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Chelsea Cain

Goodreads Author

Born

in Iowa City, Iowa, The United States

Website

http://www.chelseacain.com

Twitter

ChelseaCain

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Biographies & Memoirs, Nonfiction

Member Since

July 2007

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/chelseacain

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Chelsea Cain is the New York Times bestselling author of the Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell thrillers Heartsick, Sweetheart, Evil at Heart, The Night Season, Kill You Twice, and Let Me Go. Her next book One Kick (August, 2014) will be the first in her Kick Lannigan thriller series. Her book Heartsick was named one of the best 100 thrillers ever written by NPR, and Heartsick and Sweetheart were named among Stephen King's Top Ten Books of the Year. Her books have been featured on HBO's True Blood and on ABC's Castle. Cain lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter. ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

OMG!!!!! Chelsea I can't believe that you are answer questions. So good!!!!!!!!!!!! I am currently reading your 6 book of Archie and Gretchen series and it will be a book seven?? And if yes,Can we have more Archie and Gretchen moments?? My favorite book of yours is Sweetheart,I love it!!!!!!!!!

Chelsea Cain That is the most exclamation points I've ever received in an email. Careful. You only get 1000 of those and they have to last your whole life. Pace yo…moreThat is the most exclamation points I've ever received in an email. Careful. You only get 1000 of those and they have to last your whole life. Pace yourself. You'll run out. I'm delighted that you love the books. And I promise that there will be more. I've got to get my new series through infancy so it doesn't get colicky and die. That's means ONE KICK this Aug, and another Kick Lannigan book after that, and then I will return to Archie and Gretchen, and after that I'll alternate between the two. But I know the wait will be aggravating. I have been in your shoes. I get murderous when my favorite authors have the audacity to write books that aren't the ones I want them to be writing. So I will come up with some short stories or chapters or maybe just 5000 words of full-on-x-rated-hot-serial-killer-on-cop action and then post these somewhere so readers can get their fix. Thanks for writing! It's my first Ask the Author question. I think it went pretty well, don't you? (less)

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Welcome to Goodreads! I'm a big fan of your books and talk about them often here in various groups. I saw over on Facebook that you said this was the new means by which you'd like to communicate with the public, but had yet to get many messages, so I thought I'd write you one, say I'm looking forward to One Kick, and ask if you had any advice for a lowly little independent author?

Chelsea Cain Thank you, Rick. It looks like you're figuring out the independent author thing pretty well on your own. Your average star rating is higher than mine!…moreThank you, Rick. It looks like you're figuring out the independent author thing pretty well on your own. Your average star rating is higher than mine! I think you should be giving me advice. But here goes: 1) Never have your book jacket printed on bookmarks. It doesn't sell books, and it's bad for the environment. 2) Write what makes you nervous - if the idea of other people reading a scene makes you hunch and cringe, you are doing it right. 3) Write what you want (don't fear the cliche; embrace it, stick your tongue down it's mouth, and make it yours ) 4) Find a writing group of people who make a living writing or are desperate too. No hobbyists. 5) When the group, or your editor or agent, gives you an edit suggestion and your face turns red and you get up and excuse yourself and cry in the bathroom for ten minutes, that means that they are right. Whenever I get an edit that makes me sure that the person offering it is drunk and hates me, it always ends up making the book better. But I never see it until I actually implement it. 6) Outline a chapter by writing the dialogue first. It provides an easy scaffolding. Then add layers. 7) An object accrues significance every time it's mentioned. On a related note, try to use the phrase "objective correlative" as much as possible in casual conversation. It will make you seem writerly. 8) Put characters in danger quickly. If someone's not chloroformed and stuck in a trunk by page 30, I'm tossing the book aside. 9) Don't promote like everyone else does - break the mold. Burn the podium and the folding chairs. Throw events in bars or in swimming pool or from the back of a food truck. If your publisher isn't reaching out to media, do it yourself. If you give them a fresh angle and a good photo op, you'll get coverage. 10) Introduce yourself to everyone you can (you're doing a really good job at that one). 11.) Go to conventions - spend the entire time in the hotel bar drinking with other writers. 12.) Don't be a dick. Mistakes will be made. Don't send angry emails. Send thank you notes, send flowers to bookstores, remember the birthdays of the people who work for/with you. 13.) Never pass a bookstore without going in and signing stock. 14.) Be shameless. Ask everyone you know to promote your book. Be specific. 15.) Use a Uniball Impact 207 as your signing pen. It's got great action, doesn't bleed or smear, and lasts a long time. Get a blue one. Blue ink stands out better, so potential readers see that it's signed when they're leafing through in the bookstore.
That is all I have, my friend. I'll see you at the hotel bar.
~c. (less)

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Rick Soper Awesome! Thank You so much for your advice! I love the cringe factor comment on writing, that makes me smile. As does the "drunk/hate" advice probably ...more
Jun 20, 2014 12:00PM

Meran I'm not a writer, but I read A LOT... And I enjoyed A LOT ( :) ) the advice you gave to Rick. It sure rings true! I have Sweetheat but haven't read it ...more
Aug 23, 2014 12:51AM

Martta Karol Chelsea, I just read your terrific--and spunky--advice to author, Rick Soper, and loved it. May I cut and paste to share it on a private Facebook page ...more
Jul 06, 2018 04:07PM

See all 26 answers from Chelsea Cain…

Combine Editions
Chelsea Cain’s books

Average rating: 3.96 · 133,873 ratings · 13,094 reviews · 51 distinct works • Similar authors

	Heartsick (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell, #1) 3.94 avg rating — 40,197 ratings — published 2007 — 71 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sweetheart (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell, #2) 4.05 avg rating — 18,549 ratings — published 2008 — 41 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Evil at Heart (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell, #3) 4.03 avg rating — 14,323 ratings — published 2009 — 34 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kill You Twice (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell, #5) 4.14 avg rating — 11,306 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Night Season (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell, #4) 3.88 avg rating — 10,832 ratings — published 2011 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	One Kick (Kick Lannigan, #1) 3.78 avg rating — 9,603 ratings — published 2014 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Let Me Go (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell, #6) 4.01 avg rating — 8,299 ratings — published 2013 — 18 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mockingbird, Vol. 1: I Can Explain by Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author), Kate Niemczyk (Illustrations) 4.17 avg rating — 3,277 ratings — published 2016 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Man-Eaters, Vol. 1 by Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author), Kate Niemczyk (Illustrator), Lia Miternique (Illustrator) 3.93 avg rating — 2,083 ratings — published 2019 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mockingbird, Vol. 2: My Feminist Agenda by Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author) (Text), Kate Niemczyk (Illustrations) 3.90 avg rating — 1,914 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Chelsea Cain…

87 posts
Chelsea Cain's Blog

I am not a lady.

I have never received as many emails addressed to “Ladies” than when I dipped my toes into comics. I made a really active conscious choice to work with an almost all female team (something that is, weirdly, rarely lauded or even recognized). There is a lot of back and forth in comics - internally - and externally. Editorial notes. Production notes. Emails from journalists and stores and blogs. Man

Series by Chelsea Cain

Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell (6 books)
by

Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author)

4.00 avg rating — 103,638 ratings

Kick Lannigan (2 books)
by

Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author)

3.78 avg rating — 9,634 ratings

Mockingbird (Single Issues) (8 books)
by

Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author),

Kate Niemczyk (Illustrator),

Joëlle Jones (Illustrator)

4.10 avg rating — 6,114 ratings

Mockingbird (2016) (2 books)
by

Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author) (Text),

Kate Niemczyk (Illustrations)

4.07 avg rating — 5,240 ratings

Man-Eaters (12 books)
by

Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author),

Kate Niemczyk (Illustrator),

Lia Miternique (Illustrator)

3.84 avg rating — 4,682 ratings

More series by Chelsea Cain…

If you love a page-turning mystery, you are in for a treat this month. We're seeing a great assortment of highly anticipated mysteries and...

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Chelsea is Currently Reading

Chelsea Cain is currently reading

Saga, Vol. 1

by Brian K. Vaughan (Goodreads Author)

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Jun 18, 2014 10:19AM

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Chelsea’s Recent Updates

Chelsea Cain wrote a new blog post I am not a lady. I have never received as many emails addressed to “Ladies” than when I dipped my toes into comics. I made a really active conscious choice to work wit Read more of this blog post »
Dec 17, 2020 12:14AM · 5 likes · like
Chelsea Cain wants to read Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere: An Illustrated Introduction by Adele Westbrook	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 23, 2015 08:38AM · 37 likes · like
Chelsea Cain answered Sarina Jean's question: Other than purchasing your books, how else can us die hard Chelsea fans support our favorite author? That is an excellent question. 1.) Post unapologetic and deeply sincere manifestos on your social networking sites recommending the book to all your friends. 2.) Review the book on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, every other place you can review books, etc. See Full Answer
Sep 01, 2014 06:49PM · 10 likes · like
Chelsea Cain wants to read The Empress Chronicles (The Empress Chronicles, #1) by Suzy Vitello (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 13, 2014 09:37AM · 1 like · like
Chelsea Cain rated a book liked it Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I love Susan Orlean and I think this was a fabulous topic for a book. Rin Tin TIn belonged more to my parents' (and grandparents') generation than to mine, but I remember seeing a few Rin Tin Tin movies as a kid and I certainly was aware of him growi ...more
Jul 19, 2014 10:44PM · 1 like · like · see review
Chelsea Cain wants to read Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 01, 2014 02:07PM · 1 like · like
Chelsea Cain and 1 other person liked Vicki’s status update Vicki started reading One Kick (Kick Lannigan, #1)
Jun 23, 2014 12:13AM
Chelsea Cain liked a quote “You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” ...more Mark Twain
Jun 21, 2014 10:02PM · 3 likes · like · more quotes by Mark Twain
Chelsea Cain rated a book it was amazing Veronica by Mary Gaitskill	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I could read this book again and again, just to bask in the language. The writer/psychiatrist Oliver Sacks talks about a patient he had, an artist who could look at the world and see red. Not the way that you and I can. For her, red would separate fr ...more
Jun 21, 2014 09:53PM · 6 likes · like · see review