Thank you all for sharing with me your favorite indie bookstores! I'm currently compiling a list of the top ones to send a special prize to (more info on that soon!) but meanwhile, let's give out a prize to YOU for submitting your store's name!
drumroll, please.... The winner of the first ARC box for A World Without You is...
Glauber,
whose favorite bookstore is Anderson's!
If you didn't win, don't worry...I'm gearing up for another round of giveaways right now. In fact, my desk is about to topple over from all the books selected for giveaway. There are separate prizes that will be posted here and across my social media, so make sure you look around...and they'll be flash giveaways open for 24 hours only, on different days! More details to come soon, but I hope you're ready for this! :)
As you may know, I recently announced that I was offering a special pre-order set of gifts (including an art card of the quote to the left) for anyone who purchased A World Without Youthrough my local independent bookstore, Malaprops. You can read more about that--and see the awesome stuff you'll get for pre-ordering--here, and you can actually pre-order the book and get all the goodies here.
But I wanted to celebrate all local independent bookstores. Because honestly? Bookstores are like a second home to me. In the last few years, I've been lucky enough to do several book tours throughout the nation (and even Canada!), and I am in awe of how each bookstore is unique, a reflection of their community, but also they share one important trait--a deep, unabiding love for books and readers.
So I want to spend this month celebrating that. And I want to reward the readers who patronize local independent bookstores, because they are absolutely bloody awesome. The community of people who read and spread the love of books is the best in the world!
So: I want you to tell me what your favorite independent bookstore is! There are so many, but please--tell me your favorite. My publisher and I will then pull out the top twenty five stores and send them a special thank you gift for being so awesome--a gift that means you will have the opportunity to get some special goodies too! We're going to keep the gift for the bookstores a secret...for now! Who doesn't love a good surprise?
But we need your help! In order to this, we need to know which bookstores you love, so we can know which ones to send the gifts to! In the space below, I've got an entry form that simply asks for the name and location of your favorite bookstore. Please fill it out--and please also let your friends and fellow bookstore lovers know!
To thank you for helping us out and loving bookstores, I'm offering you a prize, too! If you're a newsletter subscriber, you know what this prize is--an epic ARC box full of goodies featuring A World Without You! You'll get:
A signed ARC of my latest book, A World Without You--it's super rare and they're going fast!
A signed art card featuring a quote from the book
A beautiful pocket journal featuring the quote, "To Thine Own Self Be True," something highly relevant to the book, designed by Icey Designs
Two Cadbury Creme eggs to represent a scene in the book where the characters learn how to poach eggs (it's more romantic than it sounds!)
A Doctor Who magnet--this book has time travel, after all!
A time-turner necklace like the one Hermione uses in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
An ocean-scented candle, since the book takes place on an island of the coast of Massachusetts
If you want a closer look at what's inside the book, you can also check out this video I made!
I have six of these boxes already made up and ready to go, and this is the first one that will be sent out! Sadly, because this is linked to something I'm doing with US bookstores, this contest is limited to entrants who have a US mailing address--but don't worry, the next contest will be international.
REMEMBER: If you want to pre-order the book with the special signing stamp and the free goodies and art, you can do so here!
TO ENTER: Fill out the Google Docs form below. And if you can, please help me spread the word--and the love of indie bookstores!--by tweeting as well!
Over the next few months, I'm going to be talking a lot about my upcoming book, A World Without You. This book comes out on July 19 from Penguin, and it's my most personal book yet. I really hope you love it!
If you pre-order A World Without You from Malaprops, you will get the following, shipped right to your door (or pick it up in person at the launch party on July 19):
You'll obviously get a signed, personalized copy of the book. If you order online, just be sure to tell Malaprops who you want the book personalized to, and if you have a particularly special message to include (such as "happy birthday" or, in the case of a very special copy of The Body Electric, "will you marry me"!!!!)
But did you notice that stamp up in the top corner? That is a very special stamp that I had custom-made just for this project. It will only ever be used for the first edition, first signings of my books, which means the only way you will ever get this stamp in a copy of A World Without You is to order it through Malaprops before July 19. After that, the stamp is going into retirement until the next time I have a book launch.
I love collecting books, and I wanted to give something special to the people like me to go out of their way to order a signed book on the first day it releases. This stamp is my thank you, and my way of making sure this is a limited edition, only-for-the-people-who-preorder thing!
But! Beyond the book itself, signed and stamped, if you order from Malaprops by July 19, you will also get--free with each book order--a beautiful art print designed by the wonderful Icey Designs! It features one of my favorite quotes from the book:
Isn't it gorgeous?! The quote was hand-lettered and designed by Hafsah at Icey Designs, and is printed on gorgeous matte paper with a velvet like finish. The paper is thick--really, it's more like thin cardboard, and the print can stand on its own without folding over. And it's large! Somewhere between the size of an art card and a poster (specifically 6x9"). This is really a beautiful piece of art, and words just don't do it justice! So, to help you see just how cool this art print is, I actually made a video of it, explaining it and the other features in the pre-order campaign:
I really think this is a special gift that you're going to love--and all these extras come free with every pre-order of A World Without You from Malaprops! (Also, if you'd like to get any other my other books signed and personalized, Malaprops can take care of you too!)
In the comments section, let them know if you want it personalized or if you'd like a special message added.
Malaprops ships internationally--if your country's not listed, please email them for estimated shipping costs
To Place an Order by Phone:
Call 1-828-254-6734
They can accept your credit card over the phone
Make sure the spelling of any personalization is correct
Note: There is a limit of 400 of the art prints. Last time, we sold out at 300, so I upped the campaign to 400! If you want to ensure you get a copy with the art print, make sure you order soon!
Hey! Do me a favor and let your friends know about this, k? ♥
Recently, the good people at Patchwork Press hosted a Twitter chat in honor of my Paper Hearts series. For one hour, I answered any and all questions on writing, publishing, and marketing. Here are the questions and answers, thanks to Storify!
10am: A Tyranny of Petticoats
Editor and contributors discuss their
recent historical anthology. Featuring: Andrea Cremer, Marie Lu, Beth Revis,
Jessica Spotswood, moderated by Stacy
Wells 11am: Time Turners
A big ball of wibbly wobbly timey
wimey...stuff.
Claudia Gray, Mari Mancusi, Carrie Ryan,
Janet B. Taylor, moderated by Beth Revis 12pm: All the Feels: Emotions run high in these poignant
tales. Featuring: E. Lockhart, Marisa Reichardt, Beth
Revis, Adam Silvera, moderated by
Mandy Aguilar 2pm: Hi-Fi Sci-Fi: Math, science, history, unraveling the
mystery of YA sci-fi. Featuring: Jessica Brody, Claudia Gray, Bethany
Hagen, Jenny Martin, Mary E. Pearson,
Beth Revis, moderated by Mary Hinson 3:30pm: Group author signing begins!
Like I said, I really hope to see you there! And here's a special thing just for you guys...I am bringing TEN and ONLY TEN of something REALLY COOL that is about A World Without You and if you come find me and ask for it, I'll give you one! (Until I run out, obviously.)
Recently, I participated in the YA Scavenger Hunt. It was so much fun, and I hope you all had a blast finding new books to read and entering the contest!
I wanted to make sure that everyone had access to my top secret exclusive content, so I'm adding it here as well. Hope you enjoy!
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
My latest book is called A World Without You, and it's a book that's truly special to me. It's about a boy named Bo who is attending a school for kids with super powers. He can control time--but he's accidentally lost his girlfriend in the past. As he frantically tries to find a way to save her, his reality starts to break down. He's not at a school for kids with powers...he's at a school for mentally disturbed students, and it's not his girlfriend who needs to be saved--it's him.
One of the things I love about writing is hiding little Easter eggs and clues in my books. I'm not going to give them all away, but my top five Easter eggs in A World Without You are:
1. The Doctor. At Bo's school, his supervisor is named Dr. Franklin, but all the kids call him the Doctor--a reference to the greatest time traveller ever, Doctor Who! If you're a Whovian you'll definitely notice one other character who's name for someone on the show.
2. The Red String. You may notice that the book cover has strings all over it. There's a reason for that! To Bo, time looks like strings, and when he wants to go somewhere in the past, he tugs on a specific string. The string that connects him to his lost girlfriend is red, a reference to the Chinese legend that a red string of fate connects us to the people we truly love.
3. Superheroes. Bo believes that he has super powers, and so does every other kid at the school, Berkshire Academy. If you look closely, you'll see a lot of references to some of my favorite superheroes, including Batman and the X-Men, but also some heroes that aren't exactly super, such as Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen. You'll have to read closely to catch them, but they're there!
4. Classics. I love more than just pop culture and superheroes! As the story progresses, Bo gets increasingly paranoid, and at one point creeps around his room, thinking that people are watching him. This is, of course, a reference to the brilliant short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. And fans of Bach will notice a famous fugue woven into the story.
5. "And now for something completely different." This is an actual line of text in the story, and if you know what it's referencing, we should totally be besties.
That's it! There are definitely more secret surprises in A World Without You, but I'm going to leave those for you to find on your own...
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 Universetrilogy, 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!).
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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!
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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!
