P.J. Hoover's Blog, page 24
June 4, 2012
Fun First Lines!
Hey! I'm blogging over on The Enchanted Inkpot today, showcasing some the group's first lines! When you get a second, hope over and see what everyone is cooking up!
CLICK HERE FOR THE POST!
Happy Monday!
CLICK HERE FOR THE POST!
Happy Monday!
June 3, 2012
Winners!
I am so excited to have so many new people hanging out here on the blog! It's great to meet you all, and in honor of that, I am planning another big giveaway this week, so please stick around! Until then, the winners for current contests are:
A signed copy of THE COMET'S CURSE by Dom Testa (Tor Teen, 2009)
KIMBERLY LIM!
***
An ARC of RIFT: A NIGHTSHADE NOVEL by Andrea Cremer (Philomel, August 7, 2012)
GABY!
***
An ARC of FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic, July 12, 2011)
LEANNESSF!
***
An ARC of THE SPACE BETWEEN by Brenna Yovanoff (Razorbill, November 14, 2011)
ANDREA CHAPMAN!
***
An ARC of INSIGNIA by S. J. Kincaid (Katherine Tegan Books, July 10, 2012)
SUSAN SOWERS LIGHT!
****
A signed copy of THE COMET'S CURSE by Dom Testa (Tor Teen, 2009)
KIMBERLY LIM!
***
An ARC of RIFT: A NIGHTSHADE NOVEL by Andrea Cremer (Philomel, August 7, 2012)
GABY!
***
An ARC of FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic, July 12, 2011)
LEANNESSF!
***
An ARC of THE SPACE BETWEEN by Brenna Yovanoff (Razorbill, November 14, 2011)
ANDREA CHAPMAN!
***
An ARC of INSIGNIA by S. J. Kincaid (Katherine Tegan Books, July 10, 2012)
SUSAN SOWERS LIGHT!
****
June 1, 2012
Photos on a Friday
The truth is that I never loved my old author photos. They were fine, but (1) I always wanted outside photos, and (2) they felt so canned to me. So when it came time to send an author photo in to Tor for publicity, I decided it was time for a new one. I called up a friend (thank you!) who said she wouldn't mind taking pictures of me, and we scheduled the photo shoot for that Sunday (because I needed the picture by Monday).
Yeah, sure, Sunday came and it was RAINY and WINDY. But my friend and I braved the wind, the rain, and an entire horde of slugs (seriously, they were everywhere). Anyway, 301 pictures later, and here is what I came up with. (I seriously owe her a bottle of wine or something.)
First, there is the basic headshot. This was about the second to last photo taken of the 301. I'm laughing so hard because we've just discovered the slug horde. I am sitting on it and have been for the last half hour. This is "Tricia with the Slugs."
But the thing was, when I set out, I really wanted a photo against bricks. I have this thing for bricks (especially antique ones), and I thought bricks would make an awesome background. Well, sure, the bricks were cool, but my jacket pretty much completely didn't stand out. Also, notice how the rain and wind has not totally killed my hair yet in this photo since it was one of the first ones. This is "Tricia with the Bricks."
So I colored each of the bricks in Photoshop.
And then I played around and applied a bunch of different filters for fun. This is the "fresco" filter. It makes me feel very chic.
The final shot that worked was the cows. Yes, you guessed it, this is "Tricia with the Cows."
But plain old color seemed a bit boring, so I went with Black & White.
But the trees provided such a nice, spooky background that I thought sepia would work better.
Not to mention no one would even know (or care) there were cows, so I cropped them out.
And that's basically how 2 hours of picture taking and 301 photos can turn into three new author pics :)
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Yeah, sure, Sunday came and it was RAINY and WINDY. But my friend and I braved the wind, the rain, and an entire horde of slugs (seriously, they were everywhere). Anyway, 301 pictures later, and here is what I came up with. (I seriously owe her a bottle of wine or something.)
First, there is the basic headshot. This was about the second to last photo taken of the 301. I'm laughing so hard because we've just discovered the slug horde. I am sitting on it and have been for the last half hour. This is "Tricia with the Slugs."
But the thing was, when I set out, I really wanted a photo against bricks. I have this thing for bricks (especially antique ones), and I thought bricks would make an awesome background. Well, sure, the bricks were cool, but my jacket pretty much completely didn't stand out. Also, notice how the rain and wind has not totally killed my hair yet in this photo since it was one of the first ones. This is "Tricia with the Bricks."
So I colored each of the bricks in Photoshop.
And then I played around and applied a bunch of different filters for fun. This is the "fresco" filter. It makes me feel very chic.
The final shot that worked was the cows. Yes, you guessed it, this is "Tricia with the Cows."
But plain old color seemed a bit boring, so I went with Black & White.
But the trees provided such a nice, spooky background that I thought sepia would work better.
Not to mention no one would even know (or care) there were cows, so I cropped them out.
And that's basically how 2 hours of picture taking and 301 photos can turn into three new author pics :)
Hope you all have a great weekend!
May 31, 2012
ANASTASIA FOREVER by Joy Preble
I was so excited to get an early copy of this third book in the ANASTASIA series by Joy Preble.
ANASTASIA FOREVER by Joy Preble (Sourcebooks, August 1, 2012)
In short...
I LOVE THESE BOOKS!
In a little bit longer form, I'm going to give you five great reasons to fall utterly in love with these books!
1) Okay, just to get it out in the open, Joy is a dear friend of mine! So I admit I am totally biased when it come to her story. But I fell in love with DREAMING ANASTASIA long before Joy and I were friends. I admit I was somewhat of a fangirl when I first met her. I bought the book at our Austin SCBWI conference where she was signing, and nervously introduced myself :)
Joy (in the purple) dressed up like an evil Russian mermaid for Austin Comic Con.
2) Yes, I just have to mention ANASTASIA. Has there been any mystery since the unexpected death of King Tut that has stirred up so many conspiracy stories? Right, so Joy took it upon herself to write what she think happened. I love the opportunity to look into someone else's mind and see what they came up with. And it is awesome :)
3) I have a complete soft spot in my heart for immortal characters. But just to be fair, not all immortal characters quite do it for me. Not the case with Ethan. He's lived a long time and yet he has such a great edge of innocence. He does not know everything. He is learning anew. He can be fooled. Tricked. Fall in love. And yet he is beyond cool. If I were the swooning type, Ethan would be totally swoon-worthy, and of the three ANASTASIA books, I'm pretty sure ANASTASIA FOREVER shows this the best.
4) This is book 3, and sure, you could pick it up and totally enjoy the series. But you have two months until it comes out. Take this opportunity and read DREAMING ANASTASIA and HAUNTED now, such that in August, when ANASTASIA FOREVER comes out, you will be first in line at the book store.
5) There are just certain books I view as guilty pleasures. I read them for pure enjoyment. I don't read to critique or compare or anything having to do with my own writing. I read them because I love the characters, the stories, and the worlds, and the ANASTASIA books are one hundred percent in this category for me.
In short, the ANASTASIA books are the perfect summer reading! They are light yet serious, funny yet suspenseful, romantic yet intense. Highly recommended for fans of paranormal fiction, sixth grade and up.
ADD ANASTASIA FOREVER TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR LIST NOW!
Source of book: From publisher
From Amazon:
Stories within stories. Secrets within secrets. In accepting powers from the legendary witch Baba Yaga, Anne must tackle a complex set of missions: Discover the secret of their enemy's newfound immortality; decide whether she can kill him to free her family from a vicious curse; come to terms with the magic that now resides inside her; and finally find true love with Ethan. The riveting conclusion to the trilogy that began with Dreaming Anastasia.
ANASTASIA FOREVER by Joy Preble (Sourcebooks, August 1, 2012)
In short...
I LOVE THESE BOOKS!
In a little bit longer form, I'm going to give you five great reasons to fall utterly in love with these books!
1) Okay, just to get it out in the open, Joy is a dear friend of mine! So I admit I am totally biased when it come to her story. But I fell in love with DREAMING ANASTASIA long before Joy and I were friends. I admit I was somewhat of a fangirl when I first met her. I bought the book at our Austin SCBWI conference where she was signing, and nervously introduced myself :)
Joy (in the purple) dressed up like an evil Russian mermaid for Austin Comic Con.
2) Yes, I just have to mention ANASTASIA. Has there been any mystery since the unexpected death of King Tut that has stirred up so many conspiracy stories? Right, so Joy took it upon herself to write what she think happened. I love the opportunity to look into someone else's mind and see what they came up with. And it is awesome :)
3) I have a complete soft spot in my heart for immortal characters. But just to be fair, not all immortal characters quite do it for me. Not the case with Ethan. He's lived a long time and yet he has such a great edge of innocence. He does not know everything. He is learning anew. He can be fooled. Tricked. Fall in love. And yet he is beyond cool. If I were the swooning type, Ethan would be totally swoon-worthy, and of the three ANASTASIA books, I'm pretty sure ANASTASIA FOREVER shows this the best.
4) This is book 3, and sure, you could pick it up and totally enjoy the series. But you have two months until it comes out. Take this opportunity and read DREAMING ANASTASIA and HAUNTED now, such that in August, when ANASTASIA FOREVER comes out, you will be first in line at the book store.
5) There are just certain books I view as guilty pleasures. I read them for pure enjoyment. I don't read to critique or compare or anything having to do with my own writing. I read them because I love the characters, the stories, and the worlds, and the ANASTASIA books are one hundred percent in this category for me.
In short, the ANASTASIA books are the perfect summer reading! They are light yet serious, funny yet suspenseful, romantic yet intense. Highly recommended for fans of paranormal fiction, sixth grade and up.
ADD ANASTASIA FOREVER TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR LIST NOW!
Source of book: From publisher
From Amazon:
Stories within stories. Secrets within secrets. In accepting powers from the legendary witch Baba Yaga, Anne must tackle a complex set of missions: Discover the secret of their enemy's newfound immortality; decide whether she can kill him to free her family from a vicious curse; come to terms with the magic that now resides inside her; and finally find true love with Ethan. The riveting conclusion to the trilogy that began with Dreaming Anastasia.
May 30, 2012
Former Debut: A.C.E. Bauer, Class of 2k7
Today I'm excited to feature someone from the original debut "Class of" group. Yes, today we are going back to 2k7! With us is A.C.E. (Alice) Bauer to catch us up on everything that's been going on for the last five years! (Wait! Five years! Wow, does time fly.) Anyway, here we go!
Name: A.C.E. Bauer
Debut Group: Class of: 2k7
Debut novel: NO CASTLES HERE
PJH: Okay, so it’s been 5 years since you graduated from your debut class. Personally, I miss the heck out of knowing what my classmates are up to. So give us the low-down. What have you been up to in the last few years? New books? New degrees? New pets? What has been going on, and what do we have to look forward to from you in the future?
ACE: After NO CASTLES HERE (which became an audiobook and came out in paperback), I’ve continued to write in the magical realism genre. COME FALL, for middle grade readers, was published in 2010. It’s the story of three friends in middle school whose lives are disrupted when one of them, without his knowledge, becomes a pawn in a fight between the king and queen of Faerie. My first YA novel, GIL MARSH, was published this February 28th. It’s a story inspired by the Epic of Gilgamesh: a boy becomes close friends with a stranger who dies. Inconsolable, he flees to Quebec to seek an immortal man and perhaps find the secret to immortality.
(PJH: Yay for a story inspired by Gilgamesh!)
GIL MARSH (Random House, February 28, 2012)
PJH: Besides marketing the novels, I have been revising a new novel for my agent, and working on still another that is in that horrible middle stage when I’m convinced there’s no way I’m going to be able to finish it.
ACE: I missed having a group of authors like the Class of 2k7 to bounce ideas off and work with on promotion, so several local authors and I decided to create Write Up Our Alley in 2008. Besides our website (http://writeupouralley.com/) and promotional materials, we’ve been meeting regularly as a sort of career critique group. It’s been wonderful!
NO CASTLES HERE (Random House, October 2007)
PJH: If you could summarize to a debut novelist the best part of being a member of an author group like the “Class of” groups, what would you say?
ACE: The best part of being in a group like Class of 2k7 is that it gave me a group of people who could help me figure out how to be a published author. It’s more than just publicity and promotion: being a professional writer is a career, and it’s great to have other people starting off with you that you can bounce ideas off.
PJH: Though I absolutely loved being a debut author, I’m really thrilled with all the experience I’ve gained since. What advice would you give to those who are debuting now? What do you wish you had known when you started out?
ACE: Once the class disbands, find other authors who are also published to work with. I don’t mean a critique group, although that can be useful. I mean other folks who have to deal with professional writing issues who you can talk to on a regular basis and who you can share experiences with. Published authors have different career problems than those who are still looking for their first contract—problems that are equally frustrating and sometimes quite demoralizing. Having a group like WUOA if only to talk shop (although we do more than that) has helped me in my professional life. Besides, each accomplishment is a little sweeter when people who understand exactly what you are doing celebrate it with you.
PJH: In addition to writing the next mega-million bestselling novel, what do you want to accomplish in the next five years? Do you want to write five more books? Get your black belt in Kung Fu? Walk the Great Wall of China? Let’s hear it.
ACE: How about the Newbery? Nope? Well, I’d like to publish at least two more books, and with luck, three. I’m not the fastest writer on the planet, so that seems like a manageable goal. As a lifelong comics fan, I would love if one of them at least was a graphic novel. I’ve never been able to write for NaNoWriMo (mostly because of other writing commitments), so I’d like to try that once.
COME FALL (Random House, July 27, 2010)
PJH: Anything else you want to add? Five reasons to read your book? A picture of your writing space? How you celebrated when you signed your contract? Your choice!
ACE: It’s funny. The actual signing of my contracts have always been the most anticlimactic moments of the publishing process. It’s getting that “Yes, we would like your book,” months (or years) before the contract is written is what puts me on Cloud Nine. And every rejected manuscript (yes, that happens, even after you’ve been published) still hurts. What keeps me going, though, more than anything else, is enjoying the writing itself. There is no better day in the world for me than a day when I’ve written productively.
PJH: Thank you so much for being here! And good luck with everything in the future!
Bio: A.C.E. Bauer is the author of three novels for young readers. Her most recent book, Gil Marsh, is her first for young adults. She has also published two middle grade novels, No Castles Here (ALA Rainbow List; starred review by Kirkus Reviews) and Come Fall (CCBC Choices book; starred review by Publishers Weekly). Born and raised in Montreal, she spends most of the year in New England, and much of the summer on a lake in Quebec. You can read more about her and her work at acebauer.com.
***
Thanks for helping me celebrate former debuts! And if you are a former debut and are interested in being featured, check out this post here!
Name: A.C.E. Bauer
Debut Group: Class of: 2k7
Debut novel: NO CASTLES HERE
PJH: Okay, so it’s been 5 years since you graduated from your debut class. Personally, I miss the heck out of knowing what my classmates are up to. So give us the low-down. What have you been up to in the last few years? New books? New degrees? New pets? What has been going on, and what do we have to look forward to from you in the future?
ACE: After NO CASTLES HERE (which became an audiobook and came out in paperback), I’ve continued to write in the magical realism genre. COME FALL, for middle grade readers, was published in 2010. It’s the story of three friends in middle school whose lives are disrupted when one of them, without his knowledge, becomes a pawn in a fight between the king and queen of Faerie. My first YA novel, GIL MARSH, was published this February 28th. It’s a story inspired by the Epic of Gilgamesh: a boy becomes close friends with a stranger who dies. Inconsolable, he flees to Quebec to seek an immortal man and perhaps find the secret to immortality.
(PJH: Yay for a story inspired by Gilgamesh!)
GIL MARSH (Random House, February 28, 2012)
PJH: Besides marketing the novels, I have been revising a new novel for my agent, and working on still another that is in that horrible middle stage when I’m convinced there’s no way I’m going to be able to finish it.
ACE: I missed having a group of authors like the Class of 2k7 to bounce ideas off and work with on promotion, so several local authors and I decided to create Write Up Our Alley in 2008. Besides our website (http://writeupouralley.com/) and promotional materials, we’ve been meeting regularly as a sort of career critique group. It’s been wonderful!
NO CASTLES HERE (Random House, October 2007) PJH: If you could summarize to a debut novelist the best part of being a member of an author group like the “Class of” groups, what would you say?
ACE: The best part of being in a group like Class of 2k7 is that it gave me a group of people who could help me figure out how to be a published author. It’s more than just publicity and promotion: being a professional writer is a career, and it’s great to have other people starting off with you that you can bounce ideas off.
PJH: Though I absolutely loved being a debut author, I’m really thrilled with all the experience I’ve gained since. What advice would you give to those who are debuting now? What do you wish you had known when you started out?
ACE: Once the class disbands, find other authors who are also published to work with. I don’t mean a critique group, although that can be useful. I mean other folks who have to deal with professional writing issues who you can talk to on a regular basis and who you can share experiences with. Published authors have different career problems than those who are still looking for their first contract—problems that are equally frustrating and sometimes quite demoralizing. Having a group like WUOA if only to talk shop (although we do more than that) has helped me in my professional life. Besides, each accomplishment is a little sweeter when people who understand exactly what you are doing celebrate it with you.
PJH: In addition to writing the next mega-million bestselling novel, what do you want to accomplish in the next five years? Do you want to write five more books? Get your black belt in Kung Fu? Walk the Great Wall of China? Let’s hear it.
ACE: How about the Newbery? Nope? Well, I’d like to publish at least two more books, and with luck, three. I’m not the fastest writer on the planet, so that seems like a manageable goal. As a lifelong comics fan, I would love if one of them at least was a graphic novel. I’ve never been able to write for NaNoWriMo (mostly because of other writing commitments), so I’d like to try that once.
COME FALL (Random House, July 27, 2010)PJH: Anything else you want to add? Five reasons to read your book? A picture of your writing space? How you celebrated when you signed your contract? Your choice!
ACE: It’s funny. The actual signing of my contracts have always been the most anticlimactic moments of the publishing process. It’s getting that “Yes, we would like your book,” months (or years) before the contract is written is what puts me on Cloud Nine. And every rejected manuscript (yes, that happens, even after you’ve been published) still hurts. What keeps me going, though, more than anything else, is enjoying the writing itself. There is no better day in the world for me than a day when I’ve written productively.
PJH: Thank you so much for being here! And good luck with everything in the future!
Bio: A.C.E. Bauer is the author of three novels for young readers. Her most recent book, Gil Marsh, is her first for young adults. She has also published two middle grade novels, No Castles Here (ALA Rainbow List; starred review by Kirkus Reviews) and Come Fall (CCBC Choices book; starred review by Publishers Weekly). Born and raised in Montreal, she spends most of the year in New England, and much of the summer on a lake in Quebec. You can read more about her and her work at acebauer.com.
***
Thanks for helping me celebrate former debuts! And if you are a former debut and are interested in being featured, check out this post here!
May 27, 2012
NOGICAL Love!
I hope everyone is having a fantastic holiday weekend! I wanted to share a couple of awesome Nogicals I received from my most recent school visits along with my daughter's recent Nogical creation!
Photoshop Nogical by Lola
A Very logical Nogical by Michelle
Megan's Nogical says Hello!
Thanks, so much, for sending them in! I love getting them!
Photoshop Nogical by Lola
A Very logical Nogical by Michelle
Megan's Nogical says Hello!Thanks, so much, for sending them in! I love getting them!
May 24, 2012
SPLASH INTO SUMMER Giveaway Hop!
It's that time of year again for the SPLASH INTO SUMMER GIVEAWAY HOP hosted by Inspired Kathy at I am a Reader, Not a Writer. It's simple. Lots of blogs. Lots of giveaways. Visit them all, and you're bound to win something. May the odds be ever in your favor.
To enter other awesome contests, visit all the blogs listed on I am a Reader, Not a Writer!
***
Today, up for giveaway are four young adult ARCs.
Four books. Four winners!
Look how much better your odds already are!
An ARC of RIFT: A NIGHTSHADE NOVEL by Andrea Cremer (Philomel, August 7, 2012)
An ARC of FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic, July 12, 2011)
An ARC of THE SPACE BETWEEN by Brenna Yovanoff (Razorbill, November 14, 2011)
An ARC of INSIGNIA by S. J. Kincaid (Katherine Tegan Books, July 10, 2012)
*****
It's easy to win! Two things to note...
1) This giveaway is open until 12:01 am on June 1, 2012
2) Contest is US only!
To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
To enter other awesome contests, visit all the blogs listed on I am a Reader, Not a Writer!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And while you're at it, please follow me on Twitter!
Good luck!
*****
And don't forget I'm also giving away a signed copy of...
THE COMET'S CURSE by Dom Testa (Tor Teen, 2009)
CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
To enter other awesome contests, visit all the blogs listed on I am a Reader, Not a Writer!
***
Today, up for giveaway are four young adult ARCs.
Four books. Four winners!
Look how much better your odds already are!
An ARC of RIFT: A NIGHTSHADE NOVEL by Andrea Cremer (Philomel, August 7, 2012)
An ARC of FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic, July 12, 2011)
An ARC of THE SPACE BETWEEN by Brenna Yovanoff (Razorbill, November 14, 2011)
An ARC of INSIGNIA by S. J. Kincaid (Katherine Tegan Books, July 10, 2012)
*****
It's easy to win! Two things to note...
1) This giveaway is open until 12:01 am on June 1, 2012
2) Contest is US only!
To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
To enter other awesome contests, visit all the blogs listed on I am a Reader, Not a Writer!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And while you're at it, please follow me on Twitter!
Good luck!
*****
And don't forget I'm also giving away a signed copy of...
THE COMET'S CURSE by Dom Testa (Tor Teen, 2009)
CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
May 23, 2012
School visits!
It's been a crazy past two weeks, with the end of school, baseball, soccer, kung fu, swimming, and everything else kid-centered to keep me busy. And of course, there is the writing. I've been working on revisions for a new YA story, and soon I'll be getting line edits for SOLSTICE.
On top of the "normal" stuff, for the last two weeks, I've also been on a crazy-mad publisher-sponsored tour to area schools, talking about the paperback release of THE EMERALD TABLET. Danny Woodfill, from The Book Spot in Round Rock, Texas, set up all the visits with local librarians, and they've been a blast! The kids have been high energy and had some terrific questions.
Last count is that by the end of the day Friday, I will have done 19 presentations in two weeks. Yikes!
Anyway, here's a fun picture of my most recent visit to Teravista Elementary here in Round Rock.
I look like I am doing a cheer.
What you can't see from this distance is the Star Wars t-shirt I'm rocking and the picture of General Grievous on the screen. Because everything in life can be related back to either Star Wars or Star Trek (or at least that's my theory) :)
Happy Thursday!
On top of the "normal" stuff, for the last two weeks, I've also been on a crazy-mad publisher-sponsored tour to area schools, talking about the paperback release of THE EMERALD TABLET. Danny Woodfill, from The Book Spot in Round Rock, Texas, set up all the visits with local librarians, and they've been a blast! The kids have been high energy and had some terrific questions.
Last count is that by the end of the day Friday, I will have done 19 presentations in two weeks. Yikes!
Anyway, here's a fun picture of my most recent visit to Teravista Elementary here in Round Rock.
I look like I am doing a cheer.What you can't see from this distance is the Star Wars t-shirt I'm rocking and the picture of General Grievous on the screen. Because everything in life can be related back to either Star Wars or Star Trek (or at least that's my theory) :)
Happy Thursday!
Former Debut! Terri Clark, Class of 2k8!
I am thrilled to feature Terri Clark today as my Former Debut author! Terri and I were in the same class, and I always adored her book, SLEEPLESS! I've missed Terri, and now I'm so excited to see what she's been up to! So let's get to it :)
Name: Terri Clark
Debut Group: Class of 2k8
Debut novel: SLEEPLESS
PJH: Okay, so it’s been 4 years since you graduated from your debut class. Personally, I miss the heck out of knowing what my classmates are up to. So give us the low-down. What have you been up to in the last few years? New books? New degrees? New pets? What has been going on, and what do we have to look forward to from you in the future?
TC: Since the Class of 2k8 I’ve continued to work part-time as a teen librarian while raising two teens of my own. My son will be a senior next year, my daughter a freshman. It’s hard to believe how much they’ve grown and changed since I first sold. The Call came while I was in my daughter’s orthodontist and now she’s brace free. Since SLEEPLESS I’ve sold two non-fiction titles to Smart Pop books. FLIRTIN’ WITH THE MONSTER is an anthology that examines the work of Ellen Hopkins and THE GIRL WHO WAS ON FIRE discusses the HUNGER GAMES trilogy. And, finally, my second full length fiction novel, HOLLYWEIRD, came out May 8.
HOLLYWEIRD is a paranormal romcom about two teens who win a trip to L.A. to meet their favorite TV star only to learn he’s the son of Satan and the only one who can save them is a fallen angel who is working undercover as the actor’s personal assistant.
Now I’m working on another romcom and a ghost thriller.
HOLLYWEIRD by Terri Clark (Flux, May 8, 2012)
PJH: If you could summarize to a debut novelist the best part of being a member of an author group like the “Class of” groups, what would you say?
TC: Straight out it’s the camaraderie. It’s like being part of the Mickey Mouse club that Justin Timberlake, Christine Aguilera and Britney Spears belonged to. We got to share a thrilling time in our life, when our dreams are just being realized, with a group of people going through the same thing at the same time. The publishing world is an unpredictable roller coaster. We saw each other through uplifting moments and unexpected disappointments.
In addition to being supportive of each other, we had the benefit of tapping into the collective talent of the group. Each person brought a different set of experiences and skills to the table which strengthened the class as a whole and each individual.
PJH: Though I absolutely loved being a debut author, I’m really thrilled with all the experience I’ve gained since. What advice would you give to those who are debuting now? What do you wish you had known when you started out?
TC: I wish I had known that selling that first book wasn’t going to magically make my whole career suddenly take off. Even after that first sale it’s still a lot of hard work and things may not be exactly as you’ve long imagined them to be. But that’s okay because you have what it takes to keep realizing your dream. Just be flexible and keep that same determination and drive.
PJH: In addition to writing the next mega-million bestselling novel, what do you want to accomplish in the next five years? Do you want to write five more books? Get your black belt in Kung Fu? Walk the Great Wall of China? Let’s hear it.
TC: I want to successfully get my kids through school and off to college. And I want to get to a place where I can leave the library (much as I love working with my teens) and write full-time. Ideally I’d love to be contracted to write 2-3 books a year and I really, really want to do a series. I’ve loved series my whole life and I want to write one that will make teens feel like they might die if the next book doesn’t hurry up and come out already. Oh, and I want to land my favored agent, she knows who she is, and stick with her the rest of my career!
SLEEPLESS by Terri Clark (Harper, September 2008)
PJH: Anything else you want to add? Five reasons to read your book? A picture of your writing space? How you celebrated when you signed your contract? Your choice!
TC: Five reasons to read HOLLYWEIRD:
1. Too much of teen fiction has been dark. I’ll make you laugh!
2. I put a twist on the 7 Deadly Sins you’ve never seen before.
3. My hero is hot. He’d have to be, he’s modeled after Jensen Ackles from SUPERNATURAL. In fact, the whole book is a love letter to SUPERNATURAL.(PJH: I love SUPERNATURAL!)
4. I “out” certain Hollywood celebrities as the real supernatural creatures they are. Don’t you want to know what Lindsay Lohan really is?
5. You’ll wish you could get your hands on the special cell phone I created for the book.
And a bonus
6. The book has an awesome playlist which you can find on my website – www.terriclarkbooks.com
PJH: Thank you so much for being here, Terri! It is so great to catch up with you!
Bio: Terri Clark feels blessed to demonstrate her passion for young adult fiction as both a teen librarian and author in Colorado. Since she was a little girl she’s been fascinated with the paranormal, so it’s little wonder she's a real life ghost huntress and her stories dabble in the dark and different. Her newest book, HOLLYWEIRD, was released May 8, 2012 with Flux Books and you can currently read her in the HUNGER GAMES related anthology THE GIRL WHO WAS ON FIRE from Pop Smart books. You can visit Terri online at www.TerriClarkBooks.com and at www.facebook.com/terriclarkbooks.
***
Thanks for helping me celebrate former debuts! And if you are a former debut and are interested in being featured, check out this post here!
Name: Terri Clark
Debut Group: Class of 2k8
Debut novel: SLEEPLESS
PJH: Okay, so it’s been 4 years since you graduated from your debut class. Personally, I miss the heck out of knowing what my classmates are up to. So give us the low-down. What have you been up to in the last few years? New books? New degrees? New pets? What has been going on, and what do we have to look forward to from you in the future?
TC: Since the Class of 2k8 I’ve continued to work part-time as a teen librarian while raising two teens of my own. My son will be a senior next year, my daughter a freshman. It’s hard to believe how much they’ve grown and changed since I first sold. The Call came while I was in my daughter’s orthodontist and now she’s brace free. Since SLEEPLESS I’ve sold two non-fiction titles to Smart Pop books. FLIRTIN’ WITH THE MONSTER is an anthology that examines the work of Ellen Hopkins and THE GIRL WHO WAS ON FIRE discusses the HUNGER GAMES trilogy. And, finally, my second full length fiction novel, HOLLYWEIRD, came out May 8.
HOLLYWEIRD is a paranormal romcom about two teens who win a trip to L.A. to meet their favorite TV star only to learn he’s the son of Satan and the only one who can save them is a fallen angel who is working undercover as the actor’s personal assistant.
Now I’m working on another romcom and a ghost thriller.
HOLLYWEIRD by Terri Clark (Flux, May 8, 2012)PJH: If you could summarize to a debut novelist the best part of being a member of an author group like the “Class of” groups, what would you say?
TC: Straight out it’s the camaraderie. It’s like being part of the Mickey Mouse club that Justin Timberlake, Christine Aguilera and Britney Spears belonged to. We got to share a thrilling time in our life, when our dreams are just being realized, with a group of people going through the same thing at the same time. The publishing world is an unpredictable roller coaster. We saw each other through uplifting moments and unexpected disappointments.
In addition to being supportive of each other, we had the benefit of tapping into the collective talent of the group. Each person brought a different set of experiences and skills to the table which strengthened the class as a whole and each individual.
PJH: Though I absolutely loved being a debut author, I’m really thrilled with all the experience I’ve gained since. What advice would you give to those who are debuting now? What do you wish you had known when you started out?
TC: I wish I had known that selling that first book wasn’t going to magically make my whole career suddenly take off. Even after that first sale it’s still a lot of hard work and things may not be exactly as you’ve long imagined them to be. But that’s okay because you have what it takes to keep realizing your dream. Just be flexible and keep that same determination and drive.
PJH: In addition to writing the next mega-million bestselling novel, what do you want to accomplish in the next five years? Do you want to write five more books? Get your black belt in Kung Fu? Walk the Great Wall of China? Let’s hear it.
TC: I want to successfully get my kids through school and off to college. And I want to get to a place where I can leave the library (much as I love working with my teens) and write full-time. Ideally I’d love to be contracted to write 2-3 books a year and I really, really want to do a series. I’ve loved series my whole life and I want to write one that will make teens feel like they might die if the next book doesn’t hurry up and come out already. Oh, and I want to land my favored agent, she knows who she is, and stick with her the rest of my career!
SLEEPLESS by Terri Clark (Harper, September 2008) PJH: Anything else you want to add? Five reasons to read your book? A picture of your writing space? How you celebrated when you signed your contract? Your choice!
TC: Five reasons to read HOLLYWEIRD:
1. Too much of teen fiction has been dark. I’ll make you laugh!
2. I put a twist on the 7 Deadly Sins you’ve never seen before.
3. My hero is hot. He’d have to be, he’s modeled after Jensen Ackles from SUPERNATURAL. In fact, the whole book is a love letter to SUPERNATURAL.(PJH: I love SUPERNATURAL!)
4. I “out” certain Hollywood celebrities as the real supernatural creatures they are. Don’t you want to know what Lindsay Lohan really is?
5. You’ll wish you could get your hands on the special cell phone I created for the book.
And a bonus
6. The book has an awesome playlist which you can find on my website – www.terriclarkbooks.com
PJH: Thank you so much for being here, Terri! It is so great to catch up with you!
Bio: Terri Clark feels blessed to demonstrate her passion for young adult fiction as both a teen librarian and author in Colorado. Since she was a little girl she’s been fascinated with the paranormal, so it’s little wonder she's a real life ghost huntress and her stories dabble in the dark and different. Her newest book, HOLLYWEIRD, was released May 8, 2012 with Flux Books and you can currently read her in the HUNGER GAMES related anthology THE GIRL WHO WAS ON FIRE from Pop Smart books. You can visit Terri online at www.TerriClarkBooks.com and at www.facebook.com/terriclarkbooks.
***
Thanks for helping me celebrate former debuts! And if you are a former debut and are interested in being featured, check out this post here!
May 21, 2012
NURTURING YOUR INNER NERD by Dom Testa and A Giveaway!
Probably the coolest thing about being an author is all the other authors I get to meet. (Okay, sure, there is the getting books published and talking to kids and signing books. But still, meeting other authors is way cool.) So I have to admit I was very excited at this past TLA when I got to meet Dom Testa. Dom was a super nice guy and was going to be in Austin at my local Barnes & Noble, so I headed over to watch him speak the following Friday night. Dom is funny and engaging, and I have to tell you, he had the audience hooked!
THE COMET'S CURSE by Dom Testa (Tor Teen, 2009)
ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR LIST NOW!
I read THE COMET'S CURSE, the first book in his GALAHAD Series, about two years ago. It's a fabulous book aimed at the MAZE RUNNER, BLACK HOLE SUN, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, EARTHSEED, and HUNGER GAMES crowd. It's full of high action, deception, and mystery! I loved the book from start to finish, and now I am happy to offer up a SIGNED copy for you guys! But first, Dom has agreed to stop by for a fabulous guest post (and I do mean fabulous!).
So with no more hesitation, here is Dom!
*****
Nurturing Your Inner Nerd
It’s a treat for me to contribute to PJ’s blog because she has one particular trait that resonates with me. For years I’ve declared that I’m not only a nerd, but proud of it. Well, PJ and I share that gene, and it’s likely why we do what we do.
Allow me to explain how nurturing your inner nerd could be just what you need to jump-start your writing. What is it about nerds that foreshadows literary success? A google search of the term revealed a list of characteristics, and I’d like to focus on three of them.
(1) Nerds show a pronounced interest in things that others might find dull or boring.
Do you get excited about the sales data of Hush Puppy shoes and how it compares to a syphilis outbreak in Baltimore? Well, maybe you should. Malcolm Gladwell thought about this stuff, and while his friends were probably at the bar partying, he curled up with his word processor and promptly put that kinda stuff into his book called The Tipping Point and sold two and half million copies.
Sure, nerds show a pronounced interest in topics that others might not find interesting. But isn’t that what makes a truly terrific writer? Someone who can take what we might consider boring, and spin it into gold?
I would never have dreamed that I’d like a dark, violent book about life under the Taliban in Afghanistan. Then I read The Kite Runner and I was left gaping.
(2) Nerds sometimes display symptoms of obsessive-compulsive-disorder by showing extreme interest in rules.
Oh yeah? You mean the writing rules that have been pounded into our heads, like keep your butt in the seat, or never edit while writing?
Forget those. I prefer these writing rules:
Elmore Leonard: Try to leave out the parts that readers tend to skip.
Kurt Vonnegut: Start as close to the end as possible.
Or Hemingway’s rule: I write one page of masterpiece to ninety-one pages of s@#t. I try to put the s@#t in the wastebasket.
Personally, as a writer I try to follow a rule that I stole from an old Turkish proverb: No matter how far you’ve traveled down the wrong path, turn back. For me it means that no matter how many pages I’ve written in what’s obviously a lackluster scene, I go back and take another route. Agreed, fellow nerds?
(3) Someone who is unable or unwilling to follow trends.
I say hooray for not following trends! This is where some writers have lost their nerd compass. They get distracted by things like, oh, paying the rent and putting food on the table, so they cave in to the temptation to follow the crowd. It’s why there are now five million vampire novels, and soon we’ll see ten million “mommy porn” novels in the mold of Shades Of Grey.
The most inspiring nerds are the ones who START a trend. Hello? Steve Jobs, anyone? George Lucas?
If the worst thing I can be accused of as a nerd is that I don’t follow the crowd, I say hallelujah.
Those are just three traits that, as writers, we should celebrate. The reason I was instantly drawn to PJ when I met her is that she radiates exactly the kind of energy and nerdiness that I admire. It’s why she’s usually the most interesting person in the room, and why she’s a successful writer.
(insert comment from PJ: Seriously, how nice and awesome is that to say!! I am all happy inside!)
So tell me: are you nurturing your inner nerd? Are you able to recognize the traits that inevitably will lead to a published book in your future?
Or are you caught up in trying to avoid society’s negative association with the word nerd? Please don’t. Own it; embrace it; nurture it.
But still keep your butt in the seat.
Dom Testa is the author of the award-winning Galahad series of young adult books from Tor/Macmillan, including The Comet’s Curse, a Top Pick from the American Library Association.
He’s also the founder and president of The Big Brain Club, a non-profit foundation that helps young people recognize that Smart is Cool. More information about Dom, his writing, and his foundation can be found at www.DomTesta.com.
*****
Now for your chance to win a signed copy of THE COMET'S CURSE! It's easy! Two things to note...
1) This giveaway is open until 12:01 am on June 2, 2012
2) Contest is US and Canada only!
To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!
THE COMET'S CURSE by Dom Testa (Tor Teen, 2009)
ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR LIST NOW!
I read THE COMET'S CURSE, the first book in his GALAHAD Series, about two years ago. It's a fabulous book aimed at the MAZE RUNNER, BLACK HOLE SUN, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, EARTHSEED, and HUNGER GAMES crowd. It's full of high action, deception, and mystery! I loved the book from start to finish, and now I am happy to offer up a SIGNED copy for you guys! But first, Dom has agreed to stop by for a fabulous guest post (and I do mean fabulous!).
So with no more hesitation, here is Dom!
*****
Nurturing Your Inner Nerd
It’s a treat for me to contribute to PJ’s blog because she has one particular trait that resonates with me. For years I’ve declared that I’m not only a nerd, but proud of it. Well, PJ and I share that gene, and it’s likely why we do what we do.Allow me to explain how nurturing your inner nerd could be just what you need to jump-start your writing. What is it about nerds that foreshadows literary success? A google search of the term revealed a list of characteristics, and I’d like to focus on three of them.
(1) Nerds show a pronounced interest in things that others might find dull or boring.
Do you get excited about the sales data of Hush Puppy shoes and how it compares to a syphilis outbreak in Baltimore? Well, maybe you should. Malcolm Gladwell thought about this stuff, and while his friends were probably at the bar partying, he curled up with his word processor and promptly put that kinda stuff into his book called The Tipping Point and sold two and half million copies.Sure, nerds show a pronounced interest in topics that others might not find interesting. But isn’t that what makes a truly terrific writer? Someone who can take what we might consider boring, and spin it into gold?
I would never have dreamed that I’d like a dark, violent book about life under the Taliban in Afghanistan. Then I read The Kite Runner and I was left gaping.
(2) Nerds sometimes display symptoms of obsessive-compulsive-disorder by showing extreme interest in rules.
Oh yeah? You mean the writing rules that have been pounded into our heads, like keep your butt in the seat, or never edit while writing?Forget those. I prefer these writing rules:
Elmore Leonard: Try to leave out the parts that readers tend to skip.
Kurt Vonnegut: Start as close to the end as possible.
Or Hemingway’s rule: I write one page of masterpiece to ninety-one pages of s@#t. I try to put the s@#t in the wastebasket.
Personally, as a writer I try to follow a rule that I stole from an old Turkish proverb: No matter how far you’ve traveled down the wrong path, turn back. For me it means that no matter how many pages I’ve written in what’s obviously a lackluster scene, I go back and take another route. Agreed, fellow nerds?
(3) Someone who is unable or unwilling to follow trends.
I say hooray for not following trends! This is where some writers have lost their nerd compass. They get distracted by things like, oh, paying the rent and putting food on the table, so they cave in to the temptation to follow the crowd. It’s why there are now five million vampire novels, and soon we’ll see ten million “mommy porn” novels in the mold of Shades Of Grey.The most inspiring nerds are the ones who START a trend. Hello? Steve Jobs, anyone? George Lucas?
If the worst thing I can be accused of as a nerd is that I don’t follow the crowd, I say hallelujah.
Those are just three traits that, as writers, we should celebrate. The reason I was instantly drawn to PJ when I met her is that she radiates exactly the kind of energy and nerdiness that I admire. It’s why she’s usually the most interesting person in the room, and why she’s a successful writer.
(insert comment from PJ: Seriously, how nice and awesome is that to say!! I am all happy inside!)
So tell me: are you nurturing your inner nerd? Are you able to recognize the traits that inevitably will lead to a published book in your future?Or are you caught up in trying to avoid society’s negative association with the word nerd? Please don’t. Own it; embrace it; nurture it.
But still keep your butt in the seat.
Dom Testa is the author of the award-winning Galahad series of young adult books from Tor/Macmillan, including The Comet’s Curse, a Top Pick from the American Library Association.
He’s also the founder and president of The Big Brain Club, a non-profit foundation that helps young people recognize that Smart is Cool. More information about Dom, his writing, and his foundation can be found at www.DomTesta.com.
*****
Now for your chance to win a signed copy of THE COMET'S CURSE! It's easy! Two things to note...
1) This giveaway is open until 12:01 am on June 2, 2012
2) Contest is US and Canada only!
To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!
