Jennifer Estep's Blog, page 137
March 9, 2009
Done … for now …
So I’m back at the day job this week. But I actually did get a few things done while I was off last week. Namely, I finished revising the Spy book and sent that to my agent. Huzzah! Now, let’s just hope she thinks it has some potential. Fingers crossed on that one.
And, yes, I got my house clean too. We’ll see how long that lasts, though. :twisted:
And I finally decided on how I want to proceed with Quiver, the young-adult fantasy that I’m writing. My heroine is going to be a Robin Hood-type outla
The nose knows …
That spring is near. It was beautiful here this weekend — 75 and sunny. Unfortunately, along with spring comes the return of my allergies. Which meant I spent a good portion of the weekend sneezing.
Trees and flowers really don’t need pollen to grow, do they? Because my nose could certainly do without it … [image error]
March 7, 2009
929 and counting …
Finished Graceling by Kristin Cashore. I’ve heard a lot of buzz about this book, and since I’m trying to write a young-adult fantasy, I thought I would check it out. Warning: There be spoilers ahead.
Graceling is set in the world of the Seven Kingdoms, where people have extreme skills or “graces” in various areas like cooking, dancing, etc. Lady Katsa has an unusual skill, even among Gracelings — she can kill people with her bare hands. Katsa basically serves as her uncle, King Randa’s, enforcer
March 5, 2009
Title update …
So the latest on the titles is that everyone seems to think using Spider or Spider’s in the titles is the best way to go (since my character goes by the moniker the Spider). Everyone think that gives off the appropriate cool, gritty, urban fantasy vibe. Here are some titles we’re now considering:
Spider’s Bite (or Spider Bite)
Spider’s Web (or Spider Web)
Kiss of the Spider
Too bad Along Came a Spider is already taken by James Patterson. [image error]
Also, we’re thinking either calling it the Elemental Assassin
March 3, 2009
‘Tis done … for now …
Well, I got one of my to-do things accomplished this week. I finally finished revising the Spy book and sent that off to my agent. Huzzah! Now, I can focus on writing Quiver, my young-adult fantasy.
Not sure if I’ve mentioned it or not, but the Spy book focuses on Abby Tomb, a bookstore owner and paramortal (someone with a special talent/gift/power). In Abby’s case, she happens to be immune to magic. When Abby witnesses a shooting, she’s recruited by PACT — the Paramortal Counter Terrorism Agency
Appearances …
So I have some tentative events coming up I thought I’d share:
April 13: 7 p.m., Bristol Public Library, Bristol, Va. I’ll be at the library to kick off National Library Week (I believe the library is hosting authors every night that week). I’ll be doing a Q&A about writing and signing books. The program should run 60-90 minutes. More details coming soon.
July 15-18: I’ll be appearing at RWA Nationals this year. I should be at the literacy signing and the Berkley authors signing. And I’ll be wande
March 2, 2009
Things to do …
So I’m taking some time off from the day job this week. Usually, when I’m off, it just never seems like I get the things done that I want/plan to. But this — this week! — will be different. This week, I am going to do book stuff. I am going to get things accomplished!
Mainly, I want to finish revising the Spy book so I can send that to my agent to read. That’s goal number one. I also need to update the Web site, write some more on Quiver, and clean off my desk. In between laundry, chores, and all
February 27, 2009
The waiting game …
So a few weeks ago, I talked about where an author’s advance goes. Today, I thought I’d talk about something else authors have to deal with — waiting.
Because nothing – nothing — in publishing happens fast. Not one darn thing.
Case in point: I started working on the first Assassin book in the fall of 2007, and it’s not coming out until February 2010 — more than two years later. Of course, this one is partially on me, since if I’d written the book right to start with, things might have happened fas
February 26, 2009
Taken away …
So Wheezley and I went to the movies last weekend and watched Taken.
If you haven’t seen the previews, Taken stars Liam Neeson as a former government agent (think an older version of Jason Bourne). When his daughter is kidnapped in Paris, Liam goes over there to rescue her. Car chases, explosions, and general mayhem ensue.
Wheezley and I were both in the mood for an action movie, and Taken certainly delivered. There were plenty of fistfights and bloody deaths, and Neeson was convincing enough as
February 25, 2009
Still on the title hunt …
So my agent, editor, and I are still on the hunt for a perfect title for the first Assassin book. Even though the book isn’t coming out until February 2010, the title stuff needs to be nailed down by the end of March. That’s how far ahead the world of publishing works.
We’ve pretty much ruled out the “Gin” titles — Gin on the Rocks, Bitter Gin, etc. I like them, but my agent pointed out that they make the books sound like they take place in a bar and that they’re not that paranormal or urban fant
