March 14, 2012

Exciting Things

So I’m thrilled to share that I got my advance copy of The Guardian’s Mark yesterday and it is every bit as beautiful and amazing as I’d hoped. :) (Refer to picture of me geeking out over its awesomeness).

As I get closer to release I’m making sure everything is where it should be and arranging to do a few promotional things, so stay tuned for whatever events I manage to cook up! Ideally, I’d love to have a book release party online, I’d love for there to be virtual cocktails, .gif balloons, tiny dancing avatars, and maybe a juggler. But you know, I won’t be too picky.

I definitely plan on having a giveaway (because giveaways are awesomesauce) and running a GoodReads contest, so those of you who like to haunt GR will have to come and party with me.

I’ve also been busy working on book 3 of the series, fueled by a sudden fire lit by this beautiful little book in my hands. Ha ha. No greater sense of urgency than holding book 1 and knowing (or rather, panicking about the fact) that I have to finish their story. It’s chugging along, rather steadily, so that makes me a very happy camper.

And as usual, I’ve been busy over at Hollow Tree with free short stories and other such goodies. Last week I posted a poem – just because I could. Oh freedom! ;)

Though, let’s face it, some people should not be that free. I shall leave the poetry to the experts from here on in. They really are far better at it than I will ever be, despite my good intentions. Poetry and novel writing are two very different beasts.

Speaking of Hollow Tree, Lisa and I are in the planning stages for the release of Volume 2! No spoilers to share yet, but will do so as soon as we have something concrete.

Meanwhile, I’ll be in and out of the writer/editor cave. Drop me a line will ya? I can really use the distraction company.

Posted in guardian series, hollowtree, print, writing/editing | 2 Comments »

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March 5, 2012

Release Day News & Cover Reveal

So I’ve been mentioning that I have some secret news I couldn’t share yet. And I’ve been a total tease about it and made you all wait so patiently. ;)

But now, the cat is out of the bag. My Guardian Circle series, previously released as Zerah’s Chosen, has been repackaged! Look at the beautiful new cover:

It will be releasing in April, in print and e-book! I will also be making autographed copies available on my website! :) There will be a GoodReads giveaway. And every person who reviews the book will be entered into a drawing for some prizes, including giftcards and swag! Isn’t that exciting? I’m beyond thrilled.

I will give you all more information as we get closer, but in the meantime, I’m ecstatic that my series will soon be in your hands once again. <3

 

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March 2, 2012

Site Updates and Free Fiction

I’ve been slowly but surely making adjustments to the website and adding in pertinent information. Or what I deem as pertinent at least. Just stuff you guys should definitely have access to, should you want it. :)

I now have a GoodReads button on the sidebar ————–>(yay!), and since I’ve been doing so much reading, it’s been my favorite place to hang out as of late. I always find something new and interesting to add to my reading pile and just recently I won an ARC! *That squeal you hear is my giddy, girlish excitement on overload*

Within the next week I also plan on updating the Free Reads page with links to all my latest stories over at Tales From the Hollow Tree. I’m still amazed by the amount of work Lisa and I put out over the course of a few months. That place is a treasure trove of moments captured in imaginary people’s lives. It’s pretty awesome. <3

I also went and signed a few copies of the new edition of Cinematic Royalty at my local Barnes and Noble. So if you’d like any autographed copies call them up at 203-234-1805 to order a copy and have it shipped anywhere in the U.S.

And once again, while I have a few things up my sleeve, I unfortunately can’t share them all with you quite yet. (Sucks, right?! I promise it’s worse for me than it is for you! I LOVE to spill exciting news!) Either way, keep your eyes glued to the screen (or better yet, don’t, that’s gross). I’ll update you as soon as I can.

In the meantime, March is here! And so sprint is right around the corner! Happy dance to that.

Happy Friday all!

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February 25, 2012

A Month Everlasting

UnderwaterFebruary has been a test of patience. While being the shortest month of the year, it has somehow stretched itself to last far longer than my patience will allow.

The mercurial weather meant we each got sick. A few times over. Case in point: yesterday was a beautiful 50+ degrees and sunny, today it snowed. Really? Does that even make sense?

On top of that, February saw me hitting rock bottom in the seasonal blues department. Too many late nights, lack of sleep, lack of real stimulus, and I was down in the dumps with the crawly critters trying to bury myself in darkness until it was officially spring. Or something equally dramatic.

But, as March creeps around the corner, I’m sitting up a little straighter, my head wrapped around the four books I’ve devoured in the last two weeks (having the library at walking distance has made me a reading machine), and ready to tackle whatever comes next. If you want to see what I’m entertaining myself with, feel free to hit me up on GoodReads.

I quite enjoy my ever growing collection of books to read. And I’m excitedly jumping into the Hunger Games series within the next few weeks, just in time for the movie release!

What are you guys reading? Anything good? Drop some recs on me. I want to try my hand at some new things.

 

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January 13, 2012

That Little Thing Called Voice

I just wrapped up my Friday Freebie for Hollow Tree tonight (check it out tomorrow- Friday- AM). It poured right out of my fingertips.

*evil glare* I wish my fantasy series came out that easily. Granted, I’m closing out a huge three book arc and setting up a very fragile relationship. These things don’t just happen. They take time. Which is ok by me because I’m discovering some very interesting things in the process (my heroine, way more awesome than I gave her credit for).

But still,  it was nice to have such a distinct voice speak to me tonight. It was like that when I wrote Fairest. Absolutely specific character, specific voice. No pulling of teeth needed. That’s always nice. Makes my job easier. ;)

It’s so much easier to see what they mean by ‘voice’ when that happens. Granted, it has a lot to do with the way YOU tell the story. How no one will ever tell it quite like YOU. But it also has to do with how your characters help you tell a story. If every character you create sounds the same, then it’s a bit of a wash, isn’t it? But when they start to really take life aside from you? That’s always exhilarating (and I still cannot spell that word, thank you spell check!).

Anyway, dropping in to ask whether you’d all be interested in a Facebook page for my Guardian Circle series. A place to discuss characters, events, spoilers, dream casting, and other fun fandom stuff. I LOVE FANDOMS! :) I’d be a total geek about all this, but I promise to behave. Or… to try and behave. Leave comments regarding what you’d like to see, ok? We’ll make this happen.

Posted in author support, guardian series, writing process | 2 Comments »

January 10, 2012

There’s Beauty in The Breakdown

You can blame the blog post title on Imogen Heap. It’s a line from her song Let Go, when she was performing as one half of Frou Frou. (Wow, the linkage on this blog post is totally out of control and we’re only two sentences in!)

Anyway, I digress.

I am a huge HUGE Imogen fan, and I’ve always loved this song, but developed an entirely new appreciation for it today having heard it live piano for the first time. I was stalking, ahem, visiting my buddy Lisa Asanuma’s website and there it was on her page. Go check it out. Totally worth watching.

It did something strange to me, though. It took me back about 4 years. Strange how music can do that, right? Puts you into a very distinct state of mind to a certain time and place. This one, in particular, got me thinking about my Guardian Circle series. Much of Book 1 was written to the soundtrack of Speak for Yourself, her 2005 hit album. To this day, certain songs on that album play out scenes between my hero and heroine in my head.

One of my most prevalent goals for 2012 is the rebirth of that series. I’m working very hard to repackage it, pitching it, and working on finishing the final book so that it’s done. Complete.

It’ll be strange to put an end to that chapter of my life, a chapter that has lasted give or take 6 years, that has included writing, rewriting, and even publication of characters who I’ve known from their youth and whose lives I’ve been so intricately involved in.

This is both daunting and exciting. I love the idea of bringing them closure. Of taking their story arcs to its conclusion, but I’m also terrified by the thought of letting them go.

I’m too involved. I’ve fallen too deep. But I can’t help it. If you don’t feel passionately about your characters, how can you expect anyone else to?

So look out, 2012, this is the year my Elemental Guardians see the end.

 

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December 6, 2011

Tales From the Hollow Tree Blog Hop

Hi! And welcome to Day 5 of the Hollow Tree Bloghop! I’m your host, Isabelle. :)

I rambled poetic on the release day post about how much the blog and this release means to me. But what I didn’t mention is how Hollow Tree became what it is today almost accidentally.

When we first opened its doors, Tales was supposed to be a place to share all things YA fantasy. Book reviews, legends and myths, bookish pop culture, and the occasional free read, known then as Fantasy Dipped Fridays. (Still love that name).

While we spent a significant amount of time ravaging books and talking about movie adaptations and having a great old time discussing things with followers (thanks to those of you who started conversations! it’s so fun to be able to discuss things with you!), the schedule was a daily obligation that soon became too much for Lisa and I to handle alone. We contemplated taking on other bloggers, even made a hiring call, but in the end, I’m glad we kept it between us (and our sister in fiction, thepheonix!).

It feels like home now. Like family. And I’m so thrilled that we chose to keep the best part of the blog alive because I feel it’s become quite the magical place since its reincarnation.

So go ahead and give Volume 1 a try! It’s currently available on Kindle, Nook, and special edition .pdf. This collection has eight stories previously published on the site, and two (one from both Lisa and I) that are exclusive to this collection.

Hollow Tree Vol 1

So that’s my little history lesson for the day! As part of the blog hop I will be giving away a FREE PDF copy of our collection! This copy is GORGEOUS. So trust me when I say it’s worth your time. All you have to do is comment and let me know what you’d like to see at Hollow Tree. Any themes you’d like to see tackled? Would you be interested in seeing prompts? A write off between Lisa and I? Ha ha. That’d be fun, actually. Leave a comment below and you’ll be entered in the drawing.

And we’re also having  a special giveaway on Friday, if you go to all the posts in the hop and collect keywords from each giveaway post.

My keyword is:

MALCOLM

Head back to the Hollow Tree blog on Friday to enter in that word for a chance to win some special Hollow Tree swag! (It is SO cute!)

And in the meanwhile, add us on Goodreads! Might just get you an extra entry. ;)

Stay tuned for the location of tomorrow’s blog hop post to collect your next clue!

Posted in author promotion, blogging, giveaway, hollowtree | 1 Comment »

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December 3, 2011

The Day Is Upon Us

Tales From the Hollow Tree – Volume 1 is now available!

Hollow Tree Vol 1

I am so excited to bring you a collection of the short stories that Lisa and I have been bringing you week after week. This project has been a real labor of love and more than anything has forced us to stretch our creative legs, to write even when we didn’t feel like it, to envision big moments wrapped in tiny packages, and to draw you- the reader- into our worlds in only a few short words, making sure you take that journey with us.

Friday has undoubtedly become my favorite day of the week because of the challenge it poses. Will I be able to come up with something good? Something moving and interesting? Something original and unlike what I’ve done before?

It can certainly be difficult to think outside the box. If you read our blog, you know I’m fond of retellings and fairytales, mostly because I believe every story can be retold in countless different ways. I tend to lean toward the Desolation aspect of our titles, while Lisa is very much full of magic and Enchantment, though every once in a while, we tend to surprise even each other (after all these years, who knew that was possible, right, Lis?)

I’m thrilled about the extra story I have in the collection, one I’ve never posted on Hollow Tree and one that’s never seen the light of day until now.  It came to me while listening to a song that made me stop and think… what if? And aren’t those the magical words every author wants to mutter? What if? Let’s just say the story has a touch of gold. ;) Hint over.

I posted a teeny tiny snippet of it on Twitter and my Facebook Fan Page today (which, if you haven’t checked out, I highly recommend! I post all kinds of sneak peeks and upcoming projects!). But if you haven’t had a chance to visit me there, I’ll post it here as well, for you to enjoy.

She used to whisper to him through the thin rice paper of the room dividers, telling him of the effervescent sunshine or the falling of the leaves. At times, she told the stories in such vivid detail, he could actually feel the cold sting of a snowball in the face, or smell the sweet, floral aroma of the plumeria bush in the garden.

Anyway, we really hope you’ll enjoy it! It’s currently available through Nook, Kindle, and limited edition PDF on our sidebar over at Hollow Tree. For only 0.99 cents, you can’t go wrong.

Whichever your poison, I hope that you’ll get lost in the magic of it all. And if you feel so compelled, drop us a line or leave us a review. Those are like chocolates for authors. They make us happy. :)

Happy Friday, guys! And happy release day!

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November 15, 2011

Who’s That Girl?

So lately, I have been this crazy whirlwind. Blink and you might miss me! From the moment I wake up to those final moments before I drift off to sleep I am in constant thought/movement. Some days I stop mid-stride and have to gather my thoughts. Wait a sec, where am I going? What am I doing? Oh, right… Those tiny pauses actually help more than you’d think. They make sense of a world that’s spinning pretty quickly.

All of this has left me physically drained, but emotionally fulfilled. I feel like superwoman! Let me break it down for you.

I went back to work at Barnes and Noble at the start of November. If you’ve been following my blog for a while you know that working there is and has always been my crack. Everything about the place makes me happy. The smell of books, coffee, chattering excitedly about the new Hunger Games movie. :) It just rocks, plain and simple. I do my bookselling at night.

In the day I am busy mommy/housewife. I try to make sure the house is clean (since I know it’ll be a wreck by the time I get back home from work), the dishes are done, and that the boy has had at least some exercise (usually in the form of a lightsaber battle or two) and some learning. We read together, we watch Caillou on PBS, and we’ll sometimes break up the routine by hitting the park or the shopping center nearby.

While he naps, I’ll usually busy myself with couponing (which thus far has saved my family at least $300), writing, reading, showering, or occasionally… I’ll pass out for a siesta too. ;) Don’t judge me.

This is on top of socializing with friends on weekends and religious activities and the occasional splurge (karaoke night in NYC at a swanky high heels only club!).

Oh, and did I mention the book I’m releasing with Lisa at Hollow Tree? And the free story I post there every other Friday? (Shameless plug: Check out this past Friday’s story, Primal, a retelling of 12 Dancing Princesses!)

Who’s that girl? Yea, that’s me! *dancing to my theme song*

So if you blink and happen to see a blur sweep by, make sure you wave! I’ll try and return the favor. :-P

Posted in free read, hollowtree, karaoke rocks, life, random thoughts | Leave a Comment »

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October 23, 2011

Taking The Good With the Bad

This is one of those posts, as an author, you never really want to write. But unfortunately, there are times when it’s inevitable. This is a tough business and nothing is ever guaranteed. So even as I come bearing some very positive and exciting news, I come bearing some bad as well.

Let’s start with the bad, get it done and over with. I’m sure many of you have noticed the book pages for my Guardian Circle Series (Zerah’s Chosen and Zerah’s Offering) have gone missing. Though I’ve known for a little while, I didn’t want to make an announcement until it was official. Yesterday, my editor and the owner of Drollerie Press, Deena Fisher, announced that she was closing the company for good. This has not been an easy thing to hear for anyone who has ever been involved with Drollerie Press. Their books were just such a special little corner of the writing universe and I feel that the niche it covered will be sadly empty and greatly missed.

How does this affect us? You, as a reader, and me as an author? It means that for the moment, my Guardian Circle Series is not available for purchase. Neither is my short story in the Playthings of the Gods anthology.

Thankfully, Hollow Tree might help me find a home for my short story. My novels… well only time will tell where my babies will end up. But be assured, I do not plan on giving up on them. Whatever comes, I had some great years at Drollerie Press and I met some fantastic people, some insanely talented authors whose work has stayed with me long after I’ve read ‘The End’. I wish them all the best.

While we go into the unknown together (-you are holding my hand, right? because I could really use a hand to hold at the moment-), I will share the good news. You know that saying: when one door closes, another door opens? I think that might just be true. I’d like to introduce one of my secret projects.

Hollow Tree Vol 1

Lisa and I know we have something special going on at Hollow Tree. We’ve loved every chaotic moment, every late night, every hour spent finding inspiration- photos, music- to set to the little moments we capture and share with you every Friday. And so we decided to package them in an easily accessible format to read again and again, without having to scroll through the website!

BONUS: Soon, we will be releasing an ebook of ten collected stories from Tales From the Hollow Tree—eight you’ve read before and two that are all new and will only be available in this book!

Stories of Enchantment and Desolation is just that—a collection of tales where the line between alluring and devastating is blurred or crossed altogether. These books will be published in a beautifully formatted .pdf and will be available through various sources by the end of November for 99¢. We’re so excited!

Til next time guys.

-Isabelle

Posted in beautiful covers, business, coming soon, drollerie press, zerahs chosen, zerahs offering | 1 Comment »

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