(Hee. Can you tell I'm EXCITED????)
The blog has been quiet lately for a variety of personal reasons, but that will be changing! I've said before that I'd love to have a co-blogger here at The Bookish Type, and my wishes have been granted. My lovely, real-life friend Brittany is coming on board!
Brittany and I have known each other since we were 11 or 12, when we met at an engineering camp. Now we're both graduating English majors. It happens.
We like a lot of the same things (Orlando Bloom, Gilmore Girls, Starbucks... books, obviously) and a lot of different ones (she likes snow and, after 4 years living in New England, I will never like snow again), so it's a perfect match. She reads more high fantasy than I do, and I read more YA than she does. I think this will expand the range of what gets reviewed here, and also help keep the blog active and the review pile under control. I cannot tell you guys how excited I am to have her on board. She's awesome and I know you'll love her.
She'll probably be popping up to introduce herself, either in a post or on the
About Us page. Keep an eye out for Britt's first review, coming soon to a blog near you! ;)
PS -- If anyone who runs a blog with a co-blogger has advice on how to stay organized, please share your tips!
Now Playing - Hold You In My Arms by Ray Lamontagne
Life -
But, as they say, I'm bending.
We moved in here a few months ago, and at the time, we were doing well financially. We'd paid off a few bills and started making headway on our big credit card. But moving was expensive. Apart from a loan for the down payment, we had to buy a mower, home improvement supplies, hook up fees, heating
Last week, we announced the creation of the new EFII Team, as the next step towards making the EFII Network (Escape from Illustration Island, Illustration Age, etc.) the premier resource for Illustrators, Art Directors, and other creative professionals. Today, we’d like to welcome 2 new fellow Illustrators who are joining the team as Assistant Editors:
Marc Scheff
Marc Scheff is an illustrator whose work has appeared in publications and software including Spectrum, ImagineFX, Corel Painter 11 & 12, The Gorilla Art Fare Art Book, and more. Marc recently co-founded Awesome Horse Studios, the free livestream demo/crit channel. He has also spent the last few years making pretty things at game shops like EA and Gameloft. See and learn more at: www.marcscheff.com
Michael Byers
Michael Byers is a freelance illustrator living in Guelph, Ontario with his fiance and two cats. He spends most of his time in his studio creating whimsical images for editorial and advertising clients. He loves to draw, drink coffee, and collaborate with other illustrators, art directors, art buyers, and anyone else who loves to create. – michaelbyers.ca
Thanks to Marc and Michael for joining the team!
It’s funny. I have dreamed of writing this post, pretty much every day for three years (THREE YEARS!) as I researched and plotted and wrote and revised my book, and revised again, and then revised a million more times.
And I’ve drafted this post dozens and dozens of times over the last five months (FIVE MONTHS!) as I’ve sat silently on the news, waiting for the green light to announce. (hardest secret to keep, EVER!)
But now that the moment is finally here, I’ve come to realize that some things are so overwhelming and amazing and incredible and surreal, there just aren’t the right words—even for a writer.
So I’m going to let this do the announcing for me:
S&S Takes Messenger’s Middle-Grade Debut
Keeping up with the high-priced deals, Liesa Abrams, executive editor at Simon & Schuster, took North American rights to three books, in a six-figure pre-empt, by newcomer Shannon Messenger. Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary brokered the deal for the middle-grade fantasy series, and the first book, Keeper of the Lost Cities, is scheduled for fall 2012. In Cities, a 12-year-old girl who can read minds, and is something of a social outcast, discovers the reason she has her abilities when she meets a mysterious boy. Rennert elaborated: “She’s never felt at home because she isn’t. There are secrets buried deep in her memory, secrets about her true identity and why she was hidden among humans, that others desperately want and would even kill for.” Messenger is in her 20s and is one of the founders of the free, online writer’s conference, WriteOnCon.
(from Publisher's Weekly. The full link is HERE) So... yeah. Crazy, awesome, amazing, emotional, almost-impossible-to-wrap-my-head-around news. I thought I'd gotten used to it these last few months but seeing it like that? A real announcement with my name and my book's name? *eyes get misty* I don't even know what to say.
Except this: THANK YOU. For following me on this crazy journey, cheering me on, and supporting me every step of the way. It has been a long, stressful, hectic road (which is really only just beginning--eek!) and I truly, truly believe I wouldn’t have made it to this point without you guys.
And now that it’s FINALLY out in the open, I have so many things to tell you about--like meeting my amazing editor over the summer and the things I've learned from working on real Edits (yes--I've already gotten them. In fact, I'm done with them!) plus some more details about my book—WHICH I CAN FINALLY TALK ABOUT!!!!
I also have an epic contest planned, which I really think you guys are going to love. So make sure you check back--I will have that up and running as soon as I come out of this shocked/amazed stupor I'm in at the moment. *stares at name in print* *stares some more.*
And ... okay, I have to say it at least once (and then I will TRY to restrain myself);
166 Comments on FINALLY--I CAN SHARE MY SECRET NEWS!!!, last added: 10/13/2011
Hey fellow Illustrators!
I’m very excited to announce that the EFII Network (Escape from Illustration Island, Illustration Age, etc.) is taking the first steps towards being a group-run effort. I’m not only relieved to share the reins after more than 2 years of running the show almost entirely by myself, but also eager and grateful for the chance to welcome some new perspectives to our growing network of resources for Illustrators.
The best part is, this move will help to ensure the EFII Network as a sustainable source of inspiration for years to come.
Here’s a look at the current EFII crew:
Thomas James – Editor/Art Director
Thomas James is an Illustrator whose work has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Seven Days, The City Paper, The Chicago Reader, The Portland Mercury, and many others, and has been recognized by American Illustration. He is also the Editor/Art Director of the popular Illustration website and podcast, Escape from Illustration Island, and is proud to serve on the Board of Directors for the ICON Illustration Conference.
Kelly Weed Stanley – Assistant Editor
Kelly is a freelance Illustrator whose work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators and showcased in a number of galleries around Utah. Some of Kelly’s current clients are the stores Flora and Crafty Wonderland in Portland, Oregon.
Marjolein Caljouw – Assistant Editor
Marjolein Caljouw is an illustrator/artist. She helps people who need illustrations for magazines, books, apps, etc. but also makes (wall)paintings with acrylics and oilpaint. Visit her website here: http://www.marjoleincaljouw.nl/
Mark Kaufman – Assistant Editor
Long story short. Mark Kaufman is a partner at Vivitiv, an issue oriented design firm based in Seattle. His illustrations have appeared in publications nationwide including The New York Times, The Progressive, The Stranger, and The Oxford American. – drawmark.com
Thanks to these fine folks for helping to make the EFII Network a reliable (and growing) resource, and thanks to YOU, our fellow artists
Believe it or not, I'm traveling again!
(I know, my suitcase has gotten more use this summer than like, the last 3 years combined.)
This time, I'm heading here:
Nashville, Tennessee!
Well... actually, I'm going near there. Specifically, here:
A cabin in... well... kinda the middle of nowhere.
But that's the point. It's my very first Writer's Retreat!!!!!! (I feel so... writerly.)
My friends
CJ Redwine,
Sara McClung, and
MG Buehrlen and I have been planning it for months. We wanted a small group, so we'd actually get work done (in theory...) somewhere with lots of trees and no noise or distractions. AND WE'RE EVEN GOING TO TRY TO GET WORK DONE!!!!! (though... CJ and I are fairly famous for our shenanigans...)
So, at this point you're probably wondering why I'm telling you all of this (since, I have a feeling you guys aren't nearly as excited about my retreat as I am.) Mainly, I wanted you to know that I won't be blogging again until Monday (what WILL you do to fill the empty void in your lives???) (*is slightly delusional*). But also... four writers holed up in a cabin in the middle of nowhere could get... interesting. (Especially with CJ there and her were-llamas.) So if you hear any strange noises--or the zombie duck apocalypse begins, well... you'll know why.
Be afraid. Be very afraid. :)
Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!
Believe it or not, I am packing up AGAIN (I don't think my suitcase has ever had as much use as it has this year) and heading out of town. This time to LA for the SCBWI International Conference.
I am SO excited you guys!!!! SO EXCITED!
(I'm guessing you already know this if you saw my post yesterday)
I'm rooming with my fellow WriteOnCon planner and all around awesome friend, Casey McCormick, who I haven't seen since last year's conference. And I have plans to meet up with so many awesome people, some I've met before, some I have been dying to meet forever. It's going to be so much fun!!! (is it tomorrow yet?????)
I promise I will have a full report when I get back--plus pictures (I can't wait to show you guys the T-Shirt I had made for the Pajama Party!). But for now, I have just slightly less than 7854 things to do before I leave, and only a few hours to do them in. So I'm going to have to keep this post short, sweet, and ... rather uninspiring. Sorry. I will make it up to you when I get back (and I have some awesome contests running in the meantime--here and here and here--which I will still post the winners for on Sunday.)
And if any of you are going to be there, PLEASE let me know, so I can keep an eye out for you. I love meeting my blog followers in person. It's like, WOW THE PEOPLE IN THOSE LITTLE SMILING SQUARES ARE REAL!!!!! :)
Hope everyone has a great rest of the week! See you when I get back!
I haven't been on my blog schedule as I'd like to have been. What can I say? Getting ready to move to another country is keeping my busy. I'll return to my regularly scheduled program in August...hopefully.
I've gotten so behind in my Netgalley reviews, so this weekend, I played catch up. So until I can get to the point where I can go back to my scheduled posting, please enjoy my book reviews (thank God for being able to schedule posts). I'll be updating my other blog, The International Diva, too. In case this is your first time visiting my blog (welcome) or you haven't visited in a while (welcome back), I'm moving out of the country to the gorgeous city of Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), about 2 hours from Dubai. My other blog is where I'm chronicling my journey.
So, anyway, that's it. Y'all have an awesome week!
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 7/13/2011
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In case you missed it, today bestselling author
Julie Kagawa did a Livestream about her
Iron Fey series in which she made three UBER-exciting announcements!
First, Julie will have a brand-new series coming out in Spring 2012 called
Blood of Eden. She described it as a "post-apocalyptic vampire series" -- how awesome does that sound? The first book will be called
The Immortal Rules.
Secondly, THERE WILL BE MORE IRON FEY BOOKS! In 2012 (probably Fall), Julie will begin a new
Iron Fey trilogy starring an older Ethan Chase, Meghan's brother! We rabid fans can continue to get our fix!
Finally, Julie revealed the
Iron Knight synopsis -- and it is intense, y'all.
***CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE IRON QUEEN***Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.
Unless he can earn a soul.
To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.
Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.
With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.
To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.
And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Julie also answered questions and read an excerpt of
The Iron Knight. You can watch the full Livestream video on the
Iron Fey Facebook page.
First
The Iron Knight was on NetGalley, and now all this. My heart can't take the excitement!
Now, back to reading
The Iron Knight...
Still struggling to catch up after being gone from ALA, so this post will probably be pretty random. But hey, it's a Friday Five--it's supposed to be random, right?
1) In case you missed it last week, the lovely Michelle Merrill was sweet enough to interview me on her blog. You can find my slightly rambly answers
HERE if you want to check it out.
2) I'm SOOOOOOOO excited about WriteOnCon's live event next week, with none other than the Merry Sisters of Fate. (Yes, that's right--we're hosting Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton and Brenna Yovanoff. Can you believe it???) Details on time and date can be found
HERE.
3) I didn't have internet the entire time I was in NOLA, so I am SUPER behind on email. If you are waiting for a reply from me hang in there, I am getting to it--I promise!
4) My boxes of ARCs from ALA have started to arrive--and mans, I have an even better selection than I realized. Stay tuned for some EPIC contests as soon as I get organized.
5) And lastly, yesterday I discovered the power of Facebook to grant wishes. I posted about craving cupcakes and within hours THESE showed up at my front door:
You seriously made my day.
(and for the record, next time I wish for something on Facebook, I'm going for cash)
;)
How was everyone else's week? Did I miss anything exciting while I was gone?
Okay, I know, that's not NEARLY as snazzy of an alliteration as "Friday five." But...it's Tuesday and I have two really cool things to tell you about so...work with me people! :)
Thing 1: Did you know that WriteOnCon has a live event tonight? And that it's with none other than bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick and her uber agent Catherine Drayton of Inkwell Management????? Well now you do! They will be answering all your questions on the agent-author relationship, and both of these incredible women have a TRUCKLOAD of wisdom to pass on. So believe me when I say you want to be there. 9:00 pm EDT at writeoncon.com. Yes, you can catch a replay if you can't make it--but it's so much fun to be there live, and be a part of the conversation. We are going to try EXTRA hard to get as many questions and comments in as we can. So come hang out with us. The more the merrier!
Thing 2: In case you missed my post on Sunday, I've donated a prize to an awesome contest, hosted by The Bookshelf Muse. They're celebrating hitting 2000 followers, and since their site is all about helping fellow writers, I decided to donate something I *usually* don't do. I rarely give away critiques--I just don't have as much time for reading pages as I'd like--but I'm giving one away. One (lucky?--you guys can decide) winner will win a 10 page critique from yours truly. And they have all kinds of other awesome prizes up for grabs too. So if you haven't hopped over there and entered, you might want to get on that. Click HERE.
That's it for today (sorry, I know this post isn't a literary masterpiece, but my week is off to kind of a crazy start. I'll have something more inspired for you tomorrow, I promise!)
ICON is pleased to announce the dates and location of the 7th International Illustration Conference! Mark your calendars and join us for the premiere Illustration event of the year.
As many of you know, Escape from Illustration Island traveled to last year’s ICON6 Illustration Conference to bring you lots of great audio and video coverage of the event, which you can still enjoy here.
One fantastic result of that adventure was that EFII’s Editor, Thomas James, is fortunate to be serving on the board of directors for ICON7. Things have been happening behind the scenes, and we’ve been eager to share some of the details of next year’s event.
The good news is, the dates and location for ICON7 have been officially announced:
June 13-16, 2012
Renaissance Hotel
Providence, Rhode Island
For registration, speaker updates, and other juicy tidbits, go here.
Stay up-to-date with future Illustration resources via email, Facebook, and Twitter. 
0 Comments on ICON7 Illustration Conference – Dates and Location Announced! as of 1/1/1900
So...it turns out ALL the contest entries for the giveaway of my IMAGINARY GIRLS ARC have been lost.
*shakes fist at blogger*
Which means, if you want to win an ARC of this:
You need to go
HERE and leave another comment.
Sorry guys.
*grumbles about technology*
Um...I really hope that blog title won't bring out the Creepers. You guys are all normal, right? Relatively, at least? :)
Anyway, I wanted to let you guys know some of the events I'll be at this summer--NOT because I think any of you are going to be like: What? Shannon Messenger is going? WELL THEN I MUST GO TOO! (Honestly, I'm more worried you'll be like: oh, SHE'S going to be there? must. cancel. plans.) Really, I just want to know how many of YOU will be there, so I can keep an eye out for you.
So here's the big conventions/conferences I'll be at:
June 23-28th
ALA Summer Conference
New Orleans
(It's my first time in NOLA, and while I'm dreading the heat, I AM SO EXCITED!)
July 20-24
Comic Con
San Diego
(still deciding if I'll be in costume at any point...)
July 26th
SUPERNATURALLY launch party
B&N Oceanside, CA
(wouldn't miss it for the world!)
August 4-7
SCBWI International Conference
Los Angeles
(still trying to find pajamas for the pajama party)
I'll definitely be hoping to hit some other signings and things in the mix, but these are the things I WILL be at, barring some weird, fluke-y, "life happens" thing. So the real question is: will any of you be there too?
Let me know in the comments, so I know to keep an eye out for you!
1. I know, a Friday Five is not all that exciting of a post. My brain is a little fried. PLUS I have a REAL post--one that's much more interesting and *hopefully* better written--up at Stasia Ward Kehoe's "Year of Auditions" blog. Click HERE to find out what student films, stuffed animals, and auditions have in common. (please please PLEASE go over there. I don't want it to be a lamesauce post no one reads. *begs*)
2. THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING SO PATIENT WITH ME! I'm still buried by deadlines and WriteOnCon and life, so next week I'll probably only be blogging 3 days again. Not sure which days yet, so hopefully you'll find me. And not forget about me. *bites nails*
3. Have you seen the details on WriteOnCon's March Live event--cause we posted them! Make sure you join us Monday March 28th at 5pm EST for a live chat with Michael Bourret and Jim McCarthy from Dystel and Goderich Literary Management. Full deets can be found HERE.
4. I'm also hosting two contests you *might* have missed, since my schedule is all sucktastic right now. So if you haven't entered to win a signed ARC of Brandon Mull's BEYONDERS: A World Without Heroes, make sure you go HERE. And if you haven't entered to win a signed copy of Kirsten Hubbard's LIKE MANDARIN make sure you go HERE.
5. And...um....I can't think of a 5th thing. So I guess I'll just say HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! See you next week!
With all the craziness in my schedule these next few weeks, it's probably hard to keep up with me. So I thought I'd give you an update of where I'm at right now as. you. read. this.
I'm here at the Embassy Suites in Monterey/Seaside, California.
Why am I there?
For the
Henry Miller/AB Lit Big Sur Writer's WorkshopIf you're curious, here's a peek at the schedule:
Friday, March 4:
1:00—2:00: Check in to Embassy Suites Hotel.
2:00-2:15: Arrive at Seaside conference room at hotel for the Welcome/Introductions.
3:30—5:30: Critique Group 1
5:30—6:45: Cocktail hour at hotel lobby
6:45: Dinner
Magnus presentation on Big Sur/Henry Miller
Ellen Hopkins presentation: Censorship
Saturday, March 5:
7:30—8:30: Breakfast at hotel lobby
8:45—10:45: Critique Group 2
11:00—Noonish: Private meetings on query letters/synopsis/cover letters
Concurrent session by Kelly Sonnack on the Revision Process
Noon—3:45: Free time, writers revise. Pick up Box lunch in lobby.
3:45—5:45: Repeat Critique Group 1
5:45—6:45: Cocktail Hour in hotel lobby
7 pm: Dinner
Evening discussion with the 4 editors on markets, changes in publishing, what writers need to do
Sunday, March 6:
7:30—8:30: Breakfast
8:45—10:40: Repeat critique group 2
11:00—Noon: Agent panel, Farewell
Followed by a very, very, VERY long drive home.
So yeah...I'm going to be a very busy girl this weekend. And whether I'll make it home in time to put a post together for Monday is anyone's guess at this point. So I'll just say: Have a great weekend and I promise an update on the conference as soon as I get back and my brain starts working again!
23 Comments on Where's Shannon gone NOW?, last added: 3/6/2011
Considering how crazy-insane-hectic my March is (and it's only the second day--AHHHHHHH!!!!) I have a feeling I'm not going to have time for a proper San Francisco Writer's Conference post. But they say a picture is worth a thousand words, right? So here ya go. 11,000 words on the highlights of my San Francisco trip!
A mini Bookanista reunion, with the Uber-Fabulous Cory Jackson, Carolina Valdez Miller and Veronica Rossi. Don't you love how we all wore black???
I...don't know why. Carol brought these masks. She made us pose in them. I'm sure there was a reason. I'm just not sure what it was... :D
Proof that Cory is the coolest person on the planet: SHE DRIVES A CONVERTIBLE MINI COOPER. Which she used to give us an awesome tour of the city.
The famous "Painted Ladies"
What you can't tell in this picture is HOW INSANELY COLD IT WAS!
Also...I love how tired I look in all the pictures. I couldn't seem to sleep while we were there. I blame Carol. I'm not sure why. But I do. :D
A picture I try to take in every city I go to. Me: in front of Tiffanys. It's like the mo
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15 Comments on Inspiration!, last added: 2/18/2012.jpeg?picon=2058)
Aww I love your Rainbow Brite costume. I hope you have fun this year.
You'll have a whole new perspective on it without the guys leering at your costume! Have a ton of fun! :)
Ooohhh, have fun!
I have yet to go to a Comic-Con (I know..the SHAME), but I really, really want to. They look so fun.
Have fun!
I was wondering if Rainbow Brite was going to make a third appearance. Have fun. Wish I could be there.
You're in my neck of the woods, but alas I don't have any Comic Con tickets this year. Hope you're having a great time! :)