Read or Write Anywhere!

Hey guys! I’ve teamed up with the YA Chicks and many participating authors on a global campaign to encourage readers, writers, students, and teachers to share pictures of the places -- both ordinary and extraordinary -- where they are reading and writing. This is open to all readers/writers of both middle grade and young adult books!

You can also take part in A MONSTER GIVEAWAY!

I’m giving away a signed hardcover copy of:

At the turn of the twentieth century, Spiritualism and séances are all the rage—even in the scholarly town of Cambridge, England. While mediums dupe the grief-stricken, a group of local fringe scientists seeks to bridge the gap to the spirit world by investigating the dark corners of the human mind.

Each running from a shadowed past, Kate, Asher, and Elsie take refuge within the walls of Summerfield College. But their peace is soon shattered by the discovery of a dead body nearby. Is this the work of a flesh-and-blood villain, or is something otherworldly at play? This unlikely trio must illuminate what the scientists have not, and open a window to secrets taken to the grave—or risk joining the spirit world themselves.

[Learn more about The Dark Between HERE]




Every author participating in this campaign is giving away books, critiques, swag and/or Skype visits. I addition to my book giveaway, I will be offering a free Skype visit as part of the Classroom giveaway pack!

So are you ready?



Can you guess where I am? Here are some clues:

-- It was built for a World's Fair

-- For 41 years it was the tallest man-made structure in the world

-- It sparkles at night

-- You could have (a hideously expensive) dinner here

-- It was featured in the James Bond film A View to a Kill (and in the Duran Duran video for the theme song)

Easy, right? Don't write the answer in the comments. Instead, head over to the YA Chicks site and:

--Officially enter the giveaway by inputting each author’s name and your guesses about our locations. Every author location you guess correctly increases your chances to win.

--For even more chances, post a picture of yourself reading or writing on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #ReadOrWriteAnywhere (must have the hashtag).

For writer prize packs:
--Post pictures of yourself writing in a fun location on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #ReadOrWriteAnywhere. Then follow the directions on the Rafflecopter giveaway to let us know you did it.
--For even more chances, gather your writer friends together and post a group shot with the hashtag #ReadOrWriteAnywhere (must have the hashtag). And hey, since you're already together, why not host a write-a-thon?

For teacher prize packs:
--Post pictures of your class reading or writing on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #ReadOrWriteAnywhere (must have the hashtag).
--Then let us know you did it when you enter the Rafflecopter. If you don't have a Twitter or Instagram, you can email your picture directly with the picture pasted directly into the email (no attachments--we won't open them) AND the subject, “Read or Write Anywhere.”

You can also check out the YA Chicks Read or Write Anywhere lesson plan, available on their site.

Now, what are you waiting for? Get out there and READ OR WRITE ANYWHERE!

#ReadOrWriteAnywhere

Friday Five: Nice things

I haven't been a very good blogger lately, mostly because I'm desperately trying to finish up a revision. But I did want to check in with five nice things on a Friday:

1. The Dark Between is a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award. It's such an honor to be included in this list along with stellar books like Nugget & Fang by SCBWI Crystal Kite winner Tammi Sauer and Mojo by National Book Award finalist Tim Tharp.

2. The Veronica Mars movie is finally here. (And I'm so proud to be a Kickstarter backer.) It's playing at two locations in OKC. Yippee! Check out the trailer:



3. Feeling grumpy? In desperate need of something to smile about? Well, I recommend you visit Fluffington Post on a regular basis.

4. Speaking of smiles, have you seen these 19 Very Important Photographs of Benedict Cumberbatch with Kittens? Oh go on, check it out AGAIN.

5. I bought a gorgeous red ForLife teapot. I found mine at the Teaoli shop down the street, but they also are available from Amazon.


Mmmmm . . . Notting Hill tea with Dr. Lucy's gluten free sugar cookies!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Catching my breath

Gosh, it's been a whirlwind lately.

First, in case you missed it, I wanted to share the "Behind the Scenes" video Steve and I made in Cambridge this past summer with the help of Harry, a grad student at Corpus Christi College. Though the video is expertly edited by Flatline Films, it soon will become very clear to you that Steve and I are not professional filmmakers. (Brace yourself for babbling and shaky cam!) Still, I'd love for you to see the setting of The Dark Between, and I know you'll be charmed by Harry.


My favorite part is the Monty Python-esque "Huge amounts of land" moment! Of course, Harry also shares details on murder, brothels, punting accidents, and somehow even manages to work Beyonce into the conversation.

So what else has been going on? Well . . .

-- I went on tour with Tessa Gratton, Tara Hudson, and Myra McEntire.


We hit Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, St. Louis, and Kansas City. Tess recapped the trip for Publishers Weekly!

-- I had a wee launch party at Barnes & Noble in Norman, and a signing at Best of Books in Edmond.


We enjoyed a Dark Between cake at the "after party" in Norman, and at Best of Books there were Dark Between cookies created by Amber Loberg. :)

And this week, Tessa, Tara, and I will make 11 library visits in 5 days. Insanity, right? And yet, so cool! Here's a poster for our Blanchard stop (click to enlarge):


You can find all the details at the Pioneer Library System webpage or check the events calendar at my webpage.

Big Hugs to all of you who came to events! Hope to meet more readers in the coming days.

P.S. If you've read The Dark Between, would you please consider reviewing it at Amazon and/or Barnes & Noble? It doesn't have to be a long review or a 5 star review, just an honest assessment. (I've developed a thicker skin. Really.) This sort of thing helps tremendously, and I'd be ever so grateful.

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

The Dark Between Blog Tour and Scavenger Hunt!

The Dark Between is going on tour!

Join our 10 stops along the way to learn more about the book AND to enter for a chance to win a cool prize pack, including a finished hardcover copy of your very own.



Here are the tour stops (each will reveal a different codeword):

Sept. 2 - Mundie Moms
Sept. 3 - Candace's Book Blog
Sept. 4 - Once Upon a Twilight
Sept. 5 - Small Review
Sept. 6 - Reading Teen
Sept. 9 - Book Chic Club
Sept. 10 - The Story Siren
Sept. 11 - Ruby's Reads
Sept. 12 - Page Turners Blog
Sept. 13 - Icey Books

CLICK HERE TO ENTER YOUR CODEWORD FOR EACH BLOG POST.

You are allowed up to TEN total entries (one for each correct code)!

Good luck, and thanks for your interest in The Dark Between!

Giveaway winners and AdVANture Tour!

Hey gang, by the totally random power of Random.org, these winners were selected to receive THE DARK BETWEEN goodie bags:

Staesh

Moirae(thefates)

Congrats to them, and thanks to everyone for entering!

More chances to win Dark Between goodies:

The Dark Between Blog Tour

Novel Novice's Haunted Flash Fiction contest

Today Tessa Gratton, Myra McEntire, Tara Hudson and I all converge in Dallas for the first stop of our YA AdVANture tour. (You should see our van. It is AWESOME. We'll post post pics.)

Updated tour details below. We'd love to see you!

Thursday, September 5, 7pm
Barnes & Noble
Stonebriar Center Mall
Frisco, TX 75034

Friday, September 6, 6pm
Barnes & Noble
11500 Financial Ctr Pkwy
Little Rock, AR 72211

Saturday, September 7, 7pm
The Booksellers at Laurelwood
387 Perkins Extd
Memphis, TN 38117

Sunday, September 8, 4pm
St. Louis Central Library (Teen Lounge)
1301 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO
Event organized by Left Bank Books

Monday, September 9, 6:30pm
Mysteryscape
7309 W 80th St
Overland Park, KS 66204

Flying my geek flag at DragonCon -- a recap

What a weekend! Huge fan conventions like this can be very taxing for an introvert. There were times when I was torn between rage and panic at the teeming hordes, not to mention the soul-sucking heat and humidity. Fortunately, I had my best buddies with me, and I could always hide in the hotel room when things got too sweaty or overwhelming.

Highlights included:


Seeing my pals in their costumes. Above are Glenda and De as Sam and Dean from Supernatural, along with Michelle as the 5th Doctor. (Michelle had a photo op with Peter Davison, and he was quite impressed by her duds!)


Chatting and canoodling with Ioan Gruffudd (Horatio Hornblower!). SWOON. (Okay, so I paid for the photo. That doesn't cheapen the moment one bit! Well, not much anyway. . . I also had this photo taken with Julian Sands, whom I loved as George Emerson, Percy Shelley, and more!)


Finally meeting Robin Bridges and buddying up during the "Historical and Steampunk YA" panel. (We were the token historical writers.)


Having a laugh during the "Dark Themes in YA" panel with Victoria Schwab (seen above), Jonathan Maberry, and Michelle Hodkin. I was prepared to be intimidated, but it turned out such fun! (Photo courtesy of elisquared.)


Running into this Sherlock-costumed fellow, who was appropriately aloof and even put on a decent English accent.

Question: if you were to attend a fan convention, which actor/actress would you most like to meet? Which character would you like to dress up as?

I also was fortunate to meet many fabulous YA authors (in addition to the ones listed above) at various events--many of them IN COSTUME. It was kind of like a retreat, but we didn't even have to pretend that we were getting work done!

Two days of recovery, and then it's the YA AdVANture Tour!!!

THE DARK BETWEEN is here!

At the turn of the twentieth century, Spiritualism and séances are all the rage—even in the scholarly town of Cambridge, England. While mediums dupe the grief-stricken, a group of local fringe scientists seeks to bridge the gap to the spirit world by investigating the dark corners of the human mind.

Each running from a shadowed past, Kate, Asher, and Elsie take refuge within the walls of Summerfield College. But their peace is soon shattered by the discovery of a dead body nearby. Is this the work of a flesh-and-blood villain, or is something otherworldly at play? This unlikely trio must illuminate what the scientists have not, and open a window to secrets taken to the grave—or risk joining the spirit world themselves.

Indiebound | Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Check out the trailer:




To celebrate the release, I'm giving away TWO goodie bags:



You could win a swanky Dark Between tote (yes, an actual goodie bag), which will contain:

--a signed copy of the book
--a Dark Between journal (featuring art from Audrey Eclectic)
--bookmarks
--postcards
--AND a fancy notecard that I brought all the way back from Cambridge, England just for you!

This giveaway is North America only. We're doing things the old fashioned way -- just comment below with your name/some way to contact you and you're entered! Contest ends Tuesday, September 3, at 10:00 pm Central time.

And please stay tuned for details on a Dark Between blog tour and a Novel Novice Book of the Month feature -- more fun and giveaways just around the corner!

Settling in

Re-entry has been a challenge, but now that I've been home for a week, my brain seems to be making more of an effort.

Before I left Oxford, one of the students -- who'd endured A LOT of talk about my cat -- asked me if I'd seen this video:



Hee! I'm happy to report that Cedric was quite calm when we returned (thanks to our ace housesitter), but also very pleased to see us. It took him hardly any time at all to curl up in my lap, as you can see:



Another nice thing about coming home ? Receiving a finished copy of The Dark Between in the mail! (No books were harmed in the taking of these photos, I promise.)



I've always loved the cover, but the aqua spine and back add such a wonderful punch of color, don't you think?

The book releases in 15 days! Please stay tuned for more GIVEAWAYS. :)

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Introducing the YA AdVANture Tour!

Four Authors, Five Cities, ONE MINIVAN.

That's right -- I'm doing a wee book tour with Myra McEntire (author of the HOURGLASS Trilogy), Tara Hudson (author of the ELEGY Trilogy), and Tessa Gratton (author of BLOOD MAGIC, BLOOD KEEPER and THE LOST SUN) in a supercool minivan (yes, minivans ARE cool!) to visit bookstores and libraries in the South and Midwest.

Thursday, September 5th: Irving, TX
Barnes & Noble, Frisco, TX @ 7:00 p.m.
Stonebriar Center Mall, Frisco, TX 75034
(972) 668-2820

Friday, September 6th: Little Rock, AR
Barnes & Noble @ 6:00 p.m.
11500 Financial Ctr Pkwy, Little Rock, AR 72211
(501) 954-7646

Saturday, September 7th: Memphis, TN
The Booksellers at Laurelwood @ 7:00 p.m.
387 Perkins Extd Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 683-9801

Sunday, September 8th: St. Louis, MO
Left Bank Books @ 4:00 p.m.
Off-site library location TK

Monday, September 9th: Kansas City, KS
Mysteryscape @ 6:30
7309 W 80th St Overland Park, KS 66204
(913) 649-0000

Won't you come see us? :)

Filming in Cambridge and . . . running away with the Circus!

Last weekend was all work and no play in Cambridge. Of course, it's always uplifting to be in the midst of such gorgeous surroundings, but we are not professional filmmakers by any means, so making a promo video for THE DARK BETWEEN took a lot of patience, creativity, and hard slog.

(And seeing myself on video? Very humbling, if not downright depressing.)


Anyhoo, after a sweaty, crowded train from London, we arrived to a rather frantic and swarming Cambridge. Apparently Open Days were wrapping up. By that evening, however, the streets were pretty calm (as you can see above).


On Saturday we met up with Harry, a PhD candidate at Corpus Christi College, who provided a fabulous insider's view of Cambridge and its history.


My favorite part of the day was revisiting Newnham College, the inspiration for Summerfield in THE DARK BETWEEN. Our past few visits have been during the gloom and rain, but the sun came forth with a vengeance for our filming expedition. Aren't the bright flowers wonderful?

This flurry of filming came to an end with a 3+ hour bus ride back to Oxford that took place at exactly the same time as the Wimbledon showdown between Murray and Djokovic. Alas! But hooray for Blighty!

Now . . . the circus. As far as I can remember, I never went to any sort of circus as a child and, to be honest, I never really wanted to -- clowns have always scared me. Last week when we saw the old timey wagons pulling into University Parks, I was skeptical. But then I read more about Gifford's Circus and learned that its founder, Nell Gifford, read English at Oxford before beginning her circus career. The reviews were positive (here's a fun recap with photos), so we decided to give it a go.

It was FABULOUS! A grand, old fashioned event under a tent with vaudeville comedy and music, magic shows, dressage demonstrations, and gasp-inducing acrobatics. At the end they invited all the kids to dance with the performers, and even after the performers left, the kids were still tumbling about, no doubt dreaming of running away with the circus. It warmed my heart, I tell you.


And really, where else are you going to see a fawn on a tightrope?

Have a great week everybody!

[Cross-posted to Livejournal]

Friday favorites

Favorite thing #1: You know how I love to give away books, so just thought I'd let you know that these lovely people won books and/or swag in the last giveaway:

Tiffany D.
N Marie M.
Tiffany A.
Jenna J.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Favorite thing #2: Amy Plum! If you're still keen for a DARK BETWEEN advance copy, Amy will be offering one for her next Contest Monday. Check her webpage on June 17!

Favorite thing #3: Daylilies!



The top left and bottom right look a lot alike in the photos, but the bottom right is actually more orangey-yellow. They are all very pretty and have just started blooming. Sadly, we will miss their best days while we are overseas.

But that brings me to Favorite thing #4: OXFORD!


We're off again for another summer at Brasenose College in Oxford. This year we're leaving a little early so that Steve can attend a conference in Zurich, Switzerland. (My first time in this country!) In addition to our Oxford frivolities (or "work" as Steve would call it), we'll spend a weekend in Cambridge getting photos and film footage related to THE DARK BETWEEN. Prepare thyself for photo spamming. :)

Now must return to getting the house ready for our wonderful house sitter. (Cedric is very smitten with this individual.)

Any exciting summer plans of your own to share?

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

The Dark Between ARC giveaway!

The Dark Between hardcover releases in less than three months. Here's the official flap copy:

At the turn of the twentieth century, Spiritualism and séances are all the rage—even in the scholarly town of Cambridge, England. While mediums dupe the grief-stricken, a group of local fringe scientists seeks to bridge the gap to the spirit world by investigating the dark corners of the human mind.

Each running from a shadowed past, Kate, Asher, and Elsie take refuge within the walls of Summerfield College. But their peace is soon shattered by the discovery of a dead body nearby. Is this the work of a flesh-and-blood villain, or is something otherworldly at play? This unlikely trio must illuminate what the scientists have not, and open a window to secrets taken to the grave—or risk joining the spirit world themselves.

Would you like to get your hands on an advance copy? If so, read on!

First of all, if you are a Goodreads member, you can enter to win one of two signed copies that are up for grabs.

Click this link for Goodreads giveaway (International!).

I'm also hosting a U.S. only giveaway here on the blog -- win a copy of the ARC with swag (postcard and bookmark, plus a postcard and journal featuring The Dark Between painting from Audrey Eclectic!):


Read more about the Audrey Eclectic painting of The Dark Between.

To sweeten the pot, I also am including SIGNED COPIES of the following fabulous books:



Elegy by Tara Hudson -- Faced with an impossible choice between the forces of Light and the boy she loves, ghostly Amelia decides to take her afterlife into her own hands and fight back, in this stunning conclusion to the hauntingly romantic Hereafter trilogy.

The Collector by Victoria Scott -- Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of Hell’s best — a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris -- On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.


Signing at OKC Barnes & Noble with Victoria Scott, Rachel Harris, and Tara Hudson!

To sum up:
-- ONE winner will receive The Dark Between ARC + the three signed books listed above + SWAG.
-- THREE winners will receive The Dark Between swag -- including bookmark, postcards, and journal. (Heck, I'll throw in some Revenant swag, too!)

Click below to enter either through Facebook or with your email address. The widget will then offer you opportunities to increase your entries. It's easy!


(If you can't see the widget, give me your name and email address in the comments and I'll enter for you.)

Birthday indulgences

I had the entire weekend all to myself and, after a rough start with tornadoes and storms, it turned out to be a lovely extension to my birthday. Though I did get some writing and housework done, I mostly indulged in my favorite things.


Like tea, for instance. I hadn't yet used my Minton Haddon Hall china, and my indulgent birthday weekend seemed the perfect time to do so. (We visited Haddon Hall during the summer of 2011, and I fell utterly in love with the place. When I saw the china in the gift shop, I had to find a way to make it mine.) For this particular afternoon tea I enjoyed an orange scone from Panera with Lychee Coconut White Tea from Tea Forte. I particularly recommend the tea. It's light, refreshing, and quite good without sugar or milk. (AND it's supposed to make your skin radiant!)


I also spent a fair amount of time in front of the TV. Rewatching Bright Star was particularly delightful -- such a feast for the eyes and ears! But it struck me this time around how Jane Campion's film is really about the drama and angst of young love -- how it can be so fervid and profound, but at the same time somewhat self-indulgent and performative. I could see all that (and hey, I've been there and done that), but I still ached for Fanny Brawne and John Keats. And, as always, watching Ben Whishaw with the cat made me swoony. What is it about men and cats?

Oooh look -- "Hot Guys with Cats"! Heh.

This tumblr is cute, too.

*Ahem*

Along with TV, I indulged in reading. I finished The Visconti House by Elsbeth Edgar (in which two teens uncover the mysteries of a crumbling Italianate house), and read the first third of Kate Atkinson's Life after Life (in which, to massively oversimplify, a girl relives her life over and over, adapting as she goes). I'm a huge Atkinson fan, having loved all the Jackson Brodie books as well as Behind the Scenes at the Museum, but I have a feeling this one will somehow manage to be even more fabulous. How will I get any work done?

Finally, I gave myself a present by finally framing (& hanging) a painting created for me by the wonderfully talented Heather at Audrey Eclectic. A while back I sent her an ARC of The Dark Between, and she painted a scene of the three main characters together. I love it so!


Here you can see Kate (plain and pragmatic), Elsie (beautiful and languid -- LOVE the drowsy eyes!), and Asher (handsome and arrogant), sitting in front of Summerfield College, which is based on Newnham College, Cambridge. In the border you see the ghostly images of family members and loved ones who haunt the main characters, sometimes figuratively, other times literally.


The frame is more ornate that I ordinarily might have chosen, but it seemed to fit the early Edwardian setting of the story. It looks wonderful on the wall!

Stay tuned for a Dark Between ARC giveaway in which I might just offer goodies related to this painting. Weeee!

In the meantime, tell me how you've indulged yourself lately, for a birthday or otherwise. :)

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

The Dark Between, ghost hunters, and transient narcotic genius

First, don't forget to check out THE REVENANT paperback giveaway!

On to the story . . . last week I had to get a crown repaired. They told me in advance that it would take TWO AND A HALF HOURS. Thus, when the dental assistant offered "the gas" I said yes, because how else would I get through the boredom and discomfort?** I knew from experience that nitrous oxide would make the whole dreary business of crown repair much more . . . interesting.

And it did. For some reason (and maybe it's this way for everyone), nitrous makes me very thinky. I have great epiphanies that inspire me to compose mental essays as my dentist drills away. Mental essays WITH FOOTNOTES (I kid you not). When Dr. W came in and asked how I was feeling, I enthusiastically shared my tendency to think "great thoughts" while on nitrous. She responded with the following anecdote (which really must be a standard dentist joke):

"One time a patient on nitrous said that I'd 'touched her soul' -- I told her I didn't think I'd drilled that far."

Hee!

**We all know nitrous oxide is more for anxiety than boredom. I was anxious, too!

Anyway, it all reminded me of a very favorite book of mine -- Deborah Blum's Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death, a book that inspired characters and conflicts in my novel, The Dark Between (forthcoming August 27). If you ever get around to reading my next book, please know that Frederic Stanton, father to main character Kate Poole, is very closely modeled upon Edmund Gurney (featured below).

I blogged the following nearly five years ago after first reading Blum's book, and with the release of The Dark Between only three months away, it seemed fitting to share it again:

October 14, 2008

This weekend I read Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death, an excellent book about 19th century scientists who pioneered investigations into paranormal phenomena. The author, Deborah Blum, is a Pulitzer Prize winning science journalist who teaches at University of Wisconsin. Her writing is vivid and entertaining. I laughed aloud at the opening of chapter 5 and just had to share it with you:

[A little background: one of William James' esteemed colleagues was Edmund Gurney, first secretary of the Society for Psychical Research and top-billed author of Phantasms of the Living, which attempted to systematically collect and categorize data on telepathy and crisis apparitions.]

Suddenly, in a shock of glorious insight, Edmund Gurney realized the truth about immortality. The moment was breathtaking, luminous. He alone had solved the infinite puzzle, seen the path to eternal life.

Edmund Gurney

Unfortunately, as he complained to William James, that gleaming certainty melted like ice in a thaw -- about the time the nitrous oxide he'd received at the dentist's office wore off. "I was only waiting for breath & energy to inform the lucky dentist, when it somehow lapsed." Still, even leaving the office, Gurney had felt sure that he could write a brilliant journal article. By the time he got home, the brilliance had worn off, but Gurney still thought he might write James a letter filled with useful insights. "Then the evening came & somehow the letter did not seem as if it would have much in it and didn't get written."

Oh, those transient moments of narcotic genius. (105)

Okay, that's just funny in itself. But it particularly resonated with me because I had a very similar experience. 

I'd taken a half day off from teaching to go to the dentist for a crown. [Note: the very same crown being repaired above in 2013.] I was assured that I'd be fine to teach in the afternoon. Well! That hygienist must have turned up the gas a little too high because I wasn't just happy -- I was flying. Soaring to a higher plane of existence! I specifically remember thinking "Now I understand everything." And I had all sorts of amazing insights to share with my students -- I just couldn't WAIT to tell them. But as I was leaving the dentist all those brilliant thoughts began to fade. It suddenly seemed inappropriate to tell a group of teens that I'd had a drug-induced epiphany Samuel Coleridge would have envied, especially since I couldn't remember the exact details of the epiphany. By the time I got back in the classroom I felt deflated and a little sick. And I had no wisdom to offer the kids except a warning not to provoke me because the entire left side of my face hurt and I was on a very short fuse.

And that, folks, was my very own experience with transient narcotic genius. To this day when reading that passage about Edmund Gurney, I feel so connected to his euphoria and sympathetic to his subsequent confusion and sense of loss.

I guess that's why I was inspired to create my own versions of these people--versions of Edmund Gurney and his circle, but more specifically, their children--because I think we can all relate to this urgent desire for clarity and transcendence.  The desire not only to lift the veil and see beyond, but to put that experience into words that change others. This definitely is a recurring theme in The Dark Between.

But Gurney's story also just makes me laugh, and that's why I had to share it again today.

Happy weekend!

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

THE REVENANT paperback is almost here!

Hey guys, the paperback for THE REVENANT releases next Tuesday. This edition includes the first chapter of THE DARK BETWEEN. Yay!

Here's the official jacket blurb for the book:

When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary.

Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.

Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . . .

I'm giving away a few copies, along with swag for THE REVENANT and THE DARK BETWEEN.



**Click here to enter the Goodreads giveaway (INTERNATIONAL)**

And/or enter below with Punchtab (US/CA only):


You can also give me your name and email address in the comments below, and I'll enter you!

Revel in mystery, monsters, & love -- enter my GIVEAWAY!

I'm a huge fan of Maurissa Guibord. Her debut novel Warped, the story of two young lovers from very different places and times, captivated me with its romance and suspense. I've been waiting with great anticipation for her new novel, Revel.

Check out the official synopsis:

There's an island off the coast of Maine that's not on any modern map. Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn't her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia's not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night. Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it's Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water's edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.

Sounds fabulous, doesn't it? Wouldn't you like to win a copy of your very own?

I can help with that!

To celebrate the release of Revel, I am giving away TWO (2) copies of the book. And I'll sweeten the pot by adding a couple of pre-orders of my own book The Dark Between, due out from Knopf/Random House in August.

This giveaway is open to US, Canadian, and UK residents!

--To enter, all you need to do is comment below with your name and the best way to contact you.

--I'll give you an extra entry if you tweet this giveaway. Make sure my Twitter handle is in the tweet.

Here's a tweet you can copy and paste -- easy peasy!
Revel in mystery, monsters & love! Win @Maurissa_G's REVEL & pre-order of @soniagensler's THE DARK BETWEEN. goo.gl/QKbTA Pls RT!

This giveaway is open until midnight (CST), Thursday, February 21. I will announce the winners on the following day.

The NEXT BIG THING blog

I've been watching this meme go around, thinking it would be fun to do, but deadlines and commitments kept me from joining in. Recently, however, my friend Doug Solter tagged me again (here's his entry), and this time I couldn't refuse. It's always fun to talk about your newly birthed (or still gestating) fiction baby, right? So here goes . . .

What is the working official title of your book?
The Dark Between

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The idea came to me when I was researching Spiritualism for my first book, The Revenant. Somehow (I think it was through Barnes & Noble's analytics, bless them), I came across a book titled Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death. To me, this non-fiction book written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Deborah Blum read like a suspense novel. The main "characters"-- all founding members of the Society for Psychical Research -- were so briliant and tormented, so vividly and relatably human, that I grew to care deeply for them. Their narratives unfolded like a film in my mind, and I could easily envision an HBO series featuring their attempts to scientifically prove the reality of paranormal phenomena, along with the ups and downs of their turbulent personal lives. I really wanted to write a story set within this world, but it took me a while to find my own characters and conflicts.

What genre does your book come under?
I would say . . . Young Adult paranormal mystery.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Ha ha! When I was planning this story (back in 2009?), I made a collage, which ordinarily is not my sort of thing AT ALL. I've always been a big fan of outlining and free-writing to flesh out a story, but I decided it would be a good change of pace to work with images instead of text. This is what I came up with for The Dark Between (click to enlarge):



First off, I have to say that all the images looked great...until I Mod Podged them. After that the poor collage looked like I'd left it out in the rain. Secondly, although I was at one point flirting with the idea of including some sort of EVP recording device, there's no phonograph in the story.

Now...actors. You can see that I chose an early photo of Jensen Ackles for Asher Beale, mostly because of his lovely freckles. (Or "frackles" as I'm told they're termed within Supernatural fandom.) (And yes, I googled "American actors with freckles" to find this photo.) For Elsie, a beauty with a dark secret, I chose the seductive yet vulnerable Scarlett Johanson in The Prestige. And for Kate, I chose a photo of Irish actress Elaine Cassidy from her performance as Maud in Fingersmith. (She looks particularly smeared from the Mod Podge, but it actually suits Kate's state of mind at the beginning of the book.)

All these actors were too old to play the parts when I made this collage, and that was years ago. Still, their faces inspired me.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
(I'm stealing this from the inside cover of the ARC. I guess it's the Library of Congress summary?

Three teenagers in Victorian era London spend the summer at a local college and soon discover that their hosts, the Metaphysical Society, may be conducting sinister experiments in an attempt to communicate with the dead.

There are some inaccuracies (it's actually set in Cambridge in the early Edwardian period) and oversimplifications, but this does convey the flavor of the book.

Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
It will be published by Alfred A. Knopf/Random House on August 27, 2013.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Under a year, I think.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Here's what my publisher has to say about it: "A supernatural romance about the powers that lie in the shadows of the mind, perfect for fans of Sarah Rees Brennan, Alyxandra Harvey, and Libba Bray."

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

As mentioned above, it was the founders of the Society for Psychical Research, as described in Blum's book Ghost Hunters, who inpsired the characters and situations in The Dark Between. I was intrigued by this group of extremely well-educated, thoughtful, and rational (for the most part) men and women who wished to make a serious study of paranormal phenomena. But I didn't really want to write about the adults. I wanted to imagine what it might have been like for their children, especially if these children were shocked or ashamed by their parents' activities, and particularly if one of them had been suppressing a paranormal ability for much of her life.

Thanks again to Doug for inviting me to participate! Two of my critique partners, Brandi Barnett and Dee Dee Chumley, will be joining me in blogging "the next big thing" next Friday, February 15. Be sure to tune in!

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]