Jessica Therrien's Blog, page 27

Live.Laugh.Love...I have a fan!

It really is THE BEST when readers email me about how much they liked my book. It makes my day... THANK YOU RUTH! :) I'm so happy you liked Oppression!!

Hi. I don't know if you remember me but I was at the Festival of Books forever ago. Haha probably one face of a thousand right? Well I just wanted to send you those pictures of us, maybe you'll remember me then (or maybe not). Your book was amazing! You've definitely made a fan out of me! I showed my friend your book and told her that she had to read it and she agreed that it was awesome. I definitely can't wait for the next book! I truly enjoyed it and loved the characters. Hope to hear back from you soon. (Unless your writing of course). Happy writing!

            ~ your new fan, 

                Ruth Sarai Saldivar :)

Writing World: Book News!

YAY! I finally get to announce the long awaited book news!


....drumroll....


The foreign rights to Oppression (Children of the Gods #1) and _________(mystery title) Children of the Gods #2 have been sold to publishers in France, Canada, and Taiwan!! Hooray!!!

The publishers that bought the books aren't just any publishers either, they are the big ones! I don't think I'm allowed to share those types of details yet, but let's just say that one of them published Divergent by Veronica Roth (the foreign language version, obviously). How cool is that?? I can't believe I'll actually be able to read my own book in Chinese...maybe I should learn French, too....hmmm. I have to give a ton of thanks to ZOVA Books, and of course Whitney Lee of The Fielding Agency, for all of their hard work and support. I'm so excited, I might explode. Wooooohooooo!!

Now on to some other fun news! The winners of my e-book giveaway are:

Michelle
Ivya
Gale Adkins Nelson
Emmy Neal
Sarah Marie Violante

CONGRATS! I'll be contacting you soon :)

The Buzz: Snow White & The Huntsman

Okay...who's excited about this movie? MEEEEE! I am SO looking forward to it. Every preview or clip or interview I see on the movie is amazing. It can't come out soon enough. For those of you who don't know about this movie (if you exist)...here are a couple of previews. Get ready to have your socks blown off...

Writing World: Write-O-Holic

Wow. I completely spaced my Wednesday post yesterday. I have to admit, I've been a bit scatterbrained lately. Book 2 is in the hands of my publisher, and I'm awaiting content edits. I think I said this last time I went through content edits, but it's a strange feeling. Remember when you graduated high school or college, and for the first time in your WHOLE life you didn't have any homework? It's like that. I'm fell kind of lost...like I should be stressed out, working on frantically piecing together a final draft, but I've got nothing on my plate. Apparently having nothing on my plate means I don't know what to do with myself. You'd think I'd be happy about that, feel free to enjoy the massive amounts of T.V. time I could enjoy, but it's an uneasy feeling... Maybe I'm becoming a write-o-holic...

In other news...you know that secret announcement I can't share anything about yet...yeah. I still can't share it. It's driving me crazy. Why must things move so slowly in publishing? I never thought I was part of that generation who has come to expect information immediately. I liked to think of myself as one of the old-schoolers who grew up without the internet or cell phones, but sadly...I've gone to the dark side. This new world of technology has made me impatient. I don't even want to imagine how long things used to take in publishing back when there was no email or cell phone notifications.
As I wait for content edits, luckily I do have something to look forward to. Tomorrow I'm being interviewed by Scripts & Scribes for their podcast! I'm really excited about it but also nervous because unlike blog interviews, which I get to think about and plan before I tackle, I'll actually have to think of answers on the spot and speak them instead of write them...

What's going on in your writing world lately? Also, isn't that cartoon awesomely funny? HAahaha... (so true)

The Buzz: New Books

Wowzers. I'm finally back. For those of you who've been wondering...if there are such people who wonder about me...my absence began with a trip to see my little nieces in good ol' Chilcoot, CA where my family lives. Apparently the whole town (all 108 of them, including the babies) were sick, because the moment I drove down that mile-long dirt road I was hit with the flu or some other back-country bug. Oh...and did I mention there's no internet in Chilcoot? At least not on the CT Ranch... So all this baby-lovin' getting sick without the internet to nurse me back to health put me behind on my Book 2 read-through...which is officially done and submitted now :) All of that brings me here. YAY! I'm back and very happy to be giving you all The Buzz on some new YA books that I'm excited about. Yes, I realize you may have heard of these books, but give me a break...I'm still catching up ;)

This first one is a book written by Sangu Mandanna. I met her during Rachael Harrie's writers campaign and her debut novel is coming out on August 28th! Congrats Sangu :)

Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

GoodReads




The second is the sequel to Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn. It's called Closed Hearts. I'm a big follower of Susan's. She is one of my biggest inspirations. She's an expert at marketing her books. If you're a writer, look her up...you'll learn a lot.

The sequel to Open Minds is coming May 23rd, 2012!

When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.

Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice after all. As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders’ fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown—a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash—Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira’s boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.

The third is one I CAN'T WAIT to read...and I'm sure neither can you. Unfortunately, the dang B&N near me is SOLD OUT! Grrrr....

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

 What books are you excited about lately...and if you've read any of these DON'T. SAY. ANYTHING....about what happens :P Feel free to comment on how awesome they are though....

Writing World: So Many Many Things...

Okay. First thing's first. CHILDREN OF THE GODS BOOK 2 IS DONE!! I finished the manuscript a while ago, but I really haven't announced it to the world. I don't know why. I think my brain STILL hasn't registered the fact that I finished another book. Crazy...crazy-awesome.
Secondly, the LA Times Festival of Books (last weekend) was AMAZING! I had so much fun! The ZOVA Books booth was next to the YA Stage, so I got to hear panels with well-known YA authors. Thankfully they drew a crowd, and I sold out both days! I also got to meet some really sweet Oppression fans (so strange to say that). I am still completely shocked every time someone comes up to me and says, "I'm reading your book right now, and I love it!" My first instinct is to ask them, "Really? Are you sure it's mine?" So surreal. I had one guy come up to me and say that his teacher was having his class read my book! That one was hard to believe. I must have asked him about a million times..."Are you sure???"

Here are some pics from the event (not my best faces...lol)   



Here is a video clip of me at the festival recorded by Scripts & Scribes:



Thirdly...I am really excited to be heading up to Reno, NV this weekend to speak to some students at McQueen High School and Loyalton High School. I always have fun talking to students about my experience getting published and what it takes to write a novel. I hope they find it inspiring! Can't wait :)






Lastly, I'm doing several giveaways to promote Oppression (Children of the Gods #1)! See HERE for details or click on my new "GIVEAWAYS" tab :)

Random Giveaway!!

Hey...want to win 1 of 5 FREE e-book editions of Oppression (Children of the Gods #1)?
Enter below (if you don't see the giveaway widget, click on the title of the post...or follow this link)

The Buzz: Hunger Games Movie Survey Results & BD2 Pics

Hey all! I'm going to try and do a recap of the LA Times Festival of Books on Wed. For now, here are the results for the Hunger Games Survey I posted a while ago. Thanks for taking part!


Did you see the Hunger Games movie?Yes3294%No26%What did you rate the movie?BadAmazing1 -Bad00%226%3412%41544%5 -Amazing1235%Did you read the Hunger Games books?Yes3397%No13%What did you rate the books?BadAmazing1 -Bad00%200%300%4721%5 -Amazing2676%Did you agree with the casting choices for the movie?Yes2162%Only some of the characters1235%No13%Team Gale or Team Peeta?Gale1235%Peeta2059%...and here are a couple of cool Breaking Dawn pics I found...

Live.Laugh.Love...Feeling the Love!

SourceOne thing I've learned since OPPRESSION was published is that you can't please everyone. No matter how hard you try, even if you write the most brilliant masterpiece of a novel (which I'm not saying I did...), there will always be those who put you down, who don't like your work, etc. BUT what makes it all worth it are those you touch, who love everything about your writing and reach out to tell you just how much...

I wanted to share with you some of the emails I've gotten that have made it all worth it for me :) In moments where I was discouraged or hurt by someone's comment (yes, authors are people too...we do read the reviews you write and the comments you make...) these emails really made me feel the love!

"Hey just wanted to say GREAT book! Loved it.... soooo.... umm.. hurry up and get the next one written already!!! Jeez :)" - Aly

"I just popped over here from Mark Koopman's blog. I cannot for the life of me remember where I heard about your novel, "Oppression" the first time, but I bought a copy and am now almost half way through. LOVE IT! Wonderful characters and story! Love your spin on Greek Mythology." - Scarlett Stokes

"Hi, I know that this series is in the teen category, however as a 51 y/o my wife and I loved your first book and can't wait until the next one is published. Thank you for an original series and great read." - Hub

"I loved your book! It was all of the details and creative aspects that I would want in an absolutely amazing book! I am a HUGE fan of Greek mythology. Sometimes I felt like I was Elyse and that I had known these characters my whole life. The way that you described that the Gods weren't really gods at all, but people that had special powers and they aged differently, made me look at mythology in a whole different way. I give this book 5 stars all the way. Your book, (in my opinion) was better then the Hunger Games series, Percy Jackson series, and the Matched series, combined! In the end your book took my breath away and I want my own William!" - Tera Vinuela

"Ms. Therrien, I am an avid reader and love really most any type of book, but I must say, I loved your first book Oppression. My wife and I (she's 26, I'm 28) always look for up-and-coming authors on Amazon and Barnes & Noble (she has a Kindle, I have a Nook), and sometimes the do-it-yourselfers get it right. This book was so good that if I knew you, I'd have to give you a high-five because it was very entertaining.
I have been an avid reader all my life, and typically read an average of a book per week. This one is very easily in my Top 10 for the past few years. Good job with this one, and I look forward to reading Book Two." - Ty Davis

"Dear Mrs. Jessica Therrien, Jeez! Your writing is amazing! I would like to introduce myself. I am LeeArron Klosterman. I am a senior in high school and going off to college next year. I bought a little tablet for Christmas that I am going to take to college. I found out that I could use the 'kindle' app on it. I usually do not like reading, BUT, I got your book on there and my mom was SO impressed that I was reading! I really could not keep my mind off of the storyline. Books on young adults (well, at least appearing to be [haha]) with superhuman qualities or abilities are my favorites! Anyways, I wanted to say thank you for sharing your amazing gift of writing stories with me. I am also here to say that I SOOOO much want to hear back from you and also to know about when the next book comes out. I want to get a hold of it as soon as it does. Thanks-a-million again! Have a splendid day! and Hope to hear back! P.S. Also, I wanted to mention that my absolute favorite part of the first book had to be the way you designed Ellie. I could really relate to her. I identified with her on everything (usually the way she felt) every step of the way throughout the book. That made it even more awesome to read!" - LeeArron Klosterman

How have others made you feel the love lately?

Writing World: LA Times Festival of Books...here I come!!

Where will I be this Saturday and Sunday (April 21-22)??? Where else?...the LA Times Festival of Books, of course!! You have no idea how excited I am to be going. It's ridiculous. I'm making checklists, counting the hours...I even ordered a MASSIVE poster of Oppression (Children of the Gods #1) to display as part of our ZOVA Books booth (it's actually embarrassingly big...so big I may not even be able to use it...). I went a bit overboard, okay? What can I say? I'm SO excited. Honestly, I've never been before, but it sounds amazing. I can't believe I'm taking part in such a big-name event. I guess I'm still a bit of an amateur at this. I think I'm more excited to see the other authors and books there than I am to sell my own book. Just the idea of so many many many books and authors gathering together to bask in all the words and pages and writer-ness...ooooh my.
Dates & Location April 21-22, 2012
Sat 10 AM – 6 PM
Sun 10 AM – 5 PM
The annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will be held at:
University of Southern California
Click here for map.
To locate USC on Yahoo! Maps or similar mapping software, you may use the intersection of Exposition Blvd and S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90089.

Tickets & AdmissionGeneral attendance is free!
For information on attending, see our Attendee FAQ.
ParkingParking at the USC campus will be $10.
Please go to the Getting There page for a detailed map.
Make sure to follow the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on Twitter and Facebook for live traffic and parking updates!

I hope to see you there! What are you doing this weekend?