L.J. Smith's Blog, page 11

What Do You Care What Others Think About Your Story?

Here's my answer to a reader who sounded a bit sad.

I'm so happy that you decided to write to me, and that my books actually inspired you to write a story. As for your question about whether you should be concerned about "nobody seeming to be interested in the stuff you write about" and should you care--the answer is . . . NO! I'd make that bigger, but I think you get the idea.

I once made a picture book for my niece who was worried about turning her short story into a contest. The book was cal...

The Forbidden Game Ring Winners

The Forbidden Game Ring winners were randomly picked today after the cut-off date of August 1. I will post their names and comments after they have answered the emails informing them of their prizes. Thanks to all who entered the contest!

The Twin Fox Ring and Book Winners

The Twin Fox Ring and Book winners have been sent their prizes. If you received an email from me that said you were a winner and requested your address, you should get your prize soon. If two weeks pass (three for those in Canada, and four for those out of the USA) and you do not get your prize, please email me at info@ljanesmith.net with "LOST BOOK?" in the Subject field of your email. Then I'll check the list of winners and send you a new book. The ring was won by Victoria M. of Virgini...

How to Get Your Book Published

I get so many emails asking me how to get a book published that I've decided to blog it, once and for all.

First of all, is your book really finished? Or is it a rough draft or missing any chapters or reading through and editing? The first thing is to have a finished book. For new writers, that's imperative.

Second, you should be able to find books at any bookstore or on Amazon, such as the Writer's Market or Writer's Guide, that list agents who send books to publishers. Or do it the easy way a...

Did I Just Learn How to Paste?

You know, one of the things that has always bothered me about blogger is that I couldn't (apparently) just paste things in. Today after being assured by a computer guru that there must be a way, I tried pasting on the "edit html" side and what do you know--it pasted. So the below is simply a Q and A from an Italian group. I wonder if it will work?

I also wonder where my grand prize winner from the Shadow Souls contest is. I've been contacted by most of the book winners by not by the winner...

The Shadow Souls Twin Fox Ring Contest and Lots More

The Shadow Souls' Twin Fox ring contest is over. The winners have been notified, although a few of the book winners and the Grand Prize Winner (the one who gets the actual ring and lovely jewelry box to put it in have not yet returned my emails.

It was an exciting contest, although it almost overwhelmed my Outlook Express program. I got thousands upon thousands of entries from all over the world. That's going to mean some expensive shipping for me to get the books to some of the winners, bu...

Contest for Forbidden Game, out June 8

The Forbidden Game comes out on Tuesday, June 8, and I might as well set down the rules here. (By the way you can order the gorgeous new book on Amazon, where the rules are set out in a more legible format.The contest is for one solid 14-carat gold ring, bought for $500, but now listed at almost $700--the price of gold may have gone up. There are also two silver rings to be won.All three are poesy rings like the one in the book, which means that inside in beautiful calligraphy is inscribed...

A New Quote I Like

Be kind, for everyone you meet is facing a great battle.Isn't that a good one? I was surprised I hadn't heard it before when my friend Toni said it. She said it was attributed to Plato, which would make sense, but then a scholarly gentleman said it was really Philo (say it Hee-lo) and Toni said well, that was what she had first heard but then someone had said it was Plato.On the Internet, it says it is attributed to both Plato and Philo but not in Philo's extant works.I think all the argument...

This is just a test . . .

This is just a test of my blog, which I've never been able to get to so easily before...an obvious herald of disaster. If anyone wants to know what I've been doing I'll put it in a new blog posting . . . if this works . . . if I can get back.In case not: Forbidden Game comes out in June.After that, a new Vampire Diaries trilogy . . .And finally, finally then Strange Fate.I'm doing triffic, except that I have to write too much every day. A little less would be perfect.But who has perfect?img

All hail Sabrina Weiss! MTV Crush I love you!

Somewhere over the rainbow . . .lies this article that should be linked to the title. In it, the nicest, sweetest bluebird--I mean reporter, has written such a lovely insightful article about my books that I can't stand for anyone to miss it. I mean, she got the kick-ass female protagonists, she got the developing world in Night World, she got everything right. It's really the best and cleverest thing that's been written about my books, so please take a look . . . the link is also on...