Karsten Knight's Blog, page 3
November 11, 2011
Did He Just Say "Snealthily?"
After three months spent buried in revisions, I return to vlogging. I'm a little rusty. [Squeaky-squeaky-squeak]
As usual, this vlog will probably only make sense to parrots, dark matter particles, or members of the gourd family.
As usual, this vlog will probably only make sense to parrots, dark matter particles, or members of the gourd family.
Did He Just Say "Snealthily?"
After three months spent buried in revisions, I return to vlogging. I'm a little rusty. [Squeaky-squeaky-squeak]
As usual, this vlog will probably only make sense to parrots, dark matter particles, or members of the gourd family.
As usual, this vlog will probably only make sense to parrots, dark matter particles, or members of the gourd family.
September 28, 2011
The Awkward Things We Say in Gchat: Part Two
So for the last four weeks I've been working hard to a) finish revisions on Embers & Echoes (Wildefire #2), which were due to my lovely editor Courtney last week, and also revise a side project I've been working on. All this revision has broken my brains and encroached on my blogging time, so to make up for my absence on here, I present to you more out-of-context awkward conversations I've had over Gchat and text this past month.
On Dreams
Me: Last night I had a dream that involved a cat/gazelle hybrid
Me: Like it was the size and general shape of a cat, but it had stripes and horns and long legs
Me: Also, it was the beginning of the apocalypse
Jill: There were monkeys in mine last night
Jill: And i was shopping for Chanel nail polish
On Partying like an Adult
Jessica: We should have been in a circle
Jessica: and introduced ourselves
Me: with nap mats
Jessica: and Motts
Jessica: they could sponsor the event
On Beauty Sleep
Me: I took four naps today
Me: Three of them were unintentional
On Mixology
Me: Did you just compare my favorite cocktail to a celebrity sex tape?
Holley: Maybe.
On Unusual Curses
Me: I hope you choked on the bread
Me: and that your ginger ale was flat
On Intentional Accidents
Me: I think that's one of the emails I accidentally ignored
Scott: You're mixing up "accidentally" and "intentionally" again
Me: I never can keep them straight...
On Decorating Elephant Saddles
Me: Can we decorate our own elephant saddles
Me: with glitter lace and sequins
Me: and rhinestones
Jessica: sounds like a lot of work
Jessica: but yes
Jessica: I mean you trust me with a hot glue gun?
On Accidental Grand Theft Auto
Me: I panicked on my walk back to the car because I thought it got towed
Me: but I just parked farther away than I thought
Me: either that, or I drove the wrong car home last night
Me: which is very possible
On French Braids
Jennifer: they do that because it'll hold her hair back during combat, not because it's an acceptable prom style
On Britney Spears
Me: No judgment
Me: You're talking to the guy whose beer pong theme song is Break the Ice
On Working Out
Jessica: You pick things up and put them down
Me: I pick things up and drop them on myself
Jessica: Why would you do that
Me: New fitness craze
Jessica: Oh like Cross Fit
On Power Tools
Me: I don't want to be anywhere near you when you are wielding a jigsaw
On Responsible Drinking
Me: You can take a shot of milk.
Lydia: With a cookie as a chaser.
On Being a Supportive Friend
Me: You would suck at online dating
Jessica: How are you so sure?
Me: Because you suck at it in real life
Jessica: Valid point
On Being Tall
Me: Let's go to a bar where I don't feel like Gulliver's Travels when I sit down
On Dreams
Me: Last night I had a dream that involved a cat/gazelle hybrid
Me: Like it was the size and general shape of a cat, but it had stripes and horns and long legs
Me: Also, it was the beginning of the apocalypse
Jill: There were monkeys in mine last night
Jill: And i was shopping for Chanel nail polish
On Partying like an Adult
Jessica: We should have been in a circle
Jessica: and introduced ourselves
Me: with nap mats
Jessica: and Motts
Jessica: they could sponsor the event
On Beauty Sleep
Me: I took four naps today
Me: Three of them were unintentional
On Mixology
Me: Did you just compare my favorite cocktail to a celebrity sex tape?
Holley: Maybe.
On Unusual Curses
Me: I hope you choked on the bread
Me: and that your ginger ale was flat
On Intentional Accidents
Me: I think that's one of the emails I accidentally ignored
Scott: You're mixing up "accidentally" and "intentionally" again
Me: I never can keep them straight...
On Decorating Elephant Saddles
Me: Can we decorate our own elephant saddles
Me: with glitter lace and sequins
Me: and rhinestones
Jessica: sounds like a lot of work
Jessica: but yes
Jessica: I mean you trust me with a hot glue gun?
On Accidental Grand Theft Auto
Me: I panicked on my walk back to the car because I thought it got towed
Me: but I just parked farther away than I thought
Me: either that, or I drove the wrong car home last night
Me: which is very possible
On French Braids
Jennifer: they do that because it'll hold her hair back during combat, not because it's an acceptable prom style
On Britney Spears
Me: No judgment
Me: You're talking to the guy whose beer pong theme song is Break the Ice
On Working Out
Jessica: You pick things up and put them down
Me: I pick things up and drop them on myself
Jessica: Why would you do that
Me: New fitness craze
Jessica: Oh like Cross Fit
On Power Tools
Me: I don't want to be anywhere near you when you are wielding a jigsaw
On Responsible Drinking
Me: You can take a shot of milk.
Lydia: With a cookie as a chaser.
On Being a Supportive Friend
Me: You would suck at online dating
Jessica: How are you so sure?
Me: Because you suck at it in real life
Jessica: Valid point
On Being Tall
Me: Let's go to a bar where I don't feel like Gulliver's Travels when I sit down
August 30, 2011
The Awkward Things We Say in Gchat
First off, I want to apologize for going MIA on this blog for August. Between WILDEFIRE's release, book signings, travel, revising a new book, and now working with my editor on Wildefire's sequel, EMBERS & ECHOES, life has been a little cray-cray, as they say. One of the things that gets me through the insanity, however, is being able to have conversations with my friends over gchat--so I thought it would make for an appropriate blog post to provide a sample of the strange conversations I find myself in on a daily basis. Enjoy.
On a well-balanced breakfast
me: I just ate cold chicken mcnuggets for breakfast
me: I am such a catch
Bernard: ew
Bernard: like really ew
On lingo
me: What is the difference between smexy and sexy
me: I've never understood
On the secret to productivity
me: You should use my approach
me: Where I stare at it
me: Have a glass of wine
me: and work on nothing
Shannon: that's pretty much what I've been doing
On fashion
me: I don't think I'm masculine enough to be invited to do such a feature
Scott: keep wearing Hawaiian shirts like that, and you will be someday
me: really the most heinous shirt ever
me: the pics don't even do its heinousness justice
On weapon storage
me: Can I hide my nunchucks at your place?
Jessica: no thats where i keep mine
On pest control
me: Why is there a mosquito bite on your bum?
me: Have you guys turned your porch into a nudist colony?
On physics
Scott: If I punch my computer in the face, and I'm the only one home....does it make a sound?
me: Depends on the velocity of the punch and the gravitational pull of the moon
On being creepy
me: I already stare at you all day through your work window
Ashley: im on the 22nd floor
me: suction cups
Ashley: spider man style
On college professors
me: He also looked exactly like the guy from Jurassic Park
On how soft the Wildefire book jacket is
Scott: I remember that time I was hopped up on pain meds and touched your book cover
Scott: and got Really Freaked Out
Scott: that was fun
me: It's like if velvet had sex with paper
On review copy requests
me: May you send me a copy of your fiction novel, Moldyflower?
On the Smashing Pumpkins
Scott: the world is a vampire
me: sent to dra-i-a-i-ainnn
On physical fitness
me: alright, I'm off to get Captain America jacked
Bernard: godspeed
On a good second date
me: Mmm nothing like a homecooked poisoned dinner
On witch gun control
me: I subtracted 3 stars because witches don't busta cap
Scott: i really have a problem with ocular violence
On lingo, part two
me: Example: "After that second scorpion bowl, I was getting creepy"
On Mean Girls
me: it's been a few weeks now
me: I think it's time to settle your differences with Trang Pak
Scott: i just don't think i'm ready
On Friday nights
me: And then there were 8 of us screaming karaoke into the mic
me: The highlight was definitely "With Arms Wide Open" by Creed
On Saturday nights
me: Was at this house party til almost 4
me: Ended up getting in a spoon fight
me: Like hardcore fencing with metal spoons
On analogies
Scott: it's going to be one of those huge revisions where the book becomes something different by the end
me: Like a caterpillar?
On signing books in bookstores
Me: they immediately stopped talking and stared at me like I had just pooped in their hands
On when not to shave
me: I'm glad I'm the benchmark for successful scruff
On when to shave
me: there's a very sudden shift between "chic" and "hobo"
me: I don't know when it happens
On awkwardness
Scott: you have out-awkarded yourself in this interview
Scott: good job
me: Thank you
me: It was a steep mountain to climb
me: but I think I've finally planted a flag at the summit of Mount Awkward
On masculinity
me: Off to the gym
me: so that I can watch Millionare Matchmaker on the stairmaster
me: while I pretend I'm watching ESPN
On a well-balanced breakfast
me: I just ate cold chicken mcnuggets for breakfast
me: I am such a catch
Bernard: ew
Bernard: like really ew
On lingo
me: What is the difference between smexy and sexy
me: I've never understood
On the secret to productivity
me: You should use my approach
me: Where I stare at it
me: Have a glass of wine
me: and work on nothing
Shannon: that's pretty much what I've been doing
On fashion
me: I don't think I'm masculine enough to be invited to do such a feature
Scott: keep wearing Hawaiian shirts like that, and you will be someday
me: really the most heinous shirt ever
me: the pics don't even do its heinousness justice
On weapon storage
me: Can I hide my nunchucks at your place?
Jessica: no thats where i keep mine
On pest control
me: Why is there a mosquito bite on your bum?
me: Have you guys turned your porch into a nudist colony?
On physics
Scott: If I punch my computer in the face, and I'm the only one home....does it make a sound?
me: Depends on the velocity of the punch and the gravitational pull of the moon
On being creepy
me: I already stare at you all day through your work window
Ashley: im on the 22nd floor
me: suction cups
Ashley: spider man style
On college professors
me: He also looked exactly like the guy from Jurassic Park
On how soft the Wildefire book jacket is
Scott: I remember that time I was hopped up on pain meds and touched your book cover
Scott: and got Really Freaked Out
Scott: that was fun
me: It's like if velvet had sex with paper
On review copy requests
me: May you send me a copy of your fiction novel, Moldyflower?
On the Smashing Pumpkins
Scott: the world is a vampire
me: sent to dra-i-a-i-ainnn
On physical fitness
me: alright, I'm off to get Captain America jacked
Bernard: godspeed
On a good second date
me: Mmm nothing like a homecooked poisoned dinner
On witch gun control
me: I subtracted 3 stars because witches don't busta cap
Scott: i really have a problem with ocular violence
On lingo, part two
me: Example: "After that second scorpion bowl, I was getting creepy"
On Mean Girls
me: it's been a few weeks now
me: I think it's time to settle your differences with Trang Pak
Scott: i just don't think i'm ready
On Friday nights
me: And then there were 8 of us screaming karaoke into the mic
me: The highlight was definitely "With Arms Wide Open" by Creed
On Saturday nights
me: Was at this house party til almost 4
me: Ended up getting in a spoon fight
me: Like hardcore fencing with metal spoons
On analogies
Scott: it's going to be one of those huge revisions where the book becomes something different by the end
me: Like a caterpillar?
On signing books in bookstores
Me: they immediately stopped talking and stared at me like I had just pooped in their hands
On when not to shave
me: I'm glad I'm the benchmark for successful scruff
On when to shave
me: there's a very sudden shift between "chic" and "hobo"
me: I don't know when it happens
On awkwardness
Scott: you have out-awkarded yourself in this interview
Scott: good job
me: Thank you
me: It was a steep mountain to climb
me: but I think I've finally planted a flag at the summit of Mount Awkward
On masculinity
me: Off to the gym
me: so that I can watch Millionare Matchmaker on the stairmaster
me: while I pretend I'm watching ESPN
August 6, 2011
Blog Tour Video Roundup
One time, I scratched my face during my sleep. It was a full moon.
10 Things That May Surprise You About WILDEFIRE
The Knight Bachelor Pad
10 Things That May Surprise You About WILDEFIRE
The Knight Bachelor Pad
Closing Ceremonies
You're all winners! ...At life. But unfortunately, as far as the WILDEFIRE Olympics are concerned, there could only be 4 winners out of the 100+ entries that I randomly drew from.
The winners of the 2 16x20 WILDEFIRE canvases are: Lucia and Lyssa Anne.
The winner of the pre-order of THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin is: Rachel C.
And the winner of the signed ARC of WITCH EYES by Scott Tracey is: Sera R.
Thanks to everyone who entered, and I had so much fun with these Olympics that I promise I'll do some more giveaways soon!
The winners of the 2 16x20 WILDEFIRE canvases are: Lucia and Lyssa Anne.
The winner of the pre-order of THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin is: Rachel C.
And the winner of the signed ARC of WITCH EYES by Scott Tracey is: Sera R.
Thanks to everyone who entered, and I had so much fun with these Olympics that I promise I'll do some more giveaways soon!
Closing Ceremonies
You're all winners! ...At life. But unfortunately, as far as the WILDEFIRE Olympics are concerned, there could only be 4 winners out of the 100+ entries that I randomly drew from.
The winners of the 2 16x20 WILDEFIRE canvases are: Lucia and Lyssa Anne.
The winner of the pre-order of THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin is: Rachel C.
And the winner of the signed ARC of WITCH EYES by Scott Tracey is: Sera R.
Thanks to everyone who entered, and I had so much fun with these Olympics that I promise I'll do some more giveaways soon!
The winners of the 2 16x20 WILDEFIRE canvases are: Lucia and Lyssa Anne.
The winner of the pre-order of THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin is: Rachel C.
And the winner of the signed ARC of WITCH EYES by Scott Tracey is: Sera R.
Thanks to everyone who entered, and I had so much fun with these Olympics that I promise I'll do some more giveaways soon!
August 1, 2011
WILDEFIRE Olympics Roundup
My apologies that the final 2 days of the WILDEFIRE Olympics are so late--but I have a good excuse. I was in NYC for the weekend, without internet access, to give a reading and signing for WILDEFIRE at the fabulous Books of Wonder in Manhattan. Singlehandedly one of the coolest events of my life, and thank you to Peter for hosting!So without further adieu, I give you the official Karsten Knight playlist for WILDEFIRE, along with the chapter when you should be listening to that song:
Chapter 1: Lightning Rod
Your Own Love by VersaEmerge
Chapter 2: Sleepwalker
Long Life (Where'd You Go) by Great Big Sea
Chapter 3: Blue Flame
I'm in Here by Sia
Chapter 4: The Beach Scrolls
Yesteryear by Rosi Golan
Chapter 5: Chain Gang
Above and Below (Moon Version) by the Bravery
Chapter 6: Burning Bed
Veni Veni Emmanuel as performed by Hayley Westenra
Chapter 7: Handprint
Angels ft. Norah Jones by Wax Poetic
Chapter 8: Match Point
Ignorance by Paramore
Chapter 9: Midnight Movie
Thrown Away by VAST
Chapter 10: Masquerade
Sunrise by Yellowbirddd
Chapter 11: Sibling Rivalry
Wait it Out by Imogen Heap
Chapter 12: Extinguished
Breathe Again by Sara Bareilles
Closing Credits
Soldier by Ingrid Michaelson
I'll be drawing the winner of the two 16x20 inch canvases of the WILDEFIRE cover (and the bonus prizes) on Thursday, so to recap, here are the chances you have for entries (one point for each task):1) Like the WILDEFIRE fan page on facebook
2) Tweet or facebook a picture of you and WILDEFIRE
3) Do something nice for a (non-WILDEFIRE) book that you love
4) Tweet or facebook your favorite Karsten Knight video
5) Tweet or facebook your favorite line from WILDEFIRE
6) Tweet or facebook your favorite song
If you tweet, just use the #Wildefire hashtag or if you use facebook, tag the Wildefire fan page. Ta-da! Remember to comment below identifying all the ways you participated, along with your name and email. Spreading the word about this contest will win you my admiration and gratitude, which are more valuable than a beautiful canvas, right? Right??
In the mean time, here's a clip from Thursday's WILDEFIRE book launch and reading. Thanks Gail for taking the video!
July 28, 2011
WILDEFIRE Olympics Day 4: Video Day
So I'm sitting here, four hours from the WILDEFIRE launch party at the Barnes & Noble in Framingham, Massachusetts. I wish you all could be there, but apparently, as a few people from the other side of the country have informed me, teleportation has not been perfected yet. Hell, blogger's spell checker hasn't even accepted the word teleportation yet, because it's red-squiggling it. Squiggling is a word but teleportation isn't? Bullshit.In order to make you all feel like you were right there with me, Day 4 of the WILDEFIRE Olympics is easy: just pick your favorite Karsten Knight video and tweet it with the hashtag #Wildefire. OR tag me of the WILDEFIRE fan page with one on facebook. Then just make sure to comment below with your name and email so I know you played.
There's even a convenient Greatest Hits Sidebar to the left if you have trouble picking a video.
While you're at it, feel free to scroll down and participate in any of the EASY tasks from the previous three days of the Olympics.
Day 1 (Monday, 7/25): Facebook Day
Like the brand new WILDEFIRE Fan page on Facebook
Day 2 (Tuesday, 7/26): Picture Day
Tweet me or facebook tag a picture of you with a copy of WILDEFIRE (and identify where you're from!)
Day 3 (Wednesday, 7/27): Pay-It-Forward Day
Do something nice for a book that you love.
For each day you play, you'll get another entry to win one of two grand prizes: a 16x20 inch canvas print of the gorgeous WILDEFIRE cover, along with bonus prizes like THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin or WITCH EYES by Scott Tracey.
For now, I give you one of my favorite videos to film--the infamous instructional dance video...
July 27, 2011
The WILDEFIRE Olympics Day 3: Pay-it-Forward Day
This is me autographing copies of WILDEFIRE at a toddler table in toddler seat at Brookline Booksmith. I felt like I was in Gulliver's Travels.When it gets to be one season, or one month, or one week, or one day before your book's launch, it's easy to get swept up in the frenzy of full-blown self-promotion mode. You spend two years of your life writing, and rewriting, and revising, and nurturing this 393-page creature, and it's only natural as you're finally releasing it out into the world to do everything you can to ensure that it soars as high as it can.
But sooner or later you have to take a step back and come to terms with a few things:
1) Even with a few thousand twitter followers and facebook friends, even with the amazing continued support and enthusiasm of the book-blogging community, you're only reaching a microcosm of the people who will eventually read your book. And that's great.
2) If you talk about your book or the craft of writing constantly, all you'll end up with is a hoarse, scratchy voice, and that makes it awfully difficult to do book readings.
3) You're not just a reader, but a writer, and you're time is better spent sharing with others the books that you love.
So today, I give you day 3 of the WILDEFIRE Olympics: Pay-it-Forward Day. All you have to do for today's task is to go out and do something nice for a (non-Wildefire) book that you love. You can do anything: Write a nice review for it and post it on GoodReads, Amazon, and B&N. Go like or comment on a handful of thoughtful well-written reviews for it. Surprise a friend by mailing or ordering them a copy of a great novel. Then just post in the comments below what you did and what book you did it for. (Selfishly, my ulterior motive is to hear some summer reading recommendations from you).
My wholehearted recommendation to you today is one of my favorites from 2011: WITCH EYES by Scott Tracey.If you want a glimpse into what makes WITCH EYES one of the fall's best upcoming paranormal romances, take a gander at this teaser from chapter 2:
There was a moment where time seemed to fracture, a crystalline snapshot of the world where Uncle Jonathan had started raising his arm, his face full of fear and alarm. Where motes of sunlight lay poised above me, and the westerly breeze was tangible and tangled up against my skin. It was as if the world around me had called a time out.
Then the landscape expanded into something larger than four dimensions, the binding boiled itself down to an alphabet of magic, and the visions swallowed me up.
Elegant prose. Explosive magic. A fresh, seductive romance. And hellhounds. What more do you want?
Witch Eyes won't hit bookstores until September, but one lucky reader who participates in Pay-it-Forward Day and posts below will win a signed ARC. And of course you'll be entered to win one of the two 16x20-inch WILDEFIRE canvas prints I'll be drawing on Sunday.
So go do something nice for a great book, then head back here and let me know what you did. As with the other day, you can comment below anytime between now and Sunday July 31st when I draw the winners. To wrap up, as usual, I give you a flashback video from Karsten's Greatest Hits.
