First, there's some more buzz about Shadows on the Moon from Lynsey at Narratively Speaking here, from Liz of My Favourite Books on The Book Smugglers here and even from a Canadian blog called Tapestry of Words here.
I'm really excited by all this advance interest because the lead-up to the release days of TSK and DotF was quite a lonely time for me. Even if your publisher is fantastic (and mine truly is), unless you're a Big Fat Deal like Stephenie Meyer or J.K. Rowling no one will give you much of an idea what they're doing to promote your book, or even much of an idea what YOU can do to promote it. I went out and did as much as I could myself by putting together a website, and arranging book signings and school visits, but I had no way of knowing how much difference that made or even if it had been a complete waste of time.
Now that I'm aware of the amazing British blogging community (and have even hopefully made a few friends within it) I feel much less scared and isolated. I know where to look to see how people feel about my work. The fact that I have blog readers who respond to my covers and my blurbs and let me know how they feel also really helps. Thanks everyone.
Another thank you is due to the blog readers who responded to my question on Monday about whether my best friend character in the Big Secret Project should be a gay guy or a gay girl. The overwhelming majority voted for a girl, mostly due to the lack of gay female characters in strong roles in YA fiction right now. I mean, they ARE there, and they're awesome, but you really have to search for them. Commentors said that they'd seen quite a few 'sassy gay friends' of the male persuasion and would find a female one more interesting for a change. So - there you go. Your wish is granted.
As you know, I'm still working on Big Secret Project and all details are subject to change. But I have just finished writing the synopses for it (YES, YES, YES!!!!) and I can tell you that the character you have helped to create is a sixteen year old Goth called Jack Lucy (Lucy is her surname and Jack is short for Jacqueline). She's naturally mousey but likes to die her hair a variety of bright colours, and she's extremely handy with an iron skillet (and I DON'T mean that she makes a good omelette). Hurrah!
My final random topic today is the release of the cover art for the new Mortal Instruments book by Cassandra Clare. As you may or may not know, there's been a lot of secrecy and hype over this cover, since the first Mortal Instruments Trilogy was a MegaBigBestseller and the new trilogy will carry on with the story of the same characters. I've personally been anticipating it because I adored the first trilogy and City of Fallen Angels is coming out in April of 2011 - making it the perfect birthday present for moi!
So, the cover has finally been revealed, and this is it:
You can see what Ms Clare has to say about it here.
What do you guys think of it?
20 comments:
I haven't heard of the triology, but there you go; shows how little I know about the world. Anyway, the cover looks really nice.
Compared to before (no other way to put it), you have more followers, more readers and are naturally more popular. Of course you're a Big Fat Deal, Zoe!
And it doesn't seem THAT random. I mean, you're very weird so I've seen and heard more random stuff from you. I would know, being Megha the Queen of Randomness and Weirdness.
My evil/weird laugh: MoOoOoOoOoOoOoOHAHAHAHAHA!
I'm not a Big Fat Deal quite yet Megha. But that's okay. I intend to work my way up :) Hopefully one day my deal will be satisfactorily plump.
That is certainly a very impressive evil laugh. Mine's more like Mwwaaaa-haaa-haaaaaa!
Jealous of your evil laugh, Megha. (Is that your name? You said the z stands for your last name.) Mine's more like this: MWAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!
Haha. Talk about weird; we're all lunatics.
Zoë: I've definitely heard of and seen that trilogy in bookstores before, although I haven't read them. Honestly, I don't think they're really my type, but I'd have to read them to be sure. Sometime...
Hmm. My honest opinion about the cover? Erm. Well, it's not absolutely *beautiful*, in my opinion, but considering other covers I've seen over the course of my lifetime, it's pretty good. Of course, never judge a book by its cover, they say. Usually true. But sometimes a cover can really provide some information about what the book is about/the general theme. Mainly referring to vampire, creepy, dark, scaaary. And sometimes really great or eccentric covers have lead me to some of the best books I've ever read in my life. But I won't blame any author for a bad cover; they really don't have much say do they?
P.S. My mom's illustrations for her upcoming picture book (fall 2011) arrived a little while ago. Done by an Italian illustrator. Absolutely GORGEOUS!
Well, I must admit that I passed them over many, many times myself. They didn't seem my type either, even though Cassandra Clare has the same publisher (and now agent!) as me. But I'm glad I did eventually give them a try - I loved them.
It's true that most authors have very little say in their covers (I don't) but from her blog post it seems that Ms Clare is a rare exception to that rule. That's how you can tell she's a Big Fat Deal :)
Oh, then it seems like I *should* try them out. I have a couple other books on my to-read list, so I may not get to them for a while, but I'll definitely keep those books in mind.
Cassandra Clare's lucky to have a say concerning the covers of her books, but you're far luckier. Compare your covers with hers. Yours are far more beautiful!
Nothing like a girl who's handy with a skillet when you're fighting monsters! : )
Tomorrow I'm off to Chicago to see relatives and I won't be back till day before Christmas Eve. Then, day after that, I'm off to Quebec to go skiing. So unfortunately I won't be on again until, erm, around the beginning of January, perhaps. I'll have to check. Happy holidays, y'all! Read a lot, eat a lot, have a great time! I'll miss you!!
P.S. Zoë, I'm ordering TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES today. I know it isn't your favorite book, but I want to give it a try. Who knows, I may enjoy it more than you did! It won't arrive in time for my trip to Chicago, so I think I'll read A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY. My sister loved it. (It's her B-Day!!! Fifteen!!!) That's the first in the series, right? I'll check with her. Anyway, happy holidays!
Phoenix: Whenever I hear strange noises in the house, I always pick up my trusty skillet. They're underrated.
Isabel: I hope you read this before you go. Have a GREAT holiday, and enjoy your books (yes, A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY is the first in the series). Merry Christmas.
Rest assured; I read it. Merry Christmas to you to! (Again.) Now, off to pack my bag... :)
LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you seen Tangled, the Disney Rapunzel? She's pretty good with a skillet too...
No, I haven't. Damn, is that a significant thing about the character? I thought I was being unique there.
Well, when the hero first climbs in at Rapunzel's window, she conks him on the head with it, and it comes in handy a few more times on their travels. I suppose you could say it was significant, in that it shows she can take care of herself when necessary.
Unique... I don't know, since the instant I read the bit about Jack Lucy and the skillet, I thought of Tiffany Aching. (Cool name for your character, by the way!)
Gaah, sorry , Zoe, I said TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES when it's really PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL! Sorry! You must have been confused. I always get the title messed up...
Isabel: No, don't worry, I knew which book you meant.
Phoenix: Well £%$@*&! I forgot about Tiffany. Although I suppose neither Tangled nor Tiffany are contemporary heroines. I'll just have to see how it goes.
Oh dear - sorry! I just assumed the skillet thing was a deliberate homage to Tiffany. I think it still works anyway.
Never mind - I think I'll go with it anyway. We'll see.
Ms. Marriott: Ok, I just hit backspace accidentally and my stupid computer deleted my whole monologue and now I have to write it over again when I don't even remember half the things I wrote!!! Argghh! :(
Anyway, because you asked about the cover first, I’ll reply about the cover first, and then rave about your book. I love the new cover, and I am IN LOVE with the Mortal Instruments Series. I even wasted my money and bought the series all in hardcover because I didn’t want the books to clash on my shelf (I’m an organizational freak). I like the cover of the first book best, because Jace is on it. :) I read the sneak peek of the City of Fallen Angels and the cover is making me wonder what Clary and Jace are going to do, what sword Jace is carrying, if the sword is the Mortal Sword, and if so, how they retrieved it from the Mortal Mirror Valentine threw it in, etc., etc. Has anyone read and loved the series, like me?
About your book: I read it once and liked it so much I bought it. I just reread it and appreciated it even more than the first time. I love Zira/Zahira, and all the flaws in your fantasy world, because as much as I love Tamora Pierce and her books, her heroes/heroines don’t have as many flaws as people usually do. (And Ms. Pierce, your books were FANTASTIC and AMAZING, and that wasn’t an insult, I want to escape to your world!!!) I liked your idea of prejudice against different races (Rua and Sedorne), and the light-skinned racism against people of darker skin, because it happens here too. I WANT A SEQUEL! What about what is happening in Sedra, because Abheron spent most of his time in Ruan? I was wondering that… Random: I just finished and LOVED Garth Nix’s trilogy: Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen, and the name Abheron kept reminding me of the Abhorsen. Anyway... Thank you!
Au, I'm completely in love with The Mortal Instruments, too! I can't tell you how obsessed I got after I first read the books. All I could do was clutch my head and groan: 'Why can't I write books like these? Argh!' I'm very excited that I get the next book for my birthday, more or less.
I'm really glad you enjoyed DotF. Tamora Pierce is the writer who made me want to write YA, so that's a hefty compliment there. And you know, I'm a fan of Garth Nix's Abhorsen books too. I don't *think* there's any connection between the Abhorsen and Abheron, but on the other hand 'Abheron' is one of the few names I actually made up, rather than searching for in baby name books and Behindthename.com. So maybe there was an unconscious thing there.
No, I didn't think there was a thing there, especially since your character Abheron is evil and the Abhorsens are anything but. Although maybe you had Garth Nix on the mind... :)
Which was your favorite Mortal Instruments? Mine was definitely the last, CITY OF GLASS.
Btw, I just took out THE SWAN KINGDOM and can't wait to read it!
Favourite Mortal Instruments Book? Hmmm, that's a hard one. I love CITY OF GLASS because it's where everything comes together and there's that amazing, gut-wrenching ending. But at the same time I love CITY OF ASHES a lot too, because that's where you really get to learn how important everyone is to each other. I'd say it's a tie.
I hope you enjoy TSK!
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