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Event Recap: Angry Robot Books Showcase & Giveaway!

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Outside of professional conferences, I get to attend very few author or book events. I live in the middle of no where, and to get to even the nearest chain bookstore is nearly an hour drive. But last night, I decided to suck it up and take the long trip down to Chicago to the Angry Robot Books Author Showcase.

For perspective:

I spent two hours on this train, both ways. That’s a really exciting picture, isn’t it? I kept myself entertained though and on the way down to the city, I finished reading Emily Murdoch’s 2013 debut If You Find Me.

The Book Cellar, where the event was located, is an indie bookstore in a really nice area of Chicago. I wandered around a little beforehand, but the place was stuffed — not just full of books but of people. There was a really nice turnout for the event. When I sat down, I kept looking over at a woman sitting on the other side of my row who looked really familiar. But I’m not the kind of person to go wander up to a stranger, so I didn’t say anything to her.

The Showcase itself was about what I can handle in an author reading event: each of the four authors, Adam Christopher (author of Seven Wonders), Chuck Wendig (Mockingbird), Gwenda Bond (Blackwood) and Kim Curran (Shift) each read a small excerpt/teaser from their novels and then answered audience questions. It was enough to give a good taste of what their writing was like without being a lengthy reading session.

Here are Chuck and Gwenda reading and talking about their books. Fun fact about the authors: three out of the four of them had really delightful accents while reading.

Each of the authors was asked to talk about one of their favorite reads in the last year, and Gwenda’s answer involved pointing to the woman in the audience who I thought looked familiar. Turns out, my intuition was right: it was Rae Carson, author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns.

After the reading, which only lasted an hour, I went and picked up two copies of Blackwood. Part of why I’d made the trek down was because Gwenda and I thought it’d be a great opportunity to meet each other. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her prior to the reading, so I made sure to be one of the first up to get books signed. When I told her my name for the signature, she looked up, asked me how to spell it, then signed. There was absolutely no recognition at all. She had no idea who I was. I was trying to figure out a non-awkward way to bypass that, but after she finished signing, it clicked. It was a relief since she and I had made plans for after the event that she knew who I was.

I then went and approached Rae because the last time we met, it had been really briefly and in a dark, crowded room when I was leaving. She had had the same “I think I know her” thing toward me I had had toward her. We made sure to block the walkable area of the bookstore chatting, and then I purchased a nice paperback edition of her book and had it signed too.

When the bookstore cleared out, a nice Mexican dinner and frozen yogurt (!!) were enjoyed by Gwenda, myself, Erica of The Book Cellar, Gwenda’s husband Christopher Rowe (we bonded over Jillian Michaels), and a pair of Gwenda’s former workshop partners. It was worth the long, late train ride back.

I mentioned that I bought two copies of Blackwood, right? And that I got both signed? That’s because I’m giving one of those copies away to a reader who’d like one. You can read about the book and the Strange Chemistry imprint of Angry Robot Books here, as well as here. I’ll draw a winner at the end of the month and this is open to US/Canadian residents only.

Giveaway: The Letter Q

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We’ve got a giveaway today, courtesy of Big Honcho Media and Scholastic’s This is Teen campaign. Two readers will win a finished copy of the anthology The Letter Q: Queer Writers’ Notes to Their Younger Selves, edited by Sarah Moon.

About the Book: 

In this anthology, sixty-four award-winning authors and illustrators such as Michael Cunningham, Amy Bloom, Jacqueline, Woodson, Terrence McNally, Gregory Maguire, David Levithan, and Armistead Maupin, make imaginative journeys into their pasts, telling their younger selves what they would have liked to know then about their lives as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender people. Through stories, in pictures, with bracing honesty, these are words of love, messages of understanding, reasons to hold on for the better future ahead. They will tell you things about your favorite authors that you never knew before. And they will tell you about yourself. 

Here’s the trailer:

You can also find more information about the book on Facebook.

Want a copy? All you have to do is fill out the form below, and we’ll pick two winners for a finished copy of The Letter Q on June 6.

It’s our anniversary — come celebrate with us!

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Three ice cream cones to celebrate our three year anniversary (that’s one for each of us). It’s hard to believe what started out in as a little idea has turned into such a huge thing. I think I speak for Kimberly and Jen when I say that blogging has changed our lives in a very, very good way. We’ve not only been able to talk about the books we’re reading, but we’ve also met incredible people, made great friends, learned about the book world, and maybe most importantly, we’ve had fun. I know I look forward to doing this.

To celebrate three years we’re going to share our tips, tricks, and lessons learned from three years doing this. But maybe more fun, since we DO blog so much about YA fiction and the teen world, we’re going to give you a glimpse into our high school selves. You’ll not only get to see what we were into and what we looked like, but we’ll share what we were reading back in the day.

And of course, no anniversary would be complete without a giveaway as a way to thank everyone who takes the time to read what we write, but those who comment, who share, and who continue to motivate us in doing this. You help make this fun.

Naturally, we picked a pair of our favorite reads so far this year. Two books we’re more than thrilled to talk up and down as stand outs. We’re giving away a pre-order of Courtney Summers’s This is Not a Test (teaser-reviewed here) and Pete Hautman’s The Obsidian Blade (reviewed here). Two books, two potential winners, but you’re welcome to enter for both. The books will be purchased and sent via The Book Depository, so it’s open to anyone who can receive books from there. Winners will be picked May 8.

We hope you enjoy what we have to share the next few days and thank you so much for making this little blogging thing so much more than just a little blogging thing.

Twitterview: Antony John

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This month’s Twitterview guest is none other than Antony John, author of the forthcoming Thou Shalt Not Road Trip, as well as Five Flavors of Dumb, Busted, and the Fall 2012 title Elementals. He’s here to talk about road trips, brother relationships, music, and more. I give Antony some huge props for tackling this Twitterview with his signature charm and humor — this is his first time “tweeting,” and I think he has the hang of 140-characters down pat! 

As a bonus, there’s a giveaway of Thou Shalt Not Road Trip at the end of the Twitterview.

Without further ado, here’s Antony: 
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Pitch Thou Shalt Not Road Trip in 140 characters.
Luke’s on Route 66 to promote his book, Hallelujah. His ex-crush is hitching a ride. It’ll be life-changing. Just not in the way he expects.
What inspired Thou Shalt Not Road Trip?
A spiritual connection with Route 66 & vivid recollections of some weird theological discussions from my youth.
What should readers walk away with from Thou Shalt Not Road Trip?
Two lessons (it’s vital to communicate; you can’t please everyone, and you really shouldn’t try) and several laughs.
Faith and conviction are big themes in the story (not just spiritually, but in terms of relationships, too). Talk a bit about that.
It’s hard to keep faith in someone (or something) during rapid and unexpected change. I wanted to explore that from several angles.
This is a book set on the road — did you have a favorite place to write about in Thou Shalt Not Road Trip?
Maybe Devil’s Elbow, an old Route 66 river crossing. It’s totally neglected now, but you can see why people used to stop for the view.
Why the choice to set this story on the road?
I love road trips—in which literal and metaphorical journeys collide—and Route 66 runs through Missouri, which is where I live!
Sibling stories are growing in the YA world. How would you describe Luke and brother Matt’s relationship?
Complicated. They want to believe in each other and remain close, but circumstances make that difficult. True for a lot siblings, I guess.
Who or what do you write for?
I write for teen me: the quintessential reluctant reader. I needed drama, and flawed characters, and lots of plot twists. Still do actually!
What was your most influential read as a teenager?
THE OUTSIDERS, hands down. It was so far removed from my own experience growing up in England, and the voice was just electrifying.
Who are your top three writing influences?
For how they affect my writing, it’d be: my wife, Audrey; my agent, Ted; and my editor, Liz. They’re my A-Team.
Who do you believe is breaking ground in YA right now?
Too many authors to count. Meg Rosoff, Sara Zarr, John Green, Suzanne Collins, etc etc. This is a great time to be in YA.
What’s the best writing advice you ever received?
Read your work out loud. It’s the true litmus test. If it sounds right when you read aloud, it’ll work when read silently.
What’s your best writing advice to give?
Enjoy the process of writing. Whether you write for fun or as a career, you have to enjoy it. Otherwise, find something you like more.
What is your writing routine?
Drop the kids at school and get writing immediately. After lunch, attempt to deal with everything else. Fail. Make a cup of tea instead.
What gets you jazzed to write?
Everything. I never lack for motivation. I have so many books I want to write. I just need more time!
Music is your background. How does it influence your writing?
I tend to obsess over structure – making sure the sections of the book feel balanced—and pacing (even down to the rhythm of a sentence).
Do you have a writing soundtrack? Care to share a bit?
Depends on the project. Classical mixes for fantasy (very atmospheric) and rock for contemporary. But my tastes are very eclectic (i.e. weird).
What’s next for you?
ELEMENTAL – a fantasy adventure set on the Outer Banks, featuring teens who control the elements . . . all except one. Coming fall 2012.
Favorite ice cream?
Haagen-Dazs Pralines and Cream, although I haven’t had it in ages. Too long, to be honest. Actually, I’m off to get some right now.

 

Twitterview: Kirsten Hubbard

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This month’s Twitterview victim — err, participant — is Kirsten Hubbard, author of Like Mandarin and Wanderlove, which comes out March 13. She’s also one of the forces behind YA Highway and she maintains a great blog herself that is worth reading not only if writing interests you, but if you love traveling. To celebrate the release of Wanderlove, she’s created a fun travelogue-esque Tumblr that’s worth checking out (you’ll get your wanderlust satisfaction for the day with those images, I promise). She’s here to talk about the inspirations behind Wanderlove, incorporating her own art into the story, and how she tackles relationships in her writing. There’s also a giveaway of Wanderlove.

Pitch Wanderlove in 140 characters.

Brokenhearted girl discovers self, art & jungle beasties on backpacking trip through Central America – with help from hot dive instructor.
What inspired Wanderlove?
My triplicate obsessions with writing, travel and art.
What should readers walk away with from Wanderlove?
An affliction with Wanderlove. 
Wanderlove makes setting — Central America — an integral part of the story. Like Mandarin made Wyoming sing. Why is setting so important?
Setting makes scenes cinematic. It can step out of the backdrop & interact with characters in surprising ways – & become its own character.
What was your favorite place to write about in Wanderlove?
In particular, I loved bringing Laughingbird Caye to life. It’s where Bria finally finds herself, and she & Rowan find each other.
Wanderlove incorporates some of your own sketches. What was it like adding your art to your text?
Exhilarating, intimidating & time-consuming (I watched the whole Buffy series as I drew). But truly, a childhood dream come true.
Both of your stories avoid “traditional” romance plots, despite the emotions being there for romance to emerge. Care to talk about that?
In romances, I’m all about restraint and slow build. When characters finally kiss, I want readers to cheer.

Who or what do you write for?
I definitely write books I’d love to read, with characters & places I adore, & bits I find funny myself. But also, always, the general You.

What was your most influential read as a teenager?
Watership Down. Still determining how it figured into my books.

You’re a traveler. Where was your favorite destination? Why?
I love so many places, but my heart belongs to Black Rock City, Nevada. A shame it only exists one week per year. 

Who are your top three writing influences?

Vladimir Nabokov. Louis Sachar. Melina Marchetta. Not that I’ll ever write like them. But I strive not to embarrass them.
Who do you believe is breaking ground in YA right now?
John Green, who proves brilliant books can be bestsellers. M.T. Anderson, who is a genius. Melina Marchetta, for obvious reasons.
What’s the best writing advice you ever received?
Give them what they want – not what they expect.
What’s your best writing advice to give?
Write another book. 
What is your writing routine?
Sit, stare, click away, Twitter, Facebook, stare, Gmail, Goodreads, stare, put on pants, walk to coffee shop, maybe get actual work done.
What gets you jazzed to write?
My writing soundtrack.

Do you have a writing soundtrack? Care to share a bit?

Yep! Top songs for WL: “Let Go” ~ Frou Frou, “The Con” ~ Tegan & Sara, “World Sick” ~ Broken Social Scene”, & “Moth’s Wings” ~ Passion Pit.
Favorite ice cream?
Maurecia. It’s very rare.