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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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See all 26 answers from Chelsea Cain…

Combine Editions
Chelsea Cain’s books

Average rating: 3.96 · 142,250 ratings · 14,014 reviews · 88 distinct works • Similar authors

	Heartsick (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell, #1) 3.93 avg rating — 40,504 ratings — published 2007 — 82 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 — 19,664 ratings — published 2008	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) 4.04 avg rating — 15,137 ratings — published 2009 — 40 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 Chronology of Water by Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author) (Introduction), Lidia Yuknavitch (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 11,940 ratings — published 2011 — 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
	Kill You Twice (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell, #5) 4.15 avg rating — 11,940 ratings — published 2012 — 23 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) 3.89 avg rating — 11,510 ratings — published 2011 — 32 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) 3.79 avg rating — 10,089 ratings — published 2014 — 42 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) 4.02 avg rating — 8,947 ratings — published 2013 — 21 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) 4.16 avg rating — 3,521 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) 3.90 avg rating — 2,539 ratings — published 2019 — 5 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…

98 posts
Chelsea Cain's Blog

I Don't Want to Lose

I don't want to lose a single thread

from the intricate brocade of this happiness.

I want to remember everything.

Which is why I'm lying awake, sleepy

but not sleepy enough to give up.

Just now, a moment from years ago:

the early morning light, the drift, sweet

gesture of your hand

reaching for me.

View more on Chelsea Cain's website »

10 likes · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on January 31, 2023 20:47

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Series by Chelsea Cain

Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell (6 books)
by

Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author)

4.00 avg rating — 107,869 ratings

Kick Lannigan (2 books)
by

Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author)

3.79 avg rating — 10,129 ratings

Mockingbird (Single Issues) (8 books)
by

Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author),

Kate Niemczyk (Illustrator),

Joëlle Jones (Illustrator)

4.10 avg rating — 6,629 ratings

Mockingbird (2016) (2 books)
by

Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author) (Text),

Kate Niemczyk (Illustrations)

4.07 avg rating — 5,651 ratings

Man-Eaters (12 books)
by

Chelsea Cain (Goodreads Author),

Kate Niemczyk (Illustrator),

Lia Miternique (Illustrator)

3.81 avg rating — 5,872 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...

Chelsea is Currently Reading

Chelsea Cain is currently reading

Saga, Volume 1

by Brian K. Vaughan (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jun 18, 2014 11:19PM

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Chelsea’s Recent Updates

Chelsea Cain wrote a new blog post I Don't Want to Lose I don't want to lose a single threadfrom the intricate brocade of this happiness.I want to remember everything.Which is why I'm lying awake, sleepybut Read more of this blog post »
Feb 01, 2023 02:13PM · 10 likes · like

More of Chelsea's books…

Quotes by Chelsea Cain (?)

“Our relationship is complicated by the fact that I am emotionally retarded.”
― Chelsea Cain, Heartsick

57 likes

“Something about the way she moves through the world does not lend itself to the care of fragile objects.”
― Chelsea Cain, Heartsick

55 likes

“Ugly people kill people all the time. But when pretty people did, it got attention.”
― Chelsea Cain, Kill You Twice

tags: journalists, serial-killers, suspense

33 likes

See all Chelsea Cain's quotes »

Polls

December 2013/January 2014 Group Read

Tess Gerritsen

16 votes, 5.7%

David Baldacci

13 votes, 4.6%

Lee Child

9 votes, 3.2%

Val McDermid

8 votes, 2.8%

Arthur Conan Doyle

8 votes, 2.8%

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

8 votes, 2.8%

Kathy Reichs

7 votes, 2.5%

Dean Koontz

7 votes, 2.5%

Harlan Coben

7 votes, 2.5%

Mary Higgins Clark

6 votes, 2.1%

Arnaldur Indriðason

6 votes, 2.1%

Lisa Gardner

6 votes, 2.1%

Neil Gaiman

6 votes, 2.1%

Raymond Chandler

5 votes, 1.8%

Charles Todd

5 votes, 1.8%

Lawrence Block

5 votes, 1.8%

Dashiell Hammett

5 votes, 1.8%

John Grisham

5 votes, 1.8%

Dick Francis

5 votes, 1.8%

Louise Penny

5 votes, 1.8%

Robert Crais

5 votes, 1.8%

Clive Cussler

4 votes, 1.4%

J.D. Robb

4 votes, 1.4%

John D. MacDonald

4 votes, 1.4%

John Connolly

4 votes, 1.4%

Tana French

4 votes, 1.4%

Chelsea Cain

4 votes, 1.4%

Denise Mina

4 votes, 1.4%

Rita Mae Brown

4 votes, 1.4%

P.D. James

4 votes, 1.4%

Alan Furst

4 votes, 1.4%

James M. Cain

4 votes, 1.4%

John Sandford

3 votes, 1.1%

Ann Cleeves

3 votes, 1.1%

Ruth Rendell

3 votes, 1.1%

C.J. Sansom

3 votes, 1.1%

Linwood Barclay

3 votes, 1.1%

Alan Bradley

3 votes, 1.1%

Nevada Barr

3 votes, 1.1%

Martin Cruz Smith

3 votes, 1.1%

T. Jefferson Parker

3 votes, 1.1%

Anne Perry

3 votes, 1.1%

Mark Billingham

3 votes, 1.1%

Ellis Peters

3 votes, 1.1%

Andrew Vachss

2 votes, 0.7%

James Patterson

2 votes, 0.7%

Jonathan Kellerman

2 votes, 0.7%

Martin Limón

2 votes, 0.7%

Margaret Millar

2 votes, 0.7%

Donald E. Westlake

2 votes, 0.7%

Victoria Thompson

2 votes, 0.7%

Michael Crichton

2 votes, 0.7%

Peter May

2 votes, 0.7%

Robin Cook

2 votes, 0.7%

Scott Turow

2 votes, 0.7%

Dana Stabenow

2 votes, 0.7%

Alistair MacLean

2 votes, 0.7%

Henning Mankell

2 votes, 0.7%

C.J. Box

2 votes, 0.7%

Laura Lippman

2 votes, 0.7%

Linda Fairstein

2 votes, 0.7%

John Mortimer

2 votes, 0.7%

Joy Fielding

1 vote, 0.4%

Michael Robotham

1 vote, 0.4%

James Lee Burke

1 vote, 0.4%

J.T. Ellison

1 vote, 0.4%

Colin Dexter

1 vote, 0.4%

Peter Robinson

1 vote, 0.4%

Gregg Olsen

1 vote, 0.4%

Ross Macdonald

1 vote, 0.4%

Sue Grafton

1 vote, 0.4%

J.P. Smith

1 vote, 0.4%

Julia Spencer-Fleming

1 vote, 0.4%

Patricia Cornwell

1 vote, 0.4%

Ed McBain

1 vote, 0.4%

Daniel Silva

1 vote, 0.4%

Leigh Russell

1 vote, 0.4%

Thomas Harris

1 vote, 0.4%

James Sallis

1 vote, 0.4%

Ngaio Marsh

1 vote, 0.4%

Paul Levine

1 vote, 0.4%

Karen Rose

0 votes, 0.0%

Andrew M. Greeley

0 votes, 0.0%

James Crumley

0 votes, 0.0%

Ian Hamilton

0 votes, 0.0%

C.E. Lawrence

0 votes, 0.0%

282 total votes

5 comments

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Mystery/Thriller ...: Bouchercon reports	55	158	Nov 05, 2009 04:48AM
Mystery Lovers!: New to mystery. Suggestions?	27	247	Nov 14, 2009 10:59AM

Chelsea’s Quotes

“You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”
― Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

tags: imagination

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