Sarah Fine's Blog, page 9
June 20, 2012
You Tell Me: WRITER'S BLOCK
Today, I need your help.
In just over a month (July 25th, from 12-1pm), I'm going to be giving an online seminar during MediaBistro's Literary Festival and Workshops. Yes. You can sit in front of your computer and watch me flail tell you useful, illuminating things.
Do you see the company I'm in? Do you?!? (Oh, and if you do click on that link, you will see my S.E. Fine author photo. Because I know that is what you're really interested in: my FACE.)
Wow, I'm punchy this morning. (in all seriousness, I'm very excited about being able to participate in this event)
The title of my online seminar is "Overcoming Obstacles to Becoming the Writer You Want to Be."
I'm going to discuss two things in detail: rejection and writer's block.
So, I'd like to get your input. I know about both of these things from a cognitive/academic perspective, but only one of them from a personal perspective. I have plenty of experience with rejection. However, I've only been writing for about two and a half years, and I don't have experience with this thing we call "writer's block." (YET.)
Here's what I'd like to know: How do you define writer's block? Have you ever experienced it? How long did it last? Any theories about what caused it? What thoughts went through your mind as you dealt with it? How did you overcome it? What helped? What didn't?
I'd really like to include diverse experiences as I discuss writer's block, so I'll be eternally grateful if you give me some specific examples (and I'll give you credit in my talk at the Literary Festival!)
Thank you in advance, friends.
Oh! One more thing. If you do the Twitter, please consider following my dear co-author, Walter Jury, who is just getting up to speed in all things social media. He is the coolest, and knows more about movies than anyone I've ever met. Please help welcome him into the online world?
Thank you again :)
In just over a month (July 25th, from 12-1pm), I'm going to be giving an online seminar during MediaBistro's Literary Festival and Workshops. Yes. You can sit in front of your computer and watch me flail tell you useful, illuminating things.
Do you see the company I'm in? Do you?!? (Oh, and if you do click on that link, you will see my S.E. Fine author photo. Because I know that is what you're really interested in: my FACE.)
Wow, I'm punchy this morning. (in all seriousness, I'm very excited about being able to participate in this event)
The title of my online seminar is "Overcoming Obstacles to Becoming the Writer You Want to Be."
I'm going to discuss two things in detail: rejection and writer's block.
So, I'd like to get your input. I know about both of these things from a cognitive/academic perspective, but only one of them from a personal perspective. I have plenty of experience with rejection. However, I've only been writing for about two and a half years, and I don't have experience with this thing we call "writer's block." (YET.)
Here's what I'd like to know: How do you define writer's block? Have you ever experienced it? How long did it last? Any theories about what caused it? What thoughts went through your mind as you dealt with it? How did you overcome it? What helped? What didn't?I'd really like to include diverse experiences as I discuss writer's block, so I'll be eternally grateful if you give me some specific examples (and I'll give you credit in my talk at the Literary Festival!)
Thank you in advance, friends.
Oh! One more thing. If you do the Twitter, please consider following my dear co-author, Walter Jury, who is just getting up to speed in all things social media. He is the coolest, and knows more about movies than anyone I've ever met. Please help welcome him into the online world?
Thank you again :)
June 18, 2012
SANCTUM ARC Winner! Also, how I "antiqued" those maps.
Well! Thanks so much to everyone who commented last week--I was thrilled to see that so many people feel the same way I do about maps to go with books. In a few weeks, I'll unveil the map of the dark city, the place where most of SANCTUM takes place, on my website. Still working to get the final details in place.
But for now--one of you has won an ARC of SANCTUM, and a custom copy of that map!
And the winner (chosen by random number generator from the comments left in this post) is ...
Stephanie Diaz!
Congratulations! I hope you enjoy the book and the map!
Some of you have asked me why the maps look so aged and worn, so I will tell you: I did that part myself. It was kinda labor intensive, but very much worth it. Here's what I did:
I printed the maps on heavy, 25% cotton paper that already had a cream tint to it.I painted each map with tea. Just me and my basting brush and English Breakfast. Yep.Once both sides were saturated with tea, I scuffed the edges of each map using a rag. Rubbing. Lots and lots of rubbing. I dried each map for 10 minutes in the oven. 200 degrees Fahrenheit.I burned the edges of each map in a candle flame. For each map, this process probably took about 25-30 minutes start to finish. Now you see why only 45 copies exist :)
And I have about 6 left! So ... there will be more opportunities to win one!
Have you ever "antiqued" a document or picture before? Did you do something different from what I have here? How did it go?
June 13, 2012
The Kindness Project: Choose Your Weapon
Too often kindness is relegated to a random act performed only when we’re feeling good. But an even greater kindness (to ourselves and others) occurs when we reach out even when we aren't feeling entirely whole. It’s not easy, and no one is perfect. But we’ve decided it’s not impossible to brighten the world one smile, one kind word, one blog post at a time. To that end, a few of us writers have established The Kindness Project, starting with a series of inspirational posts. We post the second Wednesday of every month.
In my work, we talk a lot about avoiding "random acts of intervention."
It's kind of like "random acts of kindness". You know, because both are random.
Don't get me wrong. I think random acts of kindness are really cool (unlike random acts of intervention). But this is what I love about The Kindness Project: it's not random.
It's intentional.
When I say "random acts of intervention", I mean that a therapist is just doing what feels right in the moment. The intervention isn't really connected to thought or plan or causal model or anything like that--it's just what seems obvious or easy or well-understood. It looks good on its face.
The problem: it's usually not the most effective thing to do.
I'm not saying that random acts of kindness are the same way. Not at all. There's something lovely and wondrous about brightening the world in a generous and unexpected way.
That being said, purposefulness is pretty valuable. Many years ago, a book called "The 5 Love Languages" came out. It's kind of a pop psychology book. No research to back it up, as far as I know (and that's important to me--I value empirical evidence). However, the idea is intensely appealing (as evidenced by the book's bestseller status), and what I like about it is this: it's about considering the best way to show love--in the way that the recipient is most likely to fully receive it.
Whether it's words of encouragement and affirmation, spending uninterrupted (devices off!) time, giving gifts, performing acts of service, or offering physical comfort, kindness can be offered in ways tailored to the recipient.
I like that. It means you can be intentional--instead of random--when you decide how to extend kindness to someone. You can choose your target, and choose your weapon.
It's not always possible or necessary. Kindness in whatever form is a positive thing. But ...
Who do you know who could use a little kindness? What do you know about him/her? Does he like practical help with a specific task or a little note at his desk telling him he did a good job with a presentation? Does she seem to enjoy hugs or pats on the back, or does her face really light up when you deliver a cup of iced coffee out of the blue? Does he appreciate it when you just sit in silence with him? Does she like it when you let her know specifically how much you admire something she does well?
What might work for that person--which kindness would have the greatest impact for her or him specifically? Which method would burrow deepest into his heart and warm it from the inside? Which one will linger with her the longest? Which one will come to mind in a time of sadness and give him what he needs to hang on?
We're not all the same. Different things work for different folks.
What do you think? I think we can all agree that kindness is to be prized--but how do you feel when you KNOW that someone has directed a kindness at you--and specifically you, with consideration of what you might need, how it might affect you as a unique individual? Do you think that's different? Have you done that for someone else?
Posting today for the Kindness Project
Sophia Chang
Sara Larson
Erica Chapman
Matthew MacNish
Jessica Corra
Sara McClung
Elizabeth Davis
Christa Desir
Leigh Moore
Tracey Neithercott
Claire Hennessy
Katharine Owen
Elana Johnson
Elizabeth Poole
Liza Kane
Lola Sharp
Amie Kaufman
Michele Shaw
Alina Klein
Meagan Spooner
Carolina Valdez Miller
Be sure to check them out. We post the second Wednesday of every month. Want to join us? Grab our button and spread a little kindness.
*Also, there's still time to win an ARC of SANCTUM and a map of the dark city! If you're interested, go here and comment. I'll announce the winner on Monday.
In my work, we talk a lot about avoiding "random acts of intervention."
It's kind of like "random acts of kindness". You know, because both are random.
Don't get me wrong. I think random acts of kindness are really cool (unlike random acts of intervention). But this is what I love about The Kindness Project: it's not random.
It's intentional.
When I say "random acts of intervention", I mean that a therapist is just doing what feels right in the moment. The intervention isn't really connected to thought or plan or causal model or anything like that--it's just what seems obvious or easy or well-understood. It looks good on its face.
The problem: it's usually not the most effective thing to do.
I'm not saying that random acts of kindness are the same way. Not at all. There's something lovely and wondrous about brightening the world in a generous and unexpected way.
That being said, purposefulness is pretty valuable. Many years ago, a book called "The 5 Love Languages" came out. It's kind of a pop psychology book. No research to back it up, as far as I know (and that's important to me--I value empirical evidence). However, the idea is intensely appealing (as evidenced by the book's bestseller status), and what I like about it is this: it's about considering the best way to show love--in the way that the recipient is most likely to fully receive it.
Whether it's words of encouragement and affirmation, spending uninterrupted (devices off!) time, giving gifts, performing acts of service, or offering physical comfort, kindness can be offered in ways tailored to the recipient.
I like that. It means you can be intentional--instead of random--when you decide how to extend kindness to someone. You can choose your target, and choose your weapon.
It's not always possible or necessary. Kindness in whatever form is a positive thing. But ...
Who do you know who could use a little kindness? What do you know about him/her? Does he like practical help with a specific task or a little note at his desk telling him he did a good job with a presentation? Does she seem to enjoy hugs or pats on the back, or does her face really light up when you deliver a cup of iced coffee out of the blue? Does he appreciate it when you just sit in silence with him? Does she like it when you let her know specifically how much you admire something she does well?
What might work for that person--which kindness would have the greatest impact for her or him specifically? Which method would burrow deepest into his heart and warm it from the inside? Which one will linger with her the longest? Which one will come to mind in a time of sadness and give him what he needs to hang on?
We're not all the same. Different things work for different folks.
What do you think? I think we can all agree that kindness is to be prized--but how do you feel when you KNOW that someone has directed a kindness at you--and specifically you, with consideration of what you might need, how it might affect you as a unique individual? Do you think that's different? Have you done that for someone else?
Posting today for the Kindness Project
Sophia Chang
Sara Larson
Erica Chapman
Matthew MacNish
Jessica Corra
Sara McClung
Elizabeth Davis
Christa Desir
Leigh Moore
Tracey Neithercott
Claire Hennessy
Katharine Owen
Elana Johnson
Elizabeth Poole
Liza Kane
Lola Sharp
Amie Kaufman
Michele Shaw
Alina Klein
Meagan Spooner
Carolina Valdez Miller
Be sure to check them out. We post the second Wednesday of every month. Want to join us? Grab our button and spread a little kindness.
*Also, there's still time to win an ARC of SANCTUM and a map of the dark city! If you're interested, go here and comment. I'll announce the winner on Monday.
June 11, 2012
The mapmaker and the author
[One commenter today will not only win an ARC of SANCTUM, but also one of the (very few) custom maps of the dark city!]
I love books that include maps. I think a lot of people do. Maps allow us to envision the world in which the book takes place and help us follow the journeys of the characters. Maps bring us one step closer to the story.
Much of SANCTUM takes place in a vast, walled, dark city, and the characters travel all over it before the story's through. That alone was enough reason for me to want a map of the place, but there's another: Malachi, the Captain of the Guard, draws a map on the wall of his quarters. So I decided I wanted a map to reflect THAT map. His map.
I did some research. I looked at mapping software. I rapidly realized there was no way in heck I could do it myself. And then ... I discovered the CARTOGRAPHER'S GUILD. And through that site, I discovered Luka Rejec, who not only made me an absolutely amazing map that will grace the first few pages of SANCTUM, but who also agreed to come here today and answer a few questions:
Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into mapmaking.
Well ... where to start ... I'm a bit of a jack-of-all trades, really. I work mostly as an illustrator and designer, but I'm also working on my studies as an anthropologist and always look for ways to expand my horizons and experience - maps and fantasy lands are something of a natural extension and a great hobby of mine. It all really started with fifth grade English in Dar es Salaam, where we had a teacher who read us the entire Hobbit. I fell in love with the story, the imaginary journey and of course the maps. It's been a pursuit of mine ever since - a real hobbit hobby, though thankfully I haven't ended up looking like a hobbit myself.
Is there any particular style or type of map you really enjoy creating?
Well, yes - hand-drawn maps in an old or illustrative style are my favourite, idiosyncratic maps as well. Basically maps that go beyond just representing a landscape, but that also seek to convey atmosphere and feeling. But I'm not picky, really, in the end, a map that is functional and aesthetic - and that I enjoyed making - is a good map for me!
If an author wants a map for her book, what should she do?
If an author wants a map for her book, I would really suggest she has a look at the cartographer's guild! It's this crazy little forum full of people that enjoy making maps, particularly fantasy maps, in all kinds of different styles. Just google it - it's not hard to find!
One thing I personally love is to collaborate with an author, so that the map grows organically to fit the style and mood of the work. I feel that every map does more than just serve as a road-map for a literary work - it has to "fit" in somehow.
*Note from Sarah: I couldn't agree more about the Cartographer's Guild. The talent on display there is phenomenal, and the members are so enthusiastic about their--and their fellow cartographers'--work. They are also very helpful and friendly to newcomers.
Talk about the process for making this particular map.
Oof ... the process for this map. This one was very long, starting with a lot of discussions with Sarah (fun conversations, by the way!). With this map, of a huge fantasy city (it measures about 60km on a side), there were massive issues of scale to address - basically, we decided to create the illustrations to represent the in-story work of one of the characters. The in-story map covered a whole wall, so to approach that I simulated the tools and resources that would have been available to the characters - pens and paper, lots of paper, that I then stitched together on the computer, to keep the hand-made feel. In fact, the final map can print out to approximately wall-size, about 3 x 3 meters.
*Note from Sarah: I am contemplating wallpapering my office with this thing. The level of detail is rather astounding.
However, we also realized as we were discussing the map that it's not a precise map of the city, since the character making it doesn't have access to precise measurement tools and equipment, rather it's a rough guide to a mutating, shifting city, with notes and sketches of important landmarks to help him move around. In fact, more than a map, I've come to think of it as a complex visual archive, a history of the guards of the Dark City on a wall, if you will.
Did I mention I had great fun working with Sarah on this? I did. Really great to work with.
*Note from Sarah (who is blushing): One of the reasons I chose Luka for this commission is that he approached the project so analytically (very much like Malachi would). Also, he didn't just offer to do something he'd done before; he created the style of the map to precisely fit my vision and what made sense for the character.
Are you open to commissions?
Of course I'm open to commissions :) - but the more time there is in advance to plan and design the work, the better - and more fitting - the work can be. But, well, as noted - I have my preferred styles and for more artists, the Cartographer's Guild is a good place (and some of the guys there are just amazing. Seriously).
Where can we find you on the web?
Umm ... you can find me all over the web, but my basic portfolio site is at http://lukarejec.com, while my regular, every-day living-drawing blog is at http://prekomorec.blogspot.com. They're probably the easiest way to find me. I also frequent DeviantArt now and again, dabble in some Pinterest, hate some Twitter, am on Facebook, and - of course - the Cartographer's Guild.
Thanks, Luka! I am so excited about this map. We had a phenomenal response to it at BEA, and there are only a few left! I'm going to be giving them away over the next few weeks and months. The map will be in the final book and on my website in a few weeks, but this version is special :)
Another sneak peek!
What do you think of maps in books? When are they particularly helpful or enjoyable? What kind of style do you like the best? Would you ever commission a map for one of your works? Had you heard of the Cartographer's Guild before today? Also--Luka will stop by later, so if you have a question for him, let him know!
Remember--one commenter today will win an ARC of SANCTUM and one of the maps of the dark city! I'll announce the winner next Monday!
I love books that include maps. I think a lot of people do. Maps allow us to envision the world in which the book takes place and help us follow the journeys of the characters. Maps bring us one step closer to the story.
Much of SANCTUM takes place in a vast, walled, dark city, and the characters travel all over it before the story's through. That alone was enough reason for me to want a map of the place, but there's another: Malachi, the Captain of the Guard, draws a map on the wall of his quarters. So I decided I wanted a map to reflect THAT map. His map.
I did some research. I looked at mapping software. I rapidly realized there was no way in heck I could do it myself. And then ... I discovered the CARTOGRAPHER'S GUILD. And through that site, I discovered Luka Rejec, who not only made me an absolutely amazing map that will grace the first few pages of SANCTUM, but who also agreed to come here today and answer a few questions:Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into mapmaking.
Well ... where to start ... I'm a bit of a jack-of-all trades, really. I work mostly as an illustrator and designer, but I'm also working on my studies as an anthropologist and always look for ways to expand my horizons and experience - maps and fantasy lands are something of a natural extension and a great hobby of mine. It all really started with fifth grade English in Dar es Salaam, where we had a teacher who read us the entire Hobbit. I fell in love with the story, the imaginary journey and of course the maps. It's been a pursuit of mine ever since - a real hobbit hobby, though thankfully I haven't ended up looking like a hobbit myself.
Is there any particular style or type of map you really enjoy creating?
Well, yes - hand-drawn maps in an old or illustrative style are my favourite, idiosyncratic maps as well. Basically maps that go beyond just representing a landscape, but that also seek to convey atmosphere and feeling. But I'm not picky, really, in the end, a map that is functional and aesthetic - and that I enjoyed making - is a good map for me!
If an author wants a map for her book, what should she do?
If an author wants a map for her book, I would really suggest she has a look at the cartographer's guild! It's this crazy little forum full of people that enjoy making maps, particularly fantasy maps, in all kinds of different styles. Just google it - it's not hard to find!
One thing I personally love is to collaborate with an author, so that the map grows organically to fit the style and mood of the work. I feel that every map does more than just serve as a road-map for a literary work - it has to "fit" in somehow.
*Note from Sarah: I couldn't agree more about the Cartographer's Guild. The talent on display there is phenomenal, and the members are so enthusiastic about their--and their fellow cartographers'--work. They are also very helpful and friendly to newcomers.
Talk about the process for making this particular map.
Oof ... the process for this map. This one was very long, starting with a lot of discussions with Sarah (fun conversations, by the way!). With this map, of a huge fantasy city (it measures about 60km on a side), there were massive issues of scale to address - basically, we decided to create the illustrations to represent the in-story work of one of the characters. The in-story map covered a whole wall, so to approach that I simulated the tools and resources that would have been available to the characters - pens and paper, lots of paper, that I then stitched together on the computer, to keep the hand-made feel. In fact, the final map can print out to approximately wall-size, about 3 x 3 meters.*Note from Sarah: I am contemplating wallpapering my office with this thing. The level of detail is rather astounding.
However, we also realized as we were discussing the map that it's not a precise map of the city, since the character making it doesn't have access to precise measurement tools and equipment, rather it's a rough guide to a mutating, shifting city, with notes and sketches of important landmarks to help him move around. In fact, more than a map, I've come to think of it as a complex visual archive, a history of the guards of the Dark City on a wall, if you will.
Did I mention I had great fun working with Sarah on this? I did. Really great to work with.
*Note from Sarah (who is blushing): One of the reasons I chose Luka for this commission is that he approached the project so analytically (very much like Malachi would). Also, he didn't just offer to do something he'd done before; he created the style of the map to precisely fit my vision and what made sense for the character.
Are you open to commissions?
Of course I'm open to commissions :) - but the more time there is in advance to plan and design the work, the better - and more fitting - the work can be. But, well, as noted - I have my preferred styles and for more artists, the Cartographer's Guild is a good place (and some of the guys there are just amazing. Seriously).
Where can we find you on the web?
Umm ... you can find me all over the web, but my basic portfolio site is at http://lukarejec.com, while my regular, every-day living-drawing blog is at http://prekomorec.blogspot.com. They're probably the easiest way to find me. I also frequent DeviantArt now and again, dabble in some Pinterest, hate some Twitter, am on Facebook, and - of course - the Cartographer's Guild.
Thanks, Luka! I am so excited about this map. We had a phenomenal response to it at BEA, and there are only a few left! I'm going to be giving them away over the next few weeks and months. The map will be in the final book and on my website in a few weeks, but this version is special :)
Another sneak peek!What do you think of maps in books? When are they particularly helpful or enjoyable? What kind of style do you like the best? Would you ever commission a map for one of your works? Had you heard of the Cartographer's Guild before today? Also--Luka will stop by later, so if you have a question for him, let him know!
Remember--one commenter today will win an ARC of SANCTUM and one of the maps of the dark city! I'll announce the winner next Monday!
June 8, 2012
BEA 2012 Recap
I got back on Wednesday night from BEA, where I had the most wonderful time. I got to attend the Amazon cocktail party at the rooftop bar on top of the Ink48 Hotel (possibly the nicest place I've ever stayed). After that, Kathleen and Joanna Volpe took Megan Powell (another Amazon author who is Jo's client) and her husband, and I to a restaurant that turned out to be closed "by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene." Good thing there was another more mentally healthy restaurant nearby.
Me and Kathleen on the rooftop (it was windy!)
On Tuesday, I didn't really attend any panels ... I mostly walked around in a haze of bemusement, taking in the beautiful (seriously, have you seen the cover for Becca Fitzpatrick's FINALE?), the unusual (there were a few ladies dressed up as angels ... and a few shirtless guys with wings as well), the childlike (Olivia Pig!) ...
A view of BEA from an upper floor
Aaaaah! It's Olivia!!
But this was the one that made my little heart beat really fast:
This is the Amazon Children's Publishing Booth! And that's SANCTUM!
So, here is the Amazon Children's Publishing booth, my home at BEA. The ACP team treated me like a star. I've never experienced anything like it. Everybody was so excited about SANCTUM! Not the least of whom is my editor, Courtney Miller, who made sure I had everything I needed, right down to bandaids for my blistered feet. The team surrounding this book is so exceptional, and it left me feeling really confident that SANCTUM is going to be given the best chance of success (oh, hey, did I mention there's going to be an audio book?!?)
Of course, I was also excited to hang out with Kathleen, Joanna, and Walter Jury, my co-author for SCAN. And, through an interesting series of connections, I also found myself spending a substantial portion of Tuesday afternoon with Janet Reid, who is just as brilliant, frank, and hilarious in person as she is online.
On Wednesday morning, I had my very first book signing EVER. For the first five minutes, my hands were shaking so badly I could barely sign my name. My maps were gone after about 15 minutes, and we ran out of the day's allotment of ARCs about 25 minutes after that. It was great fun to sign books for librarians, book bloggers, book buyers, teachers ... so many of them with plans to put SANCTUM in the hands of a teen. It was such a privilege to be able to give out the book like that.
If you're wondering, yes, I DID spend the entire few days grinning like a freaking idiot.
And then I got to eat fries at a diner and hang out with Courtney for a bit longer. We walked down to see the Space Shuttle being loaded onto the Intrepid on the Hudson River. A very mellow afternoon to top off an awesomely hectic 48 hours.
The space shuttle. #random but #cool
Me and my lovely editor, Courtney Miller
I hope I get to go to BEA next year, because I think I'll be more with it and grab a few more ARCs and attend a few more panels. This year, I really just took it all in, still stunned by the fact that I was allowed to be part of it at all.
If I get to go again, maybe I'll bring a suitcase to fill with ARCs!
Anyway--for those of you who are interested, on Monday, I'll be interviewing the extremely talented cartographer who created the map of the dark city in SANCTUM, and I'll be giving away one of his maps and an ARC to one of my commenters.
Here's another tiny sneak peek of the map...which I will tuck into an ARC and send to Monday's winner!
Me and Kathleen on the rooftop (it was windy!)On Tuesday, I didn't really attend any panels ... I mostly walked around in a haze of bemusement, taking in the beautiful (seriously, have you seen the cover for Becca Fitzpatrick's FINALE?), the unusual (there were a few ladies dressed up as angels ... and a few shirtless guys with wings as well), the childlike (Olivia Pig!) ...
A view of BEA from an upper floor
Aaaaah! It's Olivia!!But this was the one that made my little heart beat really fast:
This is the Amazon Children's Publishing Booth! And that's SANCTUM!So, here is the Amazon Children's Publishing booth, my home at BEA. The ACP team treated me like a star. I've never experienced anything like it. Everybody was so excited about SANCTUM! Not the least of whom is my editor, Courtney Miller, who made sure I had everything I needed, right down to bandaids for my blistered feet. The team surrounding this book is so exceptional, and it left me feeling really confident that SANCTUM is going to be given the best chance of success (oh, hey, did I mention there's going to be an audio book?!?)
Of course, I was also excited to hang out with Kathleen, Joanna, and Walter Jury, my co-author for SCAN. And, through an interesting series of connections, I also found myself spending a substantial portion of Tuesday afternoon with Janet Reid, who is just as brilliant, frank, and hilarious in person as she is online.
On Wednesday morning, I had my very first book signing EVER. For the first five minutes, my hands were shaking so badly I could barely sign my name. My maps were gone after about 15 minutes, and we ran out of the day's allotment of ARCs about 25 minutes after that. It was great fun to sign books for librarians, book bloggers, book buyers, teachers ... so many of them with plans to put SANCTUM in the hands of a teen. It was such a privilege to be able to give out the book like that.
If you're wondering, yes, I DID spend the entire few days grinning like a freaking idiot.And then I got to eat fries at a diner and hang out with Courtney for a bit longer. We walked down to see the Space Shuttle being loaded onto the Intrepid on the Hudson River. A very mellow afternoon to top off an awesomely hectic 48 hours.
The space shuttle. #random but #cool
Me and my lovely editor, Courtney MillerI hope I get to go to BEA next year, because I think I'll be more with it and grab a few more ARCs and attend a few more panels. This year, I really just took it all in, still stunned by the fact that I was allowed to be part of it at all.
If I get to go again, maybe I'll bring a suitcase to fill with ARCs!Anyway--for those of you who are interested, on Monday, I'll be interviewing the extremely talented cartographer who created the map of the dark city in SANCTUM, and I'll be giving away one of his maps and an ARC to one of my commenters.
Here's another tiny sneak peek of the map...which I will tuck into an ARC and send to Monday's winner!
June 7, 2012
GRAND OPENING: SKETCHER GIRL STUDIOS
Today I have the privilege of telling you about Vic Caswell's new venture, Sketcher Girl Studios. Vic is a dear blogging friend of mine who, from my earliest posts, has made some of the most thoughtful--and thought-provoking--comments and has been unconditionally and enthusiastically supportive of me. I'm grateful to be able to feature such a talented, generous, and smart individual here, so without further ado ...
GRAND OPENING!!!!Today is the day that Sketcher Girl Studios, LLC officially opens for business!
In celebration of this momentous event, Vic Caswell (owner/operator) is hosting a give-a-way.
Using the "Contact Us" form on the site; send her the secret word from the end of this post and you'll be entered to win.
Sketcher Girl Studios is a freelance illustration company with a focus on book cover design. Vic Caswell has produced the covers of Emily White's debut novel ELEMENTAL, as well as its sequel FAE (release date not announced yet), and Kimberly Ann Miller's debut novel TRIANGLES (releasing June 2013).
SGStudios is passionate about books and getting them out there and into the hands of the readers who will love them. Vic will read your book. She will work with you to ensure that the design you end up with is something you love. She doesn't use stock photography, so you are guaranteed an image that is original, and she offers full legal usage of her cover images. So, if you want to print it on swag and sell that, the money goes straight to you.
Her prices are competitive- affordable for small press publishers as well as self-publishers.
She also provides other services- such as: tattoo design, logo design, header design, artistic prints, children's book illustration, and pretty much any illustration that you can think up.
Stop by and drop the secret word: Mischief, for your chance to win one of these nifty prizes...
postcard sized prints of her work titled PERCHED CREATUREone of two copies of ELEMENTAL by Emily Whitea ten dollar Amazon gift cardan original paintingfree labor on a book cover (costs may be incurred for props/ models/ wardrobe) and more!
Links:
Sketcher Girl Studios
SGS on Facebook
Testimonials:
Vic Caswell is brilliant! Not only is she super easy to work with, but the things she comes up with are so amazing. She was able to take the half-coherent ideas I was kind of able to articulate and come up with exactly what I was thinking of. I loved working with her on both my books' covers and I can't wait to work with her again!- Emily White (author of ELEMENTAL from Spencer Hill Press)
"I'm loving my new logo!!! Victoria Caswell did a MARVELOUS job and was such a joy to work with. She made the process effortless and I swear she could read my mind. So, if you need some work done, please send it her way! You won't be sorry!" ♥ Nancy Fennell (owner of Scents of Adventure)
Yay, Vic! I know she's going to be very successful with this. Tomorrow I'll be back with a BEA recap!!
GRAND OPENING!!!!Today is the day that Sketcher Girl Studios, LLC officially opens for business!
In celebration of this momentous event, Vic Caswell (owner/operator) is hosting a give-a-way.
Using the "Contact Us" form on the site; send her the secret word from the end of this post and you'll be entered to win.
Sketcher Girl Studios is a freelance illustration company with a focus on book cover design. Vic Caswell has produced the covers of Emily White's debut novel ELEMENTAL, as well as its sequel FAE (release date not announced yet), and Kimberly Ann Miller's debut novel TRIANGLES (releasing June 2013).
SGStudios is passionate about books and getting them out there and into the hands of the readers who will love them. Vic will read your book. She will work with you to ensure that the design you end up with is something you love. She doesn't use stock photography, so you are guaranteed an image that is original, and she offers full legal usage of her cover images. So, if you want to print it on swag and sell that, the money goes straight to you.
Her prices are competitive- affordable for small press publishers as well as self-publishers.
She also provides other services- such as: tattoo design, logo design, header design, artistic prints, children's book illustration, and pretty much any illustration that you can think up.
Stop by and drop the secret word: Mischief, for your chance to win one of these nifty prizes...
postcard sized prints of her work titled PERCHED CREATUREone of two copies of ELEMENTAL by Emily Whitea ten dollar Amazon gift cardan original paintingfree labor on a book cover (costs may be incurred for props/ models/ wardrobe) and more!
Links:
Sketcher Girl Studios
SGS on Facebook
Testimonials:
Vic Caswell is brilliant! Not only is she super easy to work with, but the things she comes up with are so amazing. She was able to take the half-coherent ideas I was kind of able to articulate and come up with exactly what I was thinking of. I loved working with her on both my books' covers and I can't wait to work with her again!- Emily White (author of ELEMENTAL from Spencer Hill Press)
"I'm loving my new logo!!! Victoria Caswell did a MARVELOUS job and was such a joy to work with. She made the process effortless and I swear she could read my mind. So, if you need some work done, please send it her way! You won't be sorry!" ♥ Nancy Fennell (owner of Scents of Adventure)
Yay, Vic! I know she's going to be very successful with this. Tomorrow I'll be back with a BEA recap!!
June 1, 2012
BEA and MAP
Next week I won't be blogging until Friday, because I'll be at BEA for the first half of the week.
This is a first for me. This is AMAZING for me. I started writing less than three years ago, and next week I'll be at BEA. Signing my books. For anyone who looks mildly interested. Watch out, people.
If you happen to be attending BEA, please come visit me. On Wednesday, June 6th, from 11am-12pm, I'll be in the Amazon Children's Publishing booth (#2663), signing ARCs of SANCTUM.
Also, I will have thirty copies of a map of the dark city, the place featured on the cover, where most of the story unfolds. I'll be tucking them into ARCs as I sign. The map is going to be in the final version of the book that's being published in October, but it's not in the ARCs. And the maps I have for BEA are very special. I think you want one. Probably because I spent hours getting them ready, and because I think they look pretty neat. Each one is different and unique. Really.
In the book, Malachi draws this map on the wall of his quarters. The map in the book is HIS map. My cartographer, Luka Rejec, obviously kept that firmly in mind as he created it. I could go on and on about how amazed I am at this thing, and we'll unveil it on my website later this month. But first, on Monday, June 11, I'll be interviewing Luka (who is very charming and funny), and giving away an ARC or two of SANCTUM with one of these special sneak-preview super-cool maps tucked inside. If you're interested in either my book ... or in maps ... or in the process of commissioning a cartographer ... or any of the above, please stop by that day!
And would you like a sneak peek at the map? Here you go ...
Intrigued?
(I really hope so)
Have a great weekend, everyone, and I'll be back next Friday!
This is a first for me. This is AMAZING for me. I started writing less than three years ago, and next week I'll be at BEA. Signing my books. For anyone who looks mildly interested. Watch out, people.
If you happen to be attending BEA, please come visit me. On Wednesday, June 6th, from 11am-12pm, I'll be in the Amazon Children's Publishing booth (#2663), signing ARCs of SANCTUM.
Also, I will have thirty copies of a map of the dark city, the place featured on the cover, where most of the story unfolds. I'll be tucking them into ARCs as I sign. The map is going to be in the final version of the book that's being published in October, but it's not in the ARCs. And the maps I have for BEA are very special. I think you want one. Probably because I spent hours getting them ready, and because I think they look pretty neat. Each one is different and unique. Really.
In the book, Malachi draws this map on the wall of his quarters. The map in the book is HIS map. My cartographer, Luka Rejec, obviously kept that firmly in mind as he created it. I could go on and on about how amazed I am at this thing, and we'll unveil it on my website later this month. But first, on Monday, June 11, I'll be interviewing Luka (who is very charming and funny), and giving away an ARC or two of SANCTUM with one of these special sneak-preview super-cool maps tucked inside. If you're interested in either my book ... or in maps ... or in the process of commissioning a cartographer ... or any of the above, please stop by that day!
And would you like a sneak peek at the map? Here you go ...Intrigued?
(I really hope so)
Have a great weekend, everyone, and I'll be back next Friday!
May 30, 2012
I Can Haz Insight?
General dictionary definition of insight: the ability to perceive/understand things clearly and/or deeply
Psychological insight: awareness of one's own feelings, attitudes, symptoms, and the motives and reasons behind one's actions
Assessment of insight is a basic part of a standard mental status exam. People diagnosed with mental illnesses can have pretty good insight (for example, many of those with mood or anxiety disorders). They know they have a disorder, and they understand that some of their behaviors are unusual, harmful, or sabotaging. People who have schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, as well as individuals with severe personality disorders, often have relatively poor insight. They don't necessarily recognize they have a problem at all. Often they believe the problem is other people.
Sometimes, as I sit by the sidelines and watch yet another drama unfold, I think about insight.
Insight isn't an all-or-nothing thing. Many treatments focus on helping a client develop some insight into his/her problems. You can't force insight on someone. It can't be done with logical explanations or rational argument or razor-edged criticism.
Like talking to a brick wall.The interventions designed to cultivate insight don't focus on explanation or confrontation. They focus on creating a space in which the person has the appropriate information and the sense of safety that allows him/her to recognize what's really going on.
Lack of insight causes a lot of frustration on all sides. It's difficult to comprehend how someone can't understand something that seems obvious to most other people.
Having insight doesn't necessarily make you feel better. Ever heard of depressive realism? Sometimes reality is kind of a downer. However, if you want to function well in this world, reality is often something you just have to deal with.
Anyway, lack of insight into one's own behavior isn't always the cause of the dramaz on the internets, but sometimes, especially in cases where one person is the clear aggressor/complainant and the rest of the avatars stand around shaking their heads at the outlandishness ... I think it has a lot to do with it.
Do you think lack of insight sometimes contributes to internet blow-ups? Can you think of an example from your electronic or real life?
Psychological insight: awareness of one's own feelings, attitudes, symptoms, and the motives and reasons behind one's actions
Assessment of insight is a basic part of a standard mental status exam. People diagnosed with mental illnesses can have pretty good insight (for example, many of those with mood or anxiety disorders). They know they have a disorder, and they understand that some of their behaviors are unusual, harmful, or sabotaging. People who have schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, as well as individuals with severe personality disorders, often have relatively poor insight. They don't necessarily recognize they have a problem at all. Often they believe the problem is other people.
Sometimes, as I sit by the sidelines and watch yet another drama unfold, I think about insight.
Insight isn't an all-or-nothing thing. Many treatments focus on helping a client develop some insight into his/her problems. You can't force insight on someone. It can't be done with logical explanations or rational argument or razor-edged criticism.
Like talking to a brick wall.The interventions designed to cultivate insight don't focus on explanation or confrontation. They focus on creating a space in which the person has the appropriate information and the sense of safety that allows him/her to recognize what's really going on.Lack of insight causes a lot of frustration on all sides. It's difficult to comprehend how someone can't understand something that seems obvious to most other people.
Having insight doesn't necessarily make you feel better. Ever heard of depressive realism? Sometimes reality is kind of a downer. However, if you want to function well in this world, reality is often something you just have to deal with.
Anyway, lack of insight into one's own behavior isn't always the cause of the dramaz on the internets, but sometimes, especially in cases where one person is the clear aggressor/complainant and the rest of the avatars stand around shaking their heads at the outlandishness ... I think it has a lot to do with it.
Do you think lack of insight sometimes contributes to internet blow-ups? Can you think of an example from your electronic or real life?
May 29, 2012
In case you haven't yet seen ...
This is the cover for SANCTUM. Many of you have already seen it and have let me know what you think of it, and I appreciate every single kind and enthusiastic word! For those of you who haven't yet seen, it was revealed on Sunday on the Mundie Moms blog, where I answered some really great questions from Katieb about the story and its characters (my first interview! Please check it out!). Here's the summary/flap copy:
A week ago, seventeen-year-old Lela Santos's best friend, Nadia, killed herself. Today, thanks to a farewell ritual gone awry, Lela is standing in paradise, looking upon a vast gated city in the distance – hell. No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn't just anyone – she's determined to save her best friend's soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife.
As Lela struggles to find Nadia, she's captured by the Guards, enormous, not-quite-human creatures that patrol the dark city's endless streets. Their all-too-human leader, Malachi, is unlike them in every way except one: his deadly efficiency. When he meets Lela, Malachi forms his own plan: get her out of the city, even if it means she must leave Nadia behind. Malachi knows something Lela doesn't – the dark city isn't the worst place Lela could end up, and he will stop at nothing to keep her from that fate.
As you may know, most authors don't design their own covers (and that's good, because I am the least visual person on the planet--I'm made entirely of words). You may also know that not every author actually *likes* her cover. It happens sometimes.
I LOVE this cover. I also enjoyed the process. I was given the chance to have quite a bit of input, starting with offering my own ideas, supplying reference images, and offering my take on the appropriate mood and tone. Then, I was given the opportunity to review a few rounds before we reached this final product, but at each step along the way, I really felt like my editor and cover designer listened. Despite experiencing that, I was still stunned by this cover; it's about ten times better than I ever imagined it could be (which is why it's a wonderful thing that I didn't have to design it myself). It captures Lela's vulnerable-yet-unbreakable spirit, the absolute immensity of what she's facing as she searches for the friend she lost to suicide, and the hope and determination that propels the story.
Anyway, if you're interested, you can add Sanctum to your TBR shelf on Goodreads. Also, I now have an author website you can check out here. If you're a person who "likes" things on the Facebook, my page is right here. And if you happen to want to pre-order SANCTUM, it's right here--or stop by this blog/Goodreads over the next few months because I think I'll be giving away some ARCs! I promise you, I will not get spammy with all this stuff, but you know. I had to mention it. And I'm kind of excited.
Happy Tuesday, everyone!
May 27, 2012
SANCTUM COVER REVEAL!
Well, it's not here ...
IT'S HERE.
And here's how I feel about the whole thing:
Let me know what you think of the SANCTUM cover!
Thanks again to Katie at the Mundie Moms blog for hosting the reveal!
Now, please excuse me while I go stare fondly at it ...
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone!
IT'S HERE.
And here's how I feel about the whole thing:
Let me know what you think of the SANCTUM cover!
Thanks again to Katie at the Mundie Moms blog for hosting the reveal!
Now, please excuse me while I go stare fondly at it ...
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone!
