up to find themselves physically present, but utterly invisible…and in grave danger. Hiding from the military, who discovers the family’s secret and wants to unlock the mysterious reaction for its own strategic purposes, Jordan, her mom and brother escape to Galveston Beach while her chemist dad searches for a cure. Jordan's hope spirals until she meets Caleb, who hears and feels her, but because he is blind, does not know she's invisible. Yet the more she spends time with Caleb, the more she risks revealing her secret and putting herself, Caleb, and her family in a life or death situation.
I've read somewhere that adults comprise more than 50% of the Young Adult book-reading audience. So go ahead, friends. You have permission to read it. Guilty pleasures are the little necessities in life.
Thanks to all my friends, readers, and supporters!
