Elizabeth Scott's Blog, page 6
March 17, 2011
LOL moments. By which I mean I need them. And you get free books.
I blog over at Teen Fiction Cafe, and this week, I'm supposed to write about LOL moments. The only problem is, as some of you know, I haven't had many lately, unless you count the fact that I've had so much blood drawn in an effort to figure out exactly what's wrong with me that I know every single lab tech in the hospital where my doctor is and I always do a fist pump when I'm told I'm having less than eight vials of blood drawn and may actually say "YAY!" when it's four or less.
Okay, I actually do say YAY! You guys know how I am.
Anyway, so I was thinking, how about *your* LOL moments?
Share your fave LOL moment here with me by Monday, March 21st, leave a way for me to contact you (and have a US mailing addy) and I'll pick my favorite ten moments of yours--and then send each of those ten people a free YA novel. (And let me tell you, I've got some great ones to send out!)
And yes, the e-galley of Between Here and Forever is still available, and you can get it here: http://www.galleygrab.com/?asset_url=9781442411784
Okay, I actually do say YAY! You guys know how I am.
Anyway, so I was thinking, how about *your* LOL moments?
Share your fave LOL moment here with me by Monday, March 21st, leave a way for me to contact you (and have a US mailing addy) and I'll pick my favorite ten moments of yours--and then send each of those ten people a free YA novel. (And let me tell you, I've got some great ones to send out!)
And yes, the e-galley of Between Here and Forever is still available, and you can get it here: http://www.galleygrab.com/?asset_url=9781442411784
February 23, 2011
quick update and thoughts on Borders, plus why I shouldn't give writing advice
I shot this last night, a few hours after I'd heard the latest from my doctor. I probably should have reshot it wearing makeup (or at least waited until it looked like I hadn't been crying, but that takes forever!) and--well, here's what's going on with me, my thoughts on what's happening with Borders, and why I'm really not the person to go for writing advice...
February 16, 2011
Looking to grab an ARC of Between Here and Forever??
I've got some great news to share--the ARC of Between Here and Forever is not only going to be mailed out to various bloggers, etc. over the next few months--it's also going to be available in e-galley format!
So, if you're interested in checking out the ARC of Between Here and Forever, just go here:
http://www.galleygrab.com/?asset_url=9781442411784
Please note that if you're not already registered with Simon & Schuster for their e-galley program, you'll have to do that, but it doesn't take very long *and* you also get emails with info about loads of other galleys too...
So, if you're interested in checking out the ARC of Between Here and Forever, just go here:
http://www.galleygrab.com/?asset_url=9781442411784
Please note that if you're not already registered with Simon & Schuster for their e-galley program, you'll have to do that, but it doesn't take very long *and* you also get emails with info about loads of other galleys too...
February 7, 2011
interview with Laurie Stolarz--you could be a character in her next book (yes, for real!)--and a thank you
Today, I'm doing a Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit interview with Laurie Stolarz about her new book, Deadly Little Games
Me: Tell us about your book in ten words or less!
Laurie: Drama, Romance, and Intrigue....
Me: What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?
Laurie: Never pay reading fees of any kind. Do your homework – know to whom it is you're sending your manuscript. (I have to jump in and say that this is great advice!)
Me: What do you wish you'd known about being published/publishing before your book/first book came out?
Laurie: That it's best if you have a reputable agent negotiate for you. You don't necessarily "need" one, which is what I kept hearing over and over again, but it truly is best for all involved (I believe). (And again, I have to say a big YES! to this--take your time and get a good agent!)
Me: What's the last book you read that you loved so much you had to tell everyone about it?
Laurie: I just read Still Missing by Chevy Stevens. It was amazing – I couldn't put it down. (Same here! I'm still stunned it didn't take off)
Me: So, I hear you're running a very cool contest...
Laurie: In celebration of the release of Deadly Little Games, the third book in the Touch series, I've launched a very exciting contest, the winner of which could have a minor character in Deadly Little Voices, the fourth book in the series, named after him or her. (Me: How cool is THAT?) Please see the official rules here: http://www.lauriestolarz.com/news.html.
Me: The no-longer very random "random" question--fave salad dressing?
Laurie: Balsamic Vinaigrette!
Interviewing Laurie was a blast, and I hope you all go and enter her contest--but then who wouldn't want to have a character named after you??
So, thanks Laurie, for stopping by, and a HUGE thank YOU to everyone who sent notes, left comments, and etc. about what happened re: Living Dead Girl.
Your support means the world to me, and I hope you know that!
Me: Tell us about your book in ten words or less!
Laurie: Drama, Romance, and Intrigue....
Me: What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?
Laurie: Never pay reading fees of any kind. Do your homework – know to whom it is you're sending your manuscript. (I have to jump in and say that this is great advice!)
Me: What do you wish you'd known about being published/publishing before your book/first book came out?
Laurie: That it's best if you have a reputable agent negotiate for you. You don't necessarily "need" one, which is what I kept hearing over and over again, but it truly is best for all involved (I believe). (And again, I have to say a big YES! to this--take your time and get a good agent!)
Me: What's the last book you read that you loved so much you had to tell everyone about it?
Laurie: I just read Still Missing by Chevy Stevens. It was amazing – I couldn't put it down. (Same here! I'm still stunned it didn't take off)
Me: So, I hear you're running a very cool contest...
Laurie: In celebration of the release of Deadly Little Games, the third book in the Touch series, I've launched a very exciting contest, the winner of which could have a minor character in Deadly Little Voices, the fourth book in the series, named after him or her. (Me: How cool is THAT?) Please see the official rules here: http://www.lauriestolarz.com/news.html.
Me: The no-longer very random "random" question--fave salad dressing?
Laurie: Balsamic Vinaigrette!
Interviewing Laurie was a blast, and I hope you all go and enter her contest--but then who wouldn't want to have a character named after you??
So, thanks Laurie, for stopping by, and a HUGE thank YOU to everyone who sent notes, left comments, and etc. about what happened re: Living Dead Girl.
Your support means the world to me, and I hope you know that!
February 3, 2011
"triggering nature"
Apparently, Bitch Magazine decided to remove Living Dead Girl from their 100 Young Adult Books for the Feminist Reader list because of its--and this is the only reason given--"triggering nature."
You can read why the book (and two others) were removed here, and there is a post and comments on the removal here
For feeds that strip links--the removal: http://bitchmagazine.org/post/from-th..."
Post and comments in reaction: http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.co...
Margo Lanagan, who was also removed from the list, has a post about the issue and her own book here.
Do I have more I'd like to say? Yes. But I can't change what Bitch Magazine did, and, most importantly of all, I can't change what they said about Living Dead Girl and how it marginalized what the book is about.
But then, as Alice points out in Living Dead Girl:
"...the host pats their shoulders or gives them a fast one-armed hug, and says things like, "But you survived. You're strong." Then they will ask why they didn't say anything.
Why didn't you tell someone?
Why didn't you ask for help?
Why didn't you leave him?
Why didn't you respect yourself enough to get away?
The women usually crumple, shed their flesh shells, and become quivering living dead girls, trapped. A few will say that no one listens, that people don't want to see, and that if you try something, anything, you won't suffer but others will.
The audience always boos and says You Should Have Done Something.
You should have fought back.
You should have known no one has that kind of power.
You should have been strong.
You shouldn't have been so stupid.
The women nod and sniffle. They are still broken. They still agree with everything anyone wants. Even the ones who try to explain end up with their heads down, their hands in their laps. Little girl ready to say she's sorry.
All our fault, always."
and
"Just one word, they say. But no one would listen. I could have screamed a million times in a million voices and no one would have ever heard me.
I did, every time I left the apartment, with every step I took out in the world.
All those cries, and no one ever heard them."
You can read why the book (and two others) were removed here, and there is a post and comments on the removal here
For feeds that strip links--the removal: http://bitchmagazine.org/post/from-th..."
Post and comments in reaction: http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.co...
Margo Lanagan, who was also removed from the list, has a post about the issue and her own book here.
Do I have more I'd like to say? Yes. But I can't change what Bitch Magazine did, and, most importantly of all, I can't change what they said about Living Dead Girl and how it marginalized what the book is about.
But then, as Alice points out in Living Dead Girl:
"...the host pats their shoulders or gives them a fast one-armed hug, and says things like, "But you survived. You're strong." Then they will ask why they didn't say anything.
Why didn't you tell someone?
Why didn't you ask for help?
Why didn't you leave him?
Why didn't you respect yourself enough to get away?
The women usually crumple, shed their flesh shells, and become quivering living dead girls, trapped. A few will say that no one listens, that people don't want to see, and that if you try something, anything, you won't suffer but others will.
The audience always boos and says You Should Have Done Something.
You should have fought back.
You should have known no one has that kind of power.
You should have been strong.
You shouldn't have been so stupid.
The women nod and sniffle. They are still broken. They still agree with everything anyone wants. Even the ones who try to explain end up with their heads down, their hands in their laps. Little girl ready to say she's sorry.
All our fault, always."
and
"Just one word, they say. But no one would listen. I could have screamed a million times in a million voices and no one would have ever heard me.
I did, every time I left the apartment, with every step I took out in the world.
All those cries, and no one ever heard them."
January 31, 2011
(pokes head up)
Hey everyone--it's been too long since I've posted, and I miss you all! (Sadly, still not better! After typing this up and answering tweets, I'll be off to take a nap. A nap! How sad is that?)
Anyway! I've missed all of you, and I'll be contacting the winner of the last contest very soon and will have another one (hopefully!) this week...
In the meantime, I know it's not anywhere close to my usual, but I've missed doing this, and here are a few links I think are worth checking out:
An interesting blog post about why contracted books may be canceled
Writer Beware on the importance of context when it comes to e-book sales (this post as listed as part one, but I haven't seen a part two yet--I'll try to keep my eyes open for it!)
Lisa Schroeder on why "oh well" needs to be part of ever writer's vocabulary -- honest and inspiring!
Finally, from Writer Unboxed, Why We Write -- "I don't have all the answers, but I can say this: we write because we see and hear people that aren't there unless we write them down. Because the fun is there, you just have to look for it sometimes." (LOVE this post!)
Thank you all so much for your notes and good thoughts--they mean the world to me!
Anyway! I've missed all of you, and I'll be contacting the winner of the last contest very soon and will have another one (hopefully!) this week...
In the meantime, I know it's not anywhere close to my usual, but I've missed doing this, and here are a few links I think are worth checking out:
An interesting blog post about why contracted books may be canceled
Writer Beware on the importance of context when it comes to e-book sales (this post as listed as part one, but I haven't seen a part two yet--I'll try to keep my eyes open for it!)
Lisa Schroeder on why "oh well" needs to be part of ever writer's vocabulary -- honest and inspiring!
Finally, from Writer Unboxed, Why We Write -- "I don't have all the answers, but I can say this: we write because we see and hear people that aren't there unless we write them down. Because the fun is there, you just have to look for it sometimes." (LOVE this post!)
Thank you all so much for your notes and good thoughts--they mean the world to me!
January 6, 2011
interview with Eileen Cook--and free books!
Today, I'm (or rather, my sweetheart of a husband) is posting a Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit interview with Eileen Cook about her new book, The Education of Hailey Kendrick
Me: Tell us about your book in ten words or less!
Eileen: Popularity – Big Mistake + Risk x Two Boys = Whole New Life
Me: What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?
Eileen: Years ago a writing teacher encouraged me to send my work in for possible publication. I told her I was afraid because of the possible rejection. She told me "I hate to tell you this, but you are already not published. The worst thing that will happen is that you still won't be published." I decided then that I would far rather fail (or be rejected) than to never have tried at all.
Me: What do you wish you'd known about being published/publishing before your book/first book came out?
Eileen: Imagine my shock and dismay that I was not contacted by Oprah or the Today show. There was no parade in my honor. When I entered bookstores trumpets did not blare to announce my arrival. I had wanted to be a published author for so long that I expected it to be a life changing, earth shattering moment, but for the most part life just went on. The dogs still need to be walked, laundry to do and a whole new book that needed to be written.
Me: What's the last book you read that you loved so much you had to tell everyone about it?
Eileen: I loved The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. It's a murder mystery set in 1950's England with a main character that made me laugh out loud. I did that annoying thing where I would stop every few pages and then pause to read "this really good bit" out loud. My husband eventually told me it was like living with the audio book version.
Me: I hear you have a book to give away...
Eileen: I do! I'm happy to give away a signed copy of the book (US addys only please)
Me: Great! And to sweeten the pot, I'm give the winner of Eileen's book an ARC of Across the Universe AND a copy of Melissa de la Cruz's new Blue Bloods novel, Bloody Valentine as well. (What can I say? You all deserve loads of books!!)
For your chance to win, leave a comment telling me what young adult novel YOU can't wait to read in 2011 by midnight EST on Tuesday, January 11th.
And finally, my no-longer very random bonus question: What your favorite salad dressing?
Eileen: I'm rather partial to blue-cheese dressing.
Many thanks to my husband for typing all this up and posting it--and for telling me that I will get better when I'm scared I'm never going to be!
Me: Tell us about your book in ten words or less!
Eileen: Popularity – Big Mistake + Risk x Two Boys = Whole New Life
Me: What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?
Eileen: Years ago a writing teacher encouraged me to send my work in for possible publication. I told her I was afraid because of the possible rejection. She told me "I hate to tell you this, but you are already not published. The worst thing that will happen is that you still won't be published." I decided then that I would far rather fail (or be rejected) than to never have tried at all.
Me: What do you wish you'd known about being published/publishing before your book/first book came out?
Eileen: Imagine my shock and dismay that I was not contacted by Oprah or the Today show. There was no parade in my honor. When I entered bookstores trumpets did not blare to announce my arrival. I had wanted to be a published author for so long that I expected it to be a life changing, earth shattering moment, but for the most part life just went on. The dogs still need to be walked, laundry to do and a whole new book that needed to be written.
Me: What's the last book you read that you loved so much you had to tell everyone about it?
Eileen: I loved The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. It's a murder mystery set in 1950's England with a main character that made me laugh out loud. I did that annoying thing where I would stop every few pages and then pause to read "this really good bit" out loud. My husband eventually told me it was like living with the audio book version.
Me: I hear you have a book to give away...
Eileen: I do! I'm happy to give away a signed copy of the book (US addys only please)
Me: Great! And to sweeten the pot, I'm give the winner of Eileen's book an ARC of Across the Universe AND a copy of Melissa de la Cruz's new Blue Bloods novel, Bloody Valentine as well. (What can I say? You all deserve loads of books!!)
For your chance to win, leave a comment telling me what young adult novel YOU can't wait to read in 2011 by midnight EST on Tuesday, January 11th.
And finally, my no-longer very random bonus question: What your favorite salad dressing?
Eileen: I'm rather partial to blue-cheese dressing.
Many thanks to my husband for typing all this up and posting it--and for telling me that I will get better when I'm scared I'm never going to be!
December 16, 2010
thank YOU!!
In case you can't see the video, you can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KEXsEY0zfY
And if you're willing, you can vote for The Unwritten Rule over at Goodreads through December 30th here*: http://www.goodreads.com/award/choice#41651-Young-Adult-Fiction
(*and no, you don't have to be a member of the site to vote!)
December 1, 2010
blurgh
I ended up back at the doctor's a few weeks ago, because I was still feeling pretty bad (okay, dreadfully bad), and I got the results of the six zillion tests a little while ago.
I've held off on talking about this, because I'd hoped that I'd get better really fast, but I'm not going to. I have several massive vitamin/mineral deficiencies, a severe case of Epstein-Barr, and to top it all off, I have pernicious anemia as well because my immune system, in its over-hyped state, has apparently destroyed most of my intrinsic factor.
I still have more doctors to see (SIGH), and in an attempt to try and get my immune system to calm down (so my body will stop attacking itself), I'm on bed rest for the foreseeable future.
I'll be back as soon as I'm able, will answer email/fb/etc when I can, and for those of you on the mailing list, the holiday message I sent is still going forward (it IS still the holiday season, after all!)--but feel free to contact me about it if you have any questions.
I've held off on talking about this, because I'd hoped that I'd get better really fast, but I'm not going to. I have several massive vitamin/mineral deficiencies, a severe case of Epstein-Barr, and to top it all off, I have pernicious anemia as well because my immune system, in its over-hyped state, has apparently destroyed most of my intrinsic factor.
I still have more doctors to see (SIGH), and in an attempt to try and get my immune system to calm down (so my body will stop attacking itself), I'm on bed rest for the foreseeable future.
I'll be back as soon as I'm able, will answer email/fb/etc when I can, and for those of you on the mailing list, the holiday message I sent is still going forward (it IS still the holiday season, after all!)--but feel free to contact me about it if you have any questions.
November 24, 2010
Interview with Caridad Ferrer
Today, I'm doing a Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit interview with Caridad Ferrer about her new book, When The Stars Go Blue
Me: Tell us about your book in ten words or less!
Caridad: Dance, music, love triangles and intensity, passion, & betrayal.
Me: What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?
Caridad: Cliché as it sounds, it was to keep writing. No matter what, keep writing. It's the only way to learn and improve craft and maybe most importantly, learn yourself as a writer.
Me: What do you wish you'd known about being published/publishing before your book/first book came out?
Caridad: That it's not always about writing a good book. It has as much to do with forces outside an author's control. That's just such a hard lesson to learn though-- I'm constantly reminding myself of it, more than four years after first being published.
Me: What's the last book you read that you loved so much you had to tell everyone about it?
Caridad: I've been mentioning her so much on blogs people are going to think I'm her pimp, but I have to say C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series. They're absolutely magnificent and I love them to the point where I've been buying them and giving them as gifts. (Me: They are amazing! But please note they aren't YA, just as a heads up)
Me and my Being Nosy Random Bonus Question: What's your favorite salad dressing?
Caridad: Blue cheese :)
Me: Tell us about your book in ten words or less!
Caridad: Dance, music, love triangles and intensity, passion, & betrayal.
Me: What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?
Caridad: Cliché as it sounds, it was to keep writing. No matter what, keep writing. It's the only way to learn and improve craft and maybe most importantly, learn yourself as a writer.
Me: What do you wish you'd known about being published/publishing before your book/first book came out?
Caridad: That it's not always about writing a good book. It has as much to do with forces outside an author's control. That's just such a hard lesson to learn though-- I'm constantly reminding myself of it, more than four years after first being published.
Me: What's the last book you read that you loved so much you had to tell everyone about it?
Caridad: I've been mentioning her so much on blogs people are going to think I'm her pimp, but I have to say C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series. They're absolutely magnificent and I love them to the point where I've been buying them and giving them as gifts. (Me: They are amazing! But please note they aren't YA, just as a heads up)
Me and my Being Nosy Random Bonus Question: What's your favorite salad dressing?
Caridad: Blue cheese :)
