Elizabeth Miles's Blog, page 5

ANNOUNCING THE FREAKY FURY EXTRAVAGANZA (or something)

You guys! I recorded this video to give you the heads up about something super-cool. If I look kind of stoic, it's because I was trying to break the pattern of ruined takes that involved me laughing hysterically or gesticulating so wildly that I could have taken flight. You'll see what I mean toward the end.



Please spread the word!

xo-E

LEILA SALES ON WRITING, ROAD TRIPS, AND BEING FUNNY (+ GIVEAWAY!!!)

Leila Sales' debut novel, MOSTLY GOOD GIRLS, made me laugh out loud. Her second book, PAST PERFECT, comes out next week!! I am really looking forward to reading it (especially now that I've met Leila in person and know that she is wonderful and hilarious in real life as well as on the page).
I interviewed Leila about what it takes to be so gosh-darn amusing, her writing process, and what she does in her free time. Enjoy!
[image error]Here is a picture of me (third from left, hiding deer) and Leila (second...

TINY BRONTE BOOKS!

Um, dying (thanks Hairpin!):


Whatever, just some tiny books made by Bronte siblings. Do you have any idea how much I wish I had been alive during this time period? I don't mind risking Victorian maladies like scarlet fever or cholera; I don't even mind occasionally fainting because my corset is too tight. Just give me the moors and a ball with intricate fan-language!!

Is there a time period you yearn to visit?

BECCA FITZPATRICK on GRUELING SECOND BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND MAINE

Hi everybody!
I'm back from the Anderson's YA Lit conference in Naperville, Illinois, newly inspired by all the fabulous people I encountered there. (Expect to hear more about many of them in coming posts.) Also, there was a TV in the bathroom mirror. UM WHAT?
Anyway, today marks one week until I leave for southern California, where I will be doing book-signings and school visits with the wonderful and amazing BECCA FITZPATRICK and MOIRA YOUNG. I am so, so, so excited.
In honor of the pending t...

BOOK BLOGGER LOVE

So, last week I put out a call on Twitter: "Working on a piece about YA book bloggers for my day job - DM or email me if you have time for a short interview"

The response was incredible - more than a dozen people contacted me, and all in, like, half an hour. Wow! Bloggers rule! The problem with such volume of interest, of course, is that I didn't have enough room to include everyone's thoughts in the article (for which I was allotted only about 700 words). Jen (Lost in the Library), Bethany (...

New feature on the About Me page!

FYI: I added a little multimedia surprise to the About Me page. Check it out!

Talking to Michelle Hodkin about staying sane and La Vie Boheme

I recently read (okay, devoured) Michelle Hodkin's debut release, THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER, another fall Simon & Schuster title. As you probably already know, it's a psychological thriller with a truly swoon-worthy leading man (hi Noah, call me!), great dialogue, and an intricate plot. Its author, Ms Hodkin (who I will get to meet in person this weekend, hooray!), is lovely. She's got less than a week to go before the floodgates really open, and I know she will handle the well-deserved...

SONDHEIM CLIPS!

I am *so* excited. I have a ticket to see Stephen Sondheim speak TONIGHT at Bowdoin College. I'm going to be in the same room as Stephen Sondheim.

For those who don't know, Sondheim is one of the most prolific and influential musical theater artists EVER. A lyricist and composer, he helped create some of my (and your?) most favorite shows - including West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Company, and Into the Woods.

To quell my ridiculous anticipation, I'm watching some of my favorite Sondheim clips. ...

Read for Relief auction

When Hurricane Irene blasted along the East Coast, we were expecting much more of a to-do up here in Maine. We were hardly affected, but I know that friends, relatives, and colleagues in other areas are still dealing with very real ramifications from that Lady Storm.

That's why I'm participating in the Read for Relief auction, the proceeds of which will go to Red Cross operations in affected areas. I'm offering a 20-30 page manuscript critique in which I will employ the skills imparted to me b...

Inside scoop on the FURY cover!

I have a special treat for you guys today! 
I asked Simon Pulse editor Jen Klonsky and S&S associate art director Jessica Handelman to spill a little bit about what went into creating the (beautiful, eye-catching, much-talked-about) Fury cover. They were generous enough to offer some real behind-the-scenes details, and I thought everyone might be interested to learn more about this part of the publishing process. I know I was.
A basic summary, I've surmised, was that landing on the perfect...