Janet B. Taylor's Blog, page 2

Seeing your cover for the first time

As a debut author, I’m discovering that there are pivotal moments in the pre-publication process that simply take your breath away.

The arrival of the contract. The first letter from your very own editor. (That first advance check!!!)

But nothing has affected me quite as much as seeing my cover for INTO THE DIM for the first time. It’s beyond surreal, opening that email and viewing someone else’s artistic interpretation of a moment in your story.

I don’t even know how to describe the feeling. For someone like me, who’s been dreaming of this for so long, it was pretty much system overload.

Up until I saw the cover, even though the manuscript had passed among a dozen hands, it still felt personal, somehow. Private. But the moment I saw the cover, it felt as if someone had rooted around in my brain and painted what they pulled out.

I just happen to be so fortunate that my ‘rooter’ is a genius. He gets it, you know? And the fact that he’s also created some of the most beautiful and popular YA covers out today, is beyond cool.

While my cover won’t be revealed for a while, (that’s something the publisher’s marketing and publicity folks will decide), I can’t help but take a little peek at it from time to time, and marvel at the gift these artists have.

I could never, ever do that. But I am so thankful there are brilliant people out there who can.

Dancing a jig…That’s right. A jig.

So, I danced a jig this morning. Yep. I went there. Like ALL the way. There’s just no other way to describe the event that took place…

I got jiggy with it…

Now, it’s a good thing most of you were asleep, or you doubtless would’ve felt the insidious spread of un-coolness that flowed throughout the land for those few seconds.

But I mean…come on! The first time you see your (almost) book out in the wild, it calls for a jig. There’s just no other way to deal. When I saw the Twitter pic (posted by the delightful and fabulous author Alethea Kontis) of my little book out in the great, wide world…

Dancing ensued.  Oh a HELLA lotta dancing….

 

New Title!!

This is a weird journey…this publishing thing. You go through slow times, where nothing seems to happen. And you try to play it cool, like you aren’t checking your email a gazillion times a day…

Then.. out of the blue, you refresh, and lo and behold…you get that email. (Or even a phone call) Then you have to rush around and make decisions to make, and you go through all these crazy ups and downs, where even the smallest little thing can make you act (hopefully temporarily) like a crazy person.

In the end, though. I think it all comes down to trust. Do you trust your publisher? Your agent? Are they guiding you in the right direction?

I do. And I know they are. So… As to that, I proudly announce that my book now has a snazzy new title, courtesy of my fabulous publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt!

And it is…..

INTO THE DIM

Sure, it’s a small change. Just one little word. But it’s not THAT small. Not if you’ve been staring at your old title for what feels like forever.

But then…you think about it. And you ponder on all those people at the publishing house who’ve had actual meetings and discussions about YOUR book. People who’ve actually done RESEARCH on how to *swoons a bit* SHELVE your book. And it all seems so surreal. But you know they are out there fighting for you.

So–if you’re smart–you A) Call your agent. B) Grin, cause…you know…your book is going to be published. C) Type that response that says…Hell yeah! I love it!! Let’s DO it!

ALL NEW WEBSITE!

Hello new friends! And a wonderful welcome back to my multitude of previous visitors. (All three of you.) *waves at Mom*

Hope you all are staying safe, warm, and snuggly in this weather!

Dude….come on….enough with the cold, right?

First, I’m so super-excited to present my brand new, totally GORGE website, courtesy of the fabulous Icey Designs. Hafsah is incredible!! It’s like she reached inside my brain…

and took out my vision for what I wanted my website. Then she wove her magic wand… and made it into a reality. Isn’t it cool?

BTW–That parchment is an ancient map of Scotland!!! Pretty awesome, huh?

 

I know I don’t show up here much, but I just wanted to share a few things I’m discovering as I head into this publishing journey. The biggest and most wonderful thing, is that I’ve learned there are no better people on the planet, than those within the writing community! As a new author, I’m realizing just how giving, kind, and supportive most other authors are. Some of the biggest names in Young Adult Fiction just astound me with their generosity.  If I ever get to that stage, there are a few authors who I plan to emulate. Special people who give back, who pay it forward. THEY are what makes this community so extraordinary.

 

 

And Now…To celebrate the launch of this new site…I’m giving away (2) $15.00 Amazon gift cards!!!!!!

The winner will be selected on March 5th, and announced on the 6th!!!!!

AND later on down the road, there will be lots more goodies up for grabs, like ARCS and signed copies from some of your favorite authors. (And maybe some of THE DIM) *wink*

All you have to do is “Join our mailing list” (upper right on screen), and you are entered!! 

Don’t worry, there is zero chance your email will be inundated. I’m not the world’s more prolific blogger. (Obvi.) But I will be announcing news from time to time, and I’d be so, so grateful if you’d come along for the ride.

Psst:  And if you happen to feel like adding ‘THE DIM’ to your “to be read” pile on Goodreads, there’s a wee button right above the mailing list thingee. Or you can click HERE.

 

 

AUTHOR HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY EXTRAVAGANZA!!

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OK, Seriously.. How often to do you get experience an actual, honest-to-goodness extravaganza???

I’m guessing not often.

Or at least, we writers don’t. The fanciest fashion statement I can claim–while I’m  living in the revision cave, working on edits for THE DIM–are those days I put on the “nice” sweatpants. {{These would be the ones SANS the hole in the crotch.}}

But…guess what.. Now we have VIRTUAL parties! And you can attend those in your pj’s, with rollers in hair, or butt-stark-naked if you want. (Just maybe you don’t announce that little tidbit.)

So, Please come join us HERE for a rollicking good time as we discuss books, food, books, recipes, books, and loads of other festive holiday crap.

Hmmm. What am I forgetting???

Did I mention books?

Check out the below for what I’m giving away. Not shown are two $10.00 Amazon Gift Cards!! WOOHOO

Btw–I almost kept the owl. I love him. He looks just like Hedwig, headed for Christmas at Hogwarts.

 

SixteensBlogAbout– Favorite Books and Authors

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As all of my three readers are quite aware, I am NOT the greatest at the blogging.

Sure, I could blame it on being stuck in the cave of revisions–in fact–YES, I DO and shall blame it on this.  So there…

 

However, since I’m trying to be a good little blogger, I am going to participate in my FANTASTIC @thesweet16s group blog for December, Favorite Books and Authors.

Now that I’m thinking on it, though. Isn’t this the toughest blog theme ever?

 

I mean, there are just so many of them, it would take days to write them all out. Your books are like your children. How do you pick a favorite?

I won’t go into the books that held me spell-bound as a kid. Like DOWN A DARK HALL by Lois Duncan (the old version), ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS, WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS, and naturally…

A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L’Engle.

I re-read that one a couple of months ago. And even though I know what’s gonna happen. Even though I read it a hundred times as a kid…I still got nervous!

But…I guess I’d better get started on my more modern list, so I don’t waste your time on my reminiscings. My musings. My…

Oh–crap. There I go fading off again. (FOCUS, Janet, Focus!)

OUTLANDER!!!!!!! by Diana Gabaldon.

No, it’s not YA. But o…m…g…the moment you first meet Claire and Jamie, you’re done for, whether you’re fourteen or forty. Or eighty.

A close second.. Well, that’s easy, and needs no explanation to most of you. Cause:

Next–cause I’m lazy and, you know, the blogging–I’m gonna copy a list I just sent my friend, who asked me what books she should  buy her 17 yr. old for Christmas.

SHADOW AND BONE series by Leigh Bardugo. GRACELING SERIES by Kristin Cashore. HIS FAIR ASSASSIN SERIES by Robin LaFevers. RED RISING by Pierce Brown. CLOCKWORK ANGEL SERIES by Cassandra Clare.RUBY RED (THE GEM SERIES) by Kirstin Gier, SPLINTERED SERIES by AG Howard.

and

THE DIVINERS by Libba Bray









THE LUNAR CHRONICLES by Marissa Meyer

ALSO…I just started reading this one…THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen. Holy Moly. It is so good, I want to throw up a little.

I kept sending her more periodically throughout the night as I thought of them. After that, she kinda hinted that she wasn’t a damn millionaire, that she needed to sleep, and if I didn’t stop, she would come over and ‘break that freaking computer over your head’.

So now, I’ll just say HAPPY HOLIDAYS,
 
Cause honestly, wouldn’t we all rather be doing this, anyway?

Keeping Us Safe

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Today I am leaving the snark behind, to say Thank You.

Thank you, all you brave men and women of the US Armed Services (and your families). Thank you for your gift. Thank you to those of you sacrificed so much to keep the rest of us safe, you have my prayers, my respect, my hope, and my eternal gratitude.

 

#8TerribleTitles (Now featuring TerribleTitles from the Fabulous Debut Author, Jessica Cluess

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I was tagged by my fellow @TheSweet16s YA author of UNDERWATER, Marisa Reichardt, to participate in #8TerribleTitles.

It’s super-easy. Just scroll through your manuscript and stop at a random spot. Wherever your cursor lands…That’s your title. Now don’t cheat and stop at something lovely and lyrical. The more awkward and nonsensical the better!!

Then do it seven more times. You can use your WIP, or…if you’re not a writer…just pick up the nearest book and use your pointy-finger. Then make sure to tag any friends you want to totally embarrass!

Here are my #8TerribleTitles from my YA Time Travel manuscript, THE DIM. (I’m asking forgiveness in advance)

IT WAS BOUND TO EXPLODE

SHE WENT TOTALLY ‘SCOTTY’

I MEAN I WOULDN’T WANT TO SUMMER THERE

BANANA-YELLOW VERSION OF SCARLETT O’HARA

HE MEANT THE DEER

AT THE WEAVER’S BOOTH

A JOWLY GUARD

A HORRIBLE SCREECH OF STONE

Now I’m tagging a few others to share their gloriously-awful #8TerribleTitles

Brittany Cavallaro

Jessica Cluess

Emily Martin

Shannon M Parker

Meg Kassel

Jenny Moyer

 And now, I’m happy to host #8TerribleTitles from the delightful debut author, Jessica Cluess.
And if you haven’t checked it out yet, here’s some info on her upcoming YA novel.( I can’t WAIT to get my hands on it! Victorian sorcery??? Yes, please!) 

 

A SHADOW BRIGHT AND BURNING

Random House Books for Young Readers

Young Adult Historical Fantasy

Fall 2016

Henrietta Howel is selected to become one of Queen Victoria’s royal sorcerers, the Chosen One who will help end the twelve-year war against a ravenous army of monsters. However, battling the creatures is not her only challenge. There are those on her side who would love to be rid of her, and to make matters worse, she might not be the Chosen One after all.

JESSICA: So first off, thank you to Janet B. Taylor for hosting my little orphaned post, because I need to get a blog. And a website, that would be good too.

Janet, a fellow @TheSweet16s YA author, has tagged me in #8TerribleTitles, and I live to serve. What are the rules? Easy! Scroll through your manuscript, stop at a random spot, and wherever your cursor lands, there is your title! And it has to be weird and utterly random.

If you’ve no WIP, pick up a book and play along, and then tag and embarrass your friends! It works wonders. 

And here are my #8TerribleTitles from my YA Historical Fantasy, A SHADOW BRIGHT AND BURNING. The suspense kills you, I know…

1. MY AUNT AGNES

2. UNDERHAND SPELLS AND MANIPULATIONS

3. WHERE’S YOUR FAMILY NOW?

4. LAMBE’S UNUSUAL PRONOUNCEMENTS

5. I SULKED IN MY ROOM

6. WET, BLOODIED MUSCLE

7. TOLD YOU I WASN’T STUPID

8. WHILE HE THRASHED AND SCREAMED

To all you #PitchWars Rock Stars

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Hello #PitchWars Rock Stars (otherwise known as Mentees)!!

OMG, you guys!!!! I know EXACTLY how you’re feeling right now.

Sweaty. Squirmy. Sorta ookey, but in a good way.

 

If you are like I was, you’ve developed a big old whopping case of OCD, and when you’re not gnawing off your nails, you’re at the computer, checking the #pitchwars website every two seconds. At this stage of the game well…let’s face it…you’re pretty much a big ole nutjob. {{Or maybe that was just me??}}

But think how far you’ve come!! How hard you’ve worked. How much you’ve learned. How much your work has grown. And now…

You’re in the FINALS! WOOHOO!!

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I am crossing every bodily appendage I own for you guys to:

1) Land a terrific agent.

2) Grab that awesome book deal.

3) Pay it forward.

4) For your dreams to come true!!

Mine did.

I landed an amazing agent–(the incomparable Mollie Glick-Foundry Lit)
And signed a two-book deal with a fantastic editor and house.–(Sarah Landis, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

I never, ever, EVER could’ve done it, without the help and support of the phenomenal Brenda Drake, her outstanding pitchwars angels, and all the fantastic mentors who give so much of their time and energy. And–of course–my beautiful, hilarious SLAVEMASTER of a mentor… Heather Webb! (luvu girl!)

I am just so proud of and excited for each and every one of you for making it this far. And I’m equally proud of all you other entrants whose fabulous hard work will get you there next time.

So…Whether you made it into the #pitchwars finals or not….

You–are A ROCK STAR!!

PS…..If you’re at all interested, here’s  a few posts on how the journey was for me, when I was going through the #pitchwars process.

DURING PITCH WARS

THE DIM FOR THE WIN!

AGENT SCORE!!!

BOOK DEAL!!!!!!!!!

And the winner of the Spooktacular Blog Hop Is…….

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First I’d like to thank everyone who entered our Spooktacular Blog Hop Contest!

And I’d like to give props to all the fantastic authors who participated in our author co-op. (Check out the previous blog for all their linkys)

I’d especially like to thank my BFF and mentor, the fabulous Heather Webb for setting this in motion!

 

And now..   With no further ado.. (what’s ado mean? I’m gonna go look that up.) Anyoo…

The winner is…

CO

Co, if you’ll comment below, I’ll get with you to get your address and send you your fabulous prizes! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Again, thanks to everyone for participating!

(OH, and btw– I looked up the word ado. Here’s what it means.)

ado
 [uh-doo]

noun

1.

busy activity; bustle; fuss.