Marissa Burt's Blog, page 3

New Website!

Thanks to my lovely friend Christy Goodman, I now have an official fancypants author website.

You can check it out here: www.marissaburt.com

Note the magical book in the header.  Not only does Sam the cat make a cameo appearance, the pages are made from the text of Spencer's Faerie Queen.  How perfect is that?  Three cheers for Christy!

For a long time, I've been using my blog here as an stand-in website.  Now that I have an official author website, maybe I'll be inspired to return to actual blogging!  (Hey, it could happen.  ;)

M

YAmazing Race!

The YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes is now over!  Stay tuned for announcements about the winners over at The Apocalypsies Blog!  Thanks so much for playing!

***

(I would hand you a bottle of water to keep you energized, but this is the internet, so here's a pint of virtual cookie-dough ice-cream instead.)

Okay.  Pit stop over.  On to STORYBOUND.  Have a good look at the gorgeous cover and read through the summary:

In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them.

In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story.

But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una's new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself….

With the timeless appeal of books like A Wrinkle in Time and the breathtaking action of Inkheart, Storybound has all the makings of a new classic. Brimming with fantastical creatures, magical adventure, and heart-stopping twists, Storybound will leave readers wishing they too could jump through the pages into this enchanting fairy-tale world.

Ready to move on?  Click here to run over to Kathleen Peacock, author of HEMLOCK's site!  Good luck!

Book Trailers

Hi!  I'm over at Project Mayhem today, where we're talking about book trailers.  Come share your favorites!

Author Interview: Jen K Blom

I am thrilled to have author Jen K. Blom here to tell us a little about her upcoming book.  And she didn't just come alone.  Her main character, Princess, joins us later, so read on for a middle-grade book I'm so excited to read!

Welcome to the POSSUMS ARE AWESOME blog tour for the middle-grade book, POSSUM SUMMER, coming out in March! (Have you preordered yet?)

Super mom Marissa, who has a wonderful MG book coming out HERSELF soon, (!) was kind enough to host a spot on my tour. She is full of sugar and sparkles, and so I brought the Salty Kid to help balance out Marissa's pure awesomeness!
First off, a little about the book:

a lonely kid.

an orphaned baby possum.

a dad that says no way.

how do you keep that kind of secret?



and what happens when you're found out?

 

Here we go!
 
MB: What accompanies your writing process?



JKB: Oh, cool question! I had to sit and think about this. For awhile I thought setting – I do the best writing when I only have a set amount of time, like on the train, or when the baby is sleeping.
But then I realized Dr Pepper is always there. I love Dr Pepper. One book I shall definitely list Dr Pepper in the acknowledgements. So sugary AND it fights stress, too!
 

MB: I so hear you about writing better when pressed for time.  Who needs a muse?  A frazzled mom with 45 minutes while baby is napping will do just as well.  And, thank you very much, I want a Dr. Pepper RIGHT NOW.
 
What was your favorite book when you were P's age? Why?

JKB: *in awe* Well. My favorite horse book was Farley's FURY books. I count horse books as separate because I campaigned and CAMPAIGNED to get my own horse, it seems like forever and forever! I eventually prevailed, but didn't *own* my first horse until I was in college. There is a distinct difference between owning and just having one, too!
My favorite regular book was "Summer of the Monkeys". I read Rawl's other book (Where the Red Fern Grows) only one time, because it struck me so deeply. I was all sorts of traumatized. But I particularly loved his description and the setting. I could envision going down to the bottoms with Jay Berry and his dog.
He was one of my closest friends, that character.




MB: Oh, WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS.  I remember sneaking it into bed to read with a flashlight and sobbing later that night.  But I haven't read the FURY books or SUMMER OF THE MONKEYS, so thanks for the recommendations!
 
What was the most fun scene to writ e in the book? Why?

JKB: I think probably this one scene … imagine rabies traveling through the area … a cow that *might* have it … a kid that uses the wrong sorts of leaves after he goes to the bathroom … and a girl that has some rope and one very scared possum. It was a great scene to write! I still giggle when I read it.
Princess: It was funny.
JKB: You be nice, Miss P.
 
P: When am I not nice? When? Just because Mart — *pauses* That's what I thought! I am nice all the time! Now, Miss Marissa who has the prettiest name ever (can you imagine a name like PRINCESS? What was my mama thinking?) what do you like to eat?



MB: So we're going from rabies and bathroom leaves (I admit, I'm intrigued) to favorite foods?  I'm in.  I'd have to say lasagna. Yum!
 
P: FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY a lady that likes lasagna! You wouldn't believe the pure amounts of people that like drinks, or chocolates, or something! YAY for lasagna! I'm so glad! What do you like to do?



MB: Reading. Hands down. I'm a total book nerd.
 
P: Reading! I heard a lot of that. I like reading too, lots! But not on the innernet. Don't like that. What's really interesting about you?
MB: Hmmm.  I have long hair.  I think this might be from my little-girl admiration for Crystal Gayle, but mine only goest o my waist.
 
P: Wow! To your waist! Let me tell you, you better not go riding any donkeys with that long of hair! My donkey Jezebel would probably EAT it! But *quick look at Jen* I drew you as this:




P: An egret! When you said that about your hair I just thought that the egret is the best thing for you! Not that your hair is white, or that you have skinny legs with only three toes, but they are SO pretty, I just love them! Don't you?



**scuffle**
JKB: Marissa, you've been a dear! Thank you so much for your patience!

MB: I LOVE the drawing, Miss P!  Now I'll have to brave the internet and find out all I can about egrets.  I can't wait to meet you on the pages of POSSUM SUMMER. 
And thanks so much to Jen and Princess for joining us! 

Jen K. Blom writes about animals, the land, and kids, not necessarily in that order. Her debut, POSSUM SUMMER , is available March 2011.



Just the thing to give to a kid to start their summer of reading off right! (Available from your local indie , Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Borders , or Book Depository !)






Seen the book trailer yet?



Want more POSSUMS ARE AWESOME blog tour tidbits? Gohere and knock yourself out!

Author Websites?

I'm posting over at Project Mayhem today about author websites. What makes you visit one? Come join the conversation!

For the Love of Books

I don't know when my obsession with stories began, probably with the gripping plot of the first book I was allowed to bring home from kindergarten, TIN CAN SAM, but it was in full force by the time I reached middle school.

I remember spending most lunches hunched over the circular tables that were scattered around the cafeteria. If I try hard, I can bring to mind the distinct smell of my daily cup-o-noodle soup, but what I recall most clearly is the weight of a thick book in my hands and the way everything else faded into the background. It didn't end when lunch was over, either, as I can produce copies of several progress reports that cite my biggest shortcoming as a student as "reading novels during class."


Is there anything like being that lost in a good book? What is it about those story-worlds that can so captivate a reader? Even after devouring the final page, some of the best reads left me longing for more. A few rather emb arrassing examples:
1. While reading THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy for the first time, I insisted on wearing an old key ring on a chain around my neck for days on end. This resulted in an unpleasant rash, which I suppose was fitting for my misguided desire to bear the One Ring.
2. I paid the $25 lost book fee to keep the library copy of the out-of-print SOLO's JOURNEY (Hey! This was before the internet's magic!). Then, I proceeded to grow out my fingernails and file them to little points, so I could be more feline.

3. In other cat-book confessions, I greeted my cat with phrases from the dog-eared glossary in my copy of TAILCHASER'S SONG and did my level best to find a way to stalk about on all fours comfortably.

4. My long-suffering parents endured being called "Ma" and "Pa" for several weeks after I finished LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE. And they let me bake lots of biscuits, which somehow felt prairie-ish to me.

5. I wore long skirts, did my hair "up", and spent many hours prowling the suburban landscape looking for inspiration and pretending to belong in ANNE OF GREEN GABLES.
What about you? What books grab hold of your imagination like that? Make a clean confession of it. Come join the conversation over at Project Mayhem. No need to be shy! What embarrassing things did you do to be part of a story-world?

A New Title for UNA

I'm happy to announce that UNA officially has a new title.

So…coming in Winter, 2012…from HarperCollins Children's…

STORYBOUND

Setting the Setting

 
 
 
 
Do these pictures inspire you? 
I'm over at Project Mayhem today, and we're talking about writing good settings. 
Come join the conversation!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
**To see more of this fabulous decor, you can find the article on-line from House Beautiful.**