Guilt forced me to clue Nev in to this contest, so I confessed and decided he should be the one to pick a winner. Here's the transcript of how that went.
Nev sits across from me, slouched in his chair. He looks slightly puzzled, a little curious, but mostly wary. Wary Guardians are not great company. I try to focus on not dropping my coffee cup as I explain the contest.
Me: *clears throat* So...uh..will you do it?
Nev: Let me get this straight. You want the band to have a name?
Me: No, no, no. I just thought it would be fun to have a contest to think up names.
Nev: *eyes run over the list I've given him* This isn't a trick? When I pick one you aren't going to make me keep it?
Me: No.
Nev: 'Cause I don't do band names.
Me: I know.
Nev: And the other guys would be pissed if they thought I'd signed on for some name without asking them.
Me: I know none of you guys are "name" people, but it's just for fun.
Nev: *watches me for a minute*
Me: *beginning to sweat* I promise.
Nev: *leans back in chair, flips guitar pick along the backs of his fingers* Okay, then.
Me: *tries to keep relieved breath quiet* *watches as Nev reads, tries to gauge some reaction* *curses self for writing a character so good at cloaking his emotions*
Nev: *smiles...maybe?* I like this one. Fighting Nuns.
Me: I thought you might.
Nev: It's a good image. I'm sure nuns have a lot of pent up rage. In a fight, my money would be on the nun.
Me: *nods*
Nev: Feral Daze is good too. Like if Hendrix had a wolf band.
Me: *laughs*
Nev: *gives me a stony gaze*
Me: *swallows all future laughs*
Nev: I could also go for Echo in the Blood. *hands list back to me*
Me: So those are your picks? Fighting Nuns, Feral Daze, and Echo in the Blood?
Nev: Yep. Can I go now? I'm late.
Me: *raises brow* Late for what?
Nev: *half smile, sits silently*
Me: *realizes after 30 seconds that I will never win a staring contest with Nev* Okay then, thanks for stopping by.
Nev: *already out of his chair* See ya, writer lady.
Me: *cannot decide if it's good or not that Nev has nicknamed me 'writer lady.'
Now for the drawing:
The three contenders are:
Jami - Fighting Nuns
Lindsay - Echo in the Blood
Jemmafey - Feral Daze
And the Randomizer picks:
Jemmafey!!
Congrats, Jemma :) Send your mailing address to andreacremerwrites@gmail.com and I'll mail you The REPLACEMENT!!
Thanks so much for all the great entries!!!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Ghost Vs. Android
I wasn't planning to post until I returned from the history conference I'm attending, but something utterly, unbelievably strange happened to me last night. I swear that everything I'm about to write is true. I'm still shaken up by it.
A little after 2 a.m. I woke up to the sound of my phone dialing and my dad's voicemail picking up.
Strange?
Yes. Especially since I was across the room in bed. My phone was sitting five feet away still on the chair where I'd plugged it in to charge overnight.
I got to the phone where my dad's voicemail message was still playing and then my phone rang. It was my husband.
"Andrea - what's going on?"
"What do you mean?" I was not only confused, but really tired.
"You've been calling me."
At this point my stomach pretty much dropped out of my body. I had no idea what was going on. I told him that my phone seemed to be calling numbers randomly and I was clueless as to why.
After we hung up, I looked at my call log. My phone had been calling random numbers for at least fifteen minutes.
Not knowing what to do and pretty much freaked out, I shut the phone down and went back to sleep.
This morning when I woke early for the conference, my hotel roomie and fellow history Christian said. "You sent me the most random text at 2 a.m."
She showed me the text. It was a smiley face followed by a bunch of random letters.
I did not send that text.
So there were random calls, and texts, and now this morning I've discovered my Facebook was also full of weird nonsense. I have a Facebook app on my Droid.
My theories : 1) my phone went insane. I don't know why, but it did.
2) A ghost, which had never used a smartphone, decided it would be fun to try mine out. I'm in St. Augustine, Florida. The oldest permanent colonial settlement in the U.S. and I'm staying in a very old hotel on the national register of historic places. If any place has a ghost, it would be here.
3) My Droid has become self aware and is attempting to communicate on its own.
So dear friends, if you got a call with no one on the other end of the line or a nonsense text from me in the middle of the night it was not me. I don't know what it was.
Theories?
Help??
A little after 2 a.m. I woke up to the sound of my phone dialing and my dad's voicemail picking up.
Strange?
Yes. Especially since I was across the room in bed. My phone was sitting five feet away still on the chair where I'd plugged it in to charge overnight.
I got to the phone where my dad's voicemail message was still playing and then my phone rang. It was my husband.
"Andrea - what's going on?"
"What do you mean?" I was not only confused, but really tired.
"You've been calling me."
At this point my stomach pretty much dropped out of my body. I had no idea what was going on. I told him that my phone seemed to be calling numbers randomly and I was clueless as to why.
After we hung up, I looked at my call log. My phone had been calling random numbers for at least fifteen minutes.
Not knowing what to do and pretty much freaked out, I shut the phone down and went back to sleep.
This morning when I woke early for the conference, my hotel roomie and fellow history Christian said. "You sent me the most random text at 2 a.m."
She showed me the text. It was a smiley face followed by a bunch of random letters.
I did not send that text.
So there were random calls, and texts, and now this morning I've discovered my Facebook was also full of weird nonsense. I have a Facebook app on my Droid.
My theories : 1) my phone went insane. I don't know why, but it did.
2) A ghost, which had never used a smartphone, decided it would be fun to try mine out. I'm in St. Augustine, Florida. The oldest permanent colonial settlement in the U.S. and I'm staying in a very old hotel on the national register of historic places. If any place has a ghost, it would be here.
3) My Droid has become self aware and is attempting to communicate on its own.
So dear friends, if you got a call with no one on the other end of the line or a nonsense text from me in the middle of the night it was not me. I don't know what it was.
Theories?
Help??
Monday, May 10, 2010
May Contest: Name the Band
I've posted a lot about how important music is to me. It's always fun to find other writerly types for whom music figures centrally in their lives and books.
I recently had the joy of reading Brenna Yovanoff's THE REPLACEMENT, an amazing book that will be on shelves September 21. One of my favorite parts of this book was the way Brenna described music. She makes it jump off the page and into your bloodstream.
Music plays a part in NIGHTSHADE's story too. One of the young wolves, Nevillle (Nev) - a member of the Bane pack - is a poet and musician who plays occasional gigs at a local dive bar, Burnout. Nev plays guitar and sings, an elder Bane wolf, Caleb, plays bass and the owner of the bar, Tom, plays drums. Another young Bane, Sabine, sometimes joins Nev on vocals.
The band doesn't have a name. Nev would never want to name it, he's not a naming his band kind of guy. In fact, I'm going to have to be sure he doesn't find out about this contest because he would be mortified by it.
Keeping that in mind, I thought it would be fun put a spin on this month's contest. Given the following teaser from NIGHTSHADE and what you've already surmised about the book itself, what would you name Nev's band:
"Evening." Nev's voice drew our attention. "I'm Nev. Caleb's on bass, you all know Tom, and the lovely Sabine is gracing us with her presence tonight."
The only applause came from our tables. Apparently the other bar patrons weren't here for the music.
Neville nodded at Tom. The bar owner and Caleb exchanged a quick glance and in the next moment bass and drums had set off at a slow, grinding rhythm. A smile ghosted across Neville's lips; his fingers moved over the guitar strings, and he began to sing.
Sabine took up the harmony. Her voice was sweet and dark like the first shadows of twilight. The music poured into my veins, a mixture of grit and silk. Subtle and intoxicating.
The Banes leaned forward in unison, drawn into the pulse of Neville's song. My own limbs felt like they were humming with the bass line.
I purposefully didn't give the song lyrics - and it's not a cover, Nev rarely plays covers; he writes his own music.
I wanted to allow for readers to create the sound of Nev's band for themselves.
And now you can suggest names for the band! (Sorry, Nev.)
I'm on the road for much of this week, so contest entries will be taken until Sunday, May 16. Only one entry per person.
The winner will receive an ARC of Brenna Yovanoff's THE REPLACEMENT.
Looking forward to your entries!!
I recently had the joy of reading Brenna Yovanoff's THE REPLACEMENT, an amazing book that will be on shelves September 21. One of my favorite parts of this book was the way Brenna described music. She makes it jump off the page and into your bloodstream.
Music plays a part in NIGHTSHADE's story too. One of the young wolves, Nevillle (Nev) - a member of the Bane pack - is a poet and musician who plays occasional gigs at a local dive bar, Burnout. Nev plays guitar and sings, an elder Bane wolf, Caleb, plays bass and the owner of the bar, Tom, plays drums. Another young Bane, Sabine, sometimes joins Nev on vocals.
The band doesn't have a name. Nev would never want to name it, he's not a naming his band kind of guy. In fact, I'm going to have to be sure he doesn't find out about this contest because he would be mortified by it.
Keeping that in mind, I thought it would be fun put a spin on this month's contest. Given the following teaser from NIGHTSHADE and what you've already surmised about the book itself, what would you name Nev's band:
"Evening." Nev's voice drew our attention. "I'm Nev. Caleb's on bass, you all know Tom, and the lovely Sabine is gracing us with her presence tonight."
The only applause came from our tables. Apparently the other bar patrons weren't here for the music.
Neville nodded at Tom. The bar owner and Caleb exchanged a quick glance and in the next moment bass and drums had set off at a slow, grinding rhythm. A smile ghosted across Neville's lips; his fingers moved over the guitar strings, and he began to sing.
Sabine took up the harmony. Her voice was sweet and dark like the first shadows of twilight. The music poured into my veins, a mixture of grit and silk. Subtle and intoxicating.
The Banes leaned forward in unison, drawn into the pulse of Neville's song. My own limbs felt like they were humming with the bass line.
I purposefully didn't give the song lyrics - and it's not a cover, Nev rarely plays covers; he writes his own music.
I wanted to allow for readers to create the sound of Nev's band for themselves.
And now you can suggest names for the band! (Sorry, Nev.)
I'm on the road for much of this week, so contest entries will be taken until Sunday, May 16. Only one entry per person.
The winner will receive an ARC of Brenna Yovanoff's THE REPLACEMENT.
Looking forward to your entries!!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Answers: May Edition!
Hooray - time for answers!
Tynga asks: My question might seems weird, but who created the cover?
Not weird at all, this is a great question with two answers: The first is that Penguin held a photo shoot for the cover. The photographer is Suza Scalora - who is incredibly talented, a lovely human being, and has published several books of her own featuring worlds full of faeries and angels.
The second is that covers always have designers. After the photo shoot my covered went to awesome designer Linda at Penguin. She did such a wonderful job - love that blood drop!!
Em also asked about the cover: Did you have any say on yours or did Penguin do it all on their own?
Authors often have very little input on covers, but Penguin was amazing at including me in the process. They sent me photos of the model, Suza's info, and images at each stage. It was wonderful to be included and I love the cover so much. The only change - and this was one my editor and I came up with together, was making Calla's eye more gold - as described in the book - from the ARC (where it looks slightly hazel) to the final jacket.
Lisa - You know that woman with the make-up brush at the beginning of the Travis video? (from the last post) Can I be that person when you go on tour?
Dear Lisa Desrochers, my fabulous crit partner and author of Personal Demons, you are going to be too famous from your own brilliant book to be worrying about my make-up. However, if you have a free minute I'd just love your company :)
Kiersten asks: Are you a natural redhead? AND If so, do you secretly resent unnatural redheads?
Kiersten is fixated on my hair. These question made me laugh out loud :)
The answer is: sort of. My natural hair color is a weird mix of light brown, blond, and copper - the color changed with seasons: in the summer I'd be more blond, in the fall more red, and in winter more brown. I always liked red the best, and while I experimented with lots of different colors (I find changing hair color lots of fun) going red suited my personality and complexion best. I can't imagine ever going back. Plus now that I'm in my 30s (eep!) I have a few grays (gasp!)
I think changing your hair color is fun - I have no problem with switching up and idealizing a 'natural' color just seems silly. If I didn't like my red hair so much I'd be happy to go blue or green or any other 'unnatural' color. Stripes would be fun.
Kiersten continues: If not, who does your coloring because wow?
Thanks! I love my stylist/colorist. It's Brent at Moxie in St. Paul. He is awesome and Moxie Salon is a really cool place.
Rachel asks:
Did you originally write the NIGHTSHADE series as a trilogy or did you envision it as a stand alone book?
The book was always the first in a trilogy and I am indebted to my agent for loving it enough to sign on with an unknown author for the series. As a total publishing 'noob' I didn't know that debuting with a series can be really hard; most advice you'll find out there is that even if you think the book will become part of a series you shouldn't plan on it. I didn't know that and my queries described the book as a planned series, fortunately InkWell and Penguin loved the series as much as I did so it wasn't a problem.
Em asks: How long did you work on Nightshade from start to final edit?
First draft: Thanksgiving to Christmas 2008
Revisions on my own: January and February 2009
Revisions with agent: April and May 2009
Revisions with Jill: September 2009
Kiersten asks: Brownies, cake, or cookies? You will be graded. There is no curve.
Brownies that are chewy and fudgy. Cake of the chocolate, angel food, or carrot varieties. Cookies that are soft - I hate crunchy cookies.
But chocolate and pistachio cannoli are better than any of the above.
Mmmmm, cannoli.
Man I hope I passed.
Em asks: If I think of some REALLY good ones I might want to use them to interview you for my blog once I've read the book! Assuming you do that kind of thing... There's another question! Do you? :)
I love doing blog interviews. I've already done a few, the most recent of which is at I Heart Monster.
Thanks for the great questions you guys!!
Tynga asks: My question might seems weird, but who created the cover?
Not weird at all, this is a great question with two answers: The first is that Penguin held a photo shoot for the cover. The photographer is Suza Scalora - who is incredibly talented, a lovely human being, and has published several books of her own featuring worlds full of faeries and angels.
The second is that covers always have designers. After the photo shoot my covered went to awesome designer Linda at Penguin. She did such a wonderful job - love that blood drop!!
Em also asked about the cover: Did you have any say on yours or did Penguin do it all on their own?
Authors often have very little input on covers, but Penguin was amazing at including me in the process. They sent me photos of the model, Suza's info, and images at each stage. It was wonderful to be included and I love the cover so much. The only change - and this was one my editor and I came up with together, was making Calla's eye more gold - as described in the book - from the ARC (where it looks slightly hazel) to the final jacket.
Lisa - You know that woman with the make-up brush at the beginning of the Travis video? (from the last post) Can I be that person when you go on tour?
Dear Lisa Desrochers, my fabulous crit partner and author of Personal Demons, you are going to be too famous from your own brilliant book to be worrying about my make-up. However, if you have a free minute I'd just love your company :)
Kiersten asks: Are you a natural redhead? AND If so, do you secretly resent unnatural redheads?
Kiersten is fixated on my hair. These question made me laugh out loud :)
The answer is: sort of. My natural hair color is a weird mix of light brown, blond, and copper - the color changed with seasons: in the summer I'd be more blond, in the fall more red, and in winter more brown. I always liked red the best, and while I experimented with lots of different colors (I find changing hair color lots of fun) going red suited my personality and complexion best. I can't imagine ever going back. Plus now that I'm in my 30s (eep!) I have a few grays (gasp!)
I think changing your hair color is fun - I have no problem with switching up and idealizing a 'natural' color just seems silly. If I didn't like my red hair so much I'd be happy to go blue or green or any other 'unnatural' color. Stripes would be fun.
Kiersten continues: If not, who does your coloring because wow?
Thanks! I love my stylist/colorist. It's Brent at Moxie in St. Paul. He is awesome and Moxie Salon is a really cool place.
Rachel asks:
Did you originally write the NIGHTSHADE series as a trilogy or did you envision it as a stand alone book?
The book was always the first in a trilogy and I am indebted to my agent for loving it enough to sign on with an unknown author for the series. As a total publishing 'noob' I didn't know that debuting with a series can be really hard; most advice you'll find out there is that even if you think the book will become part of a series you shouldn't plan on it. I didn't know that and my queries described the book as a planned series, fortunately InkWell and Penguin loved the series as much as I did so it wasn't a problem.
Em asks: How long did you work on Nightshade from start to final edit?
First draft: Thanksgiving to Christmas 2008
Revisions on my own: January and February 2009
Revisions with agent: April and May 2009
Revisions with Jill: September 2009
Kiersten asks: Brownies, cake, or cookies? You will be graded. There is no curve.
Brownies that are chewy and fudgy. Cake of the chocolate, angel food, or carrot varieties. Cookies that are soft - I hate crunchy cookies.
But chocolate and pistachio cannoli are better than any of the above.
Mmmmm, cannoli.Man I hope I passed.
Em asks: If I think of some REALLY good ones I might want to use them to interview you for my blog once I've read the book! Assuming you do that kind of thing... There's another question! Do you? :)
I love doing blog interviews. I've already done a few, the most recent of which is at I Heart Monster.
Thanks for the great questions you guys!!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
May Q&A
I'll be off the grid for the next three days - so it's the perfect time for this month's Q&A.
Leave any questions in the comments and I'll answer them when I return on Friday! Thanks for all your excitement about the Penguin Five :)
Looking forward to your questions!!!
Leave any questions in the comments and I'll answer them when I return on Friday! Thanks for all your excitement about the Penguin Five :)
Looking forward to your questions!!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Penguin Five
Something very, very, very good delivered today was delivered to my door today.
It was dark, mysterious. Opening the package was so much fun.
Inside was an uppity group destined to make waves this fall. No it's not the Rat Pack, or the Brat Pack -
but it is a new pack well worth keeping your eye on.
The Penguin Five.
To quote the letter included with the slipcase this box contains "a collection of engrossing and unique YA fiction on Penguin's Fall list - a group of books we're calling the Penguin Five."
And Nightshade is one of the pack.
Pardon me while I faint.
...
...
...
Okay, back now - though still floating on cloud nine.
I didn't know the Penguin Five was in the works. It was a complete surprise (what a surprise!!!) - but I've had the pleasure of meeting the incredible marketing team at Penguin and they never fail to blow me away with their talent and hard work. Thanks Team Penguin! *kisses* *confetti*
Now good news for readers - besides the awesomeness that Penguin bringing to the world with these books - I'd already begged my way to ARCs of The Replacement and Matched (I read them as soon as I got them; they are both amazing.)
That means I have an extra copy of each...TO GIVE AWAY IN CONTESTS!!! Details to be announced later this month!
For those of you longing for The Eternal Ones and Sapphique (sequel to Incarceron!!) - sorry, I'm selfish enough to want to keep my beautiful slipcase intact. *petstheprecious*
It was dark, mysterious. Opening the package was so much fun.
Inside was an uppity group destined to make waves this fall. No it's not the Rat Pack, or the Brat Pack -
but it is a new pack well worth keeping your eye on.The Penguin Five.
To quote the letter included with the slipcase this box contains "a collection of engrossing and unique YA fiction on Penguin's Fall list - a group of books we're calling the Penguin Five."And Nightshade is one of the pack.
Pardon me while I faint.
...
...
...
Okay, back now - though still floating on cloud nine.
I didn't know the Penguin Five was in the works. It was a complete surprise (what a surprise!!!) - but I've had the pleasure of meeting the incredible marketing team at Penguin and they never fail to blow me away with their talent and hard work. Thanks Team Penguin! *kisses* *confetti*
Now good news for readers - besides the awesomeness that Penguin bringing to the world with these books - I'd already begged my way to ARCs of The Replacement and Matched (I read them as soon as I got them; they are both amazing.)
That means I have an extra copy of each...TO GIVE AWAY IN CONTESTS!!! Details to be announced later this month!
For those of you longing for The Eternal Ones and Sapphique (sequel to Incarceron!!) - sorry, I'm selfish enough to want to keep my beautiful slipcase intact. *petstheprecious*
Saturday, May 1, 2010
News & Updates
Happy May Day!!
I hope everyone is having as beautiful a first of May as we are here. The air is fresh, the sky is blue. I love May. It's a wonderful month.
As my ARC supply is dwindling, I won't be having a Nightshade galley giveaway this month, but I will be holding contest for other fabulous prizes. Stay tuned for more details!
Fret not! There are other places to win a Nightshade ARC this month. Penguin YR just posted a giveaway on Goodreads and Books Obsession has a giveaway (only two days left to enter; hurry!)
Another event to keep in your sights is the upcoming Paranormal Summer Fest, which will be made of awesome.
I'd like to give a big shout out to all my new followers. Helloooooooooo :) And welcome!!! If you have questions about blog etiquette and particularly about my policy regarding questions about the book, please visit my Wilderness Survival Tips so you aren't mistakenly devoured by the pack.
I'll be spending this May 1 the way any true horse-loving girl does - watching the Kentucky Derby!! I posted on my Derby adventures last year. This year there's a twist in that I have a horse in the race.
It's technically not my horse, but a Macalester alum is one of the owners of Paddy O'Prado, so the college is asking us to all cheer him on. I've always had a soft spot for dapple grays, so it wasn't a tough sell.
How are you celebrating this lovely first Saturday of May?
I hope everyone is having as beautiful a first of May as we are here. The air is fresh, the sky is blue. I love May. It's a wonderful month.
As my ARC supply is dwindling, I won't be having a Nightshade galley giveaway this month, but I will be holding contest for other fabulous prizes. Stay tuned for more details!
Fret not! There are other places to win a Nightshade ARC this month. Penguin YR just posted a giveaway on Goodreads and Books Obsession has a giveaway (only two days left to enter; hurry!)
Another event to keep in your sights is the upcoming Paranormal Summer Fest, which will be made of awesome.
I'd like to give a big shout out to all my new followers. Helloooooooooo :) And welcome!!! If you have questions about blog etiquette and particularly about my policy regarding questions about the book, please visit my Wilderness Survival Tips so you aren't mistakenly devoured by the pack.
I'll be spending this May 1 the way any true horse-loving girl does - watching the Kentucky Derby!! I posted on my Derby adventures last year. This year there's a twist in that I have a horse in the race.
It's technically not my horse, but a Macalester alum is one of the owners of Paddy O'Prado, so the college is asking us to all cheer him on. I've always had a soft spot for dapple grays, so it wasn't a tough sell.How are you celebrating this lovely first Saturday of May?
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