ALA Amazingness

Last weekend, I went to Seattle.  I adore Seattle.  I spent a year almost living there (ask me about this sometime, and I'll tell you about it) and always assumed I'd moved there.  But then moved to England instead.  (hey, the weather is the same!)

The Washington State Conference Center hosted the American Library Association mid-winter conference.  My Corsets, Cutlasses and Candlesticks sister, Cat Winters was going to be signing.  My editor and agent sibling (and now good friend) Stasia Ward Kehoe, offered a place to sleep in her wonderful home where I got to meet her delightful family.  And my editor arranged a pass.  So of course I jumped at the chance.

For two days, I was surrounded by books and book people.    Publishers, agents, writers, sales reps, and, of course, librarians.  Lots of librarians.  (And you know, I love librarians).  My Class of 2k12 sibling, Jennifer Shaw Wolf, author of BREAKING BEAUTIFUL, picked me up at the airport, showed me some Seattle sights, wandered the exhibits with me and we both killed our feet in our fancy boots.  I picked up galleys of some fabulous spring and summer books.  I attended book buzz panels to see what publishers are interested in.  Stasia and I met the Penguin sales rep (the delightful Colleen Conway) for coffee.  I went to a session where I learned which books of 2012 the local teens loved the most (and the least).  My favorite quote?  "Scarlet (from AC Gaughen's Robin Hood retelling, SCARLET) is the best female character since Hermione Granger."  I couldn't have put it better myself.

And I met writers.

I had dinner with several authors, including Allyson Valentine, author of the forthcoming HOW (NOT) TO FIND A BOYFRIEND, Helen Landalf, who wrote FLYAWAY, Karen Finneyfrock (another editor sibling) whose THE SWEET REVENGE OF CELIA DOOR is coming out this month.  We were joined by J. Anderson Coats, author of the fabulous THE WICKED AND THE JUST, and another 2k12 sib.  And also the lovely book blogger, Jean Vallesteros.

This weekend, I'm catching up on my revision for Book 3.

Friday Five -- J. Anderson Coats

Today's Friday Five are being asked of author J. Anderson Coats whose THE WICKED AND THE JUST will debut on Tuesday from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  Jillian is an essential member of the Class of 2k12, an excellent resource and sports a whip-quick wit.  Plus she loves history.  Win.


THE FIVE:

1.  What would your super power be?

I would be able to manipulate time, either adding hours to the day or stopping time completely.  That way words could get written, the kitchen cleaned, the day job done and chess played with the kid without anything falling by the wayside.

2.  What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Real Simple magazine.  I’m in awe of living-room makeovers and subtle eyeshadow and one-skillet dinners that involve fennel.  My “décor” involves big piles of books and a relentless, futile attempt to keep the dinner table clear enough to eat on.

3.  If you could edit your past, what would you change?

I would be born with the ability to know what to say in any situation and make people feel at ease.  Being able to walk into any roomful of strangers and not feel awkward would make me a happier person.

4.  What other profession would you like to learn?

Cake-decorating.  First you make something breathtaking, then you eat it because it’s also delicious.

5.  What profession would you never, ever want to have?

Commission sales.  It does not align with my personality and worldview in any way, shape, or form.

ABOUT THE WICKED AND THE JUST:

From Coats's website: 

1293.  North Wales.  Ten years into English rule.

Cecily would give anything to leave Caernarvon and go home.  Gwenhwyfar would give anything to see all the English leave.

Neither one is going to get her wish.

Behind the city walls, English burgesses govern with impunity.  Outside the walls, the Welsh are confined by custom and bear the burden of taxation, and the burgesses plan to keep it that way.
Cecily can’t be bothered with boring things like the steep new tax or the military draft that requires Welshmen to serve in the king’s army overseas.  She has her hands full trying to fit in with the town’s privileged elite, and they don’t want company.

Gwenhwyfar can’t avoid these things.  She counts herself lucky to get through one more day, and service in Cecily’s house is just salt in the wound.

But the Welsh are not as conquered as they seem, and the suffering in the countryside is rapidly turning to discontent.  The murmurs of revolt may be Gwenhwyfar’s only hope for survival – and the last thing Cecily ever hears.

You can buy THE WICKED AND THE JUST here.

ABOUT JILLIAN:

You can find her on her website.
On Twitter.
On Facebook.
And on Goodreads.

Follow Friday -- Historical Fiction Edition

Before I got an agent, before GILT sold, I can't tell you how many times I heard "Historicals don't sell."  Or how many agents and editors I heard at conferences tell the room, "Just don't send me any historical fiction."

It can be a little discouraging, I tell you.

But I had to write what I write.  I love the process.  Digging deep into the history to find as many facts as I can, the puzzle pieces from which I can build a picture.  But it's like the picture is merely a pencil drawing (and often an unfinished one at that) and it's up to me to fill in the color and life.  I love it.

And others do, too.  Apparently there are several agents and editors out there who didn't get the memo about historical fiction.  Or maybe, just maybe, times are changing.

SCARLET by A.C. Gaughen debuted on Valentine's Day.  It's a retelling of the Robin Hood legend, but steeped in the history of the period.  I loved it, and blogged about it over on the YA Muses.

I'm currently reading GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFevers and wow.  Just wow.  Gorgeous history, fascinating characters, awesome premise.  And a truly kick-butt heroine.  Love.

I'm dying to read THE WICKED AND THE JUST by J. Anderson Coats.  It's set in Medieval Wales and knowing Coats, is full of wicked quips and unfortunate situations.  Plus it's been getting starred reviews.  Do I really have to wait a month?

And later this year, expect to VENOM by Fiona Paul.  Gorgeous gowns, enigmatic masks and a mystery.  Lush and full of visual detail from Renaissance Venice.

Any historical novels you're looking forward to this year?  That you've read already and can't wait to read more?