Katherine Longshore

Follow Friday -- Saundra Mitchell

2012-02-24T07:09:00.002-08:00

Today's Follow Friday is a screenwriter, author and blogger who consistently makes my day. I love the intriguing things she posts on her blog, her sunny disposition on Twitter and the lovely prose of her novels.

Recently, I've been visiting Saundra Mitchell's blog for her posts on marketing and self-promotion. She offers up specific and digestible chunks of advice and backs it all up with why and how it works. Every time I go to her blog for information, I feel better as I speed toward the debut of GILT. Marketing is scary for introverted writers, and Saundra just makes it seem a little more doable.

I also love Saundra for her continuing and enthusiastic support of all things authorly and debut authors in particular. She knows how hard it is and she extends a helping hand, a kind word and promotion with her 9 Spot Interviews.

Basically, I want to be Saundra Mitchell when I grow up. And I hope I can be as inspiring as she is.

Find Saundra at her website.
On her blog.
On Twitter.

And in bookstores! Her novel THE VESPERTINE is in stores now and THE SPRINGSWEET will be available April 17. I was lucky enough to pick up an ARC at the NCIBA trade show and am only willing to part with it because I can buy a copy in April.

Heartbroken over the tragic death of her fiancé, seventeen-year-old Zora Stewart leavesBaltimore for the frontier town of West Glory, Oklahoma, to help her young widowedaunt keep her homestead going. There she discovers that she possesses the astonishingability to sense water under the parched earth. When her aunt hires her out as a“springsweet” to advise other settlers where to dig their wells, Zora feels the burden ofholding the key to something so essential to survival in this unforgiving land.Even more, she finds herself longing for love the way the prairie thirsts for water.Maybe, in the wildness of the territories, Zora can finally move beyond simply survivingand start living. (from Goodreads)

All you have to do is tweet this:

Want a chance to win an ARC of THE SPRINGSWEET by @SaundraMitchell? Find out why @KALongshore is following her: http://katherinelongshore.blogspot.com

And/or leave a comment below.

This contest is open internationally and ends at 12 pm EST on Monday, February 20. I will announce the winner Monday afternoon.

New Design!

2012-02-23T08:24:00.001-08:00

While I've been hard at work on Book 2, my brilliant web designer, Madeira James at Xuni has been hard at work designing the perfect backdrop for not only my blog, but also my soon-to-be revealed website. Because of timing issues, the blog gets the makeover first, and I am so excited to share it with you! What do you think?

When the website does go live, I'll have a little party and give away an ARC of GILT and maybe some GILT-related items, so stay tuned...

Message in a Bottle

2012-02-20T07:09:00.000-08:00

Anybody out there ever listen to the Police? I had a thing about Sting in my twenties and seriously had a crush on a guy, despite his lack of interest or even knowledge of my existence, because someone once said he had Sting's nose. Shallow much? Fortunately, I've matured.

That said, I still love the music. The references to Greek mythology and Nabokov. The vaguely misogynistic creepiness of it all. The cheerfulness with which they approach such heavy topics as suicide and pedophilia.

Lately, I've been thinking about "Message in a Bottle". You know how it goes.

Just a castaway, an island lost at sea-oh,
Another lonely day, no one here but me-oh.

Sometimes social networking can feel like this. Like every Facebook update, every tweet, every blog post is really that message in a bottle, sent out into the void. Looking for some kind of response.

Woke up this morning, don't believe what I saw,
A hundred million bottles, washed up on the shore.

All those people out there tweeting and blogging and tumbling their little hearts out. Dick Costolo, CEO of Twitter, reported in June that 100 million people use Twitter every day. A hundred million bottles, my friends. All trying to reach someone.

Why do I bring this up? Because in a way, a novel is like a big note in a slightly bigger bottle in that ocean. We all write for the same reasons, whether our messages contain 140 characters or 82,000 words. We write to be read. Not just to hear ourselves talk. (though that can be fun, too, sometimes). Because any kind of message can be scary to send out there into the world. Whether you're posting photos of your cat or commenting on the guy next to you on the bus or sticking poems into the fork of a tree branch like Lennie in THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE. Because you never know what's going to happen when that bottle reaches the sand.

So cheers to all you fearless people out there, sending out your thoughts and feelings and daily cravings. Sting says, "Seems I'm not alone in being alone." And I, for one, am glad of it.

Thank you all so much for your comments, for your follows, for your views and your silent readings. For taking away whatever you find here, whether I know it or not. But most of all, thank you for your support and enthusiasm for GILT. That bottle seems like it is such a fragile thing for something that holds my heart and dreams.

Friday -- Revision Edition

2012-02-17T07:01:00.000-08:00

Forgive me. I've tried to write a Follow Friday and a Friday Five this morning and all I can think about is my revision. Epic blog fail today, but I promise to get back on my feet next week.

In the absence any of my own ideas, here are some that belong to some others:

Mostly Reading YA is talking about book covers, and has chosen some doozies as example.

Some of my Apocalypsies siblings are on the Indie Next List for the Spring. Some great titles here, people. Get reading!

And with that, I have to go and tackle the 16th century. See you next week!

3...2...1...HELP!

2012-02-15T06:17:00.033-08:00

In exactly three months, GILT will be on bookstore shelves, ready to face the world. I think I'm similar to all writers in feeling that this is a dream come true. An event similar to a birth or a wedding.

Which calls for a party.

I love parties. I spent nine months planning my own wedding -- not because I was bridezilla, but because I couldn't wait to celebrate with my husband, my family, and my friends. I feel the same way with this launch.

The problem is, I haven't been to many launch parties. In fact, I can count them on one finger. So I'm not entirely sure what to expect, what's expected of me, or what to plan. I'm full of questions:

Do I have it on a weeknight? A weekend afternoon?
Do I serve food? Nibbles? Cake?
Should I provide wine? Sparkling cider? Both?
Do I want to do a reading? Give a speech?
Do I have door prizes? Gift baskets? Tons of swag?
Should my party have a theme? Should I wear a costume? (please say no.)
Should we have decorations?
Do I have an after party?
Where?
Do I provide food there? Themed food? Open bar?
Invitations! E-vites? Postcards? Do I send them to local schools and libraries?

As you can see, I need your help. Yes, yours. Give me tips and anecdotes! Ideas from launches you've attended or planned. If you were me, what would your dream launch party look like?

RIP Catherine Howard

2012-02-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

On Friday, I wrote about Catherine Howard's trip to the Tower of London. She was executed on February 13.

One of the things that most fascinates me about Catherine is that she requested the executioner's block to be brought to her room the night before. She wanted to practice with it, and make sure she got it right. The girl who didn't really act like a queen when she was alive wanted to look like a queen at her death.

There's something very poignant about this, and I think it's a beautiful glimpse into her character. It is something, perhaps, that many of us would not be able to do. It shows courage as well as a little vanity.

Catherine's body was buried in an unmarked grave in the chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower grounds.

This Day in History -- Catherine Howard

2012-02-10T06:28:00.000-08:00

Four hundred seventy years ago today, young Catherine Howard was taken to the Tower of London. She was no longer queen, as her titles and possessions had been stripped by an Act of Attainder earlier in the month. She was just a girl, convicted of treason, taken to the Tower to die. We don't know exactly how old she was, because her birthdate was never recorded. She was somewhere between seventeen and twenty-two.

The stories say that Catherine was moved from Syon to the Tower by a barge that "shot the waters" that rushed under London Bridge. When she saw the water gate (now called Traitors' Gate), she began to cry, and had to be hauled from the boat and into her lodgings.

Catherine wasn't the first queen in English history to enter the Tower through Traitors' Gate. And she wasn't the last.

Before I started writing GILT -- back when this novel was just an idea -- I wandered alone through the Tower to get a sense of it. To try to see it as it might have looked in 1542. The Tower is probably as crowded now as it was then -- only these days with people carrying cell phones and long-lens cameras, and speaking languages from all over the planet. But I don't think it's as forbidding. Today, the Tower feels like history. Back then, it must have felt like obliteration.

Traitors' Gate brought this side history home for me. The sharp points at the bottom of the portcullis. The slick stairs leading up from the river. No wonder Catherine cried.

Horrible Histories

2012-02-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

Still revising (yes, I will be for a while) and it's making me a little slap-happy. Luckily, the BBC has just the tonic....

At Heart, I'm Just a Gossip Girl

2012-02-06T06:49:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm chin-deep in revisions for Book 2, so I wanted to share a post I did months ago for the YA Muses. It explains a little of why I do what I do...

History. You either love it, or you hate it, right?

Who doesn’t remember sitting in 8th grade history of civilization class, listening to the teacher drone on and on about Aristotle or the Renaissance or the Industrial Revolution? My class never quite reached the 20th Century before the school year ended and suddenly a new batch of high school students was unleashed on the world, knowing nothing of World War I or II, and little more about Western Civ because no one had actually listened or cared. Not even me.

But today, I can tell you more about Henry VIII and his social reforms and international policies than I can about the current government of my own country. I can gossip about his family and courtiers as if I watched “The Real Housewives of the Tudor Court” on Bravo every week.

Write what you know. When I decided to kick-start my writing career, I figured this was pretty good advice. At the time, I was a preschool teacher, surrounded by picture books. And I figured what the world needed was some really good, interesting picture books about the Tudors.

Ha.

I can’t write picture books. I learned that in about fifteen minutes. And I view picture book writers with utter respect and deep-seated awe because they can. So I wrote a middle-grade time-travel adventure. In the meantime, I attended a workshop on voice at a conference. We did a writing exercise and shared our work, and at the end of it, Sydney Salter, author of My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters and Swoon at Your Own Risk approached me and said, “You know, you have a really good YA voice. Have you ever considered writing it?” And that’s all it took.

So I write historical fiction for young adults. I love to imagine these historical figures as real people. I like to look at the way history has viewed them and ask the big question: “What if?” What if Richard III wasn’t really the ambitious megalomaniacal killer Shakespeare portrayed him to be? What if Catherine Howard wasn’t an ignorant, airheaded bimbo? What if Henry VIII really was just looking for love in all the wrong places?

Because I think most readers of YA novels can understand being misunderstood.

And, ultimately, it gives me a chance to let out some really juicy gossip. It’s just 450 years old.

Friday Five -- Tudor Edition

2012-02-03T06:43:00.000-08:00

1. My favorite Tudor historical fiction: WOLF HALL by Hilary Mantel. The book is brilliant, Ms. Mantel is brilliant, and her version of Thomas Cromwell makes him sympathetic and even likable. I'm both thrilled and terrified that the sequel, BRING UP THE BODIES, will be published a week after GILT. And disappointed because I won't let myself read it until after I've finished the Royal Circle series -- her characters are so strong and well-drawn, I don't want them to bleed into mine (pun intended). There is also a BBC drama planned. Be still my beating heart.

2. My favorite Tudor non-fiction. This has got to be a tie between David Starkey's SIX WIVES and Alison Weir's HENRY VIII: THE KING AND HIS COURT.

3. My favorite Tudor film or television show. A Man for All Seasons. Never been a big fan of Thomas More, but the film is brilliant.

4. My favorite Tudor wife. Sorry, can't answer that one. I have great compassion for Anne of Cleves, love Anne Boleyn's vivacity, Catherine of Aragon's strength, Catherine Parr's intelligence. I wrote a novel about Catherine Howard and wonder how Jane Seymour feels, laid to rest with Henry for all eternity.

5. Favorite Tudor. Leaving the realm of the family itself, as well as Henrician times, I'm going to choose Bess of Hardwick. A tough, intelligent woman who rose from nowhere to become the second-richest woman in the realm (after Elizabeth). Not an easy thing to do. My hat goes off to her.

So, what are some of your Tudor favorites?

Finishing the Hat

2012-02-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

Due to a scheduling fail, I posted yesterday rather than today - which turned out to be a good thing. Thank you for your gracious and supportive comments!

Which means today, my post will be shorter and less prepared. I first saw Sunday in the Park with George when I was in high school. I love musical theater, and this is one of my favorites. It's a story of art and obsession, a love story, a moment of history. George Seurat was a pointilist in Paris during the explosion of Impressionist art. He created massive paintings by using tiny dots of color. The eye blends them into figures and structures -- turning red and blue into black and white and orange into light. Sondheim captures this in his music.

My reason for sharing this today is because in the play, one of the reasons George's girlfriend leaves him is because he has to "finish the hat". He works all the time. On these tiny little structures, hoping that the combination will make the finished work perfect.

Writers are like that (though hopefully not to the point of shutting out our loved ones). Each word, each phrase, each image, each paragraph has to be placed just so in order to complete the whole. I'm working on a revision right now and spent all of yesterday on one scene.

Isn't writing amazing when you can lose yourself in "finishing the hat?"

ARCs and Everything After

2012-02-01T07:04:00.000-08:00

One of the things I’ve learned on this crazy road to publication is that ARCs (Advance Reader Copies, galleys, uncorrected proofs, review copies, etc.) are like gold. Because they have a small print run, each bound copy is expensive. Publishers dole them out carefully – some authors only get two copies for their own marketing purposes.

This makes them very important. And the choices we make with them as authors have to be equally important. I don’t have extras. Every single one is dedicated and for a purpose. It’s not easy to choose when you want everyone to be able to read your book. When you want bloggers to shout about it. When you want to be accommodating. But choices must be made.

And then, yesterday, one went up for sale on eBay. (cue Psycho-esque slasher music).

This just kills me. I know it happens. It’s immoral, it’s wrong, it’s ridiculous. It is, in theory, stealing money from me because I don’t get the royalties from the sale. But, you say, maybe this shouldn’t bother me so much because at least someone is eager to read my book. I don’t get money from used book sales or from the 101^st library reader, either. It’s the readers that matter, right? Well, yes and no.

What matters is one word. “Uncorrected.”

ARCs are uncorrected proofs. They contain mistakes. Some are just typos, some are word choice. In my case, there is a scene that I altered after the ARCs came out that makes the book better, makes the characters more clear. It’s not a huge change, just word order and scene structure. But to me it’s important.

I don’t want anyone to have to pay good money for my mistakes. I want my readers to get the best story I can possibly give them. That will be in the final copy.

There’s not a lot I can do about eBay sellers or used bookstore sales of ARCs. There is no ARC police. I can alert the seller. I can tell my friends who do the same (thank you, Class of 2k12!). And I can let you, my readers, know how I feel. So that when you see an ARC for sale – mine or anyone else’s – you can make your own choice.

Update: The lovely Kelly Jensen over at Stacked has blogged about this very same issue -- with much more depth and a little more perspective. If you're interested, please see what she has to say here.

A Change of Scenery -- Part 2

2012-01-30T07:00:00.001-08:00

Last Wednesday, I wrote about how inspiring it can be for me just to change location -- something about the movement and the perspective can often knock something loose and start the creative flow again.

For me, one of the most inspiring location changes is the beach. I grew up in a coastal town. There wasn't much to do there (legally) as a teen except drive around. We had a sometimes-open teen club that was sometimes 21-and-over.

And we had the beach. I consider myself lucky that I grew up with a batch of people who felt the draw of the water as strongly as I did. We spent days (and nights) at the beach -- walking, talking, building sandcastles, swimming, lighting bonfires and drinking copious amounts of coffee. We watched the waves bring in the phosphorescence and light the sand with green stars at night. We watched the (two) surfers struggle to make sense of the cross-currents during the day. We got our feet wet and checked the rock pools for sea stars and anemones. To me, the beach is full of magic.

So last week, a dear writer friend invited me to a revision retreat on the coast. It's a different coast from the one I grew up on -- the sand is lighter, the harbor more populated, the seaside restaurants a little more cosmopolitan. But we worked to the sound of the rocking boats and the foghorn. And one afternoon, I sat on the balcony and wrote until my fingers grew too cold to type.

It was magical.

I'm inspired by other landscapes, too -- deserts, snow-capped mountains, river water on rocks through canyons, the rolling hills of the English Downs. But the beach and the sea are probably my first loves. And I can always find my self there.

How about you? What landscape or perspective inspires you and makes your creative self sing?

Follow Friday -- The Lucky 13s

2012-01-27T04:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, everybody! With any luck at all, I'll be out in the snow this weekend, but before I go, I want to do two things.

First, thanks again for coming back and participating in the YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes last week, that was hosted by and featured more than 50 Apocalypsies writers. If you participated in the race, you started off at the Apocalypsies website, right?

Well, the good news is that there are more great young adult and middle grade books coming out in 2013, because the world is not really going to end. And the authors whose first books are coming out next year (the debut authors) have rounded themselves up and created a group called The Lucky 13s.

This is a fun group, with some great books and fabulous authors. Throughout this year, they will be blogging about their experiences and hosting interviews with Apocalypsies authors and probably doing giveaways as well. So follow them. They are the future.

The Lucky 13s blog here.
And are on Twitter.

A Change of Scenery

2012-01-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

I actually wrote this post last Wednesday, before remembering that it was all YAmazing Race all week long. But I couldn't leave this post in a drawer. Today -- actually today -- I am at an undisclosed location with a writer friend, and we are both hip-deep in revision. Change of location - and hours of uninterrupted writing time - can be akin to heaven.

Today I've decided that I need a change of scenery. So here I am, at my local coffee shop, with a 12 ounce mocha, a pumpkin scone, and my laptop. I'd probably be happier if I had a lemon poppy seed muffin, but we can't always get everything we want.

I know writers who do all of their creative work at a coffee shop. And have to say that I think the image of author, hunched over a computer keyboard at a corner table is an appealing one. I'd love to be able to be one of those authors who lists her favorite barista in her acknowledgments. It's just such a lovely scene.

But I'm afraid I suffer from a guilt complex. I'd feel guilty spending money every day on coffee I can make perfectly easily at home (I used to be a barista, after all). I'd feel guilty sitting at the table all morning with just one coffee drink.

Not only that, but I'd have to be way more productive to justify the cost.

However, I do reserve the right to a $4 coffee when no other options are available to me. When I have been at home for 4 days straight, pounding away at the same 5 pages, and my arms start to ache from sitting in the same position. When I start talking to the dog, as he snores in his basket beside my desk. When I begin to wonder if maybe my time would be better used cleaning the toilet than writing the same 5 pages. That is when I get over my guilt complex and spend the day somewhere else.

And I find that that change scenery, the simple act of sitting at a different table, and listening to different sounds, can actually make a difference. I've had scenes just flow from my fingertips as everything around me disappears and my coffee grows cold. I've had words and sentences appear in my mind, perfect and indisputable. I've had characters speak to me in voices so clear that it's more like taking dictation than writing dialogue.

Plus, this is probably the best mocha I've ever had.

Winner of the BORN WICKED Giveaway!

2012-01-23T09:12:00.000-08:00

First, I want to thank you all for participating in the Race. The Apocalypsies are a pretty amazing group, and it's been so much fun supporting each other and cheering each other on. And even more fun to see the number of people who are right there with us -- wanting to read all of these amazing books.

Secondly, I want to announce the winner of the BORN WICKED giveaway. It's hard giving up this ARC, because I love this book, but I know I'll buy a copy anyway!

Chosen from all comments and new followers by random.org: Natalie! (Natalie152 at gmail). I will be e-mailing you shortly for your address and will get the book in the mail as soon as possible.

Thanks again for coming, everyone!

Why Tudors?

2012-01-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

A recurring theme from last week's comments was Tudor love.

"I love all the Tudor drama." -- Eliza
"I've always been fascinated with the Tudor court." -- Hannah Lorraine
"I love the Tudor era! -- picyadri
"I love anything to do with Henry VIII." -- Hannah

And it got me thinking. Why? Why do we love these people who lived hundreds of years ago, in what would seem like a different planet to our modern age? Why do we get caught up in their stories and their dramas, and why do they seem so present - so immediate - in our modern minds?

I have a feeling it's not just the Showtime/BBC series (I've only seen two episodes, but Henry Cavill will always have a place in my heart) because something - something bigger and more culturally potent - threw that series into stardom.

The only answer I can provide is my own. I began reading about Tudor history to discover if Henry truly was the gross, tyrannical behemoth so easily lampooned by modern comedians. And learned that Henry is much more complex than I ever imagined.

My second was to find out why this diverse group of women - almost all of them well-educated and obviously intelligent - would marry him. And their reasons were as diverse as their personalities. Henry certainly didn't marry a "type". Which makes him even more complex.

This doesn't come close to why I'm somewhat obsessed by the entire era. By the wars and religious upheaval. By the clothes and the jewelry, the food and travel and sports and entertainments. Compared to how we live now, their ways and traditions are archaic - even barbaric. But also fascinating - and some even beautiful.

So because I don't have an answer, let me turn it over to you. Why are you fascinated by the Tudors? And what is it about them that captures our collective imagination?

YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes! Leg 3

2012-01-16T08:45:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to Leg 3 of the YAmazing Race! This is an online week-long scavenger hunt hosted by the Apocalypsies featuring over 50 debut authors! By running the race, you can learn more about the hottest new books debuting in 2012 - AND earn a chance to win one of several prize packs made up of signed ARCs and finished copies, gift certificates, bookmarks, jewelry, swag, and more! If you're new to the race, start here, and follow the directions. I'll see you when you return! If you're already on the race, congratulations! This is the last stop on Leg 3 -- your next stop will be the quiz to enter to win prizes!

But first, a little information about my book, which will be in stores May 15.

GILT

In the Tudor age, ambition, power and charismatic allure are essential, and Catherine Howard has plenty of all three. Not to mention her loyal best friend, Kitty Tylney, to help cover her tracks. Kitty, the bandoned youngest daughter of minor aristocracy, owes everything to Cat - where she is, what she is, even who she is. Friend, flirt, and self-proclaimed Queen of Misrule, Cat reigns supreme in a loyal court of girls under the none-to-watchful eye of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk.

When Cat worms her way into the heart of Henry VIII and becomes Queen of England, Kitty is thrown into the intoxicating Tudor Court. It's a world of glittering jewels and elegant costumes, of gossip and deception. As the queen's right-hand-woman, Kitty goes from the girl nobody noticed to being caught between two men - the object of her affection and the object of her desire.

But the atmosphere of the court turns from dazzling to deadly, and Kitty is forced to learn the difference between trust and loyalty, love and lust, secrets and treason. And to accept the consequences when some lessons are learned too late.

Now, are you ready for that quiz?

But wait! Before you go, did you all read about BORN WICKED by Jessica Spotswood? Sounds fabulous, right? (It is, believe me, it is!) I'm hosting a bonus contest and an ARC of Jess's book is the prize! Every comment below and every new follower will be entered. This contest is open internationally and I'll post the winner (chosen by random number generator) on Monday, January 23rd. Just remember to come back to see who wins.

Ready for that quiz now? Just click here.

Note to my regular followers: In order to keep the YAmazing race running smoothly, this will be my only post for the week. Back to the regular schedule on the 25th!

Friday Five -- Random Thoughts

2012-01-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

Today's Friday Five is going to be totally random because I woke up late and have to enter the revision cave as soon as possible. So, here we go, in no particular order:

1. This is one of the best posts on the business I've seen in a long time. With what is one of my favorite quotes: "The prize in this pie-eating contest is more pie."

2. I've been reading James Scott Bell's book Revision and Self-Editing (while in the revision cave), and talking with the Boys in the Basement every night. Stephen King coined the term, but Bell goes so far as to suggest leaving little suggestions for the "Boys" to work on overnight while you sleep. I think of my "Boys" as the Untouchables -- kick-ass Treasury-types, smoking cigars and doing good. Last night they brought me a dream in which I went out to lunch with John Green. Sure, it didn't do anything for my Book 2, but it gave me a little ego-boost...

3. I hear it's snowing in parts of the US. Rumor has it that snow will come to California next week. I can't tell you how happy this makes me.

4. Viking, the imprint publishing GILT, is part of the larger Penguin Group. BORN WICKED, A debut by a Penguin sister, Jessica Spotswood, will be on shelves next month. It's a great read, with a wicked twist on history, and I'll be giving away an ARC next week (come back!). In the meantime, check out the trailer.

5. Happy Friday, everybody! I'm completely out of random, because I need to go writing a kissing scene like that one...

The Gift that Keeps Giving

2012-01-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

My husband's birthday has finally passed, so I can now talk about the amazing gifts I gave for Christmas (and his birthday).

Every year, my friend Mona Dougherty and I go up to Ashland, Oregon, to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Our first trips were in high school, with the Drama Club. When I returned to the US from living in England, we decided to continue the tradition. We see a play. We eat far too many (or maybe not enough) fish tacos at Agave. We talk.

And we buy photographs.

We first visited Dan Elster's booth at the artists and crafts fair along Lithia Creek three years ago. His images are so startling, you can't help but stop. A barn owl, sitting on a fence post, its right wing spread out to dry. A hummingbird taking a nip from a purple flower. A raven, standing ragged and alone on a beach.

Elster photographs nature in nature. None of his shots are staged. None of the animals are in captivity. He has spent hours, waiting for a family of foxes to come out of what he thinks is their hiding place. (A little like writing, right? Sitting, waiting for the right image to come and conquer the blank page. Only I'm probably warmer and more comfortable.)

Every year, for the past three years, we have bought photographs. In 2010, I had just signed with my agent. Mona told Dan, "Next year, we'll come back after Katy's book has sold. And she'll buy more." So I did. I bought large format photos of a peregrine falcon and a coyote for my husband. I bought smaller photographs for each of the YA Muses, choosing each image carefully for its recipient. I have a series of ravens near my desk -- one for each year we've visited Ashland.

I wish I could post a sample of Dan's work here, but that would be copyright infringement, and I would never do that to him. So you'll just have to go to the portfolio page on his website. You won't regret it.

On Making Mistakes

2012-01-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me well knows that I worked hard to make GILT as historically accurate as I could. I read books. I did as much online research of transcribed primary sources as I could. I scouted locations.

But I will always feel I didn't do enough. Because I know I made mistakes.

Let me backtrack. I wouldn't knowingly leave obvious mistakes in my manuscript before it went to print. Well, one. But the evidence of it only came to my attention after the galleys were printed and I had to let it go. However, I recently read something by Hilary Mantel (author of WOLF HALL, one of my favorite all-time novels, and probably my favorite Tudor novel ever) on historical accuracy. She said (This is not a direct quote, just the gist of it) that she would invent the thoughts in a character's head, but not the color of his wallpaper.

Whoa.

I don't know the color of my character's wallpaper. I also don't like to make mistakes, so this freaked me out a little. In the meantime, I've been doing more reading in order to add detail to Book 2 (still haven't found any wallpaper references, though.) and have discovered little details that I got wrong. Not things that are glaring, like my characters talking about texting or anything. Just little things that someone very, very familiar with the times would notice. And say, "That isn't accurate."

It kills me. I could think of all kinds of excuses (I don't have access to lots of primary sources. I'm 6,000 miles away from the British Library and the Ashmolean and the Bodleian.) and defenses (I didn't use Wikipedia as my main research source!) and qualifiers (most of my readers won't be Tudor historians). But it still kills me. Even if they're not Ph.D.s in 16th Century England, my readers deserve the best. Maybe I could have rented a place in England and spent hours (months, years) scouring primary sources. I should have known more.

But with all writing, as we move onto the next book, we realize that we could have known more with the first book. Could have done things differently. And all we can do is move forward.

And say -- I'm sorry for my mistakes. I'll try to do better next time.

Follow Friday -- Jackie Pynaert Garlick

2012-01-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

Now, this is a writer to follow. Jackie Pynaert Garlick has a literary style, full of fabulous metaphors and sensory almost-overload. She writes books that are close to her heart, that make me wonder and cry -- just by listening to her speak about them.

I can't wait for the rest of the world to see them.

Let me amend that, I can't wait to see them myself. Because I've seen snippets, but never read the full deal (though I'm waiting to beta read her most recent).

I know Jackie through a round-about route -- SCBWI, the Nevada Mentorship Program, Bret Ballou and Veronica Rossi. We've shared a room at national conferences, shared more than one meal and several confidences. She sat beside me while I made a fool of myself rocking out to Billie Joe Armstrong during the Broadway stage production of American Idiot. I feel very lucky to count her as a friend.

Now, not only is Jackie a great friend and a brilliant writer, she's planner and coordinator for one of the most intriguing children's literature conferences in North America. The Niagara SCBWI conference is small, intimate, and pulls in some of the biggest names in the industry (this year: Tracey Adams and Nancy Conescu).

And she's Canadian, eh?

Best of all, I get to see Jackie tomorrow at Veronica Rossi's book launch.

You can read Jackie's blog.
You can follow her on Twitter.
But it's best to get to know her personally. I'll introduce you sometime.

Why I Love My Local Library

2012-01-04T07:21:00.000-08:00

As a soon-to-be-published author, I know I should be encouraging all of you to go out and buy books. And I, myself, should be supporting my fellow writers by contributing to their royalties. (And now that I’ll actually be earning, I can.) But patronizing your library isn’t about not buying books. It’s about loving books. And so much more. So here is my shortlist of why I love my local library.

1. Lest this post end up being completely selfish, let me begin by saying that my library makes unfathomably generous contributions to the community. Literacy programs. Free Internet and computer access. Children’s programs. Activities. Shelter. Books. Let’s not forget the books, magazines, music CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, research materials, etc., etc., etc.

2. Libraries are great for children. I’ve been taking mine since they were chewing on board books. The library is where we discovered Harry the Dirty Dog, Ed Young’s Seven Blind Mice and then graduated to every single Magic Tree House ever written. My library has story time and summer reading programs. Several times a year they do educational shows – we’ve been to see a program on wolf rescue twice. With real wolves. Gorgeous.

3. Research. You knew I would get here eventually, right? When I wasn’t sure if I could write an entire book on Catherine Howard, I went to the library. And through interlibrary loan, I got a fabulous, 40-year-old biography of Henry’s fifth queen that had been sitting quietly in a sister library in the sleepy little town of Colusa, California. It still contained an old-fashioned check-out stamp card with stamps from the 70s on it. How the book got to Colusa, I don’t know. But I’m glad it did. And I’m very thankful for interlibrary loan. (The book, by Lacey Baldwin Smith, has just been revised and reprinted, and I now own a copy, but I read the one from Colusa twice.)

4. Libraries buy books. Hardcover and paperback. Sometimes multiple copies. And not just mine (I hope they buy mine!) My local chain bookstore carries a seemingly infinite variety of paranormal YA. But little-to-no historical. And minimal contemporary. I do my browsing at the library.

5. Librarians. Not only can they help you find the book you want, they can help you find the book you didn’t know you wanted. They know who just won the Printz and who wrote “that book about the vampire.” They’re friendly. Helpful. Knowledgeable. And cool.

Originally posted on the YAMuses blog, December 2010. But I still feel exactly the same.

Confessions (and a Challenge)

2012-01-02T08:16:00.000-08:00

I don't do resolutions -- at least I try not to. Number one, they make me feel guilty. And I can generally find enough stuff to feel guilty about without adding more. Number two, any day is a good day to change behaviour and bad habits -- not just the first of the year. Or so I keep telling myself.

So instead of my resolutions, I'm going to share with you two confessions. And offer a challenge. Ready?

Confession # 1. I read NEVER EIGHTEEN by my 2k12 Classmate, Megan Bostic, a long time ago. As soon as it appeared on Net Galley, I sent in a request. I love contemporary YA (I know, crazy, because I write historical stuff) and this book had all the elements -- love, fear, friendship, tragedy. There's nothing I like better than being so moved by a novel that I cry. Not only this, but it's set in the Pacific Northwest, an area I haunted on and off for a year in my 20's, and still feel an enormous connection with. Reading the book was like revisiting my youth. The confession part is, that I haven't said a word about it until now. Mostly because if I'd blogged about it back in May, it wouldn't have that much impact. However, now the book will be out in two weeks (January 17). And I'm hoping it will make a huge impact.

You see, it's the story of a boy, Austin Parker, who is doing what he can to change the lives of the people he loves. He can't do much -- he doesn't have time. But he does what he can. He reaches out. And sometimes, this is the most any of us can do.

Which brings us to Confession #2. Until this past holiday season, I hadn't sent Christmas cards in nine years. Nine years. I have friends in many diverse places. And, unfortunately, I've lost touch with many of them (not everyone can be found on Facebook). But I want to be in contact with them. So this past year, I had to try. Thanks to Megan and Austin Parker.

It's hard to reach out into the void, not knowing if you're going to connect. I knew I'd lost some people forever. People move. And move on. I've already got one letter back -- Return to Sender. But I also received a very sweet e-mail from an address in England telling me that the people I sent the letter to had moved. That letter may never have been returned, and it felt good knowing that someone had the decency to let me know that I had it wrong. So I could start another search.

Megan has kindly allowed me to participate in her Project Pass It On. Not only is this a way to get the word out on her book, it's also a way to encourage readers to connect with others. Check out the web page. It's wonderful. And think of ways you can connect.

Now I just need to find the perfect place to pass my copy on.

Friday Five -- My Favorite Books of 2011

2011-12-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

I hesitate to say the "Best" books of 2011, because the word is so subjective. When thinking of "best" I encounter a difficulty choosing between a story I adore, a concept that is truly unique and simply stellar writing. Plus I know I've read too few books really to be able to suggest that I know which books of 2011 were the "best".

Caveat over. On to the books! In no particular order.

1. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. I blogged about this book back in June over on the YA Muses. And I can't stop thinking about it. It covers a segment of history about which I knew nothing, follows the story of a strong and compelling protagonist and tells a story of such poignance and power that it lingers many months in the mind.

2. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. If you haven't read Anna and the French Kiss or its companion/follow-up, Lola, walk away now and go find a copy. Feel-good romance and detailed characters you feel you know. I was so glad to see Anna and St. Clair in Lola, but equally glad that it really told Lola's tale. She's a character you need to meet.

3. Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach. I wasn't sure I would like this book at first, but it ended up being another one that seized me and wouldn't let go. An somewhat unreliable narrator who knows he is unreliable but who the reader can look past and see the truth before the character himself can. So cleverly done, I need to read it again to see how Herbach did it.

4. Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace. I love boarding school books. And this one is set in the 80's (my favorite decade? No, I guess the 90's were better) and in Zimbabwe. I felt attachment to this novel before I even read it, and since reading it, I feel I know Zimbabwe better. History -- only 30 years old -- that few people know or understand brought to life in a novel that could be contemporary.

5. What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen. I love Dessen's novels, and this one did not disappoint. Beautifully rendered, with fully-developed characters each with quirks and faults and truth.

There are many more books out there that deserve to be on this list. And I'm always on the lookout for recommendations from others! Let me know what you've read this year, what's surprising, what made you cry, what changed you. And, of course, what you're looking forward to next year!

5.

Best. Present. Ever.

2011-12-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

I have a very dear friend -- we've known each other since we were fifteen -- who is always a breath of light and happiness when I see her. We tend to fall into the same kind of chat and banter that we always have, even though we only see each other a couple of times a year. We catch up -- "How's your dad?" "What are your kids up to?"and then we just are.

Wilathi is an artist, a gardener, a healer and a philosopher. She is one of those people you love to know. And she is also one of those people who treasures her friends and family. I'm glad to be one of them.

Yesterday, Wil gave me a holiday gift. When she handed me the square-framed, lensless glasses, I didn't get it at first. She had decorated the temples and the rims, but the original rosy color shone through. I put them on, asked, "Do these make me look more intelligent?"

And then I got it.

In our twenties, Wil delightedly accepted the fact that she sees the world through rose-colored glasses. She wants to be the optimist. The Pollyana. The one who sees the good in the world. "There's already so much negativity," she says. "So much darkness. Why shouldn't we put these on to help us remember that there is also positivity, goodness and light?"

So I have my rose-colored glasses. When things seem to be too much for me, when the fact of my father's illness or the snarky reviews or the weight of my responsibilities get to me, I can put them on, and remember the good, the positive and the light. And Wil.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-26T04:00:00.000-08:00

And happy Boxing Day, everyone. Here's wishing that you are having a fabulous holiday!

Follow Friday -- Santa

2011-12-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

'Tis the Season, right?

Several Christmases ago, I heard a story on NPR about how back in the dark ages, before Internet, a Colorado Springs Sears and Roebuck printed an add for kids to call Santa. Unfortunately, the number was misprinted, and kids were directed to CONAD (the Continental Air Defense Command). But the confusion gave the commander-in-chief a brilliant idea. They track airplanes, right? And other flying objects? Why not Santa?

So from then on, they have. And you can, too. Through the present day North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Check out NORAD tracks Santa
And @noradsanta on Twitter.

Where is Santa right now? Go find him. And tell your kids.

Cover Reveal for IF I LIE by Corrine Jackson

2011-12-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to read this book since it was announced on Publisher's Marketplace back in March -- and I still have to wait until August to read it! But the darling Corrine Jackson has just revealed her cover for IF I LIE, and I'm just desperate to share it here:

And here's the synopsis (from the synopsis that will be on the galleys):

A powerful debut novel about the gray space between truth and perception.
Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.
Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.

Young Adult

2011-12-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Addendum, January 5, 2012:

I've been getting a lot of hits on this post from people searching for that brilliant song that Mavis listens to obsessively in her Mini Cooper (including the refrain, "I didn't want to hurt you, ohhh, oh yeah"). Just to set your minds at rest, it is The Concept, by Teenage Fanclub. And yeah, I love it, too.

On Saturday, I went to see the film Young Adult - starring Charlize Theron - with three other authors and a future filmmaker. We figured it was our obligation -- to see how close to the truth the film came. Plus it was a good excuse to get out and talk books and nonsense.

Here is what struck us as true:

1. Sitting in front of the computer, staring a screen completely blank except for the words Chapter 1.

2. Listening to conversations in public places and holding onto choice snippets for possible use in a present or future novel.

3. Stealing moments at coffee shops and bus stops to get the novel written.

I was delighted that the author in the movie didn't "see the light" at the end of the film and become a "real writer" - for adults.

But I was very, very uncomfortable with how close her deadline was and how far she was from finishing the book. It ended up giving me a stomach ache, worrying about her deadline. It was my worst nightmare - to be on Chapter 1, and have the book due on Friday.

There were a lot of other things about the movie that made me uncomfortable. Theron's character, Mavis, was not an easy character to like. But I loved the brave choices the screenwriter and director made. And I loved that even the stunning Theron wrote in her Hello Kitty jammies and stayed up late eating New York Super Fudge Chunk (and drinking Maker's Mark - but you'll have to see the film to understand the significance of that.)

For me, however, the best part of the evening was hanging out with other writers afterwards. Talking about books and plotlines, ridiculous Christmas gifts and legendary holiday photos. That was the whole point, after all. Because we all need time with writer friends. So thank you, ladies, for a good night out.

Friday Five

2011-12-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

Five facts about me:

1. My parents are both geologists. I spent a considerable amount of time as a child looking at road cuts. And I still, on car trips, can look up and exclaim, “Look at the stratification in that.”

2. When I was ten, I wanted to go to law school and then become President. My fifth grade teacher set up a “learn about the law” program in which kids could take “the bar”, become lawyers, and then hold mock trials. We had one. I was prosecuting attorney. But during recess, when the trial was over, I saw the accused (who had been found guilty) crying in the classroom. And my dream of being a lawyer died right there.

3. My sister and I shared a room for years. At night, when we were supposed to be asleep, she read aloud THE HOBBIT and the entire LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. I still can’t disassociate the stories from the sound of her voice.

4. I studied ballet for two weeks when I was eight.

5. The thing that frightened me most as a child was a nightmare I had in which a pretty little yellow bird turned into a monster. The thing that frightens me most now? Well, I’m not saying…

Imperfections

2011-12-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

Does anyone else do this? You're getting ready to go out, putting on nice clothes, great shoes, doing your hair (I straighten mine. My 14-year-old self desperately wishes she had straightening tongs, so my present-day self uses them whenever I want to look nice. If you could see my 8th grade class photo, you would totally understand). And, of course, makeup. Stand back. Look in the mirror.

What do I see? Not the whole picture -- the nice clothes and decent straightening job. I see the little frizzy bit over my right ear that I can't tame. I see the little pill coming up in the shoulder of my sweater. I see the spot just starting to appear on my forehead above my left eyebrow.

I see the imperfections.

I do the same thing when cooking -- the broccoli is overdone, the sauce is too thick, there aren't enough potatoes to serve my family (in the entire world. My family loves potatoes. This is not an imperfection, this is a fact.)

And again in my writing.

I just got my edit letter on Book 2. And I have to force myself to go back and re-read the first sentence: "Let me begin by saying I loved it!" Because the next nine pages are all about what needs to be fixed.

The imperfections.

It's hard to have the imperfections pointed out. It's like someone standing in front of you and saying, "You look great, but did you know you had a huge spot just above your eyebrow?" There's nothing I can do about the spot (maybe a little concealer -- and about three days worth of hiding beneath low-brimmed hats). But I can do something about the imperfections in Book 2.

And it's good to have someone else point them out. Because I get so close to my work I can't always see them myself. Some of them are like that spot -- I know they're there, but I desperately hope everyone else will ignore it. But I need them pointed out to me.

These imperfections need to be fixed. It will make the book better. It's just hard to look them in the face.

A Cure for the Monday Blues

2011-12-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

How many of you out there get the Monday blues? Back to work, back to school, back to whatever…Even if you love your job or your classes, getting back to the same old thing can be a bit tiresome.

Since I started writing full-time, I look forward to most Mondays. I say most because that statement needs a qualifier. I look forward to having a few moments alone. I look forward to getting back to the life that happens in my head and in the pages. Mostly. There are weeks – when I’m in the throes of writer’s block, or when I have a week ahead that is full of volunteer opportunities that seemed fun when I volunteered…

This week, I definitely have something to look forward to. My revision letter for Book 2. I’m a little nervous (amend that – I’m a lot nervous) but also thrilled to find out what my editor thinks. And as much as it terrifies me, I’m looking forward to digging back in – in part because I was in the throes of writer’s block with Book 3.

There are other things to look forward to today:

You can still enter the GILT giveaway over at the YAMuses blog!

And tonight, at 9 p.m. EST, I will be hosting my first ever Twitter chat – the Apocalypsies will be talking about world-building and we’ll be giving away prizes donated by Veronica Rossi (author of UNDER THE NEVER SKY) and Megan Miranda (author of FRACTURE). Come by Twitter and check out the hashtag #2012debuts. You won’t regret it!

How’s that for a cure to the Monday blues?

Follow Friday -- Beth Hull

2011-12-09T06:51:00.000-08:00

Today I'm going to look like a dragon eating its own tail, but even if Beth wasn't posting an interview with me today, I would choose her as my first Follow Friday.

I met Beth at an SCBWI event sometime in the spring, and we got to chatting about books and blogging, about our own projects and about our kids. Turns out her child was about to start at the preschool where I used to teach (and where my kids are now in the elementary school next door) so I immediately invited her to come to mom days at the park.

And started following her blog.

Beth writes about writing. She writes about not being able to write. She writes about being a mom, and how hard that can be to reconcile with being a writer (and a reader). Beth's blog has shaped up to be what I hope will be a model for my own (including the 3-days-a-week posting). And on top of all that, she's shaping up to be a good friend.

And she makes devastating peppermint truffle lumps.

So if you want to find out about the life of a writer who is on the verge of something great (she just got a request for a full of her YA manuscript from a top agent), start following Beth Hull.

Beth's blog is called Nebula and can also be found by Googling her name.
Beth is also on Twitter.

This Week in History -- Thomas Culpepper and Francis Dereham

2011-12-07T07:17:00.000-08:00

This was a bad week for Catherine Howard. Like, the worst. Imagine your worst week and multiply it by a thousand.

As you know, my first novel, GILT, tells the story of Catherine from the point of view of her best friend. My goal is to be as historically accurate as possible, placing people and events as they actually were, but lacing these events through a story with a more contemporary feel -- the story of the friendship between Kitty Tylney and Cat Howard.

The White Tower in the Tower of London

But I'll run through some of the facts here on the blog over the course of the year. On the 1st of December, 1541, two of Catherine Howard's lovers were put on trial and found guilty of high treason.

Seriously. Can you imagine how impossible it would seem for an ex-boyfriend to be tried and convicted of treason? As a teenager, when you fell in love, did you stop and think, "Wait, maybe I shouldn't do this in case I marry the king one day?" No. Neither did Catherine Howard nor Francis Dereham. Unfortunately for them.

But Thomas Culpepper was a different story. Catherine started the affair with him after she married the king. And adultery was a very bad thing for a woman (though not for a man. Especially the king. Double standard, anyone?) Adultery with the queen could *ahem* adulterate the royal line, placing a non-royal on the throne, which was even worse. Treason.

So on December 1st, Catherine heard that her bedfellows were going to die. And I wonder if she knew then that she might follow.

On December 10, the men were executed on Tower Hill. Culpepper was beheaded -- his sentence commuted by a generous king. Dereham was not so lucky.

Not a good week, all in all. I certainly hope yours is better.

Gift-Giving and Giveaway

2011-12-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

I'm blogging over at the YA Muses today, even though it's Monday, because we are kicking off a week of discussing gifts for writers and I have a special wish on my list.

Drop by yamuses.blogspot.com to find out what it is, and a chance to win an Advance Reading Copy of GILT!

Friday Five

2011-12-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

I love movies. I always have. I used to spend endless afternoons lying on the faded red carpet of our living room, watching whatever movie they showed on channel 44 out of San Francisco.

But when anyone asks me what my favorite movie is, my answer depends on what mood I'm in, what I've seen recently, and what I want to see next. Sometimes it's tied up in my writing, and what I think my favorite movie is would be a perfect foil to the character am writing at the moment.

So if you asked me what my favorite movies are today, this would be an answer. But if you ask me next week, answers may be different. So be warned.

1. A Room with a View. Not Oscar worthy material perhaps, and not deeply emotive performances, but such a rich and tender romance. Not to mention, it's set in Florence, one of my favorite cities in the world.

2. Gone with the Wind. From first glimpse to closing scene, Vivien Leigh lives and breathes Scarlett O'Hara. And Clark Gable? Yes, please.

3. Apollo 13. One of the few movies I actually own. And every single time I watch it, I cheer when Ed Harris says “not on my watch.” And I cry when those 3 astronauts touchdown in the Atlantic Ocean.

4. Silence of the Lambs. Brilliant, masterful, and oh so deeply frightening. Anthony Hopkins outdoes himself. I saw this film when it came out, and I will probably never watch it again. Because now it would scare me too much.

5. The King’s Speech. I had to put a new movie in this list. Colin Firth is eminently believable, and I honestly believe that Geoffrey Rush can do no wrong.

I know there are hundreds more that I love – Roman Holiday, To Kill a Mockingbird, Doubt, the list goes on and on. What about you?

Hello!

2011-11-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, and welcome to my blog! You can already find me on Tuesdays over on the YA Muses, but I wanted a chance to talk about news, books, and anything else that comes to mind. So here I am.

I’ll blogging here Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and possibly other times as the muse strikes. Talking about things that inspire me, writing process, history, and books. Always books.

So please join in, add to the conversation, ask questions, and tell your friends!