Carina Axelsson's Blog, page 14
March 12, 2014
Deadlines and more…
Hi all,
Sorry I haven’t posted anything here in the last two weeks, but I’ve been on a super tight schedule of deadlines for Stolen with Style, the second book in the Model Under Cover series.
I really like this fast-paced mystery that takes place in glamorous New York City, and I hope you will too!
So, does Axelle have another tough case on her hands? Yes!
And do Axelle and Sebastian work together as friends…or more? You’ll have to wait and see…
And does Axelle learn to love fashion? Hmm…I think that’s something you should ask her!
Is Fashion Week on in NYC? Definitely – so get your high heels ready!
Publication date is right now slated for September 2014, but keep checking back here for updates. I also regularly update publication information on my Facebook page.
I’ll be back to my normal weekly posting schedule next week!
Thanks!
Carina x
February 25, 2014
Get Ready With Me!
Hi everyone,
My third Box of OMG videos is ready! So check it out here to see how I pulled my outfit together for my flight up to London two weeks ago to launch Model Under Cover: A Crime of Fashion.
When I fly do I like to be comfy? Yes!
Do I like a fab pair of sneakers? Yes!
Do I like a large handbag? Definitely!
Watch the video to find out more, and let me know what you think…
Carina x
February 24, 2014
US Publication Date!
Hi everyone,
Get your sunglasses and beach towel ready for some fun summer reading! The US publication date for Model Under Cover: A Crime of Fashion, is now set for JULY 1st – just in time to enjoy some summer sleuthing while you work on your tan and hit the barbecue! Awesome!
As for the US title, it’ll be as follows (drum roll, please!):
Model Under Cover: Paris
A Crime of Fashion
So, basically, the same as the UK title – but with a breezy American twist.
Do I sound excited yet?
I’ll keep you posted on the US cover…
Carina x
ps: Below c’est moi with my super-cool and unflappable US editor, Steve Geck, from Sourcebooks, at the 2013 Frankfurt Book Fair.
February 21, 2014
Hey, Watson…
Hi everyone,
Every Sherlock needs her Watson, and my fashion detective, Axelle, is no exception!
And although Axelle wants to solve her first big case solo, the cool, sidekick-charm of Sebastian, the Chief Inspector’s son, threatens to persuade her otherwise. So to inspire girl Sherlocks of all ages, click here to check out my new Pinterest board of potential Watson/sidekick contenders.
Let me know what you think!
Carina
February 20, 2014
The Selfie…
Hi everyone,
Thank you to all of you lovely girls I had the pleasure of meeting during my MUC: A Crime of Fashion UK book launch. Because of your encouragement I’m now on Instagram! You girls convinced me – and guess what? I love it.
But as an Instagram newbie, I still grapple with questions like which filter to use? To frame or not to frame? And, when taking a selfie, is the lighting really okay? And why does my Cocker spaniel always look better than I do?
Here’s a cute video from Teen Vogue which I came across today, and which deals with exactly these questions. It’s called How To Take A Selfie and if you click here you can link to it.
In the meantime, you can check out my Instagram page (and find out more about the two photos on this blog post) by clicking here.
Happy snapping!
Carina x
ps: Have I mentioned that I love Converse sneakers? I can feel another blog post coming on…
February 19, 2014
Meet My Desk Dinosaur…
Hi everyone,
For those of you curious to know more about what my writing desk looks like – desk dinosaur included! – check out the video below.
Does anyone else out there keep a dinosaur on their desk?
Carina x
February 17, 2014
CARA FOR MULBERRY…
Hi everyone,
One of the fun surprises that has come out of LFW was yesterday’s announcement that model Cara Delevigne – yes, she of the amazing eyebrows! – will be designing a line of handbags for UK fashion house Mulberry, the first of which will be available in the autumn of this year. Frankly though, with Cara’s great sense of irreverent, cool-Brit style, is it really any surprise Mulberry wanted to sign her up?
Here are a few of the reasons why I think Cara’s personal brand of sparkle and style stands out, and why I find her so much fun to follow:
You know I have to say it: her brows! They’re amazing and lush and have a life of their own. Long may they live!
Because I love a beanie (you can check out my beanie blog post here), and judging by the number of photos I see of her wearing one, so does Cara. Her strong brows and long hair balance a beanie perfectly – no matter how bright or kooky.
Because anyone who repeatedly pulls goofy faces, and let’s them be captured on film has to be fun. Don’t change, Cara!
Because she’s a tomboy, and makes being a tomboy look cool. Love!
Because with brows like that all you need is lipstick.
Because I think she does a great job of flying the flag for British style at its most young, fun, out-there, girly, tomboy-ish best!
Carina x
February 14, 2014
LISTEN UP: WRITING TIPS!
Last week, as part of my Model Under Cover: A Crime of Fashion book launch in the UK, I was very kindly asked by Kids Fun Radio to do an interview at their London studio. (To listen to the podcast click here.)
Bex, the interviewer, had a lot of good questions for me, and one of the last questions she asked was whether I had any tips I could offer young, aspiring writers. So, as many of you have been asking me the same question, here are my four top writing tips:
1. Read! The more you read the better your writing will be, it’s that simple. You should have your nose in a book as often as you can, and for as long as you can. And you should be reading everything from the classics to bestsellers. And when you’ve finished reading, read some more!
2. Be Bold! For an author, it’s a great thing when your personal experiences can feed your writing, so go out and see new places, meet different people, try interesting things. You never know: anything or anyone, be it your fun-loving aunt or a snippet of overheard conversation, could inspire a new character, scene or even a whole book!
3. Keep a notebook! I’m partial to the bright-pink, little notebooks that Moleskin makes, but anything will do. Just choose one you like, and be sure it’s small enough to carry in your handbag or rucksack: you never know when an idea may strike you, and you want to be able to jot it down before you forget it!
4. Get real! By this I mean that if you want to write a book, but keep getting scared by the thought of having to write few hundred pages, then don’t think about it. Write a little every day, and eventually you’ll have a whole novel.
Let me know what you think, and don’t forget to listen to the podcast!
Carina x
ps: Me and Bex below at the Kids Fun Radio studio.
February 13, 2014
THE SEARCH IS ON!
Hi everyone,
I’m super excited about the “Find Belle” competition now under way, and being hosted by the Book Depository.
In case you don’t know the details, here’s a bit of background from Model Under Cover: A Crime of Fashion:
Despite her long legs and fashion-obsessed family, all my detective, Axelle, wants to do is solve mysteries. So when star designer Belle La Lune vanishes, Axelle seizes the chance to go undercover as a model to crack the case – even if it means being tortured with eyelash-curlers and teetering on sky-high heels. Aided by the distractingly gorgeous Sebastian, Axelle races against the clock to solve the mystery at the heart of Paris Fashion Week…
So keeping this in mind, my UK publisher, Usborne, and the Book Depository teamed up to create a fun detective game; now it’s your chance to find Belle, and win yourself a fantastic Nikon Digital camera – perfect for your very own fashion shoots or documenting clues:
All you have to do is head on over to my Facebook page, and follow the clues to track down Belle. From now until the 23rd of February you’ll have plenty of chances to find her. There will be a different clue every day, with a chance to enter every day too. Once you’ve found Belle’s location you’ll be sent back to the Book Depository’s mystery page where you can enter your details and be in with a chance to win.
The clues will be on some fab blogs, so have fun…and you just might find one somewhere here, too! So get out your magnifying glass, and good luck!
Competition closes Tuesday 25th February…
Carina x
