Sonia Gensler

Historical YA ARC Giveaway!

2012-03-07T06:45:00.001-06:00

Remember when I went to ALA Midwinter a while back? And got all those ARCs? NOW I WANT TO GIVE THEM AWAY! I have two batches of books to offer up, and the first batch can be loosely categorized as historical YA (my favorite).

Here's what I have for you:

A finished copy of The Merchant's Daughter, by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)

and ARCs of:

Grave Mercy, by Robin LaFevers (Houghton Mifflin)

Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls, by Mary Downing Hahn (Clarion)

The Peculiars, by Maureen Doyle McQuerry (Amulet)

The Springsweet, by Saundra Mitchell (Harcourt)

THIS CONTEST IS OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!

How to enter:
(We're doing this old school, ya'll)

ALL you have to do is comment and tell me about one of your favorite YA historical novels. (I'm always looking for recs!)

To gain more entries, you may do any or all of the following:

-- Tweet this giveaway (+1) For instance:
"Win fabulous ARCs at @soniagensler's Historical YA Giveway! http://tinyurl.com/7obxuz8 Pls RT."
-- Follow me on Twitter (+1)
-- Follow this blog (+1)

Please let me know what you've done in your comment. (If you already followed me here and at Twitter, you get credit for that!)

[I'd also love for you to follow my Facebook Author Page, but apparently I can't give you any cookies in return because FB will sue me, or something? So this is just a heads up that I have an author page. Hee!]

Deadline to enter: Sunday, March 11th, 11:59 pm (CST)

Mountain retreat

2012-03-05T06:59:00.001-06:00

Last week I joined 10 other writers for a retreat in Black Mountain, NC. Here's a quick photo essay of the highlights:

Gorgeous scenery!

Wooded walks

Sunset views

Cozy writing corners

Dinner table chats

Indie bookstore events (photo shamelessly stolen from Malaprops' Twitter feed)

My sincere thanks go out to Natalie Parker for planning this epic retreat, to all the participating authors for sharing their wisdom, warmth, and humor, and to Malaprops for hosting a fabulous YA author event!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Travel and inspiration

2012-02-22T06:58:00.002-06:00

On Monday I returned from a 9 day road trip, most of which I spent with family in Tennessee. What a whirlwind! Actually, I enjoy long driving trips on my own, partly for the opportunity to listen to books on CD (this time it was Michelle Cooper's A Brief History of Montmaray), but also to do a little plotting on my own stories as I zip along the interstate.

Two encounters during my visit inspired a flurry of interstate plottings on the return trip:

1) When I told my dad about the characters and setting for a new story, he remarked that my main character would have been born about the same time as his mother -- my dear 94-year-old grandmother, Ruby. That prompted me to ask Grandmother if she once again would share her photograph albums with me. (Looking at Grandmother's photos has been a favorite activity of mine since early childhood.)

Fortunately, Great-grandfather Tippit was an avid photographer, so there are many photos of my grandmother as a baby, child and teenager. Here is one of my favorites:

Grandmother Ruby stands at the right with her sisters Dorothy (middle) and Mildred (left). Aren't they charming? And check this out: a photo of Grandmother as a wee baby!

Lucky for me, my grandmother wrote (& self-published) her memoir several years ago, so I have easy access to details of her life growing up in the 30s. In fact, I am incredibly fortunate that both my grandmothers took the time to set down their memories in writing -- not only does it help me understand them and feel closer to them, but they've provided lots of material for me to mine for stories! (In a respectful way, of course.)

2) When I visited my mom in Indian Mound, TN, I stayed at the Lylewood Inn Bed & Breakfast. Partly this was because my old bedroom in Mom's attic is currently full of boxes and furniture, but mostly I wanted to check out this old house in order to flesh out yet another story idea.

The house you see here was built in 1892 on the foundations of an antebellum log house that burned to the ground in 1890. It perches on a hill above the Cumberland River, proud and lovely. You can almost see it preening, can't you? It's hard to believe I never knew this house existed until a few years ago. I grew up only 25 minutes away!

It was fun to listen to the owner as she shared stories of this house and the one that stood before it, mostly because all the while I was plotting an entirely different past and present for the house.

I hope one day you'll see each of these stories on a library or bookstore shelf. Cross your fingers!

Movie Monday: The Artist

2012-02-06T06:42:00.003-06:00

For months everyone has raved and raved about The Artist. And I waited and waited for it to come to OKC theaters. Finally it arrived! Could it possibly live up to the hype?

YES!

Steve and I saw it Saturday evening, and the theater was packed. This is mostly a blessing (we'll never get Indie films if no goes to them), but I was afraid it might end up a curse. I was annoyed by all the rattling of popcorn bags and tearing of candy wrappers -- I'm accustomed to going to early shows with smaller and less munchy crowds -- but within five minutes of the movie starting, all that noise stopped. Everyone was entranced. The only sound from the audience after that was when an older lady cried "What did he say? What did he say?" after a crucial scene. (Those of you who have seen the movie probably know EXACTLY when that question was asked.)

If you're a film history buff, a fan of Singing in the Rain, or always wished A Star is Born hadn't been quite so dark, you'll love this film. If you hate B&W, get bored and wiggly during silent films, or if your heart is two sizes too small, don't bother. (Heh.)

Two review blurbs I loved:
[The Artist is] a project so idiosyncratic, so unlikely, so simultaneously innocent and sophisticated that it could only have been devised by the French. (Read the entire Salon.com review.)

In the end, that is the tragedy "The Artist" is really exploring, the death and extinction of a medium that brought the world together, that everyone could experience in the same way, never from the outside, never as a stranger. With delicacy and originality, it laments what went away. But it also performs a resurrection, because in Dujardin's performance we discover something extraordinary and lovely, the first truly great silent film performance in about 80 years. (This San Francisco Chronicle review made me cry a little.)

I have fallen deeply in love with this film, with Jean Dujardin and the rest of the cast, with sweet Uggie, and with the people who made this dream into a reality. Can't wait to see it again!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Friday Favorite: SCBWI

2012-02-03T08:53:00.000-06:00

It's taken me days to recover, but I'm finally here to tell you I had a great time at NYSCBWI last weekend.

Got to hang out with agent Jenn and some of her super cool clients, including Ward Jenkins (seen above), Kristen Kittscher and Mara Rockliff -- kindred spirits, to be sure!

Other highlights:

-- enjoying tea with my editor at the Morgan Library and Museum (love that place!).

-- hanging out with the illustrious Maddee James of xuni.com.

-- meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. (Thanks for being my Saturday buddy, Maurissa Guibord!)

-- learning revision techniques from Cheryl Klein. (Just go ahead and buy her book, you guys.)--(Oh, and check out Maurissa's post on this.)

-- coming to the realization that I should think of my career more in terms of the long haul. It's easy to fixate on what I want NOW, but what about my entire writing career? What would that look like? Am pondering this.

Have a grand weekend, everyone!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

ALA Midwinter 2012

2012-01-23T06:56:00.000-06:00

ALA Midwinter was in Dallas this past weekend (actually, it's still going on -- they'll announce award winners today). With it being so close I couldn't pass up the opportunity to check things out. Fortunately Random House was willing to get me a badge. (Thanks, RH!)

The Exhibits Hall was pretty overwhelming. I'm not sure if it's my introversion, or a mild sort of agoraphobia, but after an hour in there I was ready to freak out. Everyone I encountered was very nice, and it wasn't even that crowded. Nevertheless, I found myself getting cranky pretty quickly, and I could not find any space inside the hall to just sit and catch my breath. Fortunately there was a Starbucks with its own little seating area just outside the hall. After chilling out for while in the order line and then grabbing a seat to myself, I began to feel better.

I now know that you can't do one pass and be done with the Exhibits. They bring out more ARCs and goodies as the day goes on. Therefore it's necessary to take a break, regroup, and attack again! (And maybe bring a rolling suitcase for all the ARCs?)

I was only there a few hours. I hardly scratched the surface of all ALA Midwinter has to offer, as you will see in the following photos:

My first stop was the Random House booth. I was very tickled to see The Revenant on display, particularly because it's an "older" title now. And once again I was shelved near fellow Elevensie Tessa Gratton's Blood Magic -- yay! On my second pass to the RH booth I chatted with the very busy Alex Bracken, who is an accomplished author and works in School & Library Marketing at Random House. Thanks, Alex, for picking out some ARCs for me!

After my mild freakout, it was so nice to run into the Texas Sweethearts. I chatted with Jessica Lee Anderson and PJ Hoover. Also got to catch up with Jenny Moss. Later I went to Jessica's signing at the PGW booth (as seen above in a frustratingly blurry photo). What a lovely lady she is!

After lunching with my husband, I met up with Sweethearts again at their afternoon reception. Their booth was quite busy! You should be able to spot Jo Whittemore, Jeanette Larson, PJ Hoover and Jessica Lee Anderson in there. (I sort of stalked them, as you can see. It was just so nice to see familiar faces.)

And I finally got to hang out with agent sister Jo Whittemore! She kindly signed her book for me.

This was my modest haul of ARCs and finished copies. Anyone up for a giveaway or two? :)

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Make it a scene

2012-01-20T08:18:00.000-06:00

Maggie Stiefvater recently dissected a chapter of THE SCORPIO RACES on her blog, and it was so detailed and helpful that readers clamored for more. Maggie, being a helpful soul, invited other writers to go through the same process with a chapter of their own, and I was honored to be included. As a former teacher and someone who loves to do school visits, I'm always eager to put something together that I could share on my blog and explore in more detail with teens in a classroom setting.

AND YET . . .

I stand before you quite nervous because, you guys! I only have one book published. I'm very new at this and still have much to learn.

So I'm going to be a wee bit rebellious and change the format. Rather than dissect one chapter, I'm going to look at two passages, comparing the first editorial draft to the published version in order to show how expanding a piece of exposition into a scene can help transform your spindly armature of a draft into the sculpture you had in mind.

What am I talking about? Let me give you some context: I was fortunate to have the opportunity to hear Karen Cushman speak at an SCBWI event. I was particularly heartened by a metaphor she used for her writing, one in which she characterized her first draft as a sculptor's armature and her subsequent revision as a process of layering words and scenes like clay. (Omigosh, if you need a visual you can see the whole process from armature to finished project in this blog post!) I've always been an underwriter -- my first drafts are very spare and require much fleshing out. So today I'm going to share two sections of The Revenant that I expanded (and hopefully improved) by turning spare exposition into "fleshier" scenes.

From Chapter 3, editorial draft:
I kept to my room as much as possible, reviewing the texts that Miss Crenshaw had provided for me. I'd thought to be teaching basic skills to rough Indian girls, but as I pored over McGuffey's Sixth Ecelectic Reader and Swinton's Studies in English Literature, I knew a battle lay in wait. This was no charity school full of girls grateful for instruction in proper speech and manners. This was an institution of higher learning, and the students thought too highly of themselves to be grateful for anything I had to offer. The part I played had become more challenging, but there was no turning back.

The morning bell was to ring at 5:30 on Wednesday, but I woke hours before dawn.

One of the things my editor pointed out from the start of our revision process was that I needed to develop the relationship between Willie and her colleague Olivia (who plays a role in solving the murder mystery) AND show in more vivid detail just how Willie's struggles with her teacherly duties. (She is, after all, a 17-year-old who is impersonating a teacher.)

In my very low-tech scans below (sorry!), start with the second paragraph:

[click images to enlarge]

Chapter 3, final draft:

As you can see, I bridged the paragraph about Willie's anxiety with the paragraph about the first day of classes (two bits of narrative summary) by including a scene that:

1) helps characterize Olivia (she well remembers the first day jitters, is excited to have another new teacher at the school, and is a giving rather than competitive person -- willing to share survival tips and encouragement)
2) depicts the blossoming friendship between Olivia and Willie
3) shows Willie's uneasiness (through her "Yellow Wallpaper" moment, heh), and . . .
4) reinforces the theme of theatricality that runs throughout the book (Willie, the daughter of an actor who is herself pretending to be someone else, connects to Olivia through the idea of teacherly authority as "performance")

I only could have written this scene, small and quiet as it is, after having written many drafts of the entire manuscript. My editor wanted to develop Willie's friendship with Olivia, but that meant I had to get to know Olivia better myself. Although I bristled a bit when first confronted with this idea, I now know full well that Olivia started out as a plot device -- mostly just a convenient sounding board for Willie. That's why she, in the original draft, disappears for 100 pages while Willie engages in all the interesting things. (How did this book ever sell?) Thinking about what to add to flesh Olivia out helped me to understand her better and subsequently to write scenes that convey how her friendship is a driving force behind Willie's growth.

And now to a later scene . . .

From Chapter 13, editorial draft:
I'd looked froward to going to Olivia's house at the end of term and shedding the role of "Miss McClure, seminary teacher" to just be Willie, a girl visiting her friend. Anyone as sweet as Olivia must have cheerful parents, and I was curious to spend time with a proper family, one in which everyone laughed and teased and scolded out of love.

I relied on this visit to help me put Mr. Sevenstar from my mind. I welcomed any distraction that could keep me from reliving the conversation at the Bell home, for I wearied of tearing his sentences apart and examining each word as though it were a specimen under a microscope. It was a fruitless endeavor.

But in the end I had to decline the offer. Not by choice, but because Miss Crenshaw called me into her office and commanded I stay at the seminary to get my grade book in order.

That third paragraph is just screaming for a scene, isn't it? Maybe I avoided it at first because I was so eager to get to the paranormal shenanigans that lay ahead, but once my editor made the point that I didn't show Willie struggling enough with her teaching duties, this seemed the perfect place to take a really inert piece of exposition and bring it to life through a scene.

Chapter 13, final draft:

It's not a long scene. It's probably not anyone's favorite scene. But in two pages I turned "Miss Crenshaw called me into her office and commanded I stay" into an actual confrontation in which Willie is chastised about her failings and made to sweat over them a bit. There's a nice tension -- we want Willie to have a holiday with her bestie Olivia, but she's NOT DOING HER WORK. She can't get away with that! So while we (the reader) sympathize with her sense of outrage, we'd probably feel betrayed if she continued to get away with cheating her way through teaching.

This scene is also a nice bookend to a later scene -- another confrontation between Wilie and Miss Crenshaw in Crenshaw's office -- in which the principal is absolutely deflated by a schocking revelation and Willie sees, for the first time, that this scary old crow of a woman is quite human and vulnerable. (*sniffle*)

Concluding thoughts:
If you are an underwriter like me, it might help to search out those inert bits of exposition and decide which ones could do more work for you as a scene. Think about how long that scene should be (for instance, the above scene between Willie and Miss Crenshaw needs to be short and snappy, don't you think?). How much can be usefully/effectively conveyed? If the scene bogs down or doesn't convey anything useful or new -- if it's just there to be pretty or clever -- maybe it needs to stay in the form of narrative summary.

Anyone else have tips on how to choose between exposition and scene? (I know exposition has become a bad word, but can you avoid it entirely?) If you are more of an overwriter (as in, you create a huge chunk of clay and then have to whittle it down), how do you decide which scenes MUST stay and which should be collapsed into narrative summary or cut altogether? Any examples? I'd love to hear from you.

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Sunday sky

2012-01-08T17:41:00.000-06:00

Yesterday when I jumped in the car to pick Steve up from the airport, the sky looked like this:

My iPhone really couldn't capture how beautifully gloomy and otherworldly it was. Dark Age priests, faced with such a sky, surely would have locked themselves in the chapel. Druids would have had a party (or would they? I'm not really sure how Druids reacted to the sky). In any case, it was strange and gorgeous -- I wish so desperately that I'd had a decent camera with me.

By the way, that was the sky at noon. I asked Steve if his flight from Dallas was bumpy, but apparently it was smooth and distinctly non-paranormal. By the time we were on our way back to the house, the sky had smoothed itself into a bland blanket of gray.

Kicking off 2012

2012-01-04T08:14:00.001-06:00

I didn't do a New Year's retrospective/resolution post last year. No doubt this was because I was reeling from news of L.K. Madigan's stage IV pancreatic cancer. We barely had time to absorb the news before her death in February. I miss her very much, as do many of you.

A tough start to 2011, but time relentlessly marched on and stuff continued to happen. My first book came out. I traveled a lot. Enjoyed good times with my husband, friends, and family. I also indulged in many neurotic tailspins that paralyzed me creatively and generally made me miserable.

So . . . this year:

1) I resolve to be less neurotic. Ha ha! Easier said than done, right? Well, as a start, I'm going to focus on a list that my friend Claudia Swisher recently linked on Facebook:

Twelve things happy people do differently

(They're all worthy goals, but I must confess that #2 and #3 are huge problems for me in terms of how I look at my career.)

2) I resolve to write more. Must work harder! I really liked Jo Knowles' recent post on doing the work, so I'm linking it here for when I need to be reminded and inspired.

3) I resolve to read more (I managed to finish 54 books in 2011 -- not bad, but I can do better), and to read more consciously as a writer. I have much to learn. (This post from Kristin Cashore is a good example of how to stretch your writing muscles through reading.)

4) I resolve to run a 5k. I've already started my Couch to 5k training. (Don't laugh.)

5) I resolve to drink lots of tea and take great joy in my new kittycat tea cozy!

Isn't it the BEST? I bought it at the Salisbury Cathedral gift shop.

Hope your 2012 is fabulous, my friends!

[cross-posted at Livejournal]

Christmas on the road

2011-12-29T08:03:00.001-06:00

I feel like I'm cheating by only blogging photos these days, but for now that's all I've got!

Steve and I just returned from a lovely holiday in England. Very festive, but also extremely exhausting. (The flight back always does me in.) Thought I'd share five photos with links to a few more.

This isn't a great photo, but I had to include a shot of the Christmas market at Winchester Cathedral. We stayed four nights in Winchester -- such a charming city! -- and enjoyed poking around the market, partaking of the food and drink (hooray for mulled wine!) and watching the ice skaters fall on their bottoms. Also visited Jane Austen's grave in the cathedral and saw the house where she spent her final days (pardon my inappropriate grin).

One of our side trips from Winchester was to Salisbury. We revisited the cathedral (seen here during a brief appearance of the sun), and afterwards we made the 2 mile walk out to Old Sarum, where we enjoyed the remains of the hillfort in the twilight.

Our second side trip from Winchester was to Brockenhurst, a charming little town in the New Forest. After fortifying ourselves with a cream tea, we set out into the forest, got ourselves a little lost, petted some ponies, and finally ended up at our destination -- an adorable pub in a town called Bank. On our way back to Brockenhurst we admired a quaint cottage that could have been transplanted from Middle Earth.

Christmas Eve in London -- the lights are always so pretty! The previous night we attended a sing-along Christmas carol performance at Royal Albert Hall (where I sang so boisterously that I wrecked my throat). On Christmas Eve we took it fairly easy, doing a little shopping and playing/eating at the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Christmas Day we visited the Dickens Museum for their special Christmas activities (including mulled wine & mince pies) and then attended Evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral. That night we watched the Doctor Who Christmas Special (which was brilliant!) before heading down to the hotel restaurant for a Christmas feast.

On Boxing Day we tried to do a little shopping at Selfridges (madness!), made our first ever visit to the Sherlock Holmes Museum (silliness and kitsch!), walked in Regent's Park (seen above) and had lunch at the Garden Cafe. That night we enjoyed a lovely Baroque concert at St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

A great trip, but it's so good to be home. Happy New Year, everyone!

[cross-posted at Livejournal]

Authors Against Animal Abuse

2011-12-17T07:30:00.000-06:00

Recently my friend Christine Johnson had a very sad experience with a neighbor's maltreated dog. Though she couldn't save that dog, she had to do something, and thus she decided to hold an auction to benefit her local Humane Society. Happily, many YA authors have joined her effort by donating signed books and even offering to match auction bids with donations to their local Humane Societies.

Please go to Christine's blog for all the details on auction offerings.

You'll find signed books by:
Cassandra Clare, Christine Johnson, Carrie Ryan, Julia Karr, Julie Kagawa, John Skovron, Beth Revis, Mike Mullin, Saundra Mitchell, Angie Frazier, Lauren Oliver, Michelle Hodkin, Deva Fagan, Diana Peterfreund, Jeri Smith-Ready, Liv Spencer, and ME (hee!)

I'm keeping an eye on the bids for the package containing BEFORE I FALL, THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER and THE REVENANT, because I'd love to donate an amount equal to the winning bid to my local Humane Society.

Hope you can help out! By bidding, you could win great books AND help vulnerable animals.

Bidding ends December 20 (check auction items for precise time). THANK YOU!

Boston

2011-12-12T08:13:00.000-06:00

First thing -- I've heard from a couple of people that they've had trouble posting comments on this blog. And the other day I received an email notification of a comment that never actually appeared on the blog. (Maybe it was deleted?) So . . . if you have any suggestions on how to fix this, please let me know!

We had a great time in Boston, once Steve got his presentation out of the way. Met up with my friend Ellen Thursday morning and she kindly showed me around. I was jabbering so much that I didn't take many photos, and those I did take weren't that great, but it was SUCH a nice time.

Steve and I walked until we dropped Thursday afternoon. I offer you a random selection of photos:

I have to ask -- what's up with the obese squirrels in Boston Common?

The Revenant is shelved in YA Mystery at the Boston Public Library. So cool! Steve faced it out, probably to the great annoyance of the librarian who checked the shelves before closing.

Quincy Market was very festive! (We walked through after dinner in the North End)

I couldn't resist getting a photo in front of the tree. :)

Monday Miscellany

2011-12-05T07:28:00.001-06:00

I've been MIA as far as blogging goes. I blame it on writing projects and holiday hoopla -- wonderful things, to be sure, but also crazy-making.

Let's see . . .

-- This week Steve is giving a presentation in Boston and I'm tagging along, so prepare to be spammed with travel photos. I'm very excited to stay at a haunted hotel, meet a friend for tea at the Boston Public Library, and generally soak up the beauty of this old city during the holidays.

-- Speaking of tea, a friend posted this video on my Facebook wall a few days ago. Why didn't I watch more Kids in the Hall back in the day? Tea lovers MUST watch; everyone else is strongly encouraged to do so:

-- More than 3 months after our return from Oxford, I FINALLY have photos online at Flickr. I posted some of them on the blog a while back, but if you're desperately in need of a distraction -- and want to see, among other things, photos from film locations for movies like Pride & Prejudice '05 and Jane Eyre '11 -- you should check out my Oxford 2011 photo collection.

Here's a little preview -- can you guess what this is?

-- As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been watching 1930s movies as research for a certain project, and I can highly recommend 1932's Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Grand Hotel.

Yes, the performances will seem quite broad by today's standards (and I confess to getting annoyed with Garbo's stagey wriggling and hand-fluttering), but the cinematography is pretty spectacular, the script -- which features a shocking twist I totally didn't see coming -- is nuanced, and Lionel Barrymore's penultimate scene with Joan Crawford brought me to tears.

Joan Crawford, seen above in a charming scene with John Barrymore, was SEXY. I vaguely remembered her as the "Mommy Dearest" psycho-lady, but watching her in this film was a revelation. I'd love to see more of her early work -- any recommendations?

[Next up on the 1930s film queue: Design for Living!]

Happy Monday, everyone!

Weekend discoveries

2011-11-21T07:58:00.001-06:00

-- On Saturday Anjali Banerjee posted a link to this wonderful video on Facebook. Stick with it to the 30 second point and I promise you won't be disappointed. Oh, and please click the full screen icon for optimum viewing. :)

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

-- Yesterday I watched two 1935 films as research for a certain project. First up was Katherine Hepburn in Alice Adams, which I must confess I did not like at all. (And I'm a huge Hepburn fan.) Fortunately, the next selection was much better -- the original 39 Steps directed by Alfred Hitchcock. LOVED it! I was glued to the TV and even had to rewind a few times to fully admire Hitchcock's signature match cuts and quirky framing of shots. This film had a more credible script (in my opinion) than the recent TV adaptation starring Rupert Penry-Jones. (It definitely offered more roles for women -- I can think of at least 4 memorable female characters.)

Best of all was lovely Robert Donat, with his floppy hair and fetching guyliner -- my latest dead actor crush!

Revenant art!

2011-11-14T07:05:00.001-06:00

A while back, I featured Audrey Eclectic as a Friday Favorite. I loved her Jane Eyre mug, and found inspiration for my writing in her painting, "An Old-Fashioned Romance." I nurtured a little fantasy that Heather, the artist behind Audrey Eclectic, might paint something for The Revenant. When I approached her with the idea, she was very enthusiastic. Hooray!

I was overjoyed by the results:

I love Willie's wispy hair and light smattering of freckles. You can see Seminary Hall and various students in the background (including a certain forbidden boy). Heather featured the painting on her blog, and you'll find a much better photo there.

Heather also created a postcard for me:

Here's the front with the lovely Victorian border.

And the back, featuring one of my photos of Seminary Hall.

*happy sigh*

To see more of Heather's work, including holiday-themed art and greeting cards, please visit the Audrey Eclectic page at Etsy. To learn more about her inspirations and latest projects, follow her blog. I'm so delighted that this talented Oklahoma artist enjoyed my book and was willing to create such a beautifully folksy piece for me!

Beach or Forest?

2011-11-07T06:32:00.000-06:00

Steve travels a lot for work, and now that I have this full-time author gig (fingers crossed it lasts), I like to join him as much as possible. This past week we visited two very different places.

The first was Palm Beach, Florida. This view was steps away from the back entrance of the hotel.

Here you see the private beach. Can you also see the red flags near the center of the photo? (Click to enlarge) No swimming allowed that day. Too windy, I guess?

On the whole, I've decided I'm not a big fan of beaches or beach resorts. I'm actually rather repelled by the idea of reclining in a beach chair and baking in the sun all day. Walking along the shore is another matter, but at this location it just wasn't possible. I prefer a rocky Cornish beach or something like Half Moon Bay in early spring. Cool humidity and dramatic scenery (sans palm trees) for me, please.

We returned from Florida very late on Wednesday and left the next day for Fayetteville, Arkansas. Now this was more my style! Northwest Arkansas is gorgeous in the fall. The morning after Steve gave his talk at the U of A law school, we went in search of a park where we could get up close and personal with the fall foliage.

Devil's Den State Park fit the bill perfectly. If you know me at all, you know how much I love a wooded walk. If only I could bottle the true scent of a forest -- it's so lovely.

I long for color like this in central Oklahoma.

On our way back to the interstate I made Steve pull over so I could take this photo.

So how about you? Beach or forest?

P.S. Yes, we did have a 5.6 earthquake Saturday night. Very freaky, but our house seems to have held up okay. I had to laugh when I saw the footage of Kirk Herbstreit doing his College Gameday reporting from the OSU campus. Gotta love those bug eyes as the quake hits.

Halloween Memories Giveaway -- WINNER

2011-10-31T17:09:00.000-05:00

I can't express how much I enjoyed reading all your Halloween memories! They were funny and poignant, and your photos made my day.

I used Random.org as usual and this time around Angel's number came up. Congratulations, Angel!

Stay tuned for future giveaways! And thanks so much for participating. :D

Haunted Seminary Tour

2011-10-31T07:20:00.001-05:00

This past Friday I met up with pals Brandi, Martha and Karen for the Haunted Seminary Tours in Tahlequah. I was scheduled to do a reading, accompany the first tour and sign books, but it felt more like a visit to an old friend than an "author appearance." Now that it's behind me, I can tell you that returning to the setting of The Revenant on a dark and chilly October night was the perfect way to celebrate Halloween!

How can you not love Seminary Hall in all her spooktacular evening glory? To those familiar with the book -- Willie's room is in the right turret, second floor. We had to laugh because the lights were on, but on the wrong side. And yet, do you notice a funky light in Willie's window? Or is that just me? (Click to embiggen) I know the right turret was completely dark when I took this picture.

Karen, Brandi and Martha admire Seminary Hall at night. So atmospheric! (Notice statue of Sequoyah behind them.)

Posing with Martha and Karen (& the book!).

Marie Madison, graduate student in English at Northeastern State University, was my contact for this event. Proceeds from the Haunted Seminary Tours enable NSU grad students to attend professional conferences and present papers. As a former starving grad student, I'm all for that!

You guys, I PHOTOGRAPHED AN ORB! A GHOSTLY ORB!

Okay, maybe it was just a flash effect, but Brandi (& others) heard ghostly typewriter sounds on the third floor. Apparently, many of the hauntings at Seminary Hall are auditory.

This is my favorite part -- I remembered it well from the first tour I attended over 2 years ago. Our guide shared the story of a professor who was alone on the third floor and heard someone running up and down the hall, but she could never catch the offender. Apparently, this is one of the most common auditory hauntings. Years ago, when the wiring above the drop ceiling was getting an upgrade, these footprints were discovered on the original plaster ceiling. Aren't they creepy? Is this a ghostly residue of the primaries who once ran up and down the halls?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!

(I will announce the winner of the signed copies of BLOOD MAGIC, HEREAFTER, and THE REVENANT later today!)

Halloween Memories GIVEAWAY

2011-10-26T08:26:00.001-05:00

Today I am offering up three signed books -- with swag -- for a giveaway! And it's open to international entrants!

This past weekend, I asked Tessa Gratton and Tara Hudson to sign their spooky books especially for this giveaway, and I'm happy to add my own book to the prize pack. All you have to do to enter is share a Halloween memory.

Don't know what to share? Here are some of my Halloween memories as examples:

-- I was four years old for my first trick-or-treat outing. I remember that it was chilly and drizzling, and that I cried a lot. Turns out I had a fever. Oh, and the paper bag I used for gathering candy had a hole in it, so all my candy fell out on the way home.

-- When I was in grade school, my mom made a fabulous "headless horseman" costume for me. It had padded shoulders and a really high collar to hide my head. Mom fashioned a veil within the collar, so people wouldn't be able to see my face. We failed to consider how this would limit my ability to see where I was going. I ended up getting stuck in a bush when my veil was snagged by the spiky branches.

-- A year or two later, my stepfather took me trick-or-treating. He parked the truck on an incline and hopped out to walk me to the door of the first house on the street. For some reason, I left the passenger door wide-open. We visited several houses, and I claimed plenty of candy, but when we got back to the street, the truck was not where he'd parked it. In fact, it had slipped out of gear and rolled down the street, bending the open passenger door all the way back in the process. When my stepfather tried to bend the door into its proper position, it fell off. He pretty much lost his cool at that point, and Halloween came to an abrupt end.

-- I finally shook off this trick-or-treating curse in 8th grade. Maybe we were too old for it, but my friends and I dressed up and went door-to-door anyway. We HAULED in the candy. Afterwards we had a sleepover and stayed up all night playing poker with that candy. Finally -- a fun Halloween!

But wait, there's more!

When I was in grad school at the University of Kansas, I dressed up as a TriDelt. (Does anyone remember the Saturday Night Live skit -- "Delta, Delta, Delta, can I help ya, help ya, help ya?" Here's a terrible video if you don't.) Yeah, it was just an excuse to wear lots of makeup, make my hair REAL BIG, and say "Oh. My. God." a lot.

When I was in grad school at the University of Wisconsin (hey, I liked grad school), Steve and I dressed up as Pepe le Pew and Penelope. Unfortunately, the people of Madison mistook Steve for Bucky Badger. At least that's what they shouted from their car windows as we walked down the street.

If you'd like to win signed copies of BLOOD MAGIC, HEREAFTER, and THE REVENANT, all you have to do is share a Halloween memory in the comments. Gain an extra entry by tweeting the giveaway (make sure you include @soniagensler in your tweet so that I see it!). You can gain 5 EXTRA ENTRIES by sharing a photo related to your Halloween memory in your comment (a link is okay, but it would be cool if you could embed the photo).

You have until 8 AM Halloween morning (central time) to enter. I will announce the winner shortly thereafter. Like I said above, this giveaway is open to international entrants. I can't wait to read your Halloween stories!

TV Tuesday -- Rippermania

2011-10-25T08:09:00.000-05:00

I'm reading Maureen Johnson's The Name of the Star, which is about an American girl who goes to boarding school in London's Whitechapel neighborhood (a boarding school, you guys!) just as a killer starts copycatting the Jack the Ripper murders. Excellent stuff!

How appropriate is it that, starting tomorrow night, BBCAmerica is airing the 2009 series Whitechapel? And how lovely that it stars one of my favorite imaginary boyfriends, Rupert Penry-Jones? VERY appropriate and lovely!

Here's what Entertainment Weekly has to say in their A- review:

This gripping BBC drama is a Sherlock Holmes mystery for the Homicide generation. As the murder rate in London's Whitechapel neighbhorhood rises, two detectives (Rupert Penry-Jones and Phil Davis) track a serial killer who seems to be modelling himself after Jack the Ripper. Prepare for gullet slicing, blood spurting, cop-versus-cop conflict, and more blood spurting. We can't get enough.

Will you think less of me for thinking "YAY, blood and gore and Rupert Penry-Jones!"?

Anyone else planning to watch?

Weekend recap

2011-10-24T08:05:00.001-05:00

Had a great time with Tara Hudson, Tessa Gratton and Natalie Parker this weekend. Our events at Full Circle Bookstore and Norman Public Library were intimate and lively.

Clever Natalie created a banner from a photo she took at Full Circle Bookstore -- yay!

We chatted for quite a while with the group at Norman Public Library. I love Tessa's mischievous expression here -- I think she's channeling Josephine from BLOOD MAGIC.

Ha ha!

Today I am ever so grateful for independent bookstores, local libraries, and author friends.

Stay tuned for a giveaway!

Writerly weekend with a spooky twist!

2011-10-21T09:19:00.001-05:00

This weekend Tara Hudson, Tessa Gratton, and I will be appearing at two events in central Oklahoma. Here are the details:

Saturday at 3 pm -- Full Circle Bookstore, 50 Penn Place, 1900 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City

"Supernatural Extravaganza!!!! Full Circle proudly presents three of Oklahoma’s premier authors in their first ever joint book signing! Young adult fiction authors, Tara Hudson, Hereafter; Tessa Gratton, Blood Magic; and Sonia Gensler, Revenant, will sign copies of their thrillers in the café. Join us if you dare!!!"

(Hey, they made Tessa an honorary Oklahoman. Actually, she's from Kansas, but Oklahoma is proud to have her!)

Sunday at 2 pm -- Norman Public Library, 225 N. Webster Ave, Norman, OK.

"Tales of ghosts and ghouls will fill the air of the Norman Public Library, with three paranormal fiction authors coming to the library to share their stories.

The library will host authors Tessa Gratton, Tara Hudson and Sonia Gensler at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, in Room A/B of the library, 225 N. Webster Ave." Check this link for more details.

Hope to see you soon!

Photos from my TN weekend

2011-10-19T06:52:00.001-05:00

Today I'm visiting Creative Writing students at Edmond Memorial High School, at the invitation of my dear friend and crit partner Kelly Bristow. I'm so excited!

This past weekend I was in TN for the Southern Festival of Books. Originally I planned to hit the road Tuesday morning (I had everything packed and audio books ready to go), but Monday night the STOMACH FLU OF DOOM struck. Sadly, the trip was cut short -- I had to fly in and out and therefore didn't get to see all the people I would have liked to see. Still, it was a pretty awesome trip. Here, let me show you . . .

My panel with Victoria Schwab was a blast! Also enjoyed panels/presentations with Myra McEntire, Ruta Sepetys, and Charles Frazier, and it was nice to visit for a bit with fellow Elevensie Karyn Henley.

One of the best things about the day was spending it with my dear friend of 30+ years, DeAnne. Thanks for coming, De! (Her brother took this photo -- I hadn't seen him in over a decade.)

On Sunday I drove out to Stewart County and spent the afternoon with my mom, stepfather, brother, and nieces. This is Shelby, who is in third grade and apparently likes to be coy/mysterious for her photos opps.

And here's Samantha, who is in pre-K this year and doesn't run away from my camera anymore. My girls are growing up!

To conclude, I just had to share a photo of my dad's crazy amazing driveway. Sometimes I think we have pretty trees in Oklahoma, and then I go to TN and see ACTUAL trees. Wow!

This weekend Tessa Gratton, Tara Hudson and I will be doing fun authorly things in Oklahoma City and Norman -- check the sidebar for details. We'd love to see you!

Bulletproof kinks revisited

2011-10-14T07:39:00.000-05:00

I first posted this 2+ years ago on Livejournal. I'm revisiting the topic today because I'll be visiting a high school next week and would LOVE to have more examples from writers out there. (And for those of you worried about the delicate sensibilities of teens (heh), rest assured that there's nothing really "kinky" about these kinks -- I just like to use the term because 1) it's the term, and 2) it always grabs the attention of my audience.)
__________

June 19, 2009

I love the term "bulletproof kink."

I first heard it in reference to fanfiction, or maybe tv show storylines, but to me it resonates for all fiction -- what I read, watch, and what I write.

According to Fanlore, "a bulletproof kink is a story element a fanfiction reader likes or is turned on by regardless of poor writing quality, implausibility, or unsavory plot elements. Perhaps suprisingly, given the sexual origin of the word kink, many bulletproof kinks are story tropes unrelated to (or incidental to) sex."

According to writer Nancy Kay Shapiro, it is "a shorthand designation for the kind of narrative, situation, characters, setting, theme that's irresistibly compelling, that makes a story idea go for the writer—and hopefully, the reader too. It's the kind of story you're drawn to, that you want to be immersed in, as writer or reader."

Here are five of my bulletproof kinks:

1. situation -- a character in love with someone who is in love with someone else. (I have three of these in my new story. And one of the someone elses is dead!)--(But NOT a zombie.) Favorite examples: Twelfth Night (which features a perfect love triangle!), Cyrano de Bergerac, Ivanhoe, and lots more I can't think of right now.

2. setting -- boarding schools, particularly of the 19th century finishing school variety (as in A Great and Terrible Beauty). But I also love fantasy versions (Harry Potter), and contemporary versions (Jellicoe Road, Looking for Alaska, and Prep.) For me, you can't go wrong when you pile a bunch of kids together in a faraway school and replace the parents with a small group of disgruntled teachers.

3. setting -- English country houses. Whether pristine or crumbling, the remote country house is the perfect setting for romance, mystery, and murder. Think Jane Eyre, Rebecca, Fingersmith, and all those pulpy gothic romances you used to devour when you should have been doing your homework/housework. A recent YA favorite of mine is Linda Newbery's Set in Stone.

4. character -- the governess. Whether she's demonized, marginalized, or eroticized, I just love a governess. Not really a servant, but certainly not part of the family, she's caught in between and this makes for great conflict! Favorites: Jane Eyre, Agnes Grey, Turn of the Screw (Why can't I think of more books? Help!), films like The Governess and Firelight.

5. theme -- hauntings (or would you say "hauntedness"?). I love everything from hauntings by ghosts to characters who are haunted by dark secrets, evil deeds, unrequited loves, etc. A great example is Sarah Waters' latest, The Little Stranger. What exactly is haunting Hundreds Hall? (I hope someone will discuss this with me soon, before I forget the details of the story!)

Most of these kinks can be tied into my obsession with Gothic, of course.
__________

So . . . all you writers out there -- what are some of your bullet-proof kinks as a reader? Do you see them popping up in your own writing? (I have used ALL of the above in my writing, btw!) If you'd like to read the responses to my original post for inspiration, go here.

Getting on with it

2011-10-10T07:22:00.002-05:00

Last week when I was searching Livejournal for a photo I'd posted long ago, I came across an old "WOE IS ME" post. Reading it again nearly three years later, I had to laugh. I was whining pathetically in this post, but I also was spot on with my predictions:

All right, so my book is on submission right now and it is pure torture to wait for news. I am getting crazier each day and this morning it struck me that I'm verging into a mild depression.

And you know what? Even if the planets align, God smiles down from heaven, and miracle of miracles my book actually sells (*knocks on wood*) -- this worrying WILL NEVER END! Because I will worry about edits. And I will worry about cover art. And I will worry about publicity. And then when it's out I will worry about bad reviews and my friends hating it and whether or not it's even on bookstore shelves, and whether or not it's selling at all.

So I just need to GET A GRIP. This is me telling myself to GET OVER IT. This submission thing is out of my hands right now. What I need to do is buckle down and get my outline hammered out for the next story. That much is in my control. This maudlin crap has GOT TO STOP!

Yeah.

(By the way, that book didn't sell, so it's a good thing I DID hammer out the next story. Desperation is a great motivator.)

My muse has been quiet lately. Perhaps it's been drowned out by all the doubting, worrying voices in my head. Thank goodness for writing conferences because I really needed some inspiration to kick me in the butt. This past weekend I attended the NC/NE Texas SCBWI conference in Dallas. It was a fabulous gathering of writerly people! Great presenters and charming, passionate attendees. The energy in the conference rooms really perked up my mojo.

Spent some quality time with my agent Jennifer Laughran AND stalked her during her presentations.

Saw the fabulous Tammi Sauer give her keynote speech, "Just Do It! Channeling Your Inner Scarlett O'Hara." (Hooray for Okie writers!)

And I took pages and pages of notes during Bruce Coville's talk, "At the Corner of Plot and Character."

(If only I could tuck these three in my pocket for whenever I needed them!)

Ultimately, what I took away from the presenters and attendees is that I just need to work harder. Write more. Write BETTER. I've been in a lull, partly because I've been doing promotion but also because I've been waiting for edits. Time to snap out of that. Time to stop spinning my wheels, to stop being scared, and just do the thing I love to do: WRITE.

And I will! But first I have to drive to TN, see family, and speak at the Southern Festival of Books. I'm appearing with Victoria Schwab on Saturday, 4:30 pm in Room 29. Come see us, y'all!

Wednesday randoms

2011-10-05T09:56:00.000-05:00

Two giveaways to tell you about:
-- At Confessions of a Bookaholic I talk about my "haunted childhood" and you get a chance to win one of four copies of The Revenant, kindly provided by Random House. Wahoo!

-- My Oklahoma friend Jenna Klein interviews me at Fans of Fiction and offers up a signed copy of The Revenant. Yay!

Also:
-- My pal Brandi Barnett has alerted me to the existence of Out of Print clothing and goodies. Check out their mission. I purchased the Pride & Prejudice sweatshirt and the Brave New World t-shirt and felt smug on many levels. (A nice sort of smug, though, right? Is there such a thing?)

-- Tomorrow I drive down to Dallas for ~~some shopping~~ the NE/NC Texas SCBWI fall conference. I plan to get INSPIRED! And hopefully meet some new people, if I can crawl out of my shell.

-- I was also hoping to see Dream House this weekend, but sounds like it's pretty lame. In better news, American Horror Story starts tonight, and though I missed the premiere I will get caught up with Bedlam very soon. Maybe October won't be a total loss for creeptastic viewing?

Three things on a Thursday

2011-09-29T07:21:00.003-05:00

1. Apologies to those who already saw it on my Facebook or Twitter feed, but I have to share this review of The Revenant at A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy*.

(*Best. Blog title. EVER.)

I try not to post about reviews too often, but this one made me weepy because she really seemed to get what my editor and I worked so hard to convey about the protagonist. She also articulated something that made me see the story in a new way, which is very cool. I am soooo grateful to Liz Burns for featuring the book on her blog! (BTW, the review does contain spoilers, but she gives plenty of warning.)

2. The second part of this post was bascially going to be me navel-gazing about whether I suffer the right way for my art, but . . . GAH that's ridiculous! Who cares? I think the bottom line is that I need to: a) take more risks and b) practice learned optimism (as explained by my dear friend Lisa Marotta). What's really got to stop is the constant flailing over all my inadequacies. That is NOT the productive way to suffer for your art!

3. Looking forward to a fun weekend with friends. It was especially exciting to load Lola and the Boy Next Door and The Name of the Star on my kindle. Yay! Trying to decide whether or not to take my computer. We could probably use a break from each other . . .

TV Tuesday: pleasant surprises

2011-09-27T10:13:00.003-05:00

It seems that all I've blogged about lately is TV. All I can say in my defense is "'Tis the season!"

(I'll make an effort to branch out soon.)

The season premieres of Fringe and The Good Wife were great fun -- and I'd love to discuss them in the comments -- but for this entry I'm focusing on pleasant surprises:

A Gifted Man -- Hadn't intended on watching this one, but ultimately couldn't resist the appeal of Jennifer Ehle. Actually, the whole cast is pretty dang good. This is the best I've seen from Patrick Wilson since Little Children, and we also get recent Emmy winner Margo Martindale as his secretary (?), Dexter's Julie Benz as his sister, and The Wire's Pablo Schreiber as the medium/psychic dude (please let his role be recurring!). The story is predictably schmoopy, but the performances won me over. And you guys, there's a GHOST! I'm gonna keep watching.

New Girl -- I was intrigued by the promos, but wasn't sure Steve would find this show appealing. Turns out that the trio of male roomates make the perfect foil for Zooey D's offbeat persona. We laughed outloud several times and definitely will tune in again.

Terra Nova -- I expected to be "meh" about this, but aside from some clunky exposition dialogue (especially toward the end), I found it pretty gripping. Not sure the show can sustain this pace, but so far so good. (Oh, and I've liked Jason O'Mara since he played Fergal on Monarch of the Glen -- he's the main reason I tuned in.) TN writers -- please give us more head-chomping dinosaurs! And don't overdose us on teen angst. Thanx. (Oh, I hope there's an interesting story behind the Shannons' third child.)

How about you -- found any new shows yet? Any pleasant surprises of your own?

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

TV Tuesday: Brit TV on DVD

2011-09-20T07:25:00.001-05:00

New fall shows are getting ready to air. Old favorites are returning. Seems like it's taken FOREVER, doesn't it?

I haven't suffered too much. For the last couple of weeks I've been watching a couple of DVD sets of British shows from the 90s.

The Minette Walters Collection was my first purchase after getting my all-region DVD player. I'd seen all these episodes long ago on TV, but was surprised to learn that the US broadcasts were edited for length and content. With these DVDs you get the Full Monty! (And I'm almost being literal on that.)

I was a huge Minette Walters fan in the 90s. I read each of these books when they came out and found them utterly gripping. The TV adaptations are fascinating, too. They were my introduction to (now outrageously famous) actors like Daniel Craig and Clive Owen. The characters were dark and complex. The mysteries were convoluted, and their solutions were nearly impossible to predict.

I still enjoyed the episodes during this recent viewing, but there was some squirming. For one thing, nearly every police officer depicted in these eps is disconcertingly homophobic. (They're usually the bad guys, though.) Many of the male characters are too sexually aggressive for my comfort. There's a high degree of dysfunction all around. If you have a tolerance for that, you might enjoy the dvds (or the books, for that matter).

(Of all the eps in this collection, only "The Sculptress" is available from Netflix/Qwikster.)

My dad recommended The Grand to me. (Now that he's mostly retired, he watches all sorts of recommendable dvds.) What I didn't realize was that it was written by Russell T. Davies. Who knew that he'd penned a historical melodrama? (Well . . there was Casanova.)

Since I've only just started this series, I'll share the Amazon blurb:

Lust, greed, and gossip in a glamorous British hotel of the 1920s. As the most opulent hotel in Manchester, England, during the decadent Roaring ’20s, The Grand is more than a building. It’s a nexus for schemes, scandals, romance, and intrigue. For owner John Bannerman, The Grand symbolizes a tradition of luxury and elegance begun by his father. For Marcus Bannerman, it becomes a risky investment and a way to entice his brother’s wife into bed. And for the maids and porters employed there, it represents a possible escape from their hardscrabble past--and an endless source of backstairs gossip.

Very mixed reviews on Amazon, but after four episodes I'm still enjoying it. It's rather fun to watch Stephen Moyer in his pre-True Blood days.

(This series is available from Netflix/Qwikster.)

Now that I have this all-region player, I'm itching to watch some UK shows that aren't available in the US. Any recommendations? Has anyone seen Marchlands?

[Cross-postd at Livejournal]

Endowed objects giveaway WINNER

2011-09-16T12:03:00.002-05:00

I feel so fancy. And mathematically clever. (Which is funny because I didn't use math at all.)

To select the winner of Daughter of Smoke and Bone & a signed copy of the The Revenant, I went to Random.org as usual. But this time I used the Random Sequence Generator to assign each entrant a number before I used the Random Number Generator.

The winner is TayteH!

Hope to hear from you soon, Tayte!

In other news, it's cool and rainy here. Heavenly.

This photo would be perfect if only the face had a huge SMILE on it.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Endowed Objects BOOK GIVEAWAY -- now CLOSED

2011-09-14T07:45:00.000-05:00

On Monday, I mentioned Kathi Appelt's presentation at SCBWI OK, and how she urged us to show emotion in fiction through endowed objects. First, however, she asked us to brainstorm what our own endowed objects might be.

I must confess I struggled with this. I mean, I LOVE things. I enjoy collecting them and displaying them and petting them. But which ones were endowed with a special emotional significance or power? Which ones would I collect in an imaginary treasure chest of Sonia-ness?

When she asked us to think of objects that conveyed something about a relationship, I was finally able to unblock myself. I thought of my husband Steve. And no, I didn't immediately think of my wedding ring or some other bit of jewelry. Instead, I thought of a teacup.

This teacup. The one that he made a special little trip to search out for me, without my urging, when he was in Milwaukee (the city in which we were married). He knew (and still knows) that I love to collect teacups. He knew that I love Medieval/Renaissance/European designs. So he bought this cup and saucer as a special gift for me. Can I say again that he did this without ANY prompting?

I think he looked at the bottom of the saucer and KNEW. I mean, this stamp just makes me giddy! It's so ME.

And thus, this cup and saucer is the pride of my collection AND automatically goes into my imaginary treasure chest of Sonia-ness (as well as Sonia♥Steve-ness).

Okay, so what about endowed objects in fiction? In The Revenant, Willie arrives at the Cherokee Female Seminary with only a small bag of things, but some of them are endowed objects. A three-volume set of Shakespeare's plays might be the most significant. These books are practically all she has left of her beloved father, a man whose obsession with the theater proved the financial ruin of her family. Two of the books contain endowed objects within their pages -- her only photograph of her father, and a letter from her mother. The latter launches the very plot of the book.

Funny how it was easier for me to think of an endowed object in one of my stories than within my own life.

I read another story recently -- Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Wow, ya'll. You know when people say "their love was so epic"? Well, the romance in this novel truly is epic. In the past, I never was drawn to stories of angels and monsters and protagonists who are so achingly beautiful that it hurts to look at them. That stuff was just too much for me. Too over-the-top. This novel is over-the-top, but in a really good way. The writing is exquisite. And like I said, the story (and romance) are epic. It also contains an endowed object -- many, in fact -- but the one I'm thinking of has a profound meaning that is revealed in layers throughout the story. (I might be talking about the "bone" part of the book's title.) I want to thank sweet Sara at Novel Novice for passing the ARC along to me!

Now I'd like to pass it along to one of you. Sure, the hardcover will be out at the end of this month. (Amazon says they're stocking it on Friday.) You could buy it for yourself. But this copy is FREE! And I'll mail it anywhere in the world! (Also, it has a different cover from the published version, which I think makes it sort of collectible.) I'll throw in some Novel Novice swag, some Elevensie swag, and heck, why not throw in a signed copy of The Revenant? (Both books feature revenants, by the way!) If you already have a copy of The Revenant but still want to win Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I'll throw in something else to sweeten the pot. Something good, I promise.

All you have to do to enter is to comment with details of an endowed object, either in your own life or in a favorite story. This giveaway is open internationally. Just make sure you leave a name and check back on Friday to see which name was drawn!

Hello Monday!

2011-09-12T07:44:00.001-05:00

I know yesterday was tough for many people. I wondered how to honor the day without giving in to gloom. Mostly, I thought about human strength and resilience. I contemplated how to be a more compassionate citizen (and less of a mole in a hole). I avoided TV as much as possible.

I also thought good thoughts about kidlit writers. :) You see, on Saturday I attended The SCBWI Oklahoma fall conference. Such a great group of people! I always leave these events cheerful and inspired.

It was a special honor to see Kathi Appelt speak. Her presentation on emotion was so unique and engaging -- I'm still thinking about the songs and images she shared. She's a wonderful lady, warm and generous, and I owe her thanks for the use of her projector during my own presentation. (She helped me get set up and everything!)

It also was an honor to sign a copy of The Revenant for her. I mean, WOW! That was a nice feeling.

There was a bad feeling, too, because I'd forgotten to bring my copy of The Underneath for her to sign. In all the craziness of packing up my stuff, it somehow didn't make it in my bag. I thought about explaining this to her, but it sounded lame --as if I hadn't bought it yet and was just making excuses.

But I DO have it, Kathi! See:

However, I have another confession about this book. I am TERRIFIED to read it. You know how it's so hard to read a book or watch a film in which children are in peril? Well, for me, stories of animals in peril are 1000 times harder. But I'll be brave and read it. I just have to work up my courage. (Dude, it's a Newbery Honor book and National Book Award finalist.)

One thing that Kathi talked about on Saturday was the power of endowed objects -- personal items that have a special power or emotional resonance. (Not necessarily a magical object -- the power is more related to memory.) She suggested that, in fiction, it was effective to express emotion through these objects. On Wednesday I'm going to talk a little more about endowed objects. And I'm going to do a GIVEAWAY.

Stay tuned!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Friday Favorite -- speaking engagements

2011-09-09T07:24:00.000-05:00

Last week I had the honor of presenting at the State of Sequoyah Conference in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, during the Cherokee National Holiday. I was on a panel with distinguished scholars -- all PhDs or ABD -- which was more than a little intimidating. Still, I always have fun talking about the history behind The Revenant.

Here's a newspaper article about my talk. Thank you, Betty Ridge!

I also have to thank Brandi Barnett for inviting me over for breakfast the morning of my presentation. It was very soothing to spend time with you, my friend!

Thursday night the presenters and attendees were invited to a hog fry at the Cherokee Heritage Center. It was sooo hot, but the food and company were great. Got to spend some time with Karen Cooper (one of my Tahlequah-based critique buddies) and her husband. And I finally got to try frybread!

Here are members of the Cherokee National Youth Choir. You can see a short video I made of the young ladies singing here.

During Friday's banquet I sat with Richard Allen, policy analyst for the Cherokee Nation, and his lovely wife Shelly and daughter Emma. Richard read an early draft of The Revenant and was generous with suggestions. Emma is a graduate student at Northeastern State University, and she told me that Seminary Hall gave her some creeps after she read my book. As you might imagine, that MADE MY DAY.

This lovely lady is Dr. Lynda Dixon, professor at Bowling Green State University and member of the State of Sequoyah commission. She is gifted with a warm personality that instantly puts one at ease.

And this is Dr. Ellen Cushman, professor at Michigan State University and another State of Sequoyah commissioner. She introduced our panel on Thursday and went out of her way to make me feel welcome.

It was a privilege to sign books with Jim Northrup on Friday. He shared thoughts and several moving poems about Vietnam during that morning's session on "Warriors and War."

Overall, the State of Sequoyah conference was quite an illuminating experience!

Tomorrow I will be speaking at SCBWI OK's fall conference in Chandler. Hope to see you there!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

TV Tuesday -- a look at fall shows

2011-09-06T07:05:00.001-05:00

Old friends . . . and new?

Returning favorites:
Inspector Lewis (PBS) -- The new series already started this past Sunday with an episode that made me LONG to re-read Dorothy Sayers' GAUDY NIGHT. Lewis is not a perfect show, but it's almost always satisfying AND provides a sorely needed Oxford fix. (Also, don't forget Case Histories, which premieres 10/16.)

Fringe (FOX 9/23) -- according to exec producer Jeff Pinkner, "the season is a love letter to the show and fans" (as quoted in Entertainment Weekly). I just want to know what the HECK they're going to do about YOU KNOW WHO.

The Good Wife (CBS 9/25) -- I am, of course, eager to see what unfolds after last season's finale . . .

The Walking Dead (AMC 10/16) -- this show has been on haitus so long that I've lost some of my enthusiasm. A lot of it, actually. And yet . . . I'd still like to know what happens next.

I'll invest some time in these newbies:
Ringer (CW 9/20) -- How can you not love Sarah Michelle Gellar? And Ioan Gruffudd? (Jason Dohring joining the cast was icing, baby.)

Bedlam (BBCAmerica 10/1) -- haunted apartment building in England? OF COURSE I'm going to watch. I'm intrigued that Neil Jones, a writer for Blue Murder (a fave of mine) is co-creator/writer.

American Horror Story (FX 10/5) -- this second ghostly offering, labled a "psychosexual thriller" (???), was promoted by EW as one of the best new shows of the fall season. Who's with me on this one?

New shows I might try:
Person of Interest (CBS 9/22) -- it's a J.J. Abrams thing, but CBS's preview video left me a little cold. Too much speechifying from Michael Emerson.

Prime Suspect (I'm not linking to website because NBC.com is so ANNOYING 9/22) -- I'm a huge fan of the Helen Mirren version. HUGE. Not sure if the writing will be as appealing in this American . . . reboot? Re-imagining? What carries over from the original, I wonder?

Terra Nova (FOX 9/26) -- I like Jason O'Mara a lot, but this one might be a little too busy.

OH, and I still need to procure and watch Justified season 2. Yee haw! Plenty of TV options to satisfy this addict. :)

Will you be watching any of the above?

I believe

2011-08-29T07:46:00.001-05:00

Steve and I finally saw Cowboys & Aliens yesterday. I went in with low expectations and actually had a pretty good time with it. Yes, it was formulaic, often cheesy, and completely lacking in subtlety. But the explosions! And gunfights! And alien abductions! And sweaty cowboys! Hey, I was quite pleased.

Best of all, Daniel Craig had me within the first thirty seconds of the movie. He just . . . he always makes me believe in his characters -- even when they're doing and saying the most preposterous things.

It's what I like best in actors who play action heroes (and here I loosely define action hero as "one who'd prefer to solve problems by fighting rather than talking") -- that ability to own the role so completely that I always see the character rather than the performance.

So whether Daniel Craig is playing . . .

an alcoholic police detective with anger issues

a drug dealer who wants to quit the game

a government agent with a license to kill

or an alien-busting cowboy . . . I BELIEVE!

[BTW, Michael Fassbender also accomplishes this in every role he plays, in my opinion. Whether it be a demon (with eyeliner!), a centurion, a mutant, or a 19th century gothic hero, I always buy into him as character.]

Which action hero actors make YOU believe?

[cross-posted at Livejournal]

The problem of kissing in JANE EYRE '11

2011-08-25T09:48:00.002-05:00

[Warning to those completely in the dark about the plot of JANE EYRE -- spoilers ahead!]

You all know I'm obsessed with the latest adaptation of Jane Eyre.

I've seen others comment on the lack of development in Jane and Rochester's romance, a lack of chemistry between them, and a general weirdness in their physical interactions (i.e. KISSING) on screen.

I . . . have some thoughts.

I agree that the film didn't, couldn't, spend enough time developing their very complex relationship in two hours. In some ways, I was glad to see much less of Rochester torturing and provoking Jane. In all other ways I compensated by mentally projecting what I knew about their "courtship" onto the brief scenes in the film. Not all viewers had details hovering in their minds from 5+ readings of the book, so I understand why they might feel disappointed.

I disagree about the chemistry, however. The more I watch the film, the more I see it in the subtle moments -- gestures, facial quirks and bits of dialogue. (That moment when he's on the horse and she lays her cheek on his thigh? It's wonderfully intimate, but also foreboding. So perfect!) And yet I do remember, after the proposal and subsequent kiss, thinking "Umm, that was a little awkward."

For all I know, it could have been a Clark Gable sort of situation. Since Michael Fassbender seems to exist solely on cigarettes for nutrition, perhaps Mia Wasikowska could barely stand to kiss his ashy mouth and therefore seems to be shrinking away during their embraces.

But after listening to the director's commentary, I don't think Cary Fukanaga would have put up with that.

He makes the point early on that, at eighteen, Jane is practically a child and has never kissed a man. We all know this -- most girls of her time would not have been making out with the boys in the neighborhood -- but in Jane's case I would stress that the only men she's ever had contact with on a regular basis (who else was there other than John Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst?) were cruel and physically intimidating. She has no idea how to be held by a man, much less kiss him, and even before the kiss we see her torn between excitement and terror every time she's near Rochester. It's not so much that he's scary (though I would argue he is more so in the book), but that she's grown up to be wary of male violence and has no experience with sexual passion or how to interpret sexual overtures. Imagine how freaked out she would be during every moment alone with Rochester! And then, when he does finally propose and kiss her, the contact of their lips might nearly have been a physical shock. Hence, the stiffness to her body and the sense that she is holding something back.

And then there's this particular adaptation's interpretation of Rochester. Since there's so little time to develop their growing attraction, Fukanaga (or the script, anyway) seems to focus on Rochester's desire for redemption. Jane's clever and "unpolluted" mind paired with her strong moral compass seem just the ticket to him. After his early disappointments and subsequent debaucheries, her purity will somehow cleanse him of his sins. No doubt, at this point, he is charmed by her hesitant, closed-mouthed kisses.

Of course, I also like the way in which their slightly awkward embraces foreshadow the fact that something is off-kilter with their pairing. (To me it works much better than the old "lightning strikes the tree as they embrace" cue.)

I find it interesting that, later on during Jane's "dream kiss" with Rochester, she is slightly more open-mouthed and passionate, but there's still the sense of shock and not really knowing what she's doing.

By the end, she is much more sure of herself, and the physicality in that final scene is intense. She comes to him, falls into him rather than shrinking back -- in fact, she is the dominant figure in the embrace -- and I find it exquisite.

Thoughts? What have I missed?

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Friday Favorites

2011-08-19T08:45:00.000-05:00

I know this is so last week, but I finally caught up with So You Think You Can Dance a few days ago. I was very pleased with the outcome -- the winning dancer was my favorite all along, for I could never quite connect to the runner up, despite his/her amazing talent and drive. (Trying not to spoil, just in case!)

Overall, a great season. The top eight show was the best set of performances I can remember.

It was fun to watch the judge's favorite dances during the final episode. My own favorite was not included in that number, so of course I'm going to post it here. This dance may not have been the most technically brilliant or heart-tugging of the season, but it sure hit all my story buttons. (Desire, manipulation, unrequited love, etc.) Melanie is such a great actress as well as dancer, and I found Tadd convincing as the choreographer. (But did he miss the beat at the end?) I can't help giggling over the fact that Skippy-faced sweetie Spencer Liff came up with something so darkly passionate and Black Swan-esque (as Cat noted).

[Shirley Bassey's vocals are amazing, too. Nice mix.]

What was YOUR favorite routine of the season?

The return of TV Tuesday

2011-08-16T08:43:00.022-05:00

And this week it's all about Brit TV.

I didn't know my FAVORITE fictional detective had been adapted to the small screen until I saw ads for Case Histories in England this summer. To be honest, I'm not sure what to think of this. I love Jackson Brodie so much that it's hard to imagine any actor getting him right. (I love Rochester and Darcy, too, but for some reason I enjoy seeing different actors take a stab at them. It's different with Jackson.) Jason Isaacs is great, but I remain apprehensive. And the thing about these Kate Atkinson novels is that, as Isaacs himself says, they're not really detective novels. They're works of literary fiction that happen to feature a detective as the main character -- I'm just not sure how this will translate to the screen. But . . . I will, of course, be watching this October 16 when the show premieres on Mystery!

THIS, on the other hand, looks like great fun. A young Inspector Morse? YES, PLEASE! (And look -- ~~he's standing in front of the Brasenose chapel!~~ ETA: On second look, maybe not. But it's very like Brasenose. Must investigate further.) Learn more about Endeavor here. Not sure when this will come to the US, but there's no doubt it will eventually cross the pond, what with all the Morse and Lewis fans in this country.

And then there's The Hour, which premieres on BBCAmerica this week. Lots of familiar faces in this one, including a very suave Dominic West heating up the screen with Romola Garai. We randomly tuned into one ep while we were in England, and I was very intrigued. Check out this NY Times feature for more context.

What about you? Has anything caught your eye in the fall TV lineup?

Home

2011-08-15T07:59:00.009-05:00

First off: I'll be signing at the Barnes & Noble in Oklahoma City (6100 N. May) this Thursday evening, August 18, at 7 pm. I'd love to meet you and sign your book!

Second newsflash: I'm HOME!

Some nice things about this:

-- My kitty remembered me. He was very sleek and happy from getting such excellent care from my adorable housesitter.

-- The heat isn't TOO terrible. (Highs in the upper 90s, but getting warmer soon enough)

-- I have remained unspoiled as to the final results of So You Think You Can Dance and am now caught up to the top six. WOW! The top eight show was absolutely phenomenal. (I don't know if this is my favorite dance, but watching the Viennese Waltz with Melanie and Pasha is a nice way to start a Monday. Pasha would brighten any morning, wouldn't he?)

-- It's just great to be in my house and back to our old routines. I really am a creature of habit.

I'll leave you with this photo -- a rare shot of the Brasenose College entrance on High Street. Why is this rare? Well, for one thing, it's SUNNY. And the second is that there are no people crowding the sidewalk. Miraculous, really.

See you next summer, Brasenose!

Oxford 2011: another rambling recap

2011-08-08T03:44:00.033-05:00

We leave in 5 days. I'll be so glad to see my kitty and be reunited with all the conveniences of home, but I'm dreading the heat of Oklahoma. And it's been such a great summer that I'm really going to miss this place.

We enjoyed many adventures with our friends this past week.

Last Tuesday we punted to the Victoria Arms with John and Liesa Richter (& kids). From their lovely holiday cottage on the river it was a 40 minute punt -- made a little longer than usual by the fact that Steve struggled at first with the technique. (We knew better than to let me have a go at it.) I wore my punting hat (there is no such thing, I just felt I needed a white hat.) Unfortunately, hats always transform me into a little old lady, but this one did protect me from the rain that began to fall as we neared the pub. It rained pretty heavily while we ate, so the cushions got soaked, but once we flipped them over we were mostly dry. It did get a little dark, however, as you see above. And at one point I was distracted from the scenery by the sound of Steve crying "Oops!" This was what he was oopsing about. We were able to paddle back to retrieve the pole, but not before John ran over it in his punt. Fortunately, it popped right up!

On Friday we drove out to Bourton-on-the-Water and from there hiked about 8 miles through the Cotswolds. Here we are lunching at The Old Mill in Lower Slaughter, which has one of our very favorite riverside cafes. From Lower Slaughter we made our way to Stow-on-the-Wold, where we met program director Bob and his wife Carolyn for refreshments at Huffkins.

From Stow we rambled through scenic meadows and wooded paths (as seen above) toward Donnington, and from there to Longborough, where we had a fantastic night of eating and dart playing at The Coach and Horses.

Saturday took me on an entirely different but equally fabulous adventure. I traveled to Bath and joined fellow Elevensie Stephanie Burgis and her husband (my agent-sibling) Patrick Samphire for tea at the Jane Austen Centre Regency Tea Rooms (note portrait on the far wall). I felt instantly at ease with them, so time passed quickly, and before long we were moving on to Waterstones, where Stephanie signed her latest Kat book (A Tangle of Magicks in the UK, or Renegade Magic in the U.S.) After the very successful signing, we collected a group of writers for tea at the Pump Room. (Yes, I had a lot of tea that day. You know I'm not complaining!) I was so busy chatting with Harriet Castor, Amy Butler Greenfield and Alex Dally Macfarlane that I forgot to take any photos. I really hope to meet up with them again. Thanks for setting this up, Stephanie!

Sunday morning we rejoined the Richter family for a drive north to Kenilworth Castle. We enjoyed climbing over the ruins, peering through windows, and touring the lovely Elizabethan garden. Best of all was imagining Robert Dudley and Elizabeth canoodling in various secret nooks, for it seems that Dudley poured a lot of money into Kenilworth in the hopes of impressing the young queen and perhaps convincing her to marry him.

After Kenilworth we drove south to Broughton Castle, near Banbury -- the sort of place that's easiest accessed by car. This 14th century castle, still inhabited by Lord and Lady Saye and Sele (who were walking the grounds with their grandchildren while we toured) had a lovely moat and garden. Liesa and I decided that we needed to watch Shakespeare in Love again, since parts of it were filmed here and its star, Joseph Fiennes, is cousin to Lord Saye and Sele!

We ended the day with a meal at The Trout in Wolvercote, which never fails to please. Such a memorable weekend!

Oxford 2011: Week 3 in review

2011-08-01T07:40:00.003-05:00

On Monday I took the train down to Winchester and then a taxi over to the little village of Chawton to see Jane Austen's house. It was wonderful to meet up with my old grad school buddy Laura (who is now a college professor and gets to teach Austen, Bronte and all sorts of lovely 19th century authors).

I'm knocking at Jane's front door! After exploring the house and enjoying tea across the road at Cassandra's Cup, we walked to the church where Jane Austen's sister and mother were buried and ogled Chawton House, one of the estates owned by Jane's brother Edward. Chawton House is now a library of early English women's writing. Someday I hope to go back for a tour.

Last year I was in quite a frenzy to capture images of all the Peter Wimsey-related sites in Oxford. At that time St. Cross Church, where Peter and Harriet were said to have been married, was covered in scaffolding. Fortunately the work is done now, but the church has been made redundant (how can this be?) and is to become a historical collections center for Balliol College. We could not get inside on this evening, but we did sneak into the churchyard . . .

to get this picture. Lovely, isn't it?

This past weekend my Dad and stepmother came to Oxford. We dined with them Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday took them to Blenheim Palace. Steve and I had been before, so this time we tried to explore the more remote reaches of the gardens. (It was lovely, but I still prefer Chatsworth.) This is a shot of the palace and its Italian garden.

I like this shot of Steve and the . . . what is she, exactly? It's a lion with wings and a woman's head. A sphinx? It was such a sunny, warm day. Almost too warm -- in fact, we're having quite the heat wave this week. High of 80!

Only two weeks left of this glorious summer in Oxford. How can it be August already?

Derbyshire Top Ten -- a photo recap

2011-07-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

This past weekend Steve and I went to the Peak District to celebrate our 20th anniversary. It turned out to be the best weekend trip we've ever taken during an Oxford summer. Beautiful villages and countryside, lovely hotel, friendly people, great weather -- we hardly could have asked for better!

Friday was Chatsworth day -- we got there just as the garden was opening.

[Click each photo to see an enlarged version]

This is the best photo I could get of Chatsworth because the familiar facade (as seen here) was covered in scaffolding! WAH! This is still a beautiful view, however, and I was thrilled to see the house that may have inspired Mr. Darcy's Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice. (It's certainly been used as a location for film adaptations.)

The Chatsworth gardens were exquisite -- better even than those at Blenheim, in my opinion.

The maze took Steve half an hour to solve -- a long time for him. If I had tackled it alone I'd probably still be trapped in there.

Remember in Pride & Prejudice '05 when Lizzie Bennett is wandering through the marble statue room at Pemberley? We saw all the same statues, but the Mr. Darcy bust had been moved to the gift shop. Hee!

After finishing up at Chatsworth, we set out on what we thought would be a 1.5 hour walk to Haddon Hall -- a walk that turned out to be much longer. We arrived at the admissions booth 5 minutes after they closed. BAH! We had no choice but to put it on the agenda for Saturday.

However, first up on Saturday was a walk along the Edges. It was a long hike to the top, but the great view was well worth the effort.

This was a particularly interesting section of tall rocks that attracted a large group of climbers.

Eventually we turned back and took a path down the hill through what seemed to me an enchanted forest. This was my favorite part of that morning's walk.

After lunch we made our way back to Haddon Hall, and I'm so glad we alotted more time because I needed every minute. As a huge fan of the latest film adaptation of Jane Eyre, I was dying to see where they filmed it. (Apparently four different adaptations have been filmed here!) Here's a passage from Wikipedia for some context:

[Cary Fukunaga] looked at some 60 residences for one to represent Thornfield Hall but settled on the previously-used Haddon Hall as it had not undergone much redecorating. The conditions were very cold and Fukunaga admitted that Wasikowska nearly got hypothermia on the second day while shooting the rain sequence; however, he could not imagine filming anywhere else, saying "Northern England – Yorkshire and Derbyshire, the moors and dales – they look like they’re something straight out of a Tim Burton horror film. The trees are all twisted by the wind; the bracken and the heather on the moors have this amazing hue. And the weather is so extreme and it changes all the time. The house even, Haddon Hall, is just so steeped in history, the spaces, the galleries, they sort of just breathe and you feel the presence of the history."

I quite agree with that last sentence -- I absolutely fell in love with Haddon Hall.

The Lower courtyard. [Funny tidbit -- the chapel in which the wedding scene is filmed in JE '11 is actually in the opposite corner to this main entry, but in the movie Rochester drags Jane outside and up a hill to get there, right? I mean, I've seen the film five times, so I think I have that right.]

The gardens were absolutely gorgeous. We even saw the little enclosure where Rochester and Miss Ingram were playing with the feather (see here and here), but unfortunately there were a couple of kids sitting in it, so I didn't get my own photo.

The sun was blinding, and thus my face is all screwed up, but you can still see how giddy I was. Haddon Hall may not be as opulent as Chatsworth, but to me it seemed to have much more warmth and character. It definitely was the perfect setting for a gothic romance.

I'll leave you with a haunting little clip from Jane Eyre 2011 that I'm almost certain was filmed at Haddon Hall (click the little rectangle to make it full screen):

I Would Do Anything For You
Jane Eyre at MOVIECLIPS.com

Some updates

2011-07-16T12:06:00.028-05:00

It's been rainy and cool (verging on cold) in Oxford lately. This is the sort of July weather I love! But I feel bad for the folks at home who are withering away in the 100+ temperatures. I sincerely hope it cools down for you soon.

And now for a mishmash of updates . . .

First thing I have to mention (as I already have done on Twitter and Facebook) that Novel Novice has put together some stunning wallpapers for THE REVENANT. I've chosen the above for my own computer, but which one is your favorite? It would mean the world to me if you gave them a look and commented on Sara's blog post.

At Novel Novice you'll also find Sara's extended interview with me (starts here) and a guest blog post from yours truly that lists ghostly film/book recs.

Last Thursday Steve and I went to London to see Betrayal, starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Douglas Henshall and Ben Miles. This darkly funny but also painful play about infidelity featured amazing performances, especially from Ben Miles, whom I've only seen doing comedy (he's hysterical in Coupling) and gentle historicals (Lark Rise to Candleford).

We've really been enjoying our evening walks in the University Parks. I thought the light was particularly nice for this photo. On our first night we encountered the loveliest fragrance, but it took a few days to identify the source. After much research, I'm pretty sure it's the linden blossoms that smell so good. As a side note, I came across a hilarious Mitchell and Webb video during my Internet searches. It's slightly R-rated, so I won't link directly here, but those of you who enjoy spoofs on Victorian culture should google Mitchell and Webb + linden tree. (Those who got a giggle out of Darcy's "posh dancing" video really should check this one out!)

Yesterday afternoon we walked to Port Meadow and then on to Binsey (which was hosting a village Fête straight out of Midsomer Murders). Here you see our cream tea at The Perch. The setting was breathtaking, but unfortunately the tea was way oversteeped. Still, I'd like to go back and try a meal there.

This week it's work, work, work and then we're on a train to the Peak District to celebrate our 20th Anniversary! Can we possibly be that OLD? Hmmm.

Have a great week, everyone!

A few Oxford photos

2011-07-11T09:28:00.019-05:00

Last night was the opening banquet for the OU summer law program at Brasenose College in Oxford.

Last year we had to eat in a tent. This year we're back in the Hall -- huzzah!

There was much revelry -- too much in some cases, but Steve and I managed to behave ourselves.

Today we set out for our favorite sandwich shop on Holywell Street and stumbled across a film shoot for Inspector Lewis!

Laurence Fox and Kevin Whately waiting to rehearse the scene.

Getting last-minute hair and makeup touches.

Roll cameras! In this scene, Lewis and Hathaway encounter a WPC, and something about her makes Hathaway turn around and stare. I guess it will all make sense when we watch, eh? This episode won't air until after Easter in the UK, so maybe we'll get it next summer or fall? It will be titled "Generation of Vipers" and should be the first of the season.

Last minute things . . .

2011-07-06T09:35:00.017-05:00

First off, I wanted to remind you to watch Zen on Masterpiece Mystery starting July 17. Entertainment Weekly calls it "PBS' best mystery import in years."

It figures that Rufus Sewell, one of my favorite imaginary boyfriends, would make a critically acclaimed appearance on American TV the week after I leave for the UK. Oh well, that's what DVRs are for.

And now, a few photos from my signing at the Clarksville, TN Borders this past Sunday:

Me and my 94-year-old grandmother, Ruby. Like I said on Facebook, she was a writer long before I was born! It was so lovely to have her there.

My dad's family -- my brother Ernest, husband Steve, me, Dad, his wife Jing, and my stepsister Dionne (a.k.a. "Dr. Peacher" - yay!).

My mom's family -- my brother Jason, Ernest, Mom, me, sister Heather, and the little ones are my darling nieces Samantha and Shelby.

My ex-stepmother Rosemary and her charming friend, Kim.

Childhood friends! Glenda, me, Leigh and DeAnne. Michelle arrived later, and we all had a chance to sit and chat. Perfect ending to a really nice event.

I was so pleased to see so many friends and family members (as well as family members of friends) at the signing. Fellow Elevensie Victoria Schwab made an appearance, bearing a gift of the most delicious cake pops I've ever eaten. Thanks, V! Also met book blogger Shannon. Hooray!

Thanks to everyone for making it a very special day for me.

Finally, I wanted to remind the writers out there that Novel Novice is hosting a fabulous ghost story writing contest (sort of like ghostly "flash fiction"), in which copies of The Revenant are being offered as prizes. Check it out here.

Okay . . . next time I'll be writing from Oxford!

July already?

2011-07-01T09:15:00.017-05:00

Today we hit the road for a quickie trip to Tennessee -- if you're anywhere near Clarksville, I hope you'll stop by my signing at Borders on Sunday, July 3, 2-4. I'd LOVE to see you!

As soon as we return it's time to pack up and ship out to Oxford, England. I am terribly excited to return to one of my favorite cities, but as always, there's way too much to do before we leave and so little time to get it all done. Wah.

In other news, THE REVENANT is novel of the month at Novel Novice -- such an honor! The first post, in which Sara explains how Lisa Madigan recommended the book long ago, is beautifully poignant. Today you'll find a desktop wallpaper calendar for July (grab it at the blog, or see below). Please stay tuned for more REVENANT-themed wallpapers, interviews, a guest blog, reading recs, and more, including information geared toward teachers. Hooray! I'm forever grateful to Sara and the lovely folks at Novel Novice for embracing THE REVENANT so enthusiastically.

Happy Friday, everyone!

happy sigh

2011-06-30T18:16:00.001-05:00

Melanie and Marko did it again last night:

That kiss.

I mean, GUH.

I'm so in love with this pair.

Any predictions on who's leaving tonight? Or, if you see this later, did your prediction come true?

Writerly weekend

2011-06-27T10:33:00.016-05:00

This past weekend my critique group enjoyed our annual writing retreat by Lake Tenkiller in Tahlequah.

One of our activities was to visit the Cherokee Heritage Center, which now features a wonderful temporary exhibit on the Cherokee Female Seminary. Above you see Martha, me, Brandi (w/ baby Alexandra inside) and Dee Dee standing in front of the remains of the original seminary structure, which stood in Park Hill until it was destroyed by fire in 1887. (See an eerie 19th century photo of the remains here.)

Fellow crit buddy Kelly took the photo, and Lisa arrived at the lake later in the day. Part of me hopes Brandi Barnett will post a photo of the entire group on her blog, but another part would prefer not to be reminded of how rough I looked over the weekend (especially after our amazing/terrifying/death-defying tube ride on the lake).

On Sunday the gang joined me for my Tulsa B&N signing with the wonderful Tara Hudson. Lots of lovely friends stopped by, and we managed to sell out of books! It was great hanging out with Tara -- not only does she write Okie ghost stories (learn more about Hereafter here), but she's a kindred spirit in other ways, as well. Hooray for writerly friends!

Friday Favorite: Audrey Eclectic

2011-06-24T06:04:00.001-05:00

I recently discovered an Oklahoma artist named Heather Sleightholm.

I think it was on the Brontë Blog that I first saw her Jane Eyre mug.

I HAD TO GET THAT MUG.

So I did. It was hand-painted just for me. Isn't it gorgeous?

Love the quote on the back. :)

I also found this!

You see, I am working on a new story, and when I saw this original painting, I literally screamed "THOSE ARE MY CHARACTERS!" I only have an outline and 20 pages, and I confess to wondering whether this story is really going anywhere, but now at least I can SEE the characters. This should help immensely.

If you like what you see, please visit Audrey Eclectic's Etsy Page. I'm certain you'll be delighted by her offerings!

TV Tuesday -- spring recap

2011-06-21T15:08:00.027-05:00

In earlier TV Tuesday posts, I expressed excitement over the premieres of Game of Thrones, Camelot, The Killing, and So You Think You Can Dance.

I'll say right now that So You Think You Can Dance, though still early in its season, is proving to be WONDERFUL entertainment, as usual. (I quite like the tweaks they made since last year.)

Check out Melanie and Marko and you'll see what I mean.

Camelot -- I gave up on this one after a few episodes. I love Eva Green to pieces, but she couldn't save this show. For the most part, I found it contrived and boring. After four episodes I started ff-ing through the tedious bits. When I realized I was forwarding through entire episodes, I decided it was time to call it quits.

The Killing -- This started so strong! By episode five, however, the mystery was losing momentum, and I still wasn't connecting to the female detective. (Wasn't really connecting to anyone, actually.) I pushed through episode 8 (which had NOTHING to do with the mystery, if I remember correctly), and then saw the outrage over the show's finale. At this point I think I'll delete the last two eps and move on to something else.

Game of Thrones -- after a very disturbing premiere episode, this show grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go. Yes, there's violence and sex galore. Women & children are constantly in peril. But . . . so are the men! No one is secure. By episode 10, many of the most powerful men in the show are GONE. What I found so compelling about this show is that at its center is a family of loyal, loving and honorable people who are fierce in their attempts to protect -- or avenge -- each other. The Starks are easy to root for.

And then there's this character:

Daenarys Targaryen (played by the amazing Emilia Clarke) closed out the season with a scene that had my heart pounding and tears streaming. I can't stop thinking about her. What an amazing character arc!

Those of you who were put off by the first ep might find this interesting: EW's Jennifer Armstrong asks Game of Thrones: Feminist or not? (Originally posted in April.)

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Launch party

2011-06-20T12:53:00.012-05:00

Had a wonderful time signing THE REVENANT at Barnes & Noble this past Saturday!

So many lovely people came -- friends, former students, former colleagues, Steve's colleagues, and more. I'm so grateful to everyone who dropped by. Thanks for making this such a special memory for me!

I wish I had a glamorous author shot to share with you, but in all of the photos my mouth is open or I'm making a weird face. I was going for a slightly old-fashioned look with the side chignon, Sadly, it looked better in the mirror than in this photo. Oh well! At least my hair stayed put -- the wind was mighty fierce that day!

Next on the blog -- something that has NOTHING to do with my book. I promise! :D

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

The Book Blogger's Cookbook

2011-06-17T06:30:00.000-05:00

I love the idea of recreating a meal from a favorite novel. It's a way of living inside the story for a while, or perhaps more accurately, a way of taking the story out of your head and incorporating it into your daily life. I own books with companion recipes for the works of the Brontës, Jane Austen and L.M. Montgomery, but Christy Dorrity's The Book Blogger's Cookbook is a companion cookbook for recent fiction (mostly YA), and it certainly must be the first to celebrate book bloggers.

The Book Blogger's Cookbook is both inspiring and soothing. Yes, you'll feel the urge to open your cabinets and turn on the oven, but first you'll want to relax on your couch and peruse all the delightful offerings. Each recipe is introduced with a non-spoilery synopsis of the book that inspired it. Christy then explains the connection between her recipe and the theme or plot of the novel. For instance, her "Divine Dark Chocolate-Cherry Cookies" are inspired by the darkly satisfying secrets in Bree Despain's The Dark Divine, and Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, with its focus on the cold of winter, prompts "Frozen Hot Chocolate." Christy even includes a tasty recipe for "Sevenstar Gingerbread," a riff on the name of Willie's forbidden crush in The Revenant. As you can see, the recipes are playful as well as delicious! For each one, Christy provides a clear list of ingredients and easy-to-follow directions, along with a photograph of the finished product. She concludes each entry with excerpts from blogger reviews of the novel.

It's clear from start to finish that this book was a labor of love for Christy. Her passion for reading and cooking shines throughout. You could enjoy many feasts by combining all the recipes she's provided, and it's very likely you'll find some new books to love in the process!

Order the book today at Amazon.com.

Christy Dorrity loves to read about cooking and cook about reading. She was taught early to have a discriminating taste for both books and food. Christy grew up on a trout ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming. She taught elementary school and lives in Utah with her husband and their five children. When Christy's not reading or writing, she's probably trying out a new recipe in the kitchen. (Author bio excerpted from the book.)

Today's the day!

2011-06-14T12:51:00.011-05:00

(a.k.a. "the post of many exclamation points")

THE REVENANT is officially out there in the world!

Lot's of stuff to share with you today . . . First off, I kept track of all your comments during my Five Weeks to The Revenant giveaway series, and the two winners of finished copies of THE REVENANT (chosen by Random.org) are:

Safari Poet and Tristan!!!!

Congrats to them, and THANK YOU to all who entered. You are wonderful!

There are still lots of opportunites to win a copy of THE REVENANT:

☞ Go to my Elevensies Lunch and Launch post and comment.

☞ Go to Saundra Mitchell's LJ post or website and enter to win it along with other fabulous books.

☞ Go to Adventures in Publishing and enter to win it AND a whole slew of wonderful books.

[Please let me know if you have a giveaway, and I'll list it here.]

OH! And I want to point out this interview with Fantastic Fiction -- I had such a blast with it! And there's also this fun interview with CLARITY's Fern Family, as transcribed by Kim Harrington. Hee!

Now, to conclude, I present you THE REVENANT trailer from VLC productions!

Deliciously creepy!

Thank you for celebrating with me!

One day more . . .

2011-06-13T07:12:00.003-05:00

You guys! My book comes out . . . TOMORROW. Apparently there were some sightings in the wild over the weekend.

FREAKY.

Still doesn't seem real.

Today I am happy to announce that Random.org selected the following lovely person as the winner of a signed copy of HEREAFTER plus swag, etc.:

Kit!!!

Congratulations! And a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who participated in my countdown to the release of THE REVENANT. I've so enjoyed your comments and book suggestions along the way, and I was highly intrigued by the ghost stories shared this past week. (A handless girl walking through a cemetery -- that's so Titus Andronicus! And the spirit who jumped into someone's bed? Eeeek!)

It's been a lot of fun!

Tomorrow I will announce the two winners of finished copies of the THE REVENANT.

And there might be another special surprise or two.

:D

P.S. I sent an email newsletter to lots of folks today. If you received it but wish you hadn't, feel free to click "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email -- I won't be offended. I won't even know you did it! If you didn't get a newsletter but would like one in the future (I doubt there'd be more than four a year), please go here, scroll down, and enter your email addy.

One week to THE REVENANT -- Ghostly Giveaway [NOW CLOSED]

2011-06-06T07:00:00.002-05:00

Seriously, ONE WEEK? *flails*

First, I must announce the winner of last week's giveaway. According to Random.org, the person who will receive copies of WARPED and HAVEN, plus swag, is . . .

Lee723!!!

Now, on to our FINAL weekly giveaway . . . this week's theme is GHOSTS!

What do I love about them?

To be honest, I was a scaredy-cat about ghosts for most of my life. As a kid, I could barely get any sleep at my dad's house because I was certain it was haunted. Even as a young adult my imagination was very susceptible to any weird sound in the night. (Okay, if I'm to be completely honest, to this day I can only watch scary movies during the day, never right before bedtime.) The first ghostly film I could bring myself to watch in the theater was The Others -- I watched through the fingers covering my eyes -- and from then on I was hooked. Yes, I was captivated by the film's mystery and shocking reveal, but what stayed with me was the emotional arc of the story. Grace Stewart's grief, confusion and denial, as well as her fierce and destructive love, haunted me long after the film ended. I continue to be entranced by the idea of an emotion (either positive or negative) being so powerful that it transcends death, lingering in ghostly form to haunt the living. It really doesn't matter to me whether or not ghosts actually exist -- I just love their story potential.

What does it have to do with The Revenant?

The Cherokee Female Seminary, the setting of The Revenant, is now Seminary Hall at Northeastern State University. According to local lore, the spirit of Florence Wilson, Seminary principal from 1875 to 1901, has been seen, heard, and even smelled within and around the building. Each fall, graduate students give tours of "Haunted Seminary Hall" -- one can even buy the t-shirt and become a fan on Facebook. That's all well and good, but for my own ghost story I wanted a haunting that was more shocking and mysterious, so I fashioned it around a love triangle and added a dash of betrayal . . . and murder.

What am I giving away?

Another Okie ghost book! Two NYT-bestselling authors have wonderful things to say about Tara Hudson's Hereafter -- Becca Fitzpatrick praises the novel as "a tender and poignant love story with a ghostly twist" and Andrea Cremer raves that it "leaves the possibilities of a world unseen lingering in your mind and your heart long after you’ve turned the final page." I, for one, am so excited to have another Oklahoma YA ghost novel debuting the same month as The Revenant! This story of a ghost who saves a boy's life, and then falls in love with him, is going to be HUGE. And I am offering a copy signed SPECIFICALLY TO THE WINNER by Tara, which I will personally obtain at her June 11th Oklahoma City signing. (Will you be in the area? If so, go here for all the details.)

The weekly giveaways are open to residents of North America only. International readers may still comment to enter the drawing for a finished copy of The Revenant.

How does one enter?

1. Leave a comment that includes a name and some way to contact you. This is really all you have to do to be entered for the weekly giveaway AND to put your name in the drawing for one of two finished copies of The Revenant. And though it isn't required, I'd love for you to share in the comment a favorite ghost story or film -- or even a ghostly encounter of your own!

2. If you'd like an extra entry, please tweet a link to this contest. Something like: Win a signed copy of HEREAFTER at @soniagensler's One Week to THE REVENANT Giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/3s34xrd
(Please let me know in the comments that you've tweeted -- a link would be fabulous!)

You have until 11:59 pm (CDT) FRIDAY the 10th** to enter -- good luck!

**I'm ending this giveaway a day early so I can get Tara to personalize the signature on the book.

Review squee

2011-06-03T07:41:00.001-05:00

I'm sure you must be getting sick of me talking about The Revenant all the time, but I had to share this review blurb from The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books:

"Stunningly taut and entirely compelling, this blend of historical fiction, supernatural mystery, and romance will please fans of Jennifer Donnelly and Saundra Mitchell."

Hee! Two of my very favorite writers!

P.S. There's still time to enter my giveaway of WARPED and HAVEN. Go here for the details.

Thank you to my crit group

2011-06-01T08:30:00.003-05:00

Last Friday, my crit group threw a little shindig to celebrate the upcoming release of The Revenant.

[click photos for a larger view]

There was a pretty centerpiece featuring a photo of the Cherokee Female Seminary and other shiny things.

Revenant cookies!

And here's the entire gang -- standing are Kelly, Karen (who, despite appearances, is NOT wearing a basket on her head), Dee Dee, Brandi and Martha. Sitting are Shel, me and Lisa!

Thank you, my dear friends! I can't wait to do the same for you.

P.S. Go here to see Brandi Barnett's "party planner" perspective on the event. Could provide inspiration for your own "Novel Idea" parties!

Two weeks to THE REVENANT -- Hapless Hearts Giveaway [NOW CLOSED]

2011-05-30T08:00:00.005-05:00

First . . . on this Memorial Day my heartfelt thanks go out to all the men and women of the military who have sacrificed so much in their service to our country.

The second order of business is to announce the winner of last week's giveaway. The person who will receive copies of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS and VILLETTE, plus swag, is . . .

April X!!!

And now on to the next giveaway . . . this week's theme is thwarted love, or what my husband alliteratively termed "hapless hearts"!

*Mini etymology lesson: hapless meaning "unfortunate," from Middle English "hap" > Old Norse "happ" luck, chance; akin to Old English "gehæp" fit, convenient. Hee!

What do I love about them?

I love stories in which the impediment to true love is something bigger and darker than a mere misunderstanding. Stories where, in an ideal world, the relationship would be strong, passionate and long-lasting . . . but in reality it just can't be. Perhaps it is a social or cultural taboo that gets in the way. Or maybe these two lovers can't be together without one of them losing something essential to them or compromising him or herself in a way that is unendurable. Take Jane and Rochester from Jane Eyre (seen above in the 2011 film) -- SPOILER ALERT (???) -- they can't be married. Rochester offers an alternative, but Jane refuses to compromise herself. She would rather give him up than lose herself entirely. Thus, NEITHER can be happy. Bless their poor, hapless hearts!

What does it have to do with The Revenant?

There are several characters in The Revenant who fall for the wrong person; in some cases, these "hapless hearts" find themselves in danger. Our protagonist, Willie Hammond, is drawn almost against her will to Eli, a student at the Male Seminary. The attraction is doomed, however, because she is posing as a teacher and desperately needs the job in order to maintain her independence. Complicating matters is this -- the stronger her attraction grows, the less certain she is that Eli can be trusted. What is he hiding? Will learning his secrets lead her into danger?

What am I giving away?

VOYA called Maurissa Guibord's Warped "an entertaining and thought-provoking tale" and in a starred review School Library Journal raved that Guibord's "absorbing and mesmerizing read has it all—fantasy, romance, witchcraft, life-threatening situations, detective work, chase scenes, and a smattering of violence. Imaginative and compelling, it's impossible to put down." This story of two young lovers from very different places and times reminded me, in the best way, of Jude Deveraux's A Knight in Shining Armor, only with a stronger fantasy spin (& for those of you who've read the book, WARPED offers all the romance without the nekkid bits). The chemistry between Tessa and Will is palpable -- they need to be together -- but how can they bridge their temporal divide? The super cool thing about the copy I'm offering is that Maurissa Guibord signed it specifically for this giveaway when we were together in Salem, MA. Yay!

In addition to Warped, I am offering Kristi Cook's Haven, a novel that would have worked perfectly for my boarding school giveaway (if not for a monstrous lapse on the part of my brain), but also fits the Hapless Hearts theme quite nicely. Booklist said this story of a girl who has visions in which she's fated to kill the boy she loves, "reads like a blend of the Gemma Doyle trilogy, the Twilight saga, and Lois Duncan’s thrillers, and it will find a wide audience among female fans of gothic novels." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books called it "seriously sexy." With its appealing heroine, gothic setting, romantic tension and paranormal mystery, this novel is sure to please!

The weekly giveaways are open to residents of North America only. International readers may still comment to enter the drawing for a finished copy of The Revenant.

How does one enter?

1. Leave a comment that includes a name and some way to contact you. This is really all you have to do to be entered for the weekly giveaway AND to put your name in the drawing for one of two finished copies of The Revenant. This isn't required, but I'd love for you to share in the comment your favorite "hapless hearts" (doomed or thwarted lovers -- and it's totally okay if they eventually overcome their obstacles and get together because that's the way I like it!).

2. If you'd like an extra entry, please tweet a link to this contest. Something like: Win copies of WARPED and HAVEN at @soniagensler's Two Weeks to THE REVENANT Giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/3k4goxb (Please let me know in the comments that you've tweeted -- a link would be fabulous!)

You have until 11:59 pm Saturday the 4th (CDT) to enter -- good luck!

A close one

2011-05-25T14:52:00.006-05:00

Yesterday several dangerous tornados touched down in central Oklahoma. I learned new terms like debris ball, elephant trunk and maxi tornado. A few years ago the trendy term was "tornado vortex signature," but maybe they only use that when a funnel isn't performing as it should. (The weather reporters are GREAT at warning us about tornados. At the same time, you know they're having the time of their lives chasing those storms. They get really excited.)

At one point a maxi tornado was heading our way, but according to Steve it lifted and then touched down on the other side of town. Hmmm.

At least 13 people have died and many have lost their homes, so I don't mean to make light of the situation at all. But I did want you to know that we're okay. The worst thing that happened was my acid reflux flaring up big time as soon as the sirens went off.

Cedric and I spent some time in the coat closet. He was remarkably calm as he sat by my side, but his expression did verge into "freaked out" territory when the wind began to roar and the hail crashed against our windows. Of course I had my iPhone in the closet, so I documented the moment:

Lesson learned from this experience -- an interior closet is not going to protect us from a tornado that flattens houses. It may be time to invest in a garage tornado shelter.

TV Tuesday -- So You Think You Can Dance

2011-05-24T09:09:00.011-05:00

It returns on Thursday! Check out the latest news.

I mostly dislike reality competition shows, especially the ones in which "creative editing" ratchets up the tension in an obviously artificial way. But in this show, the tension is pretty legitimate -- and golly can these kids dance!

Here's one of my favorites from season 5 -- Jeanine and Brandon's Paso Doble.

(And yes, we did drive to Kansas City that year to see the tour.)

One of the best things about season 8 is that Mary Murphy returns. You know, I always liked her screaming!

Who's watching with me? This is the sort of show I love to discuss with friends.

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Three weeks to THE REVENANT -- Girls' School Giveaway! [NOW CLOSED]

2011-05-23T07:26:00.002-05:00

FIRST, I must announce the winner from last week's Victorian Giveaway. The person who will receive a copy of THE VESPERTINE, plus swag, etc., is . . .

Dani Nguyen!!!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered. I really enjoyed the comments and recs about your favorite things about the Victorian period!

Now, on to the next giveaway . . . This week's theme is all about Girls' Schools!

What do I love about them?

Boarding schools have long been one of my bullet-proof kinks in fiction. As I've said before, you can't go wrong when you pile kids together in a faraway school and replace the parents with a small group of disgruntled teachers. As you might imagine, same-sex schools offer even more benefits, challenges and conflicts -- such a great setting for a story, if I do say so myself. ;)

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, most schools for teen girls were meant to "finish" them, or prepare them for society. But later in the 19th century, school founders began to design more challenging courses of study for girls -- courses that were just as demanding as those intended for boys. At the time, it was a bit revolutionary to think that girls could handle such a cerebral challenge, but as we all know now, the girls proved they were more than up to the task!

*click photos for a larger view*

Above you see a group from a girls' school in Murfreesboro, TN. Kneeling second from the left is my great-grandmother, Clemie Shrader. I'm not certain if the girls were performing something (they are on a stage, after all), or if this was just an entertaining way of doing a class photo.

What do they have to do with The Revenant?

The novel's protagonist, Willie Hammond -- herself a student at a female academy in Tennessee -- steals an older girl's teaching credentials and runs away to Indian Territory, thinking to gain her independence. Expecting a simple Indian school, she instead finds a sophisticated institution teeming with wealthy, arrogant and highly educated Cherokee girls. Did I mention this school happens to be haunted?

Another theatrical pose, this time from the Cherokee Female Seminary. There are many photos of the Seminary girls staging tableau vivants for the camera. (They seemed particularly fond of reenacting the grisly assassination of Julius Caesar -- in the parlor!)

What am I giving away?

Turns out I couldn't find a very recent book set in a girls' school, but I'm very pleased to offer a fabulous story set in a Paris boarding school -- that's right, I'm talking about Anna and the French Kiss! Booklist said "Perkins’ debut, narrated in Anna’s likable, introspective voice, is an absorbing and enjoyable read that highlights how home can refer to someone, not just somewhere." In a starred review, Kirkus praises the book for surpassing "the usual chick-lit fare with smart dialogue, fresh characters and plenty of tingly interactions." I was utterly enchanted by this book -- it's beautifully written, funny, romantic, sexy . . . and it's set in Paris, one of my very favorite cities!
To sweeten the pot, I'm adding a novel that is actually set in a 19th century girls' school -- and is perhaps the mother of all Gothic girls' school stories -- Villette by Charlotte Brontë. This novel, a significant inspiration behind The Revenant, features a young woman who takes a teaching position in a place that seems very foreign and unwelcoming. And though there's not exactly a vengeful ghost in the story, Lucy Snowe is most certainly haunted. You'll have to read it to see what I mean! It's not an easy-breezy novel, but it's wonderfully Gothic and uniquely romantic.

The weekly giveaways are open to residents of North America only. International readers may still comment to enter the drawing for a finished copy of The Revenant.

How does one enter?

1. Leave a comment that includes a name and some way to contact you. This is really all you have to do to be entered for the weekly giveaway AND to put your name in the drawing for one of two finished copies of The Revenant. (Of course, I'd love for you to share a favorite novel or film set in a boarding school in your comment, but this is not required.)

2. If you'd like an extra entry, please tweet a link to this contest. Something like: Win a copy of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS at @soniagensler's Three Weeks to THE REVENANT Giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/3m8pe3b (Please let me know in the comments that you've tweeted -- a link would be fabulous!)

You have until 11:59 pm Saturday the 28th (CDT) to enter -- good luck!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Procrastination

2011-05-21T08:04:00.011-05:00

Saw this at sjaejones' blog. I'm certainly guilty of the exploiting the tea break in my procrastinatory lapses.

I must have an especially feeble prefrontal cortex.

I've only seen one other Charlie McDonnell video, but I totally have a crush on him now. Even though he looks 12. (He's nearly 21, actually.)

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Friday Favorite - San Francisco

2011-05-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

**Don't forget my Victorian Giveaway, featuring a gorgeous hardcover of Saundra Mitchell's THE VESPERTINE. You have until 11:59 p.m. Saturday to enter. Go here to learn more.

Earlier this week Steve attended a conference in San Francisco, and I gladly tagged along. Even with the wind, rain and gloom, I love this city!

On Monday I met Martha Flynn for tea at Samovar in Yerba Buena Gardens. (Martha suggested this place before I got to San Fran. The menu was enticing, but it was her link to their tea porn blog that truly sealed the deal.) Martha ordered the Lapsang Souchong, "Zealously tarry, ancient and smoky. Delicious with milk and sugar" and I selected the Gui Fei Imperial Concubine, an Oolong described as "butterscotch and tree-ripened guava balanced with layers of wild rose, stewed cherries, and vanilla bean." (It was AMAZING. At least when I wasn't over-steeping it. Apparently the optimal steeping time is 20 seconds.) You can also see the cherry oat scones with Devonshire cream and preserves on the table.

But we didn't stop there. In addition to the scones we enjoyed the honeycomb, cheese and fruit platter, the ginger quinoa waffle and the squash dumplings. What a feast! And such good company!

Tuesday morning Steve and I set off on a long walk to Fisherman's Wharf. (If you know San Fran at all, you know this was a very hilly walk.) The closer we got to the water, the more the wind and rain battered us. Here we are posing in front of a distant blob that I can assure you is Alcatraz.

After that we poked around Pier 39 and gazed upon the sea lions. This group was napping most comfortably.

I admired this fellow's proud pose. Can anyone explain to me what the posturing is all about? I tried to get a photo of two sea lions posturing side by side, but my iPhone wasn't up to the task.

Then we walked back toward Chinatown, pausing for a moment to admire the crooked section of Lombard Street.

After restoring ourselves with dim sum, we returned to our hotel room and changed clothes for an afternoon of shopping, of which there is plenty to be had downtown. All in all, a great trip -- just wish I was having an easier time readjusting to Central time.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Four weeks to THE REVENANT -- Victorian giveaway (NOW CLOSED)

2011-05-16T07:08:00.010-05:00

Preliminary note #1: Apparently, I can't add. This is why I write books instead of being an accountant. Last week was actually five weeks until the release of The Revenant. I will endeavor to keep my figures straight from here on out!

Preliminary note #2: Before we get to this week's theme, I must announce the winner of Tessa Gratton's BLOOD MAGIC, as selected by Random.org. That lucky person is Jynn Morgan, who won by entering on Livejournal. Huzzah!

NOTE: The rest who entered are still in the running for the two finished copies of The Revenant -- these winners will be announced on the book's release date. FYI - if you comment on each week's post, that's five entries!

Now, without further ado . . . This week's theme is the Victorian period!

What do I love about it?

D.L. King asked me about this recently, and I had some trouble answering -- even though the Victorians idealized everything feminine, female empowerment outside of the domestic sphere was not much promoted. Still (and I'm cribbing my own response to D.L. here), there were women who worked around the rules, such as those who published novels, were professional artists or photographers, or who fought for educational reform and women’s suffrage. I'm particularly drawn to stories of Victorian ladies who flouted convention in small but effective ways, pursuing their passions without thoroughly forfeiting their social standing.

On a lighter note, I confess to loving the elaborate and often mystifying rules of social ettiquette in the Victorian period. Even the prudishness is interesting to me! The restrictions on physical intimacy between ladies and gentlemen work particularly well for romantic stories -- in this setting a mere kiss on the inside of a wrist becomes a transgressive and potentially swoon-worthy event. You gotta love that!

And the clothes! I'm so obsessed that I even joined my bestie Michelle Lunsford in dressing up for the Athenaeum Girls' School -- a summer program in which teen girls learn about young ladyhood in 1861 Columbia, Tennessee. Michelle teaches courses on the rituals of mourning (note her full mourning gear above) and afternoon tea.

There's something so seductively refined about negotiating the events of the day in a corset and hoop. It's almost as though the wide skirt creates a forcefield of awesome around your body -- you are literally untouchable in your elegance!

What does it have to do with The Revenant?

The novel is set in 1896 Indian Territory (what is now eastern Oklahoma), and though this may seem a far cry from Victorian England, the ladies of the Cherokee Female Seminary endeavored to embody the ideals of Victorian womanhood.

The Cherokee founders of the school envisioned the students having the same values and opportunities as wealthy students in east coast boarding schools. (The Cherokee Female Seminary was modeled after Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, after all.) Some scholars argue that when the school began to admit charity students from poorer homes, tension arose between the wealthy "progressive" students and their more "traditional" counterparts who weren't necessarily reared to emulate the Victorian ideal of womanhood. This tension became part of the conflict in The Revenant.

What am I giving away?

Dark and luxurious with rich, compelling characters and a perfect blend of the mysterious and the fantastic, Saundra Mitchell's THE VESPERTINE is Victorian gothic at its finest—at once evoking the lyricism of Bronte, the heart-pounding of Poe and a vivid, enticing voice that is entirely her own.

So sayeth Sarah MacLean, Author of The Season and 9 Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, and I agree with every word of her praise. The Vespertine haunted me so much that I've already given one copy away, and now it seems the perfect fit for my Victorian giveaway! This story of a girl who experiences prophetic visions at twilight is so gorgeously written and lushly atmospheric that any fan of the Victorian period is sure to enjoy it. For more about The Vespertine, please see my review of the book at Book End Babes and my interview with Saundra here at my blog. The winner will receive the book, a matching bookmark and a signed bookplate, along with an assortment of Revenant and Elevensies swag.

The weekly giveaways are open to residents of North America only. International readers may still comment to enter the drawing for a finished copy of The Revenant.

How does one enter?

1. Leave a comment that includes a name and some way to contact you. This is really all you have to do to be entered for the weekly giveaway AND to put your name in the drawing for one of two finished copies of The Revenant. (Of course, I'd love for you to expound on your favorite things about the Victorian era in your comment, but this is not required.)

2. If you'd like an extra entry, please tweet a link to this contest. Something like: Win a copy of THE VESPERTINE at @soniagensler's Four Weeks to THE REVENANT Giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/3rpcopz

You have until 11:59 pm (CDT) Saturday the 21st to enter -- good luck!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Friday Favorites - better late than never?

2011-05-13T11:55:00.032-05:00

First off, there's still time to enter my "Six weeks to THE REVENANT" giveaway of BLOOD MAGIC. Check it out here. I won't be tabulating entries until Sunday morning, so do please enter. (If you don't win this time, you'll still be entered in the giveaway for a finished copy of THE REVENANT. And, of course, there will be more giveaways in the weeks leading up to its release.)

Okay, now for the favorites: Friends and Tea!

My longtime buddy and kindred spirit Michelle flew all the way from Nashville to visit me earlier this week.

We enjoyed a tea at The Victorian Tea Room in the quaint old town square of Guthrie.

On Tuesday we headed to Tulsa for a viewing of Jane Eyre (even better on the THIRD viewing), a visit to the gorgeous Phillbrook Museum of Art, and . . .

Tea with friends Brandi Barnett and Ange Brunner at the Dragonmoon Tea Company.

Here's a clearer view of Brandi and the tea tray -- equally delicious, are they not? ;) (OH, and that's our server Vladimir lurking in the background. He was lovely.)

We had a lovely time! Tea always makes gatherings more festive.

If only my launch party could be one huge tea party . . .

Happy weekend, everyone!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Six weeks to THE REVENANT -- Gothic giveaway [NOW CLOSED]

2011-05-09T07:53:00.006-05:00

The Revenant officially releases six weeks from tomorrow, and by golly, I feel like celebrating!

Gentle reader, I invite you to join me today and the next five Mondays as I share many of the inspirations behind the story. Each week I'll be giving away a recent YA novel that relates to that week's theme. Simply comment below to enter the drawing for that book.

**All those who comment over the next several weeks will also be entered to win one of two finished copies of The Revenant!

This week's theme: GOTHIC!

What do I love about it?

I adore the iconography and themes of Gothic -- the dreary, crumbling castles or mansions, the dark forests and desolate landscapes, the atmosphere of gloom and confusion, the very real threat of supernatural forces, and the general sense of foreboding and mystery. Why is this so cool to me? I think it boils down to how Gothic landscapes are often a projection of unresolved internal conflicts. Gothic showed us "the return of the repressed" long before Freud came along (just read any Poe story for an illustration of this). As my dear husband put it, "the surroundings give form to the monster within." So compelling! (Here is a really fun Glossary of Literary Gothic Terms, if you'd like to know more.)

What does it have to do with The Revenant?

The easy answer is that The Revenant is Gothic because it's a ghost story. But for me, the setting screamed "Gothic" before I even decided to write about a ghost.

In most Gothic novels the setting itself is a major character. This 1888 photo of students standing in front of the Cherokee Female Seminary gave me a jolt of inspiration with its aura of gloom. I realize that the B&W photography lends strongly to this atmosphere, but still . . . the leafless trees, the wrought-iron fence, the clock tower and turrets, not to mention the dark clothing and grim faces of the students -- all these strongly communicated "secrets" and "mystery" to me. I wanted to place an outsider -- a girl with dark secrets of her own -- within this context and see what sort of trouble I could brew!

What am I giving away?

A shiny hardcover of Tessa Gratton's Blood Magic, which will come to you as soon as it releases (May 24). I had the privilege of reading an ARC of this book, which I devoured in about two days. With its atmosphere of danger, dark secrets and barely repressed (& often wildly out-of-control) passions, I'm delighted to say that it fits the Gothic bill perfectly. However, it is not for the faint of heart -- consider the title, folks!

In addition, you will receive an assortment of Elevensies swag, including bookmarks and goodies for The Revenant. This giveaway is open to residents of North America only. (Don't worry -- there will be another international giveaway in the future!)

How does one enter?

1. Leave a comment that includes a name and some way to contact you. This is really all you have to do to be entered for the weekly giveaway AND to put your name in the drawing for one of two finished copies of The Revenant. (Of course, I'd love for you to expound on your personal Gothic favorites in your comment, but this is not required.)
2. If you'd like an extra entry, please tweet or facebook a link to this contest. Something along the lines of: Win a copy of BLOOD MAGIC at @soniagensler's Six Weeks to THE REVENANT Giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/5wbhkra

I wanted to make it simple, so that's it! Good luck and thanks for helping me celebrate!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Friday Favorite -- writing buddies

2011-05-06T07:30:00.010-05:00

This weekend is the OWFI conference, and the best thing about this is getting to spend time with my writing buddies!

Martha, Dee Dee, me, Brandi and Lisa. Just missing Kelly and Shel here -- I do believe we need a new group photo!

I owe a lot to these ladies -- I certainly would not have sold a book without their input and unfailing support. *sniffle*

In other news, next Tuesday will mark the SIX WEEK point until THE REVENANT is released. Look for a special blog post and giveaway on Monday!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

TV Tuesday -- Justified

2011-05-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

I think it was during a NECRWA session entitled "Rule #87: Watch NCIS for a Master Class in Creating Characters" that someone mentioned the FX show JUSTIFIED in glowing terms. It brought to mind a very positive review from Entertainment Weekly that I'd read long ago. The review intrigued me, but at that time I just wasn't ready to jump on a show about a U.S. Marshall, even if it was based on characters and storylines created by Elmore Leonard. (I've always liked what Leonard has to say about writing.)

After the session, Kim Harrington mentioned that her mom was obsessed with JUSTIFIED and its star, Timothy Olyphant. That finally tipped the scales of my indecision -- I bought a couple of eps from iTunes to watch on the long plane ride from Boston to DFW.

Well.

I was hooked after the pilot.

What kept me from watching in the first place was this idea of a cowboy as a main character. Why did I think this would be a problem? I love strong, stoic men who use their words sparingly. Men who hide their man pain and anger behind dry humor and wry smiles. (Those of you who know me well are nodding -- in books/film/TV I never go for the blabby, idealistic ones who talk about feelings. I want the sarcastic and emotionally repressed guys who'd rather talk with their fists!)

Okay, back to the point - Turns out, Timothy Olyphant's Raylan Givens is exactly my type. He's all of the above, but also has a certain gentlemanly quality that is incredibly appealing. (In a strange way, he reminds me of Ben Fraser from Due South. Not quite so adorably nerdy, but there's the same quiet strength, attention to detail, gentlemanly manner, and, of course, the hat and boots.)

The villains on this show are captivating, too. No need for mustache twirling -- many of these guys are downright psychopaths, but at the same time they're extremely clever, charming and often sympathetic in their moments of vulnerability. Or they're just clever enough to get themselves in bigger trouble than they could have imagined, and it's fun to watch them self-destruct.

I'm not terribly interested in the current "love interest" (after four eps), but I won't complain too much when Raylan can't keep himself away from the woman he's been ordered not to mess with. :)

Anyone else watching?

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Salem photo recap

2011-05-02T08:24:00.008-05:00

Left Boston at 3:40 yesterday and got home at 2 AM thanks to a stupid storm cell that decided to hang out north of Dallas all day and evening. (Actually, I think it's still hovering there.)

But I'm not here to grouse. I want to share some photos from Salem! (If you prefer to view this on Livejournal, go here.)

As I mentioned earlier, I joined Kim Harrington and Maurissa Guibord at the New England Chapter of the Romance Writers of America conference in Salem, MA this past weekend. I hope to share actual conference intel later this weekend, but this post is mostly a picspam. Yay!

(Click photos to embiggen.)

The Salem Inn is comprised of three separate buildings. I stayed at the Curwen House. My room had a creepy look to it, but if there was a presence there, it was entirely benign. Nothing spooky happened, and I'm mostly okay with that!

On Friday Kim and I visited the Salem Witch Trials Memorial and The Old Burying Point, the oldest cemetery in Salem and the second oldest in the country (started in 1637).

This was my favorite combination of carved skeleton/angel images.

For lunch Kim and I met up with Ellen and Christiana (+ Ellen's two youngest girls) for lunch at Capt's Waterfront Grill & Pub. I feel like I've known these ladies FOREVER, but this was the first time I'd actually met them in person. (I hope it's not the last!) Had a great time -- could have chatted with them all day long.

During our rambles around Salem, Kim and I ran across Salem's Vintage Photography and decided we HAD to get Maurissa to join us for a witchy photo shoot. Maurissa, being awesomely cool, agreed without hesitation.

You may remember the photo I posted on Friday. Well, there were scads of photos in all, and Kim posted the best ones on her Facebook author page for everyone in the world to see. I'll only share a sampling here:

I just love Kim's expression in this one, and Maurissa is doing such a nice job holding the crow. Can you tell what I'm holding? Probably not -- that blob is a black cat.

Crystal ball woo woo!

We're FLYING!

Now we're FALLING!
(This one cracks me up every time.)

"Witches? What are you talking about? We are very serious authors at a conference banquet."

Another serious author photo.

On Sunday, Kim kindly dropped me off at my friend Pam's house. Pam, along with her husband and daughter, treated me to a scrumptious tea before taking me to the airport. It was wonderful fun! I'm so looking forward to this summer when they come to Oxford for a visit -- can't wait to share all the delights with them.

What a weekend! Hope to get caught up on sleep today.

P.S. It was very interesting to watch Obama's statement + all the Osama Bin Laden reportage at the airport last night. If things had gone as planned, I probably would have been asleep and missed it all.

Behold the dark spell Salem hath cast upon me!

2011-04-29T16:34:00.007-05:00

More fun photos featuring me, Kim Harrington and Maurissa Guibord when I return!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

NECWRA!

2011-04-27T07:22:00.001-05:00

No TV Tuesday yesterday, partly because I'm behind on my shows, but mostly because I'm gearing up for a trip to Salem, Masschusetts!

Early tomorrow I fly to Boston, where I will meet up with fellow Elevensie Kim Harrington. From there we drive to Salem for the 17th Annusal Conference of the New England Chapter of the Romance Writers of America, where we will join Maurissa Guibord for writerly hijinks. I'm so EXCITED to be attending my first Romance Writers conference -- I know I will learn so much.

Exciting bonus: I finally get to meet LJ buddies Ellen and Pam. Yay!

Oh, and I'll be staying in a haunted hotel. Rest assured I will vlog any paranormal activity. (Or maybe I'll just have a heart attack instead.)

Stay tuned for a full report early next week!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Friday Favorite -- school visits!

2011-04-22T07:15:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I talked to students at Norman High School about writing and publishing. I love talking to young writers! I'm always amazed by how talented and driven they are. I polled today's group, and several had already finished a novel. This was thrilling to hear, but I confess it also made me feel a little lame.

What was I doing in high school? Writing bad poetry about boys and fluffing my already ginormous hair. Okay, I did start at least one novel during my teens, but that story never went anywhere because I didn't know what the heck I was talking about. (I think it was a romance between a graduate student and an athropologistist, set in Africa. WHAT? Oh, and the sexy anthropologist bore a striking resemblance to Sting.)

Anyway, I love these school visits -- I always feel inspired afterwards. I was so risk-averse as a teen, at least in terms of creativity. And I could barely stand to share anything I wrote because I was too sensitive to criticism. It's reassuring to know there are plenty of kids out there today who (1) proudly identify themselves as writers, (2) eagerly run the gauntlet of drafting, sharing and revising their work, and 3) pursue their writing goals while keeping on top of all their other school work. Hooray!

By the way, in the above photo I am using an image to discuss one of my bullet-proof kinks. Can you tell what the kink is?

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

TV Tuesday -- Game of Thrones

2011-04-19T07:38:00.010-05:00

I watched the first episode of Game of Thrones last night. I've never read the books -- all I really know about them is that many of my friends find the character of Jaime Lannister swoon-worthy. (After watching this first ep I am, of course, thinking "WHAT?")

Things I liked:
--beautiful locations, sets and cinematography
--high production values
--interesting relationships
--quirky kids
--Lord Stark (SEAN BEAN!)
--his bastard son (I don't know anyone's name!)

And I enjoyed playing "spot the BBC character actor" as I watched.

What traumatized me:
--the sexual brutality
--the heavy cloud of IMPENDING DOOM hanging over EVERYONE I LIKE

Despite this trauma, I'll watch more.

Did any of you recognize Jason Momoa as the scary warrior dude who marries the trembling albino girl? (Names? Will I ever learn them?) Anyway, it seems that Momoa's ticket out of Scifi TV obscurity is playing barbarians. How interesting -- far fewer lines of dialogue to memorize, I guess!

Who else watched? Thoughts?

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Monday book rec & related things

2011-04-17T16:45:00.034-05:00

Lately I've been searching out novels written/set during the 1930s -- mostly because I've been playing around with a story idea set in that time. I've long been a big fan of Cold Comfort Farm (which may actually be set in the 20s?), so I decided to go about finding more novels by Stella Gibbons. Nightingale Wood, published in 1938, seemed a promising candidate.

I must admit it started out a bit slow. It meandered here and there, throwing some rather jarring POV shifts at me along the way, and the characters were not exactly likeable. Still, I giggled at the satiric elements and decided to stick with it. Lo and behold, the drippy, depressive characters began to do unexpected things and thereby grew and changed. (Well, not all of them changed, but at the very least they finally figured out what they really wanted.) By the time I was halfway through the book I could not put it down, and I found the ending wholly satisfying. (I believe I did, in fact, hug the book.) This riff on the Cinderella story is surprisingly modern for 1938 and, though perhaps not quite as funny as CCF, the humor is delightfully biting. I highly recommend it. In fact, I really wish someone would make a mini-series out of it. (Hear that, BBC and ITV?) A little compression would serve the story well, and what gorgeous fun such an adaptation would be!

Anyone have recs for other books published/set during the 30s? Should I try Angela Thirkell?

On a related note, I was very tickled when Gibbons did some literary name-dropping -- Mr Spurrey, who is "lonely as only a crashing bore can be" nevertheless proves himself quite lovable in this passage:

Mr Spurrey, too, was content. The sun was shining (Mr Spurrey liked sunshine), there was blue sky, the Rolls was running well, and at home he had Dorothy Sayers's latest story waiting unopened. He would read it that evening, over a decanter.

Awww!

[By the way, I was excited to learn today that the Lord Peter Wimsey Companion is now available online to members of the Dorothy L. Sayers Society. Huzzah! Maybe it's time to give Five Red Herrings another try, now that I have this resource available to me.]

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

The Oklahoma sky at sunset

2011-04-13T07:10:00.007-05:00

This is what we saw during our post-dinner walk last night. The photo doesn't quite do it justice, but perhaps you can see why Steve said the sky reminded him of a Van Gogh painting.

Does anyone know the technical term for these sorts of clouds?

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

TV Tuesday -- The Killing

2011-04-12T07:19:00.011-05:00

Sometimes I get tired of police procedurals that follow the typical script. Detectives: 1) arrive at scene of crime, 2) interview wise-cracking forensics expert, 3) interview suspects, 4) fixate upon red herrings, 5) finally get a clue. In a 1-2 hour episode, this formula doesn't allow for character development in all the individuals connected to the crime. That's why I love shows that pursue an investigation over the course of an entire season (like The Wire, for instance). And that's the kind of show AMC's The Killing is turning out to be.

Three episodes in and I'm pretty much hooked. Sarah Linden, our reluctant investigator, is interesting to watch, but I'm more intrigued by her newly-assigned-to-Homicide partner, Stephen Holder (played by a fairly established Swedish actor -- I never would've guessed). His narcotics background certainly makes for interesting interview scenes! Billy Campbell (as Councilman Richmond) is always fun to watch, too. The man is simply too good looking to trust -- Richmond seems perfect for the villain -- but then Campbell pulls off these moments of honesty and vulnerability that make my heart melt a little. And finally, there are Rosie's parents. The Larsens' grief is raw and painful to witness, and yet they are so sympathetic that I'm not quite sure if I can trust them. They've got to have a secret or two that's yet to surface.

The show, adapted from a popular Danish TV series, has managed to maintain a certain Scandanavian bleakness in its new Seattle setting.

Who else is watching? Which characters intrigue you the most?

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Friday Favorite -- the beach

2011-04-07T11:31:00.013-05:00

I've never been a "fun in the sun" kind of gal. Beaches crowded with oil-slicked bodies are not my thing. I did Spring Break in Florida once, but my roomate and I were under-age, so no wild parties. Instead we baked ourselves in the sun during the day and watched TV at night. Pretty boring (not to mention carcinogenic).

But I do love a deserted beach under a dramatic sky. Today I'm in Del Mar, California. Steve is a presenter at a conference and I tagged along to enjoy the nice weather and ocean views. Turns out the weather isn't all that great, but it's still pretty around here.

Yesterday morning I took a solitary walk down to the beach and took this photo. At one point I looked out at the waves and saw a head bobbing in the water. It immediately brought to mind L.K. Madigan's THE MERMAID'S MIRROR. Did that bobbing head belong to a seal? Or a MERMAID? Actually, it was just a surfer. But it was a nice moment.

So I do love a beach, but I seem to prefer the ones with water too cold for swimming. I want dramatic cliffs, rocky outcroppings, colorful foliage, and a scarcity of humans. Del Mar certainly fits the bill during this trip!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

TV Tuesday -- CAMELOT

2011-04-05T08:03:00.004-05:00

Okay, so . . . I had low expectations and ended up pleasantly surprised.

[WARNING -- this is a frivolous discussion. And it's a wee bit spoilery.]

Things I liked:
Eva Green is AWESOME, as expected.

The Irish locations are breathtaking.

Camelot is a ruin. You know how I love a ruin!

James Purefoy certainly made an impression. (Lot's "Eff this!" was priceless.)

Kay is a nice guy. How refreshing!

Jamie Campbell Bower works just fine for me as a young Arthur. But is he Keira Knightly's long lost baby brother? They have the same snarly mouth. (Omigosh he is engaged to Ginny Weasley! So cute, but they are BABIES!)

I'm warming to Joseph Fiennes as Merlin. Wasn't sure at first, but he grew on me.

The writers include traditional elements of the Arthurian legends, but put their own spin on them. I liked the sword in the stone scene -- nice re-imagining of a rather stale Arthurian convention. I also was intrigued by how they took the "Mordred gets speared and then pulls himself toward Arthur to stab him" (one of my favorite gory moments from Malory) and assigned the roles to Ector and Lot. The writers must have decided to use this early in case the series is cancelled!

Things I didn't like:
Guinevere. Why did they have to give her contemporary hair and makeup and dress her in VELOUR? (Maybe it was supposed to be velvet, but did velvet even exist that far back? Yes, it's a fantasy, but they've tried to create a pre-Saxon world in this show, right? Oh, and I hate how she's dancing like a teen girl at homecoming when Arthur approaches her at the party. Yuck. It was all yuck. But then again, I love hating Guinevere. So maybe this is a positive instead of a negative? (And I DID enjoy Merlin's agitated reaction when he was spying into Arthur's sexy dream about her. That was cool.)

Speaking of contemporary hair, what's up with Philip Winchester (Leontes)? How can he see through that flop of hair when he's sword fighting? He looks like the lead singer of a band, not a knight of the Round Table.

This is old ladyish of me, but my main complaint is the sexual content. In many cases the scenes had some faint connection to plot or character development, but on the whole it seemed a matter of "insert boobs at regular intervals." My dear husband, being a guy (a key demographic for STARZ), did not complain. I, however, was rolling my eyes.

Who else watched? What were your thoughts?

Up for discussion next week: The Killing on AMC. (Enjoyed the two-hour premiere -- will report in more detail after the next ep!)

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

I saw Jane Eyre yesterday

2011-04-04T08:20:00.013-05:00

Yes, I drove down to Dallas to see this movie, for it seems that it won't be coming to my area for the rest of this month.

(But I think it's doing fairly well in the box office, considering its limited release, so perhaps it will come sooner? I hope so, because I want to see it AGAIN!)

I was very pleased. You should know, however, that I've been a fan of Michael Fassbender for quite some time, so I was fully prepared to adore him as Rochester. Yes, he's too handsome. No, he doesn't tease and torment Jane quite as much as he does in the book. I was okay with both of those changes! He's quieter, but still intense. His relative calm made the more passionate scenes all the more dramatic. And in the end? Oh! How I love the final scene!

I quite liked Mia Wasikowska. At times, such as when her grave face would break into a quick smile (in reaction to Rochester), she reminded me of fellow Aussie Anna Torv. She's small and fragile*, but still manages to be fierce. I loved her physicality and her expressive face. (*I hope, once filming was done, that someone handed Mia a plate of cheeseburgers. She was TINY.)

The film locations and cinematography were nothing less than spectacular.

I admired the streamlined script. There's not as much of the Jane/Rochester banter -- and some might find their growing attraction underdeveloped -- but considering the time limitations of a theatrical release I thought Moira Buffini did a lovely job. There's this moment, after the BIG REVEAL, when Rochester says something to Jane that I'm SURE isn't in the book, but it's so intriguing -- I almost think it's a response to Wide Sargasso Sea, but maybe that's because it reminds me of something my friend C once said in Rochester's defense.

I was glad to see that the script cut much of the over-the-top stuff, but the film does lack a bit of the creepy/quasi-ghostly feel of the book.

This review from Salon.com aligns pretty closely with my reaction, and it's not too spoilery.

[cross-posted from Livejournal]

Insidious

2011-04-02T12:29:00.001-05:00

You know I gotta see this, especially since Entertainment Weekly has given it an A-.

I'm a little leery of the SAW people being involved, as I'm NOT a fan of torture porn.

Patrick Wilson is a plus for me, tho.

Any thoughts?

TV Tuesday -- two links

2011-03-29T08:28:00.004-05:00

I found this via Tara Kirby:
'Camelot' vs. 'Game of Thrones' vs. 'Borgias': Which epic TV series is best for you?
This seemed especially relevant considering my TV Tuesday entry from last week. It's reductive, yes, but still helpful and extremely entertaining. (I have a feeling my pal Michelle will NOT be watching Game of Thrones after reading this!) I'm probably going to take a pass on The Borgias, but the other two are still on my radar. Which one(s) will YOU be watching?

And via Ellen:
Jennifer Garner will play Miss Marple in a new Disney reboot.
A film rather than a TV show, but since I usually associate Miss Marple with the small screen, I'm including it. Yes, I am horrified by the concept and thoroughly agree with the comments. "Hell to the no" pretty much sums it up, in my opinion! How about you?

Other TV updates:
-- Still haven't watched last week's ep of The Good Wife but have already been spoiled by EW and the CBS promos. Argh.
-- Last week's Fringe was partly ridiculous but mostly awesome. So good to see Henry again, though Andre Royo must have been thinking "you want me to say that? And do that? (Still...I confess to leaking a few tears over that scene.) Did they say FOUR WEEKS until the next episode? Wah.

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Happy things for a Monday (+ 1 sad thing)

2011-03-28T09:02:00.007-05:00

Had a great time at the SCBWI OK conference this weekend. All the presenters were top notch and extremely generous with their advice, but I bonded particularly with Kate Jacobs (Roaring Brook Press) over a shared devotion to Omar from The Wire (hee!), and my socks were completely knocked off by Nicholas Eliopulos of Scholastic, who gave a very inspiring talk about genre fiction. (If you have an MG or YA boy book, please consider adding him to your submission list -- I bet he would be lovely to work with! Here's an interview with him if you'd like to know more.)

Best part of all was spending time with my crit partners Brandi and Lisa.

Here we are after having just stuffed ourselves at Abuelos. Mmmm . . .

In other news, I finished South Riding yesterday. Sometimes I feel like I should force myself to take a break from my YA addiction, and this was just the ticket. I agree with Andrew Davies that this novel, originally published in 1936, is "as bold and ambitious as Middlemarch by George Eliot," and Sarah Waters is spot-on in calling it "a twentieth-century classic." I won't bore you with my ill-explained summary of the story. Instead, I offer the trailer of the BBC adaptation as a teaser:

I can't wait until this mini-series comes to the U.S.! If you know me at all, you know the story of a girls' school headmistress taking a post in the English countryside is TOTALLY my thing. And the cast is spectacular, don't you think? I love the idea of Anna Maxwell Martin as Sarah Burton.

P.S. I know many are mourning the loss of Diana Wynne Jones. My condolences to her fans.

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Friday favorites

2011-03-25T08:03:00.001-05:00

Two things today:

1. I'm going to the SCBWI Oklahoma conference this Saturday! Yes, I am a conference junkie, but there are always so many lovely people at the Oklahoma regional events, and I get to hang out with Brandi Barnett and Lisa Marotta. Yay!

2. Duran Duran is on Ellen DeGeneres today. Set your DVRs!

Did you know Ellen was featured in the "Rio" video? Check it out:

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy your weekend. :)

TV Tuesday

2011-03-22T07:28:00.002-05:00

I'll try to be more positive for this week's TV Tuesday by talking about two new shows that intrigue me, both coming to cable in April.

So many dear friends are RABID about George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. How many times have I wondered "Who the heck is Jaime Lannister and why is everyone swooning over him?" Well, I'm about to find out, and I'm taking the easy way by watching the HBO mini-series that premieres April 17. (If it appeals to me at all, you know I'll read the book so CALM DOWN.) HBO had me at Sean Bean, but I'm also looking forward to seeing that cutie from the shortlived New Amsterdam playing Jaime. Actually, the entire cast looks pretty strong. YAY!

Chime in if you'll be watching!

(Learn more about GAME OF THRONES here.)

This could suck and I'd still watch because I'm THAT obsessed with the Arthurian legends. I'm also fairly obsessed with Eva Green. (And there's Philip Winchester!) Decent cast overall, but this is STARZ so I'm a little nervous. (The character descriptions on the website are so sappy that I kinda want to barf. And they've written Morgan as King Uther's daughter? WRONG!) Still, I can't help being excited. And I'm already hating Guinevere based on the few clips we see of her in this trailer. YAY! At least that is as it should be.

Anyone else planning to watch this? I think STARZ has already shown the first ep, but the series officially premieres on April 1.

(Learn more about CAMELOT here.)

Concert!

2011-03-20T19:35:00.009-05:00

The Duran Duran concert was great -- best I've ever seen! I'm already plotting how to see them again on this tour.

I have more photos (and videos) in a locked entry on my LJ, so if we're friends there (and you're a Duran Duran fan), go check it out!

Friday Favorites -- a day early

2011-03-17T09:35:00.002-05:00

Today we head down to Dallas for some shopping and fun. Tomorrow night we see my all-time favorite band play at the Winstar Casino.

It's surreal. Duran Duran still making albums 25 years later? Duran Duran in Oklahoma? At a CASINO?

Ah well . . . I'm looking forward to it.

I remember when they seemed so cutting edge:

Weren't they cute back in the Rio days? I was so young and hick back then, growing up in small town in Tennessee, and they were so British and sophisticated. Their videos opened up whole new worlds to me.

They're older now, but they've still got it going on:

I wonder if Simon will be sporting the beard tomorrow night? And will he be pouring himself into tight leather trousers, as usual? *giggle*

Poor Steve will have to endure me dancing and singing through the whole concert.

Old Lady Sonia thinks "I'd better wear comfortable shoes."

It's gonna be fun! I'll be sure to report when we get back.

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

TV Tuesday - the slump

2011-03-15T11:43:00.001-05:00

My pal Brandi Barnett and I decided we would blog weekly about TV, since we LOVE to talk about it (but rarely watch the same shows). I was excited because I am unapologetically obsessed with TV and will never pledge to watch less of it -- it gives me so many great ideas for my own writing!

But this week, TV is not thrilling me.

Well, I will say that Steve and I stayed up until midnight to watch the final three episodes of Pillars of the Earth. I still don't LOVE this miniseries -- too rushed, too many caricatures -- but it certainly was suspenseful.

Yesterday I tried the first 10 minutes of Desperate Romantics, which I seem to remember squeeing about on LJ a few years ago when it was first airing in the UK. I mean, the premise seemed quite lovely. The Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood as young, sexy, libidinous lads! Sadly, I don't really like the cast and so far the tone is a turn-off for me. 10 minutes does not qualify as giving it a fair shake, but I just can't be bothered to watch more at this point. I'd actually rather watch old episodes of Midsomer Murders for my Britfix. (Sonia = old lady)

Worst of all, I've been feeling rather neutral about Fringe lately. *MILD SPOILER ALERT!* There was the ep where they went there and I merely raised an eyebrow. No squeeing -- it didn't seem particularly romantic to me. (They didn't write it that way, did they? What did you think of it? Did I miss the blog coverage of this?) And then there was the flashback episode, which I found interesting. I actually had to rewind and watch certain scenes a few times to get the universes straight, so that was nice. (Or I'm just really slow.) And then last week's ep -- I'm so glad that Peter and Olivia are behaving themselves and being honest and having a nice time. That's refreshing. But the last scene made me laugh. Not sure I'm that excited to watch Olivia channeling William Bell, but it's an innovative way to push her and Peter apart for a bit.

And I'm way behind on CASTLE, VAMPIRE DIARIES, and LAW & ORDER UK.

What's getting you excited on TV lately? Am I missing anything brilliant? (Haven't checked BBCAmerica for new shows in a long time.) It's one of those times when I think I need a new TV obsession...

Giveaway results!

2011-03-14T10:06:00.010-05:00

Well, you're all winners in my book! So many lovely participants -- you're all very charming and your book/tv/film recs were WONDERFUL. In fact, I hope to devote an entire blog entry to the recommendations you made. Thank you all so much for participating and making this incredibly fun for me. I look forward to getting to know you better through Twitter, Facebook and Blogger! Hope you stick around. (& not just because there will be more giveaways in the future!)

So, without further ado, our Grand Prize winner is . . .

Adriana!

She will receive the ARC of THE REVENANT, hardcover copies of THE VESPERTINE and CLARITY, plus a boatload of swag.

Our two runners up are . . .

Dana Wright and Jessica Ring!

They each receive a pre-order of THE REVENANT, plus swag-o-rama.

**Winners were chosen randomly by the random.org sequence generator!**

I have emailed the winners. If for some reason I don't hear from them within a week, I will do another drawing.

Thanks again to everyone for participating. I seriously wish I could give each of you a ginormous hug. Looking forward to seeing you around!

♥♥♥

Friday Favorites

2011-03-11T06:53:00.001-06:00

I ran across a poem yesterday, and it made me smile. I'm a fan of Billy Collins but had somehow missed the fact that he'd written a poem entitled "The Revenant."

I confess to having hoped it would be sexy and Victorian, just like ~~my book~~ one of my favorite poems of his, Taking off Emily Dickinson's Clothes.

But . . . not quite. Check out this video of him reading it:

Later today I'm giving a presentation to Oklahoma History students (three presentations, actually) on the history of the Cherokee Female Seminary. On the day before Spring Break. Wish me luck!

P.S. My thoughts are with the people of Japan after the devastating earthquake/tsunami. As far as I can tell, my brother was nowhere near the epicenter, but we're still waiting to hear from him. ETA: He's okay!

Four frivolous questions - Kim Harrington's CLARITY

2011-03-09T07:00:00.001-06:00

Today I'm asking Kim Harrington a few questions about her debut novel CLARITY -- which was a blast to read, I must say! I'm already looking forward to the sequel, entitled PERCEPTION. (And I happen to know that Kim has written about 100* more novels since she sold CLARITY, so there's plenty more coming down the pipeline.)

*slight exaggeration

So without further ado . . .

1. VERONICA MARS (which you mention in your acknowledgments) offered us teen noir crime detection with a femaleprotagonist, but CLARITY ups the ante with paranormal teen noir crime detection (along with an equally spunky heroine). What inspired you to go this direction? Why psychics?

To be honest, when I was a little girl I wanted so badly to be psychic. I read all these books about ESP and tried to read my friends’ minds and all that. So maybe creating main characters with paranormal gifts is a bit of wish fulfillment. Plus, it’s so fun to write!

2. I read in a great interview at Novel Novice that, as part of your research, you actually went to psychics for readings. Did they say anything that gave you a chill – any evidence of a legit paranormal ability? Or was it mostly just an entertaining show? (Or not-so-entertaining?).

None of the ones I visited were chill-inducing. They mostly made general statements that almost anyone my age could fit into their life somehow. But it was definitely entertaining and fun! I should totally drag you to one when we’re in Salem together in April. We can blog it! Agree now! Publicly! :)

I AGREE. Can't wait! (Hey, if we're going to be ghost-busting in our haunted hotel rooms, might as well get a psychic reading, too. May prove helpful.)

*Ahem* Back to questions . . .

3. Also, during your research did you find any other “family acts” of psychics? I loved this bit, especially the backstory – the ways of the Berkshire Hills spiritualist community that spawned the Ferns could be a novel of its own. Are there actual communities like this?

I did visit one family of psychics who worked out of the first floor of their home. They didn’t do tandem readings. You just got sent into a room with whoever had an opening. I’d already written CLARITY at this point and was working on the sequel. So I was excited to visit a family of psychics, but unfortunately this one ended up being the least entertaining of all of them. Ah well!

Regarding the “spiritualist community” the Fern family originates from, I did base it off two areas. One was a community in Western Massachusetts that I found on the Internet. The other is the more well-known community of Lily Dale, NY.

4. I know from your blog and Twitter that music is an important part of your creative process. What songs kept you inspired while writing CLARITY?

I'm definitely inspired by music when drafting a novel. For CLARITY's darker scenes, songs like Placebo’s Running Up That Hill, Echo & The Bunnymen’s The Killing Moon, and Closer by Kings of Leon got me into the right mood. For Clare's general kick-assery, I listened to Army of Me by Bjork and Daughters of the Kaos by Luscious Jackson.

Wow, it's a little weird to hear that Placebo cover of "Running Up That Hill" because, being old, I am much more familiar with the Kate Bush version (which is not nearly as creepy and therefore less suited to your needs). Thanks so much for answering my questions, Kim!

Readers, if you'd like your own copy of CLARITY, plus more books and SWAG, please check out my giveaway.

Or find CLARITY at all the usual places: Indiebound ❘ Amazon ❘ Barnes & Noble ❘ Borders.

TV Tuesday

2011-03-08T08:55:00.003-06:00

Steve and I finally got around to watching the Pillars of the Earth mini-series. We just finished the episode where a MAJOR CHARACTER suffers a brutal death. Wah.

I first read Pillars of the Earth in college. Seems like I'd read a bunch of Follett's suspense/spy novels before that and enjoyed them. This book, having a medieval focus, really captured my fancy. At the time I thought it was one of the best books I'd ever read, and I encouraged everyone in my aquaintance to read it.

Since then I've read more Follet books, some of which have made me shake my head. ("Really? That's what you think of women, Ken?") I couldn't finish the sequel to Pillars because one scene offended me so deeply that I threw the book across the room and never returned to it.

I tell you all this merely to make it clear that I'm not sure anymore how great Pillars of the Earth truly is. I mean, I barely remembered the plot details before we started watching the mini-series.

That said, what do I want to say about the mini? The production values aren't as high as they should be for a story with such an epic scope, but they're not bad. Many of the actors are a bit stagey and prone to mustache-twirling, but Rufus Sewell and Matthew Macfadyen (so cute with his attempts at a Welsh accent) are really putting their all into it. Eddie Redmayne and Ian McShane are fine. It's hard to see a charming actress like Sarah Parish (who was WONDERFUL in the Shakespeare Retold Much Ado About Nothing) play an evil schemer who makes out with her own son in the downtime between fighting & pillaging (was this in the book?). Still, she's a memorable character.

And it's a very watchable show.

I think my main problem with this production is how the story has been so severely compressed. A lot of people have said that the novel would have been twice as good if it had been half as long, but this script takes that to an extreme. Duh, Sonia -- this is what happens in a mini-series. BUT! I remember (perhaps inaccurately?) lots of fascinating details in the book about cathedral building and village life -- and a great deal more character development. This adpatation, however, reduces it all to a back-and-forth between the Kingsbridge gang and the Hamleigh/Waleran gang. Our poor Kingsbridge heroes make 5 inches of progress only to have the evil Hamleighs knock them back 10 feet. Rinse and repeat. And poor Jack! His character development is so herky-jerky. He's a mute idiot. No, he's a genius stone carver! Ooops, he's dead. No, he's alive! He's kissing Aliena. NO, she's pushing him away! He's fighting Alfred. Now he's banished! No wait, he's a MONK!

Also, the sex scenes make me queasy. I mean, Jack kissing Aliena is sweet, but all the other scenes just seem too sweaty, filthy and furtive to be the least bit titillating.

But like I said, we keep watching.

And Rufus really is quite good!

If anything, this has been educational in that it will make me more conscious of how I'm balancing progress and reversal in my plotting.

Anyone else out there a fan of the book? Have you seen the mini? Thoughts?

Gosh, I had some vague musings about FRINGE, but I suppose that can wait until next TV Tuesday . . .

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

GIVEAWAY!

2011-03-07T07:00:00.021-06:00

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED TO NEW ENTRIES. STAY TUNED FOR ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS.

Hey guys! THE REVENANT will debut in just over three months. Can you believe it?

I'm having a giveaway to celebrate. There will be THREE winners!

GRAND PRIZE
The first name drawn will receive an advance reader's copy of THE REVENANT, plus swag:

Swag includes a signed bookmark, a super-cool Ouija Board keychain (with planchette inside), a not-so-cool REVENANT keychain (use it for a spare key), some REVENANT stickynotes, and whatever else I can rustle up.

PLUS . . . a copy of THE VESPERTINE and CLARITY, both chock full of mystery and paranormal deliciousness, along with swag:

Saundra Mitchell graciously included a bookmark and gorgeous dance card (see my interview with Saundra here), while Kim Harrington (interview forthcoming) kindly offered up a bookmark and signed bookplate!

PLUS . . . a cool journal from teNeues:

I bought one of these journals in Paris and FILLED IT UP. (See, here's a photo of me using mine.) I'm that "writer" who always gives up on a journal before it's 1/4 full, but this one was so nice because it was compact and yet also opened flat and was easy to write in. (I love that the pages are lined on one side only.) I ordered a bunch more when I got home!

AND FINALLY . . . an assortment of fabulous Elevensies swag:

You will never lack for bookmarks again!

RUNNERS UP
The second and third names drawn will each receive a pre-order of THE REVENANT, delivered to your door somewhere around June 14, without you having to lift a finger! And though you'll have to wait for this hardcover copy, it will be prettier and clean of typos (hopefully). These winners also will each receive REVENANT and Elevensies swag, plus a lovely teNeues journal -- so you will get something now AND something later!

All you have to do to enter is COMMENT BELOW. Easy, right?

You are not required to do so, but if you'd like additional entries thrown into the pot, you might:
1. Include in your comment a recommendation for a favorite ghostly or paranormal book/film/tv show. I love getting recs! + 1 entry
2. Tweet about the contest. Please use @soniagensler so I can see it. + 1 entry
(Here's a sample tweet: Win an ARC of @soniagensler's THE REVENANT, plus THE VESPERTINE, CLARITY and swag galore! Pls RT. http://tinyurl.com/4vnfz8h)
3. "Like" my brand new author page on Facebook and tag me in an update about the giveaway. + 1 entry
(The above tweet would work pretty well on Facebook, too!)
4. Follow this blog, if you like -- it gets lonely sometimes. + 1 entry

To make matters as simple as possible, I am temporarily allowing anonymous comments. Just make sure you give me a name (it's funny how many times people have entered my giveaways without providing a name) and, if you announce this contest elsewhere, identify your twitter/facebook handle so I know you when I see you!

You have until 11:59 p.m. (or thereabouts) on Sunday, March 13, to enter. Winners will be announced on Monday, March 14. ETA#1: You can leave an email addy now, or just check back on Monday and email me directly if you're one of the winners!

ETA#2: What the heck, in for a penny, in for a pound. Let's open this to international entries!

Good luck and thanks for entering!

Four frivolous questions - Saundra Mitchell's THE VESPERTINE

2011-03-04T06:30:00.002-06:00

Today I'm pleased to share an interview with Saundra Mitchell about her latest novel, The Vespertine, just out from Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt.

1. Your first book, Shadowed Summer, was a contemporary ghost story. The Vespertine is set in the late 19th century. Please share three things that captivated you about this time period.

First, I enjoyed the latitude. Instead of hanging out at the coffee shop, my characters could hang out at the park and goof off with a bow and arrow. It was perfectly reasonable for one of the characters to meet another when he came to sketch an autopsy in his living room. No seriously! There were so many interesting places to go and unusual things for them to do.

Second, I love how modern it is. The industrial revolution is starting, cars are coming, trains are connecting cities, states, countries. Telegraphs send instant messages, and telephones are coming. Suffragettes are demanding their equal rights, Spiritualists are trying to crack the code of death, Scientists are discovering radium and vaccines, Aesthetics are brazenly exploring sensuality-- this book may be set in our past, but it's also set on the very edge of the characters' future. It's a time so ripe and trembling with change that it was a delight to explore.

And thirdly, it was just plain fun to write characters who could use words like folderol, gibbering, miasma and temerity in common conversation. Reading through period newspapers to figure out the depth and parameters of the language of the time was like eating candy for me.

2. Tell me true, Saundra – why are 19th century boys so sexy? (I confess to swooning several times for Nathaniel.)

You're going to give that boy a big head, Sonia! :) I have to say for me, part of the appeal is the wardrobe. Cravats are hot. (Are they ever!) Morning coats are hot. Day gloves are hot. And the levels of intimacy were so different! I got the wickedest thrill out of writing the scene where Nathaniel leaves his glove in Amelia's pocket. Oh la la!

3. As someone obsessed with 19th century mediums, I loved the scene with Lady Privalovna – did the details of her performance come from research, your imagination, or both? Please explain!

I did tons of research on spiritualism and spiritism, which is why you see Amelia trying out some automatic writing in the book. (Not to mention collecting gloves and doing directed breathing!) These were method popularized by 19th century mediums. The Fox Sisters and Hélène Smith were serving up seances with these techniques, and they weren't the only ones.

But I have to admit, Lady Privalovna's show was all theatre-- that sequence came directly out of Harry Houdini's attempts to debunk the spiritualists in the early 20th century. He described how those performances were much more like magic shows than actual magic. He even went on tour with an Exposure Show, demonstrating how to produce mystical raps and ghostly manifestations. I'm just sorry I didn't manage to work in a Pepper's Ghost!

4. I suppose you might classify this novel as paranormal historical. (Or do you have a better classification?) Are there any other books or films in this genre that you would recommend? Something that lovers of The Vespertine would enjoy if they were dying for more? (Like me!!!)

Historical romance, historical fantasy, paranormal historical, paranormal romance, gothic... THE VESPERTINE gets around, yo. BUT! I really think that if you like THE VESPERTINE, you'll love THE SEASON by Sarah MacLean (historical romance,) A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY by Libba Bray (paranormal historical,) WILDTHORN by Jane Eagland (gothic!), THE PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS by Michelle Zink (paranormal historical,) KINDRED by Octavia Butler (historical fantasy,) and THE REVENANT by Sonia Gensler (paranormal historical!) However, I suspect you've read that last one. :D

Thanks for the kind mention of my book, Saundra! And thanks so much for answering my questions.

Readers, be sure to check out my review of The Vespertine at Book End Babes, and check back on Monday when I introduce my book giveaway, featuring a hardcover copy of The Vespertine, an ARC of The Revenant, and much more!

The Vespertine is currently available from: IndieBound ❘ Amazon ❘ Barnes & Noble ❘ Borders

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Paris 2011

2011-03-02T06:53:00.002-06:00

Bonjour, mes amis!

Two photos for your consideration:

Is this my last smile before being hauled off to the Cherche-Midi, or am I merely getting cozy with my new French boyfriend?

And what in the heck is this?

Learn the answers to these questions at my Flickr page**, where you'll find my favorite photos from the Paris trip. Please let me know if any of them tickle your fancy!

**Personally, I think Flickr works best when you click on the first thumbnail and scroll through by hitting "next" -- that way you can see the entire picture and have time to read the text, which doesn't always happen when you select "Slideshow."

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

DFWCon and more

2011-02-28T08:47:00.006-06:00

This past weekend, basically one day after returning from Paris, I joined my crit buddies on a road trip to Texas for the DFW Writers' Conference.

Our "paparazzi" photo -- Brandi, Lisa and me. There's a hero journey photo on Lisa's camera, but I wasn't patient enough to wait for it before posting this recap!

Conference highlights:

-- Colleen Lindsay explaining high concept (& saying yay or nay to the audience examples -- very helpful)

-- Rusty Shelton sharing tips on building our digital platform

-- Candy Havens heroically stepping in for Rosemary Clement-Moore (hope you're all better now, Rosemary!) to tell us about the YA hero journey.

-- Kristen Lamb giving us a wakeup call about blogging your brand.

-- Meeting Jim McCarthy of Dystel and Goderich. I'd heard from Jessica Spotswood, Saundra Mitchell, and Carrie Ryan how wonderful he is, and I must agree that he is a total charmer. I just wish I could find his theater blog because I want to follow it!

-- Meeting other YA authors -- so many cool people!

-- Hanging out with my writing buddies, Brandi Barnett and Lisa Marotta, laughing, brainstorming, and experiencing various revelations. I am very inspired to get back to work after all my travels.

Now, looking ahead . . .

Coming up this week on the blog: recap of my girly trip to Paris. There will be TEA and FRENCH SOLDIERS, plus much more.

Next week on the blog: a giveaway of my only remaining ARC for The Revenant + other amazing books and fantastic swag.

Stay tuned!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

This and that

2011-02-14T09:39:00.003-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day, my friends!

Just a few updates -- I will be giving away an ARC of The Revenant at the end of this month. The hardcover doesn't come out until June 14, so this is your chance to read it early, and in convenient paperback form! Oh, and I'll throw in lots of swag -- and maybe even another book or two -- to sweeten the pot. So please stay tuned.

Speaking of The Revenant, I got my first 1-star rating at Goodreads the other day. Yes, Goodreads is the devil and I should stop going there -- I will stop eventually -- but this seemed like a rite of passage I needed to face. It was a 1-star rating with no review, so I looked the reader up to get some "context." No personal info, no Goodreads friends, but lots of books listed. In particular, lots of Stephen King. I thought "well obviously my book is going to seem disappointing to a Stephen King fan" and brushed it off, feeling very proud of myself for being so mature and unruffled.

It didn't end there, of course. I was noodling around on Goodreads again and decided to look at more of this reviewer's reads. After the long list of positively rated Stephen King titles came a slew of 1-star rated books, including several Philip Pullman books, The Diary of Anne Frank, and more books that I really love. At that point I felt a little smug -- I was in good company!

The next day, the rating for The Revenant disappeared altogether. (???) Not sure what happened there. I was a little sad.

Lesson learned -- stop effing around with Goodreads. Eventually I will get legit 1-star ratings with scathing reviews attached. Best to just stay away, right?

Okay, what else . . .

Today I am fighting off The Sick as I get myself sorted and packed for a big trip with my stepmother. She and I are going to Paris together! We've had this dream for years, and darling Steve made it possible by getting us tickets with frequent flyer miles. We're staying a full week in an apartment near the Eiffel Tower. I'm sure we will be very silly and get lost at least three times a day, but it'll be lovely to have a girl's week in Paris. I've only been once, and it was a whirlwind trip, so please let me know if you have any "must-see" things/places to recommend.

À Bientôt, mes amis!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Branson Retreat photo recap!

2011-02-09T10:14:00.005-06:00

I am home safe and mostly sound, but apparently those remaining at the Branson Retreat are now stranded by snow. Seemed like a good time to share some photos before they go all Stephen King on each other. It could get ugly . . .

Our strong but silent host, Freddy the Moose.

He stared. A LOT.

The view from the balcony.

Victoria Schwab and Myra McEntire.

Jackson Pearce and Beth Revis during our first live chat.

Maggie Stiefvater looking mischievous with Werewolf wine and Kraken rum.

Sunday night's live chat with Jackson and Kiersten White.

Live chat with Sarah Darer Littman

The gang during chat -- during a non-rowdy lull. I'm sure you recognize lots of faces!

Julia Karr's live chat. Poor Julia got stuck in a multi-semi truck accident on the way in and didn't arrive until Sunday. Like me, she left on Tuesday to avoid the snow.

Victoria, Myra, Julie Kagawa, and Carrie Ryan.

A productive Monday morning. (Okay, Natalie Parker might be checking her Twitter page, but really -- we Word Warred and everything.)

Monday night Tarot reading for Frankie Diane Mallis.

The not-quite-official Elevensies photo. (We're missing Julia Karr, who left early Tuesday, and Beth Revis, who was still sleeping!) Tessa Gratton, Dawn Metcalf, Sonia Gensler (me), Myra McEntire, and Victoria Schwab.

Tonight in Branson . . .

REDRUM!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

NY SCBWI

2011-02-01T08:28:00.004-06:00

SNOW DAY!

Everything is shut down. Husband and cat are sleeping in. Seems the perfect opportunity to ramble on about my weekend at NY SCBWI.

Despite the earlier snow storm in NYC, our Friday flights were all on time and we made it to the hotel quickly enough, but there were no cabs available once I'd freshened up. So I had a 25 minute walk through the slush (& the craziness of Broadway) to see my editor. It's always a bit mind-boggling to walk into the Random House building. (I wish I'd had the guts to take a photo, but I'm so afraid of getting yelled at.) Anyway, I chatted with Michelle and lots of cool people in the Knopf office AND snagged an ARC of the The Penderwicks at Point Mouette (Eeeee!). After that, Michelle and I went for tea and a snack. Lovely!

That night I met up with Agent Jenn and two more clients, Tiffany Trent and Margie Gelbwasser, for dinner at Metrazur in Grand Central Station. There was so much gabbing and laughing that I forgot to take photos. Good times! Later we went to Kidlit Drinks night, where I got to catch up a bit with the wonderful Shana Silver.

On Saturday it was so nice to hang out with Tiffany Trent, Kathleen Foucart, and Jessica Spotswood -- they are such charming and lovely ladies!

Not sure why this photo turned out so red, but this is Mary Kole, Sara Zarr, and me. I am such a fangirl for National Book Award finalist and generally awesome Sara Zarr! Really, I was quivering with glee to meet her (and this was before her amazing keynote speech.) As I was standing next to her for the photo I said "You are so tiny!" Now, in Southern girl speech, this means "you are so slim and fit!" but I realize she might have interpreted it as "you are a little gnome!" or "you are too skinny!" She is a petite woman, but not miniscule by any means. I really wish I could control my blurts. :(

JC Geiger, Bryan Bliss and Mary Kole before the Saturday luncheon. RL Stine was the keynote speaker and he had us howling!

Saturday night was date night with Steve. Here we are looking over the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink. Love to see the pairs holding hands.

Me, sprinkled with snow. I got several fat flakes right in the eye that night.

Tea at The Morgan Library on Sunday. We saw Jane Austen's letters last year, and this year I had to go again to see the Diary Exhibit -- in particular, this portion from one of Charlotte Bronte's journals. As it turned out, my favorite piece within the exhibit was a page from Kingsley Amis's journal in which he 1) writes a poem, 2) comes back later and rants about how terrible the poem is, 3) adds a later note in which he's glad he doesn't feel so negative anymore, and 4) if I remember correctly, yet another note about how he quite likes the poem now. It was charming.

Okay, so that's about it! It was a great trip, I must say.

Now to breakfast . . .

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]