Erica O'Rourke's Blog
June 16, 2015
Pre-order Resonance, Get Harmonic for Free!
Resonance is almost here! The sequel to last summer's Dissonance comes out on July 21, and I am SO EXCITED for you to see where Del's story goes. I loved writing this story, and can't wait to share it with you! And I can honestly say that as an author, finishing a series is even more satisfying than finishing a book! (I assume marathon runners feel the same way, but I don't enjoy running enough to find out.) And to celebrate, we have a special offer for you!
Resonance Giveaway!
If you're anything like me, there's a certain satisfaction in collecting an entire series. Knowing I've read everything -- in the proper order -- just makes me happy. Luckily, my publisher understands this mindset, so we're going to help you complete your DISSONANCE collection! The first 30 people to pre-order RESONANCE will receive a free copy of HARMONIC, the novella which follows Addie's story after DISSONANCE. Simply send your proof of purchase to info@kayepublicity.com and you'll receive a code to download your free e-book. Pre-orders must be placed by 7/15 to receive HARMONIC, or while supplies last.
While I'm here, a couple of extra tidbits:
A (new) monthly newsletter!
The inaugural edition of my newsletter has more information about Resonance and my upcoming events, plus some of the things I'm loving this summer. Best of all, you can reply directly to the newsletter if you want to get in touch! Click here to sign up.
The events page is updated!
Find out where I'll be in the coming months, including the launch party for Resonance -- 3pm, August 2nd, at The Book Stall in Winnetka, IL. I'd love to see you there!
April 8, 2015
We Have A YASH Winner!
YASH is over for this season, but never fear -- it will be back again this fall with new books and new bonus content!
The winner of my individual giveaway is Justine, who will be getting an email from me shortly and an ARC of RESONANCE just as soon as I get myself over to the post office. Thanks for playing, everyone! There will be more giveaways leading up to the release of Resonance in July, and the best way to hear about them is by following me on Twitter or Tumblr.
Happy Spring!
April 2, 2015
The Spring Hunt Is On!
Once again, it's time for the YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Be sure to read to the very end of this post, because I'm also hosting my own giveaway -- a signed ARC of RESONANCE, which won't be out until July 22nd!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are EIGHT contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the GOLD TEAM, but each team offers the chance to win a different set of signed books.
If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the GOLD team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by SUNDAY, APRIL 5, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Today, I am hosting Maureen McGowan on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt! Maureen McGowan is the award-winning and Amazon Bestselling Author of two popular YA series including the dystopian thriller series: The Dust Chronicles. She writes exciting, fast-paced novels, enjoyed by teen and adult readers alike.
Maureen always loved writing fiction, but side-tracked by a persistent practical side, it took her a few years to channel her energy into novels. After leaving a career in finance and accounting, she hasn’t looked back.
Aside from her love of books, she’s passionate about films, fine handcrafted objects and shoes. She lives in Toronto, where she attends the film festival every year.
Her most recent titles include: Deviants (Skyscape, 2012), Compliance (Skyscape, 2013), and Glory (Skyscape, 2014)
Find out more information by checking out Maureen's website, or find more about Deviants here!
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
And now, a few words from Maureen about her exclusive content:
This is a short story originally published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson in a textbook for high school English students. It's also included in a Prequel short story anthology for my Dust Chronicles Series called Origins. http://amzn.to/1Fcdv4J The story, "Out of the Ashes", is set approximately 75 years before the beginning of The Dust Chronicles series, and the little boy in the story, Felix, is the grandfather of Glory, the main character in my series: Deviants (2012), Compliance (2013), Glory (2014). The story happens as the world as we know it is ending...
Click here to read Out Of The Ashes!
Don't forget to come back, to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Maureen, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 5. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the GOLD team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, Cecil Castellucci! But before you do, make sure to fill out the Rafflecopter below to win an ARC of Resonance!
March 19, 2015
ICYMI: Resonance Cover
Shiny, shiny, shiny, shiny!
We revealed the cover elswhere, but here it is again to brighten your Thursday: the cover of RESONANCE, coming July 22nd!
Here's a bit about the story:
As a Walker between worlds, Del is responsible for the love of her life—and the fate of millions—in this thrilling sequel to Dissonance.
Del risked everything to save Simon, and now he’s gone, off in another world with no way for Del to find him.
She’s back at the Consort—training to be a Walker like everyone in her family. But the Free Walkers have other plans for her. This rebel group is trying to convince Del that the Consort is evil, and that her parents are unwittingly helping the Consort kill millions of people. The Free Walkers make Del the ultimate promise: if Del joins their fight, she will be reunited with Simon.
In agreeing, Del might be endangering her family. But if she doesn’t, innocent people will die, and Simon will be lost to her forever. The fate of the multiverse depends on her choice...
To sum up: Shenanigans. And Simons.
March 5, 2015
Twelve Days to HARMONIC!
If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know: Resonance ARCs are here! Exciting times, because it means that soon, you’ll finally get an answer to the cliffhanger at the end of Dissonance...
(Soon, of course, is a relative term. Resonance arrives on July 22nd. You can pre-order here.)
In the meantime, I have a treat to hold you over: the Harmonic e-novella publishes in TWELVE DAYS. March 17th, to be precise.
Isn't it beautiful?!? Harmonic is Addie’s story, and it picks up right before the last scene of Dissonance. Here’s a bit more about it:
Addie Sullivan has always been the perfect Walker, but after the events of Dissonance, her loyalty is questioned. To prove herself – and protect a grief-stricken Del – she takes on a special assignment from the Consort, tracking down rebel Free Walkers. Chasing ghosts means digging into past…and asking her ex-girlfriend, Laurel, for help. As her feelings for Laurel resurface, so do troubling secrets about the Consort, the Free Walkers, and Addie’s family. And when the investigation turns deadly, Addie must decide who to believe, and where her future lies.
What exactly is an e-novella, you ask? Longer than a short story, shorter than a novel, available only as an ebook and priced accordingly. – Harmonic is 148 pages, and 1.99 at most online retailers:
I’ll be back soon with more information and some fun giveaways. In the meantime, if you have a question, click here to ask!
October 14, 2014
Title Reveal (times two!)
Last week, I promised that today would be a day of Exciting News -- and here we are!
For the last year, I've been referring to the sequel of Dissonance as D2. Which always reminds me of this:
Which is...not quite representative of Dissonance and its (many) worlds.
However, after a lot of mulling and many smart suggestions from my editor, we hit upon the perfect title for D2. And then, because we were on a roll, we came up with a title for Dissonance 1.5.
What, you might ask, is Dissonance 1.5? It's a novella about Addie, Del's older sister, and it's set at the VERY END of Dissonance. We'll release the official blurb later, but for now, it's safe to say that Del isn't the only Sullivan girl who's good at keeping secrets. To find out more, you'll need to read...
Harmonic will be out in early spring 2015.
A few months later, in July, D2 will hit shelves. Except we'll be calling it:
Guys, I loved writing Resonance. It picks up less than 24 hours after the end of Dissonance, and while I can't tell you a whole lot about the story just yet, I can tell you that Del's search for Simon reveals all sorts of unexpected truths and allies and dangers. I can't wait to share it with you!
October 7, 2014
We have a winner! (and a secret)
Thanks again to everyone who participated in the YA Scavenger Hunt! According to the fine people at Rafflecopter, our winner is
EMILY C!
Congratulations, Emily! I will send you an email in a few minutes as well as a twitter DM, and we'll get your Dissonance package in the mail this week.
If you were not a winner, never fear -- I'm going to do another giveaway next week, because we have some fun announcements about DISSONANCE coming on Tuesday that I can't wait to share with you!
October 2, 2014
Let the YASH begin! (UPDATED)
The Fall 2014 YA Scavenger Hunt is now OVER. Thank you all so much for participating! I hope you've enjoyed the exclusive bonus content -- and grown your TBR pile!
While the YASH is over, my personal giveaway hit a technical glitch -- and to make amends, I'm keeping it open through Monday! So if you haven't entered yet, there's still time. See below for details, and thanks again for making this year's YASH such a success!
BONUS CONTEST:
Want to be entered in to win a DISSONANCE swag pack? I'm giving away a signed copy of DISSONANCE, plus stickers, bookmarks, origami and more!
You have several ways to enter, via this handy Rafflecopter:
A few things to note:
During previous hunts, I've requested you leave a comment on the blog. But I'm going to be switching over to Tumblr full-time soon, so I'd recommend following me there instead. My Tumblr Ask box is also a good place to go if you have questions. (You can still comment, of course! I love comments! It just doesn't count as a contest entry.)
Obviously, if you have questions about the contest or the hunt, the comment section is an ideal place to ask. (Though Tumblr would work too. Or twitter. Or email. ASK, is what I'm saying, and I'll do my best to answer.)
Several of the entry options require you to give your username for verification. If I can't verify you, it doesn't count, so check for typos!
As always, my giveaways are international.
This giveaway runs until midnight on Monday, October 6.
Let the YASH begin!
Welcome to the YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SIX contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the ORANGE TEAM--but there is also a red team, a gold team, an blue team, a red team, and an indie team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!
If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.
BONUS! I'm also running an individual contest here -- see the end of this post for more details about how you can win a DISSONANCE prize package!
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the ORANGE team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by SUNDAY OCTOBER 5th at NOON Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
SCAVENGER HUNT POST
I'm SO thrilled to be hosting the lovely Lisa T. Bergren today! Lisa is the best-selling, award-winning author of over forty books. She lives in Colorado Springs, CO with her family and a little white Westie who makes her feel guilty when they don’t go out for a walk. But in her imagination, she’s forever somewhere else—often in another country and/or the distant past—or in her latest series, a dystopian future. You can find out more about her at LisaTBergren.com or follow her on Twitter (@LisaTBergren) or Facebook.com/LisaTawnBergren.
Find out more information by checking out Lisa's website or find more about her books here!
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
Lisa’s Remnants Series is about seven teens called Remnants—and their awesome, kick-ass Knight-protectors—who were born to course-correct a world gone very wrong, and battle the dark forces who are attempting to take over what remains. It’s a fast-paced, genre-bending read, combining dystopian, fantasy, spiritual suspense, paranormal and romance. Book 1, Season of Wonder, is out now and available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local bookstore.
Ready? Here's your exclusive YASH bonus content: a sneak peek from REMNANTS: SEASON OF FIRE, Book 2 in the Trilogy (coming March 2015):
“Tell me what is untruthful. That you denied all you’d been taught by your trainer, imprisoned your twin and seized the Pacifican throne for yourself? Tell me how you could ignore the Call. How you could possibly turn away from it on that night of nights.”
His eyes shot to mine again and hardened. Then he lifted his chin, took a deep breath, and leaned forward. “I haven’t denied what I’d been taught. I simply disagreed with our parents. There has never, in the entire history of our world, been brother kings. It would never work. One always has to take the lead, or separate their realms. And I am the eldest…the first out of the womb. By rights, the throne is mine. By rights.”
I nodded slowly. I could see why he’d consider it that way. “But Keallach, we are not like any others that have come before us. We Ailith were born entirely for this purpose…to save the world. What if you got in the Maker’s way by turning from the path laid before you?”
Keallach tapped his fingertips together, still leaning forward. “I pray that I did not.” He bowed his head and scratched the back of his neck, then lifted his face. “You must believe me, Andriana. My intention is for good. For the good of all.”
I searched him, then. His words were true. Or at least he believed what he was saying… “But Keallach, you are…the Sheolites. Sethos…” I gestured to the guard at the door, feeling suddenly heavy, weary, utterly exhausted.
“Leave us,” Keallach said.
“My lord—”
“Stand outside if you must. But my friend shall speak more freely without you here. Leave us.”
“Yes, m’lord.”
I watched as the burly man disappeared into the night, closing the door with more grace and care than expected. Then I looked to Keallach. “Those men are lost. They are of the dark. And you are surrounded by them.”
“I am well aware of who and what they are,” he said evenly, quietly. “But I’m not certain you’ve judged them too harshly.”
I sputtered in surprise. “Too harshly? If you’d experienced what we’ve—”
“Perhaps there is a way that is between our two paths,” he said soothingly. “A place where the forked path unites again. But that would require both of us moving toward the other, right?”
I frowned, remembering what I’d felt on that battlefield. The depths of darkness, despair. Death itself, fighting to take me down, hold me down until I suffocated, choking on my own loss of hope. He wanted me to move toward that?
“Don’t you see, Andriana?” he asked, rising and pacing across the short room, one hand on his head, one gesturing to me. “All people respond to power. Even the Sheolite. It is what drives them. And what am I on the cusp of? Ultimate power. Within months, the entire Trading Union will bow to me as emperor. We will claim the rebels and outliers in time. Together, we shall rebuild this country, and begin to claim others. Together, we will establish unification of the entire world. Peace. This is the moment to seize it. Upon its rebirth. I wager you know enough of humanity’s history to know that once each power is developed, they will resist bowing to another. But right now…” His eyes danced with possibility. “It’s like the opportunity to train up a child rather than try and remake a man. I really think it could work.”
I stared at him. So his quest for ultimate power was true. But the way he put it, the goal was not for glory and riches, but rather for something we all might cheer for—peace. My mind whirled, grasping for truth, trying to make sense of what I’d learned. “But what of Pacifica? What of your methods of stealing children in Georgii Post? Wrenching them away from their parents and spiriting them off to be adopted in your own land or put to work in the factories and mines?”
He stilled and stared at me, mouth agape. “What? What are you talking about?”
“The children. The reaping. I saw it for myself. Armed guards, stealing away children to be adopted by the childless across the Wall.”
He shook his head, and I felt the confusion in him. “We adopt children who have no hope, no future. But the children are brought to us, given to our soldiers. It is sad, the conditions that leave them in such a desperate place—”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s not how it happens there. We saw children ripped from an orphanage ourselves.”
“There are no sanctioned orphanages in Georgii Post. Perhaps a few goodhearted people showing kindnesses, but I assure you, we take far better care of them in Pacifica. Half are put into our very own homes; half are given a place to eat, sleep, work.”
I shook my head again. “Why is that? Why not sanction an orphanage? And I saw soldiers rip a child from his parents’ arms!”
Keallach frowned. “If that is true, I will ferret out the truth. It’s not how I want it,” he said, slicing his hand in the air, a red blush arriving at his jawline. “But it is exactly those conditions that I seek to remedy, in the coming years. Don’t you see,” he asked, stepping closer to me. “You’ve glimpsed enough of Pacifica’s prosperity. I will gladly show you more of our success here, myself. Eventually, places like Georgii Post will be more like Pacifica. The entire Trading Union will institute laws and have governance that will bring about needed change. Castle Vega. Even Zanzibar, in time.”
I stared at him. He honestly believed it. He thought he was on a righteous, true path. I reached for my goblet and took a swallow. “What of your brother? Why did he not agree with this plan?”
“I have not spoken to my brother in many seasons,” he said. His eyes were on the dark porthole covered in glass as if he could peer through the night.
“Why?”
He shook his head and sat down again heavily.
“But you happened to choose this night, this ship, to go to him?” I pressed.
“I’d heard…There are some that say…” His eyes moved back to the porthole again, and he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Word reached me that Kapriel was unwell. Frail. He’s refused food for some time.” He looked at me, miserable. “Andriana, I wanted Kapriel out of my way. Far out of my way. But I never wanted to see him die.”
I was lost in a tornado of thought. Could it be? Had the elders misunderstood about Keallach? Might I be able to broker peace? Bring Keallach into the Ailith fold, when he was considered lost to us?
*****
Sounds awesome, right? Don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Lisa, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is FIVE. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the ORANGE team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
BONUS CONTEST:
Want to be entered in to win a DISSONANCE swag pack? I'm giving away a signed copy of DISSONANCE, plus stickers, bookmarks, origami and more!
You have several ways to enter, via this handy Rafflecopter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
A few things to note:
During previous hunts, I've requested you leave a comment on the blog. But I'm going to be switching over to Tumblr full-time soon, so I'd recommend following me there instead. My Tumblr Ask box is also a good place to go if you have questions. (You can still comment, of course! I love comments! It just doesn't count as a contest entry.)
Obviously, if you have questions about the contest or the hunt, the comment section is an ideal place to ask. (Though Tumblr would work too. Or twitter. Or email. ASK, is what I'm saying, and I'll do my best to answer.)
Several of the entry options require you to give your username for verification. If I can't verify you, it doesn't count, so check for typos!
As always, my giveaways are international.
This giveaway runs for the duration of the scavenger hunt, but the winner will be notified separately.
READY TO CONTINUE THE HUNT?
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, JESSICA SPOTSWOOD!
July 28, 2014
Moving and Shaking and Signed Copies
It is Monday, and it is a Monday in almost-August, which means we here at Casa O'Rourke is in our usual back-to-school-where-did-the-summer-go frenzy. Apparently our motto is "ADD IT TO THE LIST AND MAKE MORE COFFEE." S
There is, however, one list I am pretty excited about: Goodreads July Movers and Shakers list. According to the nice people at GR, this means that many of you have added DISSONANCE to your "To Read" lists or shelves or cubbies or book storage system of choice. So...thank you! Word of mouth is the best possible way you can support an author, and I'm very, very grateful to you all for spreading the word.
The launch party on Tuesday was lovely: I did not spill on my new blouse and The Book Stall was jam-packed with wonderful, enthusiastic people! If you couldn't make it, never fear: I signed a bunch of copies and tucked bookmarks and origami stars inside, special for you. Just contact the store and they'll be happy to send you a copy.
Enjoy these waning days of summer -- and make sure YOUR summer list is full of moments that will make great memories (especially when we're back in the polar vortex).
