Cheryl Rainfield's Blog, page 72

Writer’s Idea book by Jack Heffron (Writer’s Digest) free on Amazon & B&N as ebook

The Writer’s Idea Book by Jack Heffron (Writer’s Digest) is free right now on Amazon & B&N as an ebook. It’s normally $19.99. What a great giveaway!

HUNTED just got a rave review in VOYA!

I am so thrilled and excited! HUNTED just got a glowing review in VOYA!

“Cheryl Rainfield writes a masterful dystopian fantasy novel with a gripping plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The story is well written and steadily paced. Caitlyn is a daring, headstrong protagonist with enough grit to be an army of one. Supporting characters are multi-dimensional, garnering emotional attachment from the reader. Daniel and other secondary characters symbolize the ignorance of hatred and the persecution of people because they are different. Rainfield’s dynamic story expands on the themes of sexuality, racism, human rights and oppression. The first in a planned series, this is a thought-provoking tale that amplifies the reader’s awareness of controversial issues. This is a marvelous read for those teens who loved The Hunger Games.”—Laura Panter.

WOWza! It made me feel so good to read. I am still grinning!

And that’s just after CM’s rave review of HUNTED!

Text-message airplanes from Moleskin.

I think these text-message airplanes from Moleskin are so cute! Or maybe they just appeal to the writer and reader in me. It’s word fun!

Thanks to @MikeCane on Twitter for the link.

I was on an Ad Astra panel with Lesley Livingston, Adrienne Kress, and Max Turner! (still wowed)

I had a fantastic time at Ad Astra this year! But mostly because of YA author Lesley Livingston’s generosity, and her and Adrienne Kress’ kindness.

My panel on YA fantasy was scheduled at the exact same time as the YA fiction panel that well-known YA fantasy authors Lesley Livingston (Wondrous Strange, Once Every Never), Adrienne Kress (Alex and the Ironic Gentleman, The Friday Society), and also Max Turner (Night Runner, End of Days) were on. And while I’m known in the US, I’m not really well-known in Canada, even though Scars was a GG Finalist, likely because my US publisher (who I love!) did not have good Canadian distribution and the book was hard to find here. And I’m not yet really known for fantasy, since Hunted is a recent release, AND my US publisher has had some changes in their company, so HUNTED didn’t get into US bookstores, and it’s only just come out in Canada from Fitzhenry & Whiteside. And I’ve never been to an Ad Astra conference before, so I knew I probably wouldn’t be known there…at a conference very specific to literary fantasy, sci-fi, and paranormal fans.

So I went to my panel–which the fantastic Lena Coakley (Witchlanders)was supposed to be on with me, but unfortunately she was sick and unable to attend–and only a few people in the audience were there. Adi, the organizer, so kindly got Jules, a lovely book blogger to sub with me, and I started looking over my notes. And then, in walked Lesley Livingston, a guest of honor at Ad Astra! (Our panels were on the same floor, a room apart.)

Lesley said hi to me, looked around, hugged me, and said that we should combine our panels. I couldn’t believe it! Lesley was so incredibly generous and kind. So off Jules and I went with her–into a room so packed some people couldn’t get seats. I had a brief moment of fear, which passed as Lesley and Adrienne were so incredibly welcoming, and the panel became such a lively, fun discussion.

And throughout the panel, both Lesley and Adrienne kept mentioning Scars and how powerful it was, and what a page turner. Adrienne prompted me to tell the audience about the kinds of responses I get from teens (like that Scars have helped readers to know they’re not alone, to be understood, to stop cutting, to get help, or even had kept them from killing themselves, or for people to just “get” why someone would self-harm), and she told people that Scars was a Governor General Literary Award finalist (I keep forgetting to tell people about the awards). And Lesely told people Scars was such a powerful book and they all had to go out and read it.

The panel was lively and fun–it felt like a discussion between us–and I didn’t need all the notes I’d made. (smiling) It was such a relaxed, happy atmosphere! And both Adrienne and Lesley kept making sure I was part of the discussion, bringing me in or referring to me. They were both so gracious and giving and incredibly supportive.

And then at the end a bunch of the audience came to get my bookmarks (which I’d mentioned had a way to get Hunted freebies), and people thanked me for speaking, and said that they’d read my book. So it worked out SO beautifully! But if Lesley hadn’t added me to her panel, if she and Adrienne hadn’t been so incredibly supportive, it would have been a very different experience.

I am so grateful to them both, and thankful. And it’s something that I’ve found over and over in the YA writing world–how kind and supportive writers are of each other and our books, how kind and helpful book bloggers and librarians are. We have a wonderful, wonderful community!

Book People Unite! Sign the pledge saying you love books and think they’re important.

Book people unite! Sign the pledge. (No money required.)

I love this! I just signed the pledge (created by RIF–Reading Is Fundamental). To me it’s an “of course!” books are important. They helped me survive my childhood, helped me escape after the abuse, helped me dream and hope, helped me believe in the good in people. They helped me know I wasn’t alone, too. And they fed my soul and creativity–and still do.

Lauren Myracle on Banned Books…and Scars is mentioned!

Lauren Myracle, author of SHINE, ttfn, and many more popular YA books, talks beautifully and honestly in this article about her books being banned and challenged, the horrible criticisms she’s received, the blizzard of fan mail she gets (a hundred emails a day!!), the awful mix-up with Shine and Chime with the National Book Awards…and SCARS is mentioned! The interviewer says at one point:

“Wall Street Journal writer Meghan Cox Gurdon said last year that teen literature has become too dark and depraved—too much rape, incest, violence. One of the books she cited, Scars, is about a girl who cuts herself. What’s your take?”

and Lauren Myracle says:

“I think she looked at a very small sampling of books. I think she herself was sensationalizing. For a girl who is cutting herself, to be able to read something like that and think, “I’m not alone,” what bigger gift can you give someone?”

Thank you so much, Lauren! (beaming)

I love how honest Lauren is in her interview, and how down-to-earth. Check it out.

Support & celebrate libraries on your FaceBook Page

Love libraries? Support libraries and show your love for National Library Week by adding one of these great images to your FaceBook page. Includes instructions on how to do this.

I just added it to my two author pages.

If you like SCARS…

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Could you please take a moment and "like" the new SCARS ebook on Amazon? (Click on the "Like" button near the top.) Apparently that kind of thing helps get the book out there more. It takes only a moment to do. And if you're feeling generous, if you "liked" the paperback version as well, that would be fab. These kinds of things are ways to help a book or an author that you've loved. I so appreciate your help!

SCARS is now an ebook on Amazon!

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I'm excited to announce that, after two years, SCARS is now available in ebook format on Amazon! (For the Kindle.) It's on sale for $7.99, which is cheaper than both the hardcover and the paperback editions.

I've had many readers ask me over the years for ebook copies of my books, so I'm so excited that SCARS is now available for ebook readers! I often buy two copies of books I really love–a digital copy to carry around with me everywhere, and a paper copy for home and my shelves, so I think it's cool that if people want or prefer an ebook copy, they can get one now.

Please help me spread the word about SCARS now being available as an ebook.

HUNTED got a 4/4 star, glowing review from CM Magazine!

I'm so excited! I just found out that HUNTED got a 4/4 star, glowing review in CM Magazine! (beaming and beaming) It's such a feel-good thing to get a glowing review, most especially when I put so much of myself into my books.

I love that the reviewer, Ann Ketcheson, got that Caitlyn is a strong-girl character who fights against oppression, and I especially love that she got this: "Hunted is not the science fiction of spaceships and aliens but something much more subtle and so close to realistic that it is frightening. Perhaps there are no Paras in society as we know it, but we still struggle with people who are seen to be somehow different from societal norms."

and this:

"Rainfield asks many tough questions, but deciding what you truly believe in and then being willing to stand up and fight for it is the real centrepiece of this novel. "

It felt so good to read this review!