Writer's Grove

Updates and a Sketch Contest

Stuff has been happening! Like, you know, life. Haven’t been able to blog as often since school has started, but I’ll still try to keep up with once a week. Here we go—

1. I’m going to make a personal appearance thingie soon. I feel weird saying it like that, as if my “appearance” is some kind of magical event. But no, it’s pretty mundane. People say, “Dude, can you chill with us for an hour or so on such a date and such a time?” and if I’m available, I’ll probably say heck yes, because I’m a nerd and extremely grateful when people want to chill with me. So that’s why I’ll be at the Teague Branch of the Glendale Public Library on Saturday, Sep. 17, at 2 pm. Full address n’ stuff here. I’ll talk a wee bit, and you can ask me whatever you want, and then if you’d like me to sign something I’ll do it. They’ll have copies of the series for sale there, but you can also bring copies you’ve already bought, have me sign your e-Book cover, whatever. Basically I’m going to be happy to see you if you take the trouble to come see me. :)

2. I just finished the third version of TRICKED and sent it off to my editor, Tricia. We’ll see how she digs it, but for you keeping score at home, this draft is 99,487 words; the first draft was 81,666. Tricia and I will be doing a joint blog post in the future about the revision process from a writer’s perspective and an editor’s, but the extremely short version of my perspective is this: I love revising, because I can see the book getting better.

3. My publisher, Del Rey, is on Facebook as Del Rey Spectra. If you “Like” them, then you’ll find that you don’t just get updates on books (though that is cool): they also do polls and discussions on various geeky topics and hold some pretty rad giveaways. They’re 10 away from 2,000 likes, and they’ll be doing some giveaways soon to celebrate that milestone, so there’s never been a better time to click Like.

4. I just got 1,700 likes on Facebook, so thank you to everyone—I appreciate the love. To let you know I love you back, I’m having a wee random contest to celebrate this rather random number. Open internationally, folks! The prize is a signed sketch of Atticus and the Morrigan, seen below. (I’m only a mediocre artist but people seem to like sketches for some reason, so why not, they’re fun!) To enter, just leave a comment about what roleplaying or video games you enjoy. I’m kind of curious what everyone’s into. I’m into a tabletop game called HORDES these days, but I also do Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. No video games for me right now—I’d never get my writing done!—but I used to play. If you don’t play games, you can leave a comment about what SciFi/Fantasy books you’re into right now, and that’s fine too. Rules: I’d like this to go to someone who’s never won stuff from me before, because I like to share the love. Must enter by 6pm EST on Friday, Sep. 9. I’ll announce the winner—chosen randomly—on Saturday morning on a new blog post. If you enter, please check back on Sep. 10 to see if you won, then contact me with your mailing address. Good luck, and thanks again for reading my books. :)