Jennifer Estep's Blog, page 136
March 25, 2009
‘Tis done … for now …
So I’ve finished my first draft of my young-adult fantasy, Quiver. Word count: 62,241. If I was writing one of the Elemental Assassin books, I’d need about 30,000 more words. But I think 62K is a good start for a YA. I’m thinking the final book will be between 70-75K.
After about six false starts, I finally think I’ve nailed down how I want the story to go. My main character, Gwen, is sort of a Scarlet Pimpernel meets Robin Hood type. With magic. Here is something resembling a blurb:
After her fat
March 24, 2009
Smooth-Talking Stranger …
So the folks over at Dear Author and Smart Bitches are doing another Save the Contemporary book campaign, this time for Smooth-Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas. There are free books to be had, so go on over and check out how you can enter and help spread the word. [image error]
Now, I don’t keep a lot of books (simply because I don’t have room) and I don’t re-read that many books either, but Kleypas’ other two contemporaries, Sugar Daddy and Blue-Eyed Devil, are two books that have gone up on my keeper shelf
March 23, 2009
A second chance …
There will, in fact, be a second chance tournament for the Dear Author/Smart Bitches tournament. Huzzah! So go on over and enter.
I did, because my first bracket sucked. Of course, now the second book I’ve picked to win (Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas) will automatically lose as well. Because that’s how I roll when it comes to contests. [image error]
Sorry, Ms. Kleypas, I really didn’t mean to curse your book …
March 19, 2009
Book madness …
I’ve been meaning to mention this all week, but time has gotten away from me. Anyway, the folks at Dear Author and Smart Bitches are hosting their own version of March Madness — with books. Check it out here.
It’s too late to sign up to win prizes now (unless maybe they do a second-chance tournament halfway through like they did last year?). But you can still vote here and play along at home.
My pick to win the tournament? The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (which is next in my TBR pile). Of cour
March 18, 2009
930 and counting …
Finished The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines. This book kicks off a new fantasy series for Hines, about three fairy tale princesses and the adventures they have.
This book focuses on Danielle de Glas Whiteshore (aka Cinderella). Danielle is trying to adjust to life in the royal castle now that she’s married her prince. But when Danielle’s stepsister Charlotte tries to kill her, the princess learns that her husband has been kidnapped — and that her servant Talia (aka Sleeping Beauty) is quite ha
Success, baby!
So a few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was hunting for a fantasy book I’d seen somewhere about a thief and a wizard whose stories intersect … and I’ve finally found it again! It’s Melusine by Sarah Monette.
Curiously enough, I was reading through the fantasy reviews in the latest issue of Romantic Times when I spotted the review for Monette’s latest book (the title escapes me right now). Hey, I thought, that sounds familiar …
Anyway, now that I know what the book is, I can do something useful — li
March 17, 2009
No fear …
So, as I mentioned yesterday, I did a little cable access channel promo spot for one of my regional libraries. Wheezley and I were talking about this later, and he said that he didn’t know if he could do something like that because it was basically public speaking.
Maybe I’m weird, but public speaking doesn’t bother me anymore. At least, not much.
That’s one of the things nobody ever seems to mention about this author gig — you have to do some public speaking. Schmoozing with folks at conferences,
March 16, 2009
In the spotlight …
So I did something kind of unusual today — I filmed a television spot for National Library Week (April 12-18). I’m going to be appearing at one of my regional libraries, the Bristol Public Library, at 7 p.m. April 13, and I was one of three authors the library recruited to do the spot.
It was nothing big, just a local cable access channel in my area. We went in, stood in front of the camera, went through a short script a couple of times, and tried not to flub it up too bad. Bada-bing, bada-boom,
March 13, 2009
Decisions, decisions …
So I met with my critique group last night. I’d sent them some sample chapters of Quiver, my young-adult fantasy, to look over. The general conscensus was that my second effort – making my main character, Gwen, more of a Robin Hood-type outlaw – was much better and more in keeping with my voice.
That’s good and made me feel like I was going in the right direction with the book …
Until this morning, when I had yet another idea — to make Gwen more of a Scarlet Pimpernel-type character and basically
Going, going, gone …
So I’ve gotten word that the trade paperback edition of Hot Mama is going out of print. This isn’t unusual after the mass market version comes out. Why buy a book for $14 when you can get it for $7.99? And with the economy the way it is, I’m surprised this hasn’t happened sooner.
Anyway, if you want the trade paperback of Hot Mama with the cool cartoon cover, get it while you can …
