JOYRIDE

Release date: June 2, 2015
Pre-order on Amazon
Mark on Goodreads

Summary:
A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices for midnight pranking, and are soon in over their heads—with the law and with each other—in this sparkling standalone from NYT-bestselling author Anna Banks.

It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico.

Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber's mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects.

All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to NOT do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.



 

Agent Interview-Joanna Volpe

I'm so grateful to have the fantabulous Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary on the blog today to answer a few questions for us. Please note, if you plan on querying Joanna, please read her submission guidelines carefully.


Enjoy!

1.) What are you tired of seeing in your slush pile, and what would you like to see more of?

Dystopians.  I already have a few on my list, and I'm definitely not looking to acquire any more for a very long time.  I'd love to see more horror though!

2.) What is your pet peeve in a query, besides getting a query for something you don't represent?

It's an immediate turn-off when an author talks more about themselves than their book project.  The focus should be the project, whatever it is.  No matter who you are, the project needs to be good.

3.) What makes a manuscript/query stand out to you?

A manuscript stands out to me when the writing style or voice are unique and well-crafted.  For a query, if it's engaging and gets to the heart of the conflict, I'll definitely be intrigued!

4.) Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who are trying to hook an agent?

Write for you, not for an agent.  This business is hard, and you want to be in it for yourself first and always.  Once you're sure of that, you'll be able to withstand the rough times, which includes (sometimes) the long time it takes to get an agent.  The other bit of advice I have on this: when you go the traditional route, remember that your agent is your partner and that you should feel good about working with them.  Don't just sign with any agent because they offer.  Seek out one who shares your interests and goals.

Lightning Round:

5.) One word that describes you the most: Eclectic.

6.) One word you hope your authors describe you as: BAMF.

7.) One word that describes how you feel about Sasquatch: Coooooooooooool.

8.) One word that describes how you feel about fan-girling: Fun.

Thanks, Joanna, for taking the time to give us a glimpse inside your head! :)

Agent Interview-Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary

Hey guys, we have another awesome agent interview today from the amazing Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary! If you plan on querying Suzie, please note her submission guidelines carefully. And yes, I forgive her for her answer to #7.

1.) What are you tired of seeing in your slush pile, and what would you like to see more of?

Dystopian and YA sci-fi. There's just so much of it out there and nothing feels new and different. I'd really love something with an epic blow-me-away kind of love story and magical realism.

2.) What is your pet peeve in a query, besides getting a query for something you don't represent?

My biggest pet peeve is probably when writers start their query with a question (ie "What would you do if you were told you had one day left to live?" or something). It reminds me of when I taught my freshmen how to write their first literary analysis. They often tried to start their papers with a rhetorical question. I didn't like it then. It feels immature and gimmicky.

3.) What makes a manuscript/query stand out to you?

Voice and character. The truth is: I will follow a character that I love anywhere. If I love a character I'll be up to fix plot holes and worldbuilding issues and whatever else. It's the character who's going to make me lie awake at night and wonder what they're going to do next. When I was a kid, I used to imagine myself as a character in my favorite books. That's what I want: a manuscript that's going to make me tempted to write fan fiction so I can be a part of that world. My favorite queries are always the ones where the character already feels alive.

4.) Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who are trying to hook an agent?

Do your research and be polite and professional. Then let your manuscript speak for itself.

Lightning Round:

5.) One word that describes you the most:

Passionate

6.) One word you hope your authors describe you as:

Awesome

7.) One word that describes how you feel about Sasquatch:

Meh

8.) One word that describes how you feel about fan-girling:

Sa-woon

 Thanks again, Suzie, for taking the time to give us these great insights into the publishing industry!

Agent Interview-Kathleen Ortiz of New Leaf Literary

I've decided that time permitting and agents willing, I'm going to post an interview each Monday. I'm so honored to have Kathleen Ortiz from New Leaf Literary here to answer a few questions. Please note, if you want to query Kathleen, please review her submission guidelines carefully.


Here we go!

1.) What are you tired of seeing in your slush pile, and what would you like to see more of?

I'm really not feeling any more dystopian, paranormal or sci-fi. There's so much of it out there that even if it's a really great hook, it's incredibly difficult to make it stand out not only to editors, but to booksellers as well. I'd love to find a really well-written, makes-my-heart-pound romance. And I'm always on the hunt for an awesome YA set within another culture, a la Memoirs of a Geisha.

2.) What is your pet peeve in a query, besides getting a query for something you don't represent?

It's really annoying when I get a query that is obviously rushed and not well thought out. You spent so much time writing your novel, editing, sharing with beta readers, revising, and getting it polished. Why wouldn't you give the same care and attention to your query letter, especially if the query is the first impression an agent will get of your writing and voice?

3.) What makes a manuscript/query stand out to you?

In a manuscript, I want solid voice and characters that will suck me into their lives and emotions. I want to be so invested in them, that I can't stop turning the pages. I want to feel what they're feeling,  cheer with their accomplishments, and cry (if needed) :)

With queries, a solid hook. All of my YA authors I signed through the slush pile have one main thing in common with their queries: they made me audibly gasp. Not necessarily in a "SHOCK!" way. But in a "oh my gawd. This sounds AMAZING. I absolutely MUST read it NOW." way.

4.) Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who are trying to hook an agent?

Do your research on which agents are the rights agents for you to query, and stay professional throughout the entire process, regardless if it's littered with rejections or offers or a mix. Querying is just the first step, and maintaining professionalism through every stage of the process is essential.

Lightning Round:(I wish I could do this in emojiis.... :) )

5.) One word that describes you the most:

Quirky

6.) One word you hope your authors describe you as:

Sincere

7.) One word that describes how you feel about Sasquatch:

Hairy

8.) One word that describes how you feel about fan-girling:

Giggly

 Thanks again, Kathleen, for these fantastic and informative answers!

NEMESIS!!!

So I can finally tell you about NEMESIS, my upcoming YA Fantasy, since the deal was announced yesterday! I'm so excited to be working on this project with Feiwel and Friends! Ahhhh! I've wanted to tell you guys for a long time, but had to keep it under wraps which nearly KILLED me. So, here are the details:

Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has acquired Nemesis, a YA fantasy by Anna Banks, in a two-book deal. In the story, a princess who possesses the power to create energy escapes her father, who wishes to weaponize it, only to be captured by another kingdom where she discovers that her powers could be used to fight a terrible plague. Publication is planned for spring 2016; Lucy Carson of the Friedrich Agency brokered the deal for world rights.

 I can't wait until you meet Sepora, the Serubelan princess and Tarik, the Theorian prince. I think you guys will fall in love with these new characters just as I have!

My Agent Lucy Carson Weighs In On the Market, Queries, and Sasquatch!

My rock-star agent Lucy Carson was so kind as to humor me and answer some questions I asked for the blog. These are things I'd want to know if I were an aspiring writer, and especially if I intended on querying Lucy (again).

Note: If you decide after reading this that you want to query her, make sure you send your query to lcarson@friedrichagency.com. Include the word QUERY and your genre in the subject line, mkay? :)

So, here goes:

1.)    What are you tired of seeing in your slush pile, and what would you like to see more of?

I’m truly tired of “disaster fiction”, especially of a climate change variety. Agents and editors have been turned off by dystopian for a at least a year now, but it feels like the latest thing is for savvy writers (who know that “dystopian” is a dirty word) to present a scenario in which climate change has isolated part of the population, or a specific city, rather than destroying the world as we know it. It has tons of overlap with dystopian fiction, distinguished only by a technicality. I would like to see more YA that plays with form (incorporating creative elements into the prose) or better yet with formula: take those tropes and turn them on their heads! As long as the story itself is compelling, with depth and characters I fall in love with, I welcome rule-breakers!

2.)    What is your pet peeve in a query, besides getting a query for something you don't represent?

My number one pet peeve is the “consumer” approach to querying. You sent out ten letters to ten agents a month ago and several of them asked for your manuscript. Now you decide to query a new round of other agents. A new agent replies within hours, which should really put her at an advantage in reading quickly and aggressively, but 2 days later you have an offer of representation. Why? Because other agents have had this for weeks! Meanwhile, you’ll give new agent until Monday to make her decision. THERE IS SO MUCH WRONG WITH THIS. We agents don’t get paid read your manuscript, and we don’t read in the office—that’s when we take care of clients and actual business items. If we make time to read your work, it means that we said NO to reading the 300 other manuscripts that were pitched to us that week, and we turned down friends and family members to dive into your work. And now you’ll “give us” a few days to compete with your first choice agents? Nope. Don’t do this. It’s bad karma and just plain disrespectful.

3.)    What makes a manuscript/query stand out to you?

I know it’s so hard for a writer to find the balance, but if you can manage to show me who YOU are while simultaneously pitching your book, it stands out to me immediately. Some folks will see this advice and then draft a query letter that tries too hard to make jokes along the way, so let me clarify: it’s not about humor necessarily, unless that is an authentic part of you and your writing. Mainly, it’s the balance of professionalism (have you spelled all names correctly, and done your research?), persuasion (can you get me excited to read your work without an all-out brag fest?) and humanity (beyond the work and the beyond your credentials, what kind of a person are you?). Again, these are not items to be explicitly stated in the query, but there are ways to demonstrate (i.e. show don’t tell!).

4.)    Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who are trying to hook an agent?

The personal approach to querying is always the best. A lot of agents don’t honestly have time to read every letter, but believe me, they will find it very difficult NOT to if you approach them with knowledge of who their clients are, what elements you’ve seen them respond to in the books they represent, and any other tidbits you can weave into your introduction of the project!

Lightning Round:

5.) One word that describes you the most: Direct

6.) One word you hope your authors describe you as: Protector

7.) One word that describes how you feel about Sasquatch: Suspicious

8.) One word that describes how you feel about fan-girling: Adorable

Writerly Insecurity

I don't own it.


There. I said it.


I don't own being an author.


There are highs, yes. But most of the time, being an author means being shrouded in insecurity while a cloud of self-doubt hovers over you, waiting to unleash a deluge of I'm-not-good-enough. I have a great agent. I'm a New York Times bestselling author. I've published multiple books and am still going. And I doubt myself and my abilities every day.


If you're an aspiring author, you might have thought feelings like this would go away if only you could get an agent. If only you could get a book deal. If only you could quit your job and write full time. What you'll find is that after each step, after each hurdle you pass, you want more. You want to be your agent's favorite. You want a book deal that will make others envy you. You want not only to live off your writing, but to become wealthy from it.


Your wants become so bloated and inflated that one small prick of self-doubt will burst the entire structure of who you think you are--or who you're trying to be, whether it's a better version of yourself, or another author whose exact publishing gait you're trying to mimic.


Stop that. Immediately. And I'll try to do the same.


The thing is, I don't let all of this debilitate me now, but I did at first. Being a debut author is like getting up every morning and drinking a cup of insanity to start your day off on a leg you don't even have. Especially if you start playing the comparison game. Comparison is the death of hopes and dreams and worse still, productivity. It's difficult not to compare yourself to other author/writers. It's difficult not to feel inferior. I've learned to confront those feelings head on, and to dilute them into background noise. And it wasn't easy.


I still get up every day and write something. That something could be fit for a hot dumpster in July. Sure, I stare blankly at the screen with the best of 'em. I get writer's constipation (the laxative for me is reading). I still come up with ideas that may be cray cray and un-publishable (ask my agent), but the point is, I'm still generating plots, characters, entire worlds.


Writers, the point is, insecurity is like a cancer that can be kept in remission--or it can take over and quietly snuff out the life of your writing. If writing is what you really want to do, you'll let nothing stand in the way of it, not even yourself.


Here are a few things that may help:


1.) Don't view other authors/writers as competitors. View them as assets to your writing career. You can learn something from everyone, trust me. All you have to do is make friends, sit back, watch and learn. You need other authors. They know what you're going through. Writing is a lonely job. Being friends with other authors makes it less so.


2.) Celebrate the successes of others, instead of being jealous about it. This was a hard one for me, because you're truly happy for your author friend who just signed another book deal, but you're also a tidly bit envious. Congratulate your friend. Acknowledge your jealousy. Remind yourself that your own hard work will pay off. Then stick it File 13 and move on.


3.) No two publishing journeys are exactly alike. Make your own list of publishing goals and stick to it. Want to write ten books before you turn 30? Go for it. Want to get published by a certain house? Keep trying. Want to sell a million copies of your book? Me too. The point is, you won't have any time to focus on anything or anyone else. You'll be too busy chasing after the next goal. And when you get to cross one off your list, it's the best feeling in the world.


What advice would you offer a writer struggling with insecurity?

Fantabulous Friday

I know, I know. It's been a while since my last blog post but my mid-year resolution is to do more blogging and possibly vlogging (You'll enjoy this, I'm spectacularly awkward on camera.) So, I declare my intentions to blog twice a week: Writerly Wednesday (if you're a writer, you'll want to tune in) and Fantabulous Friday.


 Fantabulous Friday simply consists of a roundup of things I thought were funny/interesting/weird/cray cray. It's like blog vomit, basically. And I'll update a few things about what I did during the week, because I don't live the life of a normal person. You know writers aren't people right? We're villages of people. So we do things out of the norm all the freaking time.


So, here is my roundup for Fantabulous Friday:


1.) An article on The Most Insane Roomate Ads Ever Posted on Craiglist.


2.) One of my good friends, Leigh Bardugo, made the New York Times and USA Today bestsellers list with the third installment of her trilogy Grisha Trilogy, Ruin and Rising. In case you're wondering why that's a big deal, check out what books are on the New York Times Children's Series list. Then send Leigh some you're-a-rockstar flowers. Woot woot!


3.) Monday marked the day I made my yearly quota for having an old person flip me the bird. I took her turn at a 4 way stop and she rewarded me with her knobby middle finger. Trophy for me! Now all middle fingers the rest of the year are just bonuses.


4.) This ecard:

5.) News: I'll be appearing at the Fierce Reads Summer Blockbuster event in Los Angeles, CA on July 23rd with Ann Aguirre, Marissa Meyer, and Leigh Bardugo. Come seeeeeee us! You'll be entertained, I swear by my first born son.*


6.)  This Abandoned Child Scare Prank. Enjoy!








*At this time, I have no sons.

17th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY!

Now there are 9 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

P.S. If we exceed the number of comments the week before, I'm also giving out a consolation prize of a swag pack to an additional winner! 


P.P.S  You can enter multiple times, but PLEASE do not enter the same comment over and over. This is spamming, instead of participating.

GIRLS DAY OUT CONTEST WINNER!

So I know you've been waiting to hear the results of this and I'm ashamed I've kept you waiting this long. But without further ado, I'm announcing that shanfourteen has won the Girls Day Out contest for most creative day spent with Rayna and Emma.


This is what she wrote:


Take the two of them bowling, and when Emma beats the both of us fair and square (best out of three = 2 to Emma and 1 to me), take them to a boxing ring where Rayna can let out her frustrations on a properly trained boxer/trainer and Emma and I can watch from afar, laughing at how red in the face Rayna gets from how hard she's throwing the punches. We call out random things about Toraf until Rayna threatens us. When she's finished, take the two of them for ice-cream. Emma and Rayna start having a completely irrelevant argument about who's a better boyfriend - Toraf or Galen - until I argue that they're both not there and we can have more fun without them. We then head to the cinema to watch a movie about mermaids. To my, and even Emma's, surprise Rayna loves it but tells us if we tell Galen or Toraf that she does in fact like a human thing we won't be around to see them laugh. We head back to the house where the boys are and for the rest of the night the three of us quote the movie. We insist that they're inside jokes when the boys ask us what in the world we are doing.


Shanfourteen, please email me your mailing address so I can send your swag pack to you! Congratulations!!!

16th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY

Now there are 17 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

P.S. If we exceed the number of comments the week before, I'm also giving out a consolation prize of a swag pack to an additional winner! 


P.P.S  You can enter multiple times, but PLEASE do not enter the same comment over and over. This is spamming, instead of participating.

15th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY!

Now there are 24 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

P.S. If we exceed the number of comments the week before, I'm also giving out a consolation prize of a swag pack to an additional winner! 


P.P.S  You can enter multiple times, but PLEASE do not enter the same comment over and over. This is spamming, instead of participating.

14th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY!

Now there are 31 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

P.S. If we exceed the number of comments the week before, I'm also giving out a consolation prize of a swag pack to an additional winner! 


P.P.S  You can enter multiple times, but PLEASE do not enter the same comment over and over. This is spamming, instead of participating.

13th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY!

Now there are 38 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

P.S. If we exceed the number of comments the week before, I'm also giving out a consolation prize of a swag pack to an additional winner! 


P.P.S  You can enter multiple times, but PLEASE do not enter the same comment over and over. This is spamming, instead of participating.

12th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY!

Now there are 45 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

P.S. If we exceed the number of comments the week before, I'm also giving out a consolation prize of a swag pack to an additional winner! 


P.P.S  You can enter multiple times, but PLEASE do not enter the same comment over and over. This is spamming, instead of participating.

PREORDER OF NEPTUNE AND GET BONUS CONTENT!

Add this to the many reasons why you neeeeeed to preorder OF NEPTUNE, the third and final installment of the Syrena Legacy series. (May 13, 2014):

There is EXCLUSIVE bonus content if you preorder OF NEPTUNE, or purchase it between the dates of May 13, 2014 through May 18, 2014.


1.) You'll immediately get an exclusive chapter from OF NEPTUNE. This chapter will not be available anywhere else until the date of release.  The chapter is juicy, so you might actually hate me after reading it...

2.) You'll get an exclusive bonus short story told from...wait for it...Rayna's POV! Note: This short story goes away forever after the first week of release of OF NEPTUNE, so don't miss out on this special opportunity to get inside that girl's head. Yes, there is Galen. Yes, there is Toraf. 'Nuff said. :)

So, to get all this fantabulous content, you must email me proof of your preorder, which could be a picture, scan, or email confirmation of your purchase receipt. Send the email to ofneptunebonus@gmail.com.

We'll respond with a PDF specially designed for this content. It's that simple.

So um, the question isn't WHY should you preorder OF NEPTUNE, the question is: Why NOT? 

Girls Day Out-A Syrena Legacy Short Story

So there's a new addition to the Syrena Legacy series family: Girls Day Out (April 1, 2014) and it's available for preorder now.

Here are the deets:

Emma, who is half human and half Syrena, has a day apart from her Syrena love, Galen. Emma doesn’t plan to spend the day with Galen’s opinionated and bossy sister, Rayna, but she can’t quite get out of it, either. And Galen will appreciate her attempt to bond with Rayna, right? But when Rayna’s unpredictable antics put them in danger, can they rely on each other to get themselves out of it?

Which leaves the question: If you could join Emma and Rayna on a girls day out, what would you want to do?

Leave your answer in the comments. The most creative wins a swag pack! :)

11th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY!

Now there are 52 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

P.S. If we exceed the number of comments the week before, I'm also giving out a consolation prize of a swag pack to an additional winner! 


P.P.S  You can enter multiple times, but PLEASE do not enter the same comment over and over. This is spamming, instead of participating.

10th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY

Now there are 56 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

P.S. If we exceed the number of comments the week before, I'm also giving out a consolation prize of a swag pack to an additional winner! 


P.P.S  You can enter multiple times, but PLEASE do not enter the same comment over and over. This is spamming, instead of participating.

9th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY!

Now there are 66 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

P.S. If we exceed the number of comments the week before, I'm also giving out a consolation prize of a swag pack to an additional winner! 

Tampa/Orlando, I Am Coming For You!

 

Yes, that's right. I'm crashing Tampa and Orlando with the YA Chicks Kickin It Tour. I'm honored to be touring with :

Jessica Brody, author of many books, her latest being UNFORGOTTEN.

Jessica Khoury, author of ORIGIN and VITRO

Christina Farley, author of GILDED

Amy Christine Parker, author of GATED



Want to see the video? Of course you do!

Come seeeeeee us!

We Have A Winner!!!

Let me just start out by saying that I was overwhelmed with awesome entries for the bookmark contest. I couldn't have asked for better variety, better creativity, better talent. Truly, you all did an outstanding job.

But alas, I could only pick one. This was a difficult decision for me, because I actually had it narrowed to 15 finalists and it kept me up all night trying to choose between them. I almost opened it up for public vote, but I didn't want to delay the expectations of the participants any longer. SO.

I'm delighted to say that we a winner for the Of Neptune Bookmark Contest. All of the trophies go to Jenny Zemanek who has designed this glorious bookmark from scratch. I can't wait to pass these out to fans of The Syrena Legacy series!

Congrats, Jenny!

And thank you to all who participated! You guys are amazing!

8th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY!

Now there are 73 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

P.S. If we exceed the number of comments the week before, I'm also giving out a consolation prize of a swag pack to an additional winner! 

7th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY

Now there are 80 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

6th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY!

Now there are 87 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

4th OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY!

Now there are 101 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

OF NEPTUNE BOOK TRAILER CONTEST

Am I overloading you with chances to win stuff yet? :)

No??? Didn't think so.


I am hereby holding a contest for creating the book trailer (again, the OFFICIAL book trailer) for OF NEPTUNE. Last year I was blown away by your entries, so I can't wait to see what you come up with for the final installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy!

Now, since book trailers involve a bigger time investment than designing a book mark (I'm also running a bookmark design contest here), I've decided to offer prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. If you're an aspiring writer, you'll be interested in these prizes. If you're a reader, you'll be interested in these prizes.

If you're both, you're super duper interested. Trust me on this.

FIRST PLACE:

A 50 page manuscript critique from my agent, the magnificent-in-every-way Lucy Carson of The Friedrich Agency.

AND

A $150 gift card to the book store of your choice.

AND

You get to name a MAJOR character in __________ which, as you  may have guessed, is my next top secret project (it's a sci-fi!)

SECOND PLACE:

A query letter critique from my agent, the magnificent-in-every-way Lucy Carson.

AND

A $100 gift card to the bookstore of your choice.

AND

You get to name a minor character in ____________, my next top secret (did I mention it's a sci-fi!) project.

THIRD PLACE:

A query letter critique from yours truly, plus a phone call from me to discuss.



AND

A $50 gift card to the bookstore of your choice.

AND

A signed/personalized copy of OF NEPTUNE. 



Here are the rules:

1.) You have to use the blurb for OF NEPTUNE to create the trailer. As in, you get no extra spoilers. I'm not saying you HAVE to include a single word from the blurb (but it's a good idea), I'm just saying that's all you have to go on. And remember, the goal is to make the viewer want to read the book right-freaking-now.

2.)  The trailer should be at least 30 seconds long. (This is a suggestion, not a strict rule though.)

3.) By entering, you agree that you have access/rights to all content used in the trailer. As in, some dude's not coming after for me for using his music/images when I post the crap out of this book trailer. And post the crap out of it, I will.

4.) By entering, you agree that I can post it wherever the fancy strikes me. I'm going to be bragging about this, rest assured. If you're one of those shy artist types, this contest is not for you. You also NEED to include your information in the credits. GIVE YOURSELF CREDIT, peoples! Show the world the shiz you can do!

5.) Unlike last year, this contest is open INTERNATIONALLY. So for my international friends, show me the goods! :)

6.) When your entry is complete, email it to ofneptunebooktrailer (at) gmail (dot) com as an attachment. You are not officially entered if I do not respond to your email indicating I've received it! Feel free to harass me until I acknowledge receipt. Seriously.

7.) Have fun. Because if you don't, and you stress out about it, then you'll hate me, and possibly Galen or Toraf, and I couldn't stand for that. Rayna maybe. But not Galen or Toraf...

8.) Contest deadline is March 31, 2014.  

OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY #3

Now there are 108 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

OF NEPTUNE BOOKMARK CONTEST

Guys! I'm holding another bookmark design contest for OF NEPTUNE. I need the crazy talents of fans of the series to make it the best it can possibly be. I NEED YOU. Yous guys are waaaaaaay more creative and skilled at this sort of thing than I am and it's time to show off what you can do!

So I was wondering if....

Would you design a bookmark for OF NEPTUNE? Pwease? Purdy pwease?

Here’s what’s in it for the winner:

1.)   A signed set of OF POSEIDON, OF TRITON, and OF NEPTUNE (when I get my copies of OF NEPTUNE, that is, since there are not ARCs!)

2.)    A $50 gift card to the bookstore of your choice

3.)    I’ll pay to have your bookmark printed, and you will get a good supply of signed, printed copies. Each bookmark will include a credit to you as designer.

4.)    A signed poster of your bookmark.

Here are the rules:

1.)    You must be able to design the bookmark based solely on the cover image and the blurb. In other words, the cover must be used somehow in the bookmark, and the bookmark must capture the sense of the blurb somehow. Remember, draw the reader in. Make them curious about the book. Make them salivate for it. Make them…well, you know.

2.)    If you choose to use any other images, you must have legal rights to do so.

3.)    By entering, you give me permission to mass produce and mass distribute the bookmark you designed (if you win). This means your bookmark design could (and probably will) end up in countries all over the world. So by entering, you agree that’s kind of cool.

4.) This contest is open internationally. 

5.) If I have a hard time choosing the winner, the finalists may be posted here for readers to vote. If this is not okay with you, please do not enter. 

Here’s how you enter:

1.)    Design a bookmark, front and back. It should be standard bookmark size.

2.)    Email the bookmark as an attachment to ofneptunebookmark (at) gmail (dot) com. All entries must be turned in by February 25th. 

The winner will be announced on Friday, February 28th (or, the finalists will be posted that day for voting). To get an idea of the finalists from last year see this post.

Without further ado, here is the cover image and blurb:

Emma, who is half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love Galen, need time together. Alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean and land-dwelling, freshwater Syrena. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love, but their ocean kingdoms.




 

OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY #2

Now there are 115 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!

OF NEPTUNE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY #1

So there are 122 days left until the third installment of The Syrena Legacy trilogy, OF NEPTUNE, releases (May 13, 2014 people!). If you haven't had a chance to read the series yet, or you have a friend who has a friend who has a friend who hasn't read it yet, now is your/their chance!

Every Friday until OF NEPTUNE releases I'm giving away a signed set of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON.  These giveaways are open internationally, because I do adore my international fans. :)

Here's how you enter for your chance to win:

1.) Leave a comment below, explaining why you want to win. Don't worry, you don't have to write a novel to catch my eye. I hate giveaways that make you jump through fiery hoops so let's keep it simple, eh? One winner will be chosen randomly each week. If you don't win, try try again! I'll repost this each Friday, which will represent a new chance to win.

2.) A winner will be chosen the following Thursday and notified via Twitter. Winners will be announced on Twitter, not on this blog, so leave your Twitter handle in your comment. If you do not leave your Twitter handle, you will not be chosen. This is how I will contact you if you win. This is a Twitter based contest.

3.) That's it. Easy schmeasy, right? But remember, just because you don't have to jump through hoops, you *could* help me spread the word about the giveaway if you lub me and if you have time or whatever. You know. No pressure. So...

READY SET GO!!!!!!