EVENTS! EVENTS! EVENTS!

 

I’ve been meaning to post events here for a while, and what better time to get around to it than on the cusp of the Summer Solstice, and my first hometown book signing the following day? That’s THIS SATURDAY, June 22nd, from 1 to 4 pm. I'll be perched outside the store with table and books, 100 yards or so from Starbucks. (That's not a hint. Ok, it is.)

When I look at this list...well, I’m gawping. Three months ago, my in-person calendar was blank and I was quaking at the prospect of the next inevitable stage of Life as a Published Author (bar holing up in my writer's cave with an infinite amount of chocolate treats). Now, with 5 book signings and 5 presentations already under my belt, I can’t wait to do more!

So, below is the next leg...so far. Thanks for dropping by, and please feel free to comment—I love reading what you have to say!

Saturday, June 22, 1- 4 pm: Farley’s Bookshop, New Hope, PA. Book signing.

Saturday, June 29^th: Barnes & Noble, Neshaminy Mall, Bensalem, PA.

Panel and signing along with fellow KidlitAuthors Club members Alissa Grosso, Ann Malaspina, Artie Bennett and Charlotte Bennardo; 1–3 pm

Friday, July 19, 3–4:30 pm: West Windsor Branch Library, NJ,

Discussion with YA authors E.C. Myers and Alissa Grosso about not-to-be missed YA and MG books!

STOP PRESS!! TIME CHANGE
Sunday, July 21st, 11a.m.-2 pm: A Paperback Exchange, Belmar, NJ

Signing with other local authors

Tuesday, July 23, 2–4:00 pm: Cranford Library, NJ

Panel event with Alissa Grosso and others (tba), 

Saturday, July 27, 10–12 am: Toadstool Books, Milford, NH

Book signing (solo) and critique event,

Saturday, July 27, 3–5 pm: Toadstool Books, Keene, NH

Book signing (solo) and critique event,

Saturday, August 3, 7–9 pm: Booksmith, Brookline, MA

Panel, readings and book signing with fellow Lucky 13s authors Rachele Alpine, Justina Ireland, Alex Lidell and Mindy Raf (YA) and Elisabeth Dahl (my MG companion for the event!)

Tuesday, September 10, 7 pm: 9/10 Wall Library, NJ

Panel Q&A, So you want to be a writer, with NJAuthors Network members (tba)

Sunday, September 15, (time tbc): Towne Book Store, Collegeville, PA

Educator panel with fellow Kidlit Authors Club members Cyn Balog, Nancy Viau, Amy Holder and Ann Malaspina, followed by meet the public and book signing.

Saturday, September 28, all day: Warwick Book Festival, Warwick, NY 

Book festival! As it sounds…a ton of authors, all selling and signing books.

STOP PRESS!! ADDED EVENT!
Sunday, September 29, 2:30: Baltimore Book Festival, Baltimore, MD
Panel discussion in the Children's Tent, followed by signing.

Saturday, October 5, all day: Collingswood book festival, Collingswood, NJ

Another one! Authors galore, selling and signing.

Monday, October 21, 9 am–10:15: Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Conference

Panel on Why we love writing Middle Grade, with Jonathan Auxier and one other (tba).

Saturday, October 26, 10-12 am:  Howell Library, NJ

World building in Fantasy Fiction. My first solo presention! Open to writers and all comers.

Thursday, November 14^th, 7—pm: Somerset Co. Library, Bridgewater NJ: 

Query Q&A panel and critique raffle with Kidlit Authors Club members Alissa Grosso, Alison Formento, Nancy Viau and Charlotte Bennardo.

Tuesday, December 3, St. Katherine of Sienna Grade School:

Assembly presentation, grades 5-8, followed by Book Fair at Barnes & Noble, Bensalem, 7pm.

Also in the works:

October 13-17: Possible NJ library events for Teen Read Week with Kidlit Authors Club

Saturday October 19: Lucky 13s School Library event, Cleveland, OH

Wow. Wow! Wow...That's almost until Christmas. And I've barely started booking school events for the Fall. Watch this space... 

I’m so grateful for every opportunity to meet children’s book lovers of all ages—especially the kids—and to take The Flame in the Mist out into the world. Without the camaraderie of various local author groups like the fabulous Kidlit Authors Club, who invited me into their midst, this list wouldn’t be half as long. So Thank you, thank you, thank you to my fellow authors for your energy and enthusiasm, as well as to the wonderful event organizers at the bookstores, libraries and schools that host us, and who are so willing to go the extra mile to help us out.

Thank you. Again.

 

MY FIRST SCHOOL VISIT: An Alarming Experience, and a Book Fair

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I’ve always dreaded public speaking. Serenading an audience of thousands? Easy by comparison, with a guitar and mic as props. Book signings? No problem meeting people one on one, while the book sits there looking pretty. But talking to even 20 people in a room, let alone a whole assembly full of students? Eep. I’ve known for some time that as a published author, I’d have to face this big fear (aka, terror) sooner or later. “Later” being the option my Inner Procrastinator kept whispering. Deal with this in the fall, it soothed. Build up to it! 

Destiny, however, had a different plan. Through Bonnie Lynn Wagner, a book blogger who’d hosted a stop on my blog tour (you can see Digby’s character interview here), I connected with Elizabeth Ullmer, the Community Relations Manager at the Barnes & Noble in Bensalem. “Ask her about book fairs,” Bonnie wrote me. “Better than signings.” Book fairs? I didn't know what they were, but fairs are fun, right?

Pretty, but don't be fooled

I called Elizabeth, who was delightful and enthusiastic. Within hours, she called me back. The New Foundations Charter School in NE Philadelphia were excited to have me do a school visit on May 29^th if I was available, followed by their book fair that evening at the store. Wait…what?? A book fair involved doing a school visit? A zillion grubs in my stomach instantly hatched into mini butterflies. “Sure!” I blurted, before Inner Procrastinator could come up with any excuses. “Tell me more!” It would involve 2 presentations each about 30-40 minutes long, Elizabeth explained, to an assembly of about 225 kids at a time.

225 at a time? Uh…really? Not a mere 20 or 30 (gulp) in a classroom? And I didn’t even know PowerPoint yet! Amazing how mini butterflies can grow into carnivorous, stomach-gnawing Papilia really fast.

Well, what else to do but prepare? I learned PowerPoint (aka hubby learned it, then showed me how) and put together a presentation full of the typically Brit castles, cottages, and general spookiness that found their way The Flame in the Mist. I rehearsed to an audience (aka hubby, a few stuffed toys, and the imaginary crowd in my head, all listening patiently). I actually began to look forward to The Day. And then, it arrived. 

Breathe....

I met Elizabeth for a quick breakfast before we drove down to the school. She was as lovely in person as on the phone, and put me at ease. Tum-butterflies fluttered gently, as if playing around a sunny flower garden. At the school, we were warmly welcomed by Bobbie Tyndall, who organizes the school’s author visits. My laptop connected easily to their projector. The sound worked. Bobbie took goofy snaps. Everything was going perfectly! No glitches! The first group of kids began filing in. Some smiled. Some looked curious, others skeptical. A few more virulent butterflies flew in with them. Never mind. I was ready. This was It!

And then...the alarm rang. Fire drill! Only it turned out it wasn’t a drill. Grabbing handbag and laptop, I filed outside along with the kids, and Elizabeth and Bobbie. What were the chances—a fire alarm, on the threshold of my Big Event? Saved by the bell! Sigh of relief? No. I was disappointed. I'd been raring to go! By now, excitement had totally squished any remaining tummy 'flies. 

A mysterious cause for alarm

We stood in the school yard for an eternity – at least 10 minutes. The fire department came. Elizabeth and I laughed at the absurdity of timing. I wondered whether nerves would ramp up again, but they didn’t. All I wanted was for there to be time to give both presentations, and experience the kids’ reactions. What would they think? Would they enjoy it? After all the build-up, would I even get to find out, when goodness knew how long the firemen would be milling around? Finally, the mysterious cause of the alarm undiscovered, we were all allowed back inside. By 9:10, the kids were in their seats again. Bobbie introduced me, and off we went.

WoooOOOOoooo

Rehearsals paid off. So did getting the kids to say “Wooo!” every time I said the word “spooky”. Several times, they caught me out. (Who knew I said “spooky” so much?) Booing the Agromonds went down well too. Time being shortened, I had to clip through a few sections, but still showed the trailer at the end. The kids cheered. They cheered! Wow. 

 

I anticipated that the second group, being older (through 8^th grade) would be more reserved, more hesitant about joining in with booing, woo-ing, and shows of hands. But if anything they were louder. Again, cheers after the trailer. I was floored. As nervous as I'd been in the weeks before, then as fun as it had felt giving the presentation, I could never have imagined that happening. Let alone the message that turned up later that day on my YouTube trailer page: “omg, you came to my school and you were amazing.”

Book fair at B&N

At the book fair that evening, The Flame in the Mist found a lot of new homes, helping it become the store’s best selling children's book last week. None of it could have gone better—even the alarm was part of the perfection! But nothing beat seeing the look of excitement on kids' faces, their anticipation of reading a book they’re excited about. And to think I’d been so scared, I’d have avoided this if I could. So thank you, Destiny, for shoving me in the deep end; and thank you, Elizabeth and Bobbie, for helping me swim; and thank you, Bonnie, for being the hand that gave that first nudge. And thank you, New Foundations students, for making my first school experience so great!

As to my next school visit, no more cause for alarm. I can’t wait.
Even Inner Procrastinator agrees. 

-->With thanks to Elizabeth Ullmer and Bobbie Tyndall for the New Foundations and B&N event photos

 

THE FLAME IN THE MIST BLOG TOUR!

Today, there’s just one day until The Flame in the Mist hits the shelves. One day...! The countdown’s been going on for some time in my addled head, but this is Really It.

I’ve been marking the book’s release with a 15-stop blog tour, which started last Monday (yes, I’m late in posting this! Blame being away in England, then having a ton of catch-up to do once I got home.) The tour runs through Book Release Day tomorrow, and ends on Official Launch Party day, Friday, April 19^th. If you happen to live in PA, come and join us at The Doylestown Bookshop, 7-9 p.m.! There’ll be a reading, goodies, prizes, swag...

So with huge thanks to Gabrielle Carolina and Mod Podge Blog Tours for organizing this feat of co-ordination, and to all the bloggers who jumped on board for the tour, as well as other bloggers who contacted me prior to the tour being organized (their links are below each day's tour stop), here’s the schedule - including last week's posts - with a teaser about each day’s subject. I’ll follow up by posting each day’s permalink when I can, so you can click right on it and get to all the posts without having to search...and search...for the right post on the blog.

I hope you have as much fun reading them as I’ve had (and am still having) writing them! Click on the blog name, and you’ll be there. Look out for giveaways on the way too. You might find the odd book up for grabs...

And please leave comments! I’d love to hear your feedback.

WEEK 1

MONDAY, APRIL 1^st

Me Myshelf & I

Excerpt! You’d be surprised how hard it was to find a scene that pulls you into the story without needing a whole lot of background, at the same time as not giving too much away. Come see if I made the right choice! (With thanks to my sister-in-law for her vote J )

TUESDAY, APRIL 2^nd:

Katie’s Book Blog

Top 10 inspirations for writing The Flame in the Mist. From insistent heroines, to books, to the spirit world...If this were a tweet, I’d write #wooo

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3^rd

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Character interview with Anglavia’s resident queen of evil, Nocturna Agromond. Just be sure to not to get too close...

THURSDAY, APRIL 4^th

Rebecca’s Book Blog

Interview: the whys, wherefores and what-nexts of writing high fantasy. What makes fantasy “high” anyway?

FRIDAY, APRIL 5th

Random House Children’sBooks: Random Acts of Reading

17 in-depth questions about inspirations, influences, social media, the author (=me!), and more!

Manga Mania Café

Interview: The Flame in the Mist, Jemma, me...from different angles.

Jen Doktorski

A fellow Lucky 13s author interviews me about the writing process (plotting, or pantsing?), good and bad days, and more.

WEEK 2

MONDAY APRIL 8^th:

A Backwards Story

Character Interview: Digby Goodfellow. What in Mord’s name does he see in Jemma anyway? And what does she see in him?  

Literary Rambles

Interview with Natalie Aguirre about Twists and turns in Jemma’s story, and mine.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9^th – BOOK RELEASE DAY!!!! Whistles, bells, confetti and champagne...

Supernatural Snark

Guest blog: turning a prophecy on its ear, and what Jemma would and wouldn’t change about her life.

Evie Bookish

World building in The Flame in the Mist, and what books and movies influenced my writing.

*NB: Due to a scheduling kerfuffle (sp?) this post will go up late. I'll keep you...er, posted.  

The Lucky 13s

Fellow 13-er Laura Golden and author of the fabulous historical middle grade Every Day After (coming in June!) interviews me on narrative voice, killing darlings, and more!

WEDNESDAY APRIL 10^th

Hobbitsies

Audiobook clip! Listen to a clip with award-winning narrator Rosalyn Landor! She says of the book: “I loved reading this for Kit!”

THURSDAY, APRIL 11^th

Kelsey Sutton

Kelsey asks me: This or That? Between Victorian, Tudor & Medieval, Grimm & Disney, and a lot more.

FRIDAY, APRIL 12^th

Steph Su

A rhyme about The Flame in the Mist using other books’ titles, how being an assistant teacher influenced my writing style, and other sundry questions!

A Backwards Story 

Review! Eep...

WEEK 3

MONDAY, APRIL 15^th

YABookHounds

Really, really evil. Everyone’s worst nightmare, Shade Agromond, sharpens her nails and ramps up her venom. Watch your back.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16^th

Water Color Moods

Talking about strong heroines, and how they relate to their authors...or not.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17^th

Icey Books

The Flame in the Mist in a tweet (really? 450 pages condensed to 140 characters or less? Yes!), a favorite murdered darling, and most anticipated reads.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18^th

Amie Corner

Deleted scene! Once upon a draft, Jemma spent a lot more time at Agromond Castle. Read a scene from one of the six days that were slashed! 

FRIDAY, APRIL 19^th:LAST DAY!

The Mod Podge Bookshelf

Last but no means least, The Flame in the Mist’s main character herself! Jemma is interviewed by Gabrielle Carolina.

Also on Friday 19^th: There’ll be a Tweetchat via Mod Podge Promotions! Join us on Twitter between 2-3 p.m. #ModPodgeBlogTours

Then, that night at The Doylestown Bookshop, I’ll be throwing a Book Launch Party! If you live in the area, feel free to come along. I’ll be reading and giving a short presentation, and there’ll be a raffle, swag, and goodies!

Thanks, and see you soon!

The Morphing of a Dream: Something to Celebrate

Once upon a long time ago, on March 5th, I boarded an Air India flight from London Heathrow to JFK, New York. And so began my new life in America. I mentioned the anniversary to my husband last night and he said “We’ve never celebrated that!”

Nor we have. So…today’s a day to celebrate. But what to celebrate? That new life turned out to be quite different to what I’d imagined. For a start, said hubby wasn’t on the cards. Or rather, he was, but I didn’t know it then. Thanks to him, and a host of other changes, what started as “just a year” in America rooted me far more firmly on U.S. soil.

Back then, songs and songwriting were my life. I had big dreams with hair to match (yes, it was as scary as I looked, as you can see), and along with my music, planned to conquer America. I had the echoes of an old hit in my head: Tears for Fears’s In A Big Country.

“And in a big country, dreams stay with you,
Like a lover's voice, fires the mountainside..
Stay alive…” 

(Adamson, William S/Brzezicki, Mark. Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing)

The dreams I brought with me were old ones in new bottles: Brit ex-pop star me, repackaged as U.S. pop megastar. Those dreams, however, didn’t last long—but my stay in the U.S. did. So when I woke this morning I thought of writing about the chops and changes that have happened since then, the morphing from once-upon-a-time pop artist to still-songwriter to now-author. But when I looked out on this brilliantly clear, very un-English March day, I really didn’t feel like a trip down memory lane. Not today. Sunlight is fixing me in the spot, in the now. And now, with just weeks before a significant leap in a new direction, feels like the place to be.

That leap being the release of my first book. It’s just 5 weeks away today. 35 days! I’ll be an Official Author. With a book Out There. That’s causing greater nervous tremors and pulse-racing excitement than ever a song did.

But what’s made that leap so much easier, and so much more fun, is a group of fellow 2013-debut middle grade and young adult authors, TheLucky 13s. If I imagine navigating the waters up to book release without them, I reckon I’d be clinging to a scrap of soggy driftwood heaving for breath by now.

The Lucky 13s isn’t just a terrific support group who provide friendship and invaluable information, though. They also write fabulous BOOKS! And today, four of them have their debut releases. So what better than to share my celebration by celebrating them as well.

First is TameraWill Wissinger, and Gone Fishing. It’s written in rhyme, which appeals hugely to the songwriter part of me—a rhyme-lover ever since I was knee-high to Pooh Bear, and reading A. A. Milne’s Now We Are Six. I love Tamera’s cover, with its shambolic, happy-looking characters. The book sounds delightful:

"A playful verse narrative of the joys and perils of a family fishing trip. . . . This tender, well-crafted sibling story should hook many readers."
—Kirkus

Next, let’s hear it for the boy (sorry, songs die hard). That is, Evan Roskos, and his Dr.Birds Advice for Sad Poets. Reading the synopsis, I have a feeling I’m going to love the book as much as I love that title. Here’s what Kirkus, who gave it a coveted starred review, said:

"Self-deprecating humor abounds in this debut novel that pulls no punches about the experience of depression and anxiety for its teen protagonist . . . Captivating introspection from a winning character."

  

Then there’s MindeeArnett, and her intriguing-sounding young adult paranormal, TheNightmare Affair. Another title I love! (And of course, paranormal is more than okay in my book.) 

Marissa Meyer, New York Times bestselling author of Cinder, gave Mindee a great blurb:

“…brimming with wit and charm, along with plenty of mysteries that kept me guessing to the very end…a brand new school of magic to delight and enthrall us….”

 

Last but not least in the Lucky line-up, there’s Sarah Skilton and her contemporary young adult book, Bruised, which had a starred review from Publishers Weekly:

"Offering psychological drama and an introduction to martial-arts code of behavior, the book has a meaningful message about power, control, and the internal bruises carried by victims."

How different could 4 titles be - and all with blurbs and reviews which pull me into their pages. I’m looking forward to reading them all, and honored to be part of such a great bunch.

Quite an anniversary cake. But there’s icing. During my early morning social media check-in, my Twitter feed revealed that TheFlame in the Mist and I are featured today on 2 different sites. Over to Kate Ormand’s blog for a “sneak peak” interview with yours truly, and to Michael G-G’s Project Middle Grade Mayhem blog, where Flame is one of 3 upcoming releases this blogmeister is itching for. Thank you so much, Kate and Michael, for making my day even better. I always did love icing!

And miraculously, the sun is still shining, so it's time take a stroll over a field or two of U.S. soil to work off that delicious cake, and tonight's bubbly. 

The big hair, though, is thankfully long gone. 

P.S. Another thing to celebrate will be actually posting this. The internet is not obliging...