Alexandra Grigorescu's Blog, page 3
February 26, 2015
Cauchemar now on shelves at Indigo.
This being my first book and all, I wasn’t really too sure when I could expect it to land on shelves. As I’ve mentioned before, it still seemed like some nebulous eventuality. That is, until Indigo started listing it as being available in stores (such as Bay/Bloor, Eglinton, Yorkdale, Richmond Hill and Newmarket) earlier this week. So, of course, I put on some waterproof mascara in anticipation of what I thought would be a wave of emotion—fulfillment of childhood dreams and whatnot—enlisted my lovely husband, and off we went to the Eaton Centre.
There were no tears. There was just a very deep contentment and a very real, goofy smile. I pretty much lost it when I also found it up on two walls on the main floor (prime real estate), including a section titled The Modern Fairy Tale. My husband picked up a copy and we ran around with it like chickens sans heads, as an elderly lady eyed us suspiciously—we were surely the happiest hooligans she’d ever seen.
It means a lot to see your book on a shelf, and that sense of fulfillment comes not only from the hard work you’ve done and hard knocks you’ve taken, but rather from being first and foremost a reader. From having always associated the bookstore with comfort and escape. From knowing that no matter what was going on, I’d go pick out my books for the week and be subsumed by new worlds. So, to know that my world is out there now, for other bookworms to enjoy, is a beautiful gift.
February 25, 2015
Free 2-chapter preview of Cauchemar.
If you’d like a sneak peek at Cauchemar, check out the first two chapters FOR FREE through ECW’s February newsletter. It’s just a small taste of the dark goings-on in store for Hannah (and you), and offers up the early lovin’ sparks between her and Callum.
Oh, and ECW’s monthly e-news is regularly chock-full o’ good stuff, so sign up here.
Cauchemar Blog Tour
ECW Press has graciously organized a blog tour to celebrate the launch of Cauchemar, and it’s on from March 1-14, 2015. Please see below for a promo poster, and visit ECW Press for dates and more info.
There’ll be some interviews, some reviews, and some GIVEAWAYS. I’ll also be whipping up some guest posts.
Exciting!
February 23, 2015
Readings galore.
And by galore, I mean two—but two is significantly more than I’ve previously engaged in.
Last week, I was fortunate enough to read in Montreal alongside Neil Smith, Aimee Wimbush Bourque, and Monique Polak (a wonderful experience) on Tuesday evening, and at ChiSeries Toronto with the fabulous Matthew J. Trafford and Kelly Robson (with musical accompaniment from Kari Maaren) on Wednesday.
Many thanks are due to my husband for accompanying me to both events—which meant coming into Montreal for just over 12 hours—and contributing immeasurably to my sense of calm and above-it-all, as well as all who came out. I’m terribly lucky to have such supportive family and friends around me.
In other news, Nick Cutter favorited a tweet in which I quite concisely sang the praises of his latest horror masterpiece, The Deep, and my week was made.
February 11, 2015
Are you a book blogger looking for a great (spooky) read?
For those of you who missed the NetGalley window for Cauchemar in January, don’t despair! You can still request a copy for review through ECW Press. Just shoot a note to Samantha Dobson at sam@ecwpress.com!
February 6, 2015
Goodreads giveaway redux
Good news! If you didn’t win the first Goodreads giveaway for Cauchemar, you have another chance.
Enter here before March 2, 2015—there are 5 copies available to be won.
February 3, 2015
They’re here!
Late last week, we came home to a big box of books—-my books to be exact. We toasted how very beautiful they are, and sniffed the pages to discover a lingering scent of printing ink.
We’d been told to expect the finished product about a month in advance of the official release date, but that still seemed like a long ways away. I remember telling people “Oh, about 3 months,” in December, and somehow that became fixed in my head. Well, it’s just over a month now, and the excitement is starting to build. I suppose I should try to stop looking like a deer caught in headlights every time people ask me for a spontaneous reading.
Also, you can now also pre-order Cauchemar from Target (as well as a slew of other retailers).
February 2, 2015
Quill and Quire Spring Preview 2015
It most certainly doesn’t feel like spring right now, but at least the spring book previews are emerging like buds from beneath the frost (har har).
Check out Quill and Quire’s spring preview, which mentions yours truly and Cauchemar (as well as Jon Chan Simpson, with Chinkstar) in their list of 10 first-time novelists.
January 16, 2015
Cauchemar on 49th Shelf’s list of Most Anticipated for Spring 2015
49th Shelf has included Cauchemar in its list of Most Anticipated: 2015 Fiction Spring Preview! Happy to say I’m in very good company, alongside Lynn Crosbie’s latest, Where Did You Sleep Last Night?, and Giller nominee Elisabeth de Mariaffi’s first novel The Devil You Know. Also listed are ECW Press author Sara Taylor’s Boring Girls and fellow MA in Creative Writing graduate Jon Chan Simpson’s Chinkstar. Huzzah!
January 4, 2015
The Wonder of ARCs
About a month ago, the Cauchemar ARCs arrived in the mail. There was much jumping around and cheering at my house, as it’s one of the more tangible steps towards the finished product.
Then came the heartwarming surprise, by way of a Goodreads giveaway, that people actually wanted to read said ARCs.
It was a great reminder of what my husband has been telling me all along: enjoy the process, and trust that it’s heading somewhere good (the paraphrase and self-help lingo are my own, but the gist is there). Also, incidentally, proof of how very necessary that wonderful, rational voice is.
Happy new year, everyone.
