Jennifer Donnelly's Blog, page 12
March 16, 2018
Tea Rose Trilogy Giveaway!
I’m giving away the full Tea Rose trilogy — The Tea Rose, The Winter Rose and The Wild Rose — in original first-edition hardcover!
Click here to enter.
Enter now — the giveaway closes on March 28!
Click here to enter.
Enter now — the giveaway closes on March 28!
March 12, 2018
Waterfire Saga Giveaway
Attention Waterfire Saga fans!
I am giving away all four books in the series (Deep Blue, Rogue Wave, Dark Tide, and Sea Spell) -- plus a special autographed Sea Spell promotional display -- on Instagram. Click on the post below or this link to enter! The giveaway closes on March 13 at 6pm EDT, so act fast -- and good luck!
I am giving away all four books in the series (Deep Blue, Rogue Wave, Dark Tide, and Sea Spell) -- plus a special autographed Sea Spell promotional display -- on Instagram. Click on the post below or this link to enter! The giveaway closes on March 13 at 6pm EDT, so act fast -- and good luck!
November 14, 2017
Vote for Lost in a Book!
I'm so excited -- I just learned that Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book, my novel set in the world of Disney's hit movie Beauty and the Beast, is a finalist for a 2017 Goodreads Choice Award! This means it's one of Goodreads readers' top ten middle-grade books of the year -- thank you!
To vote -- and if you voted earlier, please do so again as prior-round votes no longer count -- visit the Goodreads Choice Awards page here: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-childrens-books-2017
Thank you for voting!
xo, Jennifer
To vote -- and if you voted earlier, please do so again as prior-round votes no longer count -- visit the Goodreads Choice Awards page here: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-childrens-books-2017
Thank you for voting!
xo, Jennifer
November 6, 2017
FATAL THRONE Cover Reveal!
Here it is! The cover of Fatal Throne, my upcoming collaborative novel on the six wives of Henry VIII! I wrote the part of Anna of Cleves, wife number four, the "ugly" queen. She outlived Henry, Cromwell, and all Henry's other wives, and died a wealthy, independent woman.
It's always a thrill and an honor to invoke a real person from history in my work -- but Anna was special. She was shrewd and smart and practical and managed to succeed at a time when women were little more than property. But she sacrificed so much in the process. I'm deeply affected by her story and her incredible spirit, and she'll be an inspiration to me for the rest of my life.
It's always a thrill and an honor to invoke a real person from history in my work -- but Anna was special. She was shrewd and smart and practical and managed to succeed at a time when women were little more than property. But she sacrificed so much in the process. I'm deeply affected by her story and her incredible spirit, and she'll be an inspiration to me for the rest of my life.
October 24, 2017
Stepsister
I love the villains. Always have. Maleficent. The Beast. Cat Woman. Bellatrix.
They are complicated. Beguiling. Terrifying. And fascinating.
They’re damaged, too. And I think about that long after the story’s over. What happened to make them the way they are? Who did the damage? Can it ever be undone? That's so much more interesting to me than the happily ever after.
Where is all this villain-love going? Some huge news that I'm thrilled to share with you. I’m working on a new book! It’s called Stepsister. It’ll be published by Scholastic in 2019, and edited by the brilliant Mallory Kass.
My agent, Steve Malk, describes it as a “harrowing and hopeful Cinderella story for the 21st century”. It begins where Cinderella ends, but it follows the story of Isabelle and Octavia, Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters. It hews to the old-school, very Grimm version of the tale, in which toes are cut off in a vain attempt to make the slipper fit.
We all know what happens to Cinderella – her feet are perfect, and she rides off with her prince to a really nice life. But what about her stepsisters?
My whole life, I've wanted the answer to that question.
I want to know what made those mean girls mean, and if there’s any way to come back from it. I wonder if being called ugly had anything to do with it, and I want to know what became of Isabelle and Octavia during Ella's ever after.
I’m going to spend some time with the ugly stepsisters, and we’ll see if they answer my questions.
I can't wait to share what I find with you.
Xo, Jennifer
PS – Movie rights to Stepsister have been sold! More on that in the weeks to come!
They are complicated. Beguiling. Terrifying. And fascinating.
They’re damaged, too. And I think about that long after the story’s over. What happened to make them the way they are? Who did the damage? Can it ever be undone? That's so much more interesting to me than the happily ever after.
Where is all this villain-love going? Some huge news that I'm thrilled to share with you. I’m working on a new book! It’s called Stepsister. It’ll be published by Scholastic in 2019, and edited by the brilliant Mallory Kass.
My agent, Steve Malk, describes it as a “harrowing and hopeful Cinderella story for the 21st century”. It begins where Cinderella ends, but it follows the story of Isabelle and Octavia, Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters. It hews to the old-school, very Grimm version of the tale, in which toes are cut off in a vain attempt to make the slipper fit.
We all know what happens to Cinderella – her feet are perfect, and she rides off with her prince to a really nice life. But what about her stepsisters?
My whole life, I've wanted the answer to that question.
I want to know what made those mean girls mean, and if there’s any way to come back from it. I wonder if being called ugly had anything to do with it, and I want to know what became of Isabelle and Octavia during Ella's ever after.
I’m going to spend some time with the ugly stepsisters, and we’ll see if they answer my questions.
I can't wait to share what I find with you.
Xo, Jennifer
PS – Movie rights to Stepsister have been sold! More on that in the weeks to come!
December 31, 2016
Cover reveal for my new book!
OK, it's not really a reveal since it's been public for several days, but I'm sharing the cover of my upcoming novel, Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book here on Goodreads for the first time!
I am LOVING this cover. The Disney Books design team did a beautiful job, and perfectly captured the spirit of the book!
The story is an original addition to the beloved Beauty and the Beast fairytale. It follows the lonely, bookish Belle as she finds an enchanted book in the Beast’s library called “Nevermore” that carries her into a glittering new world. There, Belle is befriended by a mysterious countess who offers her the life she’s always dreamed of.
But Nevermore is not what it seems, and the more time Belle spends there, the harder it is to leave. Good stories take hold of us and never let us go, and once Belle becomes lost in this book, she may never find her way out again.
It was an amazing experience to write an original story that weaves around and through a classic fairytale that is beloved by millions (and is about to be released as a major live-action movie starring Emma Watson -- it's out on March 17). It's fascinating -- but challenging, as you can imagine. The original story is like gravity: always there and unchangeable.
It has also been exciting to really get to know these characters over the past few months as I wrote and edited the book -- Belle in particular. She and I have become extremely close, and there's a lot more to her than I ever realized or appreciated. She has taught me so much, as all my characters do, and she will join Alexandrine, and Mattie, and Fiona, and Serafina in a very special place in my heart.
Lost in a Book goes on sale January 31. You can preorder now on Amazon, B&N, or your local independent bookstore.
Happy New Year!
I am LOVING this cover. The Disney Books design team did a beautiful job, and perfectly captured the spirit of the book!
The story is an original addition to the beloved Beauty and the Beast fairytale. It follows the lonely, bookish Belle as she finds an enchanted book in the Beast’s library called “Nevermore” that carries her into a glittering new world. There, Belle is befriended by a mysterious countess who offers her the life she’s always dreamed of.
But Nevermore is not what it seems, and the more time Belle spends there, the harder it is to leave. Good stories take hold of us and never let us go, and once Belle becomes lost in this book, she may never find her way out again.
It was an amazing experience to write an original story that weaves around and through a classic fairytale that is beloved by millions (and is about to be released as a major live-action movie starring Emma Watson -- it's out on March 17). It's fascinating -- but challenging, as you can imagine. The original story is like gravity: always there and unchangeable.
It has also been exciting to really get to know these characters over the past few months as I wrote and edited the book -- Belle in particular. She and I have become extremely close, and there's a lot more to her than I ever realized or appreciated. She has taught me so much, as all my characters do, and she will join Alexandrine, and Mattie, and Fiona, and Serafina in a very special place in my heart.
Lost in a Book goes on sale January 31. You can preorder now on Amazon, B&N, or your local independent bookstore.
Happy New Year!
August 3, 2016
My New Project!
I have been biting my tongue for months, but now I can finally announce my newest project! I am writing an original novel to accompany Disney's upcoming live-action Beauty and the Beast motion picture starring Emma Watson!
I can't begin to tell you how excited I am. And how honored: I have loved this classic story forever (did you know it was originally published in 1740?), and now I get to put my own spin on it!
Publisher's Weekly just ran the announcement; you can read it here.
I am deep in the writing process right now, and I must admit it is the strangest feeling. I'm not writing a book of the movie, but rather an new story that weaves through and around the story of the movie. It's fascinating -- but challenging, as you can imagine. The original story is like gravity: always there and unchangeable.
Also, this is about the time in any book when I realize I'm deeply in love with the characters I created. They're practically like my children. But for this book, many of the characters are already well known and beloved by millions of people, and have been so for generations. My job is to delve a bit deeper into them, and maybe uncover a secret or two.
Belle and I have become extremely close over the last few months, and there's a lot more to her than I ever realized or appreciated. She is teaching me so much, as all my characters do, and she will join Alexandrine, and Mattie, and Fiona, and Serafina in a very special place in my heart.
I am also very excited to be working with the incredible Disney team again, and on such a great project (check out the movie trailer; it's GORGEOUS!).
But most of all, I can't wait to share this story with you! The movie is out in March 2017, and the book should be on shelves the month before.
June 14, 2016
Sea Spell is Out
It's here! Sea Spell, book four of the Waterfire Saga, is on sale in English today! (Additional languages will follow). I am soo excited to bring you the conclusion to this series, and so grateful to the team at Disney for making it happen!
May 11, 2016
Giant Waterfire Saga Giveaway!
With the June 14 release of Sea Spell quickly approaching, I'm giving away all four books of the Waterfire Saga to celebrate!
Enter to win:
- One copy of Deep Blue!
- One copy of Rogue Wave!
- One copy of Dark Tide!
- One of three copies of Sea Spell!!
You may enter to win on each book's main Goodreads page (click the links above or the covers below). Each book has its own entry form; enter to win any WFS books you're missing, or all four for the whole series!
This giveaway is for US and Canada residents only. Good luck!
Enter to win:
- One copy of Deep Blue!
- One copy of Rogue Wave!
- One copy of Dark Tide!
- One of three copies of Sea Spell!!
You may enter to win on each book's main Goodreads page (click the links above or the covers below). Each book has its own entry form; enter to win any WFS books you're missing, or all four for the whole series!
This giveaway is for US and Canada residents only. Good luck!
October 26, 2015
My New Historical Mystery!
Dear Readers,
It’s here! At last! THESE SHALLOW GRAVES is out today, October 27, and I’m happy to say that the reviews are glowing!
“A smart, insightful, timely depiction of a young woman poised on the brink of a new world after the shattering of another.” – Booklist, starred review
“Action-packed…The injustices Donnelly highlights remain all too relevant.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Splendidly hair-raising,” – Elizabeth Wein, bestselling, award-winning author of Code Name Verity
“[A] fast-paced thriller.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Heart-pounding romance.” – Shelf Awareness
“Lovely prose, historical intrigue, unique characters and setting.” Ruty Sepetys, bestselling, award-winning author of Between Shades of Grey
Josephine Montfort is one of the city’s most eligible heiresses, and as such, she understands the importance of doing what is expected. She knows that a suitable marriage and a comfortable life is what she should dream of—but her heart can’t help yearning for more.
But then Jo’s father dies violently, and her charmed life is suddenly shattered. His death appears to have been a tragic mistake, but Jo quickly discovers that the details of his death don’t quite add up. If her father’s death wasn’t accidental, could it have been suicide? Or worse….murder?
Jo is desperate to uncover the truth, but escaping her gilded cage is dangerous, and soon it’s hard to know who can be trusted. A chance encounter with handsome journalist Eddie Gallagher shows Jo just how dangerous digging up her family’s past will be—but some secrets can’t stay hidden, no matter how deep you bury them.
THESE SHALLOW GRAVES marks my return to historical fiction and I’m so excited to share the story with you! I hope you enjoy it, and I’d love to hear what you think!
It’s here! At last! THESE SHALLOW GRAVES is out today, October 27, and I’m happy to say that the reviews are glowing!
“A smart, insightful, timely depiction of a young woman poised on the brink of a new world after the shattering of another.” – Booklist, starred review “Action-packed…The injustices Donnelly highlights remain all too relevant.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Splendidly hair-raising,” – Elizabeth Wein, bestselling, award-winning author of Code Name Verity
“[A] fast-paced thriller.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Heart-pounding romance.” – Shelf Awareness
“Lovely prose, historical intrigue, unique characters and setting.” Ruty Sepetys, bestselling, award-winning author of Between Shades of Grey
Josephine Montfort is one of the city’s most eligible heiresses, and as such, she understands the importance of doing what is expected. She knows that a suitable marriage and a comfortable life is what she should dream of—but her heart can’t help yearning for more.
But then Jo’s father dies violently, and her charmed life is suddenly shattered. His death appears to have been a tragic mistake, but Jo quickly discovers that the details of his death don’t quite add up. If her father’s death wasn’t accidental, could it have been suicide? Or worse….murder?
Jo is desperate to uncover the truth, but escaping her gilded cage is dangerous, and soon it’s hard to know who can be trusted. A chance encounter with handsome journalist Eddie Gallagher shows Jo just how dangerous digging up her family’s past will be—but some secrets can’t stay hidden, no matter how deep you bury them.
THESE SHALLOW GRAVES marks my return to historical fiction and I’m so excited to share the story with you! I hope you enjoy it, and I’d love to hear what you think!
