It's a Choice

True Confession time, reader-friends...

I signed up to participate in a blog hop, and I failed to do my assignment. *hangs head in shame*

The lovely and immensely talented Sheri Larsen (link) invited her blogger friends (including me) to watch a Video on Gratitude (link) each day last month and take notes on how our attitudes changed. Or just our findings in general.

Can I just say, I'm GRATEFUL that Sheri is as kind and understanding as she is. She's an amazing writer-friend. One of my first! She's always looking for ways to be encouraging and positive, and in this business, you NEED that so much.

I forgot to watch the video every day.

But! While I didn't do my homework, I am still immensely grateful for so many things that have happened to me since I started my publishing journey in 2009.

It's easy to get defeated in this business. Five positive reviews can be killed by one mean-spirited negative review.

Luck is a big part of success--and that can be very discouraging.

Don't get me wrong. Luck is not the only part of success. You still have to produce good work.

But you can work your tail off and only achieve mid-list status for a long time, and then there are friends for whom it seems to come so easy... It can cause one to lose focus. It causes some to make poor choices. (Beware the green-eyed monster, friends!)

Gratitude in this industry is a Choice.

It's not quite the assignment, but Today I Choose to be Grateful because...

1-I got into publishing at an unbelievably revolutionary time. Not only can I make a living from my books, but I get to meet my readers up close and personal, I get to meet other crazy-talented writers... the networks and connections and support are out of this world.

2-I met Susan Kaye Quinn (link). I'm sure there are other phenomenally talented authors out there who are supportive, encouraging, generous, and great friends. Sue's at the top of my list.

3-I met Jolene Perry (link). At a time when I was so scared, she pushed me in the pool. Then she stood on the side and laughed and laughed. Just kidding! She did not. But she did make six amazing book covers for me. She listens to me when I'm having "moments," she makes me giggle and swoon with her gorgeous stories, and she keeps me in the publishing loop... Jolene's another unbelievably talented author who is also an amazing friend.

4-I met Sheri Larsen... And Matt and Tami and Jessica and Kelly and Elle and PK and Lydia and Sarah and all the Indelibles and the kids over at YA Confidential... Did I mention this was an incredible time to be a writer?

The Internet has made it possible to find true friends to offer support and encouragement, to let you vent, and who share what they've learned and a helping hand. What a blessing!

5-I have the most incredibly supportive family. This should be #1. No, this shouldn't even be on a numbered list, but rather it should be the big headline up there... When this business gets me down, I'm so so fortunate to have JRM and the girls to hug me and tell me they think I'm amazing. Isn't that amazing? It makes me cry, I'm so blessed.

6-I have been lucky/blessed. From the amazing reception to The Truth About Faking to the encouraging things happening right now with the Dragonfly series on Wattpad (link), I'm so thankful for the opportunities that have come my way.

7-I found YOU, my reader-friends! (Or you found me?) I love your emails and tweets and Facebook messages and comments on Wattpad... I love YOU! You guys keep me going!

Last year was hard.

From family stresses to changes in the market to being so far from home... I was ready to walk away more than once. JRM asked me what I would do if I wasn't writing at one point. "Get a job at Target! Who cares!" I cried...

Isn't that silly? See, I can be a drama queen too. The Truth About Me, however, is I have to be a writer. I don't have a choice.

That being the case, I'm so grateful I'm alive in these days. I've said it a lot, but this is truly the best time to be a writer.

Please visit these other fab bloggers who actually did the assignment (link), and have a super week, reader-friends~

Letting Go some Valentine's Kisses!

Happy Valentine's Day, reader-friends! Ready to get your smooch on???

The Indelibles' Indie-Kissing event has arrived, and for my entry, I'm giving you a kissing scene from my brand-new book The Truth About Letting Go (link), which releases in one week...

*breathes into bag*

This scene is the first kiss between Ashley and Jordan, and it's when they first discover their chemistry. (Their prickly romance is a main conflict in the story.)~

He grabs me around the waist, easily lifting me off the floor and through the door into his room. He puts me down, but his arms are still around me. They’re warm, and I’m surrounded by the smell of fresh-cut grass, the creek. My eyes travel from his blue shirt to his face, and his expression changes.

“Jordan, I—”

He leans down and cuts me off with a kiss. Soft, warm lips press over mine gently. I only hesitate for half a second before reaching up and weaving my fingers into his hair. I open my mouth, and the flavor of mint grows stronger as our tongues slide together. A burst of energy floods my chest, and suddenly, I’m kissing him again, faster, like I can’t get enough. He’s keeping my pace, and for the first time in months, the painful sadness is gone. In its place is this new feeling, this tense anticipation. I love it, this excitement canceling out that wretched sadness.

Our mouths break apart and we both gasp. He presses his forehead to mine, but my eyes are still closed. I’m smiling.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers, pulling me into his chest. “I didn’t mean to—”

But I don’t want to hear that. I reach for his face again, pulling it down to mine. I want more of the good feeling. He lifts me, and my hands stay on his cheeks as I kiss him again and again. A noise comes from his throat, and it’s like gasoline on a fire. All of me is hot and desperate. I barely notice as we fall back onto his bed, me on top, my fingers searching for the buttons on his new shirt. They’re easy to unfasten and soon, I’m sliding my hands over his smooth chest.

I know, H-O-T, right? Well, then Jordan drops a bombshell a few paragraphs later that changes everything and sets up the basis of their ongoing "conflict."

But yanno. You'll have to read the book for that part (*wink*).

Want to WIN a free copy of The Truth About Letting Go (link)? Leave a comment here (link)!

To visit the rest of the Indie-Kissers, go here (link).

And have a lovely, lovey, weekend, reader- and writer-friends! *smooch* <3

New Book, Kissing, & Dragons!

Happy Monday, reader- and writer-friends!

I'm fresh off a weekend, mini-writing retreat with great writer-friends Susan Quinn (link) and Magan Vernon (link). I'm sure there's a post coming from that.

In the meantime, the Romance is in the Air giveaway hop, sponsored by Inspired Kathy (link) continues!

Win prizes! Click here~

You can WIN a shiny, copy of my new book The Truth About Letting Go (link), which releases Feb. 21! Enter to WIN and see all the participants (who are also having giveaways) here~ (link)

~~~

What's this? Click here...

Reminder: On Thursday, Valentine's Day, we'll all be posting kissing scenes for IndieKissing! More info here (link)!

Now, what's all this about Dragons? Well, let me tell you...

Today I'm also celebrating the release of Heather McCorkle's fantasy novel, The Dragon Empire! On today's stop, Heather is answering the following question:

The world you created in The Dragon Empire is very elaborate. How did you keep track of everything?

Heather: I created a notebook and put everything about the world in it. I wrote up pages on each type of dragon, each island, each character, the different creatures and cultures, and even drew maps of the world. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun!

B&N / Amazon / Goodreads

Here is a bit about it:

On Yacrana dragons are the advanced species. But advanced doesn't always mean civilized...

There's trouble in the Dragon Empire, the kind that could start a war between dragons and the races of people. Hidden factions of dragons believe they should rule the lesser races, not simply stand aside and allow them to develop as they will. Having lived so long in peace, the Emperors turn a blind eye, many oblivious that such attitudes even exist.

Despite being only an architect class, emerald dragon, Grendar is willing to risk banishment and death to stop that which his rulers refuse to see. The hope of peace lies not within the scaled breast of a dragon however, but within the hands of a group of people. But if the hidden factions have their way, these people won’t live to fulfill such a destiny. With a reluctant seer at his side, Grendar must leave his precious Empire for the outside world to save those that will one day save his kind.

While The Dragon Empire is for ages young adult and up, it does contain mild violence and some difficult subject matter. 

~~~

So exciting!

Have a super, loving week, reader- and writer-friends! I'll be back Thursday~ <3

Romance is in the Air... WIN!

Valentine's Day is coming, and tons of fun celebrations are happening.

Last year, I signed up to be a part of the Romance is in the Air GIVEAWAY hop, sponsored by Inspired Kathy (link).

Prizes at every stop!

It's cool because you could win something at every stop!

Here at my stop, you'll get a chance to WIN a copy of my shiny, new book The Truth About Letting Go (link). (I know! It doesn't come out til Feb. 21! Crazy.)

[Quick Note: I've added Chapter 1 to the Goodreads page if you'd like a sneak peek. (link)]

Also, I'm going to make it SUPER EASY to enter, reader- and writer-friends. Random number generator will be used to pick TWO lucky commenters on Friday, Feb. 15!

So leave a comment, leave your email address, and Good Luck!

And if you're interested in following this blog, please do so! I can also be found here:

Amazon Author Page * Facebook * Twitter * Tumblr * Goodreads

Thanks for playing, have a super weekend, reader- and writer-friends~ <3

Click Here (link) for the full list of all the places you can enter to WIN!

Technology, Kissing, & The Book

Stop the Presses! Leigh's using technology!

Yes, I love technology...

I mean, other than my word-processing software, of course. Or my Internet browser.

Okay, or my smartphone...

The point is, my resident-genius writer-friend Susan Quinn (link) told me how to use Google Drive to create a spreadsheet for you lovelies who'd like to help with the launch of The Truth About Letting Go (link) on Feb. 21!

It is coming, and I am so excited, and I can't wait to share it with all of you, and *squee*!

Anyway, so here's the deal, if you already said yes on this blog or my Facebook page (*hugs*), or if you'd like to say yes now (*bats eyes*) please enter your email address in the blank below!



This will create a nifty spreadsheet for me to email all of you the cover, description, links, etc., in one fell swoop. Is that cool or what?

It also means you'll automatically be added to my "best buddy" list. And I promise I will not sell your information. Unless I really, RILLY need some chocolate.

Next is a quickie plug for a super-fun Valentine's event! It's called IndieKissing, and it's hosted by the writers' group Indelibles (link). 

Sign up to join in!

Anyone can join! Just post a kissing scene from your current WIP or any of your books, and link back to the Indelibles (link) site. You can also do any kind of promotion or giveaway you'd like, so have fun with it!

I'll be posting the first kissing scene from The Truth About Letting Go, and it is H-O-T! I'll also be giving away a free copy of the book--squee!

Can't wait to see what you guys post!  Click here to sign up!

Now for THE BOOK!

Great writer-friend Jessica Bell (link) has a new novella out, and it is awesome!

I got to beta read this back in December, and I was completely absorbed. The details are all below, so I'll just say it's written journal-style, which I love, and Jessica's writing is so evocative and gorgeous. The story is totally unexpected. In a GREAT way!

Get me!

THE BOOK, a novella by Jessica Bell

"Jessica Bell’s surprising risks with language capture a child’s clear vision in a world of adult heartbreak. Indelible. Courageous." ~Thaisa Frank, author of Heidegger's Glasses and Enchantment

"THE BOOK is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It's going to rip your blood pump out of your chest, kick it around like a football, and then shove it back inside you, leaving you with a potently reinvigorated faith in humanity. A curiously captivating read that somehow manages to encapsulate the length and breadth of love and family in one slim volume." ~Josh Donellan, author of Zeb and the Great Ruckus

Description:

This book is not The Book. The Book is in this book. And The Book in this book is both the goodie and the baddie.

Bonnie is five. She wants to bury The Book because it is a demon that should go to hell. Penny, Bonnie’s mother, does bury The Book, but every day she digs it up and writes in it. John, Bonnie’s father, doesn’t live with them anymore. But he still likes to write in it from time to time. Ted, Bonnie’s stepfather, would like to write in The Book, but Penny won’t allow it.

To Bonnie, The Book is sadness.

To Penny, The Book is liberation.

To John, The Book is forgiveness.

To Ted, The Book is envy.

But The Book in this book isn’t what it seems at all.

If there was one thing in this world you wished you could hold in your hand, what would it be? The world bets it would be The Book.

Intrigued?

Available at all major retailers in e-book and paperback, including Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! <3

Elves and Free for ALLs!

I'm doing something BIG bloggy-friends! And I need your help...

Remember that time we all did the Amazon Chart Rush with writer-friend Talli (link)? Well, in an effort to increase visibility for my new book, today and tomorrow only, ROUGE will be FREE for ALL! (link)

Get or Give today!

Not just Amazon Prime members--EVERYONE gets it FREE!!! (link)

If you already bought it, don't be mad! (LOL!)

Writing is my full-time job now, so I'm taking a hit doing this. BUT! the hope is it will pay off in more visibility and future sales. And it will help me get back to what I do best... more writing!

How to help, you say?

*If you're planning to get it, please do so now (link). Two clicks and you're done--easy peasy!

*Spread the word! Tell people on Facebook, or even consider tweeting this tweet (edited):

Last Day #ROUGE is FREE!!! Get it now: http://amzn.to/WOWxzP @leightmoore #freebies #fb

Thank you so much.

The hardest part about being independent is losing that marketing department, but that's why we help each other. And I'm here ready to return the favors!

Now, what about these Elves?

Well, as you may know, a few weeks ago PETE the Elf had a touch too much Eggnog at the Holiday Christmas Party and as he stumbled home, he lost Santa's NICE LIST.

The North Wind scattered the papers to all four corners of the world, and The Bookshelf Muse put out a call to help find them in order to SAVE CHRISTMAS.

Ever since I read about it, I've been on the lookout. And then today, EUREKA! Yes that's right, I found part of Santa's missing NICE LIST.

There it was, fluttering in the wind, half caught under the corner of my welcome mat. And shock of all shocks, I recognized the names. I bet you will, too! Here it is below: 


NAMES: Jolene Perry (link); Susan Quinn (link); Hart Johnson (link); Carolyn Abiad (link); Jessica Bell (link); Matt Rush (link); Sheri Larsen (link); Janet Johnson (link); Lydia Kang (link); D.L. (link); Stina (link); Lisa Ann (link); Old Kitty (link); Pat Hatt (link); Kelly Polark (link); Laura Diamond (link); Magan Vernon (link); Allie Brennan (link); Natalie (link); my dear Indelibles (link); OMG, I have to stop now... but if you're here, YOU!

LOCATION: The Blogosphere

NICE LEVEL: 1000%

NAUGHTY LEVEL: Just enough to be awesome!

OBSERVATIONS: For the most part, these guys have been with me since the early days, writing, getting agents, getting publishing deals, getting published, losing agents, breaking new ground, cheering each other on, always stopping by to say HI... You guys are irreplaceable to me.

RECOMMENDATION: I hope you all know I'm here always and as needed. I still can't wait for that day when we all have that huge party and Matt can DJ, and TH will insist everyone to go skinny dipping, and Jessica and Jolene can sing and play guitar, and Sheri can dance, and Lydia can examine our heads... LOL!

How about you, Readers? Is there someone you'd like to say Happy Holidays to, or tell them how much they mean to you? JOIN US! (link) There's plenty of days left until Christmas, and sometimes a kind word can lift people up in a way that they really need.

And have a GREAT week-reader and wrier-friends! Christmas is right around the corner~ <3

One Weekend, 99-cent eBooks

Looking for gifts without breaking the bank? How about 20 Young Adult books at 99 cents each now through Monday on Amazon? 

Buy some books for yourself. Gift books to others.

Books are still the biggest entertainment bang for the buck, and there's SO many great titles to choose from. 

Romance, adventure, humor, or contemporary? How about Sci-fi, fantasy, or mythology? We've got you covered! 

  

Get me!

Pick me!

 

Get me~

Get me!

Get me!

Choose me~

How about me!

Choose me~

Get me

Date me!

Pick me~

Pick me!

Me, naturally

Pick me

Get me

Get me

Choose me

Get me

Rescue me

Get me

Last, but not least~

And don't forget to enter my fun, Rouge-New Orleans giveaway (link) ending Monday. And have a great weekend, reader- and writer-friends~ <3

ROUGE Blog Tour and Thanksgiving Giveaway!

I'm interrupting my schedule for a special #FF, which today stands for Friday Fun!

I'll be away next week for Thanksgiving, and the following Monday (11/26) is the kick-off of my Blog Tour for Rouge (link), and it's Cyber Monday!  

Thanksgiving Sale!

To me, it sounds like time for a Thanksgiving Giveaway!

Here are the DEETS:

*ROUGE will be ON SALE for $0.99 through Cyber Monday (11/26).

*In that time, grab your special, sale-priced copy (link) and enter to win fun prizes!
*Leave a review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads, and earn more chances to win!

All you have to do:
-Email your proof of purchase to me at leightmoore@gmail.com and
-Send me the links to your reviews using the form below!

Prizes are:
*ONE $20 Gift Cards to New Orleans boutique Fleurty Girl (link) (or a $20 Amazon gift card if you prefer)

*TWO $10 iTunes gift cards (So you can create your own musical production!)

YES, that means THREE winners will be chosen! (If you already got your copy and left reviews, you can enter, too! Just fill in the information in the form!)

It's my way of saying THANK YOU! Both for reading my new book, for reading my first book, The Truth About Faking (link). and for simply being AWESOME reader- and writer-friends!

Have a great holiday~ <3

Hetty Locklear, Captcha, and a plug

Happy (bizzay) Monday, guys! 

First, I'm also posting today on The Indelibles blog (link), where I'll be introducing myself as a new member of that awesome group of independent authors.

Next, I am thrilled to help promote a great writer-friend's hilarious, sexy, fun new women's romance/urban fantasy novel. (I'm actually a little biased because I edited it.)

A New Adult Urban Fantasy, The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear is the first book in a new series. And it’s now out!

The main character, Hetty, is a 22-year-old, stumbling about in an effort to become a full-fledged adult. She struggles with self-esteem, weight, relationships, and making the transition between college and the real world.

Graduation from community college isn’t the magic elixir Hetty Locklear counts on for becoming an adult. Her parents, who work the Renaissance fair circuit, insist she spend part of the summer with them, but Hetty doubts pretending to live in the Middle Ages will help her find her way.

To make it worse, an entity haunts her at her dead-end job, warning her of a dangerous man she doesn’t know. The ghost leads her to a lover who has lots of secrets. He pulls her farther into peril and into a strange, hidden world of genetic experimentation.

New Adult Urban Fantasy with a contemporary sci-fi twist. Mature content.

Available as an ebook at Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords / iTunes / Kobo

Visit www.mpaxauthor.com for more links.

M. Pax is celebrating her latest release with a jousting tournament and contest at www.mpaxauthor.com. Cheer for the knights to help them win the grand prize, and you’ll be put in a drawing to win an ebook copy of The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear. Five will be given away. Huzzah!

In addition to Hetty, you might remember I'm helping with a PSA to end the use of captchas on blog comments.



Friends, if you're concerned that more people don't comment on your blog, it might be because you've got the Egyptian hieroglyphics turned on. 

Please, please, trust Blogger's spam guard. It really does work! I've used it for years.

Get me...

Lastly, I'll be brief. My new book ROUGE is now live! I'm so excited.

Where to get it, you ask? Why, at Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords of course!

THANKS, guys! And have a great week, reader- and writer-friends~ <3

Loud and Sane

So ROUGE comes out in a week.

This release is different from TTAF in that I actually planned a release date, organized reviews way in advance, and have been telling people it's coming...

It's given me way more time to over-think the whole thing.

On Goodreads

Good bloggy friend Sarah Fine did a funny post last week about her brain's opposite responses to bad reviews (link).

It's hilarious, and it's making me think of my brain approaching release date.

Smart brain tells me to relax and get some work done. Sneaky brain is trying to freak out and throw up all the reasons no one is going to buy my new book...

My oldest daughter gave me some encouragement last week. It went like this:

Cat: What's wrong, Mom?
Me: I've got a new book coming out, and I hope people will want to buy it and read it.
Cat: Why wouldn't they?
Me: Well, I hope they don't think, "We've already bought one of her books. We're done with her."
Cat: Don't worry, Mom. If they're like me with the Warriors books, they'll buy it no matter how bad it is.
Me: Oh, well, I don't think it's bad...

Some of you might remember me talking about my first editorial "boss" Susan. Remember my post about the British-Irish-Jewish, very proper tea time observer? (link)

She had catch-phrases like "keep calm." (This was before those posters were everywhere.) She also commonly advised us not to "quietly go insane" when things felt out of control. (LOL!)

So Five Things To Do While I Wait for ROUGE to Release (besides quietly going insane):

#1-Family time! (You know, writer-friends, we don't get to do this enough. Bonus: my parents are visiting!)

#2-Make the bloggy rounds. (See what you guys are up to; always fun!)

#3-Finish critting Susan Quinn's newest MS. (Be jealous. It is AWESOME!)

#4-Meet Dr. Q. in person on Thursday. (Yeah, I am!)

#5-Finish my guest posts...

Also, if you're interested on 11/12, I'm participating in this:



It's a funny, "Down with Captcha" blogfest-party. Want to join? Sign up here (link).

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! Whatever happens, stay loud and stay sane~ <3

Special Birthday Post

We interrupt my usual Monday schedule for a very important announcement...

A few years back, I was introduced to Lenny Lee (link), an eleven year-old boy who liked playing outside, raccoons, and writing, and whose icon was (and is) a happy sunshine. Lenny was dealing with health problems, and his family wasn't sure he'd survive them.

Fast-forward two years, and here we are celebrating--Lenny Lee is officially a teenager! Holy acne, he's thirteen today. And we're all just celebrating and doing the happy dance!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Lenny!!! 

*throws confetti*

And many happy, angsty teen years to come. (Ha ha--just teasing!)

Have a great week-end, reader- and writer-friends~ <3

Big Thing Backwards

Last week I was tagged by Hart (link) and Stina (link) for the "Next Big Thing" blogfest. I'm to tell you what I'm working on and end by promoting something.

So I'm doing it backwards because I've got to tell you about a book I just finished: Never Gone by good bloggy friend Laurel Garver (link).

It is so good. The writing is gorgeous, the story is haunting (literally!) and it ends just perfectly. (*BIG sigh*) It's the perfect fall-into-winter book.

Get it!

Main character Danielle "Dani" has just lost her father in a horrible car accident. His body's been cremated, and she and his remains are being shipped off to England to stay with her paternal grandparents while her mother stays in the U.S. for work.

The problem is Dani keeps seeing her dad. 

Her memories and her desperate longing to catch him, which leads to some risky behavior choices, will have you in tears. But also, her strained relationship with her mother, and all the things Dani discovers about her family just peel away like layers of the most delicious cake. (Yep, I wrote that--LOL!)

And the ending with Theo, and what he writes on her cast... (*swoon*)

OK, I'm stopping, but it's an impressive debut. Only a few times I was a little confused or concerned with how situations were handled, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment.

There's a good dose of theology in the book courtesy Dani's grandfather, who's a clergyman. But also Theo, Dani's love interest is struggling with his own spirituality. I don't mind such things, and Laurel and I are planning a cross-post on how both of us incorporated religious themes in our books on Oct. 29. It should be interesting!

The English setting is the perfect backdrop for all the good stuff inside. Run get it on Amazon today (link)!

Now for the NBT blogfest questions! (I'll answer these lightening-round style.)

What is the working title of your book?

Violet. I know that's cheesy, but it's the sequel to Rouge, and for now, I'm trying to get the story right. I'll worry about titles later. (I have to do this; I'm hopeless when it comes to titles.)

Where did the idea come from for the book?

It's the sequel to Rouge, and Rouge is Oliver! meets Moulin Rouge meets My Fair Lady. (I know!)

What genre does your book fall under?

It's light historical/theater romance. Rouge was written as YA, but S&S asked if I'd make it adult. I said yes, but the characters are still 19 & 20 years old. So it's light-historical New Adult romance. Set in a theater. (*squee*!)

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Beau

When I started writing in fall 2010, I had this whole cast of characters in mind, including Henry Cavill. But that was two years ago, and they've all aged and changed.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Rouge: Hale's trying to secure a proposal from Freddie so she can get Teeny (and herself) out of their cabaret-home that's growing more dangerous by the day; then she meets Beau.

(I can't talk about Violet without spoiling Rouge.)

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? 

This book is part of a three-book deal w/Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I'm hoping it won't take me as long as Rouge, which took me three months. (*freaks out*)

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Not sure yet.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I got super-selfish with this series. This is just the kind of lush escapism I love love love; so I wrote it for me. And I hope you all LOVE it, too--LOL!

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I thought it was really cool that the television show Smash started after I finished Rouge, because that show (like my book) is all about what happens when the actors are off stage. The drama of real life, and how it bleeds into their performances.

What are you currently PROMOTING?

(see above)

Everybody's been so fantastic in helping me get my debut YA The Truth About Faking off the ground, I'm trying to pay it forward as much as possible. Love you guys!

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! I'm going to be everywhere with guest posts and reviews. I'm trying to tweet and Facebook updates as I get them. Please don't get sick of me! <3

BIG P.S.!
OMG, I almost forgot! The whip-smart and super awesome Dr. Susan Kaye Quinn (link) has sold 10,000 copies of her book Open Minds (wow!) And to celebrate, she's giving away a Kindle Paperwhite and Free Books (WOW!), including The Truth About Faking!

Be sure and stop by her blog (link) tomorrow through Thurs. to enter, and good luck! <3

News & A Celebration!

You've probably heard what happened mid-last week. But if you didn't...

I released my debut YA romantic comedy THE TRUTH ABOUT FAKING!

Y'all this has all come together so fast, my hair's still upside my head. Today, I'm being hilariously interviewed on hacky-sack buddy Janet's blog (link). Stop by and win a free copy of my book!

Also I have shout-outs from my lovely CP and Thursday twin Hart (link) my lovely non-twin Kari (link), the scientifically lovely Mary (link), talented (also lovely) Jolene (link), AND my sneaky (and lovely) CP Carolyn (link)! Please visit.

And Thank you! To Laura, Katie, Elle, and all who've posted reviews and shout-outs already.

I tell you, this has been the most exciting, nerve-wracking publishing stunt I've pulled yet, and I can't wait to see what happens next. I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, if you're looking for my book, it's everywhere. Print will soon be available as well. I'm on Goodreads (link), and links for purchase are here:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

Now for the Celebration! (*throws confetti*)

One of my sweetest, longtime bloggy friends Sheri Larsen (link) just signed with Literary Agent Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary! 

And because our literary community is so freaking fabulous and generous, she's having a Bigger-Than-A-Shopping-Mall GIVEAWAY!! 

The giveaway is open until September 27th. WINNERS will be announced on September 28th. (Entrants may win more than one prize!)

Click HERE to enter, and Thank you so much for celebrating with us!

List of Rocking Participants: Lenny Lee, Colene Murphy, LM Preston, Darby Karchut, Joanne Brothwell, Patti Larsen, Christine Fonseca,Catherine Stine, Jessica Bell, Kelly Hashway, Leigh Moore, Christine Danek, Alex Cavanaugh, Katie Mills, Matthew MacNish, Beverly McClure,Marcy Hatch, Jennifer Million, Nicole Zoltack, Christina Lee, Kris Yankee, JL Spelbring, Sharon Mayhew, Candice Granger, Dianne Salerni, Lisa & Laura Roecker, Elana Johnson, Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi, Susan Kaye Quinn, Lydia Kang, Julie Musil, Natalie Agurrie, Talli Roland,Medeia Sharif, Kelly Polark, Angela Brown, Sarah Fine, Stina Lindenblatt, Lynda Young, Susan Fields, PK Hrezo, Shannon O'Donnell, Shelli Johannes-Wells, Theresa Brown Milstein.

Congratulations, Sheri!!! So excited for you, and I can't wait to see your books on the shelf!

There's so much awesomeness going on right now. Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! <3

Same Bat Channel...

Tune in tomorrow for a special post. In the meantime, I #amediting.

But there's so much happening this week. Be sure and stop by WRiTE CLUB on DL's blog (link)! Get feedback on the first 500 words of any writing sample by going head to head against another writer.

And don't forget the largest, free online Kidlit writing convention is happening right now.

Have your query critiqued, first pages reviewed, get feedback from real ninja agents and participate in online chats... Did I mention it's FREE?

Check out WriteOnCon (link)!

I'm back tomorrow; have a great day, reader- and writer-friends! <3

MSFV Winner: J. Anderson Coats

Hi, guys! Welcome to a special edition blog tour to help spread the word about the Miss Snark's First Victim blog contests and do a little publicity for the winners.

J. Anderson Coats (link) is another writer who credits MSFV with giving her publishing career a boost. (My story was on David Kazzie's blog yesterday, link.)

Coats's debut novel The Wicked and the Just was published in April 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

The MSFV Secret Agent contests are free and open to all writers (link). We hope you'll visit, participate, and we we wish you much success on your path to publication.

Now for the interview!

Coats

J. Anderson Coats has dug for crystals, held Lewis and Clark’s original hand-written journal and been a mile underground. She writes historical fiction set in the middle ages that routinely includes too much violence, name-calling and petty vandalism perpetrated by badly behaved young people. Her work is represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. The Wicked and the Just (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012) is her first book.

How did participating with MSFV blog get you where you are now?

For the longest time, I admired the Erin Murphy Literary Agency from afar, but since they’re closed to unsolicited queries, I never got the chance to approach them.  However, my stalking of MSFV paid off one day when Ammi-Joan Paquette opened submissions just for readers of Authoress’s blog for a two-week window at the end of February 2010. I leaped at the chance and emailed her a query within ten minutes.

What followed was a nine-month courtship of sorts in which I made revisions with the full expectation that it would end in the “thanks but no thanks” email.  But that “no” never came, and the ink wasn’t quite dry on my agency contract when W/J sold to Harcourt.  It was something like ten days between being unagented and my first sale--quite a whirlwind!

Now I’m part of this rapidly-growing and friendly cohort of other MSFV success stories, and I’m sure glad to have the company as we all move forward in our careers.

Who are your biggest literary influences, and/or what are a couple of your favorite reads?

I love Margaret Atwood’s world-building and Terry Pratchett’s playful, clever voice. I love Toni Morrison’s intense, rhythmic prose and Umberto Eco’s eye for detail.  I’m in awe of Laurie Halse Anderson’s ability to tap into the lived experience of young people.

Some awesome things I’ve read lately are AMELIA ANNE IS DEAD AND GONE by Kat Rosenfield, THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY by Adam Rex, and PREGNANT PAUSE by Han Nolan.  I read like a buzz saw, and I’ll stick with just about anything that can surprise me.

Your book, The Wicked and the Just, came out Spring 2012. Congratulations! Tell us about it!

The Wicked and the Just takes place in 1293-1294 in north Wales, ten years into English rule. Cecily is an unwilling transplant to the English walled town of Caernarvon, and she’d like nothing better than to go home.  Gwenhwyfar, a Welsh servant in Cecily’s new house, would like nothing better than to see all the English go home. The ruling English impose harsh restrictions and taxation on the Welsh, and conditions in the countryside are growing desperate. The rumors of rebellion might be Gwenhwyfar’s only salvation--and the last thing Cecily ever hears.

The book is set in 13th-century Wales. What attracted you to this time and place?

Medieval Wales doesn’t get a lot of attention despite the fact that it was a complicated, dynamic place. The native rulers managed to resist outright conquest by their English neighbors until 1283, but then the victorious English fast-tracked a series of castles and walled towns to maintain control of the area and the people.

What interested me was this question: Even when granted a lot of special privileges--including significant tax breaks--how did English settlers live in a place where they were outnumbered twenty to one by a hostile, recently subjugated population, and how did the Welsh live so close to people who’d done the subjugating, especially given the burdens placed on them by their new masters?

What's next for you? Do you have another book in the works or coming soon?

I’m working on several projects right now. One is a companion novel to The Wicked and the Just, which follows Maredydd ap Madog, whose father is the ringleader of the rebellion of 1294, as he negotiates the future his father wants for him and the future he wants for himself.  Then there’s a standalone book that’s set in twelfth-century Wales about a girl con-artist, a warband, an abduction, a badly-timed war, and a charismatic but mercurial king’s son.

I don't know about you guys, but I think the 13th Century has never sounded so cool! Thanks, Jillian! And here's where you can buy The Wicked and the Just:

Powell's  ~  Indiebound  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~  Amazon

Tomorrow, Jillian will interview J.M. Frey, author of The Dark Side of the Glass (which I read and loved), on her blog (link). We hope you'll join us, and catch the whole tour!

David Kazzie	@davidkazzie	1-Aug
Leigh Talbert Moore	@leightmoore	2-Aug
J. Anderson Coats	@jandersoncoats	3-Aug
J. M. Frey	@scifrey	4-Aug
Elissa Cruz	@elissacruz	5-Aug
Amanda Sun	@Amanda_Sun	6-Aug
Kristi Helvig	@KristiHelvig	7-Aug
Leah Petersen	@Leahpetersen	8-Aug
Monica Bustamante Wagner	@Monica_BW	9-Aug
Emily Kokie	@emkokie	10-Aug
Monica Goulet	@MonicaGoulet	11-Aug
Peter Salomon	@petersalomon	12-Aug
Sarah Brand	@sarahbbrand	13-Aug
Angela Ackerman	@angelaackerman & @writerthesaurus	14-Aug
Tara Dairman	@TaraDairman	15-Aug

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! <3