Cat Winters's Blog, page 22

IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS in San Diego

Me, dressed for San Diego's Gaslight Gathering.I spent the past four days traveling with In the Shadow of Blackbirds in its San Diego setting. I met high school students, librarians, booksellers, and other readers and enjoyed every moment.

To fully immerse San Diego students into the novel's 1918 setting, I had them wearing flu masks and smelling a bag full of raw onions. I also ventured into the world of steampunk conventions at San Diego's Gaslight Gathering .

A huge thanks goes out to the fol...

The Latest News: YALSA Nomination and My San Diego Appearances

I was originally going to just make this post about my San Diego events, but I want to quickly add that I recently learned In the Shadow of Blackbirds received a nomination for the Young Adult Library Services Association's 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults ! I'm so honored to see my book listed with the works of amazing authors such as the über talented Ruta Sepetys !!!

And now for the news about my trip.

Tomorrow I'm recreating Mary Shelley Black's journey from Portland, OR, to San Diego, CA....

Blogger Love for IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS (Thank You, Bloggers!)

My lovely UK publicist put together this amazing compilation of In the Shadow of Blackbirds blogger reviews. Blogger love for this book has been incredible, and I'm extremely grateful for everyone who's been helping me spread the word about the novel.

BLOGGERS ♥ IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS!!
See below a list of quotes and links to full reviews that have hit the blogosphere so far . . . with many more still to come.
‘I don’t need to be a clairvoyant to see the future that lies ahead of Cat Winter...

Introducing THE CURE FOR DREAMING

I'm thrilled to announce that I sold my second novel, The Cure for Dreaming , to Maggie Lehrman at Amulet Books/ABRAMS ! Maggie is the same extraordinarily talented editor who helped me whip In the Shadow of Blackbirds into shape, and I'm ecstatic that I get another chance to work with her!

The book is slated to be published Fall 2014.

Here's the official announcement from Publishers Marketplace:

Author of IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS Cat Winters's THE CURE FOR DREAMING, where, at the turn of the...

Interview with Cover Photographer Symon Chow

Symon Chow and cover model Olive.My guest today is the talented Symon Chow , the photographer behind the In the Shadow of Blackbirds cover. Photography plays an enormous role in the plot of this novel, so I'm thrilled to feature someone who is both familiar with the art form and skilled at capturing the haunting look of the early-twentieth-century spirit photographs that are integral to this book.

Here is my interview with Symon.


Thank you so much for joining me today, Symon! As soon as my edito...

Second Starred Review

I was thrilled and stunned when Publishers Weekly honored In the Shadow of Blackbirds with a starred review, so I was doubly amazed when a second such review showed up, this time from Booklist:

★ “A scattering of period photos, including eerie examples of spirit photography, further the sense of time and place, but the main event here is Winters’s unconventional and unflinching look at one of the darkest patches of American history. More than anything, this is a story of the breaking point bet...

Reading and Signing at St. Johns Booksellers

Portland, Oregon, was just ranked the second nerdiest city in the U.S. , which is probably why I feel so at home here. "People per bookstore" was one of the criteria for receiving this honor, and without a doubt we Northwestern Oregonians love our books.

As further proof of the local literary love, I'm heading into my second weekend of sharing In the Shadow of Blackbirds in a Portland-area bookstore.

Here's where you'll be able to find me:
Reading & Signing St. Johns Booksellers 8622 N. Lombard...

Launch Party Recap

On Saturday, April 6, 2013, Powell's Books in Beaverton, Oregon, hosted my In the Shadow of Blackbirds launch party. Local authors, bloggers, friends, and even out-of-state family members  joined me in the celebrations. 

Here's a pictorial tour of the afternoon:

In the Shadow of Blackbirds, ready to be sold before the event. Receiving moral support from my long-time friend Cindy, who drove down from Washington state.
Blackbird and clock gear cupcakes!
Introducing myself and the book to...

Friday Updates: Launch Party, ebook, & the Latest Giveaways

My launch party for In the Shadow of Blackbirds will be held tomorrow, Saturday, April 6, 4:00 pm, at Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing in Beaverton, Oregon! If you live in the area and can make it, I'd love to see you there. If you can't make it, you can still pre-order a signed copy , which Powell's will ship to you after the event.

Here's a photo of the novel, waiting on the Upcoming Events shelf at Powell's. I'm a huge fan of Karen Russell's, so I'm thrilled to see In the Shadow of Bla...

Ebook & B&N Updates...and My Latest Blog Stops

The ebook edition of In the Shadow of Blackbirds got delayed, but I've just been informed it's now available on Kindle ! My publisher assured me other ebook versions will likely be available at some point today. Please check back here for updates.

Also, there's been a misshelving problem at some Barnes & Noble stores, but I've been assured that this issue is getting resolved, too. If you're looking for In the Shadow of Blackbirds at a Barnes & Noble and can't find it in the YA section,...