Do you Daydream? (also giveaway reminder!)

First off, don't forget to enter the contest from yesterday here.  All you have to do is post on that entry congratulating JP for becoming a finalist in Writers of the Future and you're entered to win a short story collection that has one of this stories!

I have all sorts of bubbly things going on that I don't know if I can talk about but rest assured, there's been lots of me bouncing around.  I'm not sure anything will come out of the exciting things except that it's sparked many a lovely day dream which is always nice.

JP and I were talking about this over dinner last night as he's a big fan of the "don't count any chickens until they hatch" philosophy.  And I totally agree with him -- I'm not really counting chickens.  I'm just sort of playing with the eggs -- holding them up to my ear, rattling them around a bit to see if anythings inside, etc.

I think some people are more like him -- afraid somewhat of day dreaming about things for fear of them not happening and then what?  Me on the other hand -- day dreaming is how I fall asleep at night.  It's funny, I think the only down side to having my first book out is the inability to day dream about it any more.  For YEARS I spent my falling asleep time day dreaming about getting The Call.  I can't even begin to tally up the different scenarios that I played out in my head.

Incidentally, the real thing was even better and I wonder if that's one reason why I still allow myself to day dream -- because I haven't been let down by reality?  It's funny, in my every day life I tend to be someone who can always point to the worst case scenario (which can be infuriating when you play against me in Risk but also made me a good attorney in some ways).  And yet when I close my eyes and daydream, it's always about the best case scenario.

Maybe I'm just able to separate my day dreams from reality, or maybe it's that I have a fundamental belief that things tend to work out in the end.  So even if my day dreams don't come true, it's not necessarily a bad thing -- it's just a different path.  Maybe I also separate my day dreaming from "wanting."  Sure I'd love the things I day dream about to come true, and I do to some extent want them to come true, but there's just not that NEED there.  Life will go on even if they don't come true.

To me, it's just about the day dream.  Something nice and fun to ponder while falling through the edge of sleep.  And who knows, maybe those years of day dreaming about getting the call pulled double duty as goal visualization.

What about y'all?  Do you day dream?  If so, what do you dream about?  If not, why?

JP, a writer of the Future, other news, and a giveaway!

So, the big happy news first!  JP, my fiance, is a finalist in the 2d Quarter of Writers of the Future!  This is awesome news and I couldn't be more excited, thrilled, ecstatic, happy for him!  Go JP!!!!!  To celebrate, I'm giving away a copy of Satirica, a collection containing one of JP's short stories.  To win, comment congratulating JP and I'll choose a winner Monday night!

In other news, I turned in my very own short story (which JP has informed me is not short at all seeing as how it's cresting 10k words) and just got line edits back from my editor for The Dead-Tossed Waves.  I also got an invitation to contribute another short story to an anthology and am pondering what to write about next -- anyone have any burning questions about the FHT world they'd like addressed in a short story?

I know I've been totally remiss in recapping the awesome adventures of the Gothic Girls trip to Savannah.  My only excuse is being sick but really it's that I've become addicted to Twitter which has caused my blogging itch to be more satisfied.  Anyone else found that Twitter's caused their blogging to go down a bit?  All of the other Gothic Girls have posted such wonderful recaps of the week that I've had a hard time finding a way to describe it nearly as well as they have!

Also, I have that whole deadline thing again which crimps my time a bit.  But in honor of the Gothic Girls (and my deadline) here's an awesome video that was part of a student's senior project at the Savannah College of Art and Design.



Hmmm... stop motion as procrastination eh?

Giving it away for free (the only time Mamma would approve)

Serena Robar is giving it away for free the entire month of June. That’s right. A book a day, every day in honor of her latest book release Giving Up the V. All you have to do to is sign up for her newsletter and you're entered to win. Enter once and you're in the running to win a book every day the entire month of June!!

And in honor of all the free books, I asked Serena to answer a few questions!  Thanks for dropping by Serena!! :)

What's been one of the most exciting moments in your journey to publication?

I would have to say the actual call from an editor, wanting to buy my book was a pretty sweet thing.  Finally, I thought, my work is being recognized in a positive light and not with another rejection form letter. Writers get rejected. A lot.  You gotta have thick skin or this industry will eat you alive.

Is there anything you can't write without? 

I started my writing career with two kids in diapers. There were interruptions galore, but I managed to get the books written.  Now that they are older and don’t need me as much (Typing this I should point out I have been interrupted three times as school is now on summer break) I find I need bigger blocks of uninterrupted time.  I will leave and write at the library or if I am on deadline, I will hide out at my husband’s office for the weekend.  It’s tough to keep being pulled away from your train of thought I often look back at the early days and wonder how the heck I managed.

When stuck on a story which do you choose: write make-out scene or explode something? 

I hate being stuck.  When I am, I will usually write a scene that will be placed in the book later.  Something that flows easily because I had envisioned it earlier.  It’s usually the first kiss, get together scene.  Totally makes me happy and usually helps unblock the previous scene J. So yeah, bring on the lovin’.

Can you share a favorite line you've written either in this book or a WIP?

I love opening lines.  I think they really set the tone for an entire book.  My current release, Giving Up the V begins like this:

Where does the underwear go?  I instantly want to know she doesn’t have her underwear on and why it has to be put somewhere.

In Giving Up the V our heroine is at her first GYN visit and she is suffering the age old dilemma put forth to every woman since the beginning of GYN visits. Where does the underwear go?  The underwear is the last thing you take off so where do you put it?  On top of your tidy folded clothes or hidden underneath? Where you put it says a lot about a person.  I suggest picking up Giving Up the V to see exactly what I mean.

Finally: pro fast zombie or anti fast zombies? 

Hah! Totally depends on my goal at the time.  Am I itching to become a zombie or do I want to make my escape? I think in all fairness zombies should be slow, but then where is the conflict in that?  Slow zombies just breed complacency.

About Giving up the V:

 What's So Wrong With Waiting?

Spencer Davis just turned sixteen. But unlike most hormonal teenagers who seem obsessed with sex -- like her entire crew of friends -- Spencer just doesn't get it. She'd rather wait for the right guy and the right moment. But that moment may be arriving sooner than she'd thought.

Enter Benjamin Hopkins, a new transfer student who seems to have his eyes on our V-card-carrying heroine. He's gorgeous, funny, suave, athletic, and capable of making Spencer's knees wobble with a single glance. Spencer has never felt this way about anyone before, but is Ben truly V-worthy?

Signed copies of The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Hey y'all!

When I've been out an about the past few weeks I've tried to stop by and sign stock whenever I can, so if you're looking for a signed copy of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, try the following bookstores:

Charlotte, NC:
Park Road Books (in Park Road Shopping Center)
Barnes & Noble (by SouthPark Mall, The Arboretum, and Carolina Place Mall)
Borders (by SouthPark Mall and off Rea Road)
Joseph Beth Booksellers (at SouthPark Mall)

Savannah, GA:
Barnes & Noble (Oglethorpe Mall)
Books a Million (Abercorn St just down from B&N)

Macon, GA:
Barnes & Noble (The Shoppes at River Crossing, Riverside Drive)

Atlanta, GA:
Little Shop of Stories (Decatur, GA)
Barnes & Noble (Northpoint Pkwy and Mansell Rd in Alpharetta)

Books a Million (Canton Marketplace - 575 & Hwy 20 in Canton)

Greenville, SC:
Barnes & Noble (Woodruff Rd and Haywood Rd)

If you look for The Forest of Hands and Teeth at most Barnes & Noble locations and can't find it on the shelf it's hopefully stocked on a table of "New and Bestselling Science Fiction & Fantasy" (one reason I hit so many B&N for stock signings!)  Thanks to all the booksellers I met and talked to over the past few weeks -- y'all totally rock!!!

Anywhere Else:

If you don't live anywhere near any of those locations or if you can't find it and you'd like an autographed and/or personalized copy of FHT, you can order it from my local indie, Park Road Books.  Let them know if you want it personalized, etc., and they'll call me to come down and sign it for you!  They're only a few miles away and I'll take any excuse to visit a bookstore :)  You can email them at books [at] parkroadbooks.com or call 704-525-9239 and they'll set you up!  A huge thanks to the folks at Park Road Books for offering to do this for me!

I'm also starting to schedule some things in for the fall and will let you know when I have details!

Debs Blog Tour: catching up with Sarah Ockler and Mandy Hubbard

Hey Y'all!  Lots of blog posts coming this week -- where to find signed copies of FHT, recap from Gothic Girls retreat to Savannah, etc etc.  But first, since I've been gone for a while I have two debs blog tour posts to catch up on.  First is Sarah Ockler and her debut, Twenty Boy Summer and the second is Mandy Hubbard and her debut, Prada & Prejudice.  I have to say, both of these look like awesome summer reads!!

About Twenty Boy Summer:


While on vacation in California, sixteen-year-old best girlfriends Anna and Frankie conspire to find a boy for Anna’s first summer romance, but Anna harbors a painful secret that threatens their lighthearted plan and their friendship.


TWENTY BOY SUMMER is a debut YA novel that explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.


About Sarah Ockler:


Sarah Ockler wrote and illustrated her first book at age six—an adaptation of Steven Spielberg's E.T. Still recovering from her own adolescence, Sarah now writes for young adults. After several years of wandering between New York City and Denver, she and her husband Alex now live in Upstate New York with lots of books and an ever-expanding collection of sea glass. Twenty Boy Summer is Sarah's first novel. Visit her online at www.sarahockler.com.


The Interview:



What's been one of the most exciting moments in your journey to publication?


There have been some amazing exciting moments on this journey, like finding an agent and seeing the cover for the first time and getting reader emails, but the one thing that stands out as most exciting is the thing that officially kicked off my career as an author... gGetting "the call" from the 212 area code (New York City) that Twenty Boy Summer had sold to Little, Brown!


Is there anything you can't write without?


I have my rituals and preferences, like incense and classical music and my 3-legged lucky writing pig Chancho, but I *can* write without them if I had to. I try to be flexible, because inspiration often strikes at really inconvenient times! All I really need is a pen and something to write on!


When stuck on a story which do you choose: write make-out scene or explode something?


I choose to... write an explosive make-out scene! So far, I haven't blown anything up in my books, but I'm open to the idea, especially if there's making out after. We'll see. ;-) In my opinion, any kind of fireworks are good for stories!


Can you share a favorite line you've written either in this book or a WIP?


From Twenty Boy Summer: "Summer seems to arrive with us, as though the entire place has been asleep since last September, awakening only as taxis and rental cars line up to deposit us along the beach -- families with toddlers, college kids on break, retirees seeking to warm themselves under the California sun, and our own motley crew. Together we break upon the pier like a tidal wave as she rubs her winter-sleepy eyes, stretches, and turns on the coffee for us."


Finally: pro fast zombie or anti fast zombies?


Pro. I don't hold on to most of the traditional "rules" for zombies and I love when writers or artists take a fresh, new approach. So, bring on the Gabrielles! ;-)

I asked Sarah to share a recap post of her road to publication if she had one and the link is here.


Thanks Sarah!  And now on to Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard:

About Prada & Prejudice:


Fifteen year old Callie just wants to impress the popular girls when she buys a pair of Prada heels on her class trip to London. She didn’t plan on tripping, conking her head, and waking up in 1815! Now she’s wearing corsets with her designer pumps, eating bizarre soups, and breaking up engagements. If only the nineteen year old Duke of Harksbury wasn’t so bloody annoying, she might have a little fun in Austen-Era England...


About Mandy Hubbard:


Mandy Hubbard grew up on a dairy farm outside Seattle, where she refused to wear high heels until homecoming—and hated them so much she didn’t wear another pair for five years. A cowgirl at heart, she enjoys riding horses and quads and singing horribly to the latest country tune. She’s currently living happily ever after with her husband (who, sadly, is not a Duke) and her daughter (who is most definitely a princess). Prada and Prejudice is her first novel.


The Interview:



What's been one of the most exciting moments in your journey to publication?


Holding my ARCs. It was So exciting to see the way the entire thing comes together as a package... and to read it as a book and not a word document!


Is there anything you can't write without?


I can, but prefer not to write without Diet Coke. MMM.


When stuck on a story which do you choose: write make-out scene or explode something? 


Make out scenes.


Can you share a favorite line you've written either in this book or a WIP?


The first line of SHATTERED, a literary tale I'm still toying with, is "I lie in pieces on the floor." Something about that still yanks me right into the story.


Finally: pro fast zombie or anti fast zombies? 


Anti! I dont want any zombies outrunning me. 

The Demon's Lexicon is made of win!

I have vanquished the revisions!  Long live the revisions!  Actually, the lovely Heidi Kling is reading it right now and making wonderful comments.  Must say, it's hard to watch her read and gasp and worry about someone other than (a) me and (b) my editor reading this book. *quiver*  It's scary to let go of things like that.

So yes, big check mark next to the "revisions" on my to-do list.  In celebration I'm in Savannah at a writer's retreat and pretending to write while actually just hanging and talking.  With big plans to read read read.  Actually my big plans are to revise a short story.  Yay more revisions!


Speaking of reading, I've been remiss in lauding from on high Sarah Rees Brennan's debut novel, The Demon's Lexicon.  It came out on Tuesday and let me tell you: fantastic book.  Sarah is brilliant at injecting humor in all the right places -- and good humor.  She's also fantastic at creating really hot characters that you fall in love with and care about.

This is one of those books that you're totally going to fall in love with.  I read it on the flight down to Curacao in January and the flight just flew by (haha).  And Sarah herself is a totally awesome person and I couldn't be MORE thrilled that her book is finally out and I can proclaim its brilliance from the rooftops.

Debs Blog Tour: Dull Boy by Sarah Cross

Buy this book.  Seriously, do it.  I know I've said it before and I plan on saying it many times again -- DULL BOY is one of my favorite books this year.  I was in the middle of revisions a few months back when I got the ARC and I thought I'd just read a few pages before dead.  Half the book and 2am later and I was HOOKED.

Sarah Cross's voice is just awesome -- her characters say and do things I wish I said and did in real life (or could even write).  Dull Boy is witty and touching and just flat out fun.  Trust me when I say you won't be disappointed with this book -- I plan on reading it again on my upcoming beach trip because it's just that awesome!


About the book:

Superpowers are awesome -- unless you actually have them, like Avery does. There's only so much he can pass off as "adrenaline" before people start to get suspicious. Probably it's best to lie low, so guys in white lab coats don't come to carry him away, to find out what makes his freakish body tick. Who wants to be vivisected? But flying under the radar becomes a whole lot harder when you can actually fly. It's dangerous to be different, so for now he'll pretend to be normal, unremarkable Avery -- a dull boy -- anything to keep his secret safe.

What he doesn't expect is the horrifying truth about where his powers came from, who else might have them, and the madness of one villain's plan to turn this superpowered dull boy into something even more powerful and amazing.


About the author:

Sarah Cross has saved the world, like, five times since fifth grade — and you didn’t even notice. Learn her secrets at www.sarahcross.com.


The interview:


What's been one of the most exciting moments in your journey to publication?

Seeing the interior design for the first time. The designer, Jason Henry, totally blew me away with all the cool details he chose. I love my lightning bolts! (Flip through the book to see what I'm talking about.)

Is there anything you can't write without?

My sanity. Too much noise and too much heat make me crazy.

When stuck on a story which do you choose: write make-out scene or explode something?

It depends on the book. :)

Can you share a favorite line you've written either in this book or a WIP?

"Vivisection leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

Finally: pro fast zombie or anti fast zombies?

I like my zombies slow and shambling. :)