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Hi! Today we’re celebrating the release of Cat Winters’ IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS! They say:  In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her? Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time. “Winters strikes just the right balance between history and... Read More

Minus the Fools’ Day bit. I love the beginning of a new month. It’s so SHINY and full of possibility, with no mistakes in it yet! Even better when it falls on a Monday. Today is also begins second quarter of 2013, which prompted me to check in with myself on my goals for 2013. How am I doing? Honestly? Meh. I could be doing better. Last month I got mired in stress about sales and next books and the publishing business, which is so easy to do and so not conducive to the actual writing. And when I am stressed, I over-indulge in shadow comforts – those things that make you feel better at the moment and then not better at all later – like loads of comfort food and lounging on the couch watching VERONICA MARS instead of writing at all. (I am watching for the first time, I’m almost... Read More

The jumble of things going on this week: I found the French cover for BORN WICKED on the publisher’s Facebook page. Isn’t it PRETTY? I love the girls’ hair and their brightly-colored cloaks! It looks witchy, non? I signed up for Authorgraph! I love meeting readers, but obviously I can’t go everywhere. This means I can now personalize your ebook of BORN WICKED! Click here to request one. PW has a roundup of pictures from the NYC Teen Author Fest here, including a pic of Lindsay Ribar, Jeri Smith-Ready, Alexandra Monir, and me on the “Nature, Nurture, and Paranormalcy” panel at the NYPL. (Also, my posture in this picture is terrible. Can you tell I haven’t been to yoga in weeks?) I had so much fun in NYC! It was a whirlwind: tea with Agent Jim, tea with Editor Ari, tea with my fabulous CP Tiffany Schmidt, an author visit to... Read More

Next Saturday at this exact time I’ll be in NYC, participating in the NYC Teen Author Fest! There are events all week (check out the Facebook page for more details) but I’ll be participating in the Symposium Saturday afternoon. My event is highlighted in purple below. I’m hoping to be in the audience for the entire Symposium, as well as (hopefully) the B&N Readers’ Theatre on Friday night. I’m so excited! So many authors to fangirl over, and I get to hang out in NYC for a few days and do a few school visits and see friends and meet up with Awesome Agent Jim and Amazing Editor Ari!   Saturday March 23, Symposium (42nd Street NYPL, Bergen Forum, 2nd Floor, 1-5) 1:00 – Introduction 1:10-2:10 – Defying Description: Tackling the Many Facets of Identity in YA Description: As YA literature evolves, there is more of an acknowledgment of the... Read More

It’s March 14! In addition to being Pi(e) Day, it’s also Cate Cahill’s birthday! In honor of that – and it being just about 3 months until STAR CURSED debuts (June 18) – I’m having a contest. But first – a STAR CURSED snippet! Brother O’Shea clears his throat. “The second measure, also effective immediately, forbids that girls should be taught to read. We cannot help those who already have such knowledge, of course, but in future, we think it unnecessary and even dangerous. Girls can rely upon the knowledge of their fathers, their husbands, and the Brotherhood. They need not seek it elsewhere.” The room is shocked silent. There’s no sound save the hissing of the gas lamps on either side of the mantel. I look down at Sister Cora and Sister Gretchen, at their carefully blank faces. I cannot imagine a life without books. Without Father’s stories of... Read More