London Calling

The weather outside is frightful - we'll have a foot of snow by morning, but I can't be bothered to care because...

NIGHTSHADE and WOLFSBANE sold in the UK!!!
I am ecstatic to share the news that my novels' British home will be with the fabulous team at Atom (Little Brown). Atom is the publisher of both the Twilight and House of Night series *happy dancing now ensues* and I am thrilled to be working with such a fantastic house.

Those of you who've followed this blog for a while know that Great Britain is something of a second home to me, so this sale makes my heart sparkle. And to all my friends across the pond, I'm so pleased that NIGHTSHADE will be in your local bookstores!!

Platforms are Not Just Shoes

If you attend a writers' conference, and I highly recommend that you do, you're bound to hear this word repeated more times than you can count:

PLATFORM

What is a platform? You ask. I certainly did. It turns out that a platform is the base audience a writer creates even before a book is published and, get this, sometimes even before you sign with an agent.

Once upon a time an author only really needed a platform for non-fiction (i.e. in my case the fact that I'm a college professor creates a ready-made platform for my academic writing), but today fiction writers are also in need of their own buzz, a presence beyond that on the pages they write.

Don't panic! I know that for we writerly folk this idea is daunting at best, but in today's digital friendly age creating a platform is much, much easier than you'd imagine.

Facebook, Twitter, and blogs I think are the best ways to dip your toes in the platform pool. More intrepid folk might consider starting vlogs (Jackson Pearce is the queen of vlogs). I'm toying with this idea, but have not yet made that plunge. If I do, you'll be the first to know!

You can start small. Believe me, the early days of tweet and blogs can feel pretty lonely. But readerships and followers grow over time, and soon they become a big part of your life...one that needs to be managed so that it doesn't interfere with all that writing that started this platform business in the first place!

I'm sure some of you are thinking - does this platform stuff really matter?

YES.

More than I would have guessed. I've been incredibly fortunate of late to sign with some amazing foreign publishers *waves, blows kisses, Hi Lyndsey!!* and in the offers there have been many mentions of my online presence.

When I first read their comments I had a "whaaaaa???" moment, because unbeknownst to me my blogs and tweets had been followed by some truly fabulous editors and publishers. And it's my impression that my growing platform has had a significant impact on the response of publishing houses to NIGHTSHADE. EPIC WIN!

So don't be shy. The benefit of online platformdom is that it's a great venue for writers - it's all about writing!! Each author has to find the way to the world that best suits them, so test the waters, see what format is the right fit for you. But don't stay hidden in the shadows, let the world see you shine.

En Francais Sil Vous Plait

It's a weekend full of happy dancing - to Ma Vie En Rose, of course. I'm thrilled to announce that NIGHTSHADE and WOLFSBANE will be published in France by Gallimard! I'm thrilled to be working with this fantastic publisher, who are also the French publishers of a certain wizardly series that rhymes with Mary Cotter. Thanks for the enthusiasm of Gallimard for the books and to my marvelous agenting team at InkWell!

Am I ecstatic? Mais oui!

If you need me, I'll be dancing to my new favorite song. Bonus: Minnesota pride - Owl City is a local band that's hitting the big time!

Winter Butterfly

I love the shift in seasons.

I know, I know. Two months ago I ranted about October snow - but I love the shift in seasons when they happen at the appropriate time. Early or late snow freaks me out.

Now that it's December and we're diving toward the Solstice, I'm enjoying the drop in temperatures and the delicate flakes that lazily drift through the air.

Winter has another benefit as well: complete wardrobe transformation.

Living in a true four seasons climate means we Northern folk get to emerge from our respective cocoons not one, but four times a year. Winter, spring, summer, fall - each have their own sets of clothes. When the temperature drops I rifle through my closet, discovering velvety corduroys and woolen skirts long neglected through summer and fall. It feels like a shopping spree occurred where I didn't have to spend any money!

As much as I enjoy pleasant weather, I don't think I could sacrifice this seasonal bliss for year round temperature stability. My brother lives in LA (he reads this blog and I'm about to mock him, sorry little bro!) and just sent his Christmas list - which put mine to shame by the way - in which he requested an "LA winter coat."

Guffaw! There is no LA winter. He needs a light jacket, which I believe will contribute much more to style than defense from the elements.
As for me I'll be packing up breezy cotton skirts and sheer tops, which I'll stow away until it's time for the next cocoon to break open, welcoming spring rain and warm Zephyr wind. Given that I live in Minnesota, it probably won't happen until May.

The Empty List

In the days just after Thanksgiving a question oft-repeated among my family and friends:

What would you like for Christmas?

I'm not going to blush or offer downcast eyes. My attitude toward gifts is much like that of Buffy on her birthday:

"Oooh, prezzies! Gimme, gimme, gimme."

I love presents. I love giving them and getting them.

But this year I'm stumped. I have no idea what to put on my Christmas list (sorry Mom!)
And I know why. 2009 was the year I got what I wanted more than anything else in the world - my book deal.

When I try to think about a 'gimme list' I always come back to: book deal. And I have that. And every time I remember I get squeeey goodness. And then I don't want anything. I iz happy, happy, happy.

Okay, okay...so there was one thing I wanted - a Droid.

But my oh-so-lovely husband just bought me one, and when I insisted it was my Christmas presented he countered: "No, this is your book deal present." (See - there it is again! The book deal is the blob that consumes all other gift options!)

If you don't know what a Droid is, it's this awesome device that is pretty much Motorola's answer to the IPhone. And it is awesome. I am not a gadgety girl, but I love my Droid. I love it because I am a Messy Person.

I believe that this inherent messiness is a good thing. So does the New York Times *sticks out tongue at obssessive neat folk* (Don't worry, I still love you strange, organized folk of the world, my husband is one of you. I simply will never understand how you manage to be so neat.)

The Droid is the closet thing in my life I can offer for organization. I thrive in chaos and clutter and me walking through a room seems to have a similar affect to that of a tornado. My desk lives under the constant threat of drowning in papers, books, sticky notes, and pictures. My calendar cannot hope to keep up.

The Droid helps because it's everything in one neat little black box. Plus, it tells me when I'm supposed to be different places...and that is the kind of little helper I need. Though I'm a little afraid that it will become self aware and take over the world, starting with my house.

But it's help has left me with that same old problem. Nothing for the list. Except books of course, there's no end to the books I pine for. So Mom, little bro, & everyone else who's asked me for a list. Just head to the bookstore because and I'll steal a quip from Edward:"Books are my life now."

Though according to LisaDez, none of this is going to be a problem anyway.

Ooh, Shinies!

An award! An award!

Thanks so much to fellow Buffy addict, Tricia from Talespinning, for honoring me:
Like Tricia I'm going to be a rule contrarian and go 'five by five'; that is, Five Honest Things About Me and Five Bloggers to whom I'll pass on the award.

Hmmm, five honest things...

Well I think it's the most difficult to be honest about those things you're afraid of, so I'll offer five of my true fears, ranging from silly to serious:

1) I cannot tolerate anyone looking over my shoulder. I freeze up and can't do anything until said lurker is gone.

2) I am terrified of crocodiles. For realz. And I live in Minnesota, go figure.

3) I am afraid of mustaches.

4) My dogs turn eight in 2010. I am scared that they will soon be old dogs :(

5) And my biggest fear: that when that biggest of big dreams happens - Nightshade's release date, October 14, 2010 - that no one will like it. (I think all authors share this fear!)

True confessions over, onto the awards:

I'd like to give the Honest Scrap award to:

LisaDez
Suzanne Young
Carrie Harris
Caroline
The Screaming Guppy

And finally I'd like to dedicate this award to my followers (76! Woo-hoo!) it's so awesome to see you here every day :) And to any lurkers out there, I'm happy to have you here too. Don't be shy, you can come out from behind those bushes if you'd like. I won't bite until we get to know each other better.Biting people: not a fear of mine. Though I'm sure many of you are now afraid of me. Bwaaa-haa-haa.

Happy Wednesday!

Coming Soon

I'm giddy.

There has been such amazing news in the twitosphere (is that a term yet? If not, I call it) about oh-so-exciting film rights deals for fabulous YA authors.

Even though the making of said movies lies well in the future, I still am proud to present my own series of previews for movies I will be waiting in line to see on their some-day-hopefully-not-too-far-away release dates.

Wicked Lovely

Melissa Marr's fey on the silver screen. I get chills just imagining the possibilities.

The Mortal InstrumentsCassandra Clare's series kept me up all night turning pages. And the thought of Jace in the flesh? Swoon.

Shiver

Speaking of chills. Go werewolves! Maggie Stiefvater's lyrical prose and bittersweet tales of love will make for tear-jerking and spine-tingling goodness.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

I am already terrified...but in a really, really good way.

The Duff
(so hot off the presses there isn't even a cover yet!)

Yay for fellow Tenner Kody Keplinger. The film talk compares her story to Juno (which I loved), and hello McG! Woo-hoo Kody! I can't wait for this film!

Beautiful Creatures
Finally, but hopefully only the continuation of more good news to come for the page to screen of YA, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's southern gothic is the buzz around town. This movie is certain to make waves and I think it will be wonderful.

Three cheers for YA domination of Hollywood!!! And a Happy December to you all!