Thanks to everyone who tweeted/blogged/facebooked the cover reveal yesterday. As any author can tell you, the hardest battle for most books–especially first ones–is simply making people aware they exist. There'll be more of that to come and I'll try to make it fun and not obnoxious. And please know that every shout out, recommendation, link/tweet is very, very appreciated.
The Blackwood ARC giveaway at the Book Smugglers will be open until Saturday, April 7, at 11:59 p.m. (PST). All you have to do to enter is comment on the post. So, it's not at all too late to enter or spread the word.
Reading the comments has been truly fascinating–obviously I am so glad that most people seem to be keen on both the cover and the premise, and it's fun to get to share them. The reason the contest is running for two weeks, by the way, is because the ARCs are currently in the production process. Soon they will be winging their way out into the world. This is both nervous-making and exciting…but mostly exciting. I tried to put all the things I like best into this book–mystery, romance, humor, smart characters, creepiness, some subversiveness, a girl who says frak, SPOILER, and etcetera–and so fingers crossed you lovely people like it. I've often said that my favorite kind of book is the meaning-of-life page-turner.* That is, more or less, a book with something to say that's also into giving the reader pleasure. I hope Blackwood is that kind of book.
A teensy round-up of some links from yesterday, besides the Book Smugglers: Heroes and Heartbreakers did a nice post, Leila at Bookshelves of Doom cracked me up (I am no John Grisham, madame!), and Colleen Mondor is too good to me, as always. Also, thank you to the wonderful Book Smugglers ladies for being so, well, wonderful.
I've updated my Blackwood page with the cover and also pre-order links. The cover is already up at Amazon, though for some reason it has kind of a neon glow there (I assure you it won't have that in real life–unless you get a rare radioactive copy), and at goodreads, and I imagine it will show up other places soon too. Bonus points for asking your favorite indie bookstore to order it for you and/or encouraging them to stock it. September 4 will be here before you–or at least before I–know it.
OH, and I just added a new (and soonish) event to the Travel & Events page (note to self: must start thinking about fall events soooon). At 7 p.m. on April 26, I'll be part of the Southern Kidlit Writers Cabal Panel at Malaprop's Bookstore in Asheville, N.C., with a whole bunch of people WAY fancier than me–Alan Gratz, Carrie Ryan, Beth Revis, Megan Shepherd, Megan Miranda, Tiffany Trent, Laurel Snyder, and Kristin Tubb. If you're in the area, check it out. We'll be almost a week into a workshop by then, and probably a bit punchy.
Have a great weekend, everybody. And, again, all the ♥ in the world.
*As coined by the brilliant Sean Stewart.