Erica O'Rourke's Blog, page 5

Answers!

Happy Tax Day, everyone! I have spent much of the last week in a reciept-sorting, record-checking fog, only to discover that my phone line has been out for...I don't know how long. Which means my accountant has probably been trying to call me all weekend, unsuccessfully. I'm sure his schedule is WIDE-OPEN today. I'm sure I'm his favorite client EVER.

Anyway, the winner of the Second-Chance Contest Giveaway is...

Darith L!

Darith, I'll be contacting you to get your snail mail address, so you should be receiving your prize this week or early next week!

And here are the answers to the questions you asked in the comments. If you asked on Tumblr, I answered over there.

Colin, my favorite expat and fellow Doctor Who fan asked: How do you pick your character's names? Delancey Sullivan is an
interesting name--I'm not sure I would have ever thought of that one.

I have a different process for each book I write. In the Torn Trilogy, Mo needed an Irish-sounding name that was pretty but could be nicknamed to something a little more plain, and Maureen/Mo was an obvious choice. Maura was a little more unexpected, so Maura/Mo it was. The women in Verity's family all had virtue names: Constance, Patience, Verity...Evangeline isn't quite a virtue name, but it seemed to fit. And Grey seemed a good last name, since Verity viewed the truth as much more nuanced than her first name suggested.

As for Delancey, she's named after a neighborhood in New York, where she was born. The  rest of her family has names relating to Chicago. There's more to it than that, but...spoilers!

 

Which brings us to Colin's second question: Have you been watching Doctor Who the past few weeks? Thoughts?

Of COURSE I've been watching! I...am suspending judgement for now. Matt Smith, as always, is fantastic. His monologue at the end of Rings of Akhenaten ("I have lost things you will never understand...") was so moving and perfect. And the Clara mystery is quite intriguing -- I think it all ties in to her mom, somehow. The most important leaf in the world, Mama Oswin's promise to always find Clara, even if she's on the moon...I don't know yet, but I think it all ties in together in some sinister way. I can't wait to find out.

That being said, I'm not 100% smitten with Clara yet. Partly because I loved Amy and Rory, and partly because she still seems very much a creation of the writers. They seem to be working very hard to prove that she is the most perfect possible companion: sassy and plucky and brave and smart and flirty and beautiful and...she's perfect. They really want us to notice how perfect she is. Because, you see, she is perfect. And while that might tie into The Mystery of Clara, it's also them working really hard to make us love her because she is... say it with me...perfect. The writers are also working hard, it feels like, to set up situations that could easily turn romantic. I'm not crazy about that notion (HI RIVER SONG, WIFE OF THE DOCTOR) but if they're going to go down that path, I'd prefer the chemistry between the characters shine through on its own, rather than be foisted on them by the script and the director, which is how it currently feels. I know it's a short season, people, but a slow burn always has a better payoff, and an obvious authorial hand is never good storytelling.

But even with all of these caveats, I love it best in all the world. Saturday nights are what get me through the rest of the week.

Bethzaida asked, "Is there is going to be a love triangle in DISSONANCE?"

This is a tricky question to answer without spoiling things. There won't be a love triangle like there was in TORN. But the story does take place in multiple universes, and in those universes are multiple versions of Simon, the boy Del likes. So...is it a love triangle if the two guys are the same guy? I will let you decide.

Anastasia asked, "Is Dissonance going to be the first book in a series? Because according to Goodreads it's a stand alone."

The plan right now is that Dissonance is a two-book series. That may change -- I certainly have ideas for more books --  but for now, DISSONANCE 2: Electric Boogaloo will conclude Del's story. (As an aside...I don't go on Goodreads. Ever. So I have no idea what information is there or if it's accurate.)

Darith L. asked, "What inspired you to write this novel?"

A couple of things: One was the steady diet of sci-fi and fantasy I consumed as a child -- in particular, Roger Zelazney's Nine Princes In Amber, which my dad read so many times the covers fell off our copies (always the mark of a good book).

Two, I always start a book with what-if questions, and the ones that triggered DISSONANCE went a little something like this: What if had the ability to move through infinite universes. If you could have anything, how would you choose between them? What if there was something you couldn't have? What's the cost of having infinite choices? And if you were constant, but everything around you changed...what kind of person would you be?

It turns out you'd be a lot like Delancey Sullivan.

 

Thanks for playing along, all! I am off to pay my taxes, but I'll be back later this week with more exciting news and pretty things to share.

Cover Love, Our Winner, and Another Contest

Today is a good day, people. I know it's Monday, but all three of my children are in school. It's rainy and gray, which means nobody is making me feel bad about not doing spring yardwork. Most importantly, I can show you the cover of DISSONANCE!

Now, if you participated in the YA Scavenger Hunt last weekend, you've already seen it. And I was BLOWN AWAY by your kind words and incredible response. (See the bottom of this post for the winner.) But when the hunt was over, the cover came down. The good news is, I have got your back. Behold:

 

This cover, guys. I fell in love with it the minute I opened the email. And then, when an envelope from the good people at Simon and Schuster arrived with actual cover flats -- printed copies, just like you'd wrap around a hardcover -- I gasped. Because in real life, this cover shimmers. I don't know how they do it. Fairy dust, maybe, or intricate laser something-or-other. But it shimmers, and the colors glow, and everything about it, every single aspect, perfectly captures the story.

I don't think I'm spoiling anything if I tell you that music and sound make up a huge part of Del's world, as does her ability to walk between alternate realities. And Lizzy Bromley, my genius cover designer, has done an incredible job of getting that musicality and movement across in a single image, whereas I needed a whole bunch of words. I love, love, LOVE it, and I hope you do, too.

There are a few descriptions of the book floating around right now, but I'm still revising, so take them with a large grain of salt. For now, here's what I can share about the story itself:

For Delancey Sullivan, alternate
universes aren’t just a theory: they’re a way of life. Every time someone makes
a choice – to eat breakfast or skip it, to sneak out or stay in bed – parallel
realities are created, and echo versions of ourselves take the roads not
traveled in the Key World. As a Walker, Del navigates between the Echoes,
keeping the dimensions in harmony. But when her own choices go horribly wrong,
she must decide between her heart and her duty – and live with the
consequences.

  (Also, there are cute boys. And kissing. I don't think that's too spoilery.)

If you want more hints about the story, check out my tumblr -- there are plenty of pictures I've reblogged and tagged "Dissonance." They're not spoilers, but they've reminded me of the book in some way, so you can start to get a feel for Del's world (or worlds, really). And if you want to add the book to your Goodreads pile, I am told this is a good link for such things.

Now, on to the giveaway portion of this post. First, the winner of the YASH giveway is...

TESSA VAN DIEST!

So: if you are Tessa, I'll be emailing you to get your address for the prize pack. If you're NOT Tessa, you still have a chance to win a copy of TORN and a cover flat of Dissonance: all you need to do is ask a question (preferably about Dissonance, but I'm not super-picky) either here or in my Tumblr Ask Box. I'll answer the tumblr questions pretty quickly; the ones here will be answered...eventually. (The contest runs until 3:00pm central time on Friday, April 12.)

 

 

The Hunt Is Done!

Thank you all so much for participating in the Spring 2013 YA Scavenger Hunt -- I hope you had an amazing time finding all the bonus content, and that you won oodles of great prizes! I'll be back with the name of the winner later this week, along with other fun and exciting things: shiny cover(s), cool announcements, and more giveaways!

Also: thanks to you, my TBR pile is now taller than me! (I am short, but I'm not that short - you guys had amazing suggestions!)

YA Scavenger Hunt: Spring 2013 Edition

Welcome to the Spring 2013 YA Scavenger Hunt! This tri-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 amazing
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 TWO contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the BLUE TEAM--but there is also a red team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!



To find out more, see links to all the
authors participating, and see the full list of prizes, go
to the YA Scavenger Hunt homepage.



SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE




Directions: After you've enjoyed the bonus content, make sure you read the rest of the information, because I will have listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue 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 April 7th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
SECOND CONTEST!
Along with the Grand Prize Contest, I'm also offering a second giveaway -- a chance to win a copy of TORN, a custom bracelet that reads "make your own fate," (Click the link for a picture), a Torn Trilogy swag pack...and a cover flat of DISSONANCE! To enter, check out the rafflecopter form at the end of this post.

And now...the good stuff! I'm so excited to be hosting the incredibly talented (and extremely organized) Colleen Houck!

Colleen Houck’s New York Times bestselling Tiger’s Curse series has received national praise with the fourth book, Tiger’s Destiny, debuting September 2012. Colleen is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, science fiction, and romance. Formerly a student at the University of Arizona, she has worked as a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter for seventeen years. Colleen lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.

Click here to find out about Colleen!

Click here to find out about the Tiger's Curse series.

Here's a little bit more about Tiger's Quest:







Now available in a beautiful paperback edition, the second book in the bestselling Tiger's Curse series offers more edge-of-your-seat action, star-crossed love, an exotic Indian locale, and centuries-old shape-shifting magic.

Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to push aside her feelings for Ren. But when her life is threatened, Kelsey is suddenly forced to return to India, where she forges an unexpected bond with Ren's tiger-brother, Kishan—and embarks on a second, perilous quest that brings them one step closer to breaking the spell.

This paperback edition includes the bonus chapter written from Ren's perspective which was released only in the sold out, exclusive, Barnes & Noble hardback of Tiger's Voyage. The chapter is called, ""A Dream Forgotten.""
And now...are you ready for the exclusive content? I'll let Colleen introduce it herself!

Hi Tiger Fans!
On this hunt I've decided
to give you all something I know you've been waiting for a long time.
This is the original ending to Tiger's Destiny. Yep. The very first one I
wrote. There has been heated debate about Kelsey's baby and I hope that
this answers a few of your many questions. I really love this ending
and I hope you will too. The end of Tiger's Destiny that was printed in
the book was actually the third one I wrote, so in a future hunt I might
let you read the second one too. Enjoy!

Chapter
35

Rising Generation

 

Wearily,
I rubbed my eyes and fluffed the pillow behind my head.  I heard Ren’s warm voice as he crooned to our
newborn son in the next room.  He was
speaking to him softly in Hindi and though I still hadn’t mastered the language,
I recognized the name Ren called our son—mera raja beta—which meant, my son the
prince.

I smiled
and closed my eyes as I listened to him. 
The baby loved to hear Ren’s voice as much as I did and always watched
his father with wide eyes when he read stories or poems. 

Ren had
been in his senior year of college and was just a few weeks away from
graduation when we found out I was going to have a baby. The night I told him
the news, I’d made his favorite dinner and gave him a present—a children’s book
about tigers.

He
laughed and said, “Did you think I needed a reminder, Iadala?”

“No,” I
replied with a grin.

Studying
my expression, he narrowed his eyes. “You’re hiding something.”

I
shrugged playfully. 

Wrapping
his hands around my waist, Ren pulled me onto his lap.  Nuzzling my ear, he murmured, “What can I do
to convince you to share your secret, mere jaan?”

After
kissing him softly, I answered, “My secret, my very handsome husband, is that
there will be another person for you to call ‘mere jaan.’

He tilted
his head quizzically.  “Kells, what do
you—?”

Interrupting
him, I took his hand and slid it on top of my still flat belly.  I pressed my hand over his and saw the moment
when he understood. 

“Are you
sure?” he asked tenderly.

I nodded
and beamed.

“And did
the doctor say you’re okay?”

“She said
everything looked great.”

Ren
pressed his forehead to mine and let out a relieved laugh.  I wrapped my arms around his neck while he
kissed my cheeks, my nose, and my forehead. 
When his lips found mine, I wasn’t sure if I should attribute the
flutterings in my stomach to my new pregnancy or the fact that Ren was touching
me.

**

Now
another year had gone by.  Two since our
wedding.  We lived in a house that was
way too large for our tiny family.  It
had been built according to Ren’s design on a wide plot of forested land up on
our mountain where we’d once had a little duplex.  Both of us had attended Western Oregon
University with me graduating first because of his frequent absences.

During
the summer months I’d continued school while he flew back and forth between
Oregon and India.  While he worked with
Nilima to learn all about the business of Rajaram Industries, I took every
class available so I wouldn’t miss him but it never worked.  Though we still had our divine connection and
I could feel him even across the ocean, I still wanted him near.  I’d call him just to hear his voice and
cuddle my old stuffed tiger at night.

In the
last month of my pregnancy, he made arrangements with his instructors to take time
off from studying for his Masters and negotiated with Nilima to be away from
the business so he could spend time with me and the baby.

Our
little son had been born at home, home being a relative term, since Ren had
brought in a team of specialists and had a wing of the house redesigned to look
like a state-of-the-art birthing center. 
An Indian midwife was hired to work with me throughout my pregnancy and
though we had doctors on call, she was the one who actually delivered our baby
just after Christmas.

Two
months later we were celebrating Valentine’s Day.  Ren had started the day off by bringing me
breakfast in bed.  He insisted on feeding
me every single bite which was very romantic and then he left me to lounge
while he took care of the baby.  We were
going out to dinner later and he’d arranged to have a sitter come to watch our
son.  I was nervous about it since it
would be my first time away from him.

My
thoughts were interrupted when my gorgeous husband came into the room and gave
me his special lopsided smile which still made my cheeks warm.  The baby was fussy so Ren brought him over to
me.  I laid my newborn son on the bed and
readjusted my grandmother’s quilt around his wiggling body.  As I snuggled him in my arms and pressed my
lips to the downy cap of black hair, Ren settled himself next to me and snuck
his arm around my shoulders, pulling my head back against his chest.

“Little
baby, why aren’t you sleepy?” I asked my squirming bundle.

Ren
pressed his lips to my forehead and we both laughed when the baby’s little
fists shot out of the blanket and he kicked hard. 

“What a
feisty little man you are, Anik Kishan Rajaram.” After wrapping the quilt
around him again, I leaned against Ren and yawned.  “Maybe you should recite him a poem,” I
suggested.

He
stroked the baby’s head and, with his arms cradling the both of us, began
speaking in his soft, rhythmic, and still very hypnotic voice.

If
By
Rudyard Kipling

 

 

If
you can keep your head when all about you
Are
losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If
you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But
make allowance for their doubting too,
If
you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or
being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or
being hated, don't give way to hating,
And
yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If
you can dream—and not make dreams your master,
If
you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If
you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And
treat those two impostors just the same;
If
you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted
by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or
watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And
stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

 

 

If
you can make one heap of all your winnings
And
risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And
lose, and start again at your beginnings
And
never breathe a word about your loss;
If
you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To
serve your turn long after they are gone,
And
so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except
the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

 

 

If
you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or
walk with kings—nor lose the common touch,
If
neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If
all men count with you, but none too much,
If
you can fill the unforgiving minute
With
sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours
is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And—which
is more—you'll be a Man, my son!

 

 

Ren’s
words trailed off and I whispered quietly, “Ren, look.”

Our baby
Anik had stopped fussing completely.  His
little body was still and his eyes were wide open and focused on his
father.  Ren held out a finger and a tiny
fist opened and teeny fingers latched on. 
As father and son looked into each other’s eyes a feeling of hushed
enchantment swirled around us and I felt as if we were sitting in a mountain
shrine.

The
silence was broken by a sniffle.  I
glanced up at Ren and found his beautiful cobalt blue eyes full of tears.  He dashed them away with his free hand.

“What is
it?” I asked softly.

“It’s…his
eyes,” Ren said.

I looked
at my baby and touched my finger to his soft cheek.  Moving his head, he jerked it towards my
finger as if he were still hungry.  He
blinked and for a moment his bright golden eyes were hidden behind his almost
translucent lids that were framed by thick dark eyelashes.  “Are you disappointed that they aren’t blue
like yours?” I queried hesitantly.

Pressing
his lips to my temple, he let out a shaky breath and explained, “When Lokesh
took you from the yacht, Kishan and I went looking for you.  During that time he told me that he’d had a
vision of you with a little baby.”

“Yes. I
remember.  It was in the Grove of
Dreams.”

“What he
didn’t tell you was that he lied to you about seeing the baby’s eyes.  In his vision your son had golden eyes.  So he thought—”

“He must
have thought that the baby was his.”

“Yes.  All this time I believed that I had stolen
his rightful place.  That his destiny was
to be with you, when really Anik was always mine.  You
were always meant to be mine.”

“He never
told me,” I whispered sadly.

Ren
touched my chin, turning me to face him. 
“Do you regret it, Kelsey?”

“Do I
regret marrying you and having your baby? 
Never.  Do I regret leaving him
behind?  Every day.”

As our
baby closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep, I asked, “Do you think about
him?”

“How
could I not?  Every time I look at our
son I think of my brother.  Kishan
sacrificed himself so I could have what I always wanted.  My only hope is that he somehow found a
measure of happiness.”

A chime
sounded interrupting our reminiscing and Ren got up to answer the door while I
put baby Anik in his crib.  I climbed
back into bed myself hoping for an afternoon nap but when Ren returned he
brought in a stack of mail and a box.  He
rifled through the mail and handed me a fancy envelope.  “It’s from Nilima,” he said.

Sliding
my fingers under the edge, I exclaimed, “It’s the wedding invitation!  They’re getting married this summer.”

Ren
grunted.  “It took Sunil long enough.”

“It
wasn’t entirely his fault.  Nilima was
stubborn.”

“Not
unlike another woman I know,” he teased.

“Their
engagement picture is beautiful.”  I
handed him the picture and picked up the big box he’d placed on the bed.  “What’s this?”

“I don’t
know.  It shipped from India.”

He opened
the box and took out a letter that had been laminated.  After a quick glance, he sat on the bed and
said quietly, “It’s from Kadam.”

“What?”  Incredulous, I swung my legs over the side
and sat next to him.

“It just
contains instructions.  It says, ‘To be
delivered upon the birth of Alagan Dhiren Rajaram’s first born son.  Signed Anik Kadam.”

Ren set
the page aside and took out a heavy wooden box. 
The lock clicked open and he lifted the polished lid.  Both of us stared at the contents.

“It’s the
Scroll of Wisdom,” I whispered.  “The
ocean teacher said we weren’t to read it until after the fifth sacrifice had
been made.”

Ren
lifted the tube of glass and found the scroll was perfectly encased as if the
glass had been blown around it.  There
was no opening or way to remove the scroll without damaging the container.

“I’ll
have to break it,” Ren said.  He held the
cylinder inside the packaging box and I heard a snap and the tinkling of broken
glass as it fell.  Carefully, he shook
the glass away from the ancient paper and set it between us.  The sheets of thick parchment quickly began
to yellow around the edges.  I took hold
of one wooden roller while Ren took the other and we spread out the pages on the
bed between us. 

“Is that
Sanskrit?” I asked.

Ren
nodded and started reading the first page. 
“This part contains instructions for the Ocean Teacher.  It only includes the second prophecy as it
related to him.  It says he was to
preserve this scroll, use the liquid to anoint your eyes, and lead you to the
spirit gate.  It goes into great detail
where to find the gate and warns that this information is only to be shared
with the three travelers who would appear. 
It describes you, Kadam, and Kishan in great detail and talks about the
yin/yang medallion.  The chosen one would
see a cat, a tiger specifically.”

“And
this?” I pointed to the bottom.

“The
monks had been encouraged to make a copy of the writing up until this part
before the document was sealed in the glass. 
This section contains a warning. 
It says that he who reads further will be subject to the punishment of
the gods, his eyes will burn, and he will suffer indescribably.”

“That
can’t be good.”

“No.”  He raised his eyes to meet mine.  “So do we read on?”

“I don’t
think Mr. Kadam would have given us something that would actually kill us.  Besides, the Ocean Teacher said that it was
meant for us after the fifth sacrifice had been accomplished.  He said it contained the truth about the
origins of the world.”

I bit my
lip as Ren rolled the completed section and then we both held our breath as he
revealed the next portion.  A heavy wax
insignia was the first thing we saw.  Ren
trailed his fingers over it.  “It’s my
family seal.  The house of Rajaram,” he
said excitedly. 

Smoothing
the paper flat for him, I watched intently as he ran his fingertip lightly over
the words.  After reading a section to
himself, he sat back with a look of shock. 
He paled and reached for my hand.

“What is
it?” I asked anxiously.

“It’s…it’s
a letter to us.”

“I don’t
understand.”

“Kelsey,”
he gripped my hand tightly.  “It’s a
letter from Kishan.”

I gaped
openly.  “But that’s…impossible.”

“He sent
us a letter, preserving it through time.”

I tried
ineffectually to swallow the lump in my throat. 
“What does it say?”

Ren
adjusted the document over his lap and 
began to read.

 

Ren and Kelsey,

I apologize for corresponding in such a
dramatic fashion but I couldn’t risk either of you reading this before certain
events had been set in motion.  I
wouldn’t have written at all except that I wanted to dispel any worries either
of you might retain over my decision to stay in the past.

After you left, Durga and Damon spent
many years serving all manner of people. 
We built a home high in the clouds on the rocky slope of Mount
Kailash.  Durga used the power of the
Pearl Necklace to feed pure healing water to the five rivers of Asia—the Indus,
the Sutlej, the Brahmaputra, the Karnali, and the Ganges. 

Our home was considered sacred to five
world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Ayyavazhi, and the Bön and many
made pilgrimages to worship Durga at the mountain base.  Any who attempted to climb up to our home
were dispelled quickly and soon word spread that the gods protected their home
and all attempts to reach us ceased.

In the beginning we would descend on a
cloud daily to serve as arbitrators in settling disputes for the people.  Anamika would bestow gifts of food, clothing,
and healing.  If a supplicant came and
told of famine or drought, we would use the Rope of Fire to travel quickly to
those locations and resolve the issue. 
We refused to side in wars but to the innocent Durga was a kind and
benevolent goddess. 

Anamika and I formed a bond of
friendship and respect that led to love. 
We were married and had many children and grandchildren.  We didn’t age and as our posterity made their
way in the world, we kept vigil on our mountainside and watched the decades
pass.

Eventually, the acolytes grew fewer in
number and we knew that Durga and her powers were no longer needed.  We left our home and traveled, secretly
helping people when we saw a need.

The peoples of Asia thrived under her
hands.  She inspired artists, poets,
political reform, religion, and social harmony. 
I am proud to have served as her companion and I am blessed that she
agreed to be my wife.

We have had a very long and a happy
life and it would have been wrong for me to leave you thinking that I was
miserable or disappointed with the choice I made.  It took me some time to learn to live without
you, Kelsey, and I’ll admit that there were many times I cursed my decision to
stay behind, but destiny treated me well and I have a family and a life that
has enriched me and made me a better man.

Speaking of family, Phet informed me
that I am my own ancestor.  One of my
descendants was my great, great, great grandfather which means your baby gets
his eyes from me.  I’m sorry I kept that
from you, bilauta. 

Ren, forgive me for my jealous
impetuous youth.  Whatever good I have
done in the world, whatever strides I have made as a man, it was because I was
able to look to my brother for an example. 
For what it’s worth, you would have made a great king.  I know you are a good husband and will be an
excellent father.  Congratulations on the
birth of your first born son.  Fatherhood
is an experience unlike anything else. 
Treasure your time with your family for the days pass quickly. 

Kelsey, there is still a piece of my
heart that belongs to you.  I have
cherished it all these centuries.  You
were the angel that saved me from a life squandered and your influence has
impacted me in more ways than you know. 
The warmth, kindness, and love you offered when you decided to save two
lost tigers changed the course of my life. 
A happy ending was promised and a happy ending was delivered. Every
single day my heart swells with gratitude for you.

If there is one regret that I have,
it’s that I wish I could pass through the long centuries with you.  I miss you both, but I know that your lives
will be full and rich.  May your love for
one another continue to grow and may you find joy in the life you build
together.

Perhaps in another time and another
place we will meet again. 

Kishan.

 

A tear
trickled down my cheek.  Ren let go of
the scroll and the curved pages twisted loosely back together.  He put his arm around me and pulled me close,
cuddling me against his chest.  As if
knowing we were sad, little Anik, uncle Kishan’s namesake, let out a heart
wrenching wail.  I laughed and wiped my eyes.

“I’d say
he’s got a pretty good roar, wouldn’t you?” I asked.

Ren
rubbed my back and replied, “I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Rajaram.”

 

Epilogue 

Father of India

 

I was
chatting with Sarah and Jennifer as we sat on a park bench watching the
children play.  It was Anik’s fifth
birthday party and Ren was late.  He’d
insisted that he be there for the birthday cake so we were killing time until
he arrived by letting the kids loose on the playground.  Rebecca was being a good “auntie” even though
she was only fifteen and was helping keep watch on the kids.

Anik
climbed the slide again and again squealing with happiness as she held her
hands out to catch him below.  I glanced
at my watch and caught my two year old daughter dipping her fingers into Anik’s
jungle themed cake. 

“Kamala
Deschen!  What do you think you’re
doing?”

Her
beautiful blue eyes rimmed with long black lashes filled with tears.

“Mommy?”
she cried.  “Tiger.”

She
pointed to the orange tiger that crouched behind a plastic tree and I sighed
and picked her up.  “You have a room full
of tigers at home, little priya.”

“Tiger,”
she mumbled again as I cleaned her fingers and smoothed the silky black hair
away from her forehead.  She sucked on
her fingers and leaned into me sniffling. 

I thought
my son was a handsome boy with his black hair and golden eyes but my daughter
was breathtaking.  She was just a tiny
bit spoiled thanks to her doting father but she was a sweet little girl with
the loveliest hair that hung in soft curls past her waist.  I’d already had to cut it though Ren hotly
protested.

I was
comforting my daughter when I heard Jennifer say, “Kelsey?  Who is that with Anik?”

I glanced
up and saw an older couple talking to Anik under the shade of a large willow
tree.  The woman wore a beautiful green
sari and her dark hair streaked with grey was tied loosely and hung over one
shoulder.  Crouching in front of my son
and patting his arm, she smiled as she spoke to him. 

I
wondered for a moment if they were some of Nilima’s relatives.  Settling my daughter on my hip, and pulling
my braid to the other side so my daughter wouldn’t pull out the ribbon, I
headed over to them.

I’d only
made it half way when the man who was laughing with my son looked up. The man
smiled at me and I froze in my tracks. 
My heart stopped beating.  He wore
a loose tunic and pants in his signature black. 
Lines rimmed his golden eyes and his dark hair was shot with grey but he
was just as handsome as I remembered. 

The woman
looked up and smiled at me.  Both of them
nodded and then the man took the hand of the woman beside him and they both
turned away.

“Wait!” I
cried.

They
stepped into the shadow of the tree and vanished.  Rushing forward, I called out but, like a
candle that had been recently snuffed out, only the warm scent of jasmine and
sandalwood remained behind and even that was quickly lost in the breeze.  I circled the tree frantically and then
crouched in front of my son. 

“Anik,
honey, what did the nice lady and the man want? 
Did they say anything?”

He
nodded. 

“What was
it?  Tell me, mere jaan.”

“They
said happy birthday.”

“Anything
else?”

He shook
his head. “They gave me a present.”

“They
did?  Show me.”

He dug in
the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a carved rectangular object.  The sun glinted off the ivory stone and lit
the orange and gold striations running throughout.  He handed it to me and asked if he could go
swing.  I nodded absently and he ran
off.  My daughter held out her chubby
hand and said, “Pretty!”

“Yes,” I
whispered as I wiped away a tear.  “It’s
pretty.”

With a
final glance at the tree, I headed back to the party.  Ren had just arrived and came towards
me.  He saw my expression and knew
immediately that something was wrong. 
Little Kamala lifted her hands up to Ren.

“Hello,
my priya,” he said as he kissed her forehead and took her from me, “Why is
mommy sad?” he asked.

I dashed
my fist over my cheek and explained, “Anik had two special visitors come to
wish him a happy birthday.  They left him
a present.”

Ren
nodded, waiting for me to continue but my throat closed up so instead I took
his hand and placed the carved rectangular stone in his hand.  Ren sucked in a breath. 

“Pretty!”
Kamala said again and stretched out her little fingers to trace the lotus
flower and the carved words on the Seal of the Rajaram Empire.

It had
been lost for years.  No one knew where
Mr. Kadam had stored it but here it was delivered to us again by our brother
and his wife.  As my daughter touched the
words engraved on the side I knew that the Seal had never been truly lost.  It had been guarded for centuries by the true
Father of the House of Rajaram—our beloved brother, our loyal friend, and our
forefather—a man who was the embodiment of what the Seal represented.

 

Viveka—Wisdom

Jagarana—Vigilance

Vira—Bravery

Anukampa—Compassion

 

Ren, who
had been clutching the stone with a shaking hand, smiled at his daughter and
looped the Seal of the Empire around his neck.

He kissed
me gently and spoke gaily as if addressing our little girl, but he kept his
eyes on me. “We have a celebration to attend to, don’t we?”

I nodded
and squeezed his hand.

Clearing
my throat, I called out, “Okay, everybody! 
It’s time to cut the cake!”

 

Awesome, right? Now that you've enjoyed Colleen's alternate ending, don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Colleen, 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 blue team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize.

 

Another Giveaway!
In addition to the YASH grand prize, you can also enter another giveway on this site for a signed copy of TORN, a custom bracelet, a swag pack -- AND a coverflat of DISSONANCE, my upcoming novel. The cover reveal for DISSONANCE is elsewhere on the hunt, and it is even more gorgeous in person, I promise. You can enter using the rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway is open internationally, and I will verify all points before announcing a winner.

Just to be clear: you don't need to do every option to enter the giveaway -- additional points mean additional chances to win, but just leaving a comment is fine!
a Rafflecopter giveaway




To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, Kate Evangelista, author of TASTE! Good luck, and happy hunting!

Shiny Things On The YA Scavenger Hunt!

Three reasons I am over the moon right now:

Last week's phone call!


Today is the last day of Spring Break. Tomorrow, all three of my darling children will be back in school and I can GET. STUFF. DONE.
On April 4th, the Spring 2013 YA Scavenger Hunt begins! I've participated in the hunt several times, and this time out, I have something shiny to show you.

Literally shiny.

It's the cover reveal of DISSONANCE! And it is gorgeous! The incredibly talented Lizzy Bromley, who designed the covers for WITHER, LEVEL 2, and LINKED, worked her magic on my book. I gasped when I saw it, in the best possible way, and I can't wait to share it with you.

 

This year's hunt will begin at NOON PACIFIC TIME on APRIL 4th, 2013 and end at NOON PACIFIC TIME on APRIL 7th, 2013. We'll announce the winner on April 10th.

If you haven't participated in the hunt before, it's simple: start here, or at any of the participating authors' sites, or at the YASH Homepage. At each stop on the hunt, you'll find exclusive bonus content from participating authors and a clue, plus the chance to win a signed book from every author on that team! (I'm Blue Team, but you can also participate in the Red Team's hunt, too. Many authors will be hosting individual giveaways, too.)

I'll be giving away a copy of TORN and a custom necklace, so stock up on snacks and meet me back here on Thursday at noon PST!

 

 

 

From the Department of Exciting News: RITA Nomination!

I am too excited to type properly and have promised my children a celebratory breakfast, but wanted to share the exciting news here!

BOUND is a Romance Writers of America RITA Finalist!

The RITA is, no lie, the Oscar of RWA. And I am so blown away by the honor I can't even think straight. But to refresh your memory about what the Golden Heart/RITA ceremony is like, click here to take a trip down memory lane.

And now, to celebrate with my ever-patient children.

Places I Will Be This Week:

My desk, revising DISSONANCE, drinking lots of coffee.
Parent-Child Night at Big Marshmallow's school. I have been informed that I will "cry tears of joy" during the big finale. This is probably true.
This Wednesday, I'll be at Anderson's Bookshop for the THREERIFFIC AUTHOR NIGHT!  Jenn Rush is coming into town to celebrate the release of the amazing ALTERED, Julie Cross will be celebrating the release of VORTEX, the second book in her time-travel TEMPEST series, and I will be signing the TORN trilogy and (maybe) answering some questions about DISSONANCE. Jenn and Julie are both fabulous, funny women and I think it's really going to be a great time, so feel free to come by. If you can't make it, you can still get a signed copy by ordering from Andersons using the link above. I am fairly certain there will be lots of swag, too.


Saturday, I'll be at Anderson's Children's Literature Breakfast. This is kind of mind-blowing, guys. The lineup of speakers includes Amy Krause Rosenthal, who wrote our beloved LITTLE PEA, and BLUE FREAKING BALLIETT, who wrote CHASING VERMEER and its companions, THE WRIGHT THREE and THE CALDER GAME, and who has a new release (HOLD FAST) coming out. Every time I feel a little grumpy about writing in my laundry room, I remind myself that if it is good enough for BLUE BALLIETT, it is good enough for me. Anyway, I will be there, signing books and chatting and drinking coffee, but mostly I will be stalking BLUE BALLIETT. You do need a ticket to get in, and please note that the breakfast is being held off-site, not at Anderson's Naperville location.

(Let us take a moment to talk about the delight that is Anderson's Bookshop. It's a beautiful store, the people who work there genuniely love books and readers and authors, and every signing, whether as an author or a squeeing fangirl has been thougtfully and efficiently handled. The quality and variety of authors who hold events there is staggering. There are no indie bookstores near my house, which breaks my heart, but Anderson's is well worth the drive. It's one of those places where you walk in and immediately think, "These are my people." If you can get there, you should, even if it's just on a random Sunday to browse. You won't regret it.)
In the kitchen, brewing another pot of coffee to drink while I do more revisions on DISSONANCE. (This is my way of saying that things here on Ye Olde Blogge will be pretty quiet for the rest of the month, though I will probably pop in and ask you to help me choose a new author photo soon. I promise to be much more entertaining in March.) If you're curious about where I've been, the best thing to do is head over to my friend Doug Mack's blog, Five Bad Ideas, where he will tell you all about the cruise we taught on last December. He's funnier and posting more regularly than I am, too.   While you're at it, read his book -- EUROPE ON FIVE WRONG TURNS A DAY, which made me laugh so hard I kept waking up my husband. 

I'll be back eventually with author pics and other shenanigans.

 

 

 

Five Fast Things

I have a ton of things to do today, and so have instituted an Ann-and-Kay style lightning-round policy of blogging --  fifteen minutes and then I'm off like a prom dress. Ready, steady, go.

 

Not only will I be at Story Studio on February 5th, I'll also be signing at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville on February 13th with my beloved Jenn Rush and Julie Cross, to celebrate the releases of their respective -- and awesome -- new books, ALTERED and VORTEX. Come see us! We will probably be inappropriate. (More info to come.)
We are taking the kids to Disney next week, which means I will be gone. It also means one of my kids will miss an academic competition and the other will miss a lip syncing contest and judging from their reactions, this makes me the worst mother in the world. Because I am taking them to Disney. I don't even, people. I DON'T EVEN.
More and more, I am convinced that reading the comments section of my local online newspaper is a terrible idea, and yet I cannot seem to stop, as it is the only way I can get community news when I am on deadline and locked in my basement. My entire social media philosophy pretty much boils down to, "Don't be a jackass," so this is really baffling to me. Why so much jackassery, hometown?
I am on deadline, which means meals around here are pretty much apples + peanut butter or frozen pizza for the kids, and hummus on pita for me. Except that we are out of pita. It also means my house is a disaster. When I turn in this round of DISSONANCE, though, I have every intention of applying Apartment Therapy's 30-day January Cure, even if it isn't January. I've been saving their daily emails in a folder, so that the day after I send off the book, I can hire a backhoe and restore some order around here.
Both of my children have recently purchased a game called Minecraft for their electronic devices. I've heard people raving about it, but I have not a clue what one is supposed to do? Mine things? Craft things? Craft mines? Mine the crafting closet? Most of its supporters are either smart or have smart kids or both, so I'm not too worried, but is there anything I should know?

Okay, my timer just went off, which means it is time to start MacFreedom. xoxo

I am blushing just thinking about it.

Popping in quickly to let you know that I will be participating in Story Studio's "Scandal, Seduction, and Romance" reading on February 5th with several other Chicago-area authors. Not only will you get to see how red I turn while reading the kissy bits of my books OUT LOUD, but you'll get to hear about some of the classes StoryStudio offers -- and check out their North Shore Studio, which you can rent as space for a writer's retreat. (So pretty!)

I'll be reading from the Torn trilogy, but if you ask nicely, I might tell you a bit more about Dissonance, too.

Also, there will be chocolate. Just sayin'.

Here are the details -- but please note that the event is intended for ages 18 and up.

What: StoryStudio's Scandal, Seduction and Romance Reading

When: February 5th, 7pm

Where: StoryStudio North, 723 Elm Street, Suite 26, Winnekta, IL

Why: Because the kissy bits are always the best parts.

Updated to add: It's FREE!

Click here for more information.

See you there!

Dear Enrichment Voyagers,

Note: This letter is, as you might have guessed, intended for the people who attended my workshops on the Winter 2012 Enrichment Voyage. But you're welcome to read on even if you weren't there and want to know about some of my favorite books/websites/resources for writing.)

Welcome home! By now you’ve probably unpacked and done a few
million loads of laundry, and made some resolutions for 2013. (Remember: it is
good to do something that scares you.)

Just in case your goals for the new year are writing
related, here are links to some of the books and authors I mentioned during my
workshops. Many of them were mentioned more than once, so the links are
arranged by topic:

Craft and Structure:

Debra Dixon’s Goal Motivation Conflict (www.debradixon.com)
Remember, don’t buy this on Amazon – the price is
hyperinflated. Go here instead.


Many writing books will talk to you about three-act
structure, but I tend to rely more on the articles at Michael Hague’s Story
Mastery, especially this one.


Blake Snyder’s Save
the Cat: This is the book my husband constantly steals from me; I’ve also
loaned it out to fellow writers countless times. It’s great for plotters.There's also a ton of information at www.blakesnyder.com.
Here’s a popular
blog post from Rachel Aaron on how to use plotting techniques to up your daily wordcount.
Jennifer Crusie is a
brilliant author with all sorts of advice and techniques on her blog. It’s a
great resource for pantsers. www.arghink.com



Donald Maass’s
Writing the Breakout Novel comes in two formats: regular book and
fill-in-the-blank workbook. I have both, because it’s just that good.
Cheryl Klein’s Second Sight: An Editor's Talks on Writing, Revising, and Publishing for Children and Young Adults is a great read when you’re made
it through your first draft and you’re getting ready to revise. Tons of examples! You should also check out her blog, which is useful for writers of all genres and age levels.
Susan Dennard’s website has a ridiculous number of helpful articles about the craft and
business of writing. She’s also an incredible author and delightful person.

Tools of the Trade:

Microsoft
Word is the industry standard, but I’m guessing you can find it on your own.

Scrivener
(for Mac and PC) is what I compose all of my projects in. It's flexible and allows me to keep all of my notes/outlines/research/deleted scenes/etc in one place. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It's a very powerful program, so you should also check out Gwen
Hernandez's Scrivener for Dummies.

MacFreedom
(for Mac and PC) As we discussed, I would get nothing done without this program, which turns
off the internet for pre-specified periods of time.

Write
or Die (Mac, PC, iPad, Web-based) I am too terrified to use this software, but many writers I know and respect absolutely swear by it. (It's the one that erases your words if you don't keep typing.)

Querying/Looking for Agents

Publishers Marketplace
Querytracker.net
Absolutewrite.com
Preditors and Editors
Queryshark and Janet Reid's blog are both excellent sources of advice for querying and the agent search

�  Remember: Always
double-check an agency’s website for their specific submission guidelines – and
FOLLOW THEM.

 

There you go, guys – all the resources I mentioned in class, plus a
few more I remembered while I was sitting in the Guayaquil airport. If you’ve
got more questions, the best place to get them answered is over at my tumblr. (You don't even have to join -- just ask anonymously!)

Thanks for making my big adventure so much fun – I couldn’t
have asked for better people to cross the equator with. Now: Butt in chair,
hands on keyboard, and keep me posted.

xoxoxo

Erica