We've got a winner for the dedication in my upcoming book, In Dawn and Darkness (Secrets of Itlantis #5)!
Congratulations, J. Oh!
Thank you everyone else for entering. I can't wait for the book to release, and I hope everyone enjoys the conclusion to the Secrets of Itlantis series. If you haven't already, you can subscribe to the newsletter to be notified when the book is available for pre-order (and when it releases).
There's a giveaway, and I wanted to give everyone a chance to enter by posting it here. Prizes include a signed copy of A Gift of Poison (US and Canada) or a $25 giftcard to Amazon (open internationally).
I juuuuuust released a new novel in between working on my latest in the Secrets of Itlantis series. It was kind of a spur-the-moment decision for an old manuscript, and I'd like some help spreading the word about its existence. So I thought I'd have a giveaway. It's pretty simple: enter to win by doing one of the requirements, and you could be mentioned in the dedication of my next book.
I am very excited about it, and I want to spread the word to the ENTIRE INTERNET.
Well, at least SOME of the internet. :D
Also, I am writing a new Frost novelette called Fugitive that will be released (hopefully!) in late October or early November, and a Frost novelette called Brewer that will be released in late November or sometime in December.
I was thinking about who to dedicate them to, and then I had the idea to dedicate each of them to a fan of the Frost.
Of course, how to choose??? There are a lot of you. :)
So. I thought we could have a giveaway of sorts. You guys help me spread the word about Aeralis's release and Frost's $0.99 sale, and you can enter in this Rafflecopter giveaway to win. Winners get Fugitive or Brewer dedicated to them. As in your name, in the dedication page, forever. I'll pick 2 winners!
Today we welcome GP Ching, author of The Soulkeepers Series, as part of her blog tour for her newest release Return to Eden! Since Return to Eden is the third book in a series, and we talk about writing on this blog sometimes, I asked her about to chat a little about writing sequels.
Hi, Genevieve!
Thanks for hosting me today on The Southern Scrawl for today's Return to Eden blog tour stop and, Kate, for your question about writing sequels. I think many authors struggle with sequels. It sounds like a great idea. You build a world in book one and then the rest is downhill, right? Wrong! Writing book two and beyond is in many ways more difficult than book one
There are three areas I think authors struggle with the most:
1. How much backstory to include
2. Maintaining consistency
3. Where to break the story arc
Backstory
If you are an indie author and writing your series close together (publishing a new book ever 2-4 month for example) it's less important to include all of the backstory because your readers likely will remember the first books. However, even then, you will want to review plot strings or important character details that are important to the current work. Those publishing 6-12 months after the last release will want to pay particular attention to bringing the reader along who may have forgotten important information from book one.
Including a glossary at the front of the book that defines key words is a great way to start, as is working information into scenes and dialogue where characters reflect on what happened in the past as it relates to what is happening now. What writer's will want to avoid is pages and pages of flashbacks, blocks of prose, or telling that pulls the reader out of the narrative. Critique partners who have read the previous books will be valuable tools in finding the right balance.
Maintaining Consistency
Take notes and write a synopsis even if you hate them. I keep a notebook with details on character eye and hair color, traits, history, family, etc. My only caveat is that characters can and do change. In The Soulkeepers series, Malini changes significantly in book 2. I had to make sure that change followed her into book 3 and became even more pronounced because of her increased experience level.
As far as plot goes, it truly does help to sketch out the series before you start book one. However, even Rowling had some plot holes and inconsistencies sneak through into the HP books, so don't be too hard on yourself if you have to bend the rules of your world. Again, critique partners are invaluable for spotting inconsistencies that matter.
Where to break the story arc
You have it all in your head. Seven books, 60,000 words each. You know how the story goes. You know your characters. But you find yourself 80,000 words into book three. Are really writing part of book four?
Each book in your series must have a beginning, middle, and end. i.e. its own story arc. It is okay to have a cliffhanger but something about that man hanging off of that cliff must provide a satisfying ending for your readers.
A very high-level story arc of Weaving Destiny would look like this (beginning-middle-end):
Malini questions who she is and if her relationship with Jacob is fated. Malini finds her power and breaks up with Jacob when he kisses another girl because she takes it as a sign that they are not destined to be together. Malini and Jacob get back together not because of fate but because of choice.
However, Weaving Destiny has a cliffhanger. Dane is taken by Lucifer. Mara is taken by Death. While questions are left unanswered, those questions are not part of the primary story arc of Weaving Destiny. I think where authors alienate their readers is by ending a story in the middle of a primary story arc.
I hope this helps all of you contemplating your first series. Thank you for having me today and don't forget to enter to win this week!
The John Green's The Fault in Our Stars giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated! I really love having giveaways, and hopefully I can have an international one soon.
But now it is time to announce the winner.
Drumroll, please...
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...
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And the winner of the signed (and Hanklerfished!) copy of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is...
Kate Weber!!
She won with her "Spread The Word" entry. The winning entry was picked with random.org.
Congrats, Kate! I will be contacting you shortly to get your shipping info.
Everybody else, thanks so much for entering. I'm sorry I don't have more copies to give away!
~NOTE: If you don't want to read my ramblings about meeting John Green in person, you can simply skip down to the end and enter to win a free signed (and Hanklerfished!) copy of John Green's newest book, The Fault in Our Stars. The entry widget is at the bottom of the post!~
FIRST, THE STORY!
So about two weeks ago, I had the enormous privilege of meeting John and Hank Green when they came to Atlanta on their Tour de Nerdfighting.
John Green reading a chapter of his new book.
About John Green:
John Green is an award-winning YA author and YouTube celebrity (and hilariously, he was an author before he was an internet celebrity although usually it's the other way around). He has been called the JD Salinger of this generation--a totally deserved designation, in my opinion--and his books have won honors like the prestigious Printz and Edgar Allen Poe awards. In addition to penning incredible works of literary fiction for young adults, John and his musician brother Hank have an incredibly successful YouTube channel called the Vlogbrothers, which has over 600,000 subscribers and which is #36 Most Subscribed of All Time channel on YouTube. His brother, Hank Green, is a musician and the co-founder of DFTBA records, among many other awesome jobs like running Ecogeek.org.
And the winners of ten randomly chosen books each from the ebook prize packages are...
Kristen Heyl!!!
Trupti!!!
Michael Byers!!!
Congratulations to all the winners, and a big fat THANK YOU to everyone who entered. If you didn't win, don't worry. I'm hoping to have another giveaway soon, with more awesome prizes.
**BY THE WAY, Trupti's winning entry was her bonus entry because she was already a newsletter subscriber. So sign up for that newsletter, folks. It could win you an awesome prize**
It's time for the next installment in my author spotlight series, where I'm interviewing select authors whose books are included in my Big Awesome YA Giveaway 2011.
Kate: Today I'm interviewing Emily Anne Ward, author of the sci fi novel FINDING FIONA. Welcome, Emily! Tell me a little about Finding Fiona. (And I just love the cover!)
Emily: The victim of a brutal attack, Fiona remembers little about her life until she meets someone who claims to be from her past. He tells her that her parents were killed for a human replication machine. He's shocked to discover she's still alive since her body was found in the wreckage of the fire. She soon travels to her old home in New York to figure out what happened to her and her family. She needs to find out who she is, but more importantly, confront the men who killed her parents.
Kate: I love amnesia stories! I'm actually writing one right now, as a matter of fact.
What kind of reader would this story most appeal to, and why?
Emily: Readers who enjoy light, fast-paced science fiction should enjoy this book. If you're looking for a quick read over the weekend, Finding Fiona is perfect. Also, if you liked Keary Taylor's Eden, you might enjoy Finding Fiona, too. Fiona has a lot in common with Eve: amnesia, a strange past, a journal which gives her some answers, but not enough.
Kate: It sounds like a great read. Besides the main character or hero/ine, who’s your favorite character in this book, and why?
Emily: Probably James. He's Fiona's past boyfriend, and he's very supportive and devoted to her. I think if they hadn't run into each other at the library, he wouldn't have stopped searching for her until he found her. He's willing to do anything to keep her safe. I was lucky enough to find a great guy like James.
Kate: Me too, by the sound of him. :) Is there a particular theme of Finding Fiona that spoke to you personally as you were writing it?
Emily: Fiona and her parents were working on a human replicator, so parts of the book deal with the moral issues of creating people through science instead of natural, biological means. Even though the technology to do this is hundreds, perhaps more, years in the future, I still got to explore the idea of a soul and a person. Can someone have a soul if they are created through scientific means? What makes someone unique? Seeing how my characters dealt with these questions was a joy, and it made me think about what makes someone human.
Kate: I love books that explore those kinds of questions.
Is there anything you’re working on now that you’d like to tell us about?
Emily: Yes! I have an upcoming fantasy series titled The Protectors. The first in the series is called Promising Light. Grace is a noble with no knowledge of shape changers until they kidnap her and tell her she can break the curse on their family. She is forced to choose between sacrificing to help them or staying in her comfortable life as a noble. Promising Light will be published early January.
Kate: That sounds really intriguing!
Now tell me, where can readers interested in your work go to find out more?
It's time for the next installment in my author spotlight series, where I'm interviewing select authors whose books are included in my Big Awesome YA Giveaway 2011.
Kate: Today I want to welcome author Holly Hook. Holly is giving away 1 ebook version and 1 print copy of her YA novel Tempest.
Welcome, Holly! Tell us a little about Tempest. What’s it about?
Holly: Sixteen-year-old Janelle never thought the gray spiral birthmark on her arm meant anything special. That is, until she meets Gary, a boy her age with a birthmark exactly like hers. Gary’s attractive, brooding, and perfectly normal…except for the fact that he materialized out of a dangerous hurricane right in front of her. Janelle’s certain of only one thing. Gary’s mark—and hers, too—mean something, but he’s reluctant to tell her what.
At last she squeezes the truth from Gary about their markings. And the truth is utterly terrifying: Janelle and Gary are more connected to the destructive power of nature than she ever dreamed possible. And learning the truth about herself is only the start of her nightmare.
Kate: Sounds intriguing! What kind of reader would this story most appeal to, and why?
Holly: Both young adults and adults have enjoyed this story.
Kate: Tell us about the very first idea you had regarding this story, the one that made you say “I HAVE to write this!” Was it a certain scene, character, or situation?
Holly: It came from a weird dream I had one night, which I don't remember.
Kate: I get a lot of book ideas from dreams, too. Is there a particular theme of Tempest that spoke to you personally as you were writing it?
Holly: Maybe the environment and how important everything is in regulating it. Or that evil isn't too easily defined.
Kate: What person (besides yourself, obviously) is most influential on your writing process?
Holly: Maybe my critique group, who helped me through this and other novels.
Kate: Crit groups are amazing. :) Is there anything you’re working on now that you’d like to tell us about?
Holly: The third book in this series. I can't give too much away about it now, or what disaster it's about. I am posting news on my blog, though, and hope to unveil the cover at the end of the month.
Kate: Awesome! Where can readers interested in your work go to find out more?
Kate: Melanie Nilles is the author of a number of books, including the Starfire Angels series and the Legend of the White Dragon series. In the Big Awesome YA Giveaway, she's offering print copies of four books from her Starfire Angels series--Starfire Angel, Broken Wings, Crystal Tomb, and Origins of Dark Angel.
Welcome, Melanie! Tell me about Starfire Angels. What’s it about? Melanie: My YA series, Starfire Angels, is about a teen "angel" who grew up on Earth believing she was human, discovering what she really is, and learning to become what she was meant to be. In the process, she falls in love with one of her own kind sent to train her while they fight those who would kill to claim the Starfire Crystal shard that she protects.
In the most recent book of the series, Origins of Dark Angel, I give the reader a taste of Elis's life before he was sent to Earth to find Raea and became the savior of her small town known as Dark Angel.
Kate: Tell us about the very first idea you had regarding this story, the one that made you say “I HAVE to write this!” Was it a certain scene, character, or situation?
Melanie: That moment came while watching an anime series the second time through. Something clicked into place for rewriting a novella from ten years before. It was a character trait--the black wings of the hero--that did it for me. I was in the middle of writing an epic fantasy series (Legend of the White Dragon) when the world and characters blossomed. In a week, the idea was ready and demanding to be written. I had to set aside what I was doing to write the first draft. I ended up completely changing it and writing a new draft a year later, but that second draft is what is now Starfire Angels (Book 1 of the Starfire Angels series).
Kate: You returned to it after all those years... I love that.
Besides the main character or hero/ine, who’s your favorite character in this book, and why?
Melanie: Everyone adores Elis, the Dark Angel, because he's an honest to goodness hero with a heart of gold. Besides him, I have to say that I've loved hating Nina from the first book, couldn't live without Leksel and Cris in Broken Wings, and find a certain charm in the wisdom of Tenkil, Elis's great-grandfather who has some screen time in Origins of Dark Angel.
Kate: I love a good "love to hate" character! Is there a particular theme of the Starfire Angel series that spoke to you personally as you were writing it?
Melanie: There are many themes. Mostly, I like the idea of a hero who is honestly good at heart without any hesitation of doing what is right. Throughout the series, I bring up the idea of appreciating what you have while you have it and appreciating the little things in life, because you never know when they could be taken away. That's something that I try to live by every day. Other themes crop up, but that and the idea of doing good no matter how badly people try to tear you down are the strongest.
Kate: That last theme in particular really resonates with me. Is there anything you’re working on now that you’d like to tell us about?
Melanie: I'm working on the fifth book, Forever Dark. It will be the last with Raea and Elis, whose stories make up the subseries, Dark Angel Chronicles (Starfire Angels, Broken Wings, Crystal Tomb, Origins of Dark Angel, and Forever Dark). However, I have dropped clues throughout DAC about what else is coming, but future stories will feature other characters.
Kate: That sounds fascinating!
As we conclude the interview, where can readers interested in your work go to find out more?
Kate: Today's author is Megg Jensen, author of Anathema, Oubilette, and Severed (the Cloud Prophet Trilogy), among other books. That's right, she's giving away THREE books in the Big Awesome YA Giveaway!! She is also the author of Sleepers, which I understand is getting a new cover this week and thus couldn't be included.
Welcome, Megg, and thank you for participating in the YA Giveaway: Author Spotlight!! Tell us about the Cloud Prophet Trilogy. What’s it about?
Megg: The Cloud Prophet Trilogy is comprised of my first three novels: Anathema, Oubliette, and Severed. It follows the journey of Reychel, a simple slave who’s destined to be more than she believes she can be. Reychel must the decisions she believes are right – whether or not they lead her to her destiny.
Kate: What kind of reader would this story most appeal to, and why?
Megg: It’s considered young adult fantasy, however I know plenty of adults who’ve enjoyed it – both male and female. There’s some romance, but there’s also a lot of mystery and action! My novels are what I like to call medieval dystopian.
Kate: Medieval dystopian? I love that!! I'm a huge fan of mixing up genres in interesting ways.
Tell us about the very first idea you had regarding TCP Trilogy, the one that made you say “I HAVE to write this!” Was it a certain scene, character, or situation?
Megg: My daughter said to me, “Mom, I can see things in the clouds.” I answered, “What shapes can you see?” Her answer: “No, mom, I can see the future!” It was in that moment that Anathema was born. (You can tell my daughter has quite an imagination too.)
Kate: What a great story! I love that your daughter had a hand in the idea.
Is there a particular theme of Anathema, etc that spoke to you personally as you were writing it?
Megg: Everyone always writes stories about characters with a grand destiny. While this is a typical fantasy convention, I wanted to turn it on its ear by letting Reychel make her own choices. Many things are not what they seem in my books, especially the ending of Severed. My readers seem to appreciate the element of surprise.
Kate: I love that--you give tradition a nod while reinventing it. What person (besides yourself, obviously) is most influential on your writing process?
Megg: Wow, that’s a tough question. My family is very supportive of my writing career and without their support, I couldn’t get everything done. In fact, my daughter is curled up next to me while I answer this questions and my son is playing on the floor.
Kate: *cackles* I love asking the tough questions! Is there anything you’re working on now that you’d like to tell us about?
Megg: I am revealing a new cover for my novel, Sleepers, this week! Plus, I have two sequels to Sleepers coming out in 2012. I will also be releasing a short story that has a connection to the Cloud Prophet Trilogy, hopefully in January. I never stop writing. :D
Kate: Wow, that is a lot of writing. You are a woman after my own heart, then! Now, where can readers interested in your work go to find out more?
Megg: I mainly hang out on Facebook. I kind of live there. Is that weird? ;)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/meggjensenauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/meggjensen
Website: www.meggjensen.com
Kate: There you have it, folks. Thanks so much for joining us, Megg!
As you may already know, I'm going to be giving away over 30 books in a super-awesome December holiday giveaway!!!!!
Yep, over 30 total. 39, to be exact. Some are ebooks, some are print copies signed by the authors, so even if you don't have a Kindle or a Nook it's okay--you can still enter!
Anathema, Oubliette, and Severed (Cloud Prophet Trilogy) by Megg Jensen ~ The Cloud Prophet Trilogy follows the journey of Reychel, a simple slave who’s destined to be more than she believes she can be. Reychel must the decisions she believes are right – whether or not they lead her to her destiny.
Psssst! Check out Megg's author spotlight interview with me here! Reveal by Brina Courtney (NEW RELEASE) ~ Shay Tafford is not normal. Being a cryptid is not normal. Seeing ghosts is not normal. Her father’s disappearance is not normal. Lucky for Shay, Hugh isn't normal either. So when he enters her life through her dead best friend Shay knows he may be her only chance at a normal life. A life she is desperately searching for.
Snow Burn by Joel Arnold ~Tommy knows he’s in trouble when he goes winter camping with friend Vince Nguyen without telling his folks. But when they’re caught in a sudden blizzard, and the man they rescue from freezing to death turns out to be an escaped convict, Tommy’s troubles are only beginning. Now Tommy and Vince must not only survive the blizzard, but also find a way to keep Quinn from killing them.
Finding Fiona by Emily Ward ~ The victim of a brutal attack, Fiona remembers little about her life until she meets someone who claims to be from her past. She finds out her parents were killed over a strange human replication machine and the world thinks she's dead. She returns to her old home in New York to find out who she is, but more importantly, confront the men who killed her parents.
Dolphin Girl by Shel Delisle ~ Sixteen-year-old Jane wants the life of a dolphin--wild, graceful, free. But these days her life is nothing like that and it's not until she gets a tattoo and befriends popular Sam Rojas, a star swimmer, that her life begins to change. DOLPHIN GIRL is a story of family, friendship, first love and freedom.
Tempest by Holly Hook ~ Sixteen-year-old Janelle never thought the gray spiral birthmark on her arm meant anything special. But when she meets Gary, a boy with a birthmark just like hers, she learns the truth: she is more connected to the destructive power of nature than she ever thought possible. Learning the truth about herself is only the start of her nightmare.
Keeping Secrets by Maggie Dana ~ A beautiful horse is dead, and it’s all her fault . . . which is why 14-year-old Kate McGregor has put horses and riding out of her life. Forever! But her new job as a companion to Holly Chapman, a former riding star who’s now confined to a wheelchair, takes her back to the barn where she’s forced to confront her guilt. Can Kate keep her terrible secret from Holly, who is fast becoming her best friend? And, more important, can she keep her secret from Angela Dean who lives for only two things—winning ribbons and causing trouble?
George and the Galactic Games by HS Stone ~ George is the new kid in school. He also recently lost his father to a heart attack. In an effort to cheer him up, George’s mother takes him on a camping trip. That’s when their troubles really begin. Extraterrestrials abduct both mother and son. Now George finds himself an unwilling participant in the Yumal Contests, a galactic game against an alien species. He must overcome his fears and limitations to win because these games are not just a casual sporting event… his life hangs in the balance.
My Royal Pain Quest by Laura Lond ~ How far would a villain go to help a friend? Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle thinks doing three heroic deeds is a bit too far.
Miya Black, Pirate Princess by Ben White ~ Sword fights. Ships. Duels in the rain. Unstoppable determination. The story of a girl who would do anything to protect her home; Miya Black, Pirate Princess.
Charlotte Powers, Power Down by Ben White ~ The diary of would-be greatest superhero Charlotte Powers. With the powers of super-strength, super-agility and phase-shifting, how can she fail? How indeed.
Shada by Craig Hansen ~ If you could speak to the dead, anyone at all, who would it be? When Jeni asked this question, Shada Emery figured it was a joke. So both she and Willow joined in the fun, naming their favorite dead celebrities. And then there was Ember Cole. Ember wants one more talk with her Grandpa Normie, whose death a year ago began a year of tragedy. So when Jeni suggests a camping trip into the dense woods of northwestern Wisconsin to hold a seance, Shada and Willow put off their misgivings and agree for the sake of their friend. Ember hopes to find the answers she seeks among the dead. But sometimes the dead have their own agenda.
Starfire Angels, Broken Wings, Crystal Tomb, and Origins of Dark Angel by Melanie Nilles ~ Starfire Angels, is about a teen "angel" who grew up on Earth believing she was human discovering what she really is and learning to become what she was meant to be. In the process, she falls in love with one of her own kind sent to train her while they fight those who would kill to claim the Starfire Crystal shard that she protects.
The Fisherman's Son, The City of the Golden Sun, and Return of the Golden Age by Marilyn Peake ~ From James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief of the Midwest Book Review: "...The Fisherman's Son is an original novel by Marilyn Peake about Wiley O'Mara, a twelve-year-old boy, living on an island up north during the beginning of the nineteenth century. Wiley befriends a dolphin and undertakes an incredible rescue mission, as well as a memorable journey through the wonders of the North Atlantic Ocean. The Fisherman's Son is a delightful and colorfully narrated tale which documents Marilyn Peake as a story teller of considerable narrative skill."
Remember how I promised you that I was putting together a big, super-secret, totally awesome giveaway?? A giveaway so amazing that you just HAVE to enter?
Well, it's here!!!!
See, I wanted to do something fun for Christmas/New Year's. It's been a big year for me. I published some books. I saw this blog grow exponentially. And I've met tons and tons of awesome people. So I wanted to celebrate with something... AWESOME.
Allow me to proudly introduce what I hope becomes a tradition on this blog....
Congrats, Emily, you win a signed copy of The Curse Girl and a pair of book-inspired earrings, designed by my sister. I'll be contacting you shortly!
Woot!!!
But... that was just a practice run.
Everybody else, stay tuned for the BIG, AWESOME, SUPER-SECRET GIVEAWAY on Monday :) :)
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