Cheryl Rainfield's Blog, page 78

Are You a Canadian Author? Don't forget to sign up for PLR

Are you a Canadian author who's been published in print by a traditional publishing company? If you are, you'll want to sign up for the Public Lending Right Commission. Why? If the PLR finds your book in Canadian libraries, they'll send you a check once a year (depending on how many libraries your book is found in, within the sample that they check). It can be hard to make a living as a writer, and every bit counts! You'll need to photocopy the title page and copyright page of each book, and provide the title and ISBN. And if you're already registered but have a new book out, don't forget to update the PLR (through the form they send you with the check).

The PLR only accepts registrations from February 15th to May 1st by snail mail, so if this is something you want to do and haven't done yet, print out the form and mail it in!

YA & Children's Books I Recommend on self-harm, sexual abuse, LGBTQ, & more

Did you know that I have an Amazon ebookstore where I recommend books on a lot of issues that I talk and write about? I recommend YA books on self-harm; sexual abuse; physical abuse; neglect; dealing with death; lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer (LGBTQ); teen pregnancy; not fitting in. I also recommend some YA books that have magic and fantasy in them, or paranormal or psychic aspects (we all need an escape from our world sometimes).

I also list some picture books that deal with issues such as being yourself; dealing with emotion; inner strength (strong girls, and boys, too); lesbian/gay/bi/trans/queer (LGBTQ); and sexual abuse.

I also have a section of books on writing technique for writers.

These books are only a starting point; you'll find many more, but they're books I recommend and that help break silence and deal with issues that we need to talk about, read about.

I reviewed a lot (but not all) of these books on my blog (search "review") and website.

Cover Reveal and Excerpt: Inbetween by Tara Fuller (YA novel)

Today I'm taking part in a cover reveal and exceprt of INBETWEEN (Kissed by Death, #1) by Tara Fuller, which releases August 7, 2012.

What's the book about? Read on:

Since the car crash that took her father's life three years ago, Emma's life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving

"accidents" has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It's not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn's fellow reapers give him hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before, and he's not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the only thing he has left…his soul.

Ready to see the cover?

Pre-order on Amazon

Add to your Goodreads TBR

Read the excerpt:

Chapter 1

Finn

Sometimes Emma made me feel so alive, I almost forgot I was dead.

Almost.

I sank down onto the side of her bed, amazed by the blazing wildfire that swept through me whenever Emma was near enough to touch. I took a deep, unneeded breath, and settled down on my side next to her. The mattress didn't sink. The springs didn't groan with the weight of an extra body. The distance between us was an impossible void. Inches that might as well have been miles. Miles that left me wanting in so many ways that I ached.

Even the sun couldn't resist her. Its glowing rays caressed her skin, and stained her hair the satiny color of summer wheat. Before I knew what was happening, my hand followed their lead. Cells ignited. My skin burned, screaming with the agonizing need to touch—

"What do you think you're doing?"

I jerked my hand away just as Easton melted up from the polished hardwood floor beneath the window. Like an oil slick coming to life, he unfolded his long, shadowy legs until he was just an ink blot against the square of tangerine sunrise behind him. His violet eyes pinned me like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Which, I kind of was.

"Nothing," I lied.

"Yeah, looked like nothing." He strolled across the room accompanied by a wave of sulfur and smoke, the black serpent tattoo on his neck glinting. "What were you planning to do, recite her poem? I swear to God, if you were still alive I'd confiscate your man card."

I ignored the barb and scrunched up my nose. "Jesus, Easton. Don't they have a shower somewhere between here and the afterlife?"

"Screw you. You didn't just have to tow somebody's grandpa to Hell." He brushed something chalky and grey off of his cloak and a shudder worked its way down my spine. God only knows who or what it belonged to. "Besides I wasn't the one about to feel up a sleeping human."

"I wasn't—"

"Save it." He waved his hand. "We have work to do. I don't have time for your useless obsession with the human today."

"Will you please stop calling her that?"

"What?" Easton glanced up from Emma's vanity, where he'd been inspecting the various lotions and bottles like he was on some alien planet. Then again, Easton had been dead for something like four hundred years, so all of her stuff probably was sort of alien to him.

"The human. You make me sound like a freak. It's not like we're a different species for God's sake. We were humans, too, or don't you remember that far back?"

"Were. Past tense."

We could have gone back and forth like that for hours, but the call came. It always did. It started in my bones—a cold so cutting that it sliced through me like a machete. When I looked up, Easton's jaw was clenched, his muscles taut and ready. He slowly closed his hand around the handle of his scythe that burned black and softly smoked at his side. I flexed my fingers as the icy ribbons of death worked their way through each one of my limbs.

"Can you take this one for me?" I asked. "You're already going to be there, and I just got back—"

"No," Easton said. "Hell no. I have my own job to do. I can't keep covering for your sorry ass. Besides, you're already on thin ice with Balthazar. Don't push your luck, Finn. Just keep your nose down, collect your souls, and thank the Almighty that you don't have my job. Now let's go."

"Yeah, but…" My eyes returned to Emma. Sleeping. Perfect. Safe.

"For the love of God. She'll be fine, you pansy." Easton clamped a hand over my shoulder and dragged me from the bed.

"How do you know?"

He shrugged. "I don't."

With that he vanished, consumed in a flash by the keening wails of the damned. The screams beckoned. Clawed at me from the inside out.

Rule one as a seeker: Death doesn't wait for anyone.

And it sure as hell wasn't waiting for me now.

This Is What A Librarian Looks Like

You know the stereotype of what a librarian looks like–wire-rimmed glasses, hair pulled back tight, finger up to the lips shushing people? It's just not the way librarians are. Doubt me? Go check out This Is What A Librarian Looks Like–a blog where librarians from around the world post images of themselves. I love poring through the many different images of librarians. (You *know* I love librarians–the ones who help get our books into readers' hands!)

Thanks to SherylBooks on Twitter for the link.

Two Free ebooks for Writers

Writers: there are currently two ebooks for writers by Vicki Hinze that are free on Amazon (probably only for the next few days, if that): Writing In the Fast Lane and One Way to Write A Novel.

Hunger Games movie merchandise store to sell official products AND fan designed

Did you know there's going to be a new store (on CafePress) selling HUNGER GAMES movie products (Based on the book, of course!)? Lionsgate and CafePress partnered together to create it, and it launches Tuesday, February 21. What I find so interesting and kind of cool is that the store will sell both officially licensed film merchandise AND fan-created designs. Fans will also have a chance to create a free District ID Card through a new exclusive Hunger Games Facebook app which can also be accessed in the CafePress shop. Fans that register for an ID card through the app can claim a physical ID card that shows their district and job assignment. Existing "citizens of Panem" can also claim their free The Hunger Games ID card (though you have to pay a shipping fee) through the app.

The Hunger Games movie releases March 23, 2012.

I loved the Hunger Games so much that I mentioned it in HUNTED.

(found via Cynopsis Kids

HUNTED on sale on Amazon, and new review

HUNTED is on sale on Amazon 25% off! ($12.71 for the hardcover)

And there's a lovely new review of HUNTED by @StorySnoops who said on Twitter: "Had to steal it away from daughter to review it!" I love that.

HUNTED – paperback Canadian version – now out!

I'm so excited–I just got my author copies of the Canadian version of HUNTED (from Fitzhenry & Whiteside)! They're paperback, and they have the same cover except instead of Adele Griffin's blurb on the front (which is now on the back, along with Cinda Williams Chima's), it has one of my favorite quotes from the book: "You don't feel much like living if you can't be yourself…"

And instead of dark orange print, the title and my name are in red. And on the back cover, along with the price ($12.95) is a QR code that takes you to all the freebies for HUNTED that are on my website (teacher's guide, free ebook, book trailer, etc.).

The Canadian version from Fitzhenry & Whiteside is now showing up on Amazon.ca (although it says pre-order, but that's progress!), and it's on sale for $10.93. Pretty cool!

picture book review: The Bunny's Night-Light by Geoffrey Hayes

The Bunny's Night-Light: A Glow-in-the-Dark Search

Written & illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes

Published by Random House, Jan 2012.

Age: 3 and up

My rating; 3.5/5 stars

If you have a child who's afraid of the dark, The Bunny's Night-Light by Geoffrey Hayes is one book you'll want to get them. The text is gentle and soothing, and the illustrations sweet.

In The Bunny's Night-Light, Bunny (in yellow footed-pjs) can't sleep because "there's too much dark at night" — something any child who's afraid of the dark will identify with. So Bunny's Papa takes Bunny out to look at all the light around them that could act as a night-light–the moon, the stars, some fireflies, a glowworm, a light from a ship in the distance, even a streetlight. But Bunny knows that none of those things are quite right. They go inside and ask Mama, who finds a night-light she had when she was a child, and it works out perfectly.

Fear of the dark is something a lot of children experience, and a night-light can be a helpful solution. This book gently introduces the idea of a night-light without any shame attached. It also brings soothing good feeling with the fanciful ways little Bunny can find light or know that there's always light.

The text flows beautifully for most of the book, almost lyrical and definitely soothing. I found the last few pages, where a few rhymes and a bit of repetitiveness started to creep in, less well-written, and for me that interfered a bit with the enjoyment of the end of the book, but most readers probably won't notice or care. And although I didn't like the poem at the very end of the book, I love the closing idea–that there is always a light on somewhere (from the moon, the stars, etc.) I like how Bunny is never named or gender identified; this makes it very easy for any child to identify as Bunny.

The illustrations are cute–Bunny in footed pjs, carrying a blankie that becomes a cape, a hood, as needed, and there is a lot that is visually soothing–Papa holding and cuddling Bunny; a heart carved in the door; moths around the lantern; lights in the trees. The illustrations weren't my favorite–there was something that didn't quite work for me in some of the expressions and body language, or that felt a little stiff, but I think many children will find them cute and sweet. I love the texture in the drawings, and the many details in each drawing, and the boarder around each spread is a nice touch.

There is a glow-in-the-dark element that I think is brilliant to incorporate in a book about being afraid of the dark or needing a night light. All the points of light in the illustrations are glow-in-the-dark; hold the pages open briefly in the light, then turn out the light or hold the book beneath the covers and you'll see them lit up (stars, fireflies, the glowworm, windows, etc). A child will delight in poring over those grow-in-the-dark pages, even after the story is read.

I would recommend this book to any child who is frightened of the dark.

Some Ingredients You Need For A Powerful Novel

Today I talk on YA writer Claudia Osmond's blog about Some Ingredients You Need For a Powerful Novel. They're things I used myself in writing SCARS and HUNTED, and I hope they'll resonate with you.