Sara B. Larson's Blog, page 4

YASH recap + winner!

WOW--what a fun weekend full of amazing people who love books! It was a blast to take part in the YA Scavenger Hunt! I hope you all won something somewhere...and at the very least it sounds like a lot of you found out about new books that you are excited to read, and that's always a win, right?

(And thank you to everyone who let me know how much you love DEFY in the comments--it truly means SO much to me!! Remember to stay tuned here for announcements about the title, synopsis, and cover reveal for the sequel in the next couple of months! I can't wait to share them with all of you!!)


But there can only be one winner of my personal contest for a signed copy of DEFY + swag pack!!

Rafflecopter has spoken and the lucky winner is....


1088 - Colleen Houck - Like Sara B. Larson, Author on Facebook


Yay!!! Congrats Colleen!!! I hope that you enjoy DEFY!

Until next time.... Happy Reading!!

YA Scavenger Hunt 2014!!

I'm Sara B. Larson ------> 
 I'm the author of the YA Fantasy DEFY! 
(The sequel is coming out in early 2015--stay tuned for more details!) 
(For more info on DEFY go here)


Now on to the reason why you're here--the YA Scavenger Hunt! This tri-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors (Mine is the first scene in DEFY told from Marcel's point of view instead of Alexa's!)...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Huntpage to find out all about the hunt. There are THREE contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the BLUE TEAM--but there is also a red team and a gold team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt home page!
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: 
Below, you'll notice that somewhere in this post is my favorite number (in blue!). Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). 
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure to fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by SUNDAY, APRIL 6, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
I'm also hosting a personal giveaway at the bottom of this post where you could win a signed copy of DEFY, plus an awesome swag pack (and an extra little treat)! So make sure to stick it through to the end!
Now on to the fun!!

Today, I am hosting the lovely, awesome:



 Jessica Spotswood! Jessica is the author of the Cahill Witch Chronicles: BORN WICKED (2012), STAR CURSED (2013), and SISTERS' FATE (August 2014). She grew up in a tiny, one-stoplight town in Pennsylvania, where she could be found swimming, playing clarinet, memorizing lines for the school play, or - most often - with her nose in a book. Now Jess lives in Washington, DC (Where I hear they have at least 21 stoplights) with her playwright husband and a cuddly cat named Monkey. She can be found drinking tea, teaching writing workshops for teens, or - most often - with her nose in a book. Some things never change. 






 About STAR CURSED: With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.


Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

TO BUY THIS AWESOME BOOK GO HERE!!!


I just love Jessica--she's one of the nicest, most giving authors I've ever met. (Even though we've only "met" online...so far. Hopefully someday in person!) And now, for your bonus content!!



(Warning: this bonus content contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the ending of BORN WICKED. It is the very end of BORN WICKED, rewritten from Finn's point of view.)


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"Miss Catherine Cahill," Brother Ishida booms. "Come forward to declare your intention before the Lord."
Cate rises from her spot in the Cahill family pew and approaches the dais. Whispers slither through the church; she's not due to declare an intention just yet, and the suddenness of the announcement has caught our neighbors by surprise. I catch the name McLeod and clench my fists. Of course they'd think it's him. He made his own intentions clear enough; he's come back to Chatham to court her. 
But she doesn't want McLeod, I remind myself. Perhaps he could give her more in the way of money, prestige, protection--
I cut off those thoughts. Stare down at my new black cloak and the silver ring of the Brotherhood on my finger. Not anymore, he can't. And he couldn't love her more. 
Ishida drones on about the seriousness of declaring her intention while I shift impatiently on the hard wooden pew. Sitting in the front row with all the other Brothers will take some getting used to. They all grinned at me and shook my hand this morning. Welcomed me as one of them. Brother Winfield commended me on taking my mother in hand. It looks good, closing the bookshop. The sort of thing a devout man would do. The men around me think I've finally seen wisdom and fallen in line. 
Self-loathing crackles through me. But Cate's worth it and more. 
She steps up onto the dais, beautiful as ever, and I flush with heat, remembering her slim body pressed against mine. It still seems incredible. A few weeks ago, I thought her proud and prim and standoffish. Now I can't imagine my future without her.
She holds herself tall, but her face is pale and drawn, and there are blue shadows beneath her eyes. Did her sisters raise a fuss about her marrying me? They'll come around. I'll show them how much she means to me. Marrying me, she'll stay here in town; I won't take her away from them like McLeod would. And I'll share the heavy burden that's plagued her since her mother died. Keep her safe. Make her laugh. I'd never judge her for what she is. I know she thinks I love her despite it, but her magic is part and parcel of her, just like her blond hair and pointy chin. 
"Catherine Cahill, what is your intention?" Ishida asks, and I prepare myself for a swarm of congratulations and back-slapping.
She does not hesitate. "In the hearing of the Lord and all those who witness my words, I offer myself to the Sisterhood," she says, her voice clear and unwavering.
The Sisterhood? 
No, I must have misheard - misunderstood. But no one's offering congratulations. And Cate - she isn't smiling. She's staring out over the congregation with her mouth set like a straight pin. I gape at her, willing her to meet my eyes.
After what seems an eternity, she does - and her hand flies to a small cut on her cheek. 
Someone hurt her. They're forcing her - the Brotherhood - no, that doesn't make any sense. That manipulative governess of hers, then. She must have tricked her into it. Threatened to expose her as a witch - or her sisters. I reach for the pistol tucked into my boot. I won't let her throw her life away like this. She's already sacrificed too much. I've sacrificed too much.
I don't think of the Brothers' guards standing at the back of the church or the hundreds of our neighbors between us and the doors. I don't think, period. I only know I've got to get her out of here -- but Cate shakes her head as if she can sense what I'm thinking. Her eyes - the gray blue of a summer thunderstorm - are still fixed on me, and she looks - defeated. 
"Catherine Cahill, the blessings of the Brotherhood are upon you," Ishida says. "You may go in peace to serve the Lord." 
She bows her head. "Thanks be."
The congregation echoes her and then everyone is standing, stretching, gossiping, greeting one another. I shove past the Brothers around me. That governess of hers has already snaked through the crowd to Cate's side. Is leading her down the side aisle. I dart through an empty pew just in time to hear, "The carriage is waiting." 
Good Lord. They can't mean to take her away now, today, without so much as--
Cate looks over her shoulder at me, then back at the governess. "Could I have five minutes? To say goodbye?" she pleads.
My jaw clenches. This isn't her own choice. It can't be. Less than twenty-four hours ago, I asked her to be my wife. Gave her my mother's ring. She said yes. What's changed?
"I don't think that's wise, do you? Why prolong the inevitable?" the governess asks, with a tiny, insufferable smile. I've never done violence to a woman, but Lord help me--
"May I go home to gather some of my things, at least?" Cate begs, and it is begging. I can read the shame of it on her face. This woman is in charge, controlling the situation, controlling Cate. But how? Why? We had a plan. She could - should have -- come to me; we could have figured this out together.  
"Your sisters and I can take care of that for you," the governess says. "We'll send them soon. Come, Cate. No stalling."
I reach out, catching at Cate's wrist. It's not proper, but the hell with proper. She was meant to be my wife.
I feel her tremor at my touch. "Goodbye," she chokes out, but she won't meet my eyes. Hers are fixed on the wooden floor as she fumbles in her pocket and then grabs my hand. Presses something cold into my palm. Closes my fist around it. Her hands, ice-cold, linger on mine, but only for a second. Then she steps away.
I glance down at the object in my palm. My mother's ruby ring. She's given it back. She's given it back, and now she's leaving. Going to New London to lock herself up in the guise of a nun and study the magic she hates. To become a weapon for people she doesn't trust. 
I don't understand it. I loved her enough to forswear myself to the Brotherhood. Enough to let my mother close the bookshop that was my father's dream. I went through with my end of the bargain, and now--
Could she have changed her mind? I don't want to think it. It's a good deal easier on my pride to imagine that they're forcing her, that they've threatened her sisters. But Cate's a witch, and a powerful one at that. She can erase people's memories. Why isn't she fighting back?
"Cate," I say, my voice hoarse. "Why?"
She doesn't answer. Doesn't even acknowledge the question. Simply stands there, frozen, her eyes still trained on the wooden floor.  
"Come along," that hateful governess says, taking her arm and leading her down the aisle.
Cate's sister Maura comes running up. "Let me go instead. Please, Cate, don't leave me here with her."
With who? The governess? Cate looks at her sisters, and it's then that I know it for certain. This isn't what she wants. She might leave me, but she'd never choose to leave Maura and Tess. 
"You'll have Tess," she tells Maura, and the way she holds herself, so tall and straight and determined - it's brave. Brave and misguided. There's got to be some way around this. "Look after each other."
Then she walks down the aisle and out the door and out of my life.
Only - no. I watch as Maura sobs, heedless of our neighbors' gawping. As Tess wraps a comforting arm around her. As Cate disappears into a carriage out front.
This isn't a permanent goodbye. Cate might be too frightened to fight back, but I'm not. 




How awesome was that?!?! Thank you so much for sharing that with us, Jess!!



CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author--the incredibly funny and wonderfully talented Jaye Robin Brown! CLICK HERE!


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The proper dressing of an author (AKA what to wear to a conference)

Today I was asked to give you some tips and ideas on how to dress for a conference, particularly for the LDStorymakers conference in April here in UT.

So let's just dive right in, shall we? *rubs hands together* (Did you know I almost started my own personal consultation business, where I would basically charge a small fee to be a personal shopper and help people find flattering outfits? Random, I know. But I really do enjoy going shopping with friends and helping them find something that really makes them look awesome, that they might not have picked out for themselves. Anyway, I digress...On to the tips!)

First, let's chat about personal hygiene. You'd think this should go without saying, but let's put it out there, just for the heck of it. It doesn't matter how great your outfit is if you stink. Deodorant/Anti-perspirant is a must. Brushing your teeth is a must. Showering/bathing is preferable, if possible. Bring breath mints or gum (but spit it out before your pitch session) because after half a day of talking and candy and pop, you're going to need a little breath-fixer-upper. On the flip side, don't drown yourself in cologne/perfume. You don't want to make the agent's eyes water and their nose burn, right? A spritz or two should do.

Okay, now that we have that out of the way, on to the fun stuff: the outfits!!

I might have gotten a bit carried away with this. I kind of love clothes. The idea when going to a conference is to look put together, professional even (especially if you are pitching your manuscript), but to also be comfortable in your skin. Don't buy a brand new pair of shoes the day before--you'll be searching for band-aids for your blisters by lunchtime. You will be walking A LOT at a writer's conference. Use your favorite, cute shoes that you know you can handle a couple of miles in. Or, if you want to buy new ones, get them a month in advance and break them in.

The point of the pictures below are just to give you a few ideas of what you could do. You don't have to go broke buying a new wardrobe for a two day conference. Look through your closet for similar items to help put your outfits together. And ladies remember: accessories make the outfit.Or your shoes. Anyone who knows me, probably knows how much I love shoes.


But let's start with the boys. You'll see a trend in this post of pairing casual clothing with a dressier item or two for a really great professional look that is still comfortable. For example:

 The surprise of the nice jacket with some nice pants, casual shoes and a thin sweater/hoodie or even a graphic tee can be a great look.



Or you can go for a slightly dressier look, but still dialed down a bit with a nice pair of jeans. Comfy but still very professional:

If you're pitching to an agent or editor, these are some slightly dressier looks, without needing to wear a complete suit:

 Wow, that's tiny. Basically, you can't go wrong with a button down shirt and some khaki's or slacks.


Or you could just totally go for it and show up like this:


Or, you could just be Chris Pine:

No pitch necessary, please sign on the line.



Okay, just kidding on those last two. I couldn't resist. ;-)

(BTW boys, these are all excellent suggestions for date night if you really want to wow your girl. Just sayin'.)


Now, on to the girls!!


This is a nice business casual look that is professional enough to pitch in, if you're not comfortable in a dress. You can rock a chambray shirt under a nice sweater--mix your casual items with nicer items and you have a great comfy chapter look! And as I said, the nice touch with the accessories really finish the look. It only takes a second to add a necklace and some earrings or a nice bracelet to an outfit, but it can make all the difference. (Side note: If your outfit is more neutral in color, you can odd pops of color with your shoes or accessories.)


These next few are nice casual outfits that are perfect for looking put-together but not too dressy at a conference, if you're not pitching to an agent/editor:



These two outfits would work for a pitch session, IMO. They've got a nice mix of casual and dressy. But if it were me, I would probably wear a pair of shoes with a bit more color for the outfit above, just to add interest to this outfit. (Even though those ARE cute. I'm just a bit obsessed with cool, unique heels/shoes to add a pop of color/interest to an outfit.)
(Although if it were me, I'd probably wear black pants instead of jeans if I were pitching. Or at least a darker wash.)

If you do feel comfortable in a dress, it's always nice to put one on for a pitch session. Here are a few ideas:




All of these are great examples of business casual attire that are perfect for wowing your future agent or editor with the first impression they'll have when you walk in the door--then you can wow them even more with your pitch!

And finally, here's an example of finding an outfit you like and then trying to re-create it from what you have in your closet:


I saw this outfit on pinterest and really loved it. I thought about going shopping, but then decided to see if I could find similar items in my closet and came up with this: Not too bad, right?


So, in summary--try to go for a professional but comfortable look, make sure you don't stink, and have a great time!

I think I need to go shopping now....

Reviews of Happiness + 1 month post-debut giveaway!!

Wow, what a month huh? I can hardly believe it's nearly been that long since DEFY was released. It's been a crazy, wonderful whirlwind, and I honestly can't thank you all enough for your excitement about my book! Every tweet, FB message, text, email, phone call, or smoke signal telling me that you loved DEFY mean so much to me. Seriously, they brighten my days and make everything it's taken to get to this point worth it. So THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, thank you, SO SO much.

In happy news, a couple of big trade publications also loved DEFY! Wanna hear what they had to say??

From VOYA:

Alexa has posed as a boy for the last three years allowing her to serve in the royal guard where she is the best fighter in the elite group which serves and protects the crown prince…. 

….The heroes of the story find themselves part of an elaborate plot to end the war. While Alexa has believed her understanding of reality to be truth, she is repeatedly shocked when secrets are revealed showing her that the life and mind of the prince and the politics of the palace are more complicated than she imagined. Her competence as a fighter and quick thinking are valued by those around her, regardless of her gender. This action-packed fantasy holds much page-turning appeal. —Erin Wyatt.

And from SLJ:

Gr 8 Up–In Alexa’s world, young men are soldiers and young women are the means to breed new ones. There is no alternative. So when Alexa’s parents are killed and their home destroyed by a sorcerer, Alexa cuts her hair and enrolls in the army to save herself from the breeding house. Trained by their father and polished by the army, “Alex” and her twin, Marcel, earn places in the prince’s guard as the best swordsmen in the kingdom. But the palace is full of secrets and as the story continues to build in suspense, it’s clear that Prince Damian has more than most. Alex is a bold heroine whose priorities are protecting her prince and her people, but the lines between good and evil blur as she gleans more truth about the royal family she serves. Her destiny is revealed when her own power comes to fruition, a power that could end the greatest corruption of all. Larson’s debut is full of passion and adventure, urging readers to cheer and weep simultaneously at Alexa’s astounding courage. Those interested in strong female characters, such as Katniss from Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games, will find new affinity in Defy.–Jamie- Lee Schombs, Loyola School, New York City


WOW, right?!?! I got these while I was in Seattle, and so my publicist can attest to the fact that I was literally bouncing with excitement and bursting with happiness when I read them! 

So to celebrate good reviews, and 1 month of being an officially published author, and just because it's cold and yucky out side and we all need some happiness in our lives, why don't we do a little giveaway? 

How about...a signed/personalized copy of DEFY (final hardcover!) PLUS an ARC of BURN OUT by Kristi Helvig!! Sound good??

Okay, here's how it's going to work. This is going to be called the "DEFY in the Wild" giveaway! (or #DEFYintheWild on Twitter) All you have to do is take a picture of DEFY--anywhere you want! The store, the library, your bookshelf, wherever you see it! And you can get as creative as you want. In fact, I may have an extra surprise in store for the most creative picture I get of DEFY in the Wild!!! :-) 

Make sure to tag me in your post--be it Twitter, FB, or your blog/tumblr. Just make sure I see it! Then come back, and paste your link to the post below and get your entry in. In one week, I'll use rafflecopter to do a random drawing of everyone who has entered to win both books! I will also announce the winner (and what they get) for the most creative #DEFYintheWild post I see! 

Good luck! I'm excited to see your pictures! 



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Winner! + Seattle

I'm sitting in the airport right now, waiting for my (late) plane to get cleaned so I can board it (apparently the airport was closed because of fog earlier this morning so everything is running behind) and be on my way to my first out of state signing in Seattle! I will also be taking part in Winter Institute tomorrow--I can't wait to meet all of the lovely booksellers and other authors who will be in attendance! If you're in the area, I hope to see you at University Book Store in Bellevue tonight!

Now, on to the winner from my Launch Party Celebration giveaway! One lucky person gets a signed ARC of THE SHADOW PRINCE by Bree Despain AND a signed copy of BLINDSIDED by Natalie Whipple--the sequel to TRANSPARENT!


And the winner is...




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Nikki Krueger!!!

Yay!! Congrats Nikki! Please email me within 1 week to claim your prize, including what address you'd like the books mailed to. (If Nikki doesn't respond within 1 week, I will redraw the winner.)

DEFY Launch Party Recap

I can't believe it's been a week since DEFY officially released! Between that and SonB's 5th birthday, it's been a whirlwind!

That was an amazing day--everything I dreamed it would be and more.

I woke up to the dulcet sounds of my daughter's fire alarm beeping at 4 am because the battery had died or something. My husband fixed it, and went back to sleep. My brain had switched on and there was no hope for me. So I got up and went to the gym at 5:20 and began responding to all of the amazing tweets and messages that had already begun to show up. Seriously, you guys MADE my day with all of your excitement for me and my book.

As I said, it was also my son's birthday, so I went home from the gym and prepared for his "surprise party." He informed us the night before that he wanted a surprise party, but I reminded him we'd already planned his party for that Saturday. So he compromised by letting us know it would be okay if we just surprised him in the morning. He told us, "When you hear me stomp my feet, that's your cue to hide in the kitchen and when I come downstairs you can all jump out and yell surprise!" So we complied with his wish. The only problem was that when we heard him get up, we all hid, but....he didn't stomp. Apparently he wanted to draw out the suspense. Eventually we heard the sound of velcro as he strapped on his shoes. Finally, there was stomping. We all ducked back down behind the island again (except for my 2 1/2 year-old daughter who kept hiding in the pantry). Well, to make a long story short, twenty minutes and a few charley-horses later, he finally came down so we could jump out and yell SURPRISE!

We did go to lunch for him, to help him feel like it was a special day for his birthday and not just Mommy's book...but my family surprised me and gave me a card and two very beautiful, special necklaces. My sister came up with the idea and my dad had them made--to match my book cover. Basically, I started crying in the middle of Sweet Tomatoes.

I rushed home to get ready for my big night, and to meet my friend, CP, and agency sister Katie Purdie because we had a very special person to pick up from the airport....

 My amazing agent, Josh Adams, flew out for the launch party!! I'm still blown away that he did that. We had a lovely, delicious dinner and then it was time to get set up for the big launch party!
 There he is--my incredible hubby, hard at work getting everything set up!
 Josh was so kind--he didn't forget my little guy's birthday. He brought him some books--which he LOVES by the way! (Yes, he insisted on wearing the crown he got at preschool all day so that everyone knew it was his birthday.)

I couldn't believe the emotions I felt as my family, friends, neighbors, authors, and even some people I didn't know personally, came to support me and to get copies of DEFY signed.

And then it was time. Whitney, from The King's English, introduced DEFY and turned the mike over to me. I started off great--for about fifteen seconds. I couldn't even get through "I can't believe I'm standing here--that this is really happening" without doing this:

(That's my I'm trying-and-failing not to cry face.) It really was just so overwhelming. I've been coming to events at TKE for years and years, but always as a supporter, dreaming of the day that it would hopefully be my turn. I just couldn't believe I'd finally made it.
 I was able to regain control of my emotions and continue, thankfully. I even read a snippet of my "premature baby" story from my Little Mermaid notebook (to prove that my bio is true!). We had a few minor snafus...such as the internet going out at the end of my Power Point presentation when I was supposed to show a little clip from FRIENDS. Cue: STALLING.

 As part of that, I had my cute little five-year-old come up so we could sing Happy Birthday to him. I wasn't sure if he'd come up or not, but he jumped right up and stood by me. That's huge for him! Of course, he sat there messing with his lip the whole time, but he stood there and I think it made him really happy. (Notice the hubs frantically working on the computer next to us...) We finally did get it to work and I was able to finish.
 I gave Josh a little gift to try and show him my appreciation for all that he has done for me... (still can't believe he came!)
 And then it was time to head over to the bookstore for the actual signing! Apparently they sold out of my books that night. That is just...wow. Thank you everyone for coming. From the bottom of my heart (or my full-sized aortic pump for those of you who were there), I can never thank you enough.
 My mom and two of my cute sisters! Some of my biggest supporters!!!
 Two more sisters on my right and a cute family friend on my left!
My sweet mother-in-law who has been so excited for me!!
 Katie, Josh, and me--team Adams Lit!!
 This guy is the reason why I get to hold this book in my hands. SO incredibly grateful for my agent--for believing in me and for getting DEFY into the hands of Lisa Sandell, my editor. I am so unbelievably lucky to work with her. All the years of heartache and struggle were worth it to get to work with both of them.
 My amazing parents. They have always believed in me and encouraged me to go for my dreams. I love you both!
And last, but certainly not least, my husband. He has never stopped believing, never stopped encouraging me, never stopped dreaming with me! He is my biggest supporter, my best friend, and my soul-mate. I'm so grateful for him and that we finally get to celebrate this moment together!

After the signing we got some dessert at The Dodo (YUM) and then called it a night. It was a dream come true.

And now it's back to real life! The day after a launch party is kind of like the day after Christmas....x10, lol! So thank you for all of your continued tweets, messages, texts, and emails--every single one means SO much to me and makes me so incredibly happy!!

Now to celebrate the release of DEFY, I'm offering a very special giveaway! Up for grabs:

 An ARC of THE SHADOW PRINCE by Bree Despain!!! Guys, this book is SO good. And the cover got changed, so this is basically a limited edition. I kind of want to keep it, but instead, I'm going to be nice and share it with one lucky person!

But that's not all! I'm also giving away a signed copy of BLINDSIDED by Natalie Whipple!! (the sequel to the fabulous TRANSPARENT)!! Such an AWESOME duology--trust me, you want this book!

To enter for you chance to win, follow the directions below and may the Rafflecopter odds be ever in your favor!

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DEFY

I've been sitting here for an hour, trying to articulate what I'm feeling at this moment, and I'm truly struggling.

How do I put into words what it feels like to see my book on a shelf after a lifetime of dreaming? How can I explain what it's like to get tweets, emails, Facebook messages, and more, from those of you who have already read DEFY and love it--after decades of writing and hoping and wishing, and eight years of struggling to get published, to finally reach this point, to make this dream a reality? How do I articulate the emotions that filled me when I walked into a bookstore for the first time and saw DEFY sitting on a shelf? Words are my craft, they are everything to me. But they are failing me right now.

There is no way I can truly put into words my excitement, my relief, my nervousness, and above all, my overwhelming joy as DEFY officially enters the world today. I have literally always wanted to be an author, to be published. I will never be able to fully express my gratitude to those who have made this day possible.

So many friends and family have supported me through all the years of struggling, rejection, perseverance, and ultimately success. I tried to name most of them in my acknowledgments, so I won't repeat that here. But to the key people who brought DEFY into the world, thank you. Truly, thank you.

To Josh, for believing and making it happen.

To Lisa, for loving this story as much as I do and for giving it wings.

To my children for being so patient and loving. I hope that someday you will be proud of what your mommy has accomplished, even if it meant she had to work sometimes, when you wished she could play. I may have given you life, but you three are my life. I love you more than I could ever say, and no book I have ever written or will ever write, is more important than the three beautiful, amazing spirits that I have the privilege of claiming as my own for these short years of childhood.

And above all, to my husband. Not only for always believing, no matter how impossible my dream seemed, but for loving me. I am infinitely more flawed than any character I have ever written, and I am so grateful to you for your unwavering devotion and support, despite that. And also, for claiming that you don't care when the house is a mess because I'm in the throes of a new draft or deep in the revision cave with a deadline looming. You are my everything.

I love this book. I love these characters, with all of their flaws and strengths. I love their journeys, and what they taught me as I wrote DEFY.

This story means so much to me. It is a part of me, and as I give it to the world, it takes with it a piece of my heart and soul.

But it is no longer mine. I may have written the words, but the story now belongs to you, my readers.

My only hope is that you will find a piece of yourself within these pages, and maybe, just maybe, a piece of your heart, too.

Pre-order Giveaway winners! *UPDATED*

Thank you to everyone who entered my pre-order giveaway! I can't tell you how much it means to any author, but especially a debut author, for someone to be excited enough to pre-order your book. So, again, THANK YOU ALL who pre-ordered DEFY!!

But there can only be a four winners....and those are:

GRAND PRIZE (signed final copy OR signed ARC of DEFY + swag pack of awesome!) : LORI DUNN!!!

*NEW WINNER: RUNNER UP (Swag pack of awesome!): Amy Mays!!!

*NEW WINNER: Bonus prize of 1 Audio Book Download!: Ellie M!!
Bonus prize of 1 Audio Book Download!: Stephanie (Chasm of Books)!!!

Congratulations to the winners!!

Please email me your addresses (for the book/swag winners) or your name and what email you would like the audio book sent to within one week or I will draw new names. ( SaraBLarson21 (at) gmail (dot) com )

Thank and congrats again!!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Can you even believe 2013 is almost over? I honestly am in shock, as I look at the date. December 20. Christmas is almost here, and before I know it, DEFY is going to be out in the world. Just over 2 weeks left.

I love this time of year, it's honestly my favorite season (even though I prefer summer to winter). I just love Christmas and all that it brings and stands for. I love how everyone tries to be a little bit kinder, a little bit more aware of those around them. I love the music. I love that it brings family and friends together. I love the lights. I love that we get to reflect on what's truly important in our lives, and our faith.

I am so incredibly grateful for all of the blessings in my life. I could make a big long list of what that includes, but I don't want to bore you. Yaddy-yaddy-my husband is amazing, my kids are cute-blah-blah. (But just to be clear, my husband is amazing and my kids are pretty dang cute.)


This has been quite the year, and I am so excited for everything that 2014 holds in store. I'll still be around online during the break (and don't forget to watch for the DEFY blog tour that Rock Star Book Tours is hosting!!), but I probably won't blog again until the new year.

Did I mention DEFY comes out in just over 2 WEEKS?!?!?!


Don't forget--if you've pre-ordered DEFY (or if you do anytime before Jan. 7), hop over and enter my Pre-Order THANK YOU contest!!!! CLICK HERE. It's super easy, all you have to do is leave a comment saying you pre-ordered and where. If you're hoping to nab a signed copy, my local indie The King's English will ship you a signed copy if you pre-order (or order) a copy from them, so keep that in mind!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and enjoy these last two weeks to 2013! I will be back on the flip side to celebrate a new year and the release of DEFY!!!!

WINNER of DEFY ARC + Extracted Blog Tour!

Thank you all so much for your excitement about my German deal and for DEFY in general!! It really means so much to me. I can't truly express how happy it makes me whenever anyone writes me to tell me how excited they are to read my book, or if they've read an ARC and loved it and want to tell me....it's just an absolute dream come true.

And I truly wish everyone who entered could win, but alas, only one person can get lucky on this Friday the 13th. Rafflecopter has spoken and that person is...

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PEGGY WHEELER EDDLEMAN!!!!

YAY! Congratulations Peggy!! As soon as you send me your address, I will send your signed ARC of DEFY to you! I hope you enjoy it!!

Also just one more tidbit of good news! Booklist thinks DEFY has "...grand adventure, romance, and thrilling political intrigue." I'd say that's a pretty accurate description! It's always wonderful to get a good review like that!



Now, on to the Extracted Blog Tour!



I haven't had a chance to read EXTRACTED yet but I met Tyler Jolley last year at a conference where he told me about it, and wow did it sound awesome! Here's the blurb:
EXTRACTED:Welcome to the war. The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it. The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens--their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream. Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war. When Lex's girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Telsa Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It's there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back. Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both again.

Now to a guest post by Tyler!

This past May, Sherry, and I were honored to attend Book Expo America.  Naturally, we were very nervous and the normal insecurities started creep into our heads.  What if no one stops at our booth?  What if no one cares about Extracted?  What if I can’t fit into my steeplejacks?  
One of the awesome things about working with a smaller publisher is that you get actual face time with the owner and editors, and we love that.  One of the down sides is that you don’t have a million dollar marketing budget.  With that said, our publisher couldn’t advertise that we were there.  So we got creative and spent months preparing and trying to create buzz.  We were the first signing on the first day – not a lot of time to get word out at the conference.  Our plan was to hand out 3-inch mustaches on a sick that had our booth number and signing info on the back to the bloggers at the Javits Center.  Easy enough, right?  WRONG.  Trying to find 1,000 paper mustaches was next to impossible.  Then on we whim, we decided to contact a vendor on Etsy who was incredibly accommodating and made it happen.  Who would have ever thought that we’d be spending our first night in NYC attaching sticks to the back of mustaches? The next day we managed to hand out 800 in 15 minutes, and it’s a good thing we did.  We saw people sporting their mustaches all weekend.  Everyone knew who we were.

When it got close to the signing, we nervously sat down and waited for the doors to open.  Within 3 minutes we had people rushing us.  The moment we had a line I almost passed out.  The fact that my steeplejacks that were at least two sizes too small may have contributed to that.  Sherry planned a little better than me and ditched her corset for a steampunk jacket.  Smart lady. 
Meeting people who had been anxiously awaiting an ARC (advance read copy) of Extracted was one of the most thrilling moments of my life.  I couldn’t believe we not only had a line, but actually ran out of copies in 40 minutes. It was wonderful and we can’t wait to attend BEA 2015.  

Bio:Tyler H. Jolley is a sci-fi/fantasy author and full-time orthodontist, periodontist (see: Overachiever). He divides his spare time between writing, reading, mountain biking, and camping with his family.Sherry D. Ficklin is a full-time writer and internet radio show host with more mouth then good sense. She has a serious book addiction, but continually refuses treatment, much to her husband’s chagrin.Tyler and Sherry met one fateful day and bonded over their love for books, science fiction, and donuts. Their first co-written novel came shortly after. Now, they still do all those other things, but also go to various steampunk conventions and events under the guise of ‘research’. They can often be found lurking on the Lost Imperials Facebook page or over on the official website, www.thelostimperials.com.




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Preorder link US amazon: http://amzn.to/14JLNuAPreorder link UK amazon: http://amzn.to/17o8zZpPreorder link b&n: http://bit.ly/13SCJ3P
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