Megan Morrison's Blog, page 4

Italian Translation and Second Printing!

GROUNDED is not quite eight weeks old, but it’s walking and talking and doing all kinds of crazy tricks. I have two announcements that make me so happy I could pretty much fly.

First, GROUNDED is being translated into Italian! Thanks to my agent Ammi-Joan Paquette, her international partner Alexandra Devlin at Rights People, and the good people at Feltrinelli Editore who took a shine to Rapunzel, there will soon be a version of my book that I am unable to read. I’m beyond thrilled.

Second, GROUNDED is going into its second hardcover printing. This is awesome news. (Plus, I finally have a good answer to the question “How is your book selling?” which is “Well enough to go into a second printing!”)

As if things aren’t going well enough, this week is also the beginning of summer. I cleaned out my classroom, reorganized it for September, and turned in my keys. Now I have time to swim and play with my son. I have lots and lots of beautiful time to write. I even had time to make gravy last night. Summer is spectacular.

The calm after the storm

In the weeks since the launch of Grounded, things have grown calmer. The tiny storm of DEBUT! is over, and now the book is simply out in the world, finding its readers.

The number one question I’ve been asked since the book launch is “How is it selling?” The answer is “I do not know.” There’s really no way for me to keep track of that information. My publisher will let me know at some point, and until then it’s probably best if I don’t worry much about it. I have the second book in the Tyme series to worry about. That’s my priority now. But thank you to everyone who has asked me “How is it selling?” because even though I can’t give you an answer, that question indicates that you care enough about me to wonder how my book is faring. I genuinely appreciate that.

Wonderful Things That Have Happened Since the Last Time I Posted:

1) My author visit at the Burien Library was spectacular. Many of my students, their parents, and my colleagues came in on a beautiful Saturday morning to be there and celebrate with me, and it was a blast. I had nearly 100 guests – an amazing audience. There were cupcakes, and prizes, and I signed tons of books, and it felt… Well, there’s only one way to explain how it felt. I used to practice my autograph, as a kid, because I assumed that one day I would be a famous actress and people would want my signature. I grew up eventually, of course, and realized that the only people who wanted my signature also wanted my money. So to have people lining up waiting for my autographs was the fulfillment of a dusty, impossible, long-since folded away childhood dream.

It felt AWESOME.

2) Grounded received a lovely review from SciFiChick.com.

3) My editor, Cheryl Klein, who is the very best of editors, wrote a post on her blog about how we met, and how GROUNDED came to be. I love the post. It reminds me how lucky I am to be working with Cheryl (as if I could ever be in danger of forgetting).

4) Finally, this week, Grounded received its second starred review from the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, written by Kate Quealy-Gainer. You have to subscribe to The Bulletin to access the reviews, so I’ll just include a few quotes here:

“Morrison has a deft hand with both world-building and pacing, carefully constructing the geography and various politics of the fairy-tale world of Tyme in between chase scenes, bridge collapses, narrow escapes, and bargains with all sorts of devious beings.”

“…readers who are wise enough to understand that there is more than one side to a story will find this to their liking.”

I have much to be grateful for, so I won’t complain that this lovely three-day weekend is at an end and I must return to work tomorrow. Instead, I will eat some ice cream and watch Daria and make believe that it’s actually a four-day weekend.

 

Week of Wonderful

Last Saturday, I had my very first author event: a launch party at Barnes and Noble. This was the same Barnes and Noble where I was a bookseller many years ago, so it was especially sweet to return as an author and get to sign books and read to kids and generally have a fantastic time. The folks at Barnes and Noble were very helpful and generous; they gave away a book to the best-costumed kiddo, as well as giving away other small prizes to the other kids, and they even provided cake and cupcakes for the guests. To top off the good time, we sold out of copies of GROUNDED!

On Wednesday, one of my best friends and a phenomenal debut author, Kathy MacMillan, interviewed me for the Sweet Sixteens debut blog. She also posted an extended version of that interview here on her own blog. This interview was especially delightful for me, because Kathy and I were Sugar Quill professors together, back when we were extremely active Harry Potter obsessives (she went by the handle Elanor Gamgee), and she invited other Sugar Quill professors and dear friends (Zsenya and B Bennett) to ask questions as well.

Then, to my surprise and delight, I was tagged in a tweet that linked to this review on YA Books Central, written by reviewer Samantha Randolph, whom I want to hug. There are things, as an author, that you hope a reader will feel as they read your work, but it’s too much to hope that any reader will feel ALL the things you hoped for… right? Apparently – amazingly – not.

“The third person narrative packs all the heart, voice, and emotion that first person narratives often do and provides the reader with uncountable moments of witty, hilarious, and meaningful dialogue.”

“Rapunzel is beautifully flawed, unapologetically herself, and a character whose growth will quite possibly draw a few tears from time to time. She is a top-notch role model whose steadfast sincerity and loyalty will captivate both young and adult readers. Alongside her, Jack is absolutely adorable, a brave dreamer, and a fantastic friend whose own journey is full of meaning and maturing. Megan Morrison does a stunning job of crafting a villain for the story who draws compassion, uncertainty, and above all, complexity.”

I can’t get over this amazing response. This is everything I could have wished to accomplish.

And tomorrow I get to do something I have been dying to do ever since I first told my students that I had written a book. I get to go to the public library near my school and host a library event that is centered on my students, past and present. I get to give them cupcakes, and read to them, and hug them, and talk to their parents, and celebrate.

Life does not get better than this. I am savoring every second.

Fun Little Bits

More lovely reviews!

The first is from Kiss the Book, a review blog for librarians, which lists GROUNDED as “ESSENTIAL” reading and goes on to say that “Grounded is perfect for upper elementary and middle school readers. Rapunzel’s story is so familiar, and yet Morrison still manages to bring new depths to the tale.  I wonder if she will take her hand to other classics.”

The second is from The Styling Librarian, who “loved the characters, development, learning, and the fantasy world that Megan Morrison created.”

I’m so glad!

Friday I’m In Love

Wonderful things of the day:

1) GROUNDED is a Best Book of the Month for May on Amazon.com!

2) I was invited by the illustrious, Newbery Honor-winning author Kirby Larson to participate in Friend Friday on her web site, so I guest posted there today.

3) My delightful and super supportive EMU’s Debuts clan finished off my launch week celebration today with a great adventure playlist post.

What an awesome week it’s been – and amazingly, it’s not over yet. Tyme’s co-creator, Ruth Virkus, is in town from Minneapolis, and tomorrow, we will both be at the Bellevue, WA Barnes and Noble for the live and in-person GROUNDED: THE ADVENTURES OF RAPUNZEL launch party. If you’re a local, hope to see you there!

The Celebration Continues!

Here’s another fantastic post in support of GROUNDED over on EMUs Debuts – this one about the wonderful people who came into our lives and changed them forever. (I love this post!)

Also, I found out today about a great review from BookPage. Here’s a snippet, written by reviewer Kevin Delecki:

“Filled with mystery, adventure and myriad twists and turns, Grounded turns a traditional fairy tale into something more. Strong characters and a complex story will encourage readers to return for the next journey in the world of Tyme.”

Hurrah!

Arrival

When I started this blog two years and eight months ago, I wrote this:

“This summer, I finished rewriting my first book.  Well – not my first book.  There were others.  But they don’t count, because they were terrible.  Or maybe they count very much because they were terrible.  Either way, I consider the book I just finished to be my first book, because it’s the first one I love.  It’s the first one I believe in.  And it’s the first one I’m sure will be published.  I’m sure of that because, even if I can’t get it published traditionally, I will publish it myself.  That’s how much I like it.

Still. I want to see it as a physical book.  I want to hold it in my hands, the way I’ve held so many books I love in my hands.”

And now it’s real. I can hold it in my hands. Today, at long last, that book is published.

They say success is a journey and not a destination, and mostly I agree. But there are moments of arrival. Moments when you know you did something, because it’s there, and you can see it. Today is a big one, and I’m lucky to have so many people who are helping me mark the moment.

People like my family and friends, who text and message me as they receive their pre-ordered books in the mail or download the book onto their Kindles.

People like my agency mates, who are showing off their glorious hair and even more glorious silliness on EMUs Debuts.

People like my students and colleagues, who took the time to write cards, make banners, and surprise me this morning with a book birthday breakfast. 

This is a really good day.

Launch Week!

It’s almost here! Tomorrow is the day! And this week, my amazing agency siblings on EMU’s Debuts are celebrating GROUNDED’s book birthday.

Here is today’s awesome post about favorite fairy tale retellings!

Head over to EMU’s Debuts and comment, and you’ll be entered in a giveaway for a signed copy of GROUNDED: THE ADVENTURES OF RAPUNZEL, as well as a a very special handmade chain mail bookmark!

See you tomorrow, when I am likely to be incoherent with joy.

More Cool Stuff

I’m gearing up for the big day, and cool things just keep happening!

I was delighted to guest post on Kissing the Earth this week. My fellow debut author Tamara Ellis Smith interviewed me and my dear friend Kristin Brown, who is the cartographer of the Tyme series. Tam wanted to know how the map of Tyme came to be, and Kristin and I had a great time writing about it!

Also, GROUNDED was reviewed by the delightful young blogger Erik on This Kid Reviews Books. Erik gave it five out of five bookworms, which is by far the most important rating I have received. Of course I am very grateful and glad that the big, professional reviewing bodies have so far enjoyed the book, but the people I really want to reach are the kids! Because of that, Erik’s review is my favorite so far.

One Week

One week from today, I will be a published author.

That is… I don’t even know how to describe what that is. Big. Good. Awesome. Weird. Scary. Amazing. Unreal.

I ordered some archival pens. For signing books. I seriously did that: I ordered pens, specifically to sign books with. Because I’m going to be signing books (see above re: Big Good Awesome Weird Scary Amazing Unreal).

Let’s see. What else?

I posted on Emu’s Debuts last week.

I also guest posted on Literary Rambles yesterday. If you follow that blog and comment on the post, you’ll be entered in a giveaway for a signed copy of GROUNDED, plus a really cool, limited-edition chain mail bookmark.

Now I’m going to put my head down and grade this pile of papers that is staring me in the face, because as much of a published author as I almost am, I am also still all the other things. A teacher, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend, a reader, a person who has not yet finished but desperately wants to finish watching the 7th and final season of Parks & Rec. I almost feel like I should be able to put all those parts of me aside next Tuesday, and just be an author. But you know where I’ll be? Here, in my classroom, proctoring the state science test.

It’s kind of cool and fitting, though. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned this here, but I was proctoring a state test a few years ago when it suddenly struck me how the Tyme series had to end, and what I had to do to revise GROUNDED, and how it could all be perfect and right. One minute, I was walking around the classroom, watching kids test. The next, I was seized by the story. I flipped over the roster on my clipboard and started writing on the back of it, and I kept writing all spring and all summer, in every spare minute, with every spare iota of energy, until I was finally ready to hand that manuscript over.

And now here we are. One week to go. Hoo boy.

Everybody, hold my hand.