Heidi Schulz's Blog, page 7

In the Middle with Simon P. Clark

Today, we are in the middle with Simon P. Clark, author of Eren, a book I cannot wait to read! (In fact, I just purchased the ebook and hope to read it next week while I travel between tour stops.)

People are keeping secrets from Oli. His mum has brought him to stay with his aunt and uncle in the countryside, but nobody will tell him why his dad isn’t with them. Where is he? Has something happened? Oli has a hundred questions, but then he finds a secret of his own: he discovers the creature that lives in the attic…

Eren.

Eren is not human.

Eren is hungry for stories.

Eren has been waiting for him.

Sharing his stories with Eren, Oli starts to make sense of what’s happening downstairs with his family. But what if it’s a trap? Soon, Oli must make a choice: learn the truth – or abandon himself to Eren’s world, forever.

Eren is now available for purchase in the UK: Amazon | Waterstones | Foyles | Hive (Find your nearest independent bookshop)

The ebook is available now in the US: Kindle | Nook

Or preorder the US version of the hardcover, available June 9, 2015 (retitled Tell the Story to its End for American markets): Amazon

Q&A with Simon

What draws you into writing for a middle grade audience?

I think, in common with a lot of children’s authors, I have very vivid memories of the books and stories I read as a kid. Children read very differently than adults – there’s something wild, something all-in about the way they can get wrapped up in a good tale. When I imagined myself as a writer, isn’t wasn’t necessarily as only a children’s author, but it was always going to encompass that, Maybe I’ll write for adult audiences in the future – if I can dumb things down a bit.

If you had a time machine and could visit middle-grade you, what would you tell him?

Firstly, keep rocking the Thomas the Tank Engine knitted cardigan look – you are totally pulling it off. Actually, I don’t know. I had a good time as a kid – I wouldn’t want a boring adult coming and telling me what to do. Mistakes are important, and they’re a part of any good adventure.

Choose your own adventure: Is there an interview question you’d love to answer, but haven’t been asked?

Y’know, no one ever asks about the books that didn’t make it – the things I’ve written that will never see the light of day. It’s probably important for people to hear that Eren didn’t just burst from nowhere – it’s the end of a ten year long process. The first book I wrote was a weird Harry Potter-esque portal fantasy about ‘The Moors of Magic’, where all fictional animals are secretly living, and a girl – Adele – who finds out her parents aren’t dead (gasp!) but actually went there. It was … not good. I think my younger sister actually still has a copy. The day will come when she uses it to blackmail me.

And now I think I shall have to find your sister and become her new BFF. Thanks for dropping in today, Simon, and congratulations on your debut!

Simon P. Clark is a British writer currently working in New Jersey. He likes bread, travel, and books that give you the creeps.

Connect with Simon on simonpclark.com, erentales.com, Twitter, Tumblr, or Facebook.

Hook’s Revenge Blog Tour Stop 9: Build a Fairy Garden with WhoRuBlog (plus giveaway!)

Happy Wednesday, friends! As this is the penultimate stop on my blog tour, I felt it was a good time to take a break for thought and reflection. Where better for big thoughts than in a wee little garden?

Join me at WhoRuBlog today for instructions on how to build an adorable little fairy garden and perhaps attract a fairy of your own, just like Jocelyn’s, Meriwether Pennyroyal.

While you are there, enter to win a copy of Hook’s Revenge!

Friday, 9/12 Reading with ABC, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Monday, 9/15 Paperback Princess, Interview

Tuesday, 9/16 The Irish Banana Review, Glossary of Pirate Words

Wednesday, 9/17 Mundie Moms, Guest Post, DIY Pirate Costumes

Thursday, 9/18 Jenuine Cupcakes, Nubbins’s Hardtack Recipe (Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies with Lime Curd)

Friday, 9/19 Queen Ella Bee Reads, Exclusive Excerpt

Monday, 9/22 Allodoxophobia, My Hook’s Revenge Playlist

Tuesday, 9/23 Kissed by Ink, Exclusive Excerpt

Wednesday, 9/24 Who RU Blog, Build a Fairy Garden Instructions and Giveaway

Upcoming:

Thursday, 9/25 Supernatural Snark

Hook’s Revenge Blog Tour Stop 8: Exclusive Excerpt at Kissed by Ink

Dear Reader,

As we have come to day eight of my Hook’s Revenge blog tour, I felt it prudent to share with you another short excerpt of the book that has brought us together today. You may recall that I began this tale many years ago. It has changed much in the telling; very few segments have remained as they were when I conceived of them. There is one, however, that has stayed largely the same as the day I first penned typed it.

That portion—a letter sent from Captain Hook to his daughter, Jocelyn—is what I wish to share with you today. Do not delay, dear reader, but go directly to Kissed by Ink, and read the missive that charted Jocelyn’s journey.

Swashbucklingly,

P.S. You may also wish to read this Huffington Post Books interview  wherein I discuss next year’s Hook’s Revenge: The Pirate Code, writing middle grade fiction, and Peter Dinklage.

Friday, 9/12 Reading with ABC, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Monday, 9/15 Paperback Princess, Interview

Tuesday, 9/16 The Irish Banana Review, Glossary of Pirate Words

Wednesday, 9/17 Mundie Moms, Guest Post, DIY Pirate Costumes

Thursday, 9/18 Jenuine Cupcakes, Nubbins’s Hardtack Recipe (Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies with Lime Curd)

Friday, 9/19 Queen Ella Bee Reads, Exclusive Excerpt

Monday, 9/22 Allodoxophobia, My Hook’s Revenge Playlist

Tuesday, 9/23 Kissed by Ink, Exclusive Excerpt

Upcoming:

Wednesday, 9/24 Who RU Blog

Thursday, 9/25 Supernatural Snark

Hook’s Revenge Blog Tour Stop 7: My Playlist at Allodoxophobia

Oh Monday, we meet again.

Today is a particularly Mondayish Monday, simply because Friday and Saturday were so awesome (and Sunday was so nap-filled). On Friday, I had the most swashbuckling Talk Like a Pirate Day Hook’s Revenge Launch Party at Powell’s Books. We played Pirate Jeopardy, I read, and there was cake! Lots and lots of cake!

On Saturday, my own library—the very one from my childhood reading adventures—threw me a party. I read some more and signed a lot of books. The kids walked the plank and made their own hook hands, and there was more cake!

 

If your Monday feels particularly Mondayish, how about some marauding music, to get you through the day?

Drop in on me at Allodoxophobia for a short Hook’s Revenge excerpt and the music that inspired me.

Friday, 9/12 Reading with ABC, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Monday, 9/15 Paperback Princess, Interview

Tuesday, 9/16 The Irish Banana Review, Glossary of Pirate Words

Wednesday, 9/17 Mundie Moms, Guest Post, DIY Pirate Costumes

Thursday, 9/18 Jenuine Cupcakes, Nubbins’s Hardtack Recipe (Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies with Lime Curd)

Friday, 9/19 Queen Ella Bee Reads, Exclusive Excerpt

Monday, 9/22 Allodoxophobia, My Hook’s Revenge Playlist

Upcoming:

Tuesday, 9/23 Kissed by Ink

Wednesday, 9/24 Who RU Blog

Thursday, 9/25 Supernatural Snark

Hook’s Revenge Blog Tour Stop 6: Exclusive Excerpt at Queen Ella Bee Reads

Have ye finished stuffing yer gullet from yesterday’s cookies hardtack? Well then, heave to you scurvy-ridden bilge rat, before I cast anchor in ye! We be setting sail for the next stop on this here tour ’round the blogosphere, today on International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Cast off, find the eye of the wind, and set our heading for Queen Ella Bee Reads, where you will find some of me treasure! And by treasure, I mean words, for what could be more valuable than words to a swashbuckling writer like me? X marks Queen Ella Bee’s Blog, where ye’ll find an exclusive Hook’s Revenge excerpt, all about Captain Jocelyn Hook’s not-so-fearless crew!

Also today, be sure you be followin’ Disney•Hyperion on the Twitters and the Instagrams as they tie Jocelyn’s colors to their mast to celebrate her and all things piratical this fine day. Ye may even find a chance to win gold doubloons books!

Friday, 9/12 Reading with ABC, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Monday, 9/15 Paperback Princess, Interview

Tuesday, 9/16 The Irish Banana Review, Glossary of Pirate Words

Wednesday, 9/17 Mundie Moms, Guest Post, DIY Pirate Costumes

Thursday, 9/18 Jenuine Cupcakes, Nubbins’s Hardtack Recipe (Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies with Lime Curd)

Friday, 9/19 Queen Ella Bee Reads, Exclusive Excerpt

Upcoming:

Monday, 9/22 Allodoxophobia

Tuesday, 9/23 Kissed by Ink

Wednesday, 9/24 Who RU Blog

Thursday, 9/25 Supernatural Snark

ARRRRR!

 

Hook’s Revenge Blog Tour Stop 5: Nubbins’s Hardtack Recipe at Jenuine Cupcakes

Hello friends! Today’s tour stop is a real treat (that you can make and eat yourself). Nubbins, the cook aboard Captain Jocelyn Hook’s pirate ship, has a way with food. He would never serve plain ship’s fare! Drop by Jenuine Cupcakes to get his recipe for hardtack (otherwise known as shortbread cookies with fresh lime curd)

Friday, 9/12 Reading with ABC, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Monday, 9/15 Paperback Princess, Interview

Tuesday, 9/16 The Irish Banana Review, Glossary of Pirate Words

Wednesday, 9/17 Mundie Moms, Guest Post, DIY Pirate Costumes

Thursday, 9/18 Jenuine Cupcakes, Nubbins’s Hardtack Recipe (Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies with Lime Curd)

Upcoming:

Friday, 9/19 Queen Ella Bee Reads

Monday, 9/22 Allodoxophobia

Tuesday, 9/23 Kissed by Ink

Wednesday, 9/24 Who RU Blog

Thursday, 9/25 Supernatural Snark

 

P.S. If you are local to me (Portland/Salem, Oregon), I’d love to see you at one—or both—of my launch parties this weekend!

Click here for details.

Hook’s Revenge Blog Tour Stop 4: DIY Pirate Costume at Mundie Moms

This Friday is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, but who wants to stop at talking? Let’s go full Long John Silver and get our costume on! (If you are coming to either of my launch parties, and are among the first 50 dressed like a pirate, you will get a free, signed poster!)

You may be thinking: But gosh, Heidi! It’s already Wednesday! Where am I going to get a pirate costume?

The answer can be found in today’s blog tour stop. I’m over at Mundie Moms talking about creating a DIY pirate costume from things you probably already have in your closet!

Also today, don’t miss my interview with Angelica R. Jackson on the Fearless Fifteeners Blog. Drop in to hear more about my writing journey, including how I felt when Hook’s Revenge sold after a five house auction!

Friday, 9/12 Reading with ABC, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Monday, 9/15 Paperback Princess, Interview

Tuesday, 9/16 The Irish Banana Banana Review, Glossary of Pirate Words

Wednesday, 9/17 Mundie Moms, Guest Post, DIY Pirate Costumes

Upcoming:

Thursday, 9/18 Jenuine Cupcakes

Friday, 9/19 Queen Ella Bee Reads

Monday, 9/22 Allodoxophobia

Tuesday, 9/23 Kissed by Ink

Wednesday, 9/24 Who RU Blog

Thursday, 9/25 Supernatural Snark

 

P.S. Thank you so much for the incredible outpouring of support yesterday. Book release day was like a super birthday, Halloween, and Christmas all rolled into one! Your congratulations and well-wishes mean so much. Thank you!

Hook’s Revenge Blog Tour Stop 3: Glossary of Pirate Words at The Irish Banana Review

It’s here! It’s here! It’s finally here! Hook’s Revenge is now available! Find it on Powell’s, IndieBound, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or ask for it at your favorite bookstore or local library!

Today’s stop on my blog tour will teach you how to speak pirate, just in time for International Talk Like A Pirate Day, this Friday! Come by  The Irish Banana Review for a buccaneering language lesson, given by my pirate narrator.

Also today, don’t miss my interview on Smack Dab in the Middle!

Friday, 9/12 Reading with ABC, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Monday, 9/15 Paperback Princess, Interview

Tuesday, 9/16 The Irish Banana Banana Review, Glossary of Pirate Words

Upcoming:

Wednesday, 9/17 Mundie Moms

Thursday, 9/18 Jenuine Cupcakes

Friday, 9/19 Queen Ella Bee Reads

Monday, 9/22 Allodoxophobia

Tuesday, 9/23 Kissed by Ink

Wednesday, 9/24 Who RU Blog

Thursday, 9/25 Supernatural Snark

Hook’s Revenge Blog Tour Stop 2: Interview at Paperback Princess

Hello there, dear reader! It’s Monday, but don’t despair. I’m making stop two of my blog tour this morning with an interview that is sure to get your week off to a swashbuckling start! Nicole from Paperback Princess and I chat about the inspiration behind Hook’s Revenge, writer’s block, and just one of the many things that make me weird.  

Blog Tour, Stop Two

Also happening: Drop in on First Draft with Sarah Enni and listen to a really fun podcast interview we did together. Sarah is road tripping across America, interviewing authors at their homes. She dropped by my house a couple weeks ago and we talked about Hook’s Revenge, writing, bullies, and how the right book at the right time can feel like a lifesaver. (Spoiler: The chickens also get in on the interview.) Don’t miss it! Listen here.

Friday, 9/12 Reading with ABC, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Monday, 9/15 Paperback Princess, Interview

Upcoming:

Tuesday, 9/16 The Irish Banana Banana Review

Wednesday, 9/17 Mundie Moms

Thursday, 9/18 Jenuine Cupcakes

Friday, 9/19 Queen Ella Bee Reads

Monday, 9/22 Allodoxophobia

Tuesday, 9/23 Kissed by Ink

Wednesday, 9/24 Who RU Blog

Thursday, 9/25 Supernatural Snark

Hook’s Revenge Blog Tour, Stop 1: Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway at Reading with ABC

In case I haven’t mentioned it more than a hundred times, Hook’s Revenge will be in stores on Tuesday! To celebrate, I’m touring the web, sharing exclusive content: excerpts, interviews, and some other fun things. That tour starts, oh, how about RIGHT NOW.

 

Come on over to Reading with ABC! You’ll get to know my pirate narrator and read an exclusive excerpt: the first few pages of Hook’s Revenge! While you are there, enter to win a copy!

Heave to!

P.S. Want more? Check out where else I’ve been this week:

I was invited to contribute to the Barnes & Noble blog. (WHAT.) Drop in and read what happens when I interview some of my own characters!

I had a really fun interview up with Rachel at Beauty and the Bookshelf. Come by and say hello!