Spring 2016 YA Scavenger Hunt!

HEY HUNTERS! Today's the day where a bunch of YA authors get together and blast the internet with an epic search game where the winners get tons of books and prizes! If you're just joining me here, then this is the perfect place to start! Just read the post, enter my extra contest, jot down the number that's hidden on this page (don't worry, it's easy to find if you read the post), and click the link for the next entry.

And also: HI! My name's Beth, and I write YA sci fi and weird stuff. My first series was the Across the Universe trilogy, and since then, I've written a book about what happened on Earth while Amy and Elder were in space, a series of nonfiction books about how to write and get your stuff published, and I have a new book coming in July called A World Without You. It's about a boy who thinks he's at a school for kids with superpowers but is actually in an asylum for students who are mentally disturbed. If you're a book blogger and want to request some of my books for review, please click here!

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SIX contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the RED TEAM--but there is also a red team, a gold team, an orange team, a red team, and an indie team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the red team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). 

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by APRIL 3, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

About the Author:

CHRISTINA FARLEY is the author of the Gilded series, a YA contemporary fantasy series set in Korea and upcoming middle grade, THE PRINCESS AND THE PAGE, set in France. GILDED was nominated for Korea’s 2014 Morning Calm, Ohio’s 2015 Buckeye award, and 2015 Tomes It List. As a child, she loved to explore, which later inspired her to jump on a plane and travel the world. Christina’s adventures sparked her to write stories, infusing the real world with fantasy. Currently she writes from home in Clermont, FL with her husband and two sons—that is until the travel itch whisks her off to a new unknown. 

Find Christina Here:

Website

Twitter

YouTube

Facebook

Tumblr

Goodreads

Instagram

Gilded Series website

About the Book:

Find it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads | Indie

Gilded Series’ Fan Cast


Hey guys! This is Christina. GILDED as a TV series or movie would be completely amazing, don’t you think? For a complete listing of all the characters go to The Imagine Film List here.

So you’re wondering what my dream cast would be? Here they are!

To learn more about this series, visit the Gilded Series website. Watch GILDED's book trailer here!

And don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by Beth, Christy, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 48. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the red team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

BONUS GIVEAWAY!

In addition to the main Scavenger Hunt, I've got a special giveaway only for the people who enter the Rafflecopter below! Your prize is a copy of the YA historical anthology I was lucky enough to be a part of, A Tyranny of Petticoats. The winner will get a signed, hardcover of the anthology, plus a special print designed for the book, plus something extra special that has to do with my upcoming novel, A World Without You that will come out in July! Open internationally, contest closes when the YA Scavenger Hunt closes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONTINUE THE HUNT

To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author!

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On Writing Violence

Today, I have to write a battle scene.

It necessary to the plot of the book. It's a story about war, and a war cannot be fought without a battle. And this particular battle is a turning point for my character, which means that I have make it hurt. Sacrifices will be made. I cannot sugarcoat this scene. It wouldn't be fair to the reader or the characters.

But before writing this scene, I got online. And saw the links to the terrorism attacks in Brussels.

And...I paused. I'd been plotting this scene in my head all morning, I knew just how I wanted to show it, which characters wouldn't make it and which would. But faced with the very real tragedy of Brussels--which, of course, reminded me of the other tragedies of terrorism and war throughout the world.

And suddenly this scene I wanted to write--needed to write--felt...wrong. There is so much violence in the world, real violence that has nothing at all to do with characters made of ink and paper. Part of my hesitation was in the fact that I didn't want to add more violence to an already violent world. Part of it was in the truth that I had not experienced this level of violence personally, what right did I have to tell a (fictional) version of anything so tragic?

It made me think--does the world need a book with more violence? But of course, the answer is yes. Because while my book takes place during a war, it's not about war. It's not about the violence either.

It's about surviving the violence and war and tragedy. It's about seeing the evils of the world and fighting anyway, with nothing more than the hope of a better world. It's about believing that you can make a difference, and that the price to make that difference is worthwhile.

Violence in real life is senseless and tragic and evil. Violence in fiction doesn't always have to be. Because the story I'm telling isn't about the story of war. It's not even the story of a soldier. It's the story of a person. And if I can show through fiction how wrong violence is, and that it's people who live through it and die by it, not random, faceless numbers, but people, then I have done what I can do with words to change the way the world is.

So I'm off to write my scene. And I write it with the knowledge of what's happened in the world, and the hope that one day, terrorism will only exist in ink and paper.

Attention Book Bloggers! How to Get Free Review Copies

Hey guys! I've got two books that are currently available for free to book bloggers! If you review books (even just on GoodReads or Amazon), you're welcome to sign up and try to get a copy--it costs you nothing but a second of time.

A World Without You is my first contemporary novel...but you guys know me, and I promise you it's weird and awesome and there's kissing but also a lot of tragedy and not everyone makes it out alive and maybe super powers are real and maybe they aren't, you have to figure it out for yourself.

It's about a boy who thinks he can travel through time, and he needs this power to save his girlfriend, trapped in the past. It's about a girl who thinks her brother is having mental delusions and is getting help at a school for emotionally disturbed kids. It's about the two of them--brother and sister--and the way their family is broken but also the way it's tied together.

It's a strange little book, but it's one of the most important things I think I've ever written, and I hope you like it.

TO REQUEST A REVIEW COPY OF A WORLD WITHOUT YOU, CLICK HERE.

My Paper Hearts series has also been selected for a short run on NetGalley, a program designed for reviewers to read copies for reviews. The first book, Paper Hearts: Some Writing Advice is currently available for download!

My Paper Hearts series came about because so many of my readers also wanted to be writers. You guys probably know my (ridiculously long) journey toward publication. These are the books I wish I'd had before I was published, and they're the result of answering questions, posting articles, and joining discussions in the lit community for the past five plus years.

The first volume is all about the craft of writing, and it's less straight-instruction and more philosophy and advice. Nothing in writing is a simple answer--there is no right way to write--but there are methods that may be able to help, and standards to the business if you're seeking publication.

TO REQUEST A REVIEW COPY OF PAPER HEARTS, VOLUME 1: SOME WRITING ADVICE, CLICK HERE.

A Tyranny of Petticoats: Girls Kicking Butt in America!

It's March, which is Women's History month! It's also the month that A Tyranny of Petticoats comes out! This awesome collection of short stories--edited by the amazing Jessica Spotswood--follows women in America throughout history in fifteen awesome short stories.

This is seriously a collection not to miss--the stories are simply fantastic. One thing that struck me was the way women have often been ignored throughout history, and yet they quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) get things done. My own story is about a teacher on the frontier in the Wild West, and there's no doubt that the women who took a similar role had an integral part in shaping the West and, indeed, all of America. We don't know their names, we only know their legacy.

One of my favorite quotes is by Virginia Woolf: "For most of history, Anonymous was a woman." Not every important person in history is remembered, and most of the ones who are forgotten are women.

• The author of the first novel in the world was a woman
• The first computer programmer was a woman
• The first orphanage in America was established by a woman
• Women fought in the American Revolution and the Civil War
• Women played an integral role in abolishing lynching and establishing civil rights
• Without a woman, Lewis & Clark would totally have died, let's be real
• The most badass pirate ever was a woman
• A woman could struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig
• A woman revolutionized India
• A woman used her skills as a runner to advocate for tribal peace
• A woman started a campaign to plant trees throughout Africa, affecting global environmentalism
• A woman's bravery changed the face of education for girls world-wide--despite the point-blank range bullet shot in her head by the Taliban in a failed effort to stop her 
• A woman helped shape Burmese history and democracy

How many of these women did you know? I have to admit--I learned a lot just by looking for more names to add to my ever-growing list of women to admire. And most of these women--despite changing the world--are forgotten. 

That's what I love so much about A Tyranny of Petticoats. While there are real-life women portrayed, it also shows the stories of women throughout history that are forgotten, nameless, but there. 

A Tyranny of Petticoats comes out March 8th, and if you pre-order from One More Page bookstore, you'll get a very limited edition print by Simini Blocker (which you can see to the left here). It's beautiful--don't miss out on this! 

Five Things I Love About Hamilton

I resisted for as long as I could.

As a writer, most of my friends are in the arts. And most of them (as do I) like many different forms of arts--theater, visual arts, music. But when my artsy friends started telling me about Hamilton, I sort of scoffed. I had been burned--many times--by artsy friends recommending theater or musicals to me. I tend to like movies where things blow up, and while I have a deep love for certain plays (which also tend to be very popular ones: Wicked, Phantom, etc.), these are the same friends who recommended me to a few of the most excruciating hours I'd had in a theater seat.

I shouldn't have doubted.

Hamilton is everything I love about musicals, plus a bunch of other stuff I didn't even realize I wanted. It is, to put it simply, the best musical that I've ever had the pleasure to listen to and I haven't even had the chance to see it yet. The entire album is available at various plays online for free, including NPR, YouTube, Amazon Prime, and Spotify.

And that's the first thing I respect about this play--the writer (and star), Lin-Manuel Miranda, wanted to make it accessible. He made sure the music was available online for free, and he made sure the play was entirely sung--you can understand everything just by the audio, without having seen the play.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is, to put it simply, one of the greatest composers and musicians of our age. Hamilton is genius. And speaking of genius, I keep getting lost in the Rap Genius annotations of Hamilton--you guys know I love a good Easter egg or hidden detail in a work, and Hamilton is full of them!

And that leads me to the second thing I love about Hamilton: All the new things I've learned. 

Did you know that Aaron Burr was Vice President of America when he shot Hamilton? Or that Hamilton was killed (spoiler alert from like 200 years ago) in the same spot as his son had, when he was fighting a duel two years prior?

Did you know that Hamilton tried the first murder case in America after it became a country? Or that he was the subject of the first big sex scandal in the new America?

Did you know that as a child, Hamilton almost died--and watched his mother die--and became an orphan in the West Indies? That he wrote his way out--his poetry about a hurricane that devastated the island he was on caught the attention of learned men, who sponsored his trip to America and his education?

That's the third thing: the power of the word. A major theme running throughout the play is how powerful words are, something that I, as a writer, would obviously love. Words brought Hamilton out of poverty and out of the West Indies. Words gave him power as he rose the ranks during the American Revolution, they gave America power as he wrote in defense of the Constitution. Words gave Hamilton love as he wooed Eliza Schuyler, and they destroyed that love as he met Maria Reynolds.

And words killed him.

It was Hamilton's words--so influential--that cost Aaron Burr the presidency, that sent him on a mission of redeemed honor.

History comes alive in Hamilton--and it's about the people. That's such a cliche thing to say, but it's true. I can read the facts of history, I can know who's on the front of the ten dollar bill, but I don't understand. I don't know about motivations and desires and regrets and fears.

This is, ultimately, the power of all fiction. To make us not simply know facts, but to know truths that are indelible to all humanity. The American Revolution isn't a list of dates and battles--it's real blood, real loss, real triumph. Elections aren't the counting of ballots, it's understanding how one person can shape the history of a nation, of the world, it's faith that the majority can keep the path of government clear, it's raising your voice and hoping it joins a chorus.

Hamilton is the story of a man. A man who helped shape America in astounding ways and yet is often forgotten, but it's the story of a man. A man who had a past and a future and love and loss. And when we forget about the numbers and look at the people, that's when history becomes real.

But most of all, I love Hamilton for the music. It is--much like Hamilton himself--revolutionary. Musicals have a certain "style"...not Hamilton. Musicals have a common theme...not Hamilton. Hamilton stands on its own. It has a few songs with the typical "show tune" style, but mostly it's hip-hop and rap. It plays with words, it weaves them around and through, it creates sounds that have existed for decades but at the same time creates a totally new sound.

Check out this opening number, and wait for it, wait for the music to hit you:



I love what Hamilton says when he sings. The desperation to "write like you're running out of time" speaks to me, but I found myself most identifying with Aaron Burr's song, "Wait for It."



Publishing is a lot about waiting--waiting to be good enough for publication, waiting to get an agent, to sign a deal, for a book to come out, for a book to find its audience, for the next book to be written, waiting, waiting, waiting.

And there is a time when you wonder if the waiting is worth it. And you're working and striving and trying...but you're also still waiting.

This song is an anthem to wanting. Wanting more--more life, more chances, more love, more. Just more. If you're not satisfied, this is the song for you.

Digital Writing Workshop & Handouts

The other day, I had the very great pleasure of giving a workshop at Malaprops about writing to celebrate the release of all three Paper Hearts books. The turn out was amazing--especially considering the roads were closed for a Mardi Gras parade and the Superbowl was on!

A photo posted by Beth Revis (@bethrevis) on Feb 8, 2016 at 3:30am PST

I've been working on the workshop for several weeks now (shout out to my friend, Laura, who let me test it on her students first!). And I think I finally have it the way I want it to be.

The workshop is about how to take a base idea and turn it into a novel. It covers inspiration, publishing paths, writing craft, and concludes with a timeline of my latest book, A World Without You, and how long it took to go from initial idea to published book on the shelves.

The workshop is interactive and comes with a handout and two places to stop and try out activities before continuing. With a question and answer session at the end, the entire program is between an hour and an hour and a half long.

While I love speaking to people in person and really getting hands on with people who want to learn--I'm still a teacher in my heart!--I also want to make sure that this information is available to everyone, and to give people who attend the workshops a chance to go back over what they learned. To that end, I'm putting the entire presentation, as well as all the handouts, online. Just click here for them all.  This link also shows you some of the other downloadables and resources I have accompanying the Paper Hearts series.

If you find these helpful, please feel free to share them with other writerly sorts!

Don't Forget:

• You can purchase any of the Paper Hearts books signed and personalized from my local indie bookstore, Malaprops. Just click here!
• The books are also available from all major retailers--more info here
• If you'd like to hire me to come give this workshop--or any other speech--please contact me!  More information about my rates and availability can be found here.
• To make sure you don't miss future workshops and events, sign up for my newsletter here.

Workshop in Asheville to be Rescheduled

Hey guys!

As you may have noticed, we got a little snow ;) So the workshop previously scheduled for tomorrow is being postponed. I'll update here when we have finalized a new date.

Meanwhile, go play in the snow! 

Winner Announced

Thank you all so much for helping me celebrate five years of Across the Universe! It was so much fun to see all your shelf pictures and hear your stories--and so motivating and touching. <3 are="" best.="" guys="" p="" the="" you="">
Here's a sample of what that awesome looked like (and if you don't see yourself there, don't worry--your entry was still counted!)

WINNER ANNOUNCED:

So I compiled all the entries this morning, and there were 133! Thank you all so much for sharing with me! 

Random.org picked the winner...

And the winner is...

RHIANNON!

Thank again, everyone, for participating! I am so lucky to have you as my readers <3 div="">

GIVEAWAY + 5 Cheers for 5 Years: Across the Universe turns 5 today!

Five years ago today, my life changed forever.

Five years ago today, my first book, Across the Universe was published.

Five years ago today, I was, for the first time, "a real author."

Five years ago today, my dreams came true.

I've changed a lot in five years. My writing has continued to grow--in July, I'll have five novels and three nonfiction books published! My life has continued to grow--my family has added a baby, my career has added new dimensions, my friendships have shifted and evolved, my worldview has expanded with more travel and opportunities, my ideas of my future have been enhanced.

One of my favorite quotes from the Harry Potter series is when Ginny tells Harry that "Nothing is impossible if you've got enough nerve."

There is something about having all your dreams come true that makes you believe in the impossible.

Growing up, I wanted nothing more than to be a writer. I wanted it all: I wanted to spin words into stories, I wanted people to read them, I wanted to know that my words made a difference. And this dream of mine was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I have seen people without a driving dream to center their lives upon, and I live in fear of that hollowness. A curse because nothing hurts more than the uncertainty of a dream unlived.

My road to publication--to this life--was really hard and so long. Ten years of writing with nothing--not an agent, not a book deal, not a glimmer of hope that I'd ever be good enough. Ten books that never sold. Thousands of dollars in conferences, workshops, and retreats that I couldn't afford. One experience that almost turned into a book deal but tripped at the finish line. One professional who told me to never bother writing again.

I have talked a lot about the long part of the journey, because I feel it's important for aspiring writers and other dreamers to know that becoming a professional writer isn't about "being touched by a muse." You don't wake up with glitter in your eyes and tap out a perfect story in your ivory tower. It's work, and sometimes it's heartbreaking, and it's important to know that there's no such thing as an overnight success.

But I haven't talked much about the night I finished writing Across the Universe.

I was scared.

I was terrified.

I had studied the market. I knew that there wasn't much sci fi out there. Orson Scott Card, Hunger Games, and Stephanie Meyer's The Host were the only sci fi books my local bookstore offered in the YA section. And, frankly, they were among the only sci fi I'd ever read. I felt supremely unqualified to write science fiction. I didn't write science fiction--I wrote Amy and Elder's story, and it happened to be science fiction.

But I wasn't sure if it was good enough.

I only knew it was the best I could do. I never felt that way about a book before. Sure, I loved what I wrote. I believed in what I wrote. But I never had this weight inside of my chest, pressing down on my stomach, telling me that this was the best I could do.

Because it was.

I knew, when I finished writing the last chapters in a flurry of clacking computer keys, I knew that was the best I had ever done. Possibly the best I could ever do.

Which meant that if that book didn't succeed, I should give up. Because I couldn't do better than that, and if my best wasn't good enough, I wasn't good enough.

I knew, when I typed "The End" on Across the Universe that if I couldn't get that book published, I should quit.

"Nothing is impossible if you've got enough nerve." It wasn't nerve that made me submit Across the Universe to agents. It was desperation. It was fear.

It was one last, final, desperate shot.

And now, five years later, I can say with absolute certainty and joy: It was absolutely worth it!

People ask me if I could go back in time and tell myself about how everything would change, would I? Would I give hope to five-years-ago-me and reassure myself that it will all work out--far better than I ever dared to dream?

No. 

The fear was good. The trying-anyway was good. The doubt was good. 

Because it has made me believe in the impossible. 

______

Help me celebrate five years of Across the Universe! Post a picture of any of my books on social media, and tag it with #5YearsofATU. At the end of the week, I'll select one winner to receive a signed copy of all my fiction--that's a signed copy of Across the Universe, A Million Suns, Shades of Earth, The Body Electric AND A World Without You! 

This is the FIRST time I'm holding a giveaway for A World Without You...and will be the only chance you have to win it for months. Giveaways for this book won't start until April...except now. 

Extra details:

• The post must contain a picture of any of my books plus the hashtag #5YearsOfATU
• Ebooks totally count
• Post must be public so I can see it and count it as an entry
• I will compile entries from Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram. All posts count.
• If you post on another social media platform, post the link in the comments here so I'm sure to count it.
• Winner will be announced Sunday, January 17. I'll stop counting entries at midnight.
• This is international.

Start Your New Year Creatively with This Writer's Prize Pack!

Maybe it’s your New Year’s Resolution to write a book. Maybe it’s your lifelong ambition. Either way, I’ve been working on two things that I wish I had had when I was first starting out, and I want to make sure that all the writers know about them.. And make sure to read all the way to the bottom for an EPIC writer’s prize that you’re going to love!

PS: Do you live near Asheville, NC? Come to my writer's workshop for a free session on writing and publishing! January 24 at 5pm--more details here.

Wordsmith Writers Workshop Retreat

I was lucky when I was first starting out to meet some wonderful people who helped guide me to be more professional. I threw myself into the community, and I'll never forget just how important a small word of advice or encouragement can be. Writing can be a lonely venture, but there are people out there who want to help you succeed. 

One of the best programs is the Wordsmith Writers Workshop Retreats--and I say that not just because I'm going to be one of the guest lecturers this spring. Developed by author Cristin Terrill, Wordsmiths takes the relaxing inspiration from a writer's retreat and adds it to the invaluable instruction from a workshop. This spring's retreat will be just outside of Washington, DC, and will have classes by Cristin, myself, and the amazingly talented Jen Armentrout. There are only a few spots left, so make sure you sign up as soon as you can if you want to take part in such an awesome opportunity! Wordsmith Retreats are designed to be the perfect venture for aspiring writers: you get to network with fellow writers in a beautiful old farm house, all your meals are catered by a private chef, you get critiques from both Cristin and myself on your work and private, one-on-one sessions with us, and you get workshop opportunities designed to help you turn pro. Seriously--check it out.

The Complete Paper Heart Series

I wrote the Paper Hearts series specifically with the principle of wanting to write the books that I wish I had when I was starting out in this career. 

  

Each book is currently available in both print and ebook form, and the volumes are designed to be maximized at each stage of your writing career. Volume 1 discusses everything from grammar to deep revisions and rewriting strategies that are tried and true. Volume 2 covers every aspect of both traditional and self publishing, peeling back the curtain on what it's really like to publish a book, but also including helpful tips on writing a query, where to find good resources, and more. And Volume 3 is all about what to do after you get a book deal, how to set up social media, how to respond to reviews, and how to become a career author. 

I wrote these books after years of answering questions online and off, and I tried to think of every scenario and question that a new or aspiring writer may have. 

To celebrate writing and writers, especially the new voices, I'm hosting a giveaway. I hope you'll join in and help spread the word about it! And then--go write!

Prizes and Giveaway

For this giveaway, I'm going to give one lucky winner:

• A signed copy of all three of the Paper Hearts books
• A signed copy of Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic for inspiration
• A novel gift set by Icey Designs, featuring a planner, a journal, and writer pencils
• A critique of the winner's query letter and first five pages of the manuscript

I'm sorry, but this prize can be mailed to a US address only; the next big giveaway I have will be open internationally.

For extra entries, you can tag friends in the Instagram and Facebook post about the content, and reblog the Tumblr post.

To enter, please complete the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sci Fi vs. Fantasy: Vote and Win!

So, it's time for me to clear out my giveaway stack of books, and I realized--I'm pretty evenly split between sci fi and fantasy. I've always loved fantasy novels, but sci fi has been growing and growing on my shelves. Not only is my giveaway stack divided, but so are my bookshelves...and my heart (awwww).

But the holidays aren't the holidays without gifts...and without a hint of Hunger Games! So this year, I'm giving away two sets of books. Each set has eight books, each has a mix of finished copies and ARCs (ARCs have been gently read previously). But one set is science fiction, and one set is fantasy.

And you can only enter to win one. 

Let me repeat that: YOU CAN ONLY ENTER TO WIN ONE SET OF BOOKS. 

Your entry is a vote--which do you like more, sci fi or fantasy? Make your choice--because you only get to enter for one!

Here's the prizes!

SCI FI PRIZES

Illuminae ARC by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

The Cage ARC by Megan Shepherd

The Walled City ARC by Ryan Graudin--signed!

Soothe the Savage Beast anthology with a story by me, signed!

Shards & Ashes ARC anthology with a story by me, signed!

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano--signed!

While You Were Gone ARC by Amy Nichols

The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs

FANTASY PRIZES

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh--signed!

Kiss of Deception by Mary Pearson--signed!

Shards & Ashes ARC anthology with a story by me, signed!

Brazen by Christina Farley, signed!

Gilded by Christina Farley, signed!

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Witch Hunter by Virgina Boecker

Among the Shadows anthology with a story by me, signed!

REMEMBER: YOU CAN ONLY PICK ONE PRIZE SET TO ENTER FOR! 

Anyone who enters for both prizes will be disqualified.

To enter--and to vote for your favorite genre--just enter ONE of the Rafflecopters below.

Got it? And I'm sorry, but this contest is US only--I'm shipping by prepaid box, and it can only go to the US.

ENTER and VOTE FOR FANTASY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


ENTER and VOTE FOR SCIENCE FICTION!

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Special Pre-order Offer for PAPER HEARTS!

Recently, I announced that the first of my three writing, publishing, and marketing books was coming on November 1. You can pre-order from most major retailers in e-book form already:

-Amazon
-BN
-Kobo
-iBooks -- coming soon
-Smashwords
-IndieBound

Currently, though, there's only one place you can pre-order the paper copy of the book (which will be available in the middle of November). And that place is my local indie bookstore, Malaprops. And as you guys know, Malaprops is awesome, and they love giving their customers what they want.

So I teamed up with them to give everyone who orders a copy of Paper Hearts, Volume 1: Some Writing Advice from Malaprops a very, very special gift. I reached out to some of my favorite YA authors and asked them what their best advice for writers is, and then I collected it all in an exclusive, limited edition chapbook that will go out with every copy of Paper Hearts sold at Malaprops from now until November 15.

ORDER YOUR COPY OF PAPER HEARTS + GET A FREE BONUS CHAPBOOK HERE

With every copy of Paper Hearts sold from Malaprops 

from now until November 15, 

you will get an exclusive, limited edition chapbook 

featuring the best advice from 12 beloved and bestselling YA authors! 

Once these chapbooks are gone, they're gone, and the only way to guarantee getting one is to pre-order the book from Malaprops before November 15. Don't wait!!! Supplies are definitely limited--and this is an awesome chapbook! It includes advice from:

Me

Ryan Graudin

Stephanie Perkins

Alexandra Duncan

Jodi Meadows

Susan Dennard

Amie Kaufman

Megan Shepherd

Colleen Houck

Marie Lu

Christina Farley

Jessica Brody

And to entice you further--and to thank the lovely authors who contributed to the chapbook--one lucky person is going to get a copy of each and every one of these authors' books! This is open internationally (as long as Book Depository ships to your location) and I'll be adding some extra swag and goodies with the prize box! 

Entering is simple--just fill in the Rafflecopter below. You'll also see links to the contest on my social media...if you reshare it with the #paperhearts, you might just win a little extra something as well! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Announcing the Publication of PAPER HEARTS + Lots of Extras & Giveaway!

A few years ago, I started gathering up my writing advice posts from across the internet into one place--a Wattpad book called Paper Hearts. This was a little side project for me, and one borne of love--a love of teaching, a love of writing, and mostly a love of my readers who wanted to be writers. This was the book that I wish I'd had when I was starting out, and it was something I wanted to do to give back to the YA writing community.

But as the months passed, I realized that my little project wasn't so little any more. Wattpad was clunky to use to organize chapters, so I shifted to Scrivener, and started grouping the chapters together.

A few months ago, I compiled everything and realized I had about 175,000 words on writing, publishing, and marketing. And that I hadn't written one book of advice.

I'd written three.

And with NaNoWriMo coming up, I decided to publish them as fast as I can. Paper Hearts, Volume 1: Some Writing Advice will be available in ebook form on November 1, 2015 and in print form November 15th. 

Paper Hears, Volume 1: Some Writing Advice is part philosophy and part practical advice. It covers topics ranging from grammar and the basics of writing to advanced story structure (with reproducable charts and blank templates) and an appendix of more than 25 "What to do if..." solutions to common writing problems. My favorite section is the last--a series of chapters about failure, how it's inevitable, and how to rise above it. This book really is my (paper) heart; this is exactly the book I needed when I was writing for a decade, compiling a thousand rejections, and silently trunking novel after novel.

PHV1 is available for pre-order now in its online edition here:

• Amazon
• BN -- Available Nov 1
• Kobo
• iBooks -- coming soon
• Smashwords
• IndieBound -- Available Nov 1

Currently, the price of the ebook is $2.99. On November 7, the price will go up to $5.99, so if you want an ebook, preorder it now before the price goes up! 

Print books will be available November 15...and I'm cooking up a special deal for everyone who orders from my local indie store, which will be announced later this week. Trust me, you're going to get a very special gift with your order!!!

On December 1, 2015, Paper Hearts, Volume 2: Some Publishing Advice will be released in ebook form, with the paper form following shortly thereafter. I realize that being publishing for five years doesn't make me a leading expert, but I think I have a viewpoint that's needed right now: a totally impartial view between traditional and self publishing. Too many books are all one way and none of the other, but the modern author needs to at least be aware of the options each side offers. 

Written without bias, this book explores both paths of publication, with key similarities and differences. It assumes you have a complete, ready-to-be-published manuscript, and takes you down the pros and cons of self and traditional publishing, helping you choose your path, and then it details the first steps you need to go through for each path. If you choose traditional publishing, it discusses how to write a query letter (with specific, real life examples), how to researching and choose an agent, and what to expect from a traditional publication deal. If you choose self publishing, it discusses pitfalls and common mistakes, what to spend money on and what to save your money on, and how to make your book stand out in the crowded market. 

January 1, 2016 marks the release of Paper Hearts, Volume 3: Some Marketing Advice in ebook form, with the paper form following soon thereafter. This book was born directly from my involvement in the writing community, mentoring other writers, giving advice on the YAWriters reddit, participating in various chat boards, etc. I kept seeing the same questions from debuts, and discovered that, while there is a lot of information out there on how to get the book to an agent, there's very little information on how to get the book to an audience. PHV3 will cover the basics of setting up social media, a detailed map of a standard author website, how to establish a newsletter, the shifting face of the market, how marketing is different if you self or traditionally publish, and other tips to get you started. Geared particularly toward debuts or people trying to break into the next level, this book is designed to encourage you to take charge of your own career without forgetting that the most important thing of all is writing your next book.

Once all the books are out, I will be doing a very special live event at Malaprops in Asheville, NC. On January 24, 2016, I will be leading a hands-on workshop for writers. Come out for delicious snacks and meet fellow writers. With a no-holds-barred Q&A session, I'll be presenting some of the core ideas of the book and concluding with constructive feedback on your work. 

You may also have noticed the beautiful book covers. These were all designed by the amazingly talented Hafsah at IceyDesigns. She is also the artist behind some of the most perfect journal designs for writers ever (you can check them out here). We worked together to come up with a journal designed to go with the Paper Hearts series--read on to the end of this post to find out how you can win a copy of one. 

A photo posted by Beth Revis (@bethrevis) on Oct 9, 2015 at 1:06pm PDT

And that's it! I'm so excited to share these books with you all--this really has been a labor of love, and I hope it helps others as they develop their writing and start on their writing careers. 

AND DON'T FORGET TO STAY TUNED LATER THIS WEEK FOR DETAILS ON THE SPECIAL PRE-ORDER GIVEAWAY COMING FROM ME AND MALAPROPS!

Want to make sure you don't miss it?
Sign up here.

To celebrate this very special announcement, I'm giving away a specially design journal made by Hafsah at Icey Designs! To enter, all you have to do is spread the word about this book's new release:

• RT this tweet or compose your own tweet with a link to this website + the hashtag #PaperHearts Sample tweet: Aspiring authors! Have you heard abt @bethrevis's writing advice book, #PAPERHEARTS? Launching Nov. 1! More details: http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/2015/10/announcing-publication-of-paper-hearts.html 
• Tag a friend in this FB post, or share it with your friends using #paperhearts! 
• Reblog this tumblr post
• Instagram users: there's a special IG post just for this that allows for easy sharing and entries! 
• Share on any other social media platform--just make sure to include a link in the comments or tweet me a link so that I am sure to see it and count your entry!

YA Scavenger Hunt Fall 201

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SIX contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the GREEN TEAM--but there are more teams with more chances to win a whole different set of signed books!

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). 

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by OCTOBER 4, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

Today, I am hosting Lynne Matson on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt! A former attorney, Lynne now spends her days writing books about mysterious islands where teens have a year to escape or die. Inevitably her books involve a delicious near-miss kiss. When she's not writing or reading, you'll find her hanging out with her husband and their four amazing boys, probably on the beach. Cookies are her kryptonite, especially thin mints. You can find her on the web at http://lynnematson.blogspot.com.

Find out more information by checking out the author website or find more about the author's book here!

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

On the island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape--or you die. Rives is now the undisputed Leader of Nil City, but keeping the City united is tougher than ever.

I’m SOOOO honored to be on Beth’s blog today! I’m a huge Revis fangirl…her ACROSS THE UNVERSE series is one of my absolute favorites. So to be here, on Beth’s blog, chatting with Rives during #YASH is a treat for me!

As y’all may know, Rives is a supporting character in NIL. Thad, on of the two main characters in NIL, is the Leader of Nil City, and Rives is one of Thad’s Seconds. But in NIL UNLOCKED, Rives is one of the main characters. He finally gets to tell his story!

Because I’m the author, I pulled him out of the midst of NIL UNLOCKED to ask him a few questions. (We authors gets to do crazy things like that.:D) I wanted to know more about this boy who was driven to unlock Nil’s secrets, and whose heart had already been broken once on Nil.

Hi Rives! How’s it going today?

Rives glances around, his green eyes clear, his expression calm but incredibly alert, like he’s taking in the abrupt change of scenery and trying to make it fit with Nil.

Rives: Where am I? Still looking around. And where’s Skye?

Me: *waving my hand* She’s fine. I mean, for now, because she’s on Nil, obviously. *winces* *thinks this interview could go more smoothly* *clears throat* I’ll send you back in a minute. But first I wanted to ask you a few questions. Okay?

Rives crosses his arms, his expression all business.

Rives: Sure. But let’s make it quick. I don’t like leaving Skye alone.

Me: She’s fine. She’s tough.

Rives looks at me like I’m crazy.

Rives: Of course she’s tough. But she’s still basically a rookie, and this is Nil we’re talking about. Calculating, unpredictable. Possibly evil, and definitely creepy.

Me: What make Nil so creepy?

Rives laughs without smiling.

Rives: Besides the big cats and other fun beasts that will make you a midnight snack? Yeah, the animals are whacked. But Nil itself plays people. It’s all about the head games. Sometimes I think Nil messes with our heads--in our heads. I can’t explain it. But I’m going to figure it out. I’m going to figure Nil out.

Me: I know you’re the Leader of Nil City now and that you’re obsessed with unlocking Nil’s secrets. And I know you might be falling for Skye. Can you tell three things about you that readers don’t know?

His expression turned guarded as I spoke.

Rives:  Falling for Skye? You’re crazy. I’m focused right now on cracking Nil’s code. That’s it. We’ve got a lot of people in Nil City, good people, and they all deserve to get home. I’m gonna make that happen. I don’t have time for anything else.

He blows out a hard breath, pulling himself together.

Okay, three things.

His expression softens slightly, his green eyes drifting to a place far away.

First, I love photography. I’m obsessed with it. I think I want to be a photojournalist, because I also love to travel. I think that’s two things.

He smiles at me, a real smile.

Last thing? My favorite football team is Barcelona, and sometimes I think I might try to make a go of it in football instead of photography. Maybe I’ll do both. But, Rives pauses, his smile fading, first I have to get off the island.

He looks straight at me, worry darkening his eyes. Can I go back now? Because we’ve got a big cat prowling around the city these days, and I need to get back on Watch. Things can change in an instant on Nil, and I’ve been gone too long.

Me: *feeling terribly guilty because I sense he’s thinking of Talla* Your wish is my command. Be safe and--

Rives:  I know. Look around, pay attention. I got it. He smiles.

And then he’s gone. Back on Nil . . .

I’m so glad I could chat with Rives!!!

I know his fate…it’s revealed in NIL UNLOCKED, as is Nil’s past. J  But what about Nil’s future . . . and the ultimate fate of all your favorite characters? Find out in the stunning Nils series conclusion, NIL ON FIRE, out May 2016.

Thanks for stopping by & happy #YASH hunting! I’ve got a giveaway of signed copies of NIL on my blog too! Don’t forget to enter! Good luck with #YASH today! 

Thank, Lynne, for sharing all this good stuff about Nil! And don't forget to enter the YASH contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Lynne, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 13. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the green team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

CONTINUE THE HUNT

To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author!

BONUS CONTEST!

Recently, my latest book, The Body Electric, got it's first 100 reviews! The Body Electric is a futuristic story about a girl who can tamper with people's memories, making her the perfect spy--but when she discovers that someone has messed with her mind, she doesn't know who to trust.

To celebrate hitting more than 100 reviews, I'm giving away a beautiful art book. This folded star is made from a copy of Across the Universe, my first novel, by A Novel Idea, and will look lovely displayed on any shelf! To enter, just sign into the Rafflecopter below.

WINNER: ALORA! Thanks for entering everyone!