Breathless Tour: NYC Stop!

My Favorite Things about the NYC Tour Stop:

• COOKIES!!!!!
• These lovely ladies-- @irisheyz77@danijohns @jenlam26 @nikkayme @daniellebunner --made me COOKIES!!! There were some (c) Victoria Schwab cookies and and AND SNICKERDOODLES. *dies of bliss* That was really about the awesomest thing ever.
• Agent and editor and Penguin peeps time
• By far, the biggest thing I love about NYC is the ability to see the people who made my dreams come true. It was especially awesome because:
• I got to celebrate with margaritas AND wine
• I got to put a name to a face (hi Casey! hi Erin!)
• I got to talk about edits with my editors in person
• Basically I spent the whole time with them grinning like an idiot

My Favorite Things about Books of Wonder:

• The super-super-super cute cafe in the front. Did I mention cute?
• The perfect cup of coffee: I needed it, and the wonderful Jennifer provided the BEST coffee.
• Art: beautiful bookish art surrounded us the entire time. So cool. I sat near a whole Shaun Tan corner and it was amazing.
• Such friendly people! It was so wonderful how nice everyone was.
• A magical setting--this is SUCH the kind of whimsical bookstore I'd have loved to have gotten lost in as a kid. Wish I could have wandered the aisles more!

Some WOW Moments:

• GAYLE FREAKING FOREMAN CAME TO THE EVENT!!!
• It was such a fangirl moment. SUCH A FANGIRL MOMENT. She came through the whole line, and I just stared, possibly slack-jawed and drooling, to be in her presence. Holy freak, that was Gayle Foreman!!!!
• So many bloggy friends! I can't even name you all, but it was just stunning to see you and put a name with the faces and blogs I've been reading forever. I <3 you guys. I want to name you all individually, but I'm terrified of leaving someone out and inadvertently offending you. 

Buy Signed Books of All Members of the Tour from Books of Wonder Here!


Don't Forget to Enter for a Signed Poster Here!


Meanwhile...if you were at the event and took pics, I'd love copies! Please email me--I'll post them here with a link to you, if you'd like. I have a feeling my mother won't believe any of this has actually happened unless I show her pictures :D


And don't forget: if you're tweeting, use #breathlesstour 


Next event: Minneapolis! Come to the Hennepin County Library from 7:00-10:00pm. Details here.

Bookanista Feature: Angie Smibert's MEMENTO NORA

I'm gonna switch it up now for the Bookanista post today: today, I'm not only featuring a fantabulous book (MEMENTO NORA), but this post is also a part of a book tour! With prizes involved! :D

First, lemme tell you a little bit about the book and why you should rush out and buy it as soon as it hits shelves (April 1st). MEMENTO NORA is the debut by Angie Smibert, a fellow Leaguer. Check out the official book webpage here.

First, there's the cover. Lookit. It's pretty darn stunning--and, I think, fits the tone of the book very well. There are subtle details in it that I loved even more while reading the book (such as the font for Angie's name--very fitting for what Nora becomes a part of).

But of course, the inside is the important thing. I thought a LOT about what I could say about MEMENTO NORA that would explain why I read it obsessively in two nights, and this is the best I could do:

Of all the dystopian worlds in print, 

this is the one that I think is most likely
 to happen in our society.  

Which should both intrigue you and terrify you. Look, I adore HUNGER GAMES, but I'm not sure if we ever would really get to that point in our world. Things would have to change drastically before America becomes Panem. A lot of apocalyptical dystopians require...the apocalypse--some huge event that will happen in the future to make everything different.

But MEMENTO NORA is the kind of book that I think could happen, in our world...very, very soon. We don't need President Snow, we don't need the moon to get knocked closer to Earth, we don't need A-bombs to wipe out the population. We just need our world to get just a little more of everything it already is, and MEMENTO NORA could actually happen.

Memento Nora Blog Tour

In Nora's world, one pill will erase negative memories, and Nora must decide whether she wants to keep all her memories, including the bad ones, and what price she's willing to pay for it.

Angie's gathered together a group of writers to share their memories--and if you comment on each stop of the blog tour, you'll get points for a drawing of the awesome prize on the right. Details for the contest are here.

Which means...I have to tell you about my most spit-your-Coke-out-through-your-nose-laughing-at-me memory.

Be warned: it involves underwear.

In college, I was working as a RA, and one of the events that I coordinated in the dorm was a trip to the local ice skating rink. First, let me tell all you Yankees out there with your hockey and your frozen ponds and your ability to drive in the snow: people in the South do NOT tend to know how to ice skate. We don't have naturally frozen ponds, we don't have our own skates, and we are terrified of ice.

So perhaps an ice-skating event was not the best choice for me.

But I did it--and I got fifteen or twenty people to follow me to rink. We're all just slip-sliding on the ice, holding onto the side like six year olds at the roller rink for the first time. Anyone who picked up any speed would crash into the wall or purposefully fall in order to stop. We were...bad. Bad. But for the most part, we were having fun.

Except this one girl.

She was a sweetheart, and very shy, and the only reason she was even AT the event was because I'd talked her into it. And she. Was. Terrified. I had skated around the rink maybe five times before she'd worked up the courage to stand in skates. Five more times before she'd actually taken the three steps to the ice from the bench.

I skate up to her.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"I'm scared of falling," she says in a very tiny voice.


"Don't be scared!" I say cheerfully. "None of us are good; we're all going to fall! Just get out here and have fun!"

She shook her head; she was sure that if she fell, she would become the laughingstock of the whole rink. Nothing I said could convince her otherwise. She grabbed the side of the rink and teetered onto the ice, but she look petrified and miserable the whole time.

So I decided to take action. I purposefully staged myself to skate in front of her--and fell. On purpose. I'm talking flailing limbs, crashing into the ice, just a full-out, total wipe out. A huge, everyone-look-at-me, crash.

Which actually kinda hurt.

But everyone saw me fall--including the scared girl--and she saw that nothing bad really happened. I smiled and made a joke of it and got up and kept skating, and everything was fine. She ventured away from the wall, and soon she was having a good time and laughing along with everyone else.

There was a lot of laughter, actually.

And soon I noticed that the laughter followed me all around the rink.

Surely my fall wasn't that funny? I kept skating, wondering at what people were laughing at. And pointing at. And then I realized.

They were laughing at my butt.

Because when I had wiped out so totally on the ice...my pants had ripped. My butt--covered in embarrassingly bright blue underpants--was hanging out of my pants for everyone on the rink to see. This was not a minor tear in the fabric. The entire seam was open and everything was showing.

No good deed goes unpunished (or unclothed) indeed....

Hope you all enjoyed laughing at my expense! Be sure to comment to this blog post for a chance to win a MEMENTO NORA prize pack, and go to Angie's site and comment for a second entry! Each week, a new blogger will have a new memory to share, and you will have another chance to comment and rack up more entries! Next week, Bettina Restrepo, author of ILLEGAL will share her memory on Angie's blog.


For more Bookanista Posts, go here:

• Elana Johnson raves over BIRTHMARKED
• LiLa Roecker is going bonkers for BETRAYAL 
• Christine Fonseca is dizzy for DELIRIUM  
• Shannon Messenger features WHERE SHE WENT plus an ARC Giveaway!  
• Carolina Valdez Miller is loco for LIKE MANDARIN 
• Beth Revis is remembering MEMENTO NORA  
• Jessi Kirby is sweet on XVI 
• Shana Silver is pumped for BUMPED  
• Carrie Harris gets hexed by HEX HALL 
• Rosemary Clement-Moore is enraptured by WARPED 
• Katie Anderson covets the cover of Myra McEntire's HOURGLASS 
• Corrine Jackson is dazzled by I AM NUMBER FOUR 
• Stasia Ward Kehoe leaps for LEVERAGE 

What is Success?

So one of the cool things happening here in moose land is every night, we ask one question and everyone answers it. Things like, "What things do you love to see in a book?" or "What are you strengths and weaknesses as a writer?" It has been edge-of-your seat interesting (no sarcasm here; I truly find it fascinating to see what people are saying.)

Last night, the question was: "How do you define success?" As in: at what level do you need to be at to feel that you're successful?

Everyone here at the retreat are at different stages. Some of the answers were ones I could see in myself, past, present, and/or future: to make a living from writing, to be published, to see a book on the shelf, to get a meaningful piece of fan mail, to be able to make a lifelong career as a writer. Some were amazingly touching and beautiful and revealing. We laughed, we cried, and I made inappropriate jokes (as usual).

I was one of the last to go. Originally, my answer was to "write words that make me happy." There are a few projects--Across the Universe being one (and AtU Book 2 not being one)--that have been, literally, joy to write. Working on a book that is more torture than joy makes me miss that.

But there is also joy in completing the terror, and there's happiness in hard work, so that's not entirely my full answer.

I almost said I wanted to have more of the same: this has been an amazing year, one I wouldn't mind repeating a la Groundhog Day, but that seems...limiting to want to have the same thing, even if it's wonderful.

In the end, I said this: I spent ten years writing, but not feeling proud of being a writer. I hate now that I let lack of publication negatively define me, but there you have it. So, this is how I will define my success: that I spend at least ten more years in which I can proudly call myself a writer.

What about you? How do you define success for yourself?

Contest! Signed Breathless Reads Poster

You know what? A thank you video isn't enough. It's just not. I should totally give you guys some prizes!

So, as many of you know, I'm heading out for tour on February 9th (meanwhile, I'm currently in Branson with moose other writers on a retreat: I expect hilariously embarrassing pictures to follow). And Penguin's sending me with four other TOTALLY AMAZING authors! There's Kirsten Miller (THE ETERNAL ONES), Brenna Yovanoff (THE REPLACEMENT), Andrea Cremer (NIGHTSHADE), Ally Condie (MATCHED). And me.

It's called the Breathless Reads Tour (find out more about the title here) and I'm still looking over my shoulder saying, "Who, me?" I cannot believe how lucky I am to keep company with these ladies.

 I've read all their books, and....wow. WOW. (If you want to get a signed copy of one, Ally's holding a contest for it here.) And if you need some convincing of how amazing these books are:



And because Penguin knows how to properly throw a party, they have made some super-awesome posters to go along with the tour, and the first 100 or so people who show up at the tour stops are going to be able to get a poster--and get each of us to sign it (if they want). So, if you are going to be in the area, you should TOTALLY come out to our stops to (a) I can meet you and (b) you can get a poster. For more information on the tour stops, you can check it out here or here.

Wanna see the poster? Of course you do. It's...breathtaking (swidt?).

But that's only five cities. And I know that's a long (crazy-long) drive for many of you. So....I asked Penguin if I could give away a signed poster on here. And Penguin said, how about ten?

That's right.

TEN.

And all you have to do is sign up below before Valentine's Day, and we'll randomly draw ten names and send them a poster--signed by ALL the authors!

Since Penguin's doing this for everyone, I thought it would be nice to thank them by getting some more followers on the Breathless Reads Facebook Page. So, if you have a Facebook and don't mind liking awesome books, give them a like here, and I'll give you one extra entry into the drawing. 

This is What You Missed Last Night

Last night, Jackson Pearce (who is amazing with all things tech) coerced, forced, held at gunpoint kindly asked some of us on the retreat to do a live chat.

It. Was. Awesome.

If you've never used Livestream (I hadn't), don't be afraid of it--it's just like IM or Twitter--you type in questions, and then the author (who is on a video screen) answers them. On screen. Which is really cool.

Anyway, you want to see this. If you missed it, we're doing one a night through the 8th. 8pm, EST. Different authors every night, 3-4 authors every night. You don't want to miss it!

Related side note: Would y'all like me to do that on my own sometime?

I AM THE QUEEN OF ALL PACKING!

It took me the better part of the day, but I finished packing.

And boy, am I proud.

In the backpack: laptop, iPod, notebooks, pens, sweater and stuff I couldn't fit in suitcase.

In suitcase: ENOUGH CLOTHES FOR FOURTEEN DAYS HOLY WOW. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a CARRYON. I DON'T HAVE TO CHECK ANY LUGGAGE HURRAH!!!!!

In a related noted: if you are looking for a backpack that can carry a laptop, I recommend the Everki brand. This one is the one I got--it (a) fits a 17" MacBook Pro (which is a feat in and of itself), (b) is flight-friendly because the laptop part unzips for the TSA scanners, (c) has the best warranty I've ever seen, and (d) is like the TARDIS: bigger on the inside.

< / commercial>

So anyway, I'm packing up. Tomorrow: RETREAT OF DOOM AWESOME! And then: TOUR!

(Both of which I'm secretly terrified to be a part of. What if they don't like me? What if they point and laugh at me? Eep!)

I *hope* to be blogging throughout the tour, and I *will* be Tweeting. But there WILL be a fairly awesome blogpost coming...say, Monday....that involves TEN prizes....which are AWESOME....

*whistles innocently*

I shouldn't SAY anything. But they didn't tell me I couldn't SHOW you a hint....

TWO contests coming this month. One involves the poster picture above. One involves the things IN the picture. First contest starts on Monday!

*dances off to try to stuff one more thing into luggage...*

A Very Bookanista Thank You

So, last week, the Bookanistas did this: a dance video celebrating how I made the NY Times list.

Well, I can't very well let something that awesome happen without doing a little thank you in return. Especially since I also need to thank YOU, the people who helped me get to the list in the first place.

So I went to the zoo. And this is what happened.



Please ignore the fact that I had the signs reversed in the elephant scene. Please also ignore the fact that I forgot to add my husband's name as cameraman. He's already mad at me that I make him watch iCarly :D

The Bookanistas are a group of writers - in various stages of the publishing process – who have decided to band together and review the special books of our peers.  No negative reviews here! We post every Thursday and cover various topics– upcoming ARCs, books we love, special diamonds in the rough, classics, and even cover reviews.

Here is a list of the Bookanistas: Christina Fonseca, Jamie Harrington, Michelle Hodkin, Kirsten Hubbard, Shelli Johannes-Wells, Myra McEntire, Shannon Messenger, Bethany Wiggins and Suzette Saxton, Beth Revis, Lisa and Laura Roecker,  Sarah Frances Hardy and Katie Anderson, Scott Tracey, Carolina Miller, Gretchen McNeil, Jen Hayley and Shana Silver

For more Bookanista posts, check it out here:

• Elana Johnson thinks Delirium is dope
• LiLa Roecker falls for Between Shades of Grey
• Christine Fonseca soars Across the Universe
• Shannon is hosting an epic Invasion giveaway
• Shelli Johannes Wells is giving some Liar Society lovin'
• Scott Tracey raves about The Replacement
• Myra McEntire is spreading some cover love for Siren and Undercurrent
• Beth Revis is thanking her fellow Bookanistas
• Carolina Valdez Miller swoons for Scrawl
• Megan Miranda falls for Dark Goddess
• Bethany Wiggins is Entice(d)
• Jen Hayley and Shana Silver ignite for Angelfire
• Matt Blackstone convinces us That Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
• Carrie Harris marvels over The Mockingbirds

On a more serious note...

So this happened: A magazine puts together a list of feminist YA books, then backtracks and deletes some books (TENDER MORSELS, SISTERS RED, and LIVING DEAD GIRL) in order to appease some objectors, which causes a bit of an uproar.

I think Bookshelves of Doom has a pretty easy to follow set-up of the links. You should definitely read that first. Chasing Ray also has a great summary if you'd rather read that than the original.

I have found this whole debacle--and yes, by this point it has moved from a debate to a debacle--to be fascinating. I must admit that I've read all the posts and comments on this--and often, the comments seemed more thought out than the posts.

Here's the thing--it's not censorship. To be fair, Maureen Johnson didn't say it was censorship, just that it MIRRORED the same process, though I think some people have misinterpreted her statement:

It mirrors EXACTLY the process by which book banners remove books from schools and libraries--namely, one person makes a comment, no one actually checks, book gets yanked.

And I think she hit the nail on the head about what makes debate a debacle--this is the same sort of rash decision making that is often applied to censorship cases.

From one perspective, the comments and changes pretty much invalidates the entire list. It implies that the makers of the list didn't actually read the books, and instead based their choices on others' opinions. Furthermore, the reasons the magazine gives for this is because the books they removed may trigger negative emotions from rape victims. Which, essentially, means they want to protect readers.

Books are dangerous things. They should be dangerous things. I, personally, can think of no greater compliment for TENDER MORSELS, SISTERS RED, and LIVING DEAD GIRL than the label "Dangerous Book." It's what I aspire to for my own work.

Creative Picture Runners-Up!

So, as I mentioned yesterday, there were a few stand-outs in the Creative Picture Contest that I just couldn't help but pester them ask them if I could feature their pictures, too. And good news! All but one of these were emailed entries, so they're probably new to you, too :D

This one by Jasmine was featured on the Facebook page, too, and was a serious contender for winner (as well as this one with her friend Jacinda). This one wins for me, though, based solely on the fact that my husband totally loves these old arcade style games, and I just think it's hilarious to make the book play the old Asteroids. It totally had me cracking up.

This one by Ashley totally blew my mind. I have to be honest...I've not see Tron yet. But I love the allusion to it here, and the fact that she's holding the book up, and the logo in the corner, and the moon! The moon!!!

I know Heather's a friend of mine, but I promise that didn't sway me in picking her as a runner-up. I just thought this picture was ADORABLE. It reminded me of Calvin and Hobbes in all the best ways. And the lighting here was just magical. And she's hugging the book. I'm so partial to anyone who hugs my book. And the helmet! The helmet!!!

Eve's entry didn't technically qualify because it's an ARC (and she knew that--she just sent it in to share with me, not to enter), but I liked it so much I totally threw it in this post to be a runner-up. It's just...you guyssss.....she put my little book next to FIREFLY and HITCHHIKERS GUIDE!!!! And the books are all cussing in their own special way! Y'all know I like me some cussing! XD

And that's it--my own personal runners up! I really and truly and sincerely totally loved all of your entries! It was so amazing to just see all of you guys with my book! I can't even put into words how cool that was. But unless iMovie fails me, I should hopefully have a video... Shhh. I can't say nothing yet.

Book Launch Contest Winners!

YAY FOR CONTESTS!!!! I had so much fun doing this one, you guys--it was really great. I loved how awesome your pictures were; I loved seeing the pictures out there in the wild; I loved seeing how you were all going to top each other with the awesome pictures!! This was really just ridiculously fantastic!

And now--time for prizes!!!

The grand prize, you might remember is this:

PRIZES INCLUDE:

-Signed hardcover copy of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Audiobook version of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Pin buttons and book mark and a star sucker (yum!)

-A MULTI-TOUCH IPOD NANO!

The grand-prize winner (done through a drawing of all entries) was number 81.

And who was lucky number 81, you ask?

Why, it's...

AMBUR!

But wait! There's more prizes!

Remember, I offered a prize for the person who referred the most people, and one person really stepped up to the plate, referring nearly a quarter of all the entrants. This person's prize is:

-Signed hardcover copy of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Audiobook version of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Pin buttons and book mark and a star sucker (yum!)

And the winner of this prize is....

ELISE AT BOOKISH DELIGHTS!

BUT WAIT! There's one more prize!

Remember, I said that I would pick my favorite picture out of them all, the one I felt was most creative. (And also remember, rule #9 of the contest was: "9. The winner of the best picture is up to me. No whining." So don't get mad at me if I didn't pick you!)


A reminder of the prize:

-Signed hardcover copy of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Audiobook version of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Pin buttons and book mark and a star sucker (yum!)

-Something very cool and very secret

But there was one picture that I just couldn't help but love--it was so cute and creative, and I loved the freezer pops. Also: I look at her freezer and I look at mine, and I marvel at the amount of work it took to clear out the freezer of everything but pops!

So the final winner of the most creative prize is...

SHANNON!

But...I have to be honest. There were a few more people whose pictures were so awesome that I'd like to give them some sort of prize...so I'm in the process of figuring out what else I have as prizes, and then I'll contact some more people for creative picture prizes! So if you didn't win the top prize, just give me a few more days, because I swear, some of these just blew me away!

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

There are few things that make me cry. Well, okay, I cry at Hallmark commercials, but outside of televisions and movies and books, there are few things that make me cry. Proof: last year, our front screen door was broken, and when I was going through it, my foot got a bit smashed by it slamming shut before I was all the way through. I started to cry because it hit me right on the ankle-bone, and it scared my husband so bad he thought I'd broken it and was about to pick me up and take me to the ER because he'd never seen me cry when I got hurt before.

So yeah: not a crier. But when I woke up this morning, here's what I saw:



And tears sprang into my eyes because--Holy WOW that is SO NICE!!! And a total surprise!! I had no idea these guys were doing this!!! I mean, I had a few tiny hints about it, now that I look back--I remember Shannon posting something about doing some ShannonShame on a video, and Elana tweeted last night that I was going to be surprised today, but it was late and I was tired and I was just "What? What am I missing?" and then I was like ZZZzzzZzZZzzzzz because dude, I was tired.

So when I woke up this morning, there was a Twittersplosion of notes from people telling me to watch this video. And I did. And the music came on, and I see Christine Fonseca's dance team dancing with my book, and my mouth dropped open and my eyes got watery and I was like NO WAY.


And the Bookanistas, they were all like: WAY.

Here's a combination of what's on the video + my reaction:

• Christine's dancing team --> o.O Really? OMG really? They're dancing for ME?
• Shana "Shimmy" --> Ahhh! She's shimmying!!! So cute!
• Carolina "Rock Star" --> OMG I HAD NO IDEA CAROL WAS SO HARDCORE!
• Shelli "The Snake" --> LOL!!!! She's doing the head bobbly thing!
• The Rockin' Elana --> What is she...?  !!!!! Point to that disco ball, sista!
• Myra and her Dancing Minions --> Myra has minions!!! Bwahahaha!!!
• Jen "I am Not Your Father" --> o___O She is dancing in full costume, OMG!!!!
• Twistin' Katie --> AW! SO cute!! She's dancing in her pearls!! Such a Southern lady!
• Randomly Lip Syncing Lisa --> I am just giggling out loud at this point! The dogs are looking at me like "huh?!" And then a few seconds later she does the little snake dance down and I cheering!
• Laura "Black Swan" --> I had to go back and rewatch her dance, I was so busy laughing at her nickname! Which was good because her dance was adorbs!
• Carrie "Sonar" --> O____O OMG SHE MADE AN AMY AND ELDER SHIRT AND ALSO RANDOM BATWINGS AND I LOVE IT ALL!
• Smexy Shannon --> Yes! Smexy! Holy cow she's dancing down stairs! If I tried that, I would so trip and land on my face!
• Kirsten "Hand Banging" --> Headbanging! Wow! HOLY AWESOME LOOKIT THAT DRESS I WANT IT.
• Michelle and Sleepy Maggie --> Bwahahaha!!!! Sirius sleeps like that too! HAHA! 
• Sarah "Walk Like an Egyptian" --> She isn't... She is!!! That is the best Egyptian walk EVAR!
• Scott "The Bookanisto" --> This the point where I laughed so hard I nearly knocked over the table and spilled my Sprite. Because (a) Bookanisto and (b) invisible waltzing partner!
• Jamie and Jamie Jr --> Ahhh! So cute!!! And matching sun glasses!!!!
• End sequence --> Carol striding backwards like a rockstar...Kirsten's last head bang... and Christine's dance team shaking the book...oh, yeah, the tears are back!

I am in total, 100% amazed, crazy, wow-shouting AWE at you guys!!! This was SUCH a total surprise and I cannot believe it and WOW!!!!!!! You guys ROCK SO HARDCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK

YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou

Help Wanted!

So...I'm getting down to writing my speech for the presentation at the high school where I used to work at. It's tomorrow. (SIDE NOTE: if you're in the Shelby/Cleveland County NC area, come to Burns High tomorrow for a public signing from 3:30-5:30!)

Here's the thing: I've been thinking about this speech NON-STOP for about a week now...but now that I'm actually writing it....I'm coming up short.

What are some of the best classroom presentations by teachers you've seen? What would you like to see? Any help or advice is greatly appreciated! I'm starting to panic a bit here....

Answers, Part 3: Writing

So, back in December, I asked you guys to ask me questions for me to answer. And I didn't forget about it--I mean, not really. Anyway, a month later: here's the answers!

Also: at first I didn't think this would take that long, but then when I was answering them, I realized this was a realllly long post, so I've got this divided up into three days. Also, also: I lost some stuff when I was cutting and pasting...I think I got all the questions again, but let me know if I missed one.

WRITING IN GENERAL

Susan Kaye Quinn asked What was your biggest writing craft "ah ha!" moment during those first nine books? Or maybe a series of ahas? Maybe aaaaahaaaaa? 

I think my biggest "ah ha!" moment happened after I entered--and failed miserably--in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition. I didn't even get close. And I expected to win. After that, I was commiserating with some other authors on the Amazon forums, and we decided to read each other's works and figure out where and how we went wrong. We didn't know it, but we were forming a critique group, and learning to critique and edit is what helped me grow as a writer more than anything.

Martinelli Gold asked: I hear writers and agents adulating about the importance of conferences, but really, what are the good ones? Is it worth it to fly out to New York if you're from the Pacific Northwest? The only conference I've spotted in my area is for the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association. What are some great conferences? (Near or far.)

It depends 100% on what you want. If you're going to a con specifically to get an agent or editor, then (1) I think you're deluding yourself a bit, as this is rare, and (2) your best bet will be to go to a conference that has pitch sessions, such as the Writer's Digest conference (NY, near the time of BEA) or the SCBWI national conferences and some state conferences. It's very important to first check that there actually ARE agents/editors present there that you want to pitch to, and to realize that the chances are phenomenally small that you will actually connect with an agent/editor enough to sign based on conference attendance. It's not impossible, just rare.  (Also, I've heard the Rutger's conference is good for this, but I've not been, so I can't really give an opinion.) 

If, however, you're going to the conference to network with other writers, learn about the craft, develop new marketing/writing/editing skills, etc., then I think you've got a much greater chance at getting a good outcome for your money. If you're a children's writer, then I recommend SCBWI conferences. Personally, my state does great conferences, and I've heard from others that their states are great, too. I've not been to a national SCBWI conference, but I've heard that they're great, too. 

In my experience, I've been to two major conferences, and I value each of them. The first was the Writer's Digest conference--I participated in the pitch sessions and came very close to getting an editor and book deal through that. But even though I didn't, I learned from the experience about pitching, queries, and the business. 

The second was the state SCBWI conference. From that conference, I learned about the importance of networking, craft and writing, and made some valuable friendships and critique partners. I also participated in a pitch session--at which, the agent told me that my entire novel sucked and I should throw it out. So, keep in mind that pitch sessions are opinions, and that it really is very difficult to make a worthwhile connection. 

Also: weigh your options and the cost. For me, I spent a lot of money to fly to NY for the Writer's Digest conference, and it was worth it for me at the time. I spent far less money going to the state conference--and that was worth it, too. I learned at these conferences--but I didn't get a book deal from them. If I had known I wouldn't get a book deal, I might not have spent so much money to go to NY. 

salarsenッ asked: Writing in different POVs. What's your thoughts??

If it serves the story, do it. 

susancolebank asked: To ask a more specific question about POVs--when do you think a character would be better in first person rather than third? 

When it best fits the story.

Susan also asked: Do you concentrate more on character or plot? Why?

I tend to concentrate on plot--but by that, I mean that I try to make characters vivid enough that I know what they would do in a given situation, then I focus on the plot to put them in a situation that's interesting to read.

Gabrielle Carolina asked: At any point did you want to give up and stop writing?

Ironically enough, right before I queried AtU. I didn't think I could do better than AtU, and I sort of froze up a bit--it would have been easier to give up at that point, than to fail again. But I queried anyway, and I'm glad I did.

Kayla Olson asked: Do you prefer writing first drafts, or do you prefer the revision process? Why?

FIRST DRAFTS!!!!! SO MUCH!!!!!! It's fun to get the story down. It's work to make the story good.

Answers, Part 2: AtU and Publishing

So, back in December, I asked you guys to ask me questions for me to answer. And I didn't forget about it--I mean, not really. Anyway, a month later: here's the answers!

Also: at first I didn't think this would take that long, but then when I was answering them, I realized this was a realllly long post, so I've got this divided up into three days. Also, also: I lost some stuff when I was cutting and pasting...I think I got all the questions again, but let me know if I missed one.

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

Susan Kaye Quinn asked Did you know #9 was THE ONE before you sent it out, or did you think each one was the one...until it wasn't?

Actually, AtU was #11 for me--the eleventh full-length manuscript I'd written.  Did I know it was THE ONE? Honestly, I thought every single manuscript I'd written, all the other ten, were THE ONE. As I wrote them, as I queried them, I thought each one was the one. That's what kept me going. I always thought the one I was working on was the one. 

That said: when I finished AtU, I also knew I couldn't do better than that. 

Emy Shin asked: Across the Universe is part-mystery with huge twists -- did you plan everything out before writing? Or did you go back and add in hints/etc. later?

Didn't plan anything out really, and I didn't do much in the way of going back to add in hints--I like to add in lots of detail as I write, often without really knowing its relevance, then when I get to plot twist, I pull on those details that are already there.

Magan asked: Was there any movie, TV show, or song that just inspired a pivotal scene in ATU? Without giving away spoilers can you say what that would be and how it helped for that scene?

There was no actual scene inspired by anything, at least not anything specific enough for me to pin down. But I did consciously based Eldest on the Operative in SERENITY--his philosophy that was he's doing is absolutely right in the given situation is the same philosophy I ascribed to Eldest.

susancolebank asked: Did you ever want to give up on this story, thinking there was no way you could write it as well as it should be written?

YES. I thought I had a pretty good idea for AtU as I was writing it, and constantly worried that I wasn't writing it well enough. But I didn't want to give up until just before I started querying it. That's when I worried that I'd not done a good enough job, and part of me wanted to give up rather than fail again. I'm glad I didn't.

Gabrielle Carolina asked: What do you hope your readers will gain from AtU?

The idea that truth is important.

Abby Minard asked: When you started querying Across the Universe, were you told that Sci Fi is "out"? (Because I've heard that from some people, but now I've heard it's making a comeback)

YES. I had at least three agents reject me specifically because "space sci fi is out." When I started querying, I was very worried that it wouldn't sell because there really wasn't that much true YA sci fi out there. But, like you, I've heard it's making a comeback. Hope that's true!

Anonymous asked: If ATU was a movie who would YOU want to play the characters in your book?

The only character I'd really picked out was Molly Quinn, who I think would make a great Amy. 

PUBLISHING

Susan Kaye Quinn asked Are you going to even be able to sleep during that awesome tour? And why the heck aren't you coming to Chicago??

Sleep, schmleep. As for why I'm not coming to Chicago: I'm touring with four other authors, and they basically picked one city for each of us, a city close to our homes. (Mine is Raleigh.)

DJ's Life in Fiction asked: What have you learned about the publishing industry that you think aspiring authors should know?

That publishers are not some big, evil, cackling Mr. Burns-like character. Publishers really DO want to publish quality literature, editors really DO edit, and agents really ARE looking for good writers to represent. Sometimes, when the rejections pile up, you start to question the system, the publishers, it all looks like a conspiracy against YOU. But it's not. Also: publishers, editors, and agents are real PEOPLE. We often forget that. But it's true.

Amber Cuadra asked: How many drafts did you go through before you thought your book was ready to send to an agent?

Two. One rough draft, one re-write, and several polishings between. But I do think there's a difference between a completely rewritten draft, and a revision on an already present draft. I revised more than I rewrote AtU. As for Book 2--I rewrote more than I revised.

Short Story Up!

High all!

Just a quick note to say that my short story, "The Most Precious Memory" is up at Merry Sisters of Fate. This story isn't in the Across the Universe world--instead, it's a short speculative fiction piece in an alternate world where memories can be eaten like drugs.

The first lines:

There are two types of people in the world—those who make memories and those who devour them.

Devon was one of the latter. He sat in the shadows of the alley, a dark man with dark thoughts who watched and waited. A girl with hair the color of sunset walked by, her red high heels tapping out a steady rhythm on the sidewalk that matched the swing of her hips and the swish of her hair. Devon barely noticed her; his eyes skimmed across the street and into the eyes of another man.

Eagle-eyed readers will notice that I used the same description of the girl's hair here as I did with Amy's hair--that it's the color of sunset. I did it first here--I needed a distinctive but short description for the girl--but I liked the phrase so much that I used in it Across the Universe, too.

Go read it! Hope you like it!

Answers, Part 1: Fun Questions and Stuff About Me

So, back in December, I asked you guys to ask me questions for me to answer. And I didn't forget about it--I mean, not really. Anyway, a month later: here's the answers!

Also: at first I didn't think this would take that long, but then when I was answering them, I realized this was a realllly long post, so I've got this divided up into three days.



FUN QUESTIONS AND STUFF ABOUT ME

Jordyn asked: I want to know what you think of Star Trek. And Star Wars. THAT IS TOTALLY RELEVANT, RIGHT?

I have a longer history with Star Wars--Princess Leia is the reason why I grew my hair long originally, and my brother's name was Luke, and one of the first memories I have growing up is playing with plastic light sabers. So yeah: hardcore Star Wars fan. That said: I'm not as much of a fan of the new ones. 

As for Star Trek--I watched New Generation rather a lot as a kid, and I liked it, but I never liked it so much until I saw the new Star Trek movie, which totally kicked. 

So: short answer--old school Star Wars, new school Star Trek.

GreenBeanTeenQueen asked: Who do you love more Kirk or Picard?

Ack! I would have SO said Picard before...but I DO love the new Kirk in the new movie...

GreenBeanTeen Queen also asked: Also, what movie is the must see movie of 2010-I'm way behind on my movies and need to catch up!

I thought EASY A was amazingly clever and funny. And the Disney RAPUNZEL was awesome. But my husband will disown me if I don't say that SCOTT PILGRIM was the TOP movie of the year!

And GreenBeanTeenQueen asked: And-what can do I do to convince my husband to watch Doctor Who? He complains that he doesn't like SF!

If he was a girl, I would totally tell him to watch based on the episodes of Doctor Who alone. But since I have a feeling he won't think David Tennant is hot, tell him this: Doctor Who is about history, clever plots, witty characters, and it is AWESOME. Also, I won't think he's cool until he watches.

salarsenッasked: What music do you listen to while writing?? Or do you?

I do listen to music--but I listen to it for the sound, not the song, if that makes sense. Basically, I listen until I don't really hear it anymore. I tune it out.

Kayla Olson asked: If you could be any character in a book/movie/TV show, who would you choose (and why)?

Luna Lovegood--she's minor enough that she gets to do what she wants, but major enough to get to be a part of the cool action. And she goes to Hogwarts, and she gets to do magic, and she doesn't care one whit what other people think.

Kayla also asked: Where, specifically, is your favorite place in the world? Why? (This could be a city, a cupboard under the stairs, a cafe, a park…anything.)

I don't care where I am--I care who I'm with. But I think it might be neat to have all the people I care about in London... :D

Abby Minard asked: What were some of your favorite Sci Fi or Fantasy books/authors as a child?

The Chronicles of Narnia, by CS Lewis 

THE HERO AND THE CROWN by Robin McKinley 

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede

Cold As Heaven asked: Do you like heavy metal?

Not really. I often like to tune my music out, and it's hard to ignore heavy metal. About as hardcore as I can get is Hawthorne Heights.

Heather Zundel asked: What drives you? (to write, especially).

I like telling stories. It's as simple as that.

Heather also asked: What single novel shaped you the most? Why?

Probably THE HERO AND THE CROWN. There's a scene in there--when Tor and Arlbeth see Aerin for the first time after she fights Maur--that I think is possible the most beautifully written prose in the world. 

And she asked: What are three things you find very beautiful?

Sleeping puppies. Trees in the snow. The smell of new books.

Annnnd she asked: When/how did you decide you wanted to become a writer? How did you stay at it when it became hard?

I've wanted to be a writer for a long time--since elementary school. But I knew, even then, that it is very very difficult to make a living off of writing. So, for me, the idea was that you could be a writer, but your profession would have to be something else. When I was teaching, I thought of myself as a teacher who also wrote. So the transition to thinking of myself as a writer was actually very difficult. 

On the other hand, it was very easy to stay with writing even when it became hard. Because, even when it is hard, I like writing.

And finally she asked: And the most important question of all: Pirate or Ninja? Why? ;)

Ninja. They're both romanticized, but I think ninjas, at least had a more complex motivation than greed.

In the end, there are only two words

In the beginning, there were 80,000 words.

At the time, I thought it was the end. The end of the novel--not my first novel, but my best one.

But really, that was only the beginning.

So, in the beginning, there were 80,000 words.

And then there was an agent (whom I adore) and an editor (ditto) and a publishing house (which was all beyond my brightest dreams). And then there were 10,000 more words added to the manuscript.

And three new ones: a title--ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.

And I loved all 90,003 of those words.

Today--today I heard four words I didn't dare dream that I would hear: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER.

And a number: 7.

When I worried about my book doing well enough, living up to the expectation and making my editor and agent proud, my husband would say: is there anything you can do about it? And the answer was simple: no. I'd already written my 90,000 words, and I had to hope they were enough. And my publisher--my brilliant, wonderful, better-than-I-ever-dreamed-of publisher had marketed their hearts out to promote it. There was nothing else I could do; there was nothing else they could do.

This was all YOU.

YOU, the ones who believed in me from the start. The ones who ordered my book. The ones who read it--and re-read it, and told me how you cried when X happened, or how you thought Y was funny, or how when you got to the end, you started over again to find the clues I'd hidden.

This was all you.

And so, in the end, I don't really have 90,000 words, or three, or four. I only have two:

Update on Contest

Hey guys! So...the snow messed up a lot of people. And I've gotten quite a few emails from peeps about how they were delayed getting their copies because of the snow, and that they still want to enter but haven't been able to get their pictures in yet.

So...I'm going to extend the contest to January 31 (at least my side of it).

And just to remind you:

PRIZES:

• FIFTY custom metal AtU water bottles (US/Facebook only; all other prizes international)
• An iPod nano touch! 
• Copies of the audio book of AtU
• Signed hardcovers of AtU
• Secret hidden prizes
• MORE!

Also: to clarify--you don't have to be on Facebook to enter--you can also email your entries directly to me at ATUContest@gmail.com (and they won't be online at all unless you say it's okay). 

Don't forget--the most creative picture gets it's own prize, and the person with the most referrals gets their own prize. Right now, you have an EXCELLENT chance of winning the referral prize--just saying... :D