Heather Davis's Blog, page 6
February 22, 2011
Cover Reveal Tomorrow!
The book's release date is November 14th, but I finally have permission to share the cover with the world -- so tomorrow, Wednesday the 23rd of February, I will post it here for you.
Stay tuned!
Heather
February 17, 2011
The Next YA Trend is…?
I'm not one to follow trends. I like writing in directions that are not over-saturated and that suit the stories that I have in me to tell. Other writers want to find what's hot and go there to add to the diversity of the trend. I say, whatever works for you (and your readers).
What's funny to me is that trends are not easy to calculate – you just know when you're in the middle of them. Take Dystopian YA – Scott Westerfeld had a jump on that type of story, but it took Suzanne Collins to bust it wide open. Now, it's a whole sub-genre of YA. And we can all tell the tale of Vampire fiction, I'm sure…
So what is the next big trend in YA going to be? Well, that's hard to say – but I have seen signs in the unpublished world that paranormals where characters can communicate with animals seem to be on more than a few minds. Whether or not it's a trend that editors will buy is another issue.
I just want to know – where is the hard Sci-fi? Where are the mysteries? There are a lot more places for YA to go that just haven't been widely visited yet. I'm excited to see what the future holds. Sometimes I think fiction can be like a Field of Dreams – "If you build it, they will come."
What do you think? What do you see trending now and what do you wish you could see more of?
Hugs,
Heather
February 10, 2011
Why YA?
An interviewer recently asked me why I thought so many adults were reading YA books these days. Well, I think there are some obvious reasons why even my mother has read The Hunger Games:
1) It's a fast growing genre, so publishers are pushing out more new titles than ever before in YA. They are more widely distributed as the sales grow.
2) YA novels have universal themes of survival, falling in love for the first time, discovering who you are. They appeal across age demographics and are often timeless stories.
3) There's exciting diversity in YA. You can find anyone from an LGBT teen to a post-apocalyptic vampire hunter cast in the main character role. There is room for every perspective, fantasy, and experience.
4) It's great for parents to keep up with what their teens are reading. Mother-daughter book clubs are springing up and YA books give these groups the opportunity to discuss subjects that might otherwise be extremely uncomfortable.
What do you think? Why is YA striking a chord across the country and the world?
Hugs,
Heather
P.S. What I'm reading – Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green *pure awesomeness!*
September 23, 2010
September Update
It's fall for real...I've turned in my new book to Harcourt, and I'm in that waiting stage - more revisions could be coming, but once those are done the book goes to copyediting and I'm free to think about the next book.
I'm not sure what the next book will be exactly, but I've been thinking about plans - and how you make promises and plans in the moment, never knowing how life will shake things up when you get to the part when the plan was supposed to happen... I'll be thinking more about this in the coming weeks...
I'll be signing books here:
Emerald City Writers Conference Public Signing
The Hilton Bellevue, WA
Saturday, October 2nd 4-6pm
Love and Light,
Heather
www.heatherdavisbooks.com
August 11, 2010
Summer Update!
I can't believe it's August already! Where did the summer go? In just one short month, Never Cry Werewolf will be out in paperback! The release date is September 7th. I'm super excited to see the book in a new format and hoping that even more readers will be able to find (and afford) the novel.
In other news, I'm revising my next book, Wherever You Go, for Harcourt. It's another deep, emotional book like The Clearing. I'm in love with the ghost boy in the book, and I hope readers will be too. That book launches way next year in the fall, so I'm deep in the work of making it the best it can be.
Hope all is well and you're having a great summer!
hugs,
Heather
www.heatherdavisbooks.com
April 29, 2010
Latest News on The Clearing...
The Launch Party for The Clearing was really terrific. Queen Anne Books once again kicked out the jams for this little old YA author.
Here's a link to a wonderful write up my friend Liz Gallagher posted at the Readergirlz site.
http://readergirlz.blogspot.com/2010/04/rgz-seattle-host-heather-davis.html
Looks like I'll be doing a few workshops with Liz this summer, btw... I'll post the deets here soon!
In other news, the nice reviews keep coming in for The Clearing. School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Booklist have all given it nice write ups. I'm so grateful for this kind attention for this little book!
Some updates on techno-stuff -- I'm posting every Thursday over at http://www.booksboybuzz.com/, a blog I keep with 6 other fun YA writers, so be sure to catch me there each week. Also, I'm now on Twitter as HeatherDbooks, so follow me there if you want to hear random writing and life stuff.
Hugs,
Heather
April 11, 2010
Release Week for The Clearing!
April 12-17th is Release Week for The Clearing!
To celebrate, I am hosting a special signed copy giveaway week and making a donation to TeenFeed.org, which serves homeless teens in my city.
Click here for details!
Love and Light,
Heatherhttp://www.heatherdavisbooks.com/The Clearing, April 2010 HMHNever Cry Werewolf - Out now
March 1, 2010
It's Official!
Just a quick post to let you know that Harcourt has purchased my next Young Adult novel WHEREVER YOU GO and it will be on their Hardcover list for Fall 2011. I'm so thrilled to be working with my wonderful editor Julie again! The team at HMH has been very supportive of THE CLEARING, so I'm sure it will be another great experience.
Here's the official announcement:
Author of the soon to be released THE CLEARING, Heather Davis's next YA novel, WHEREVER YOU GO, the heart-breaking story of the ghost of a boy trying to make contact with the girl he left behind, who discovers that the girl's ailing, Alzheimer's-stricken grandfather alone can hear him and act as his spirit guide, to Julie Tibbott at Harcourt, for hardcover publication in Fall 2011, by Stephen Barbara at Foundry Literary + Media. (NA)
Hugs,
Heather
www.heatherdavisbooks.com
www.booksboysbuzz.com
February 9, 2010
Happy Valentine's Week! Mockingbird Books is hosting me a...
Happy Valentine's Week!
Mockingbird Books is hosting me and several other authors at an event this Saturday, 2/13 - it's called Kids (Heart) Books!
Here's the info from the store:
On Saturday, February 13th from 10-3, Mockingbird books is participating in Kids (Heart)Books, a Valentine event at several local independent bookstores. Joining us are some of our favorite local authors and illustrators who you will LOVE meeting. Come and talk to them about their books, which will be available for purchase and autographing. Our guests (and the title of one of their books) will be:
Sara Anderson - Day at the Market
Mary Jane Beaufrand - Primavera
Bonny Becker - Visitor for Bear
Tom Brenner - And Then Comes Halloween
Heather Davis - Never Cry Werewolf
Arthur Dorros - Papa and Me
Liz Gallagher-Opposite of Invisible
Laura Kvasnosky - Zelda and Ivy series
Craig Orback - Hot Pursuit
Julie Paschkis - Building on Nature: the Life of Antoni Gaudi
David Patneaude - Thin Wood Walls
The day will also be a time for your children to show their creative sides. An art station will be set up for the kids to decorate their own valentines. Please tell your friends and neighbors about this fun opportunity. Call the store for more information (206) 518-5886. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Hope you can come!
Heather
www.heatherdavisbooks.com
January 22, 2010
The Clearing Countdown!
I can't believe it's winter-- the end of it almost. And that means that release of my second book, The Clearing is less than 3 months away -- April 12th, to be exact. It looks like I'll have a launch party at Queen Anne Books on Friday, April 16th -- more details to come.For now, I will leave you to enjoy the fabulous cover of The Clearing! Hugs, Heatherhttp://www.heatherdavisbooks.com/
