Daughter of Deep Silence

So let me take a break from all the middle grade, The Map to Everywhere news for some other exciting news: I have a new young adult novel coming out this summer!  And I finally get to share more information about it!

First, the title: Daughter of Deep Silence

Next, the pitch: A delicious tale of revenge and identity from Carrie Ryan, the bestselling author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth

The release date: June 2, 2015

And finally, the description:

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In the wake of the deadly devastation of luxury yacht Persephone, just three souls remain to tell its story—and two of them are lying. Only Frances Mace, rescued from the ocean after torturous days adrift with her dying friend Libby, knows that the Persephone wasn’t sunk by a rogue wave as survivors Senator Wells and his son are claiming—it was attacked.

To ensure her safety from the obviously dangerous and very powerful Wells family, Libby’s father helps newly orphaned Frances assume Libby’s identity. Frances has spent years in hiding, transforming herself into Libby, and she can no longer allow the people who murdered her entire family and Libby to get away with it. After years of careful plotting, she’s ready to set her revenge plans into motion—even if it means taking down the boy she’d once been in love with: the senator’s son.

The game has just begun, and Frances is not only playing dirty, she’s playing to win.

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I feel like I want to add in an ominous, "dun dun dun!" (if you'd like an actual sound effect, try this).

As of right now, there aren't any pre-order links available, but they should be live shortly (and I'll update this post when they are).  But since the announcement was going live today, I wanted to scoop the info here first :)  In the meantime, you can find more information on the Penguin website here.

Some additional answers to questions you may or may not be asking:

- This is one of the books I sold to Julie Strauss-Gabel at Dutton last year -- back then it was titled Turnabout (the original announcement is here).

- It's a young adult romantic thriller -- nary a zombie or paranormal creature in sight!

- It's also a stand-alone.  

- I've seen the cover mock-up and it's gorgeous!

- Erm... am I forgetting anything? If so, let me know if the comments!

Yay for being able to share such fun news!! I'm excited!! 

Banning Books = Fear

Growing up, I went to a religious school.  At graduation, the priest giving the commencement address said that we should always question our faith.  Because if we do so and it causes us to lose our faith, then our faith wasn’t strong enough to begin with.  And if we do so and we do not lose our faith, then it only makes our faith that much stronger.

At the time, this idea blew my mind.  It’s not that I’d always been told to blindly accept various things in life, but it’s the first time I remember someone in such an official capacity not just telling us that it’s okay to question and doubt, but that it’s a good thing.

Since then, this fundamental idea has formed a core part of my identity.  You do not convince people to your position on a matter by withholding the possibility of other options.  You do so by facing challenges against your position head on.  You need to lay out all the arguments — both the good and the bad — and explain why the bad shouldn’t matter.

Knowledge is power.  Information is power.  And the easiest way to control a population is to limit its access to information.  To take away their ability to form any opinion other than the one you want them to.  Which is why book banning is so problematic.

Books are how we create communities.  They are how we step outside of our own identities and into those of others — they’re how we learn empathy.  The only reason to ban a book is fear.  Fear that once a book opens someone’s eyes, you will not be able to force them closed again.

Three Starred Reviews for The Map to Everywhere

So I wrote this blog post but it got really long so decided to break it into two.  Here's part one, which is really the crux of it: The Map to Everywhere has received three starred reviews!!  I'm completely awed and excited and overwhelmed and excited again!!  Here's what they had to say:

"Vividly cast.... Multifaceted characters, high stakes, imaginative magic, and hints of hidden twists and complexities to come."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Wholly original.... This is an ambitious undertaking, and strong readers who enjoy adventure fiction and fantasy will inhale the first book in what has the potential to be an extraordinary series."—School Library Journal, starred review

"The unique details, expert plotting, charming characters, and comic interludes combine in a tantalizing read that’s made even more appealing by the promise that the story will continue in future volumes." —Booklist, starred review

What makes this even more special and wonderful has been to share this entire experience with my co-author, JP.  Apparently, I made a good choice to write with him since he is currently three for three on starred reviews!!

Signing in Raleigh with Kami Garcia on October 3!

Hey y'all! I'm super excited to announce that I'll be joining Kami Garcia at Quail Ridge Books on October 3 to celebrate the release of the second book in her Legion Series: Unmarked!  I've never done a signing at Qual Ridge and am so excited to finally get the opportunity!  Plus, it's Kami Garcia! She's awesome!

For more info, click here.  Hope to see y'all there!

Details:
When: Friday, October 3, 2014 at 7:00PM
Where: Qual Ridge Books: 3522 Wade Ave., Raleigh, NC 27607
What: I'll be interviewing Kami Garcia about her latest release, answering questions, and signing!