Congrats Tara-- I'll e-mail you shortly for your addy.
hits bookshelves today!
I've followed Mandy's publication story for so long that I can't remember when I started. Maybe the late eighties? :) Kidding! But it was back when I first started writing young adult fiction and joined LJ and I always thought (and commented) this book is so great it's surely going to be on bookshelves soon! And today's the day! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Read about Mandy's awesome road to publication here.
(Me & Kristin)and we made our way to downtown Chicago. I was thinking it would be hard to find parking but we actually found some quickly and close to the festivities.
(Printer's Row)There was booth after booth of booksellers (with some NICE deals!) and lots of authors signing. But we made our way to University Center first to catch fellow DEB Saundra Mitchell's (author of SHADOWED SUMMER), panel on writing young adult fiction. She was speaking with three other authors and they gave great information on things like how to market to teens.
(Young and Restless panel)Saundra signed books following (stay tuned for giveaway at the bottom!!)
(Saundra)and we met another fellow deb, Cynthea Liu (author of PARIS PAN TAKES A DARE and GREAT CALL OF CHINA S.A.S.S).
(Me, Kristin, Saundra, and Cynthea)While Saundra signed and Cynthea went to do some important authorly things, Kristin and I walked around, checking everything out. There were books, lots and lots of books, and LOTS of postcards and eager people passing out postcards (one guy gave us his postcard at least three times). While we were walking I spotted J.A. Konrath and said, "Hey, I love you on twitter!".
*Pausing to ponder*
Isn't it awesome how POWERFUL Twitter is that I would recognize someone JUST from their tweets? I mean, he does put out a string of funny tweets all day. It's awesome.
*End pondering*
I mentioned to J.A. that I had a book coming out and he said he had an awesome and FREE guide to publishing on his Web site for Newbies. It seems he compiled all of his best tips from his popular blog into one big PDF available here.
Following our wandering, we met back up for lunch with Cynthea and Saundra at yummy sandwhich place (name escapes me).
(Kristin, Cynthea, and Saundra)and then walked around a bit more before hitting Cynthea's signing at the SCBWI-IL tent.
We had such a good time and got lots of great books. Kristin and I thought it would be fun to giveaway a SIGNED copy of Saundra's book to one lucky winner.
For a chance to win Shadowed Summer, comment here before midnight (central time zone) Friday. I'll use the random number generator to choose a lucky winner and pop it in the mail (sorry, US only!).
About Twenty Boy Summer
While on vacation in California, sixteen-year-old best girlfriends Anna and Frankie conspire to find a boy for Anna’s first summer romance, but Anna harbors a painful secret that threatens their lighthearted plan and their friendship.
TWENTY BOY SUMMER is a debut YA novel that explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.
Our Interview:
KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)
SARAH: The cover, because it has my name on it and a pretty sea glass heart that I just want to pet and pet and pet... okay, that's a little creepy, isn't it? :-) I do really love the final chapter, though, because then I know that somehow, everyone is going to be all right.
KRISTINA: Where do you do most of your writing? And if you have a picture could you share?
SARAH: I do most of my writing in my home office on a desk that my husband built for me. I love it! :-)
There's a picture here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebims/35
And a guest vlog I did for Seven Book Babes on workspace show-n-tell here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_7dppcf
KRISTINA: What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)
SARAH: Um, there's a reason I didn't get caught, and I'm not about to get caught now! :-) Besides, this is a family show, right?!
Put it this way. I was very quiet around people who didn't know better. You know what they say about the quite ones, right?
KRISTINA: What did you do on the release day of Twenty Boy Summer?
SARAH: Twenty Boy Summer snuck into stores a few weeks early, so my Mom and I book-stalked all the local places so I could sign stock and introduce myself and generally look like a giddy little goober on Christmas morning. But for the actual release? Dinner downtown with friends and family, followed by a party at home, complete with TBS-themed cupcakes!
KRISTINA: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)
SARAH: Soy latte. Sometimes, if I really want to live on the edge that day, I'll order a shot of cinnamon flavor in there. But mostly I keep it simple with just the plain soy. In fact, I need to get one right now!
About Waiting to Score:
Zack Chase, new in town, gets a crash course in the dangerous, fast-paced lives of local teen athletes. A good-looking, book-loving hockey star, Zack’s also expected to be a womanizing, alcohol-abusing party animal, but it’s not who he is. As jealous, obnoxious team captain Mac hounds him, Zack falls for Goth-girl Jane and befriends her teammate brother, both with their own secrets. Tragedy strikes and affects them all in this true-to-life debut novel, giving readers an insight into the lives of high school students and athletes.
Our interview:
KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)
J.E.: Oh. My fave is chapter 9. Cause lots of stuff happens.
KRISTINA: Where do you do most of your writing? And if you have a picture could you share?
J.E.: I do most of my writing on my lap. You really don't want a picture of that. Trust.
KRISTINA: Ha ha! Ok, what's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)
J.E.: OMG. I got caught no matter what I did. And I was kind of a rotter. Seriously though. I am one of those people who never got away with things.
KRISTINA: What did you do on the release day of WAITING TO SCORE?
J.E.: I went outside and shouted WELCOME TO THE WORLD BOOK when I got up in the morning. And, as promised on another blog, I went to the Cheesecake Cafe and ate a giant piece of chocolate cake.
KRISTINA: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)
J.E.: I pretty much adore all coffee. I'm not fussy. I'll even drink instant. Yup. But if I go to Starbucks I love me a Skinny Vanilla Latte.
KRISTINA: I was a skinny vanilla latte at one point too. I tend to change drinks every few years. Thanks for stopping by J.E.! Good luck with your book!
I can't believe they put her up against VB! Now I'm going to have nightmare of ending up in the Double Takes section one day.
"Look at this giant Dora puppet and look at Kristina. While the purple backpack and pink tee look well enough on Kristina, Dora really rocked the look by adding a cute flower bracelet. Yay Dora! Boo Kristina!"
About Dull Boy
Superpowers are awesome -- unless you actually have them, like Avery does. There's only so much he can pass off as "adrenaline" before people start to get suspicious. Probably it's best to lie low, so guys in white lab coats don't come to carry him away, to find out what makes his freakish body tick. Who wants to be vivisected? But flying under the radar becomes a whole lot harder when you can actually fly. It's dangerous to be different, so for now he'll pretend to be normal, unremarkable Avery -- a dull boy -- anything to keep his secret safe.
What he doesn't expect is the horrifying truth about where his powers came from, who else might have them, and the madness of one villain's plan to turn this superpowered dull boy into something even more powerful and amazing.
Our Interview:
KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)
SARAH: The interior design--it's just awesome. The designer, Jason Henry, is totally my hero. THERE ARE LIGHTNING BOLTS!
KRISTINA: Where do you do most of your writing? And if you have a picture could you share?
SARAH: In coffee shops. Best writing spots ever!
KRISTINA: Totally agree! What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)
SARAH: I was a horrible, diabolical individual and I will take those secrets to the grave. A zombie plague may have been unleashed ... but no one can prove that was my fault ...
KRISTINA: LOL! Ok, what's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)
SARAH: Black coffee. Nothing else compares. :)
KRISTINA: Thanks for stopping by Sarah! Good luck with DULL BOY!!
I blogged about meeting Aprilynne a couple of weeks ago and let me tell you, she is such a sweet and down to earth person-- I am totally THRILLED for her and her awesome book WINGS.
About Wings
Aprilynne Pike's WINGS is the first of four books about an ordinary girl named Laurel who discovers she is a faerie sent among humans to guard the gateway to Avalon. When Laurel is thrust into the midst of a centuries-old battle between faeries and trolls, she's torn between a human and a faerie love, as well as her loyalties to both worlds.
Our Interview
KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)
APRILYNNE: I have this scene in my book that I like to call The River Scene and it is my very favorite part of my book. I don't generally have major times of big inspiration. Writing is something I work at. But for this scene I was seriously feeling it! I wrote this scene over the course of about three hours and when it was done, I was seriously all sweaty and almost out of breath. I stood up from my computer, swung open the door of my office in a rather dramatic manner and told my husband, "I just wrote an awesome scene." And out of the whole book it is the scene that required the lightest editing, and the one I get the most comments on.
KRISTINA: Oh wow, I totally know what you mean! This has happened to me before too.
Where do you do most of your writing?
APRILYNNE: I do most of my writing on a card-table in my walk-in closet . . . or did before my family moved yesterday and took it with them! *cries* But now I have a new office to look forward to!
KRISTINA: Yay new house!
What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)
APRILYNNE: Haha! I mostly got caught, actually.However, I did once rob a house, on accident (I seriously didn't understand what was going on until it was too late!!) and as far as I know, we never got caught. (Also, I didn't keep any of the stuff . . . so really, I didn't do it!!!;))
KRISTINA: I said naughty, not felony! :-)
What did you do on the release day of WINGS?
APRILYNNE: I went to the Borders across the street from my hotel and saw my very first floor display!!! *squee!!*
KRISTINA: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)
APRILYNNE: I don't actually drink coffee, but I think I would totally be a caramel macchiato girl.:)
KRISTINA: Love it! Thanks for stopping by, Aprilynne, and I hope your book has a nice looooooong stay on the NYT list!
About Shrinking Violet:
For high school senior Teresa Adams, every day is an ordeal. She’s so painfully shy that she lives in dread of having to speak to anyone in the hallways or answer questions in class. But after school, in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks—doing mock broadcasts for Miami’s hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up, Tere surprises herself by working up the nerve to ask her stepfather to give her a chance—and finds herself The SLAM’s newest intern on one of the station’s most popular shows. Behind the mike she’s Sweet T, her sexy, confident on-air persona. To everyone’s shock—especially her mother’s—Sweet T is a hit. Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ’s awesome taste in music, making Tere wonder if it’s possible to be jealous of yourself. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest—and a prom date with “Sweet T” is the grand prize--Sweet T’s dream could turn into Tere’s worst nightmare. . . .
Our Interview:
KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)
DANIELLE: The fact that my manuscript is now a book with a beautiful cover!
KRISTINA: Where do you do most of your writing?
DANIELLE: I do most of my writing in my home office and on my laptop at Starbucks or Borders.
KRISTINA: What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)
DANIELLE: Oh, I wasn't that bad but if you check out my web site, you'll see a pic of me dancing in front of my teacher while she was writing on the chalkboard. We played truth or dare in English class and that was my dare.
KRISTINA: What did you do on the release day of SHRINKING VIOLET?
DANIELLE: I browsed my local bookstore and drank some champagne!
KRISTINA: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)
DANIELLE: I like cafe mochas and if I'm not at Starbucks I'll use my Tassismo to make a cup of Gevalia.
KRISTINA: Thanks for stopping by Danielle! Good luck with your book!
Look what I found-- the German version of the book. Hey, I have a cover! :-) It's pretty cute.
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ca. 160 Seiten, € 7,95 [D] approximately 160 pages, € 7,95 [D]
Espresso sucht Macchiato Espresso Macchiato searches
About Breathing
What if the guy who took your breath away was the only one who could help you breathe?
Savannah would be happy to spend the summer in her coastal Carolina town lying in a hammock reading her beloved romance novels and working at the library. But then she meets Jackson. Once they lock eyes, she’s convinced he’s the one—her true love, her soul mate, a boy different from all the rest. And at first it looks like Savannah is right. Jackson abides by her mama’s strict rules, and stays by her side during a hospitalization for severe asthma, which Savannah becomes convinced is only improving because Jackson is there. But when he’s called away to help his family—and seems uncertain about returning—Savannah has to learn to breathe on her own, both literally and figuratively.
This debut novel has it all—an endearing, funny, hopelessly romantic main character, lots of down-home Southern charm, and a sunny, salty beach setting that will transport you to the Carolina coast.
Our Interview:
CHERYL: The romance
CHERYL: On my bed.
KRISTINA: What did you do on the release day of Breathing?
KRISTINA: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)
CHERYL: My favorite coffee drink is a nonfat decaf mocha. A fully caffeinated mocha would have me bouncing off the walls and talking nonstop!
KRISTINA: That was totally my pregnancy drink. :-) Thanks for stopping by Cheryl and good luck with your book!
He did it with paint markers. The man is a fool for paint markers. I never know what's going to be a different color when I come home. Like, one day the bedroom dressers had all new accents and another day I go to put my daughter's shoes on her and they were a different color. And don't get my started on how many paint jobs the matchbox cars have gone through. But I digress.
Fan art! :-)
About Fortune’s Folly
Ever since her mother died and her father lost his shoemaking skills, Fortunata has survived by telling fake fortunes. But when she's tricked into telling a grand fortune for a prince, she is faced with the impossible task of fulfilling her wild prophecy-or her father will be put to death. Now Fortunata has to help Prince Leonato secure a magic sword, vanquish a wicked witch, discover a long-lost golden shoe, and rescue the princess who fits it. If only she hadn't fallen in love with the prince herself. . . .
Our Interview:
KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)
DEVA: All the fairy-tale elements. It's not a direct fairy-tale retelling, but there are a number of allusions to various familiar stories and myths sprinkled throughout the book. Some of them I didn't even plan!
KRISTINA: Where do you do most of your writing? And if you have a picture could you share?
DEVA: At my desk at home:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16618524@N
KRISTINA: What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)
DEVA: I was such a neurotic over-achiever in high school (I have a lot of sympathy for Hermione from the Harry Potter books) and so terrified of getting in trouble that I honestly can't think of anything. I did plenty of embarrassing things though, like going to shake up the paint can in Art Class without checking that it was securely tightened and ending up covered in scarlet paint!
KRISTINA: What did you do on the release day of Fortune's Folly?
DEVA: On the day itself I went to my day job like normal, but the following weekend I had a series of escapades involving contra-dancing, delicious food, cupcakes, romping with the dog, and visiting the botanical garden.
KRISTINA: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)
DEVA: I drink black tea with milk while I write in the morning, but I loooove sweet, spicy chai lattes. The closest I'd get to a coffee drink would be a coffee milkshake.
Thanks, Kristina!
KRISTINA: Thank YOU Deva and good luck with your book! :-)
-- My mom
Yes, yes, a completely unbiased ;) first review of my book was in my e-mail this morning! I just gave my mom an Arc with her Mother's Day gift yesterday so she reads fast!
About Silver Phoenix – Beyond the Kingdom of Xia
On the day of her first betrothal meeting--and rejection--ai ling discovers a power welling deep within her. She can reach into other people's spirits, hear their thoughts, see their dreams...and that's just the beginning.
ai ling has been marked by the immortals; her destiny lies in the emperor's palace, where a terrible evil has lived, stealing souls, for centuries. She must conquer this enemy and rescue her captive father, while mythical demons track her every step. And then she meets chen yong, a young man with a quest of his own, whose fate is intertwined with hers. Here is a heart-stopping, breathtaking tale for fans of action, fantasy, and romance--of anything with the making of legend.
Our Interview:
KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)
CINDY: I have to admit, I have a crush on my hero, chen yong.
KRISTINA: Where do you do most of your writing?
CINDY: I did most of it at the local starbucks! I'm a stay at home mom and had to LEAVE home at night just to be in a new space.
KRISTINA: Ditto me! :-) What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)
CINDY: Yikes. I'm pretty much a goody two shoes. most naughty would be going to a cafe in long beach with my friends and telling my mom we were somewhere local.
KRISTINA: What did you do on the release day of SILVER PHOENIX?
CINDY: I was just home surfing and obsessing and going nuts. =)
KRISTINA: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)
CINDY: Vanilla latte!
KRISTINA: That used to be my drink too! Thanks for stopping by Cindy and have a wonderful Mother's Day tomorrow!
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anesbet Congrats Anne! E-mail me your mailing address at Kristina (at) KristinaSpringer (dot) com and I'll send it off.
Thanks for playing everyone!
It was awesome and Aprilynne did a great job. She's already a pro at this! And she told lots of great stories about getting her book published and writing with kids (she has three little ones) and one of my favorites was how she pushes hershey kisses under her office door to the kids to get them to be quiet for a few minutes while on business calls. I totally have to try this. Right now my method is to walk in really fast circles all around the house or go in to the laundry room.
(Me and Aprilynne while she was signing. Aren't we so cute in our blue shirts?)
Our friend and fellow Deb, Kristin Walker, auhor of the funniest book ever, A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL (out Feb 2010), (I've used to many commas now haven't I?:) ) met me there for the signing and she's just as fun in person as in her book.
(Me, Kristin, and Aprilynne.)
After the signing we stole Aprilynne from her people (she has people! She's kind of like a rock star. My people are all under 4 feet and were at home asleep.) and went out for drinks at a martini bar and had a great time talking about everything from cover dramas to breastfeeding. Oh! And here's one of the funniest things ever. We stopped in at the GIANT Barnes and Nobles in Naperville to watch Aprilynne do a stocksigning and we found her beatiful display case and were petting her pretty book covers. Just when we start to go find the manager a teenager ran into Aprilynne's display, throwing her books all over the floor. As he started to pick them up I had to tell him you know this is the author whose books you just threw all over? How funny is that? He didn't think it was quite as funny as we did but we all got a chuckle. :-)
****GIVEAWAY*****
So to celebrate our fun night I bought an extra copy of Aprilynne's book WINGS to giveaway today! (And it has the cute sticker Aprilyyne gives out at signings-- it says "late bloomer"). For a chance to win, comment here any time today (ends at midnight central time zone) and I'll randomly draw a winner tomorrow morning and post. (USA residents only please).
