Kelley Armstrong's Blog, page 157

Hi Ms. Kelley! I'm a freshman college at University of New Orleans and I'm a big big fan of your writing. We're doing a profiling assignment about the person who we want to meet in English and I chose you. Can I please interview you for this assignment? I

Bumped this one up, as answering in 3 months probably won’t help :) I do answer questions for school projects. Because I’m making this answer public, I’m going to state the general rules, which may not apply to your specific assignment. Why do I have rules? Because imposing limitations is the only way I can continue helping with school projects. Otherwise, it’ll be a flat no to everyone.

1) max 5 questions.

2) min 2 weeks notice. This is 2 weeks from receiving the questions, not 2 weeks from first email contact.

3) the project must be writing related. Projects to interview writers—or someone in the arts—are fine. Those to interview someone who has a career you want are fine. Those to answer English class questions about my books (i.e. what’s the theme of The Summoning) are not. Projects to interview someone on a random topic are not. Alison will reject these and I’ll never see them, which avoids me having to say “no” to you :)

Questions must go to Alison at mail@kelleyarmstrong.com. If they’re sent via Tumblr, Facebook, Goodreads etc, it’ll likely be too late by the time I get to it! Alison keeps me organized; always contact her for anything time-sensitive.

Hi Ms. Kelley! I'm a freshman college at University of New Orleans and I'm a big big fan of your writing. We're doing a profiling assignment about the person who we want to meet in English and I chose you. Can I please interview you for this assignment? I

Bumped this one up, as answering in 3 months probably won’t help :) I do answer questions for school projects. Because I’m making this answer public, I’m going to state the general rules, which may not apply to your specific assignment. Why do I have rules? Because imposing limitations is the only way I can continue helping with school projects. Otherwise, it’ll be a flat no to everyone.

1) max 5 questions.

2) min 2 weeks notice. This is 2 weeks from receiving the questions, not 2 weeks from first email contact.

3) the project must be writing related. Projects to interview writers—or someone in the arts—are fine. Those to interview someone who has a career you want are fine. Those to answer English class questions about my books (i.e. what’s the theme of The Summoning) are not. Projects to interview someone on a random topic are not. Alison will reject these and I’ll never see them, which avoids me having to say “no” to you :)

Questions must go to Alison at mail@kelleyarmstrong.com. If they’re sent via Tumblr, Facebook, Goodreads etc, it’ll likely be too late by the time I get to it! Alison keeps me organized; always contact her for anything time-sensitive.

Hi Ms. Kelley! I'm a freshman college at University of New Orleans and I'm a big big fan of your writing. We're doing a profiling assignment about the person who we want to meet in English and I chose you. Can I please interview you for this assignment? I

Bumped this one up, as answering in 3 months probably won’t help :) I do answer questions for school projects. Because I’m making this answer public, I’m going to state the general rules, which may not apply to your specific assignment. Why do I have rules? Because imposing limitations is the only way I can continue helping with school projects. Otherwise, it’ll be a flat no to everyone.

1) max 5 questions.

2) min 2 weeks notice. This is 2 weeks from receiving the questions, not 2 weeks from first email contact.

3) the project must be writing related. Projects to interview writers—or someone in the arts—are fine. Those to interview someone who has a career you want are fine. Those to answer English class questions about my books (i.e. what’s the theme of The Summoning) are not. Projects to interview someone on a random topic are not. Alison will reject these and I’ll never see them, which avoids me having to say “no” to you :)

Questions must go to Alison at mail@kelleyarmstrong.com. If they’re sent via Tumblr, Facebook, Goodreads etc, it’ll likely be too late by the time I get to it! Alison keeps me organized; always contact her for anything time-sensitive.

Hi Ms. Kelley! I'm a freshman college at University of New Orleans and I'm a big big fan of your writing. We're doing a profiling assignment about the person who we want to meet in English and I chose you. Can I please interview you for this assignment? I

Bumped this one up, as answering in 3 months probably won’t help :) I do answer questions for school projects. Because I’m making this answer public, I’m going to state the general rules, which may not apply to your specific assignment. Why do I have rules? Because imposing limitations is the only way I can continue helping with school projects. Otherwise, it’ll be a flat no to everyone.

1) max 5 questions.

2) min 2 weeks notice. This is 2 weeks from receiving the questions, not 2 weeks from first email contact.

3) the project must be writing related. Projects to interview writers—or someone in the arts—are fine. Those to interview someone who has a career you want are fine. Those to answer English class questions about my books (i.e. what’s the theme of The Summoning) are not. Projects to interview someone on a random topic are not. Alison will reject these and I’ll never see them, which avoids me having to say “no” to you :)

Questions must go to Alison at mail@kelleyarmstrong.com. If they’re sent via Tumblr, Facebook, Goodreads etc, it’ll likely be too late by the time I get to it! Alison keeps me organized; always contact her for anything time-sensitive.

Hi Ms. Kelley! I'm a freshman college at University of New Orleans and I'm a big big fan of your writing. We're doing a profiling assignment about the person who we want to meet in English and I chose you. Can I please interview you for this assignment? I

Bumped this one up, as answering in 3 months probably won’t help :) I do answer questions for school projects. Because I’m making this answer public, I’m going to state the general rules, which may not apply to your specific assignment. Why do I have rules? Because imposing limitations is the only way I can continue helping with school projects. Otherwise, it’ll be a flat no to everyone.

1) max 5 questions.

2) min 2 weeks notice. This is 2 weeks from receiving the questions, not 2 weeks from first email contact.

3) the project must be writing related. Projects to interview writers—or someone in the arts—are fine. Those to interview someone who has a career you want are fine. Those to answer English class questions about my books (i.e. what’s the theme of The Summoning) are not. Projects to interview someone on a random topic are not. Alison will reject these and I’ll never see them, which avoids me having to say “no” to you :)

Questions must go to Alison at mail@kelleyarmstrong.com. If they’re sent via Tumblr, Facebook, Goodreads etc, it’ll likely be too late by the time I get to it! Alison keeps me organized; always contact her for anything time-sensitive.

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Four Summoners Tales - Release, Excerpt & Giveaway

So, I had a novella come out last week. Unfortunately, it came out on the same day that the “Bitten was picked up by Syfy” news hit, so I knew it wasn’t the right time to do more than a retweet. Now, a week later, I want to do a proper announcement and a contest.

I often tell writing classes not to worry about the originality of their basic idea. Don’t steal, obviously, but don’t tie yourself in knots worrying that someone, somewhere has written a book on a similar topic. Back when I was writing Bitten, and everyone was telling me no one would ever buy a book about a female werewolf, I held out hope that that was actually a plus—it was an original idea. Then I walked into a bookstore and saw Alice Borchardt’s The Silver Wolf…about a female werewolf. I didn’t write a word on Bitten for six months after that. I couldn’t stay away, though, and eventually finished and sold it. And you know what? No one has ever compared it to that novel. It’s too different. With books, it’s not about the core idea; it’s about the execution. Twenty people can take the same idea and come up with twenty very different books.

Four Summoner’s Tales is proof of that. Four authors took the same concept “A stranger offers to raise the dead…for a price.” The result? Four very different stories.

“PIPERS” BY CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN

Twenty-three people have already lost their lives to the ruthless cartel terrorizing their small Texas border town. But one man has a plan for revenge, if the town’s survivors will let him use their loved ones—to raise an army of the undead.

“A BAD SEASON FOR NECROMANCY” BY DAVID LISS,

In merry old England, a rascally con man stumbles upon a book for raising the dead. But instead of using it to make money by reviving relatives for the rich, he’ll do just the opposite. Because some family skeletons need to stay buried.

“ALIVE DAY” BY JONATHAN MABERRY

In war-torn Afghanistan, a U.S. military operative and his team face off against an ancient horror during a harrowing off-the-books search-and-rescue mission.

Mine is Suffer the Children. It’s horror. Some of you may know that’s my original genre—from before I was published—and I still love to write it when I get the chance.

In Suffer the Children, a northern Ontario village is reeling from a diphtheria outbreak that killed a third of their population, including almost every child. Two men come to town and offer to return the children who’ve died most recently. The story is narrated by two characters. Benjamin came three years ago to take a teaching job, only to find himself appointed preacher instead. Now known only as Preacher, he struggles to be what the villagers need, while only too aware that he is no man of faith. The primary narrator, though, is his foster daughter, twelve-year-old Addie. Having survived the brutal deaths of her family and now the diphtheria outbreak, Addie cannot help but wonder when she will get the fate she feels she deserves.

Want a sample? Here’s Addie with Chapter One.

Now to give away a few. I have two ARCs and two final paperbacks.

How to enter: email contest@kelleyarmstrong.com and tell me what Addie is hunting (from the excerpt—don’t worry, it’s a short chapter and an easy answer to find!)

Deadline: midnight Eastern Monday, September 30. Not sure what that is in your time zone? Check here.

My contests are always open to everyone, everywhere. One entry per person.

Wondering who wins these? I post the names and province/state/country after all winners have replied. If you win, you will be emailed. No need to check back here!

Hi Kelley! Firstly just wanted to say that I absolutely love your books. My question is, since you usually have more than one book coming out during a year, I was wondering as you're writing if you complete one manuscript before starting another? Or do

I only write one book at a time. I’ve been able to get far enough ahead of schedule that I don’t ever have to stop one thing because I have a deadline looming on another. Changing from one voice to another takes work. However, I’m usually editing a project while writing another. That’s easy. I can pop into character voice long enough to do tweaks.

Hi Kelley! Firstly just wanted to say that I absolutely love your books. My question is, since you usually have more than one book coming out during a year, I was wondering as you're writing if you complete one manuscript before starting another? Or do

I only write one book at a time. I’ve been able to get far enough ahead of schedule that I don’t ever have to stop one thing because I have a deadline looming on another. Changing from one voice to another takes work. However, I’m usually editing a project while writing another. That’s easy. I can pop into character voice long enough to do tweaks.

Hi Kelley! Firstly just wanted to say that I absolutely love your books. My question is, since you usually have more than one book coming out during a year, I was wondering as you're writing if you complete one manuscript before starting another? Or do

I only write one book at a time. I’ve been able to get far enough ahead of schedule that I don’t ever have to stop one thing because I have a deadline looming on another. Changing from one voice to another takes work. However, I’m usually editing a project while writing another. That’s easy. I can pop into character voice long enough to do tweaks.