Login or Register for free to create your own customized page of blog posts from your favorite blogs. You can also add blogs by clicking the "Add to MyJacketFlap" links next to the blog name in each post.
Blog Posts by Tag
In the past 7 days
Blog Posts by Date
Click days in this calendar to see posts by day or month
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Alyson Noel, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 18 of 18
How to use this Page
You are viewing the most recent posts tagged with the words: Alyson Noel in the JacketFlap blog reader. What is a tag? Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find posts on JacketFlap.com as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify posts for later recall. Try adding a tag yourself by clicking "Add a tag" below a post's header. Scroll down through the list of Recent Posts in the left column and click on a post title that sounds interesting. You can view all posts from a specific blog by clicking the Blog name in the right column, or you can click a 'More Posts from this Blog' link in any individual post.
"A rush of romance will sweep you away in this hauntingly mystical read. I'm already as addicted to Daire and Dace as I was to Ever and Damen!" –Justine magazine
She inherited a magical destiny—and a mission to stop a powerful family of dark sorcerers. She never expected to fall in love with one of them.
There’s still so much Daire Santos has to learn about being the last Soul Seeker….and about herself. As her magical training becomes more intense, so does her relationship with...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
0 Comments on BOOK REVIEW + Chapter 1 : Echo (The Soul Seekers #2) by Alyson Noel as of 1/1/1900
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (June 7, 2011) Hardcover: 336 Pages Series: The Immortals # 6 Genre: YA Paranormal Book From Publisher Alyson Noël'sWebsite | Blog | Facebook | Twitter| MySpace
Their epic love story has captured the hearts of millions and enchanted readers across the world. In this beautiful finale, their journey draws to a spectacular conclusion—where all will be revealed.
Their darkest enemies now defeated, Damen and Ever are free to embark upon their final quest—to free Damen from the poison lingering in his body. If they can just find the antidote, they’ll finally be able to feel each other’s touch—and experience the passionate night they’ve been longing for. But their fight to be together will lead them into the most formidable terrain yet…into the dark heart of Summerland.
Here in a land of scorched earth and endless rain, Ever and Damen will discover their relationship’s hidden origins, expose a secret history they never imagined…and come face to face with the true reason fate keeps tearing them apart. Only then, when the final mystery is unraveled and the last secret revealed, Ever and Damen’s future will hinge on one ultimate decision that will put everything at stake….even eternity.
Review by Jess
EVERLASTING, by Alyson Noël is an epic ending to a long roller coaster ride, following Ever and Damen in their many adventures. Overall Everlasting impressed me but I must admit, it was nice to see the long journey end.
I read Evermore a couple years ago, and I loved it but lost a lot of interest after Blue Moon, I found the plot was the same in each novel, with little changing and the story dragged on. I thought the series was going to end sooner than it did.
I loved Noël's characters! I really liked being able to see Ever grow and mature as a character, I really felt that she transitioned from young teenager, to young woman. It was a huge bonus to see that in Ever. Ever and Damen are just so cute! I was happy with the culmination of their relationship in this book. I have been reading so many books with so much excitement, physically and emotionally, and I did find it frustrating the limitations between Ever and Damen, but I must say, I was satisfied.
I definitely felt like Everlasting was a strong ending to a sometimes frustrating but wonderful story. Noël did a great job wrapping up the many adventures of Ever and Damen!
0 Comments on ARC Review: Everlasting by Alyson Noël as of 1/1/1900
Five of the Buzz Girls are loose in LA -- oops, that sounds bad! But we really are at the RT convention, sponsored by RT Booklovers Magazine. The event culminates with a massive Teen Day event on Saturday!
Here I am with Dona, decked out for Melissa de la Cruz's awesome dinner party for YA authors at her home here in LA. Not only does fabulous Melissa have a to-die-for home, but she's also got the cutest husband and kids ever.
And, the guest list was extraordinary! From Melissa Marr (hard-working organizer of the RT-Con Teen Day Event on Saturday) to Alyson Noel and Carrie Ryan, there were interesting YA authors filling ever square foot. We ate, drank, and wrapped ourselves (ok, I did) in cozy blankets, hanging out on her deck until well past dark.
Here is Buzz Girl Tera with Sophie Jordan (Firelight) and debut author Josephine Angelini (Starcrossed).
It was fun to hear about all the new books coming out, and to talk about the state of the industry in general.
Here are Marley and Dona with the aforementioned YA goddess Alyson Noel, who is not only a great writer, but is also super sweet.
Here are Tina and Dona, I think right after the red velvet cake and chocolate mousse cups arrived. See those satisfied smiles? The food was really, really yummy!
But, around one AM we were hungry again, so we went up to Marley and Tina's room to order in some snacks.
Marley's holding up the fruit, but we really ate turkey burger and grilled cheese. All this writer talk makes us hungry, obviously!
Although we're missing our bee sisters Wendy and Steph a ton, we're having a great time so fa
4 Comments on RT Convention Update, last added: 4/10/2011
New York Times Bestselling author Alyson Noël has just released her second book for middle-grade readers, Shimmer. In case you've been living under a rock, this new middle grade series is a spin off of The Immortals books, Alyson's successful YA series; and features Ever's younger sister, Riley. She stopped by to give us her version of an author bio. Enjoy!
The Q&A in which I live out my Vanity Fair fantasy and tackle 5 questions from the Proust Questionnaire under the guise of a “bio.”
1. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Soggy asparagus. It’s heartbreaking to look at and horrid to eat!
2. Your favorite occupation? Daydreaming, which, by the way, is a perfectly valid and integral part of any author’s day. Just sayin’.
3. What is your favorite bird? The hawk that patrols the canyon behind my house—he is the epitome of breath-stealing beauty in action.
4. What is your principle defect? A propensity toward extreme giddiness that has been known to appear without notice.
5. What is your dream of happiness? To live in a world of tolerance, love, compassion, abundance, and peace. A place where the sun always shines, birds always chirp, animals frolic, illness is eradicated, rainbows are plentiful, and the landscape is an exact replica of the Candyland game I played as a child.
The super-amazing Alyson Noel is here to share her thoughts on the final cover in the Immortals series (can't believe it's ending!).
Now, here's Alyson:
"After writing 16 books (14 published - 2 in production), I still don't give much thought to cover concepts until I'm asked by my publisher to share my thoughts on cover concepts--despite the fact that I imagine the characters so vividly I often feel like I'm transcribing the movie that plays in my head. But when it comes to envisioning a single image meant to both convey the story within and entice potential readers to grab it off the shelf... well, I'm more than happy to leave that to the professionals. So it's a good thing I have the wildly talented, Angela Goddard, the St. Martin's cover designer, to rely on.
"As the sixth and final installment in The Immortals series, I'd been thinking about the EVERLASTING cover pretty much since the start. And when asked for my input, I mentioned something about the lotus flower serving as an important symbol, and... well... that's about it. I was eager to see it, had really high hopes for it, but I just didn't have a defined idea for how it should look..."
Night Star (The Immortals), by Alyson Noel, comes out November 16th.
Summary Night Star continues the epic love story that has enchanted readers across the world. In this installment, Ever and Damen face down bitter rivals, jealous friends and their own worst fears—all in the hope of being together forever.
We are adding a new category to our blog posts…drum roll please…
FRIDAY’S FOCUS!
Every Friday we will give you a brief rundown of the books we received over the course of the week. We will “focus” on the books that are jumping into our To Be Read pile. So without further ado…
Everybody knows everybody in The Hollows, a quaint, charming town outside of New York City. It’s a place where neighbors keep an eye on one another’s kids, where people say hello in the grocery store, and where high school cliques and antics are never quite forgotten. As a child, Maggie found living under the microscope of small-town life stifling. But as a wife and mother, she has happily returned to The Hollows’s insular embrace. As a psychologist, her knowledge of family histories provides powerful insights into her patients’ lives. So when the girlfriend of her teenage son, Rick, disappears, Maggie’s intuitive gift proves useful to the case—and also dangerous.
Eerie parallels soon emerge between Charlene’s disappearance and the abduction of another local girl that shook the community years ago when Maggie was a teenager. The investigation has her husband, Jones, the lead detective on the case, acting strangely. Rick, already a brooding teenager, becomes even more withdrawn. In a town where the past is always present, nobody is above suspicion, not even a son in the eyes of his father.
“I know how a moment can spiral out of control,” Jones says to a shocked Maggie as he searches Rick’s room for incriminating evidence. “How the consequences of one careless action can cost you everything.”
As she tries to reassure him that Rick embodies his father in all of the important ways, Maggie realizes this might be exactly what Jones fears most. Determined to uncover the truth, Maggie pursues her own leads into Charlene’s disappearance and exposes a long-buried town secret—one that could destroy everything she holds dear. This thrilling novel about one community’s intricate yet fragile bonds will leave readers asking, How well do I know the people I love? and How far would I go to protect them?
Release Date: August 3, 2010
Publisher: Shaye Areheart Books
Pages: 336
He was a tough-guy Welshman softened by the affections of a breathtakingly beautiful woman; she was a modern-day Cleopatra madly in love with her own Mark Antony. For nearly a quarter of a century, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were Hollywood royalty, and their fiery romance—often called “the marriage of the century”—was the most notorious, publicized, and celebrated love affair of its day.
For the first time, Vanity Fair contributing editor Sam Kashner and acclaimed biographer Nancy Schoenberger tell the complete story of this larger-than-life couple, showing how their romance and two marriages commanded the attention of the world. Also for the first time, in exclusive access given to the authors, Elizabeth Taylor herself gives never-revealed details and firsthand accounts of her life…
Here's me with the adorable Joanne S. Volpe, literary agent and genius at Nancy Coffey. She's just as nice and cute in person as online. Query her! She rocks! You can follow her on Twitter for scoop!
Here is my and KodyKeplinger(author of The Duff - surely you've heard about it! ) meeting in person for the first time. Though we've been blogger buddies for a while. I'm so happy for her! Go follow her blog!
Here is my Hilary Wagner's wonderful book Nightshade City at the Holiday House booth. Put this one on your reading list people because Rick Riordan just blurbed it!
Actually, The DUFF is THE book I've been waiting for. I actually critted Kody's first chapter on Absolute Write what feels like yeeeaaaarrrrss ago, so that's how long I've been waiting for this book.
Kody is a great writer, so I'm interested to see the final product ASAP!
What a haul! It's so awesome you're sharing your books as well as your awesome pics.
You awesome! Thanks for sharing. I look at these pictures and sigh, drool, turn a lovely shade of green. Don't enter me cuz I just won FOR THE WIN! I mean, is that poetic or what?
OMG (I never say that, that's just how excited I am about The DUFF)!
Other than The DUFF, I am most looking forward to GRACE by Elizabeth Scott. Elizabeth is one of my favorite authors and has an amazing way with words. I am looking forward to seeing her tackle another genre!
I didn't think you were serious about what you came home with lol. The visual is hilarious! I am waiting for Cassandra Clare's new book. What can I say just loved her series and looking forward to the new one!
Love this post! Great pics. It was so fun to go around with you. Yes, definitely on the same team next year! I'll post more about it when I do my recap. (Just haven't had a chance with the wedding being so close and all!)
I'm so not in the loop of what books are coming out this fall, but I know I'm definitely looking forward to Sarah Ockler's second novel, FINDING DELILAH HANNIFORD (or something with a similar name?). It's coming out November 1st.
And Sarah is awesome. I need that book.
(I've also been looking forward to THE DUFF tons tons tons.)
Well the book(s) I am eagerly anticipating are Alpha by Rachel Vincent cause I've read the whole series so far and it rocks! Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare I'm in love with this woman's writing and her book covers!!! <3 And finally absolute obsession The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff, came across the book accidentally on Amazon, fell in love with the Cover and I was sold, then I watched the trailer and I was a goner, didn't even need the summary of it to sell me on it! I want all three of them but mostly The Replacement as Yovanoff is a new authors, therefore unknown territory and I'm intrigued! :)
I'm looking forward to The DUFF (because Kody is awesomesauce) and Paranormalcy (because Kiersten is awesomesauce, and I got to read it way back when it was an unsigned manuscript and just KNEW I'd hold a bound copy in my hands someday).
Definitely looking most forward to Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness!! (LOVE THE SERIES!) thanks for the giveaway, since I saw the description for The Duff, it went straight to my wishlist
I don't think I even understand BEA. I was told that you get a bag and you can only fill that one bag and NOTHING more. Did you go in several times under different aliases?
I can't wait to read Hilary Wagner's Nightshade City!!!
Great pictures. I can't wait to read Blue Fire by Janice Hardy. She's a great fantasy writer and it's the second in her series. Of course I can't wait for Linger or Mockingbird, but those come out in summer.
Keeping my fingers crossed about THE DUFF arc! Which book am I looking forward to this Fall? I think the skinny, pretty blue one in your stacks, far left!!! Seriously, looking forward to THE DUFF, MATCHED, and although I don't remember when it's coming out, I really want to get ahold of LILa's LIAR SOCIETY!!!!!
Mockingjay? Matched? I can't decide between them. And I'm really looking forward to the next book that I finish and think- Wow. That. Was. Awesome. I hope I find it before Fall.
New follower! Saw Hilary Wagner's link. Nice to meet you, Shelli.
oh one is too hard to pick...The DUFF is on there along with Crescendo (I loved Hush, Hush) & Matched (this take on society looks very interesting & it's gotten such amazing buzz!)
I've been waiting to read THE DUFF ever since Janet Reid mentioned it on her blog. Also waiting for MOCKINGJAY of course, although I think that actually releases in August.
Great giveaway! Can't believe how much swag you collected!
Nice photos I am anticipating duff as well since i heard so many good things about it lol since I saw it on debut authours list goodreads. I am really anticipating. paranormalcy, clock work angel , mocking jay and lost hero Rick riordan new camp halfblood series :d
Holy crap, that is a LOT of books. Hmmm...fall books that I'm excited about....Nightshade City, Nightshade, Anna and the French Kiss, The Mockingbirds, The Duff, Mockingjay...Hmm...looks like it's going to be an expensive fall for me!
Totally The Duff!!!!!!! And Delirium and Mockingjay and Matched! OMG your stash is CRAZY! And Kody is adorable in person I got to hang out with her at Kidlit Night and I SERIOUSLY want a copy of The Duff now!
For Fall? Definitely Beautiul Darkness. I'm dying slowly inside. I read the 1st book,Beautiful Creatures, and loved it. The authors write well and are very original :)
For the fall I am really looking forward to Mockingjay. I had never read a series like Hunger Games and it blew me away. It's far from what I was used to reading but I couldn't put it down. I am so excited for this book and to see how it all ends.
wow..that is a LOT of books!i think my jaw just drop.i've waiting for beautiful darkness.i mean beautiful creatures has been my new obsession now.it's still grows over me LOL!
That sounds like an amazing time! I love all the pics! How in the world did you get all those books home?!!! wow! Thanks for sharing the wealth with your blogger buds!
OMG I'm still very jealous of that huuuge pile! Sooo many awesome books!
I defintely CANNOT WAIT for Nightshade by Andrea Cremer! First off the cover is GORGEOUS! And the book sounds great! I'm already in love with it...I've only read fantastic reviews and I really like to read about werewolves:)
Thanks for the contest I hope it's international:)
What a great giveaway! The Duff is definitely a book on my list. I'm on the lookout for Mockingjay by Susanne Collins and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner.
You and Joanna look like sisters, Kody is adorable, and I am crazy jealous of your loot. In fact, it's a good thing I don't know where you live, or it might go missing. :)
The Children's Book Council hosts the Children's Choice Book Awards. The favorite book finalists for this year were determined by close to 15,000 children and teens. I highly recommend checking out these books!
Today we have a special treat. Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, and Alyson Noel are here to talk a little about marketing and their upcoming Smart Chicks Kick it tour (10 authors/8 cities).
First, can each of you tell us a little about your author career. MM - I taught university lit for a while. In 2003, I switched to part-time teaching and allowed myself 3 years to try writing. In 2004, I wrote the short story that evolved into my first published novel (WICKED LOVELY) in 2005. I wasn't very optimistic - there was no major paranormal YA market yet. (not even Twilight) In 2006, I had just decided to go back to fulltime teaching when WL sold. Harper bought WL and the yet-to-be-written INK in a 3-book deal. Right now, I'm writing the 5thWL novel.
KA - My first adult book (Bitten/Otherworld series) came out in 2001. Book 11 (Waking the Witch) will be released in August. I also have a crime series with 2 books so far. For this tour, though, the focus is my young adult paranormal trilogy. The third book in the Darkest Power series (The Reckoning) comes out in April. Right now I'm editing the first book in the next YA trilogy.
AN - I’m the author of 12 novels for adults and teens, including the bestselling THE IMMORTALS series, and its soon to be released spin-off series, beginning with
20 Comments on Marvelous Marketers: The Smart Chick Tour Gang, last added: 3/2/2010
Great interview. I love all of the different perspectives. Thanks for sharing! I like the idea of doing the things that you love best, because I think it shows when you're heart's not in it whether it's blogging, tweeting, etc.
Thanks for the great interview. I love the advice not to let the marketing make you ignore writing and to do what feels most comfortable. Kelley, that's a great idea to have your readers turn in the receipts to get something. Melissa, I love the Wicked Lovely series and have read a number of them on books on tape. I can't wait for the next one.
Immortality is such an intriguing notion: Living Forever and Ever and Ever. It's a characteristic you'll find in many myths and legends, whether a mythological god/goddess, vampire, faerie or other creature who never dies. It's a theme that shows up in a plethora of literature, whether ancient, like the Epic of Gilgamesh, or modern, like Alyson Noel's best selling YA series, The Immortals.
It's also something that a certain animal has accomplished, a creature we can see with our own eyes and is the subject of many excited scientists' studies. Meet Turritopsis nutricula, an amazing little (5 mm) jellyfish. It hails from the Caribbean but scientists predict it will someday inhabit every ocean. What's so fascinating about this little guy is while most jellyfish die after propagating, Turritopsis nutricula goes back to a polyp stage. So it grows to maturation, propagates, and then turns back into a juvenile! This isn't to say that they never die; but they don't need to die and therefore have the potential to be immortal.
Cool, huh? Until they take over the world, that is! :)
Have you made or stumbled upon a recent scientific discovery that many of us might not know about? If so, please share!
8 Comments on Immortal? You Betcha!, last added: 2/3/2010
I'm all for immortality! The one thing I don't get in books is when there is just a huge drama about whether then love interest of an immortal should/wants to become immortal, too. I mean, what's to think about? Neverending life with a supernatural hottie. And if he turns bad or boring you can always find (or make) another. Where's the downside?
For my YA novel, a character's mom is a nanotechnology specialist. I elaborate on the research (of course), but it's based on the reality that nanotechnology will - within the decade - lead to bone regrowth after removing tumors, antibiotics that work in minutes rather than days, much more! Erica
Exciting stuff, Erica! Sounds like a cool book and I just can't believe how far medical technology has come and is possibly going to go even in our lifetime.
While I agree immortality is fascinating, I find I can't get enough about learning about man's beginnings...so when there's breaking news about new fossils from early man--especially those that challenge what we currently believe as truths--I am all over it!
Thanks for the shout-out!! And you know, even though I write about Immortality, I wouldn't chose it for myself--it seems a little lonely (so many good byes!) and exhausting too! :)
She always believed he was her destiny—but what if fate has other plans?
Enter the realm of The Immortals—and experience the extraordinary #1 New York Times bestselling series that has taken the world by storm.
Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just as their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into a bleak afterlife in the Shadowland, an eternal abyss for lost souls. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…Jude Knight.
Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soul mate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them from the darkness inhabiting his soul, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…
Marlene: Tell us about your book
Alyson: SHADOWLAND is the third book in THE IMMORTALS series and it picks up right where BLUE MOON left off, with Damen and Ever unable to touch due to a poison that turns their touch lethal, prompting Ever to turn to magick, hoping to find a cure. Along the way encountering the mysterious Jude Knight who will test her love for Damen like never before . . .
Marlene: What was your inspiration for this story?
Alyson: The inspiration for the series was grief. A few years ago I lost three people I loved in five months, and shortly after that I nearly lost my husband to leukemia (he’s in full remission now!). Experiencing that sort of loss got me thinking a lot about life and death, mortality and immortality, the bonds that tie us even after a loved one is gone, and how our youth loving culture sort of seeks physical immortality by trying to remain youthful looking for as long as we can—and yet, what would happen if we really could achieve it? What would it mean for us, our loved ones, society in general? And since
0 Comments on Interview with Alyson Noel, author of Shadowland as of 1/1/1900
Hi Alyson, I am so excited (and all geeky nervous) you agreed to stop by.
**pause for the gooby starstrucked feeling to pass**
So before we get into marketing, let's pretend as if no one knows who you are and tell us a little (or a whole lot!) about yourself.:)
I’m the author of ten novels for adults and teens, including the bestselling THE IMMORTALS series, which you can read more about at my author web site or the series web site.
Psst!!! In case you didn't notice, Alyson is being very modest about her bio. In addition, Shadowland, releases on November 17th and is already getting rave reviews. But what did we expect :)>
So how was your road to publishing? Did you start any of your platform or marketing prior to getting an agent or selling your book?
Well, the embarrassing truth is, I was as green as they come. Seriously, there was no one as clueless as me. And while I wanted to be a writer since I read my first Judy Blume book back in sixth grade, I didn’t get serious about it until late 2001, just after 9/11 happened and I was working as a flight attendant in NYC and figured it was as good a time as any to go after my dream. So I started writing in whatever spare time I had, on layovers, on flight delays, on cocktail napkins, you name it, I was determined to get it done.
The moment I typed “The End” I bought a copy of Writer’s Marketplace, jotted off a query letter, and sent it directly to a long list of publishers, mistakenly thinking I didn’t need an agent (I can’t even begin to stress how very wrong that is). And while every one of them requested the full, they all rejected me in the end. Still, they were the nice kind of rejections, the kind that welcome you to resubmit if you choose to revise.
So I enrolled in some online writing classes, and through one of those classes I met a fellow student who referred me to her agent. He read my mss, loved the voice but told me my structure was a mess (it was!), and suggested I read STORY by Robert McKee. I bought it straightaway, read it in two days, took the next three weeks to ruthlessly revise my mss
3 Comments on Marvelous Marketer: Bestselling author Alyson Noel (Immortals series), last added: 11/9/2009
Great job with the questions, Shelli! I didn't notice ANY geeky goob-ness. Loved the answers, Alyson! I'm going to pick up STORY today. All these suggestions are so practical. Thanks for giving them to all those of us who are currently "green!* *adds bookmark to this page*
What a terrific interview, Shelli and Alyson! The way Alyson juggles all of her deadlines... and marketing... and reaching out to others is nothing short of amazing.
Wow! Impressive (but not surprising) that Alyson got personal rejections and requests for resubmission from EVERY editor that she sent her first manuscript to.
So much good information in this and such a bright, breezy read. Well done by both of you! Especially like the author-generated tour and the reminder that writing is the most important part of all this. Now I'm going to click on all those links you included. Thanks!
What a great interview. I'm slightly overwhelmed at all the participation of an author. I just love writing and rewriting. Maybe some day and angent will find me. Thanks for all the ideas. All the Best, Maralee Burdick Knowlen, Sherman Oaks, CA
Thanks for the great interview. Alyson's advice is so helpful about marketing, especially the part about staying in your comfort level. I feel a bit clueless about it and it's great to get such helpful advice. I can't wait to read your books.
Hi Shelli & Alyson :) Thank you for the great interview. I enjoyed learning more about Alyson & her writing. I liked learning about her journey to publication and authors group signings. Thank you again, RKCharron xoxo
It is good to hear about a successful writer's journey, especially about all the hard work and struggles that ring true to your own journey. Okay, my own journey.
Writers supporting other writers. Wonderful to hear such a successful author remind us of that. How fortunate Alyson is to have a actively marketing publisher. Yet she still promotes her fellow authors, be they in her pub stable or not. Gotta luv her.
I really appreciate Allyson's comment: ". . .the absolute best thing you can do to market yourself as an author is to write your next book." The writing has to come first.
What I like about this interview is that the advice is applicable for non-fiction as well as fiction writers. Perhaps I can use some of these ideas with my book for parents. Bravo and many thanks!
I’ve said it before. Author tours are The Agony and the Ecstasy.
Monday night was The Ecstasy.
When language arts teacher Beth Duncan of Vista Academy is on a mission, it is impossible to say no. I had corresponded with Beth several times over the past year and arranged to send ARC’s of The Dragon Heir to her middle school students for their review. When Beth found out I was touring for The Demon King, she emailed me and said, “How can I get you to come to San Diego?” I put her in touch with my publicist, who wisely made it happen.
So Monday I arrived at Vista Academy in Vista, Ca to find that Beth had mobilized the entire school (it seemed) to make me welcome. I presented to the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. (where's the author?)
Her videography students filmed an interview. I toured their annual haunted house, which this year was loosely planned around an Heir Series theme, with forests and castles and a dungeon. The students paint all the sets and play scary roles during the haunting. Here I am with Vista students in the dungeon!
That evening, Beth and her co-conspirator, Lisa Haynes, the Community Relations Manager of the Oceanside Barnes & Noble, had put together an awesome event—an author signing/masquerade/Halloween party.
I signed with author Alyson Noel, whose Immortals series is OWNING the bestseller list. (I felt like I was opening for the Rolling Stones.)
Here are me, Beth, and Alyson at the signing table.
There was a special Demon King menu in the café, featuring the Seven Realms Seven Layer Bar and Dancer’s Dare Hot Apple Spice Cider and Raisa ana’Marianna’s White Chocolate Mocha. Yum!
Lisa was dressed as a Clan Matriarch in a gown and feathered headdress. The rest of the staff and many of the attendees dressed up, too. Me? I was dressed as a YA author at the end of a long tour. Thanks to Beth, Lisa, and everyone for making this happen!!
Colby Cavendish has finally made it into the in crowd! She worked hard to gain Amanda’s favor and now she’s her new best friend. She’s practically guaranteed the best Senior year ever! As an added bonus, Levi Bonham, the hottest guy in school, has suddenly become very interested in Colby! So interested that she’s actually sitting right next to him on the couch at Amanda’s house.
Okay, so Colby’s just a little nervous that it’s their first date…well, not even really a date. She’s alone downstairs kissing Levi like she’s always dreamed, like they’d been dating for forever, while Amanda is upstairs in her room with her guy. And Colby can’t stop thinking about her curfew, which, by the way, passed, like, two hours ago. But at least she’s stopped feeling guilty about dumping her former best friend, Natalie. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices in order to progress up the social ladder. It’s just part of life. Right?
Colby’s parents are in the middle of a messy, angry divorce. Turns out they were so engrossed in their fight of the night, that they didn’t even know Colby missed her curfew. It seems they barely remember they have a daughter, whose life they are royally screwing up. Then Colby finds out they have plans for her summer that don’t include hitting the malls and becoming fully entrenched in her new social order.
They are sending her to Greece. No, not Athens. A tiny little island called Tinos. No amount of ranting, reasoning, pleading, or even crying will change their mind. Colby boards the plane bound for three months with Crazy Aunt Tally and no TV, no computer, no Wi-Fi. Nothing. How is she supposed to maintain her new social status? What if Colby gets replaced by a new Amanda Wanna-Be?
But soon things are looking up. First, there’s Yannis, this really cute Greek guy who’s living on Tinos! And second? She found an Internet café! Score! She is alive again! Maybe she can ignore the parent wars. But why was Yannis with Marie? And should she tell him that she’s going to island hop to Mykonos to meet Levi, who’s on a cruise to Greece? And her parents are going to sell the house as part of the divorce settlement? She might be spending her Senior year in Arizona?
Teen girls will totally love CRUEL SUMMER by Alyson Noël. The story is told using letters home, the journal her mother gave her, “Colby’s Journal For Desperate Times…,” and her new blog. The range of emotions, devastating lows to breathtaking highs, and the intense feeling that everything affects her is so authentic. The reader will relate to her habit of over-thinking every comment, gesture, or word of an email, and the insecurity she feels around Yannis. I loved this book and totally devoured it. For this reason, I give it five stars!
In one of my own comments to my post the other week on children, responsibility, and hard work, I mentioned "the whole self-esteem vs. self-confidence business (I consider the former nonsense, the latter vital)", and my good friend hornblower at HMS Indefatigable replied,
One other thing though - in your comments Becky, where you talk about self confidence coming from doing things well. Yes, I
0 Comments on Further thoughts on self-esteem and self-confidence as of 8/28/2007 4:35:00 PM
When a writer makes the decision to become an author, something happens inside them, I know, it happened to me. When I made the took the plunge to seek publication for my writing, I had all kinds of grandiose ideas. I would be driven to my book signings in a limo, or a nice town car at worst. I would wear beautiful designer clothes, and everywhere I went, I would be stopped to sign the copies of my books that everyone in the world just happened to be reading.
Then reality set in. I was fortunate enough to get a new car in 2005. My husband purchased me a lovely little Toyota Corolla. By the same date two years later, I had managed to put 50,000 miles on the poor thing and (it seems like) as much money in routine maintenance and oil changes. Why? Because the darn limo hasn't shown! Did they lose my address?
I had very optimistic goals and plans for my career as a best selling author. So what happened? Self-confidence or lack thereof. I realized very early in the game that I had a serious lack of it. No kidding, if I spent a fraction of the time writing that I spend second-guessing my talent, my skill, my motivation or any of those required tools for success, I would have written ten more books than I have. As it turns out my most productive practice is wondering why any sane person would give a flying rat's rump what I wrote.
So how does this work for you? I am not a shy person by nature, I don't really care for public speaking, but I am making it work for me. I have had to buck up and roll with it. I tend to get incredibly nauseous just before I have to address a group. After it is all done, people say I did great, but I can't help but fear they are giving me what I refer to as "pity pep."
Self-confidence is one of those things that you don't really give much thought to. You do what you have to do, and try not to dwell on it. How do you handle this in other aspects of your life?
I wonder even more if a lack of self confidence, no matter how well camouflaged, has a direct impact on your ability to sell books or to even appear approachable to potential readers or fans. I spend a great deal of time listening to motivational audios, I find them considerably more stimulating than reading the material, as I think the sound of a voice telling you something that is of tremendous importance has a much stronger impact on the subconscious mind.
I'd be curious to learn what other authors and creative type people do to overcome or compensate for a lack of self-confidence.
About the Author:
Karen Syed is the proud owner of Echelon Press, LLC . Every day is a new success story for her as she continues to grow herself and her business. She has seen seven novels published, along with numerous articles and short stories. As a former bookstore owner, she garnered a nomination from Publishers Weekly for their Bookseller of the Year award. You can learn more about Karen Syed at www.hartofthematter.com.
0 Comments on Self Confidence vs. Optimism as of 1/1/1900
Hamilton70554 said, on 8/20/2007 5:13:00 AM
Perhaps it was only the natural relief http://www.google.com of expressing a pent-up sorrow.. In addition to condensation, displacement, and definite arrangement of the psychical matter, we must ascribe to http://www.facebook.com it yet another activity--one which is, indeed, not shared by every dream.. The counsel sank down in his seat http://www.blogger.com with the bitter conviction that the jury was manifestly against him, and the case as good as lost.. Van Kamp's good cigars and twiddling his thumbs in huge content.. ] BY EDGAR ALLAN POE (1809-1849) It was a chilly November afternoon...
Travis Erwin said, on 8/20/2007 1:11:00 PM
I think all writers do a good bit of second guessing. We are all our own worst critics, but I have learned when you when yiou are pitching a project, whether it be in person at a conference or via a query letter, you better be able to hold your head high and convince the other party that you believe in the words you created.
I think it comes down to, if you don't have confidence in it, why should an agent or editor.
Heather S. Ingemar said, on 8/30/2007 7:46:00 PM
Hey! This is the first time I've been here.... nice place!
.jpg?picon=590)
![everlasting[1].jpg](http://www.melissacwalker.com/blog/everlasting%5B1%5D.jpg)
.jpeg?picon=3470)
.jpeg?picon=2058)
Love the pics!
Heath, so great to see the pics and hear the updates. Thank you! How I wish I were there in your awesome company! xo
A wonderful time was had by all and thanks for posting these pictures, Heather!
Love the pics!!!