The Healing Wars

Time for a Change

2011-09-06T18:08:00.001-04:00

Hi all! This blog has always been a bit of a lost cause, and it's been mostly for news and updates on the books. I've redone my website in more of a blog-esque fashion, so it's time to say farewell to this one.

From now on, you can find all the news about me and the books at my new and improved website.There's also more to see, with extras that I'll be adding to and a lot more information overall.

You can also find me chatting away daily on my writing blog, The Other Side of the Story. (This is the one to go to if you're after writing advice)

Thanks to all the folks who came (and will still come) by to say hello. Come join me at the new place!

Janice

I'm Doing a Workshop: How POV Can Cure Your Common Writing Problems

2011-03-09T08:52:00.002-05:00

I'll be doing a writers workshop on April 9 at FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, GA. While it's aimed at those writing for teens, the techniques are the same so writers of adult work can also benefit.

WORKSHOP FOR WRITERS OF YOUNG ADULT FICTION
View to a Skill: How Point of View Can Cure Your Common Writing Problems
Instructor: Janice Hardy, Author of The Healing Wars: The Shifter and The Healing Wars: Blue Fire (Published by Balzer & Bray/Harper Collins)

WHEN: SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 1pm-5pm
COST: $60
WHERE: FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main St., #138, Woodstock, GA 30188

As young adult fiction continues to grow as a writing genre, so does the demand for quality, publishable writing. If you are currently writing young adult fiction with an eye towards publishing, you will not want to miss this unique opportunity to work with an expert in the field. Join novelist Janice Hardy for this half-day workshop that focuses on how point-of-view can fix commonly seen problems in your manuscript: telling, not showing, info-dumping, back story, weak character goals and motivations, low stakes, and more. Bring those frustrating sections of your book, and work with Janice to get inside the head of your character and help you get your story moving in the right direction. So that workshop participants can get the most out of this period of instruction, the class will be capped at fifteen attendees. Sign up today by linking to www.foxtalebookshoppe.com and registering online, or call FoxTale at: 770/516-9989.

Come Down and Say Hello

2011-02-16T13:31:00.002-05:00

For those in the Atlanta,GA area, I'll be speaking and signing books at the Avenue Forsyth Barnes & Noble on February 26, at 2-3pm, so come on down and say hello.

It's during B&N's Exceptional Child Week, which is a week-long event from February 26 - March 4 that celebrates local schools, reading and books. I was there last year and had a great time. They really put on a wonderful show with lots of fun things for guests to see and do.

Wonderful News!

2011-01-20T15:25:00.000-05:00

I'm delighted and excited to anounce that The Pain Merchants (the UK version of The Shifter) is on the shortlist for the 2011 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize! The winner will be announced February 9, 2011.

This is so very very cool.

The Shifter (US version) also got some love of its own and has been nominated for the 2011-2012 Truman Readers Award. The winner there will be announced April 2012.

So far, 2011 is starting off on a pretty darn good foot.

Book Fair Fun

2010-10-28T13:07:00.002-04:00

You know, you'd think I'd be better about updating these things, but it always slips my mind. I might have to make that a New Year's Resolution this year. Remember to update the blog about events!

I'll be at Barnes & Noble this evening at the Otwell Middle School Book Fair. It's open to everyone, and supports the school, so come on by, say hello, and get some books. They don't even have to be mine, though that would be nice.

Barnes & Noble
The Avenue Forsyth
Building 200 Suite 252
410 Peachtree Pkwy
Cumming, GA 30041
From 6-8pm

Meet Me in Gainesville

2010-10-21T16:45:00.001-04:00

For those of you in the Gainesville, GA area, I'll be at Hall Book Exchange this Saturday at their 24-hour Read-A-Thon. I'll be appearing from 2-3pm.

Saturday, October 23, 2010, 2-3pm
Hall Book Exchange
1854 Thompson Bridge Rd.
Gainesville,GA

The Blue Fire Travelling Launch Party: The Story

2010-10-12T09:27:00.000-04:00

The Traveling Launch Party was a success, and fun was had by hopefully all. I know I had a great time. Night One was at Fox Tale Books, a wonderful independent bookstore in Woodstock, GA. They had the window all done up with my books and blue sparkle stuff and it looked really cool.

We walked inside and were greeted by yet another display. And yes, seeing my books in the windows and on display like this totally rocks.

After a bit of socializing with the Foxes (the lovely gals who own the shop), it was time to set up the food and get ready for the guests. I had planned quite the spread for the evening, with some yummy snacks and a cake.

The cake. Funny story here. I went to Publix with the book jacket in hand and asked if they could put it on the cake. The conversation went something like this:

ME: Can you put this on a cake?
BAKER: Yes, but we're not allowed to due to copyright.
ME: It's my book, for my book launch party.
BAKER: -stares at me dubiously-
ME: -flipping open the cover- See? There's my picture. I can show you my driver's license.
BAKER: Let me ask someone. -goes to speak to head baker, both return-
HEAD BAKER: We can do it, but you'll have to write a letter giving us permission.
ME: Okey dokey.

I wrote the letter and everything worked out. It's nice to see that they take copyright images seriously, but it cracked me up that I almost didn't get my own cover on a cake!

Guests started arriving, we joked and laughed and ate, then the Foxes tossed me up in front of everyone to talk about the book and writing in general. We had a great discussion, lots of good questions were asked, and they had to drag me off stage so I could sign books and let folks go home.

Day two sent us to Barnes & Noble, for a more traditional book signing. I recruited my neighbor and a few of her friends to do hair braiding and face painting for the kids, and set up shop in the back.

We also had some chairs set up so folks could hang out and chat after they got their books signed, and we had a nice informal mini-party going on all morning. The girls even went poaching for children when the face painting slowed down and brought back more customers. Spiders were big, and there were lots of cheeks with arachnids on them.

I got to meet some other bloggers and readers (Hi Kritsa!) face to face, and see some bloggers and readers I've met before, who even drove in from another state to see me! (Hi Sarah, and Kayelee!) It's always fun to meet folks I "see" online and put a person to the name.

We wrapped up and went home, tired from all the fun, but in good spirits. Next time, I need to remember to take more pictures.

Next signing is over at:

Saturday, October 23, 2010, 2pm
Hall Book Exchange
1854 Thompson Bridge Rd.
Gainesville,GA

They're doing a 24-hour read-a-thon for charity, so if you're in the area, stop on by that day.

Blue Fire Traveling Launch Party

2010-09-23T16:03:00.003-04:00

For those in the Georgia area (or who will be in the area at the time, or are looking for an excuse to visit the Atlanta area--road trip anyone?), I'm having a weekend launch party for the release of Blue Fire. It starts Friday night, then continues on Saturday.

Date: Friday, October 8, 2010
Time: 6-9pm
Place: Fox Tale Books
105 E Main St
Woodstock, Georgia 30188
(770) 516-9989

Food, fun, and prizes! Part party, part book signing, hang out with me and other folks who love books.

Date: Saturday, October 9, 2010
Time: 11am
Place: Barnes & Noble
The Avenue Forsyth

Building 200 Suite 252
410 Peachtree Pkwy
Cumming, GA 30041
770-781-0867

Hair braiding and face painting, prizes, book singing and author meet and greet.

Come to one, come to both (they're different in nature), but stop by if you can!

The Paperback Version of The Shifter is Out

2010-09-07T15:37:00.001-04:00

And it dawned on me I forgot to post that here! My bad. I blame finalizing Shifter 3.

Sister. Healer. Deadly Weapon.

Nya has a secret she must never share.

A gift she must never use.

A world she must never question.

And a sister whose life depends on her doing all three.

Fifteen-year-old Nya is an orphan struggling for survival in a city crippled by war. She is also a Taker—with her touch, she can heal injuries, pulling pain from another person and storing it inside her own body. But unlike her sister Tali and the other Takers who become Healer’s League apprentices, Nya’s skill is flawed: she can’t push that pain into pynvium, the enchanted metal used to store it. All she can do is shift it from person to person, a dangerous skill that she must keep hidden from forces occupying her city. If discovered, she’d be used as a human weapon against her own people.

Rumors of another war make Nya’s life harder, forcing her to take desperate risks just to find work and food. She pushes her luck too far and exposes her secret to a pain merchant eager to use her shifting ability for his own sinister purpose. At first, Nya refuses, but faced with some difficult choices. As her father used to say, principles are a bargain at any price, but how many will Nya have to sell to get Tali back alive?

You can get it here:
HarperCollins
Barnes & Noble
Amazon
Borders
Indie Bound

And if ya happen to need some blog filler this week, feel free to copy this post and share! (grin)

Game Time

2010-09-03T13:35:00.002-04:00

I have my very own game now.

Escape From Baseer!

Play if you dare...

Okies, in all seriousness, this is kinda cool. HarperCollins has an Awesome Adventures site where they've done games for a lot of their titles, and quizzes and stuff.I just might lose the rest of my afternoon here.

As a gamer girl myself, I'm jazzed to be part of the geekdom.

A New Quiz!

2010-08-11T16:25:00.002-04:00

There's a new quiz up for Blue Fire. I got to help write the one for The Shifter, but this time the folks at Harper did it on their own.

I find it a little disturbing that I missed a question. How can I miss a question on my own book?

Those Harper folks are sneaky.

The book's not out yet, but I wonder how many people can guess things right just because they know the characters and can figure out what they'd do.

I Wanna Be a Paperback Writer...

2010-08-03T15:46:00.002-04:00

And now I am! I got my copies of The Shifter in paperback yesterday and they look so cool. They don't officially go on sale until August 31, but I imagine they'll be shipped out any time now so it's possible you'll find some in the stores earlier.

Do You Know Nya?

2010-07-05T10:47:00.002-04:00

I love trivia quizzes, and my publisher has a fun little one up where you can test your trivia teeth and see how well you know The Healing Wars.

Take the quiz!

So Many Covers

2010-05-18T15:27:00.011-04:00

I'm excited because I finally have final covers of the UK and German editions of The Shifter and Blue Fire. They look fabulous, and all are so different from each other. I also thinks is hysterical that all three book ones have different titles, but all book twos are the same.

The US Hardcover of The Shifter

The UK Hardcover of The Pain Merchants

The UK Paperback of The Pain Merchants

The German Cover of The Healer

The US Hardcover of Blue Fire

The UK Hardcover of Blue Fire

The German Cover of The Blue Fire

Aren't they awesome? Granted, maybe I'm biased here but I love every one of them.

Vipers Hiss!

2010-05-14T10:00:00.004-04:00

On Wednesday, I got to spend the day over at Vickery Creek Middle School. I had a great time and even got to meet someone who has the same name as my husband. There were quite a few budding authors in the group, and those folks are always extra fun to meet. Not only are writers just plain awesome (though admittedly, I might be biased here) but they always ask the best questions.

One gal even came up with a great idea as to why Nya can't shift pain into animals! (Something I've never had her do since I can't bear the thought of hurting animals). Fur! Nya needs skin to skin contact and animals have fur to block it. Isn't that cool?

Since the school year is coming to a close, I won't be visiting any more school until the fall. I suspect it'll be pretty quiet for me until Blue Fire comes out, so you probably won't see my doing any more appearances until then. But if I do, I'll be sure to let y'all know!

Go Go Grizzlies

2010-04-30T17:50:00.003-04:00

I spent all day yesterday over at Piney Grove Middle, and let me tell you, I had a great time. School visits are one of my favorite things to do as a writer, and I always enjoy talking with students and answering questions.

I think the most popular questions were about my eel, Eelbert, so I'm going to have to get some photos of him for the website. (My husband thinks I should do a live web cam and have EelTV, but I think that's a lot of ask of the little guy)

There's was some excitement as well. A fire drill got us all up and out the door the first session, but we hung around outside and chatted. I met a fellow World of Warcraft player (even if he was Horde) and met some gals who would make good Nyas one day. (I have your notes!)

All in all, it was a terrific day, and a big thanks to media director Kim and the Grizzly Gang at Piney Middle for inviting me over!

The Results Are In

2010-04-12T16:21:00.002-04:00

Well, I see from A) the selections on the poll and B) the small number of responders, that keeping this blog news and events only isn't going to disappoint anyone.

For those who were looking for writing stories, I talk about writing and the publishing biz on my other blog, The Other Side of the Story. That will be my main blog for now on.

In the next few weeks, I'll be rearranging things here so news is easier to find, and update the things I've been meaning to update for so long. Adding all the reviews, interviews, guest posts and whatnot, creating an easy spot for visitors to leave messages and so forth.

Let Me Ask You...

2010-03-29T09:54:00.003-04:00

I'm going to be overhauling the blogs and website in the next few weeks, and I'm unsure what to do with this blog. It's not a blog I post to daily, because honestly, I just don't know what to write about. My writing blog I post to almost daily, as I can talk about writing forever. But here? I'm at a loss. Do you guys really care about my day to day life? Pictures of the cats? Stuff that strikes me as funny? I've never been a journal keeper, so I'm not sure what to say even if I did post daily.

I don't want to abandon the blog completely, because I like having a venue to chat with readers and let them know what's going on with me and the books. But I also don't want to bore you guys to tears with stuff no one really cares about. Since I don't think everyone who comes here wants to hear in-depth stuff about writing, it doesn't make sense to just combine the two blogs. But if this one becomes a simpler "news and the occasional event" blog, I'm okay with that. Folks can always leave comments and I read all of those, so I can still keep in touch with everyone.

So, I've put up a poll for the next two weeks to see what visitors want to hear about. You can choose as many as you want, but if you can pick the top two, that would be great, as I'd know the most important things. Feel free to expand in the comments section, or offer suggestions if I don't have it on the poll.

And hey, if you guys have ideas about stuff you'd love to see on the website, let me know. It's been up about a year now, and I've learned a lot about what I need and what readers like.

Anything I can do to make the site or blog better?

I'm all ears.

A Couple of Fun Interviews

2010-03-18T11:31:00.002-04:00

I was interviewed over at the Debut Authors Blog recently, so pop on by and peek around.

You can also hear me share my geek side at the gaming blog Grinding to Valhalla.

And I'll have the next book challenge post up today. Just been one of those weeks where I haven't had much time to post!

2010 Book Challenge #7 & 8

2010-03-08T17:41:00.005-05:00

This week started a long run of Kate Brian's "Private" series books. I'm a big fan of these, so seeing them all lined up on the shelf makes me very, very happy. And better still, when I went to get the cover images for the blog, I found out that book #11 Scandal, comes out tomorrow! (squee!).

Inner Circle
By Kate Brian
Ages: 14+

The Private series is a fun suspense/drama mix that centers around Reed, a blue-collar gal who gets a scholarship to Easton, one of the top boarding schools on the East Coast. She's way out of her league here since almost every student is super rich or famous, or both. The dorm to be in is Billings House, and the "Billings Girls" are the creme de la creme of the already fabulous. Reed will do anything to get into Billings, and let me tell you, these girls really make her work for it. I don't want to go too much into what this particular book is about so as not to ruin the series for anyone picking it up, but there's always a juicy mystery or two going on (frequently involving a murder), and Reed gets herself into some crazy situations. This series is definitely a PG-13 one though.

Legacy
By Kate Brian
Ages: 14+

If I wasn't already a huge fan I might have been put off by this one. I've always liked Reed, even though she doesn't always make the choices I think she should, but in this one, she really turns into an unlikable girl. (The stuff she does to her boyfriend, Josh! Ack! How could she?) I strongly suspect that was Brian's plan, though, and now that Reed has learned that absolute power corrupts absolutely, she'll start her hard road back to being the likable her and correcting the mistakes she made this book. Although ow she's going to get out the mess she lands in at the end of Legacy is beyond me.

This week's books:
Ambition, Kate Brian
Revelation, Kate Brian

I also have a book to read for someone in my crit group, so there's a good chance I won't get either of these read this week. But I'm still reading, only something that won't be published until next year or so. (It's the second book to a series a friend of mine just published this past January, (Servant of the Underworld) Aztec noir. Very cool stuff.

And I heard about another cool book this morning that I threw on my wish list, called The Line, that sounds like it's right up my alley.

Future books:
Paradise Lost, Kate Brian
Privilege, Kate Brian
Black Angels, Linda Beatrice Brown
Jhegaala, Steven Brust
The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
Princess in the Spotlight, Meg Cabot
Princess in Love, Meg Cabot
Heist Society, Ally Carter
Empire, Orson Scott Card
A War of Gifts, Orson Scott Card
Deep Dark and Dangerous, Mary Downing Hahn
Deadtown, Nancy Holzner
Crank, Ellen Hopkins
Mainspring, Jay Lake
How to Ditch Your Fairy, Justine Larbalestier
Tomorrow, When the War Began, John Marsden
Gods of Manhattan, Scott Mebus
Hellgate London - Exodus, Mel Odom
The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Mary E. Pearson
The Scent of Shadows, Vicki Pettersson
How I Live Now, Meg Rosoff
Holes, Louis Sachar
Wicked, Sara Shepherd
Games of Command, Linnea Sinclair
The Harrowing, Alexandra Sokoloff
It's Kind of a Funny Story, Ned Vizzini
Uglies, Scott Westerfield
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson

And the Name of Shifter Two is...

2010-03-04T15:25:00.003-05:00

Part fugitive, part hero, fifteen-year-old Nya is barely staying ahead of the Duke of Baseer’s trackers. Wanted for a crime she didn’t mean to commit, she risks capture to protect every Taker she can find, determined to prevent the Duke from using them in his fiendish experiments. But resolve isn’t enough to protect any of them, and Nya soon realizes that the only way to keep them all out of the Duke’s clutches is to flee Geveg. Unfortunately, the Duke’s best tracker has other ideas.

Nya finds herself trapped in the last place she ever wanted to be, forced to trust the last people she ever thought she could. More is at stake than just the people of Geveg, and the closer she gets to uncovering the Duke’s plan, the more she discovers how critical she is to his victory. To save Geveg, she just might have to save Baseer -- if she doesn’t destroy it first.

This cover is near and dear to my heart, because I got to do something very few authors ever get to.

I designed my own cover. There's a full breakdown of the story over on the writing blog for those who want to know the nitty gritty behind it. There are also samples of the covers I mocked up to give to my editor. (I'd re-post here, but it always seem so silly to say the same thing on both blogs since a lot of folks read both).

I'm really excited about it, and can't wait to see the galley proofs. Since the cover is ready, I'm hoping they're full ARCs like The Shifter was, because those look like real live books. Somehow that makes it feel all the more real. And I get to squeeze them to my chest and jump up and down squealing in glee.

Yeah, I'm a goof.

Come Say Hello!

2010-03-04T07:44:00.002-05:00

It just dawned on me that I forgot to tell y'all I was doing a book signing! (bad me)

So if you're in the Georgia area, come stop by tonight between 6 and 8pm at The Avenue Forsyth Barnes & Noble.

It's Exceptional Child Week this week, so there are lots going on with the local schools, and they'll be other events at B&N as well.

2010 Book Challenge #5 & 6

2010-03-02T08:41:00.004-05:00

It was a good reading week, as I finished two and got halfway through a third. (Traveling and staying in a hotel room gives you lots of time to read). Two excellent books, and I even got a few new ones to add to the list.

The Name of This Book is Secret
by Pseudonymous Bosch
Ages: 8+

This book surprised me, because I usually don't like books that break the fourth wall and talk directly to the reader. I often find them distracting. But Bosch really proves that if you do it well, you can do anything. His narrator tells you the secret tale of two kids (but he can't tell you their names, so he makes some up) in a town (that he can't tell you where it is, so he says to use your town) trying to find a terrible dangerous secret (which he doesn't want to tell you about, but he's so bad at keeping secret he just has to.)

Wonderful voice, great plot, delightful characters, this book was a treat to read. Clever and fun.

The Compound
by S.A. Bodeen
Ages: 14+

Had I not been presenting on a panel the next day and needed to be wide awake, I would have stayed up until the wee hours to finish this book in one sitting. It was so hard to put down. But I did wake up early to read the final chapters and was almost late for breakfast. This one's a major contender for favorite book of 2010, and I'm only a teeny way into my list.

When Eli is nine years old, his nuclear-war obsessed billionaire father rushes their entire family into the "Compound" the fallout shelter Dad built so his family could survive a nuclear attack. Six years later, things are not so great in the Compound and Eli faces some terrible choices. I'd say more, but I don't want to give anything away or it will ruin this fantastic book. This one might be a little intense for my younger readers out there.

This week's books:
Inner Circle, Kate Brian
Legacy, Kate Brian

Future books:
Ambition, Kate Brian
Revelation, Kate Brian
Paradise Lost, Kate Brian
Privilege, Kate Brian
Black Angels, Linda Beatrice Brown
Jhegaala, Steven Brust
The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
Princess in the Spotlight, Meg Cabot
Princess in Love, Meg Cabot
Heist Society, Ally Carter
Empire, Orson Scott Card
A War of Gifts, Orson Scott Card
Deep Dark and Dangerous, Mary Downing Hahn
Deadtown, Nancy Holzner
Crank, Ellen Hopkins
Mainspring, Jay Lake
How to Ditch Your Fairy, Justine Larbalestier
Tomorrow, When the War Began, John Marsden
Gods of Manhattan, Scott Mebus
Hellgate London - Exodus, Mel Odom
The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Mary E. Pearson
The Scent of Shadows, Vicki Pettersson
How I Live Now, Meg Rosoff
Holes, Louis Sachar
Wicked, Sara Shepherd
Games of Command, Linnea Sinclair
The Harrowing, Alexandra Sokoloff
It's Kind of a Funny Story, Ned Vizzini
Uglies, Scott Westerfield
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson

Home Again

2010-03-01T09:01:00.004-05:00

Hi all, I'm back!

I had a great time at the South Carolina Book Festival this past weekend. My husband and two friends of ours joined us, so we made a little weekend away out of it.

Saturday we wandered through the exhibitors hall and bought a few books, and got to meet author Faith Hunter. My husband's is a fan of hers, so he had a lot of fun talking with her. She was gracious and sweet and even gave out free jewelry with every book purchase. I got a pair of beautiful blue and purple stone earnings, my husband got the first book of her new series. And we hooked our friend on her current series. (and we got cool buttons that said "Have Stakes Will Travel")

Later that day I spoke at the YA panel with authors Gigi Amateau andLinda Beatrice Brown. It was a good panel since we're three very different authors in both stories and voice, so it interesting to see how we approached writing and storytelling. I'd already read Gigi's book, and I picked up Linda's book, Black Angels, a Civil War historical about three children walking from North Carolina to Virginia after their plantation is burned. Moderator Jane Zenger asked some great questions and kept the panel rolling. (And my husband was sweet enough to sit in the back so he wouldn't make me nervous)

L-R: Linda, me, Jane, and Gigi

We got to mingle with the other authors Saturday night at dinner, and then on to Sunday.

We didn't realize the Sunday panels started at 11:30 and not 10am like Saturday, so we were there way early and the convention center was closed. Our friend Rich suggested walking over to the local bookstore to kill time, so we happily agreed to follow. Little did we know it was 37 miles away, in 10 degree temperate, uphill both ways. (Okay, I'm exaggerating, it was more like six blocks and 43 degrees, but it was up hills and it was cold). When we got there, it turned out his phone had lied to us and there was no bookstore in sight, even though Google maps swore there was.

Me and my feet were not pleased.

Well, we couldn't exactly stand there shivering, so we hiked back to the convention center, ears frozen, noses dripping. By then the festival was open and they were selling coffee and tea, which we descended upon like attack piranhas. To punish Rich, we checked him into the coat check area until we forgave him. Best dollar we spent all weekend.

Rich in Time Out

Once we thawed, I had the second panel of the weekend, Science Fiction vs Fantasy: What's the Difference? with James O'Neal. This was another fun panel, even though moderator Curtis Rogers was a sci fi fan and I was outnumbered 2-1. But I held my own and represented fantasy admirably. I accidentally left my camera in the car, so I didn't get pictures of this one.

It turns out James is a regular at a mystery writers' conference called Sleuthfest, (he also writes crime novels under the name James O. Born) which happened to be the same weekend. A good friend of mine was at Sleuthfest, and she knows James, and wondered why he wasn't there this year. How funny that he was on a panel with me! Small world, huh?

Overall, the weekend was fun and I sold out of books the first day (yay!). It was a much quieter ride home since we were all exhausted (and my feet hurt), but I've recovered now.

I did read a great book while I was there, and I'll talk about that tomorrow with this week's Book Challenge Update.

South Carolina Book Festival

2010-02-26T08:12:00.003-05:00

Just a reminder, I'm off today, hitting the road and heading for the Carolinas.

If you happen to be near Columbia, SC, I'll be speaking at the SC Book Festival February 27-28. You can find me on:

Saturday: 2:00 - 2:50
The YA panel with fellow authors Gigi Amateau andLinda Beatrice Brown

Sunday: 12:45 - 1:35
Science Fiction vs Fantasy: What's the Difference? with James O'Neal.

It looks like the festival will be a lot of fun. I always enjoy these and this will be the first time I'm on the other side of the table, whee!

Have I Mentioned How Much I Love Aylin?

2010-02-24T10:05:00.002-05:00

I don't know what it is about her, but she gets the best lines in the book.

"But more inspirational," Aylin added. "And with feeling."

Can't wait till you guys actually see where that fits in the story. A third down, and I'm really liking how Shifter 3 is coming along so far.

Book Challenge

2010-02-22T11:06:00.003-05:00

Well, last week was pretty busy so I didn't get much time to read. I'm only about a quarter of the way through The Name of This Book is Secret, but so far I'm enjoying it. Hopefully I'll have more time this week and can get caught up on my reading.

Mapping it Out

2010-02-19T08:13:00.002-05:00

I got an email from my editor the other day, asking me if I wanted to do a map for Shifter 2. It's kinda funny, because I did one for book one, and while I did a rough "just so I knew where stuff was" map for S2, it never occurred to me to fancy it up and send it in.

For the record, my rough maps are taken by the publisher's nifty designers and made all pretty. I have decent skills at this, but they do maps for a living over there with all those fantasy books. It looked way cooler when they were done.

So I get to dive into map making again. It's fun, really, and it does make the world feel more real. I've been through this once now, so it'll be a lot easier and I have map one to use as a guide. There will be changes, of course, since I won't need all that water this time.

**Clever readers will spot the clue about book 2 in this post

Because We Haven't Had a Cat Picture in a While.

2010-02-18T08:56:00.003-05:00

In cat speak, those eyes are saying "So, why aren't you writing? Don't you have deadline?"

2010 Book Challenge #3 & 4

2010-02-16T14:17:00.007-05:00

I am so on a roll. Got two books read last week, too (yippie!)

First up was The Trouble With Magic
by Madelyn Alt.
Ages: Adult

Maggie is a gal who isn't happy with her life in a boring desk job, and when she gets fired, she ends up working for self-proclaimed witch, Felicity, at her antiques shop. When someone close to Felicity is murdered and she becomes the main suspect, Maggie is determined to prove her innocence. Maggie doesn't buy into the whole witch nonsense, except as things progress, she realizes she has more in common with the witches than she first thought.

This was a really cute cozy mystery that mixes witches and the occult with the real world in a more traditional way, which I thought was a nice twist. I know that sounds odd, but magic is often treated like an everyday thing in books, and there's often that "magical world" co-existing with the real world and the two don't really meet except for the protag. Alt approached it in a more realistic fashion, and that added to the mystery and helped the plot along. Maybe I'm just too used to fantasy since cozies is a genre I don't read much of, but I thought it was handled well and really added to the book.

Next up was Going Bovine
by Libba Bray
Ages: 14+

I've heard lots of good stuff about this book, so I was looking forward to this one. The voice is just fantastic and I loved her characters. This is an odd book to describe (those who read it know why) but I'll do my best.

Cameron is a high school student who discovers he has mad cow disease. He winds up in the hospital, and ends up on a road trip to find the cure with a dwarf, a punk rock angel and a garden gnome. The story branches off into a surreal trip and Bray masterfully mixes things from Cameron's life into it, so at first, you just don't know if this trip is for real or if it's just a hallucination in Cameron's Swiss-cheesed brain.

I've never read the Gemma Doyle series because I'm not a historical reader, but after seeing Bray's writing I'll have to give them a try. And it turns out there's a supernatural element to them, so they weren't what I thought anyway!

This week's books:
The Name of This Book is Secret, Pseudonymous Bosch
Inner Circle, Kate Brian

Future books:
Legacy, Kate Brian
Ambition, Kate Brian
Revelation, Kate Brian
Paradise Lost, Kate Brian
Privilege, Kate Brian
Jhegaala, Steven Brust
The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
Princess in the Spotlight, Meg Cabot
Princess in Love, Meg Cabot
Heist Society, Ally Carter
Empire, Orson Scott Card
A War of Gifts, Orson Scott Card
Deep Dark and Dangerous, Mary Downing Hahn
Deadtown, Nancy Holzner
Crank, Ellen Hopkins
Mainspring, Jay Lake
How to Ditch Your Fairy, Justine Larbalestier
Gods of Manhattan, Scott Mebus
Hellgate London - Exodus, Mel Odom
The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Mary E. Pearson
The Scent of Shadows, Vicki Pettersson
Holes, Louis Sachar
Wicked, Sara Shepherd
Games of Command, Linnea Sinclair
The Harrowing, Alexandra Sokoloff
It's Kind of a Funny Story, Ned Vizzini
Uglies, Scott Westerfield
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson

Festival Time

2010-02-11T09:17:00.004-05:00

I'll be traveling a bit over the next few months, heading up (and then down) to a few book festivals. I love book festivals, so I'm going to have a blast.

If you happen to be near Columbia, SC the end of the month, I'll be speaking at the SC Book Festival February 27-28. You can find me on:

Saturday: 2:00 - 2:50
The YA panel with fellow authors Gigi Amateau andLinda Beatrice Brown

Sunday: 12:45 - 1:35
Science Fiction vs Fantasy: What's the Difference? with James O'Neal.

Then I'm zipping down to Orlando, FL for The University of Central Florida Book Festival on April 16-17. I don't know what or when yet, but I'll let ya'll know when I do.

2010 Book Challenge #1 & 2

2010-02-08T13:16:00.007-05:00

Week One: Two books down, yippie! Okay, yes, I did cheat a little since I was halfway through the first, but I'm still taking the victory. So, what did I think about them?

The Curse of the Bane
by Joseph Delaney
Ages: 12+

This is the second book in The Last Apprentice series. I really enjoy these tales because they're dark and spooky and have a delightful creep factor. The illustrations are beautiful and really add to the mood of the books.

In this one, Spook's apprentice Tom had to deal with an evil entity called the Bane, which is trapped in the catacombs beneath the cathedral in a city called Prieststown. Priests don't take kindly to Spooks or their apprentices, so there's danger from both sides for poor Tom. He gets in over his head (with a little help from a "is she good or is she evil" witch named Alice, who we met in book one. Alice is a fun character, as you never know which side of the coin she'll fall on. She's apt to do something bad as much as good, and that keeps you guessing. Tom has to make some tough choices that make you really admire the guy. I'll be buying the next in the series for sure.

A Certain Strain of Peculiar
by Gigi Amateau
Ages: 12+

This is a book I first head about when I was at the SIBA trade show last fall. I met the author and we exchanged books right before the big book signing. This is a book I'd probably never have picked up otherwise, because I usually read genre and this is a quieter, more literary coming-of-age tale. It probably never would have crossed my radar.

I'm glad I traded with Gigi, though, because this was a lovely book. 13 year old Mary Harold Woods is the daughter of wild child Bye (short for Tabythia), who left her small home town of Wren, Alabama and never told anyone who Mary's father was. Mary has a rough time at school because she's a bit peculiar, and has regular panic attacks where she thinks she's dying. She can't take it any more and one night she steals her mom's old truck and drives over 600 miles by herself to her grandmother's in Wren. She talks Mom into leaving her there for the summer, hoping she'll be able to convince her to move back so they can both start over. She has quite a few adventures and turns herself from a too-scared-to-stand-up-for-herself girl into a strong defender of the underdog (with a quick stop at being a bit of a bully). Lessons are learned and secrets are revealed, and you really fall for the Woods gals, from Mary, to her mom, to her feisty grandmother, Ayma.

The voice in this is wonderful, and it really captures the flavor of the South. I read it with a Southern accent because it just naturally read that way. I'd pick up another one of Gigi Amateau's books.

So now we're on to this week's books. I counted my To-Read shelf and have 31 books, not counting some of the ones I just ordered (three I'm still waiting on). I usually just put the new ones on the shelf and grab randomly when I'm in the mood for a book, but I think I'll go through these more systematically for this challenge. I'll read them alphabetically by author. That lets me shuffle them and mix in the new ones and not have to wait eight months to read my new stuff -grin-. It also puts some old ones that have been there a while closer to the front.

There are some books not on the list that I've been waiting for, and those will get slipped in ahead of the weekly ones. Like Ally Carter's Heist Society comes out tomorrow, and I KNOW I'll be buying that right away and reading it. I'll be doing the same thing with Gallagher Girls Four, Only the Good Spy Young, come June. I'm sure others will pop up that I can't wait to read.

Here's the list for those curious (there's a mix of YA and adult):

This week's books:
The Trouble With Magic, Madelyn Alt
Going Bovine, Libba Bray

Future books:
The Name of This Book is Secret, Pseudonymous Bosch
Inner Circle, Kate Brian
Legacy, Kate Brian
Ambition, Kate Brian
Revelation, Kate Brian (while doing the links I saw I missed one of this series! Must buy by the time I get here)
Paradise Lost, Kate Brian
Privilege, Kate Brian
Jhegaala, Steven Brust
The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
Princess in the Spotlight, Meg Cabot
Princess in Love, Meg Cabot
Empire, Orson Scott Card
A War of Gifts, Orson Scott Card
Deep Dark and Dangerous, Mary Downing Hahn
Deadtown, Nancy Holzner
Crank, Ellen Hopkins
Mainspring, Jay Lake
How to Ditch Your Fairy, Justine Larbalestier
Gods of Manhattan, Scott Mebus
Hellgate London - Exodus, Mel Odom
The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Mary E. Pearson
The Scent of Shadows, Vicki Pettersson
Holes, Louis Sachar
Wicked, Sara Shepherd
Games of Command, Linnea Sinclair
The Harrowing, Alexandra Sokoloff
It's Kind of a Funny Story, Ned Vizzini
Uglies, Scott Westerfield
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson

Reader Questions #2

2010-02-07T07:34:00.002-05:00

Q: Did you have all have the ending of the third book thought up when you started book one? Or did the ending come later?

When I first started The Shifter there was no third book planned, so technically no, I didn't know the ending. -grin- It was supposed to be one single book, and I did know the ending to that. It was vague, more of a "she beats the bad guys and saves the day" type ending, but I had enough of an idea of where it was going to sit down and write it. But about halfway through the first draft I could see a larger story developing and where I could take Nya in future books. I could make this a trilogy and show that larger story. By the time I was done with book one, I knew basically how book three had to end, but no details on how that would happen.

I have a better idea now since I'm a few chapters into book three at the moment, but I still don't know exactly what Nya's going to do. I have that general idea of what she needs to do, but she surprises me all the time in how she decides to do things.

And is Kione going to join the rest of the gang in book 2? and is Lanelle going to be in the other books?

Kione isn't in book two, though you will see him again in book three. Lanelle makes a brief appearance in two, and will be back in book three as well.

Mmmmm...Books

2010-02-03T10:12:00.013-05:00

I've had two bookstore gift cards on my desk since Christmas, so I figured it was time I used them. Since I get asked a lot what books I like to read, I thought it might be fun to show ya'll what I bought.

Since I had two cards at two different stores, I used one to get books on my wish list that I haven't gotten to yet, so some of these have been out a while. The other I used the "also liked" feature to find books I didn't know about. The online version of browsing, I guess.

Going Bovine, by Libba Bray
I've been hearing amazing things about this book. The first line sold me. The voice is just fantastic and makes you want to read on. I haven't read anything by Libba Bray yet, but people rave about her, so it's time I find out what she's all about.

Deep Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn
I found this one when I was doing some research on suspense/thriller novels, looking at spooky books. I love creepy mysteries where you just don't know what the secret is, so this should be a lot of fun.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary E. Pearson
This is another book that everyone was talking about. Creepy, a slight sci fi bent (I think) to it. Another with a cool mystery with lots of twists and turns. I really love books like this and Deep Dark, and I wish I could write one like it. I'll probably try one soon (hence part of my "research") since I have an idea brewing. Of course, that's after Shifter 3 is done.

By the way, doesn't this cover rock? I like this much better than the hardcover.

The Compound, by S Bodeen
I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic/end-of-the-world futures, so this looked really cool, and the opening pages were good. A totally random choice, found because it came up in a "might like" under the Jenna Fox book, so I started my next search with it.

How I Live Now, By Meg Rosoff
And I might as well continue the trend and find some more end-of-the-world stories. This one isn't quite that, but a future war with teens trying to survive is close enough to make me happy.

Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
Another war one, teens come back from a camping trip to find the country's been invaded. There are seven of these in the series, so I really hope the first is good. I'm always looking to find a great series I can really get into.

So that's it for my shopping trip today. I'm not sure when I'll get to these since I already have about 15 books on my To-Read list. Writing Shifter 2 really took a lot of time last year, so my reading suffered and I didn't get to read nearly as many books as I wanted to.

You know what? I saw a bunch of "100 Books in a Year" posts by a lot of bloggers out there, so I think I'm going to try for something similar this year. I think 100 books is a bit ambitious, but 50 is probably doable.

So, my overly ambitious goal: Two books a week.

My more realistic goal: One book a week.

I'm currently almost done with The Curse of the Bane by Joseph Delaney, so I'm going to cheat all call that book one! Next up after that...

A Certain Strain of Peculiar by Gigi Amateau

Let's see if I can read both by Sunday night. I'll talk about them on Monday, and let you know what is on the list for that week.

And feel free to tell me what you're reading and recommend stuff.

Things That Don't Work on Your Editor

2010-01-30T12:32:00.002-05:00

EDITOR: Why is Nya doing blah blah blah in this scene instead of blah blah blah?

ME: Um... Because I said so?

EDITOR: Nope, try again.

ME: --bangs head on keyboard trying to think up a good reason--

"Because I said so" works for mom's, why not writers? Not fair. Totally not fair.

Ask Away

2010-01-26T08:05:00.003-05:00

It dawned on me that I've opened the blog up to questions on The Other Side of the Story, but I've never done that here. So...

What's on your mind?

Anyone got any questions for me?

Ask away!

NOTE: As questions come in, I'll answer them but keep this post on top for the week.

Reader Questions #1

2010-01-26T07:01:00.000-05:00

Q: How have you approached outlining your series? In other words did you give it directions early on OR have you let it find its own way?

Good timing on this question since I've been blogging all about this on the other blog. But for those who don't need that much info, I'm a light outliner. I like to have a solid structure for the major events of the story to give me direction, but then I like to let the story itself happen organically. I like to say I always know where I'm going, but rarely how I'll get there.

I did not have the entire series outlined from the start. I didn't even have more than a general idea of books two and three until I needed more detail for my agent. She had to give potential editors a synopsis of those books when she was submitting the novel. I did a two-page synopsis for book two, and a half page synopsis for book three.

I knew the bare bones for books two and three, but until I wrote the books, I didn't know how those key pieces would play out. For example, I know "Nya defeats the bad guy" but no clue how. Or "Nya uncovers the truth about X" and I just point her at the guy keeping the secret until she finds it.

Connections always show up as I write and my subconscious does a pretty good job and putting things together. I also uncover things as I write, then have to go back and put in the groundwork for it. (which is actually a post planned next week on the writing blog).

I find it's a lot easier to have a firm understand of my characters and their goals (and motives) and then putting them in a situation and seeing what they do. They always come up with more interesting things that what I think up.

So yep, you were right, there is a balance of the two.

The Good Stuff

2010-01-23T12:50:00.003-05:00

Writers lead strange lives. We live in make believe worlds, and we're a bit like time travelers, existing in lives and worlds that no one else will experience for a while.

I just started working in Shifter 3. Shifter 2 is written, but won't be released for nine or ten months, and Shifter 1 is has barely toddled its way into the world. I'm learning about things that for my readers, haven't happened yet. And sometimes, that really stinks.

Because I wrote a scene this morning that I truly love. It actually made me tear up. It was perfect for Nya and exactly the kind of things she'd do in this situation, and I can't tell anybody.

Fall 2011 can't come fast enough.

Hard to Wait

2010-01-15T08:54:00.002-05:00

I'm very excited this morning. I got to see a black and white sketch for the cover of Shifter 2! I can't say anything more yet, but it looks super cool and I love the theme building for the series.

While I can't show the sketch off (yet!), I can show you some other illustrations by the artist. His name is Brandon Dorman and I love his work. His use of color is just amazing. He did The Shifter as well, so you can trust the next one will be just as beautiful.

I can't wait!

Talking About It

2010-01-15T08:53:00.000-05:00

There's a fun interview (and review) with me over at Writing it Out. Good stuff there, so stay awhile and check it out! (and a big welcome to those coming here from that blog)

Because Everyone Deserves a Laugh

2010-01-14T17:44:00.001-05:00

That expression is priceless. I just might have to make this my desktop.

The Holidays Are Officially Over. Almost.

2010-01-10T08:07:00.005-05:00

I took the Christmas decorations down yesterday. -sigh-

I left them up a little longer this year since I'd been sick and didn't get them up as early as I usually do (Thanksgiving weekend). I still need to do the tree today, but then it's back to house as usual. It's kinda sad, because the house looks so pretty with the decorations up, and it always feels so pale after. Something about all that green and red and garland and stuffed toys make the place seem so rich and vibrant.

At least we still have snow.

A Cool Thing (Literally) to Wake Up To

2010-01-08T08:59:00.010-05:00

I walk into my kitchen to make some tea, and what do I see outside my window?

Snow!

I took these through the window while the water was boiling, but then I had to bundle up and go outside. (These shots are of the back yard and the woods behind the house)

First, I crunched down the front steps...

Then past my flowerbed with the birdbath, and it always tickles me when it's frozen over. I can't help picturing little ice skating birdies. (Yes, I know I'm weird).

I wanted to get a shot of the house, so I headed down the driveway... (and by the way, this is the view from my office window. Just lower since my office is on the second floor)

Along the way, I discovered I wasn't the first to be out in the snow this morning...

A whole line of kitty prints ran from the side of the house and off the driveway. Poor kitty! Mine are sleeping on the heat vents and they aren't even outside.

At the end of the drive, I turned around and..

Saw my house all covered in snow! (that's my office window there above the garage)

I know a lot of the country is buried in this stuff right now, and it's nothing new or exciting to them, but as a Florida gal who never saw snow at all until a few years ago, THIS IS AWESOME! It's a totally new experience for me. We had snow a few years ago for three whole glorious days, but none since then. The sun is up now and I'm sure it'll all melt away by this afternoon, but I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

Sneak Peak. In the Beginning...

2010-01-06T07:01:00.001-05:00

As promised, here's a sneak peek at the opening of Shifter 2...

Responsibility was overrated. Sure, it sounded good--take control of your life, make your own choices--but that also meant you had to pay for your own mistakes. And if your life and choices hadn't gone the way you'd planned, well, then your mistakes might reach deeper than your pockets could afford.

I hoped mine we deep enough for the mess I'd caused.

Cool Things About Georgia Winters

2010-01-05T07:01:00.001-05:00

The soda you grab from the garage storage shelf is already cold.

Snow (when it falls) doesn't stick to the street, so it looks cool on the flowerbeds and yards but doesn't have to be shoveled.

You can wear coats, hats, and scarves.

Above coats don't have to be so huge they make you look like a stuffed toy.

Fireplaces.

Very snuggly cats trying to stay warm in your lap.

Brand New Year

2010-01-04T10:23:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe it's 2010 already. Where did the time go?

2010 is going to be a busy year for me. I need to dive into Shifter 3, finish copy edits and whatever else my editor wants me to do on Shifter 2 as they come in this month, and continue to promote and talk about Shifter. The first half of the year is going to be packed, but it'll also be a lot of fun.

I didn't do any New Year's Resolutions at midnight, but thinking now, there are some things I'd like to do this year.

1. Blog more regularly.

2. Remember to take out the trash on trash day every week.

3. Exercise more.

4. Get organized.

5. Carve out more time for fun when I'm on deadline. (hence the get organized part so I'll be able to do this)

Up until recently, my resolutions every year were always "get something published" and "do what makes me happy." Pretty much nailed those, so it's time for something a bit more constructive.

So how about ya'll? Setting any goals for yourselves this year?

So, What's Up With You?

2009-12-29T07:01:00.001-05:00

Whew, good to be home and back in my routine. It's been a crazy month, but I did have a lot of fun in between the craziness. (and the coughing)

I got to visit a couple of schools (go Liberty and Lakeside Middles!) and a bookfair at Barnes & Noble with the Liberty Middle folks. This was my first bookfair and I had a great time. The organizer, Sharon, (that's her in the red stripes) was awesome and took great care of me and the book. And of course, my hubby was there to fetch me hot tea and take pictures.

The school visits were as fabulous as ever. I just love coming out to talk to folks. They ask the coolest questions, and even give me ideas for the books. I've got a bunch more next year and I can't wait. (School visits, not ideas, but I have those, too I guess)

Lots of friends saw the book on the shelves while Christmas shopping, so have a new set of "Shifter on the Shelves" photos or my growing collection. I'm still not sure exactly what I'm going to do with them, but I'm determined to find something creative. I'm thinking a cool poster of some type.

Oh! Did I tell you that Shifter 2 is done? It is! (major happy dance) It's in the Land of the Copy Editors right now, and I'll see it again for edits come January, but it's finally finished. It was tough, but the end result turned out pretty cool, so I hope everyone will be happy with it. (Though my friend Dee Dee insists I'm too mean to Nya, bwahaha)

More later!

Really, I Didn't Fall of the Face of the Earth

2009-12-27T09:19:00.006-05:00

Though you'd think I did from my terribly long absence. Sorry all!

I have a good excuse, really. I was hard at work on Shifter 2, (which is done, yay!), then there was Thanksgiving, and then I got sick for two whole weeks! Then there was Christmas, and I went away for a much needed vacation after all those deadlines and being sick and all.

But I'm back! So where was I on vacation? I'll give you a hint...

Yep, Disney World!

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, and had a very talented towel artist taking care of our room. Not only did that Mickey Ears greet us when we got there, but the next day, we found this cutie. And even a fun fan thing that held our toothbrushes in the bathroom. (I didn't take a photo of that though)

We had a great time, and now I have the urge to watch the movies for every ride I went on. So I sense a big lazy movie day in my future. But since I'm not starting on Shifter 3 until January, I can veg out for a while longer.

I did find the most amazing store ever though. In Downtown Disney, there's a store called Little Miss Match, that sells the funkiest socks. (Did I ever tell ya'll I adore funky socks?) They come in "pairs" of three, and are different patterns that go together, even though they don't officially match. You can wear the blue and yellow and green stripes with the pink and blue and green stripes one day, then the orange and green and blue stripes another. They rock. There's even TOE SOCKS!

Did I go crazy? Oh yeah. I need at least an extra sock drawer now, if not two.

As soon as I get unpacked and squared away I'll update everyone on the fun things I've been doing and the great bookstores and schools I've visited (in between being sick and being a world traveler and all). And maybe even a sneak peek or two at some of Shifter 2. We have a title now, so hopefully soon I'll have a cover as well to show everyone.

Offline for a Bit

2009-11-20T08:35:00.003-05:00

Hi all! I just wanted to let you know that with the deadline for Shifter 2 fast approaching, I'll be offline until December 2. So have a great Thanksgiving next week, enjoy your holiday and I'll see ya'll in a week or so.

Hitting the Bookstores Again

2009-11-06T07:27:00.001-05:00

I'll be out and about the next two Saturdays in a row. Tomorrow I'll be in Marietta, GA at Borders, and next week, I'll be in Gainesville, GA at Hall Book Exchange. So if you live nearby, come on out and say hello!

Saturday, November 7, 2009, 2pm
Borders
4475 Roswell Rd. - Ave E Cobb
Marietta, GA

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 1-3pm
Hall Book Exchange
1854 Thompson Bridge Rd.
Gainesville,GA

I Think I'm Caught Up Here, Too!

2009-11-04T08:20:00.003-05:00

Now that the traveling is over, I was able to get caught up on answering my comments. I should be up to date again. I just hate leaving them unanswered for long. Feels rude to me. Anyone else feel that way? Even in games, when someone sends me a tell a I have to answer RIGHT AWAY or I feel bad.

Yet oddly, I can ignore my phone. Hmmm...

Maybe it's a writer thing. Can't ignore the words.

Okay, So a Journalist I'm Not

2009-11-03T15:34:00.002-05:00

My apologies all. My plan was to tell you more about World Fantasy, but there was so much going on, that by the time I got back to my room each night, I crashed and forgot to blog. Then I forgot again in the morning before I headed out again. Suffice to say that journalists of the world are safe in their jobs, since I make a really bad reporter.

Anyway...

The weekend was loads of fun. There's great creative energy when a bunch of writers get together, and it's wonderful knowing you could sit down at the table with anyone hanging out in the lounge area and strike up a conversation. Everyone had at least one thing in common: we love fantasy. Just about everyone also had writing in common too. Groups would form and mix and merge as people came in and out of conversations. I tell ya, writers are about the nicest bunch of folks you'll meet.

I met some wonderful folks (one of whom won the World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story, grats Kij Johnson!) and learned a few things about writing to boot. (I'll talk about that on The Other Side of the Story) this week. I was also there when a good friend got some fantastic news. (Hint: it involves an agent!)

Halloween night was also a lot of fun, even if I did have to take a nap before hand. I stayed on East Coast time the whole weekend, so I was three hours ahead of everyone the entire convention. That wasn't so bad except for meals, so I was starving by the time breakfast rolled around. There were some great costumes, and doofy me forgot my camera. (Really, I'd lose my head if it wasn't attached!) I'm kicking myself now, because fellow NLA'er Gail Carriger had her book launch party that night, and since she writes steam punk, everyone was dressed in Victorian garb for a high tea party. They looked awesome!

All in all a great time, though it is good to be home.

Live From World Fantasy!

2009-10-30T12:11:00.003-04:00

I'm here! Was a long day yesterday, and the flight over was pretty bumpy, but I'm ready to hit the convention and have some fun. I've already passed by some great authors in the hall, and everywhere you look, people are curled up with a book or gathered together talking about books. It's awesome.

They also gave us a bag o'swag upon check-in.

Free books!

About 13 books, a bunch of magazines and a calendar. You can't go wrong there. One is even the second book of a series I just bought, so that'll save me a trip t the bookstore. (Okay, who am I kidding? Me, skip a chance to go to a bookstore? Never.)

More photos and tales throughout the weekend!

Taking Over the World

2009-10-27T08:40:00.005-04:00

Okay, not really, but I will be at World Fantasy this weekend (just attending, not presenting or anything). They have some amazing authors there this year, like Garth Nix, Carol Berg, Sharon Shin, Patricia McKillip, and lots more. I'm looking forward to sitting back and soaking up all the creative energy and advice.

They'll be a Halloween party Saturday night, and I have the coolest ghost costume all ready. Don't you just love the wispyness of the cape?

(Not me, just the model from the catalog)

I'll take pictures while I'm there and tell you all about it when I get back. Until then, have a Happy Halloween everyone!

Oh, hey, for funsies, post your favorite Halloween candy. Let's see how they stack up, shall we?

My favorite: those orange and black red hots in the tiny little packages. They taste better than any other red hot you can get at any other time.

Going Back to School, Part Two

2009-10-23T17:55:00.005-04:00

I spent a few days this week at Otwell Middle School (go Dawgs). I got to talk with several hundred students over the course of the day, toss out some very cool color shifting pencils (jealous, aren't you?) and answer some excellent questions about writing and publishing. (this was a savvy bunch, let me tell you).

So a big thanks to all the Dawgs for giving me such a warm, welcome, and an extra dose of thanks to Media Director, Lisa Perkins, for inviting me and putting the whole shebang together. It was my first school visit and I couldn't have asked for a better group to use as guinea pigs. I may have even had more fun than they did.

Me and Lisa

I did a two-day visit this time, and came back back the next day to sign books. I noticed there was a remarkably high number of J-names at Otwell, which I highly approved of. J-named folks are awesome. (okay, everyone there was awesome, but I can have some letter pride once in a while, right?)

I'll be at a bunch more schools over the next few months and can't wait! I'm definitely going to have to stick up on more pencils though.

This Author Thing is Fun

2009-10-13T16:55:00.002-04:00

It was a very busy week last week, with The Shifter release and two book signing events. A ton of fun though, and I got to meet so any great folks who love books and writing as much as I do.

Last Wednesday, I did my very first book store signing at the Alpharetta, GA Barnes & Noble, and it went great. B&N folks Suzanne and Keith were so nice and helpful, and really made me feel welcome. I'll admit, I was pretty nervous at first, but with so many friends and smiling faces looking back at me, it was hard to stay nervous for long.

Then on Saturday, I zipped down to Fox Tale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, GA for a young writer's workshop. Owners Ellen and Karen were great (Didn't get to meet Jackey) and the store is adorable (so is Woodstock). I got to do a writer's workshop this event and work with teens and tweens this time around (and a few adults who snuck in), and it was fun helping them develop their stories and answer questions about writing and publishing. I hope you'll see me back there before too long.

I've got a week or so off before I'm back at the next event, an all-day school visit at Otwell Middle School. I'm really looking forward to it!

I'll continue to keep you posted on what's going on, even if I have to stop and catch my breath first!

Let's Meet on Saturday

2009-10-08T10:37:00.003-04:00

I'll be over at FoxTale Book Shoppe on Saturday chatting with folks, signing books and doing a little writing workshop. If you're in the area, stop and by!

Saturday, October 10, 2009, 1pm
FoxTale Book Shoppe
105 E. Main Street, #138
Woodstock, GA

PS. Last night's event was a blast, and I'll have the rundown on that later!

Happy Release Day!!!!

2009-10-06T07:17:00.000-04:00

The Shifter comes out today! The Shifter comes out today!

-happy dance, followed by squeals of joy, followed by more happy dancing-

I won't get all mushy on you guys, but this is a great day for me. A lifelong dream has come true, and it's cool that I get to share it with so many wonderful folks. (Okay, I got a little mushy).

Also, a reminder that I'll be at the Alpharetta, GA Barnes & Noble tomorrow at 7pm. I'll also be at Fox Tale Books in Woodtsock, GA on Saturday, the 10th, at 1pm, doing a young writers workshop. Come on by, because if no one shows up, I'll be really bored. (to say nothing of the embarrassment!)

And now for some shameless self serving requests...

If ya'll are so inclined, please tell folks about the book (and the book signings). Blogs, lunchtime chat, office gossip, twitter, anything to get the word out there. I'd really appreciate it.

Let the celebrating begin!

Is Wednesday Good for You?

2009-10-03T08:08:00.002-04:00

Just a reminder that I'll be visiting the Alpharetta Barnes & Noble this Wednesday. I've been to several of their signings, and they put on a great event. Come on out and say hello!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 7pm
Barnes & Noble
7660 Northpoint Parkway #200
Alpharetta, GA

Look for Me in Gainesville

2009-10-02T07:16:00.001-04:00

Just added another book signing to the lot, so if you live in the Gainesville, GA area, drop on by Hall Book Exchange and say hello!

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 1-3pm
Hall Book Exchange
1854 Thompson Bridge Rd.
Gainesville,GA 30501

And We're Off! (If You Live in th UK)

2009-10-01T09:23:00.004-04:00

Today is the official release date for the UK version, known across the pond as The Pain Merchants. As you can imagine, I'm pretty excited and will be for the next week as books start popping up in bookstores on two continents. (That's so much fun to say!)

Although the official release date for The Shifter isn't until the 6th, a friend did spot it on the shelf at her local bookstore, so you might find it if you happen to be near a bookstore.

I just want to run from bookstore to bookstore to see them.

Going Back to School

2009-09-30T09:59:00.002-04:00

Great news! I'll be visiting Otwell Middle School in GA on October 22-23. I'm really looking forward to talking with the students and meeting everyone, so it should be a lot of fun.

SIBA Was Super

2009-09-29T12:04:00.006-04:00

I was at the SIBA trade show this past Sunday, and boy what a great event. I had so much fun, met so many great writers and booksellers, and smiled so much my cheeks hurt all the way home. (A small price to pay if I do say so myself).

SIBA puts authors and independent booksellers together so they know what books are out there and how to tell their customers about them. A huge thanks to all the SIBA folks for inviting me to this terrific event. My day in a nutshell was like this:

6am: Get up, shower, get dressed, drive the 2.5 hours to Greenville, SC. The hubby went with me, so it was a fun trip there.

10am: Arrive early, drive around for something to do to kill time. Checked out the local Barnes & Noble to see if my fellow B&B Babe Amy Huntley's book "The Everafter" was in the stores yet (It wasn't, but it releases today, so go check it out).

10:45am: Arrive at event. Try to find registration desk and where I'm supposed to go for the meet and greet brunch. Wish I'd skipped the driving around part and arrived earlier.

11am: Found brunch and got there on time after all. Met nice authors, Beth Hoffman, Gigi Amateau, and Beverly Barton. (Also snagged their books later so I'm looking forward to reading them). Ate some yummy pot roast and cheesecake.

12pm: Went to a Moveable Feast. This was fun, and a little like speed dating (I think, as I've never actually done speed dating). 21 tables will booksellers were set up, and we (the authors) were the entertainment. We each got a table number, sat down, and talked about our books for ten minutes. Then we went to the next table in line and did it again. For two hours. (Future writers out there...this is a great way to practice boiling down your story to a few quick sentences when you get ready to query/pitch. Make your friends randomly stop you and pitch your book) Everyone was so nice and asked lots of great questions. Even better, most of them were pretty excited about the book (Yay!)

2pm: Book signing! They sat us down in a big room with a stack of our books next to us, and the booksellers came in and took home the books they were interested in. I had a huge stack of books and I wish I'd had the clarity of mind to take a photo of the Wall-O-Books, but I was too excited. I only had four books left at the end (out of 100, I think) so I feel it was a great success. Here's me and my SIBA helper Jim Veatch. He made sure the dust jackets were on the page I needed to sign, which was a HUGE help when you have a bunch of people waiting on you and have to flip through pages every book.

3pm: Drive home. We did take one detour to go see the Georgia Guiding Stones, which are pretty funky and I'll talk about them later this week. The hubby took the photos and I need to get them off his camera.

7pm: Got home. Made food, curled up and watched TV until bed.

Ah, such is the exciting life of an author.

Something Trivial

2009-09-24T08:51:00.002-04:00

I love trivia. Games, quizzes, cards, it doesn't matter. Useless facts are terribly interesting to me. That's why I was delighted to participate in Kay Cassidy's Great Scavenger Hunt. It's a brilliant idea that lets readers hunt for trivia in their favorite books. Here's how it works:

"To participate, readers (called hunters) simply read a participating book, complete the author trivia challenge, and turn it in to you (librarians). If they get 8 out of 10 answers correct, you get to enter them in the monthly contest. Easy, right?

Every month, I’ll choose one lucky hunter as the winner. The winning hunter will receive a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card (good in stores or online) to use for whatever their heart desires. Even better, when they win, YOU win too… a library prize tote filled with more terrific Great Scavenger Hunt Contest^TM books for your library collection." --(from her website)

Sounds great doesn't it? Books for you and for your favorite library. You can even get the challenges online, for both Middle Grade and Young Adult titles. More challenges are added every month, and the one for The Shifter is due out in November. (Yay!)

I had fun picking things to hunt for, so I hope ya'll have fun hunting them down.

Attack of the Truffles

2009-09-23T07:04:00.001-04:00

We've had rain and more rain the last few weeks, which means there are mushrooms popping up all over the neighborhood. Everyone else has the traditional round-top white ones, or the white wide and flat, but us? We have freakish rose-shaped mushrooms like this:

They're kinda neat, aren't they?

Hopefully they won't take over the yard. Or the neighborhood, venturing out into the land, claiming patches of grass for themselves...

Road Trip!

2009-09-22T08:30:00.002-04:00

I'm hitting the road this weekend and heading to Greenville, SC for the SIBA (Southern Independent Booksellers Association) trade show. I'll be there Sunday, talking to booksellers in a Moveable Feast, which sounds a little like speed dating. Twenty authors, twenty tables of booksellers, and authors go table to table and get to know folks. Should be fun!

This is my first trade show, andI'm a little nervous, but in an excited way. I think it'l be a great warmup for my first book singing a week later (ya'll are coming, right?) I can always talk about books, so at least I won't have to worry about being stuck for conversation!

Time to Hit the (YA) Highway

2009-09-18T08:15:00.003-04:00

I got to chat with one of the gals over at YA Highway this week, and the interview is up today. She asked some really interesting questions, so it was a lot of fun to do. Even better, she gave me a few ideas for book two's revisions.

She's also giving away the ARC I gave her for review, so pop on over and stay awhile. Tons of good stuff on the blog to explore.

I Had a Hard Time Writing Today...

2009-09-16T15:40:00.004-04:00

I wonder if it had anything at all to do with this weird growth in my lap?

In other news, I'm having fun with the new camera :)

They're Here! They're Here!

2009-09-15T09:05:00.005-04:00

Major excitement day for sure. I just got final books for The Shifter in all their dust-jacketed hardcover glory. Don't they look beautiful?

Although you can't see it in the photo, the dust jackets are a lovely matt finish, with the yellow name spot varnished so it shines. (Can you tell I have a background in printing and graphic design?) The yellow and black on the spine is really eye catching and just jumps right out at you.

Just think...in three more weeks, I'll get to see these guys on actual bookstore shelves instead of the bookshelf in my office.

Color me all kinds of happy.

Lights, Camera...Ready for Action

2009-09-11T16:34:00.004-04:00

I got a brand-new camera today and I'm all excited. My husband is a major camera buff and takes gorgeous photos, but I've haven't had my own camera since college. (and even then it was just for photography class)

I've been wanting one for a while, so I finally broke down and got one. I think it'll be great to have for events so I can share fun things with everyone (like upcoming book signings and World Fantasy next month).

I find it ironic that I can't take a picture of it to show you, but it's tiny and adorable, and brushed metallic pink. Better yet...it matches my laptop perfectly! Oh wait! (Googles the name of her camera)...Here it is!
Of course this also means you might be subjected to random photos as I figure out how to use it and how to transfer photos to my computer.

Ya'll like cats, right?

Are We Really a Month Out?

2009-09-09T08:47:00.003-04:00

I'm going to get all mushy here for a sec, so please forgive me.

I can't remember a time when I didn't write, and when I didn't want to be a writer. Friends dreamed of singing on stage, being a movie star, flying to the moon, but I imagined seeing my name on a shelf with all my favorite authors.

In 27 days, that dream comes true.

It's still hard to believe it's real, even though I've seen the pages, read the ARC, talked to the folks at Barnes & Noble and had them tell me they have the posters for my book singing all ready. I've never been a gal for tears, but I might cry when I see my book on the shelves. I know for sure I'll squeal, grab one, hold it to my chest and jump up and down while giggling like a madwoman. My husband should probably hide in the corner and pretend not to know me, but I know he won't. He'll stand there and smile and let me be a lunatic. (There's a strong possibility he'll take pictures, so you'll see for yourselves how silly I can be)

I'm guessing a lot of you out there have this same dream. Some of you may have even had moments when you thought of giving it up. I know I did, but I always fought through it and went back to write, because I could never give that part up.

I'm living proof that dreams do come true. If I can do it, you can do it. Whatever your dream may be.

Best. Day. Evah.

2009-09-07T11:39:00.007-04:00

The most amazing thing happened to me Saturday.

I went to Ally Carter's book signing, as I took my place in the crowd, a woman walks up to me and asks, "Are you Janice Hardy?"

That's right, I was recognized. By a FAN! (insert excited squeal and happy dancing)

That's me, Nicole, and her daughter at Barnes & Noble.

This was a first for me, and I think Nicole must have attended the Gallagher Academy herself to have recognized me at all from my photo on my website. How she picked me out of a crowd I have no idea, but it's a thrill I'll keep with me always. I'm still smiling over it.

She was really nice and I had a great time talking with her. She promised to come back for my book signing next month, which is great. It'll be my first one, so knowing I'll have at least one friendly face in the crowd will help take some of the scary out of it. I also got to talk to some of the folks at B&N, and everyone was so friendly I think the signing is going to go just fine and be as much fun as Ally and Lauren's was. (I hope!)

Of course, hearing Ally Carter and Lauren Myracle speak was awesome too. I've read all of Ally's stuff, but I just bought Lauren's book, Bliss, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

Me and Ally Carter. (more excited squeals). She was as nice and funny as she sounds on her blog.

What a great day. Thanks, Nicole, for giving me a fantastic memory.

A Festival of Books

2009-09-02T14:06:00.003-04:00

I don't know about you guys, but I'm always looking for an excuse to buy books. If you happen to live near Decatur, GA, this weekend is the Decatur Book Festival. Tons of great authors will be there, like Sara Shepherd, Lee Child, Diana Gabaldon, Charlaine Harris, Kathy Reichs, and my personal favorite, Ally Carter. And of course, there will be books. Tables and tables of books. Plus street food. You can't beat that combo. (Well, if they added cotton candy maybe you could)

The festival is spread out over several blocks, so there are great events mixed with music and even shopping. There's also a fantastic children's bookstore there, too. With stages set up for adults, teens, and kids, there's something for everyone -- I have several events I'm looking forward to myself, and I'm not even embarrassed that most of them are on the teen stage!

Last year, I attended a session by author Sara Shepherd and was so hooked by her reading from her Pretty Little Liars series I just had to buy the book. (Cryptic threats from a dead girl? I'm so there) And the of course rest of them after that! There are a bunch of names I don't recognize on the schedule, so I'm looking forward to discovering a new book or series this year too. The hardest part will be lugging it all home.

Now, where did I put that backpack...

Talk Amongst Yourselves

2009-09-01T10:16:00.003-04:00

Comments are turned back on now, so any posts will show up immediately. I still have some winners who haven't sent me their e-mails yet so I can mail their book, so just e-mail me through the website.

There's a new contest starting today over at The Other Side of the Story (my writing blog), so if you want another chance to win a signed ARC of The Shifter or The Pain Merchants, stop on by.

Chicken Jokes

2009-09-01T08:20:00.001-04:00

If anyone is curious about the jokes I received for the contest, I've published the comments. Please note that anyone who also sent in their e-mail address (or told a funny, yet off-color joke) did NOT get posted, as I didn't think everyone wanted their e-mails out there for all to see. But there's a good sampling of all the great jokes, and it should be easy to see why it was so hard to pick!

And the Winner is...

2009-08-24T15:39:00.005-04:00

It was a tough choice at the end, as I got some really funny (and really bad) chicken jokes. Of course, I love bad jokes, so even the really bad ones were really funny. As luck would have it, I got some ARCs for The Pain Merchants last week, so I'm picking two winners -- one for the US and the UK edition -- and two runner's up, who will get The Shifter T-shirts.

Winning Jokes:

From Krista Ashe
Why did the chicken cross the basketball court?
He heard the referee calling fowls

From CommaSplice
A kindergarten teacher was telling her class the story of Chicken Little.

"So Chicken Little went up to the farmer, shouting 'The sky is falling! The sky is falling!'" The teacher paused and then asked the class, "And what do you think the farmer said?"

One little girl raised her hand. "I bet he said 'Holy Cow! A talking chicken!'"

*Note: edited for my younger readers

Runners Up:

From Reggie Writes
Q. Why Couldn't The Chicken Find Her Eggs?
A. Because She Mislaid Them.

From Kat Bryan
A pair of chickens walk up to the circulation desk at a public library and say, 'Buk Buk BUK.' The librarian decides that the chickens desire three books, and gives it to them...and the chickens leave shortly thereafter. Around midday, the two chickens return to the circulation desk quite vexed and say,' Buk Buk BuKKOOK!' The librarian decides that the chickens desire another three books and gives it to them. The chickens leave as before. The two chickens return to the library in the early afternoon, approach the librarian, looking very annoyed and say, 'Buk Buk Buk Buk Bukkooook!' The librarian is now a little suspicious of these chickens. She gives them what they request, and decides to follow them. She followed them out of the library, out of the town, and to a park. At this point, she hid behind a tree, not wanting to be seen. She saw the two chickens throwing the books at a frog in a pond, to which the frog was saying, "Rrredit Rrredit Rrredit..."

Most Submitted Joke:

Q: Why do chicken coops have two doors?
A: Because if they had four door, they'd be a chicken sedan.

Winners, send me your e-mail addresses so I can contact you about mailing your prizes out. I'll keep the comments private if you want to post them, or you can just e-mail me through the website. If you have a preference on the US or UK version, just let me know. (I know some folks like one title over the other, but the story is the same). And since they'll be signed, if there's anything in particular you want me to write, let me know. I guess that goes for the T-shirt winners too if they want! There's got to be a permanent marker around here somewhere. (If you don't mention wanting them signed I'll just send them as is)

Congratulations to the winners!

I'll do two more contests before the book comes out on October 6, so you still have chances to win a signed ARC. Keep an eye out for the next one in about two weeks. I"ll be doing that one on The Other Side of the Story blog for my writer readers, so that contest will be related to that blog in a fun and silly way. (and regular readers there can already guess what it's going to be!)

Thanks to all who entered and made the last week filled with laughter.

Last Cluck

2009-08-23T07:48:00.003-04:00

Today is the last day to enter your chicken jokes to win a signed ARC of The Shifter. Or one of The Pain Merchants if you prefer, as I just got a stack of those from my UK editor. (saying that never gets old).

Just to recap, to enter, simply post your best chicken joke in the comments section. (In any of the chicken context posts). Comments are private right now, so you won't see it appear, but I'll get them. If you have any troubles, you can always e-mail me the joke. Just go to my website and click on the e-mail link at the top of the page. Either way works.

Contest Update

2009-08-19T08:16:00.002-04:00

I've heard from a few folks that they've been having trouble logging into the comments section to enter the contest. So if you happen to have had this problem, you can always e-mail me the joke. Just go to my website and click on the e-mail link at the top of the page.

I'm still getting jokes daily, so I know the site is working, but I'm not sure why some can't post.

Ah, technology.

August Contest: Chicken Humor

2009-08-13T08:09:00.001-04:00

Okay, the first official The Shifter contest is here! (cue the dancing chickens)

If you've been to my website, you've noticed I love chickens. I can't say why, I just find them hysterically adorable. So for the next ten days, send me your very best chicken jokes. The joke that makes me snarf something out my nose from laughing so hard wins a signed ARC (advance reading copy) of The Shifter.

To enter, just post in the comments section. While this contest in underway, I'll have moderation turned on so I can screen what comes in. So if you post something non-joke related, it won't post immediately like usual. I'll approve all comments and let through the ones that aren't for the contest. You have until August 23rd to enter.

On August 24, 2009, I'll post the winner, and maybe a few runner's up if we get some great jokes. I'll round up something fun as prizes for those. I think I have some Shifter T-shirts that are fun around here somewhere.

One note...

While "why did the chicken cross the road?" jokes are likely going to be popular, I've heard a lot of them, so be warned that you might have to dig a little deeper to find the funny with those. I'm not saying it can't be done, just that those might be tougher to achieve full snarfability.

OFFICIAL RULES:

Who can enter: Everyone.

How do you enter: Post your best chicken hoke in the comments section of this post.

How many times can you enter: One entry per person, please.

Contest start date: Right now!

Contest end date: August 23, 2009.

Winner announced: August 24, 2009.

How do you get your prize: Winners will need to send me their address so I can ship them their book.

And that's it.

May the best joke win.

EDIT: I've just be informed that someone was having trouble logging into the comments section. So if you happen to have had this problem, you can always e-mail me the joke. Just go to my website and click on the e-mail link at the top of the page.

Downtime

2009-08-12T12:00:00.002-04:00

It's been pretty quiet this week. Shifter 2 is off to my editor, and since I know I'll be diving in head first to some heavy revisions soon, I figured now was a good time to take a break and let the old brain juice refuel.

This has let me catch up on stuff I've been meaning to do, like finalize everything for my first official contest (check back tomorrow!) and get some business cards and bookmarks done. It's also let me dig into the stack of books that's been growing on my shelf.

I buy a lot of books. Actually, make that A LOT of books. When I hit 20 on my To Read shelf, I stop until I get back to single digits, then go shopping again. There's always something I've been dying to read (Right now it's Sacred Scar by Kathleen Duey, and all the bookstores near me are SOLD OUT!!!) so I can't go into a bookstore without walking out with an armful. Sometimes I jump ahead in the list, but I try really hard to read the next up in the stack.

Currently, it's The Book Thief, which is pretty funky so far. Very interesting writing style and narrator. It's more literary than I usually read, but I like to broaden my scope every now and then.

Chat with ya'll tomorrow about the contest! Hint: Start thinking funny.

Weird Things I Never Thought I'd Have to Worry About

2009-08-07T11:11:00.003-04:00

I gave a copy of The Shifter to a friend of mine for her birthday. She's a huge reader and was dying to have her very own ARC (advanced reader copy), so I was happy to give her one. But then she asked me to sign it.

Um...sign it?

I've never had anyone ask me to sign anything that wasn't a yearbook or a legal document. I had no clue what to write. What's worse, my family lovingly teases me that with my handwriting, I should have been a doctor, so my signature isn't even very pretty.

I stared at her like a deer in headlights, my mind blank as the page, and then we laughed about it. In the end I wrote, "To my friend, Amy, happy birthday" but it did start me thinking.

I'm going to run into this again at some point.

I have several events scheduled around when The Shifter comes out in October. As exciting as they are, the odds of someone wanting me to sign a book are high enough to worry about it. I'm going to have to practice my signature so they don't feel like a two year old scribbled in their book. I'm going to need a signing pen with a signature color or puffy troll eraser or something fun. I'm going to have to come up with a catchy line if they don't have something specific they'd like me to write. I'm going to have to be clever.

No one warns you about this part of being a writer. There should really be a memo.

My New Weakness

2009-08-05T17:12:00.003-04:00

My husband is the cook in our house, and since we had a friend of ours staying with us the past few days (hi Ann!), he did his uber-hubby thing and pampered us like spoiled little girls. Last night, he made his extra yummy chicken parmesan and pasta, but it was his hors d'oeuvres that wowed us.

Picture this...Artichoke hearts, Gorgonzola cheese, and scallions, all whipped up into a delicious dip and plopped down on these puffy little crackers he made.

The were so good.

The crackers just melted in your mouth like crisp little wafers. The artichoke had the perfect tang, and the cheese just smoothed it all over. My mouth is watering just writing this post.

I could have eaten an entire kitchen full of them. I may have to find a way to convince him to make these every single night. If it's possible to live off these things, I might attempt it.

I'm so glad we have more friends coming over for dinner Friday night.

No Comment

2009-07-28T11:26:00.002-04:00

I just noticed that several folks left some nice comments and I never realized it. (Sorry all!) Apparently, I didn't set something right and my e-mail wasn't letting me know I had posts. I do try to respond so you guys know I'm not ignoring you or anything :) I do love hearing from ya'll.

Window Dressing

2009-07-27T16:17:00.003-04:00

My office is on the second floor, above the garage. It's a great office, with lots of room and big windows. My front windows look out over the street leading up to the house, which is nice since I can keep an eye out for deliveries.

Right now, there's something HUGE with lots of legs stuck to that window. I think it might be this:

I'm not the most squeamish person, but that's one creepy little bugger. I'm really glad it's too hot to have the windows open today. Cause that thing might be capable of chewing through the screens to come get me.

So if you see a giant, multi-legged winged monster in a future book of mine, you'll know where it came from.

A Rude Awakening

2009-07-21T10:55:00.003-04:00

So this morning just before 6am, I'm rudely awakened by a stuffed fox thumping me in the nose. This was quickly followed by 10 pounds of exuberant year-old cat pouncing on my chest. I responded by screaming "Ugh!" then "Puck!" in a sleepy and whiny tone. My husband grunted and rolled over, oblivious to the attack.

Now, this isn't the first time I've woken up with cat toys (or cats) in my bed, nor is it the first time I've had this particular stuffed fox flung at me at high speeds. The last time, Puck landed it in my bowl of spaghetti. I was able to grab it before he did and wash it off before he dragged sauce all over the house.

Puck really loves his fox. And his favorite way of playing with it, is to grab it by its tail and fling it as high as he can, then leap for it with every ounce of his furry little body. Usually, this evokes responses like:

"Aw, he's so cute when he does that!"

"Man, he got some good height on that one."

"At least he missed the lamp."

At 5:46am, all he gets are screams. Not that he cares. He just grabs the fox by the tail and flings it out the bedroom door. I've gotten really good at ignoring the sounds of things falling over.

It's a good thing he's so cute.

Coming to a Bookstore Near You (If You Live in Georgia)

2009-07-20T14:22:00.004-04:00

I got my first ever book signings this week! (yay!) So if you happen to be in the North Georgia area in October, come by for a visit.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 7pm
Barnes & Noble

7660 Northpoint Parkway #200
Alpharetta, GA

Saturday, October 10, 2009, 1pm
Fox Tale Book Shoppe
105 E. Main Street, #138
Woodstock, GA

Saturday, November 7, 2009, 2pm
Borders
4475 Roswell Rd. - Ave E Cobb
Marietta, GA

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 1-3pm
Hall Book Exchange
1854 Thompson Bridge Rd.
Gainesville,GA

A Gathering of Librarians

2009-07-09T12:21:00.004-04:00

Librarians all over are gearing up for this weekend's ALA Conference. (The American Library Association). While I won't be there myself, The Shifter will be, and my wonderful publisher Balzer & Bray is featuring the book at the HarperCollins Childrens booth, and at the fiction breakfast. So if you happen to be in Chicago and attending, stop by and say hello. Tell them Janice sent you. (And it'll be so cool if my editor actually tells me someone said that)

And if you happen to see cool Shifter stuff while there, take a photo and send it my way. I get so excited when I see those things.

Wish I could be there, but alas, maybe next year.

Cover Me, Part Two

2009-07-05T07:47:00.002-04:00

As promised, the The Pain Merchants cover.

And here's the full jacket all spread out. (They took that back cover copy from my website! For some weird reason I find that really cool.)

As I mentioned last week, the cover process for the UK version went a little differently than the US one. I wasn't included, except for one tiny little detail. My lovely UK editor said the design team wanted to do something iconic, and asked if the Healer's League had a logo. I said no, but told her I could whip something up if she'd like.

I gave her five simple black and white logo designs. Nothing fancy, as I knew her art department would work their magic and make it look all nifty cool. For funsies, here they are:

It's easy to see which one they went with, and how the others influenced their final design. They took this basic line art and turned it into a gold and enameled-looking image. To make the cover fit the story, I added a line that described the Healer's League pin into the story.

The two covers have a lot of similarities, such as the idea of the hands, the swirly stars and the blue (which is the color of the magic metal, pynvium, in the book). But they're also quite different. The Pain Merchants has an edgier look, and I love how the font style captures the Byzantine feel I based the architecture of the world on. You see some of that in The Shifter cover with the city along the bottom. I think they're both great, though my husband likes the UK version better--I wonder if he's secretly British?

Here they are side by side for easy comparison:

I find it fascinating how the same story is represented in two different cultures.

For another look at covers across the pond, my agent did a post a while back.

Cover Me

2009-06-24T16:22:00.003-04:00

Have you ever wondered how a book cover gets designed?

Every author will have their own experience, as this varies, not only between houses but between authors. Since I'm a graphic designer by trade, the cover was very important to me and I wanted to be involved in the process. I made sure to tell my agent and my editor, and my editor was gracious enough to include me from the get go.

An illustrator was chosen and sketches were made. We made comments, suggested changes, and more sketches were made. When we got one we liked, the artist created on the final art, complete with title text.

Alas, sales nixed it.

We went back and tried a new approach. This time, the artist just did pencil sketches. I wish I could show you the sketches, but alas, that whole legality thing.

Sales nixed it again.

Then someone on the Balzer & Bray staff (I don't know who, but I'm still grateful for them) did a clip art mock up and sent it to my editor. My editor sent it to me and my agent and asked, "What do you think?"

Well, I went nuts. I just LOVED the idea and the look. The original title is used at this point, as we hadn't changed it yet. We made sure sales loved it to before we went any further. Luckily, they did. My editor changed illustrators and we started over, giving them this new concept to play with. He sent us this sketch:

We loved it, we're totally thrilled, made a few suggestions again (some involving the hands, and I wanted a more Byzantine look to the buildings), and sent it off. During this time, the title change was finally approved, so the color version reflected that.

You could have heard my excited squeal a mile away. I could NOT stop giggling over this cover. I think it totally rocks. You'll notice the "the" is missing from this version, which was added to the title after. We made a few minor tweaks (like adding some purple to the swirly stuff) and the final cover is...

And that's how I got a cover.

I'm incredibly lucky to have been included in the process, as a lot of authors have no say and don't even see their cover until it's done. That's actually how it went with the UK cover (which I'll post about soon). Nothing wrong with that, especially since those Brits like their covers differently than us Yankees do, so my design experience wouldn't have been much help. (And I did get to do one small thing, which I spill in that post). This just goes to show that even the same author and the same book can have different experiences depending on the house.

And both of mine were fabulous experiences.

Only Four More Months

2009-06-03T08:16:00.002-04:00

I can't believe it's getting so close! A lot of exciting things are happening now, especially with galleys going out and BEA (with the electronic galleys) this past week. People are starting to talk (yay!) and I'm seeing The Shifter pop up on blogs and other sites. It's a little scary, but in a good "roller coaster" way. I just need to resist the urge to spend all day Googling myself.

In other news...

I got my very first blog review, which is such a thrill. The folks over at A Million Words said nice things, so, thanks guys!

Hands Across the Expo

2009-06-02T08:16:00.002-04:00

My wonderful agent sent me this great photo of "The Shifter" displayed in bright and shiny color at Book Expo America. (Doesn't it look like a movie poster all done up like that?)

Do you think they'd let me keep that when they'd re done? Nah, me neither.

The Shifter Spotted at IRA

2009-05-06T16:59:00.004-04:00

Super Spy Writer Ally Carter spotted a display copy of "The Shifter" on the shelves at the International Reading Association Conference today. The fact that she's my favorite YA author makes this about the coolest thing to happen to me all month. I know you can't actually see her, just her hand, but trust me. That's Ally Carter's hand. Holding my book.

I'm all aflutter.

Only Five More Months

2009-05-01T14:39:00.001-04:00

Hard to believe "The Shifter" will be out in just five short months. It's been an exciting ride so far, and I expect the next few months will only get wilder. I'll be updating everyone on what's going on with the book, letting you know where I might be popping in for a visit, and anything cool that happens along the way.

Right now, I'm busy at work doing the final draft of Shifter 2. Feels weird to be almost done with the second before the first is even out!

I'm also working on the U.K. version of the book, which comes out on October 6th as well. I'll share cover art when I can. (They do a totally different cover over there. Even a different name! "The Pain Merchants.")

I'll also be announcing some fun contests and things as we get closer to release, so peek back from time to time and see what's going on.

Let the countdown begin!

All the News That's Fit to Post

2009-05-01T08:20:00.015-04:00

We've got the good news going on!

BOOK SIGNINGS

Saturday, October 23, 2010, 2pm
Hall Book Exchange
1854 Thompson Bridge Rd.
Gainesville,GA

REVIEWS

September 6, 2009
Awesome review by Attackfish. Thanks so much!

July 14, 2009
The gang over at Teens Read and Write have nice things to say about The Shifter. Thanks guys!

July 11, 2009
Check out Real Toads to hear what they said about The Shifter. Thanks!

June 11, 2009
Oleander said nice things on Shelfari. Thanks!

June 1, 2009
The folks over at A Million Words said nice things, so, thanks guys!

INTERVIEWS

September 19, 2009
Great questions over at YA Highway.

April 12, 2009
They're talking about me over at Tall Tales & Short Stories!

SALES & BOOKS

February 13, 2009
Foreign Rights: UK Children's

Janice Hardy's fantasy debut THE PAIN MERCHANTS, about a teenage war orphan who discovers an uncanny ability to heal by drawing pain from others, and becomes a pawn in a political game when her skill attracts the attention of the two most powerful groups in the city to Stella Paskins at Harper Children's UK, by Balzer & Bray, on behalf of Kristin Nelson at the Nelson Literary Agency.

June 26, 2008
Book sold!!

Janice Hardy's debut fantasy trilogy beginning with THE PAIN MERCHANTS, about a teen war orphan who becomes a pawn in a bigger political game when her uncanny ability to heal by drawing pain turns out to be the only weapon she has to save her sister, to Donna Bray at Balzer & Bray/Harper Children's for their launch list, in a very good deal, in a pre-empt, by Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency (world English). query@nelsonagency.com