Goats in VEGAS!!!

 

 

HEADS UP! This week I'll be running with the goats in Las Vegas, so I'm going to be pretty quiet on twitter, FB, and GoodReads.

 

WHAT? You didn't know there was a sport similar to running with the bulls that involved goats?

 

That's because there's not. Heh.

 

Truth is, I'm going to be hanging with some awesome writer pals. We call ourselves the #goatposse. I'm busy doing laundry and packing, so for further explanation, please hop over to Jennifer Lopez's posse page here, or you can also read this meme I did as part of the #goatposse hazing, or check out Darke's posse pinterest board.

 

In the way of news, I finished my Splintered novella (in Jeb's and Morpheus's POVs) and turned it in to my editor, so hopefully come October, you'll be able to purchase it as an ebook to tide you over until Unhinged is out in January.

 

Also, I have it on good authority that Unhinged ARCs are on their way. Which means I'll be having a giveaway for one or two VERY SOON for those of you who'd like a chance at an early read! I can't wait!

 

But in the meantime, I'm off to play with my bearded writerly pals. Good thing our gate keeper didn't read the sign:

 



 

And thank goodness what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...

 

 

 

 

Everyone have a wonderful week and I'll see you again soon, pending I survive the party! <3

First pass pages!!!

One of my favorite parts of the publishing process is when my lovely editor sends along my first pass pages. I've also heard these called galleys (but I've also heard galley is interchangable with ARCs...it's all so confusing).

Anyway, first pass pages are formatted and printed in book layout, complete with font and chapter headers (except they're unbound). This is the stage right before ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) come out. I've been given a capped amount of time to look it over for typos and formatting issues, etc... and there are editors doing the same from my publisher's end.

This means that ARCs are just about to be printed. I'll let you know when they're here, but in the meantime, here's a sneak peek at the galley pages (all 197.5 pages worth, which will be 395 pages when bound in book form):

Oh, and one more seekrit, I have it on good authority they're going with a different color ink this time. Just as pretty as the purple, though. No worries! <3   

I'll be offering up the signed title page (the one with the book cover picture) in an upcoming giveaway. But for now I'm off to reread Unhinged for the fifty-somethingeth time. Wish me luck! :)

MIA for ALA

Things are going to be quiet here for the next week or so. First, I'm off to ALA in Chicago to shmooze with other authors, my editors, readers, and librarians.

For any Splintered fans / readers who live in the area, I'll be attending two events that are free and open to the public:

 



Saturday, June 29th

If you're in the vicinity, I'd love to meet you!

After I wrap things up in Chicago, I'll be hanging with my family for a week to celebrate the 4th of July, so I'll be back in blogland sometime after that.

Everyone have a fun and safe holiday!

Winners!!!

Announcing the *WINNERS*

of the UNHINGED Teasy, Flippy Giveaway!!

 

 

Andrea F Chapman & Kayleigh Dolly Blossom D'Andilly

will each receive a signed

COLLECTOR'S EDITION

Splintered/Unhinged flip ARC

Full SPLINTERED story w/bonus chapter of UNHINGED



Hazel Houghton

 Gets a signed copy of THE SHADOW GIRL

 

 

Gabi Gabriella

Gets a hardback of THE PECULIARS

 

 

Bea Tejano, Bella Belikov Colella, & Kari Wall

Each win one signed bookplate

+ an UNHINGED/SPLINTERED book mark

 

Thanks everyone who entered!
More giveaways and prizes will be forthcoming over the next few months, so there are still lots of chances left to win.
Have a great week!

 

UNHINGED Teasy, Flippy Giveaway!

To celebrate finally being done with my frumious (albeit necessary) line edits, I'm sharing some Unhinged teasers and having a giveaway! And yes, it's INTL.

 

Let the futterwacken-ing BEGIN!

 

First, the Unhinged teasers:

Throughout book 2, Alyssa's Wonderland key and a keyhole heart locket are symbolic of a battle she has to face:

 

 

Several more Carrollian elements are brought to light, including:

What exactly is tulgey wood?

What are the looking glass insects, really?

The meaning behind the following two lines of the Jabberwocky poem will be revealed:

 

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

Odds are, it's a bit scarier than you think ... (◕‿◕)

 

Also, this verse from Lewis Carroll's Prologue to Alice poem plays a huge role in the book:

 

A childish story take,

And with a gentle hand,

Lay it where Childhoood's dreams are twined

In Memory's mystic band...

Assorted Unhinged tidbits:

Morpheus has a new hat, and the moths are more than just decorative.

Morpheus and Alyssa have an intense moment in the midst of a raging fire.

Jeb's artwork catches the attention of a mysterious and beautiful art collector, but is his art really the only thing she's interested in?

Alyssa and Jeb bond while taking a magical train ride.

Alyssa's mother returns home from the asylum.  

Alyssa learns the truth about her mother's past, and the secrets her mother has kept could prove to be Alyssa's undoing.

And, last but not least, Alyssa has a new artistic medium for her mosaics. It's even more morbid, and creepier, than the bug art.

 

***** 

Now for the contest portion of the post...

What's up for grabs?


2 lucky winners will receive a signed
COLLECTOR'S EDITION
Splintered/Unhinged flip ARC

Two- 1st prizes: Full SPLINTERED story w/bonus chapter of UNHINGED

 

2nd Prize: Signed copy of THE SHADOW GIRL

3rd Prize THE PECULIARS

 

Three- 4th place prizes:
One signed bookplate 
+ an UNHINGED/SPLINTERED book mark

Use the rafflecopter provided below to enter, and good luck!

Also, if those teasers made you impatient, you don't have to wait to see if you won the flip ARC to read a free sample chap of Unhinged. One is available on NetGalley right now.
Click the picture below for information.

 

Unhinged Sample Chapter

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway WINNERS and a small favor...

Thank you everyone who entered the UNHINGED Trailer Reveal Giveaway!

And the winners are (as chosen by Random.org):

 

SUPER SEEKRIT GRAND PRIZE

(Which I can now reveal as a special limited edition flip ARC, one side SPLINTERED cover and full story, then flip to the other side for UNHINGED cover and one sample chap! NICE, right???)

 

Grand Prize Winner: Ava Lassak

 

FIRST PRIZE

Unhinged personalized poster:

Danielle Duffield

 

SECOND PRIZE

Pocket watch necklace:

Jenelle Riane

 

THIRD PRIZE

Alice in Wonderland print:

Cali Willette

 

FOURTH PRIZE

Personalized Splintered swag pack:

C Daniella Alvarado-Reano

 

Congrats to all the winners! You will be receiving confirmation emails from me today. Also, I MIGHT have an extra one of those flip ARCs, in which case I MIGHT be giving another away soon. But no matter what, I WILL be having more giveaways leading up to Unhinged's release with all kinds of awesome goodies, so keep your eyes peeled!

As for the favor, did you know that the nominations for the 3rd annual YA Crush Tourney begin today? The YA Sisterhood has 4 bloggers helping out with the nominations:

@PageTurnersBlog http://t.co/FLAQqWw2WT
@StaceyONeale http://t.co/KjEerPBJvV
@FictishDelish http://t.co/AOyaCfXgQg
@StuckInBooks http://t.co/LXHjXL4K2d

If any of you would like to vote for Jeb or Morpheus in the DEBUT category, I would sure appreciate it! I'm hoping at least one of them can make it! Also, it would be great exposure for Splintered and Unhinged. :)

Thanks everyone, and have a great week! <3  

Junk-food for thought...

Now that I've had a month-long break from writing (and while I'm waiting for my next set of edits) it's time to start planning another book. And although I can't officially announce what it is, I can share my crafting process. 

 

I'm totally about the visual. My first stage of starting a story is building characters: what they look like, what their GMC (Goal/Motivation/Conflict) will be, and their personalities/names. To aid in this, I have a pinterest board for fascinating faces that fuel my imagination:

Click to go to pinterest board

 Since my current project is one I started a while back, I've already got the characters lined up.

 

Which means I move on to stage two: creating the settings and world. 

 

 This is one of my favorite things EVER. Maybe because it's when I really turn my imagination loose and embrace the crazy. Anyone who's read Splintered knows what I mean. Again, I have inspirational pinboards for world-building:

 

 

 

But, one of the most fun things about world building is I get to indulge in all the junk-food my wee little brain can digest.

 

I'm not talking cheetos or twinkies (although those do have their place, along with coffee and inordinate amounts of chocolate). I'm talking about horror movies with surreal plots, tons of shock value, and reel upon reel of grotesque eye candy.

 

Creepy critters and disturbing settings work like a defribrillator to my muse, and it's even better if the plot is mainly black and white without too many grays (in other words, junk food for the mind). That way, my brain is free to gorge itself on the visual aspects without having to think too hard about layers or predicting the ending.

Recently I've discovered the Silent Hill movies. Because they're based on computer games, the plots are mainly good vs bad and there is no shortage of gruesome graphics, scenery, and monsters.

Here are two of my favorites from the 3rd movie:

(1) A spidery creature made up of mannequin pieces. The first time I saw it scuttling down the wall, it was SO CREEPTASTIC I salivated. Heh.

 

(2) Mutated rusty-razor-bearing nurses whose faces are a macabre twist of skin that looks like an exposed brain. Since they have no eyes or noses, they react to their other senses: touch and sound, and move in a really jerky manner that makes them even freakier.  

   

Watching movies also keeps me attuned to the distinctive movements of the creatures and how they react to their setting, which puts that foremost in my mind as I'm building my own worlds and monsters.

As for an actual setting that has spoken to me, there was a scene in a decrepit amusement park that inspired a deliciously eerie idea for a carnival one day.  I can't WAIT to write it. ;)

 

Seeing as I'm a glutton for weird creatures and places, I guess I've found the perfect calling and outlet by writing dark and creepy novels. ;)