Please Join Me!

 

I'm thrilled beyond measure to be sharing my release-day author event with Mary E. Pearson, who is one of my favorite authors!

Mary and I will be chatting about The Stolen Kingdom, but also about books and writing in general--wherever the conversation may wander! I'd be delighted if you could join us.

The (free) event will take place THIS EVENING at 6 pm MT (8 pm ET).

CLICK HERE FOR EVENT INFORMATION ON OLD FIREHOUSE BOOKS' WEB SITE.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE.

Many of you know how long my journey to publication was--some of you have followed along almost from the beginning. It's an immeasurable blessing to watch my sophomore novel fly into the world, and to share an event with Mary E. Pearson on top of that? I have no words.

If you haven't read Mary's Remnant Chronicles, GRAB THEM NOW! It's one of my favorite trilogies. The Dance of Thieves duology is also magnificent.

I hope you'll be there tonight! Thanks, everyone, for being part of my online tribe. 

Release Day for STORMRISE

Dear ones --

Today's the day. Through all the ups and downs, twists and turns, disappointments and surprises, you've been here, cheering me on. I've thanked you dozens of times, and I'm thanking you once more.

YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAS MEANT SO MUCH THROUGH THE YEARS.

And now here we are! Stormrise is officially out there, and I find myself sitting here thinking, wow. Did these many years actually pass? Is that elusive, disappearing-around-each-bend dream finally mine to hold?

Yes and yes.

Spotted at Barnes and Noble in Manhattan

Today my Twitter and Instagram and Facebook notifications are small explosions. Thank you for your words of congratulations, for spreading the word, for ordering a copy of Stormrise. I'm humbled and blessed and honestly, this is just so big.

Here is a UNIVERSAL LINK to all the places you can order Stormrise. (Remember that it's always wonderful to order from your favorite local bookstore, too. And requesting Stormrise at your library is also greatly appreciated!)

I've got an event at Barnes and Noble tonight, and there will be cupcakes. Between now and then, I'm planning on...well, not doing much. Soaking it in, maybe having a little nap. Because this is the ONLY DAY OF MY LIFE on which I'll be celebrating the release of my debut novel.

Thank you all for being a part of it!

Release Day Interview: JM Frey

I've got another book birthday interview for you!  This time, we're celebrating with JM Frey, another of our success story authors and a multi-talented gal in her own right.

Enjoy!

AUTHORESS: We first met over TRIPTYCH, your award-winning novel that is truly one of the best time-travel stories I've ever read. Can you tell us a bit about how this story came to be and how it has propelled you forward?

JM: D'awww thank you! TRIPTYCH was the second novel I wrote, and the first I really thought about in terms of a book I wanted to publish. The first novel I never really thought was publishable, and I trunked it, but I really worked and polished TRIPTYCH because of that. I came up with the concept for TRIPTYCH on my mother's 50th birthday. I was living overseas at the time, and I was chilling in the local onsen and thinking about Mom; that was when I realized I was turning 25 that year, and that Mom had had me when she was my age. And there I was, not married, no kids, no career, living on the other side of the planet studying nihon buyo, seiyuu, and teaching at a high school. We had cone down very different paths. And then I wondered if 25 year old Mom would like 25 year old me. I thought we'd get along (I got my wanderlust from her). But of course, story comes from conflict, so I then I wondered... what if we didn't?

AUTHORESS: I absolutely LOVE that the time-travel aspect of TRIPTYCH is derived from your mom-and-me soul searching!

So, you wrote it, and at first it didn't fly. Can you share a bit about your journey from first draft to sale?

JM: TRIPTYCH started life as a novella titled (Back), which I sold to Silverthought Press for online-only publication in 2008. I got a lot of really positive feedback from that, and most of it was some version of "And then what happened??" So I started thinking about what happened next, and seeing as I still had all the rights for (Back), I expanded the story into a full novel.

I wrote several drafts, working and rewriting constantly for a year. When I thought it was ready, I started querying agents and sometimes small presses. Every time I heard back, I tried to tweak and edit the book to address the notes or concerns the rejects included. (All in all, I logged 64 drafts between start and publication, and that included the ones I did with Dragon Moon Press. You read draft 64. But a lot of those drafts were alterations suggested after a rejection, like cutting a scene, or adding just a few lines for clarification in the midst of dialogue, etc.)

I'd had a lot of rejections by April 2009. I went to a SF convention in Toronto, as an academic guest, and after a panel I stopped by the hotel bar to hang out with some nerds I knew from the SPACE Channel here in Canada. There were some people I didn't know in the group, but at this convention especially, people are very friendly and welcoming. So when we all relocated to a room for beer and pizza, everyone was invited.

At that party, I was talking to some authors I know about my frustrations, and a woman came over to ask about the book I was talking about. So, having no idea who she was, slightly drunk and kinda bitter, I pitched her the book. I thought she was just being polite when she kept talking about the book, and then, strangest of all, she requested the full! I had no idea who she was!

Turns out she was Gabrielle Harbowy, acquiring editor at Dragon Moon Press!

I sent her the book that Monday, and a little while later got her response. She really liked the characters, but was rejecting it because she felt that there were issues with the structure of the narrative that was irreparable. Well, trust me to take that as a personal challenge.

I asked her if she would be willing to read it again if I revised, and she agreed (I am going to project a little here and say reluctantly agreed), and I spent the summer pulling it apart and rewriting large swaths of the book to address the issues she had pointed out. I returned the book to her that autumn and heard... nothing.

I was anxious, and then I was upset, and then I was devastated. Surly that meant she didn't want it and didn't feel the need to break it to me gently. Right? Wrong. Gabrielle later told me that she held off on reading it so long because she had really liked the characters and really didn't want to read the revisions and have to tell me that they were rejecting the book. Except, that when she finally did read the revisions, she liked them!

(Yay!)

I think, though I can't be certain, but I think I got the email offering publication sometime around Christmas? It might have even been on Christmas Eve.

We announced the sale at that same convention in 2010, and then launched the book there in 2011.

AUTHORESS: And the rest is history!

So now you're launching your second novel (with other goodies on the horizon). Can you tell us how THE UNTOLD TALE came to be?

JM: Well, after TRIPTYCH, I wrote another novel (THE SKYLARK'S SONG) and leveraged TRIPTYCH'S success to pitch to agents. I was actually approached by some too, and in the end I had three phone calls. I chose an agent, and we started working on SKYLARK. It was clear pretty quickly, however, that I hadn't made the right choice. He absolutely mangled the manuscript, had no idea what I was trying to do with it, and was extremely condescending. I regretted my choice nearly instantly - the good news was, one of the other agents regretted not pitching me harder. We met again a little later, when I was horribly upset with my then-current agent, and just chatting with her made me realize I had to fire the jerk.

So I fired him. I was worried that I'd completely screwed myself, and that I'd never be represented again, and that THE SKYLARK'S SONG was beyond saving now. The other agent heard I was free, and jumped on the chance. From what I understand, she invited Gabrielle out to dinner, and borrowed her phone to call me randomly out of the blue and offer representation. I actually missed the call, though, because I was busy being the Maid of Honor at my friend's Bachelorette party! She left a lovely message, though.

I decided that if I was going to go to Laurie, I wanted to bring her something that The Jerk hadn't touched first, before we began to work on SKYLARK. I wanted to do with Fantasy what TRIPTYCH did was Sci-Fi - that is, something left-of-center, something issue-laden without being issue-driven or issue-burdened. That was when the buzz for this new TV show started to fill the air - Game of Thrones. I'd never heard of George RR Martin, or read his books, prior to the series coming out. But it sounded right up my alley, so I watched.

It gave me a lot of ideas, but mostly what it really sparked in me was a kind of low-level resentment. It wasn't at the show per se, but at the guy friend I was watching it with. We had an argument about intended audience, and I couldn't get him to understand how much it sucks to not be the center. I mean, I literally couldn't get him to understand that Game of Thrones, while not horrible, was not made for me, but for people like him. White. Male. Straight.

I was so angry I went off to my office and wrote a scene where a female character yells at the hero of a standard fantasy series.

The next morning I reread it and thought... "I think there's something in this. This... anger at always being on the edge."

Turns out there was!

Laurie ADORED the book (only gave me three notes). We had a hard time shopping it though, because it's very self aware and some publishers thought it would be difficult to market. Everyone really liked the book itself, but in general the editors who read it weren't certain how to handle it. Last November, Laurie was giving a keynote at a conference and mentioned the book. As soon as she was finished speaking, she was cornered at the tea table by REUTS. And to borrow your phrase - the rest is history!

Though I was very surprised when they offered a three book deal. I had never intended the story to continue, but now that I have the chance, I really relish the ability to dig back in to this world.

And yes, I did finally bring SKYLARK around to a place I liked with Laurie, and REUTS snapped that up in a three book deal as well.

AUTHORESS: So, as a "self aware" fantasy, what kind of reader will THE UNTOLD TALE beckon to? What do you think the readers will find most surprising? Most challenging?

JM: I think the book will really resonate with readers like me, readers who love fantasy books but are frustrated at never seeing themselves in the books (or, if they are, as villains, exotic "others", or savages). I mean, it's no wonder the weird kids always fall in love with monsters, and bad guys, and mutant characters - it's the only place we see ourselves.

THE UNTOLD TALE points out that fantasy novels have, for a very long time, (And I'm talking The Epic of Gilgamesh here) have been power fantasies for straight males. And my book isn't saying "No, that's bad", it's saying, "Uhg, this is boring. Another one?" The heroes in these books are the side characters, the overlooked ones, the voiceless ones. That, I think, will be the surprise.

As for challenging, it is hard for us nerds to be told that something we have accepted as a staid fact of our reality is problematic. (I mean, #GamerGate/Sad Puppies are the perfect example.) Nerds and Geeks like us often internalize our favorite stories and base a lot of our personalities and self-worth on them. So when someone else finds fault with those stories, it can feel like a personal attack, even though it isn't. It's never a personal attack or an attempt to oppress. It's a question that says, "Don't you see how harmful these stereotypes can be? Not just for me, but for you too? Please, can we make room for everyone?" And I think the book might be challenging for those readers who've never had the flaws and problematics of classic fantasy novels pointed out to them before.

AUTHORESS: Wow, thanks for that very deep glimpse into not only your writer-mind, but your deepest self. Writing is so much more than simply "telling a story", as you've just made clear.

Thank you so much for this interview, and best of luck as THE UNTOLD TALE flies into the wild!

Go here for purchase info!

Holly Bodger Launch Day Winners!!

Hooray and happy launch day to Holly Bodger.  5 to 1, may you fly off the shelves!

Here are the launch celebration winners, chosen randomly from all eligible entries:

WINNERS OF A 500-WORD CRITIQUE FROM HOLLY BODGER:

1.  Silas Champion (@silas_champion)
2.  Mary (@daizylublue)
3.  Cindy McCraw Dircks (@mcdircks)
4.  Kira Budge (@kirabudge)
5.  Jenny Chou (@jennyC2323)

WINNER OF A QUERY CRITIQUE FROM LAUREN MACLEOD:

Sonia Campbell

Congratulations, all!

Winners:  Please email me at facelesswords(at)gmail.com for submission instructions.

Everyone:  Go buy your copy of 5 to 1 today!

Happy Book Release Day, Jodi!

I would be remiss not to mention the release of my dear Jodi Meadows's latest book, which is entering the world today.

ORPHAN QUEEN is a YA fantasy that has captured my heart more than anything else Jodi has written--and that's saying a lot, because she's a gifted writer (and I've read a lot of her stuff--things the world has never seen!).  If you're a fan of Kristin Cashore or Rae Carson, you will love this book.

I've had the privilege of watching Jodi's career blossom from angst-filled, when-will-I-ever-find-an-agent days, to the day she called me, squealing, when her first series was sold at auction, to today, when she is in NYC with a gaggle of other authors, celebrating the release of Orphan Queen.  Books and words are her life, and her stories are infused with this passion.

I wouldn't be the writer I am today without Jodi.  Though I've tried to tell her, probably she will never know how profoundly her investment in me as a writer--and as a friend--has affected my life and my writing.  She is as hard-nosed as she is edifying; as much task mistress as encourager.  She helped me believe in myself, and she taught me more than a single human being should be capable of teaching.

One of the things that's keeping my head above water during my current round of submissions is that Jodi loves the novel in an "I'll blurb the heck out of this!" sort of way.  Jodi's love-for-a-novel is not easily won, so her words have infused me with a sense of, "Well, okay, then.  I'm confident that I've got a winner here."  Even if, yanno, nothing happens.

Her support means that much.  And her talent?  It speaks for itself.

If you're not a fan of YA fantasy, buy the book for someone who is.  Or request that your local library buy it.  Or buy it because Authoress loves it, and you want to cut loose and try something new.  Or borrow a copy, read it, and then tell all your friends what a great story it is.

Happy book birthday, Jodi.  My heart is with you today!  I am so proud.

A Release Day Interview With Jodi Meadows

I couldn't be more pleased than to offer you this interview today.  Jodi Meadows is my writing soulmate. She's walked through my dark valleys and giddy mountains, and I've walked through hers.  She has made an indelible mark upon my writing and upon my life for which I will never be able to fully express my gratefulness.

And having watched INCARNATE's journey from idea to finished, beautiful book, I am as excited as can be for this very special release day.  So without further schmoopy blubbering, I give you INCARNATE -- and a delightful interview with author JODI MEADOWS.

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.


AUTHORESS: Of the myriad interviewers who have graced you with their questions, I have the unique perspective of having shared this journey with you from the very first sentence. Literally.

At what point of your writing journey were you when you wrote INCARNATE'S (then ERIN INCARNATE'S) Very First Sentence? Professionally, emotionally, mentally?

JODI: Just before I started working on INCARNATE, I was in a really rough place. I'd been writing full time for almost six years by then, and written more novel-length manuscripts than you can count on both your hands. The responses I consistently got back from agents were consistently complimentary, but still rejections, so over the course of 2009, I slid deeper and deeper into believing my dream was a bust.

In the Fall, I decided that I quit. I quit trying to be published, anyway, and whatever I wrote next would be for me. I wouldn't even try to get an agent with it. (Obviously I was lying to myself!) I started working on worldbuilding and characters for INCARNATE, and I was really enjoying the process. It was new to me; I'd never done so much pre-writing work before. By the time I let myself write the first line, I was in a different place than I'd started out. I felt hopeful.

AUTHORESS: In October, 2009, in the midst of your newfound hopefulness, you sent me the first few paragraphs of your fledgling story. I was hooked! And soon (very soon, really, because you work so fast), ERIN INCARNATE was born. Can you tell us a bit about the querying process? How was it different than the many that had gone before? And what was it like finally hooking up with the delightful Lauren MacLeod?

JODI: Well, I wasn't going to query. Not until I finished the book, realized I loved it above all other books, and . . . suddenly there were queries in my outgoing email. (Because I am Like That, I actually wrote what would be my query letter before the book was finished.)

I queried a handful of agents I liked and thought would like the book. I got lots of requests, a couple rejections, and -- I couldn't believe it -- two offers. I connected with Lauren instantly, and she seemed to get my book and see it in the same way I did. Signing with her was AMAZING.

AUTHORESS: Why, yes, I have your written-before-the-book-was-finished query letter, too!

Talk some more about how the amazing Lauren "got" your book, and what that first, early-morning phone call felt like. What process did the two of you go through in order to get INCARNATE ready for submission?

JODI: Well, let's start with what she did to me. She knew that, at that time, I had a weird sleeping schedule and it wasn't always safe to call me. So she stalked my Twitter feed, waited until I said something, and called. I'd been awake for about two and a half minutes.

I said, "Hello?" in that grumbly just-woke-up voice. She, of course, was adorable, peppy, and had been awake for several hours already. I almost fell out of my chair when she said she loved Erin Incarnate and wanted to represent it. We agreed to talk more the next day, after I'd raised my caffeine levels.

One of the things I loved about talking with Lauren was that she had the same vision for the story as I did. The themes and events that were important to me were also important to her. We saw the story in the same way. She had a few revision notes, so when I said yes (and she said, "WAHOO!"), I got to work. Most of that revision was clarifying sentences, making sure what I saw in my head was also on the paper. As far as revisions go, it was pretty light. We were confident that an editor would love the story, even if it ultimately needed more revisions. (And they always do.)

AUTHORESS: Naturally! And Sarah's revision request was admittedly a bit of a stretch for you at first. Can you talk a little about the changes she wanted you to make, and how you approached those changes?

JODI: Yep. Originally, the book had two points of view: Ana and Sam's. One of Editor Sarah's requests was to remove Sam's POV. Admittedly, this stung a little. I'd put so much work into it! He had taught me so much about the world, and offered a different view of Ana.

But like most writers, my first reaction is always "No no no, my precious book!" Once I get over that, I can think about the comments without sounding like Gollum in my head. And since Sam only had only a few scenes, I decided it wouldn't be hard to try taking out his POV. If I liked it, hurrah. If not, I didn't have to stick with that version of the book.

Ultimately, removing his POV made the book much stronger. When I reread the draft before sending it back to Editor Sarah, I was incredibly pleased with the result.

AUTHORESS: I agree that the book is much stronger from Ana's POV!

So, it's been a remarkable journey since then. Can you share with us what the past roughly-year-and-a-half has been like, as you've gone through the process of signing to edits to copyedits to ARC to release? Has it been the "fairy tale" it must seem to those on the outside looking in?

JODI: The last year and a half has been amazing! Seeing my cover art for the first time, the page design, ARCs and final copies -- it's been truly fantastic to work with such a thoughtful and enthusiastic group at KT Books. I couldn't be more pleased!

But the hard work doesn't stop once the contract is signed. I'm constantly amazed by how much other stuff there is, like taxes (ew), interviews, posting promotional materials. It's rewarding work (except for the taxes -- ew), and while I knew all this was coming, I don't think I really understood how much work it is. I imagined sitting in my PJs all day (okay, I totally do that), writing book after book. And . . . some days are like that. Those are weekends. Most days involve a lot of work email, too.

AUTHORESS: Now that you've embarked upon your Writerly Dream, what words of encouragement/wisdom/affirmation/warning/complete nonsense can you offer to aspiring authors who are hanging on your every word?

JODI: Yep!

Keep going. Keep reading, writing, and trying to improve your craft. There's always room to improve, and if you don't reach your goal with this manuscript, get started on the next one.

I know that's pretty standard advice, but it really is some of the most important to keep in mind. Because even when you've reached one stage of your dream, you'll discover there's more beyond that, whether it's an award, reaching a bestseller list, getting great reviews, or just plain staying published. All the hard work leading up to getting published prepares you for what lies beyond. (More hard work.)

AUTHORESS: Jodi, you are one of my favorite people in the whole world and I wish you the GREATEST SUCCESS, not only with INCARNATE but with everything you do for the remainder of your writing career (a.k.a. life).

I love you, Jodi Meadows!

You can order INCARNATE today at any of these locations:

IndieBound  Amazon  Barnes and Noble  Book Depository  Books-A-Million  Powell's

Author Interview: NANCY BILYEAU

I'm honored to bring you the following interview with Nancy Bilyeau, author of THE CROWN (which comes out TOMORROW!) and sister client of Josh Getzler at Hannigan Salky Getzler.

AUTHORESS: Nancy Bilyeau, you have a book coming out tomorrow! Give us the details.

NANCY: Yes, on January 10 my debut novel "drops" in North America. I love using that word--drops. It's called "The Crown," it's a historical thriller set in Tudor England. The main character is a Catholic novice who breaks the rules by running away from her Dominican Order to go to Smithfield, where her cousin is to be executed for treason in 1537. That sets in motion the story of my book, which is about murder and longing and betrayal and a dangerous quest to find an object of enormous mystical importance.

AUTHORESS: Of course, I've read it and and LOVED it, which makes this interview especially enjoyable!

I'm a huge devotee of Tudor history, so the setting of your novel is one of my favorite things about it. How do you approach the level of research required to pull off a successful historical? How much time do you spend researching versus the actual writing?

NANCY: Oh I love that you love it--you have no idea. When you said, "You have to write a sequel just for me," it was hard for me not to say, "I will! I will!" The truth is, I was two-thirds done with the sequel when you emailed me that. :)

OK. The research has a lot of different levels to it. First, I've been interested in Tudor history since I was about 11 years old. I've enjoyed reading historical fiction, biographies and nonfiction studies of English history my whole life, with a special place in my heart for the Tudors. So when I first thought about writing a novel, I instantly decided it had to be set in the 16th century. I went into the creating of the story with a solid base of knowledge. For my first book I couldn't have picked a time period unfamiliar to me--that would be too hard, to research from the ground up. But that was just the foundation. When I was actually writing it, often I'd have to break away and spend a half day or a few days or more to do spot research. What would Smithfield look like during an execution? Which tower would Joanna, my main character, be imprisoned in at the Tower of London? What did nuns and novices "do" in the priory? In my second book, I spent a full week doing intense research just on medieval astrology. Still, I know this is not the usual thing, that what other novelists do--Dan Brown or Ken Follett, for instance--is research for a year or more FIRST and then start the writing. That's not for me. I research as I go. Then when I had the first draft done, I went back and dove deeper into areas in which I wanted more details. Also I "interviewed" experts, such as a historian familiar with Malmesbury Abbey, the curator at the Dartford Borough Museum, an intern at the Tower of London. I bought or checked out many, many books. I have 45 books in my bibliography.

AUTHORESS: Which, to me, is truly amazing. And is what I believe sets historicals apart. (I mean, plotting AND that level of research?? That's a remarkable sphere of existence!)

So you've got your well-researched setting and a cast of likable characters. How do you go about plotting a thriller that keeps a reader turning the pages (aside from becoming utterly invested in one Brother Edmund, that is!)?

NANCY: The plotting is the aspect of my work I am least able to explain. I do keep the conflicts and obstacles coming because I learned screenwriting before thriller writing (I have three unsold screenplays to my name). If you want to be a screenwriter you embrace early on that there must be conflict on every page. The other thing I learned from scriptwriting is something called "set up and pay off." That is not exactly like clues. It is when a seemingly unimportant line of dialogue or action us "set up" early in the story so it can pay off later. You've read my book, Authoress, so you know, for instance, that there is a reason I bring up the Dark Ages nunnery on the hill outside Dartford Priory and keep coming back to it in subtle ways.

But...plotting. I am not one of those writers who plans everything on 3x5 cards or outlines extensively. I know basically where I want to go, but I allow for surprises. Extensive outlining kills the creative pleasure for me. I just "feel" that my plot has to do this or that. My gut instincts guide me. Now before you think I am some sort of mystical sage, I have been reading mysteries and thrillers for years and I am obsessed with mysteries on TV--I adore Brother Cadfael, Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Inspector Dagliesh, Monk, and, most recently, a delicious series set in Rome called "Zen." Because I'm so saturated with the genre I love, I feel like "THIS should happen now--and then THAT." I am very good at solving mysteries, too. My husband is always impressed with how quickly I solve, or at least he pretends to be.

But it is from the grand masters of the thriller genre--people like Dan Brown and Barry Eisler and Katherine Neville and Douglas Preston--that I learned end-of-chapter hooks. I know from reading them how much I like to be socked in the stomach with a shock or twist. So I just make it happen. I often know what twist I want to reveal at the end of the chapter and I work toward it. But from Point A to Point B, I allow for some small surprises.

AUTHORESS: Your answer, of course, supports my long-held conviction that in order to write well, one must read well.

So, how did you make the leap from screenwriting to novel writing? Might there be more screenwriting in your future?

NANCY: I started writing screenplays two years before I began "The Crown." I've finished three scripts. Two of them have won some competitions, and I have a manager. But I've never sold any of them. They are the sorts of screenplays that would require a big budget. I relate to George RR Martin, who wrote scripts first and was told they were too expensive. Once he was told, "You can have a castle or horses in your movie, but not both." So he went on to write the "Game of Thrones" novels. When I wrote "The Crown" I didn't have to worry that, for example, I was writing an extensive section set in the Tower of London in 1537. It's my world--and welcome to it. LOL.

I find it easy to jump back and forth between screenplays and novels. It's storytelling. I use some of the techniques I learned in scriptwriting in my fiction. Such as keep the obstacles coming. That is important in movie writing, to keep the tension level at a certain point.

I love both and I want to keep writing screenplays. They are a whole lot of fun. And who knows? Maybe the world will decide to finance my ideas. It happened to George RR Martin!

AUTHORESS: Clearly I'll have to ask you to write the screenplay when Josh sells my first movie rights.

Speaking of which -- tell us a little about how you hooked up with the imitable Josh Getzler. And what makes yours a heavenly match!

NANCY: I tried two other agents before I signed with Josh. As a magazine editor I had met them and thought they could represent me. But the first one said that while she thought I had talent she didn't think she "could sell it in today's tough fiction market." Ha! The second agent said she was not taking new people and sort of retiring. Everyone says use your contacts, referrals, etc. There is a big problem with that--people you know or have a connection with might not have any interest in in your kind of book. An agent who sells a lot of celebrity tell-alls or nonfiction health books or chick lit is not going to be much good with a historical thriller. The agents are hooked in with various editors whose tastes they know. I thought, "I have to find an agent who likes MY kind of novel." So I went on Publishers Marketplace and did some searching. I fed in "thriller" and "historical" and one of the agents who popped up was Josh Getzler. I loved his website, I thought he sounded fun. He wrote that he loved historicals--"send me your devious doges and impious cardinals." That turn of phrase made me send him an email the next morning. I told him a little bit about my book and attached five pages, which is what he requested. He got back to me same day. In no time we were joking in emails about the Showtime series "The Tudors" and people getting "the chop." It turned out that our sons were in the same school a few years previously and we probably met at that time but I didn't remember him and he didn't know I was a writer. After reading the pages, Josh requested the whole book the next day--by this time it was Thursday before the Fourth of July weekend. He called me on the 4th and said he wanted to represent me. I felt he "got" the book and I said yes. I was joking with one of his other clients on Facebook the other day--we are the slush pile writers, we agreed. Because yeah, at the time I was the deputy editor of InStyle magazine but I was slush. I didn't use a referral or anything; he didn't meet me at a conference. I just took a shot based on his website.

AUTHORESS: And the rest is history!  (Wow. Bad pun...)

I've seen SO MUCH good press about THE CROWN over the past few weeks.  How has social media played a role in this?  Do you feel your approach to social media promotion has made a difference?

NANCY: I think social media helps a lot. I've been a Facebook addict for about four years, and in the last year I've grown to love Twitter. At first I just couldn't get into Twitter because I didn't see why I needed it. But a very smart friend, Bret Watson of Watson Adventures, gave me some advice: create an identity that has something to do with your book. So I came up with tudorscribe--no one else had it--and it has proved to be a really great way to "meet" other historical fiction writers and people who are passionate about history. You wouldn't believe the playfulness on Twitter when it comes to Tudor England: You've got "Elizabeth" flirting with "Leicester," and "Henry VIII" issuing bellicose threats. LOL.

All of my activity on Facebook, twitter, and goodreads has raised my profile and helped me meet fellow writers and experts in my area. But it didn't get me a review directly in print media. That came because I was a magazine editor for a number of years and I've met some of the editors who oversee books. We sent out advance galleys of my book with handwritten notes from me. That helped a lot in getting reviews.

I think some of the bloggers are aware of my Facebook page or my tweets as Tudorscribe, and while that doesn't automatically lead to a positive review, it's good that there's awareness. Everything helps!

AUTHORESS: So, any final words? A delectable quote from Brother Edmund, perhaps? (Yes, I'm shameless...)

NANCY: You don't know how much I love the fact that you have a hankering for my Brother Edmund Sommerville, the sensitive, learned but tormented Dominican friar who helps Sister Joanna solve the mystery of The Crown. I will remind you of the passage of the book where they stand in the entranceway of Malmesbury Abbey. Inside are the secrets they've traveled so far to learn. Monks sing Vespers within the ruined abbey--they must follow the singing. But before they cross the threshold, Brother Edmund stops her to make a certain confession to her (can't give it away here) and then says, "I am a very weak man, you and I both know this. Yet it is your faith and your belief in me that have sustained me these many weeks. I pledge to you, with my life, that I will never violate your trust."

There--you just got your Brother Edmund fix!

Ah, Authoress, as I hover on the brink of publication, all I can say is the word that perfectly describes my state of being is the one I learned from our mutually beloved agent a couple of weeks ago: schpilkes. I had never heard it before, and you know me, I had to research it. A Yiddish plural noun, meaning "pins." Schpilkes means impatience and nervousness before an event--like sitting on pins.

Wish me luck getting through the schpilkes.

AUTHORESS: You will make it through the schpilkes with flying colors!

Thank you for the Brother Edmund fix and a delightful interview!

You can order THE CROWN HERE and HERE or at your local indie.

Happy Release Day to Beth Revis

No, this blog isn't turning into a bulletin board.  But Beth has been a huge part of my journey, as you already know.  And today has got to be the COOLEST release date ever.  1-11-11!

So here's to an amazing release day for ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (Razorbill/Penguin), and huge hugs and huzzahs to BETH REVIS!

(One of my, yanno, heroes!)