Jessica Therrien's Blog, page 15

Book 3 Questions & Answers

Now that I'm back I wanted to answer some of the questions I've been getting through email.

1.  When will book 3 be out?

I'm working on a specific release date with my Acorn Publishing team. We're narrowing in on the end of this year. Although I don't expect things to get delayed, you never know. I'll be announcing a specific release date shortly.

2. When will book 3 be out in France and Canada?

I wish I knew the answer to this. I do know that nothing will change with the French versions of the books. The covers will be the same, and they won't be pulled from the market while I re-release the English version. I'll be contacting the French publisher soon so I'll let you know.

3. How can I buy your book? I can't find it online...

Now that my books will be published by Acorn Publishing they've been removed from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I'll be doing a re-release of Oppression probably in September, followed by Uprising soon after. Then I'll launch the 3rd book along with a box set before the end of the year. Until then, some paperback copies are floating around in the book-o-sphere that are for sale. I'm not sure what the prices will be though. They are the last of the ZOVA Books edition. The new ones will have new covers and a new look.

4. Are you doing any book events?

As soon as my books are re-released I'll be signing up for whatever I can. If you know of any in the Los Angeles/Orange County area let me know. Traveling out of California will be hard with two little munchkins so I won't be attending anything too far away.


Oh, and if you're wondering how I'm managing to pull off a re-release of my book series while being Mommy to a 2-year-old and a newborn. It's not going as smoothly as I'd hoped. This about sums it up...


At least my life is the good kind of crazy :)
What is keeping you busy these days?

Baby News and Book News!

It's official. I'm the worst blogger on the planet. Ready for my list of excuses?

1. I had baby #2...we call him J.J. and he's been amazing so far. He's 5 weeks old, healthy, and happy :)


2. I have a 2-year-old who thinks he is 25. He keeps me busier than I could have ever imagined, but we have tons of fun.



...at least he's a good helper...













3. Here's the big BOOK NEWS!!!

I've decided to explore the world of self-publishing...WAIT, WHAT?!

It was a really tough decision, but after thinking it over for several months I've decided to leave ZOVA Books. Part of me is really sad to leave such a great group of people. They have done so much for me and have changed my books in wonderful ways. When it comes down to it, I just need to be in control. I want to be the one tracking sales, working with distributors, etc. Nobody tells you that after working years to make a manuscript perfect (as best you can) that you'll have to hand it over to a publisher and your 300 page "baby" will be completely out of your hands. More and more of my author friends have decided to self-publish and have had tons of success. I've heard nothing but great things from those who have taken that path. So here I go...

The way I've chosen to self-publish is a little different than most, and honestly it's all very new to me, so I'm not completely sure how it will work. My editors/writing partners/friends at Acorn Author Services and Publishing have decided to brand the work they do, meaning select authors they work with will be under their catalogue. Basically I'll get to slap their logo on the spine of my books but I'll still be the one publishing my books. It's the best of both worlds! I get the control, yet still get to have the cover appeal that comes with a publisher's logo.

Stay tuned for updates on book 3!! It will be released this year :)

What has kept you busy lately?

Back To School Giveaway

Welcome to the Back to School Giveaway hosted by the authors at Darkly Delicious YA.


Add great YA titles to your to be read list on Goodreads and enter to win an Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card so that you can purchase novels from your favorite authors.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Giver Movie

DUDE!! Has anyone seen it yet??? 

Conquering Writer's Block

I honestly don’t know a single author who hasn’t had writer’s block at least once in their career. Most of the time it’s a regular occurrence. For me it happens every novel, generally around the same point each time. I wish I had the recipe for some magical writing potion you could brew….wait….coffee anyone? For each author, breaking the block is different. So even if I did tell you to spin around twice and chug a Pepsi while holding your breath, chances are you’d just end up really dizzy and bloated.
What works for me is simple. I sit my butt down in front of the computer and force my fingers to type regardless of whether or not I like what I’m writing. Getting the content out is the hardest part. Like Anne Lamott says:
 

The first draft is the child's draft, where you let it all pour out and then let it romp all over the place, knowing that no one is going to see it and that you can shape it later. You just let this childlike part of you channel whatever voices and visions come through and onto the page. If one of the characters wants to say, "Well, so what, Mr. Poopy Pants?," you let her. No one is going to see it. 

Now, practically even better news…All good writers write them. This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts.

If you haven’t read her novel, Bird by Bird , you’re in for a treat (especially if you’re a writer). It’s titled based on a memory she has of her brother who waited until the last second to write an essay about birds when he was a child. Her father, an author, told him to take it bird by bird. This philosophy has helped me in writing every single sentence in my books. Some days I take it sentence by sentence. Others, page by page. Writing 300 pages seems so daunting, but if you take it “bird by bird” ….well, you end up with a book.
What helps you get through the process of writing?

First Lines or Last Lines

A lot of readers look for that first line. I’ve never been one of them. What I look for is the hook at the end of the chapter. So I guess you could say I’m kind of a sucker for last lines.
I think the TV addict in me has gotten sort of used to those cliffhanger endings. Remember LOST? After every episode my jaw would hang open for a solid minute. Are they really going to make me wait a week to find out what happens? Now shows like The Vampire Diaries do the same, which is something (in my opinion) that sets it apart from the book series it’s based on.
These days everyone wants everything to run at a faster pace…their phones, computers, and yes…their books. You have to admit, Wuthering Heights is a bit slow compared to The Hunger Games ;)
My point is (and again, in my opinion…) last lines are far more important than first lines. They make a book page-turning, and that’s what readers want.
Here are some last lines from my books and from two other popular YA books:

“'You’ve been hidden long enough,’ Dr. Nickel interrupted. ‘You have to face your future eventually, and it’s time to let the prophecy unfold. We need you.’”
 -Oppression, Jessica Therrien

“He looked at me, snapped his fingers, and flames shot up the trees. Everything was burning.
            I woke to the feeling of fire all around me.”
 -Uprising, Jessica Therrien

“At some point we folded into each other like flower petals pulling close together to endure a cold night.”
 -Uprising, Jessica Therrien

“Then, with a gasp I can’t contain, I shift my hand forward, and my blood sizzles on the coals.
            I am selfish. I am brave.”
 -Divergent, Veronica Roth

“About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him—and I didn’t know how potent that part might be—that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”
 -Twilight, Stephenie Meyer

What do you prefer? Suck-you-in first lines or page-turning last lines? 

Book 3 Is Done-ish

Yeah. Yeah....I know. I've been MIA for a while, BUT I have a great excuse. The first draft of Children of the Gods (Book 3) is done! It really has taken me a lot longer to write this book, but it might end up being worth the wait. I'm really excited about how my series ends. As of now it has a working title, but I'm not sure enough about it to share.

Right now I'm reading through what I have, tying things together and nit picking every little detail. After that I'll send it to my critique partners.

I wish I could give you a general idea about the time frame, but honestly, even I don't know when it will be published. With my little munchkin running around, I've been taking things one day at a time.

St. Patty's Day Giveaway Event

Join your favorite YA and NA authors as we celebrate being Irish for a day and play on Pinterest. There will be over 45 e-book giveaways! 
You can join the Facebook party HERE!

You won't want to miss it!

Participating Authors:

Lila Felix   A. W. Exley  Melissa Pearl   Jessica Gibson  Cindy M. Hogan  Sarah Ashley Jones  
Marie Landry  Rachel Morgan  Jennifer Snyder 
Stacey Marie Brown  Jessica Therrien  D.L. Raver 
Stacey Wallace Benefiel  Marilyn Almodóvar  Angee Taylor 
A.O. Peart  Devyn Dawson  Rick Chiantaretto 
Raine Thomas  L.P. Dover  Tamara Hart Heiner  
Leigh T Moore  Meradeth Houston  Amber Argyle 
Tawdra Kandle  Carlyle Labuschagne  Lisa Collicutt
Christy Dorrity  Stephanie Fowers  Kristina Renee
Faith McKay  Charlotte Abel  Jamie Ayres
A.M. Hargrove  Charli Webb  Amy Harmon  
Alyssa Rose Ivy  Kristie Cook  Lani Woodland
T.M. Franklin  Laura Howard  Sharron Riddle
Eliza Tilton  S. M. Boyce  Bethany Lopez 
Dawn Leigh  L.A. Casey  Emma Adams  Amber Garr  Liz Long

List of Descendant Bloodlines & Abilities

Hey all! I've noticed a lot of people searching for the list of Descendant bloodlines and/or Descendant abilities from my books. This list can be found in the back of Uprising (Children of the Gods #2), but if you were just searching for reference, here you go. I believe it is alphabetized in the actual book. I took this from my manuscript so it's a little jumbled.
Also, don't forget...only 4 days left to enter the giveaway for a loaded Kindle Fire! See the post prior to this one to enter. Good luck!!

Descendant Bloodlines Name  Bloodline Ability Council Christoph Zeus Ability control for male Descendants Adrianna Hera Ability control for female Descendants Dimitri Demeter The ability to age or grow living things Antec Hades The ability to confine Descendants to the “Underworld”*The Underworld is a void of nothingness where Descendants are trapped in a semi-conscious limbo. Lilia Hestia Ability control for Council Members*Must be in the presence of two Council members for Council abilities to work Dr. Nickel Ares The ability to mimic Descendant powers Descendants Elyse Asclepius The ability to heal or poison with her blood Richard Adler (Elyse’s Father)
Hephaestus The ability to manipulate metals, woods, and stone Sarah Adler (Elyse’s Mother) Asclepius The ability to heal or poison with her blood William Aphrodite The ability to persuade by infatuation Edith Ares Council Heir – Can mimic Descendant powers once her ability is manifested Sofia (Mrs. Nickel)
Aphrodite The ability to persuade by infatuation Mac Soteria The ability to create safe havens Kara Prometheus The ability to access to the mind Alex Aether Messenger— The ability to move from place to place using teleportationCall name: Alaximandrios Florence Delphic Oracle – Pythia The ability to see the future Iosif Metis The ability of intuition Nics Nix The ability to manipulate light and create darkness or invisibility Sam Dionysus The ability to change liquid to wine Paul Hermes Messenger—Flight Rachel Iris Messenger—Flight (changes form) Officer Gomez Pasithea The ability to make others feel relaxed Cearno Comus The ability to make food and drink with extraordinary flavor Christine Hegemone The ability to conjure plants and trees from the earth Mr. Williamson Helios The ability to mimic daylight/sunlight Unnamed Tethys The ability to draw water from the ground Unnamed Astraeus The ability to create the illusion of stars Mr. Gransky Hecate The ability to move objects using telekinesis Helen (Ms. Stanzic) Chronos The ability to stop time Aaron Clotho The ability to revive the dead before the spirit transcends Ian Homados The ability to amplify or impair hearing Hannah Mnemosyne The ability to erase memories with her blood Unnamed Penthus The ability to induce extreme sadness Amber Aletheia The ability to decipher the truth of someone’s words Riley Kratos The ability of great bodily strength Victor Lelantos The ability to control the air Unnamed Anchiale The ability to conjure fire Unnamed Limos The ability to cause extreme hunger or starvation Claudia Selene The ability to control the moonlight and hypnotize those who stare into it Unnamed Loxo The ability to manipulate an objects trajectory Unnamed Hecaterus The ability to control objects using the hands Luther Hercules Lead Hunter Stephan Sophrosyne The ability to restrain the body and Descendant abilities Philip Aether Messenger – The ability to move from place to place using teleportationCall name: Philotheos

A Few Updates and... a HUGE GIVEAWAY!

Hello friends! For those interested in the awesome giveaway, scroll down. For those looking for a bit of an update on the happenings in my life, here you go :)
Writing: Book 3 is still coming along slowly (I'm doing a lot more brainstorming than actual writing). I'm loving the ideas I'm brewing though! I have about 60,000 words out of the approximately 80,000 words I'm aiming for. 
Foreign Book Releases: I'm still waiting on the Chinese translation of Oppression & Uprising to come out, but the French version of Oppression was released by AdA in Canada recently (Woohooo!). It feels really great to know my books are being sold in different languages. The exciting thing about the Canada release was that I got an email from the publisher directly asking about the 3rd book! They said they are really excited about my series. Needless to say I did some good writing that day :)
Baby World: My awesome little guy is almost 14 months already! He's so much fun and makes me laugh every day. Still no hair...but I was bald until I was two, so there's that.

What have all you blogger friends been up to?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to the Pot of Gold Giveawayhosted by Darkly Delicious YA and Book Nerd Tours .
Three winners will receive
AMAZON GIFT CARDS!

But in addition....

One Very Lucky Leprechaun will receive aKINDLE FIRE HDpre-loaded with great YA & NA books!  
Click on the covers to get to know the authors 
that are participating in the giveaway 
and learn more about their books!

                                                                             

The Rafflecopter is a wee long, but worth it! May the Luck of the Irish be with you!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


A big thank you goes out to all the authors and bloggers who helped make this event possible! The authors at Darkly Delicious YA couldn't have pulled this off without our amazing co-host, Book Nerd Tours, and everyone's wonderful support. 


"LUCK MAITH" to you all!