Erica Cope's Blog, page 9
October 28, 2013
Indie Mash-up 2013
Hey everybody! I know that pretty much everyone who follows this blog is also on my Facebook Author page BUT I wanted to share a more in-depth post about Mash-up--after all it was my first big author event!
So Thursday, Komal Kant arrived at my house for our photoshoot! We got some really great images but two really stood out as our potential cover for Unfamiliar. Now that Komal has published Wrong Side of Town, we will be starting our little book baby soon!
Checking out the photos
Friday after my husband got off work, we headed down to Arkansas. We're only a little over an hour away so it wasn't that bad of a drive at all but I was really stressed out because our friend Autumn Doughton was having the trip from HELL. Her flight got re-routed mid-flight because two of the generators broke then her flight got cancelled and she thought she was trapped in Nashville. Luckily for her, she was offered a ride. During the road trip however there was another delay because....And I'm dead serious.....a CHICKEN truck flipped over. Yeah. Crazy!
She finally arrived after 1am and even after pretty much NO SLEEP she was still her usual ray of sunshiney self and cracked us up all day with her hilarious stories and wild flailing of her arms while telling said stories. It's no wonder she's such a wonderful writer, that woman has LIVED. I absolutely adore this lady. I don't think it's possibe to be around her and NOT smile so much your face hurts!
We ate breakfast together and then set up our tables. We all got to sit by eachother which was so fun! I think being there with my friends made me much less nervous than I would've been had I attended by myself.
Mash-up itself was so much better than my expectations. We had a steady flow of people all day and though I don't think we actually sold a whole lot of books, but we did a lot of book-trading with the other authors which was awesome because now my bookshelf really is well-stocked--in fact, I need a bigger one because I still have a crap-ton of books in my closet and in the garage (only my favorites make 'the shelf'. It's actually a really pathetic bookcase. I'm in desperate need of a bigger one!)
Komal got super sick the day of the signing. I think the combination of jet-lag, allergies from being in a new climate and stress over publishing her latest novel Wrong Side of Town did her in. It was so sad!). She came late and left early but after some much needed rest and medicine she was feeling better in time for the VIP dinner and after party.
Oh the after party. Boy do we have some stories about that!
The male models were um, well, there's really no other word other than DIVAS. They cracked me up!
Yes, they were...um....well-built and were obviously putting on a show but still, I couldn't help but crack up when they pulled the "Zoolander" face.
Probably the most ridiculous part of the night was when we were taking a group picture outside in the hallway where the models were getting "ready" and right in front of us one of the models (the one who actually ended up winning the cover contest) lifted up his shirt and was rubbing his abs. Dead freaking serious.
We were like:
"huh?"
"Say what?""Is he doing that for us?" "Awkward."
Then we realized there was a MIRROR behind us. The dude was checking himself out in the mirror! It was hilarious! So I couldn't resisit....I had to do this:
It was a lot of fun and we had a great time! Especially watching my husband actually judge the model contest, his face was perfect because it was obvious he was definitely taking his job seriously.
All in all it was a GREAT weekend!
These are the things I've learned for next year:
Definitely bring lots of swag because people are more likely to pick up the free stuff then buy your books. Bookmarks, postcards and pens are perfect.15 copies of each book is probably plenty, but bring extra to exchange with other authors.Don't drink two glasses of wine at dinner when you know you're a light-weight---you'll just end up doing something embarrassing like singing and playing "Cups". True story.Always bring Zach because he's the best assistant ever.
Looking forward to Mash-up 2014!
XOXO
So Thursday, Komal Kant arrived at my house for our photoshoot! We got some really great images but two really stood out as our potential cover for Unfamiliar. Now that Komal has published Wrong Side of Town, we will be starting our little book baby soon!
Checking out the photosFriday after my husband got off work, we headed down to Arkansas. We're only a little over an hour away so it wasn't that bad of a drive at all but I was really stressed out because our friend Autumn Doughton was having the trip from HELL. Her flight got re-routed mid-flight because two of the generators broke then her flight got cancelled and she thought she was trapped in Nashville. Luckily for her, she was offered a ride. During the road trip however there was another delay because....And I'm dead serious.....a CHICKEN truck flipped over. Yeah. Crazy!
She finally arrived after 1am and even after pretty much NO SLEEP she was still her usual ray of sunshiney self and cracked us up all day with her hilarious stories and wild flailing of her arms while telling said stories. It's no wonder she's such a wonderful writer, that woman has LIVED. I absolutely adore this lady. I don't think it's possibe to be around her and NOT smile so much your face hurts!
We ate breakfast together and then set up our tables. We all got to sit by eachother which was so fun! I think being there with my friends made me much less nervous than I would've been had I attended by myself.
Mash-up itself was so much better than my expectations. We had a steady flow of people all day and though I don't think we actually sold a whole lot of books, but we did a lot of book-trading with the other authors which was awesome because now my bookshelf really is well-stocked--in fact, I need a bigger one because I still have a crap-ton of books in my closet and in the garage (only my favorites make 'the shelf'. It's actually a really pathetic bookcase. I'm in desperate need of a bigger one!)
Komal got super sick the day of the signing. I think the combination of jet-lag, allergies from being in a new climate and stress over publishing her latest novel Wrong Side of Town did her in. It was so sad!). She came late and left early but after some much needed rest and medicine she was feeling better in time for the VIP dinner and after party.
Oh the after party. Boy do we have some stories about that!
The male models were um, well, there's really no other word other than DIVAS. They cracked me up!
Yes, they were...um....well-built and were obviously putting on a show but still, I couldn't help but crack up when they pulled the "Zoolander" face.
Probably the most ridiculous part of the night was when we were taking a group picture outside in the hallway where the models were getting "ready" and right in front of us one of the models (the one who actually ended up winning the cover contest) lifted up his shirt and was rubbing his abs. Dead freaking serious.
We were like:
"huh?"
"Say what?""Is he doing that for us?" "Awkward."
Then we realized there was a MIRROR behind us. The dude was checking himself out in the mirror! It was hilarious! So I couldn't resisit....I had to do this:
It was a lot of fun and we had a great time! Especially watching my husband actually judge the model contest, his face was perfect because it was obvious he was definitely taking his job seriously.
All in all it was a GREAT weekend!
These are the things I've learned for next year:
Definitely bring lots of swag because people are more likely to pick up the free stuff then buy your books. Bookmarks, postcards and pens are perfect.15 copies of each book is probably plenty, but bring extra to exchange with other authors.Don't drink two glasses of wine at dinner when you know you're a light-weight---you'll just end up doing something embarrassing like singing and playing "Cups". True story.Always bring Zach because he's the best assistant ever.
Looking forward to Mash-up 2014!
XOXO
October 10, 2013
I am obviously not PicMonkey savvy....maybe I need to invest in Photoshop?
I tried making a pretty picture to show that Lark and In the Shadows are both currently available for only .99 but it's kinda boring. Oh well! I tried!I outlined a new story idea yesterday. It's a NA contemporary romance that I'm actually pretty excited about. I also started writing a novella in Grey's POV per my husband's request (don't worry, Lark 3 is still in the works as well) plus the WIP I'm co-writing with Komal and beta reading for two of my friends, well, needless to say, I've been pretty busy!
Plus there is only a few more weeks until MASH-UP! October is flying by!
Will I be seeing any of you at Mashup? Have you finished reading In the Shadows? What did you think?
XOXO
October 8, 2013
In the Shadows .99!
In preparation for Indie Mashup on the 26th, I decided to put In the Shadows on sale for a limited time!
Amazon As soon as Barnes and Noble updates I'll share that link too!
XOXO
Amazon As soon as Barnes and Noble updates I'll share that link too! XOXO
September 30, 2013
Nook Readers--In the Shadows is now available!
In the Shadows is officially up on Barnes and Noble! For those of you who haven't had a chance to read Lark yet, I'm terribly sorry but you'll have to wait a little bit longer. I enrolled Lark in Amazon's KDP select, not realizing that it would automatically re-enroll unless I specified otherwise. Needless to say, it will be unavailable in any other stores until after Nov 15--but I promise, as soon as I can I will be re-publishing on Nook!
Here is the direct link: In the Shadows on Nook
I hope those of you who have read it already enjoyed it!
XOXO
Here is the direct link: In the Shadows on Nook
I hope those of you who have read it already enjoyed it!
XOXO
September 23, 2013
In the Shadows: My cast
It's officially out there for other people to read, critique, love and hate.
I'm very very very nervous about this! I'm taking a couple of weeks off to catch up on some reading and you know, clean my house, but then I plan on starting the beginning phases of Lark 3 as well as a few other projects.
I sincerely hope that you enjoy In the Shadows just as much, if not more than Lark.
In the meantime, while I'm be sipping my coffee, biting my nails and waiting nervously for those first reviews, I thought I'd share my "cast list".
Jacoby, Grey and Adele are spot on in my head. Mia is the closest I could possibly find.
Happy reading!
XOXO
I'm very very very nervous about this! I'm taking a couple of weeks off to catch up on some reading and you know, clean my house, but then I plan on starting the beginning phases of Lark 3 as well as a few other projects.
I sincerely hope that you enjoy In the Shadows just as much, if not more than Lark.
In the meantime, while I'm be sipping my coffee, biting my nails and waiting nervously for those first reviews, I thought I'd share my "cast list".
Jacoby, Grey and Adele are spot on in my head. Mia is the closest I could possibly find.
Happy reading!
XOXO
September 21, 2013
Early Release!
In the Shadows is LIVE on Amazon! Well, the ebook version anyway! The paperback should follow shortly and I'll be uploading to Barnes and Noble later today.
Here is the link
Hope you enjoy it!
Happy Reading!
XOXO
Here is the link
Hope you enjoy it!
Happy Reading!
XOXO
September 18, 2013
Sneak Peek #2: In the Shadows
Last week's teaser featured Grey, and while In the Shadows will have plenty of tension between him and Mia, I didn't want Jacoby fans to despair---he's still just as charming as he was before---so I'm sharing a FUN teaser this week. :)
My poster for Indie Mash-up!
Realization lights up on my Mom’s face. She gingerly rips off a corner revealing the familiar edge of a canvas. She quickly removes the rest of the paper, gasping when the picture comes in full view. She studies it for a minute before looking back up at Jacoby with wide eyes and a beaming smile.
“I don’t know what to say.” She laughs. “You did this?”
“It was harder than it looks,” he admits, and I can practically hear his smirk.
My curiosity can’t take anymore so I bound down the stairs to see firsthand what Jacoby has painted.
“Hi! When did you get here?” I ask as I reach the bottom of the stairs. I don’t want them to know I was spying on them after all.
“Jacoby has painted me a masterpiece!” Mom can barely conceal the entertainment in her voice as she gazes at him affectionately. “Why didn’t you tell me he was so talented?”
He’s a brown-nosing genius. I’ll have to make him teach me everything he knows.
I take my first look at the painting and burst in to laughter. I don’t know what I was expecting but I definitely wasn’t expecting to see a replica of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
“Jacoby,” I scold playfully. “Is this a Paint-by-Number kit?”
“Maybe,” he answers with a sly little grin that makes me just want to kiss his face. And I probably would’ve if my mom wasn’t standing right next to me.
“Oh good grief,” I tease him. “Look I can still see the number 14.”
“You can not!” He grabs the painting out of my hands and checks to make sure then narrows his eyes at me
“Oh Mia, leave the poor boy alone.” Mom takes the painting back from Jacoby. “I think it’s beautiful. I’ll hang it up in the hallway.”
“Yeah, right along with all of Maddie’s ‘masterpieces’,” I add. He mocks devastation and I nudge him with my elbow. “Come on, let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
My poster for Indie Mash-up!Realization lights up on my Mom’s face. She gingerly rips off a corner revealing the familiar edge of a canvas. She quickly removes the rest of the paper, gasping when the picture comes in full view. She studies it for a minute before looking back up at Jacoby with wide eyes and a beaming smile.
“I don’t know what to say.” She laughs. “You did this?”
“It was harder than it looks,” he admits, and I can practically hear his smirk.
My curiosity can’t take anymore so I bound down the stairs to see firsthand what Jacoby has painted.
“Hi! When did you get here?” I ask as I reach the bottom of the stairs. I don’t want them to know I was spying on them after all.
“Jacoby has painted me a masterpiece!” Mom can barely conceal the entertainment in her voice as she gazes at him affectionately. “Why didn’t you tell me he was so talented?”
He’s a brown-nosing genius. I’ll have to make him teach me everything he knows.
I take my first look at the painting and burst in to laughter. I don’t know what I was expecting but I definitely wasn’t expecting to see a replica of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
“Jacoby,” I scold playfully. “Is this a Paint-by-Number kit?”
“Maybe,” he answers with a sly little grin that makes me just want to kiss his face. And I probably would’ve if my mom wasn’t standing right next to me.
“Oh good grief,” I tease him. “Look I can still see the number 14.”
“You can not!” He grabs the painting out of my hands and checks to make sure then narrows his eyes at me
“Oh Mia, leave the poor boy alone.” Mom takes the painting back from Jacoby. “I think it’s beautiful. I’ll hang it up in the hallway.”
“Yeah, right along with all of Maddie’s ‘masterpieces’,” I add. He mocks devastation and I nudge him with my elbow. “Come on, let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
September 11, 2013
Sneak Peek: In the Shadows
We are less than a month away from release day! Eek! So I thought it was about time I started sharing some teasers....
Paperback!“Grey, do you think it’s too late?”
He nods sadly. “I’m sorry, Mia, but if they have her, I’m not sure if there is anything we can really do.”
The world distorts itself around me like a Fun House mirror, making me feel dizzy and nauseated. My lungs collapse in on themselves as the furious beating of my broken heart threatens to slam right out of my ripped open chest.
“I—can’t—breathe,” I gasp as Grey pulls me into his arms and holds me close to his chest, whispering words that I don’t understand. My tears fall freely, staining his shirt with wet splotches but he doesn’t care, he continues to hold me tight, comforting me just like he has done before. I feel his lips press down on the top of my head and even though this sweet gesture is completely innocent, my stomach flips unexpectedly which in turn elicits a crashing wave of guilt that instantly squashes the butterflies that had suddenly been awakened by his simple touch, shredding their wings into powdery oblivion until they no longer have any semblance of beauty. What do you think??Let the countdown begin!
September 1, 2013
In the Shadows Contest!
Last night I officially finished writing IN THE SHADOWS the sequel to LARK.
*happy dance*
(feel free to join me)
(ya know ya wanna!)
Releasing Oct 1st---->That's just ONE month away!
I'm so excited about this installment of Lark's story. Well, I think I'm equal parts excited and scared out of my mind that it won't live up to your expectations. But I think that's pretty normal, right? (I hope!)
Since the editing part of the process is now in full swing, I'll start sharing teasers soon and in the mean time, because I'm just so excited to have officially typed THE END that I think a little game is in order! Who's in?
In this book Lark encounters an inscription that is written in the ancient language of the Light Elves and of course, she can't read it! (Silly girl, maybe next time you'll pay better attention when the schmexy Greyson St. Clair is trying to educate you)
I was thinking that the first person who can successfully translate the following passage should get a Lark keychain OR necklace, what do you think?
The necklaces are pretty cute, right?
You wanna play?
Okay, here you go:
Ωάr¥ŋ£ƨƨ ΩiΩ fάſſ fró∩ ŧħ£ ſiʛħŧάŋΩ iŋ ŧħ£ ƨħάΩóϖs óf ŧħ£ pſiʛħŧ
Iŋŧó ŧħ£ Ω£pŧħƨ ϖiſſ p£risħ άſſ Ŧħάŧ Ωάr£ƨ Ωiƨŧųrɸ tħiƨ p£Ω£ƨŧάſ. .
A teeny tiny sneak peek into In the Shadows and some swag! Sweet deal!
Put your answer in the comments either on this post or on Facebook! Good luck!
(PS this was soooo much fun! I thoroughly enjoyed making up my own language and really wish I would've done more of it in the first book. Lucky for me, I still have a whole other book in the Lark world to write)
*happy dance*
(feel free to join me)
(ya know ya wanna!)
Releasing Oct 1st---->That's just ONE month away!I'm so excited about this installment of Lark's story. Well, I think I'm equal parts excited and scared out of my mind that it won't live up to your expectations. But I think that's pretty normal, right? (I hope!)
Since the editing part of the process is now in full swing, I'll start sharing teasers soon and in the mean time, because I'm just so excited to have officially typed THE END that I think a little game is in order! Who's in?
In this book Lark encounters an inscription that is written in the ancient language of the Light Elves and of course, she can't read it! (Silly girl, maybe next time you'll pay better attention when the schmexy Greyson St. Clair is trying to educate you)
I was thinking that the first person who can successfully translate the following passage should get a Lark keychain OR necklace, what do you think?
The necklaces are pretty cute, right?
You wanna play?
Okay, here you go:
Ωάr¥ŋ£ƨƨ ΩiΩ fάſſ fró∩ ŧħ£ ſiʛħŧάŋΩ iŋ ŧħ£ ƨħάΩóϖs óf ŧħ£ pſiʛħŧ
Iŋŧó ŧħ£ Ω£pŧħƨ ϖiſſ p£risħ άſſ Ŧħάŧ Ωάr£ƨ Ωiƨŧųrɸ tħiƨ p£Ω£ƨŧάſ. .
A teeny tiny sneak peek into In the Shadows and some swag! Sweet deal!
Put your answer in the comments either on this post or on Facebook! Good luck!
(PS this was soooo much fun! I thoroughly enjoyed making up my own language and really wish I would've done more of it in the first book. Lucky for me, I still have a whole other book in the Lark world to write)
August 22, 2013
Lark Inspired Etsy Treasury
Check out this Lark Inspired Etsy Treasury Jessica Woody put together:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/ODQwNTkwNHwyNzI0ODg0MTM0/lark-a-novel-by-erica-cope?ref=af_you_trePretty awesome, right? I love it to pieces!
Still working on In the Shadows but my good friend Michelle Flick is editing it from the beginning already which I'm hoping allows me to publish pretty quickly after finishing up the last few chapters (there will be 20 total.). I just sent her chapters 8-12. I finished up chapter 13 yesterday and my plan is to finish writing chapter 14 today. I already have the remaining chapters "started" (some more than others) so it's just a matter of "finishing" them and making sure I've tied up most of the loose ends (I promise, I'll never write a cliffhanger) while setting up for the third and final book.
It's definitely coming along!
Tonight I'm going to see The Mortal Instruments with my friend Sarah--super excited! I started reading the book but it's hard for me to read while I'm writing. I just never have enough time in my day to do both and I'd much rather finish writing right now. I'd really love to have In the Shadows out by Oct so I can bring it with me to th Indie Mash-up on Oct 26th. Have you bought your tickets yet? If you have, don't forget to enter the giveaway This Redhead Loves Books is hosting!
Okay, that's enough of a break! Time to pour another cup of coffee and get settled at my desk before I need to take my daughter to preschool.
XOXO
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/ODQwNTkwNHwyNzI0ODg0MTM0/lark-a-novel-by-erica-cope?ref=af_you_trePretty awesome, right? I love it to pieces! Still working on In the Shadows but my good friend Michelle Flick is editing it from the beginning already which I'm hoping allows me to publish pretty quickly after finishing up the last few chapters (there will be 20 total.). I just sent her chapters 8-12. I finished up chapter 13 yesterday and my plan is to finish writing chapter 14 today. I already have the remaining chapters "started" (some more than others) so it's just a matter of "finishing" them and making sure I've tied up most of the loose ends (I promise, I'll never write a cliffhanger) while setting up for the third and final book.
It's definitely coming along!
Tonight I'm going to see The Mortal Instruments with my friend Sarah--super excited! I started reading the book but it's hard for me to read while I'm writing. I just never have enough time in my day to do both and I'd much rather finish writing right now. I'd really love to have In the Shadows out by Oct so I can bring it with me to th Indie Mash-up on Oct 26th. Have you bought your tickets yet? If you have, don't forget to enter the giveaway This Redhead Loves Books is hosting!
Okay, that's enough of a break! Time to pour another cup of coffee and get settled at my desk before I need to take my daughter to preschool.
XOXO
