Kat Ellis's Blog, page 15
April 3, 2014
The books that inspired me to write YA
Today I'm guest posting over at Fiction Fascination, talking about the books and authors that inspired me to write YA. Oh, and there's a giveaway of signed Blackfin Sky swag, too, so you should definitely check that out!
Kat out x
Kat out x
March 31, 2014
Plot Holes and Plug Holes - The Writing Process Blog Tour
Thanks to my lovely twitter pal Emma Greenwood, I’m dedicating this post to talking about what - and how - I write, as part of The Writing Process blog tour.
Emma is the green columnist at Liberti magazine, blogs on green issues right here, and is a writer of YA fiction. She is currently working with Imogen Cooper at The Golden Egg Academy on her Brit Grime teen novel about arson and dangerous relationships. Emma uses ‘method writing’ to channel her characters, which she wrote about for her post on this tour, so you should definitely check that out.
So for the tour, I answer 4 questions about writing, and then hand over to 3 writer friends to post their blog posts next week. Neato.
1. What am I working on?
Right now I’m getting ready for my debut YA novel, BLACKFIN SKY, to be released in the UK. It comes out on 14th May over here, so I’m preparing for this by doing blog posts and interviews, author events and festivals, and generally doing promotional stuff and stalking my book online.
I’m also editing another manuscript and starting to outline a couple of short stories that I’m planning to write over the next month or so, and catching up on my reading.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
BLACKFIN SKY is very much a dark thriller, but it’s also magical realism, which sort of sets it apart right away. Very odd things happen in the town of Blackfin - the Penny Well will pick your pockets if you pass too close to it; failing to salute the haunted weathervane as you pass results in foul weather; and the Blood House might lock its doors if it doesn’t like the person trying to get in. All these things are par for the course in Blackfin, though, and can make it a tricky place to look for logical answers, as Sky discovers when she shows up at school after everyone believing she was dead for 3 months!
3. Why do I write what I do?
I love anything that’s quirky and makes you think, and that’s what I aim to do with my writing. I take my characters on adventures, having a hundred crazy things happen to them that they have to figure out. I hope my excitement as a writer comes through in the story.
4. How does my writing process work?
I’ll preface this by saying that a) I am a control freak, and b) I have a shocking memory. Both those things add up to me being a very methodical plotter.
How I plot:
As the title of this post suggests, I do a lot of plotting in the bathtub. I find a good ceiling-stare is vital for figuring out a new plot, although you can substitute the bathtub for lying on the floor, in a pinch.
By the time my fingers turn pruny, I’ll want to know the overall plot, and the hook of the story – the idea that can be summed up in a sentence or two to snag the interest of an agent, editor, or reader. Once I have this, I begin to outline.
How I outline:
I begin with a new Word doc. (Mind blown, right??) Now, insert five numbered ‘Part’ headings: Part 1, Part 2, etc. In between these, put in at least 5 ‘Chapter’ headings, so you end up with around 25 chapters, separated evenly by the Part headings. These ‘Part’ separators are where I, in my brain, will want to put a WTF moment into my book. They’ll shift around during the writing and editing, but if I at least start with them evenly spaced, it should help with the pacing.
I work to the idea that each chapter is about 3k words long, so if I wrote exactly according to this outline, I’d have a book about 75k long at the end. If you tend to write shorter chapters, add in more Chapter headings in between the Part headings. You see, it’s starting to make sense now, right?
Now, under each chapter heading, write a sentence or two saying what happens in that chapter: ‘Brian gets run over by a bus. Wakes up in hospital speaking Portuguese.’ Something along those lines. Having this guide helps me know where I’m heading as I write, and avoid those chapters where the MC spends 2k words musing on the intangibility of clouds.
The outline shifts and changes as I’m drafting, but I prefer to have it as a steer to keep me from writing myself into a dead end. It’s also handy to use as a basis for the synopsis/pitch when the manuscript is complete.
How I edit:
I use a double-sweep method, which I affectionately call the Peanut Butter Method. The first editing sweep (Chunky Edits) focuses on major plot holes and reshuffling events for continuity and pacing. The second sweep (Smooth Edits) focuses on characterisation, world-building, smoothing out the parts I’ve shuffled and plugged in the Chunky Edits, and then line editing.
I’ll usually read my manuscript aloud to my husband after completing the Smooth Edits to refine the language more, and take out the clunky parts that have snuck through editing.
Then I send my manuscript off to my beta readers – usually 2 rounds, to make sure I cover my bases. If all is well, and I’m confident my manuscript is the best I can make it, I’ll send it off to my agent to work her magic on. That’s it!
*****
With it being UKYA month in April, I’ve been thinking a lot about all things UK…and writing…so all 3 of the awesome writers I’m passing the baton to are from 'ere in’t UK. Their posts will be up on their blogs on 6thApril, so be sure to check them out!
Clare Davidson is a character driven fantasy writer, teacher and mother, from the UK. Clare was born in Northampton and lived in Malaysia for four and a half years as a child, before returning to the UK to settle in Leeds with her family. Whilst attending Lancaster University, Clare met her future husband. They now share their lives with their young daughter, a cranky grey cat, called Ash and an insane white cat, called Pirate.
Check out Clare's blog here: http://www.claredavidson.com/blog/ and twitter: @claremdavidson
Simon P. Clark is a British children's author currently living in New Jersey, USA, pretending to be a grown up. He used to live in Japan, has a GCSE in pottery, and does a pretty convincing Gollum impression. His debut novel, Eren, will be published by Constable & Robinson in the UK in September 2014. Simon blogs about writing and his path to publication at www.simonpclark.com. He's usually wasting time on Twitter as @sipclark.
Chynna-Blue Scott, commonly known as Blue, primarily writes Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, although she's considering dipping her toe into the Horror genre. Currently, Blue is seeking representation for her YA UF/PNR novel, STRICKEN. She has an unholy obsession with Fall Out Boy, lives for Dexter and Supernatural, and will happily murder anyone who refers to her as 'British'. She's the kind of person you love... once you get to know her.
Visit Blue's blog here: http://chynnablueink.com/ or tweet her @chynnablueink
Emma is the green columnist at Liberti magazine, blogs on green issues right here, and is a writer of YA fiction. She is currently working with Imogen Cooper at The Golden Egg Academy on her Brit Grime teen novel about arson and dangerous relationships. Emma uses ‘method writing’ to channel her characters, which she wrote about for her post on this tour, so you should definitely check that out. So for the tour, I answer 4 questions about writing, and then hand over to 3 writer friends to post their blog posts next week. Neato.
1. What am I working on?
Right now I’m getting ready for my debut YA novel, BLACKFIN SKY, to be released in the UK. It comes out on 14th May over here, so I’m preparing for this by doing blog posts and interviews, author events and festivals, and generally doing promotional stuff and stalking my book online.
I’m also editing another manuscript and starting to outline a couple of short stories that I’m planning to write over the next month or so, and catching up on my reading.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
BLACKFIN SKY is very much a dark thriller, but it’s also magical realism, which sort of sets it apart right away. Very odd things happen in the town of Blackfin - the Penny Well will pick your pockets if you pass too close to it; failing to salute the haunted weathervane as you pass results in foul weather; and the Blood House might lock its doors if it doesn’t like the person trying to get in. All these things are par for the course in Blackfin, though, and can make it a tricky place to look for logical answers, as Sky discovers when she shows up at school after everyone believing she was dead for 3 months!
3. Why do I write what I do?
I love anything that’s quirky and makes you think, and that’s what I aim to do with my writing. I take my characters on adventures, having a hundred crazy things happen to them that they have to figure out. I hope my excitement as a writer comes through in the story.
4. How does my writing process work?
I’ll preface this by saying that a) I am a control freak, and b) I have a shocking memory. Both those things add up to me being a very methodical plotter.
How I plot:
As the title of this post suggests, I do a lot of plotting in the bathtub. I find a good ceiling-stare is vital for figuring out a new plot, although you can substitute the bathtub for lying on the floor, in a pinch.
By the time my fingers turn pruny, I’ll want to know the overall plot, and the hook of the story – the idea that can be summed up in a sentence or two to snag the interest of an agent, editor, or reader. Once I have this, I begin to outline.
How I outline:
I begin with a new Word doc. (Mind blown, right??) Now, insert five numbered ‘Part’ headings: Part 1, Part 2, etc. In between these, put in at least 5 ‘Chapter’ headings, so you end up with around 25 chapters, separated evenly by the Part headings. These ‘Part’ separators are where I, in my brain, will want to put a WTF moment into my book. They’ll shift around during the writing and editing, but if I at least start with them evenly spaced, it should help with the pacing.
I work to the idea that each chapter is about 3k words long, so if I wrote exactly according to this outline, I’d have a book about 75k long at the end. If you tend to write shorter chapters, add in more Chapter headings in between the Part headings. You see, it’s starting to make sense now, right?
Now, under each chapter heading, write a sentence or two saying what happens in that chapter: ‘Brian gets run over by a bus. Wakes up in hospital speaking Portuguese.’ Something along those lines. Having this guide helps me know where I’m heading as I write, and avoid those chapters where the MC spends 2k words musing on the intangibility of clouds.
The outline shifts and changes as I’m drafting, but I prefer to have it as a steer to keep me from writing myself into a dead end. It’s also handy to use as a basis for the synopsis/pitch when the manuscript is complete.
How I edit:
I use a double-sweep method, which I affectionately call the Peanut Butter Method. The first editing sweep (Chunky Edits) focuses on major plot holes and reshuffling events for continuity and pacing. The second sweep (Smooth Edits) focuses on characterisation, world-building, smoothing out the parts I’ve shuffled and plugged in the Chunky Edits, and then line editing.
I’ll usually read my manuscript aloud to my husband after completing the Smooth Edits to refine the language more, and take out the clunky parts that have snuck through editing.
Then I send my manuscript off to my beta readers – usually 2 rounds, to make sure I cover my bases. If all is well, and I’m confident my manuscript is the best I can make it, I’ll send it off to my agent to work her magic on. That’s it!
*****
With it being UKYA month in April, I’ve been thinking a lot about all things UK…and writing…so all 3 of the awesome writers I’m passing the baton to are from 'ere in’t UK. Their posts will be up on their blogs on 6thApril, so be sure to check them out!
Clare Davidson is a character driven fantasy writer, teacher and mother, from the UK. Clare was born in Northampton and lived in Malaysia for four and a half years as a child, before returning to the UK to settle in Leeds with her family. Whilst attending Lancaster University, Clare met her future husband. They now share their lives with their young daughter, a cranky grey cat, called Ash and an insane white cat, called Pirate. Check out Clare's blog here: http://www.claredavidson.com/blog/ and twitter: @claremdavidson
Simon P. Clark is a British children's author currently living in New Jersey, USA, pretending to be a grown up. He used to live in Japan, has a GCSE in pottery, and does a pretty convincing Gollum impression. His debut novel, Eren, will be published by Constable & Robinson in the UK in September 2014. Simon blogs about writing and his path to publication at www.simonpclark.com. He's usually wasting time on Twitter as @sipclark.
Chynna-Blue Scott, commonly known as Blue, primarily writes Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, although she's considering dipping her toe into the Horror genre. Currently, Blue is seeking representation for her YA UF/PNR novel, STRICKEN. She has an unholy obsession with Fall Out Boy, lives for Dexter and Supernatural, and will happily murder anyone who refers to her as 'British'. She's the kind of person you love... once you get to know her.Visit Blue's blog here: http://chynnablueink.com/ or tweet her @chynnablueink
March 21, 2014
My very first panel experience
I've wanted to write this post ever since I arrived home from Cardiff a couple of weeks ago, because it's one of those things a new author will probably worry about the most (at least, I did), but it can also be one of the most fun.
I was lucky enough to be invited to talk on a YA panel at the XX Women's Writing Festival in Cardiff, and doubly lucky that Lucy Christopher (Stolen, Flyaway, The Killing Woods) and Catherine Fisher (Incarceron, The Oracle, Obsidian Mirror and many more...) were on the panel with me.
L-R: Catherine Fisher, me, Lucy Christopher, and Penny Thomas
Photo courtesy of Firefly Press
First, we each answered questions from the moderator, Penny Thomas (my publisher at Firefly Press), and then we each did a reading of our novels for a few minutes (yes, I practised this until I could almost recite it without the text in front of me. It paid off!)
Lucy read from the beginning of The Killing Woods, and Catherine from about two-thirds of the way into Obsidian Mirror, and I read the beginning of Blackfin Sky. I thought that was probably a good idea since it's not out yet, and nobody would have read it!
Next, Penny opened the session up to questions from the audience, and the time just seemed to fly by!
So, what was it like?
Once I was there, talking about my book and listening to the readings and thoughts of Lucy and Catherine, it passed by very quickly, but was really interesting. I got to meet two authors who I am totally in awe of, and naturally fangirled a little bit, but it was so nice to meet them and get to do an event like this with them. And the audience responded really well, and had great questions, so that made it even better.
Next up, I have another event in Cardiff on 10th April - this time an evening event as part of Cardiff Children's Literature Festival, and again I'll be alongside Lucy Christopher. If you're in the area and want to come along, there's more information and ticket linky things here.
I was lucky enough to be invited to talk on a YA panel at the XX Women's Writing Festival in Cardiff, and doubly lucky that Lucy Christopher (Stolen, Flyaway, The Killing Woods) and Catherine Fisher (Incarceron, The Oracle, Obsidian Mirror and many more...) were on the panel with me.
L-R: Catherine Fisher, me, Lucy Christopher, and Penny ThomasPhoto courtesy of Firefly Press
First, we each answered questions from the moderator, Penny Thomas (my publisher at Firefly Press), and then we each did a reading of our novels for a few minutes (yes, I practised this until I could almost recite it without the text in front of me. It paid off!)
Lucy read from the beginning of The Killing Woods, and Catherine from about two-thirds of the way into Obsidian Mirror, and I read the beginning of Blackfin Sky. I thought that was probably a good idea since it's not out yet, and nobody would have read it!
Next, Penny opened the session up to questions from the audience, and the time just seemed to fly by!
So, what was it like?
Once I was there, talking about my book and listening to the readings and thoughts of Lucy and Catherine, it passed by very quickly, but was really interesting. I got to meet two authors who I am totally in awe of, and naturally fangirled a little bit, but it was so nice to meet them and get to do an event like this with them. And the audience responded really well, and had great questions, so that made it even better.
Next up, I have another event in Cardiff on 10th April - this time an evening event as part of Cardiff Children's Literature Festival, and again I'll be alongside Lucy Christopher. If you're in the area and want to come along, there's more information and ticket linky things here.
March 2, 2014
XX Women's Writing Festival and where you can win Blackfin Sky
This week, I will be heading down to Cardiff for my first ever public appearance at the XX Women's Writing Festival. I'll be taking part in a YA panel on Saturday 8th March with authors Lucy Christopher and Hayley Long, and I cannot wait to meet them (and fangirl just a bit!) and see what questions the audience will throw our way!Here are the details of the festival, and here's where you can get tickets to come along to the panel. Let me know if I'll be meeting you there!
As mentioned in the title of this post, you can now also WIN copies of Blackfin Sky. There's a US-only giveaway which still has 3 days left to enter to win a signed copy of the US version over at Icey Books (to be dispatched when available) and a MEGA giveaway on Goodreads where Firefly Press are offering up 10 signed copies of the UK version (available to people in the UK and Commonwealth countries). There's still plenty of time left to enter, but why wait?
What else has been happening?
Well...
Have you heard of Project UK YA? In case you haven't, it's a project to promote and get everyone talking about YA books by UK authors, and it's a pretty amazing project led by book blogger Lucy Powrie. She has just revealed details of the UK YA April Extravaganza, including a UK YA Day on 19th April, and it looks so epic I just HAD to sign up to be involved. Go here to the UK YA site to check it out, and please do follow the twitter hashtags #AprilExtravaganza and #UKYADay.
Coming up next
I now have an appearance planned alongside Lucy Christopher at the Cardiff Children's Literature Festival on 10th April, where we'll be talking about our books and writing and all good things generally. Find out more here.
Remember those ace Blackfin Sky heat-reveal mugs I mentioned a few weeks ago? Well, Firefly Press are going to be giving a couple away soon on their website, and I'll be giving one away as part of the UK YA April Extravaganza. They are AWESOME and you DEFINITELY WANT ONE, so watch this space for more deets.
For now...
Kat out x
February 22, 2014
Show and Tell
Last week, I tweeted this:
I promised firstly to SHOW you something... and lo!
My US cover was revealed on Icey Books (there are still a few days left on the giveaway if you want to head on over and enter to win a copy). Lots of cover love exploded on twitter thereafter, and I am immensely pleased that y'all seem to like my US cover as much as I do. Here it is again, just because.
But I also promised to TELL you something, didn't I?
Here it is!
My UK publisher, Firefly Press, have confirmed that there will be an official book trailer for Blackfin Sky! YAY! Can't wait to see it and be able to share it with you!
Some other cool happenings from this week...
Blackfin Sky got a mention in Publisher's Weekly this week, which was just AMAZING and a HUGE DEAL, so here's a link in case you'd like to check it out (scroll through to Running Press in the article - it's listed alphabetically by publisher).
There is also going to be a giveaway very soon where you will be able to enter to win one of TEN signed copies of Blackfin Sky (UK version) on Goodreads. I will of course tweet a link and so on once the giveaway is open, but I wanted to give a heads-up so you can go and add it to your Goodreads list all ready-like.
What, you already have? Well aren't you just the most charming devil there ever was..?
For now...
Kat out x
I promised firstly to SHOW you something... and lo!
My US cover was revealed on Icey Books (there are still a few days left on the giveaway if you want to head on over and enter to win a copy). Lots of cover love exploded on twitter thereafter, and I am immensely pleased that y'all seem to like my US cover as much as I do. Here it is again, just because.
But I also promised to TELL you something, didn't I?
Here it is!
My UK publisher, Firefly Press, have confirmed that there will be an official book trailer for Blackfin Sky! YAY! Can't wait to see it and be able to share it with you!
Some other cool happenings from this week...
Blackfin Sky got a mention in Publisher's Weekly this week, which was just AMAZING and a HUGE DEAL, so here's a link in case you'd like to check it out (scroll through to Running Press in the article - it's listed alphabetically by publisher).
There is also going to be a giveaway very soon where you will be able to enter to win one of TEN signed copies of Blackfin Sky (UK version) on Goodreads. I will of course tweet a link and so on once the giveaway is open, but I wanted to give a heads-up so you can go and add it to your Goodreads list all ready-like.
What, you already have? Well aren't you just the most charming devil there ever was..?
For now...
Kat out x
February 19, 2014
My US Cover... is out there!
Happy Wednesday! Well, no Wednesday is actually happy, unless there's something awesome happening... Luckily, today there is!
Y'all know my book, BLACKFIN SKY, is being published by 2 different publishers, right? That's Firefly Press in the UK (14th May 2014 - HOLLA!) and Running Press Teen in the US (2nd September 2014). That means two release dates, 2 different edits, and 2 DIFFERENT COVERS.
Today, my US cover is being revealed over at Icey Books - with a US giveaway! That's right, I'm giving away my first ever signed copy of Blackfin Sky, so head on over and enter to win!
If you're not in the US, don't worry - I'll be giving away a copy of the UK version really soooooon.
For now...
Kat out xo
Y'all know my book, BLACKFIN SKY, is being published by 2 different publishers, right? That's Firefly Press in the UK (14th May 2014 - HOLLA!) and Running Press Teen in the US (2nd September 2014). That means two release dates, 2 different edits, and 2 DIFFERENT COVERS.
Today, my US cover is being revealed over at Icey Books - with a US giveaway! That's right, I'm giving away my first ever signed copy of Blackfin Sky, so head on over and enter to win!
If you're not in the US, don't worry - I'll be giving away a copy of the UK version really soooooon.
For now...
Kat out xo
January 31, 2014
How I keep in touch with my teen self - guest post by Clare Davidson
Hello! I'm so thrilled to be hosting author Clare Davidson on the release day of her latest novel, BROKEN BARGAIN, and giving you a chance to win some awesome goodies through the rafflecopter at the end of this post.
Having known Clare online for quite a while, I know she gives excellent guest post, so I asked her to write about how she keeps in touch with her teen self, and how that impacts on her writing. Here's what she had to say...
Wow, okay, this topic is tougher than I thought.When Kat first suggested this title for a guest post, my initial reaction was, “ace, I can cheat and say ‘I never grew up’ and include a cool quote from Neil Gaiman.”
I’m sure you’ll agree that would have been a short and lame guest post. It took me around thirty seconds to come to the same conclusion.
So I had to sit down and think about it. I mean, really think about it. How do I keep in touch with my teen self?
The truth is I’m not sure I do.
I didn’t really enjoy the majority of my teen years. I was bullied at school and almost changed high schools during my exams. I would have done, if I hadn’t decided to put my future ahead of a bunch of bullies. Exams were hard, first G.C.S.E.s and then A’Levels.
University was supposed to be a fresh start, but I spend my first year horribly home sick. Looking back retroactively, my biggest impression is that I was easily overwhelmed, overly emotional and desperate to conform to what other people wanted me to be. Yes, even those bullies. I even tried to be friends with some of them in high school. More fool me.
I was actually pretty happy to stop being a teenager and to start acting like an adult.
However I DO keep in touch with teen trends.
First of all I read (and enjoy) teen fiction. I actually prefer a good teen read to a novel aimed at an adult audience most of the time. I also watch movies and TV shows aimed at teens. Again, I enjoy them and I’m not afraid to admit it.
I’d listen to my pupils when they told me the hobbies they enjoyed, their aspirations and what they found hard about being a teen.
One of the reasons why teaching is so rewarding is because you get to watch your pupils grow and mature from children into young adults. It’s a progression that I aim to show in my novels, because it isn’t always easy, but the end result is pretty much always amazing.
As a closing note, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say I disagree with Neil Gaiman. Growing up ISN’T overrated. Sure it’s hard, but being a child and then a teen is just the start.
Thanks for hosting me on release day, Kat.
Thank you, Clare, for the great guest post!
You can connect with Clare via her website, on twitter, on facebook or goodreads. You can also sign up to her new releases mailing list. Don't forget to enter the rafflecopter giveaway below...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 29, 2014
Latest news, interviews and a mug
So, today I am over on Marci Curtis's blog, talking about mah book and travelling circuses and things my boss definitely shouldn't read... You can read that here, and make sure you follow Marci because she's full of awesome and will be interviewing a ton more authors over the coming months! There's also a Blackfin Sky swag giveaway, and I'll be choosing a random commenter to send it to in 2 days - get your comments in there, folks.
Also today a beautiful piece of Blackfin goodness arrived in the mail...
Oh...a black mug?
Wait - it's in stealth mode!!
"All will be revealed ~ May 2014" Yes. Yes it will.That's right - it's a heat-reveal Blackfin Sky mug! And I have 2 of these bad boys that I'll be giving away over the coming months... more details will follow. Oh yes.
AAAAAAND, in case you didn't see this over at Twitterville, I wrote a guest post for my agency bro and author of the 2014 MG debut EREN, Simon Clark. Checkity here.
Kat out x
Also today a beautiful piece of Blackfin goodness arrived in the mail...
Oh...a black mug?Wait - it's in stealth mode!!
"All will be revealed ~ May 2014" Yes. Yes it will.That's right - it's a heat-reveal Blackfin Sky mug! And I have 2 of these bad boys that I'll be giving away over the coming months... more details will follow. Oh yes.AAAAAAND, in case you didn't see this over at Twitterville, I wrote a guest post for my agency bro and author of the 2014 MG debut EREN, Simon Clark. Checkity here.
Kat out x
January 27, 2014
One Book, Two Book, My Book ... New Book? Guest post by Simon P Clark
Hello! I have a special guest on my blog today, the always-charming and soon-to-be-published author, Simon P Clark. Simon is my agency sibling and fellow member of We Are One Four, and his debut MG novel, Eren, is due to be published this September by Constable & Robinson, with a second book to follow.
I asked Simon what it's like to be staring down the barrel of book 2. Here's what he said...
The first time you sell a book is a special moment. It's a dream come true, really – something you always wanted but never expected. The world looks brighter when you hear the news. Twitter tends to be a giddy place and family are politely congratulatory, if somewhat puzzled. I remember when I sold my first book, of course. I blogged. I Tweeted (I Twit?). I was a happy author. When my agent told me the news, the fact that Eren - my Eren - was going to be a book was the only thing I could think about for a long, long time. Being told the news, incidentally, went something like this:
Agent: I have NewsMe: Is it Bad Things? I hate Bad ThingsAgent: No. It's good. We have an offer!Me: Yay!Agent: Yay!Me: They want my book?Agent: Actually, they want two. It's a two-book deal.Me: They want my book!Agent: Yes, and another book.Me: I don't have another book but really I'm sure it will be fine OK BYE.
Good times, indeed. And in the months that followed I rewrote Eren to my editor's suggestions, and had phone calls, and now there's even some artwork coming out, and talk of publication dates. It's a special magic, seeing words I thought up become an actual book. The final proofs will be in my hands in no time. Eren will be published.
But there's been this nagging thought at the back of my head for some time now. There's meant to be a second book. You sold them a second book and took the advance and spent it on cake. They're going to want it. You have a deadline.
Having trouble writing a second novel is nothing new, and a quick Google search will show plenty of sage and timely advice about how to beat whatever block you're facing. For me, the strangeness came from having a contract and a timeframe for this book before Eren itself was even done. In my mind, it's become The Phantom Book. It exists, in a technical and legal sense. Just not in an I've Actually Written It sense.
I'm so, so thankful that my publisher believed in me enough to buy a second book before the first had ever come out. That in itself inspires me when I'm feeling like things are too crazy. The book's coming along nicely, now, after a few false starts. I could probably have got things done earlier, but I'm proud of what I've written so far, so that's something.
The biggest worry for me is that I'll let people down. The expectation that I can write a second good book is in itself a compliment, and it's one I desperately want to honour. What if I submit this second book and the publisher just hates it? What if I really am a one trick pony? What if Eren was a fluke and their investment proves my undoing?
A chap could really destroy his career before it even started.
If things ever get a bit confusing, I just have to remind myself what an incredible life it is to be able to tell stories and makes books. My editor and my agent have been nothing but supportive and I know I can turn to them with difficult plot points or questions.
At the end of the day, the way I hold up my end of the bargain is simple: I write. I write the book because that's my job, isn't it? If I'm tired, I write. If I'm busy, I write. If I'm grumpy, I write and kill the characters horribly. I can always delete that bit later.
Having a second book to write has given me a great focus after the sudden shock of Eren being finished. Having a contract has given me the structure and the kick to get off my backside and get the words down. That can only be a good thing.
You can connect with Simon on twitter, facebook and his blog. You can also add Eren to your Goodreads list.
I asked Simon what it's like to be staring down the barrel of book 2. Here's what he said...
The first time you sell a book is a special moment. It's a dream come true, really – something you always wanted but never expected. The world looks brighter when you hear the news. Twitter tends to be a giddy place and family are politely congratulatory, if somewhat puzzled. I remember when I sold my first book, of course. I blogged. I Tweeted (I Twit?). I was a happy author. When my agent told me the news, the fact that Eren - my Eren - was going to be a book was the only thing I could think about for a long, long time. Being told the news, incidentally, went something like this:Agent: I have NewsMe: Is it Bad Things? I hate Bad ThingsAgent: No. It's good. We have an offer!Me: Yay!Agent: Yay!Me: They want my book?Agent: Actually, they want two. It's a two-book deal.Me: They want my book!Agent: Yes, and another book.Me: I don't have another book but really I'm sure it will be fine OK BYE.
Good times, indeed. And in the months that followed I rewrote Eren to my editor's suggestions, and had phone calls, and now there's even some artwork coming out, and talk of publication dates. It's a special magic, seeing words I thought up become an actual book. The final proofs will be in my hands in no time. Eren will be published.
But there's been this nagging thought at the back of my head for some time now. There's meant to be a second book. You sold them a second book and took the advance and spent it on cake. They're going to want it. You have a deadline.
Having trouble writing a second novel is nothing new, and a quick Google search will show plenty of sage and timely advice about how to beat whatever block you're facing. For me, the strangeness came from having a contract and a timeframe for this book before Eren itself was even done. In my mind, it's become The Phantom Book. It exists, in a technical and legal sense. Just not in an I've Actually Written It sense.
I'm so, so thankful that my publisher believed in me enough to buy a second book before the first had ever come out. That in itself inspires me when I'm feeling like things are too crazy. The book's coming along nicely, now, after a few false starts. I could probably have got things done earlier, but I'm proud of what I've written so far, so that's something.
The biggest worry for me is that I'll let people down. The expectation that I can write a second good book is in itself a compliment, and it's one I desperately want to honour. What if I submit this second book and the publisher just hates it? What if I really am a one trick pony? What if Eren was a fluke and their investment proves my undoing?
A chap could really destroy his career before it even started.
If things ever get a bit confusing, I just have to remind myself what an incredible life it is to be able to tell stories and makes books. My editor and my agent have been nothing but supportive and I know I can turn to them with difficult plot points or questions.
At the end of the day, the way I hold up my end of the bargain is simple: I write. I write the book because that's my job, isn't it? If I'm tired, I write. If I'm busy, I write. If I'm grumpy, I write and kill the characters horribly. I can always delete that bit later.
Having a second book to write has given me a great focus after the sudden shock of Eren being finished. Having a contract has given me the structure and the kick to get off my backside and get the words down. That can only be a good thing.
You can connect with Simon on twitter, facebook and his blog. You can also add Eren to your Goodreads list.
January 25, 2014
A public appearance, you say? Yes!
Hi guys!
So it seems I have more beans to spill already, as the details are now out there in the webosphere... I will be on a YA panel with amazing authors Hayley Long and Lucy Christopher in just 6 weeks' time! This is part of the XX Women's Writing Festival in March - details are here.
Let me know here or on twitter if you're planning on being there, and please come over and say hi!
Kat out x
So it seems I have more beans to spill already, as the details are now out there in the webosphere... I will be on a YA panel with amazing authors Hayley Long and Lucy Christopher in just 6 weeks' time! This is part of the XX Women's Writing Festival in March - details are here.
Let me know here or on twitter if you're planning on being there, and please come over and say hi!
Kat out x
