Category: livejournal entry

I have a boatload of goodies to link to today:

First of all, if you’d like to read an interview with me — and, just maybe, get a look at the first few pages of Stargazer, all you have to do is check it out at TeenLibris!

Second, we have some Evernight communities springing up here on LJ! I am tempted to join but would just end up spouting spoilers, which the publisher frowns on, so instead I’m going to simply show you guys where to find them:

evernightseries
evernightlove

New goodies! And it’s Friday! The only way this day could get better would be if it were suddenly 75 degrees outside instead of 95. Whew.

As of about three hours ago, I have a brand-new nephew! We think his name is Ari, but the parents are still wavering, so we’re unsure. But he’s 8 pounds and perfectly healthy; my sister-in-law had a home birth she was extremely happy with. In a couple of weeks I will be headed home to give him some quality cuddle time.

Mom, Dad, older brother Eli and wee one are just fine, but the dog (who has been the “baby” of the family for years now) is apparently very put out.

I am deep in Hourglass revisions. It’s sort of hard switching gears like this — I had been in the thick of working on some other ideas, and really making some progress — but at the same time, I’m grateful to get the chance to make Hourglass everything it can be. It’s the third book of the four, one in which so many important events happen. I would hate to shortchange a single one.

(Not coincidentally, this book is longer than the first two — which were, in turn, exactly the length my editor described to me as the absolute maximum allowable. Hmmm. Wonder whether I’ll need to make more cuts here, or if we can fly at this length? Stay tuned for more news as this develops.)

I have tomorrow off from the day job. Bliss.

ETA: The website has been updated!

I had thought this wasn’t out until October, but I was wrong!

Immortal, an anthology of romantic YA vampire stories, will be available as a Borders exclusive starting in August. I’m one of the authors taking part, and my story, “Free: A Story of Evernight” tells the history of Patrice Devereaux, Bianca’s friend and roommate in Evernight. Patrice’s life as a free woman of color in antebellum New Orleans allows her a very strange kind of freedom, one with definite limits and a definite end. Just as she prepares to take a tremendous risk for love, a mysterious man appears in town with very different ideas about liberation — and an obsession with Patrice that might cost her everything.

Other authors featured in Immortal include Cynthia Leitich Smith, Rachel Caine, Richelle Mead, Nancy Holder, Kristin Cast and Tanith Lee. I’ve checked out most of the other stories, and they’re fabulous — dark and sexy and full of all the juicy stuff you’d hope for from vampire romances. The anthology is edited by P.C. Cast. As you might’ve guessed from the phrase “Borders exclusive,” you can only buy at at Borders (which now has an online store, hint hint).

You can read an excerpt of “Free: A Story of Evernight,” as well as excerpts from some of the other stories, at TeenLibris. And if you want to win a free copy? There’s an Immortal contest right here.

Sorry to be posting so late, but I spent my day in the studio filming an interview that will eventually appear on the HarperTeen website. Very exciting, except for the part where I worried about my hair quite a lot. (When it goes live, I’ll let you guys know. Unless I think my hair looks dorky. Then you’re on your own.)

Upon getting home, though, I promptly put all the names together, chose one at random, and the winner is — Cristina! She gets a $100 gift certificate and the right to name a character in the fourth book of the Evernight series. Congrats to Cristina, and thanks to absolutely everyone who entered.

Now, today’s big announcement:

What do I mean by that? You send in questions for Bianca, and she will answer. Although you’re interviewing Bianca right after Evernight, when she has no idea what will happen in future books, feel free to ask her absolutely anything. I don’t promise that she will answer every question asked, but we’ll post a good interview with her here and on the website August 1. So, anytime between now and August 1, drop your questions here or by email at evernightclaudia at gmail dot com. I look forward to seeing what you guys come up with!

I’ve been a rotten blogger this week, but what a week it was. Let’s see if I can’t get caught up.

There is one more day to enter Evernight Contest #6. Many have sent their photos with the book and the receipt (or the online ordering screen), but you’ve still got a day to get them in!

(I realize now this was sort of a tough contest to enter; a lot of people didn’t know about the contest until after they’d bought the book and discarded the receipt. And some moms are not so keen on their kids sending out pics of themselves via the internet. When Stargazer rolls around, I’ll think of a big contest that will be a bit easier for everyone to take part in.)

Speaking of pics —

A few people have sent me pics of Evernight on bookshelves, in displays, etc., which I adore. One pic, taken by sunshine_queen, does raise some interesting questions, however:

At first, all seems well, doesn’t it? But I believe it was hhw who pointed out that the book at the upper right is, perhaps, not ideal for the vampires display. That, or wee Harold was far darker than we all realized as children, and he is using that purple crayon for evil.

That interview I mentioned with And Another Book Read is posted now — check it out! This is one of the first that gets into what happens in Stargazer, though only a little bit.

Speaking of Stargazer, I know a few of you have been asking about when/if there will be Kindle editions of the books. My editor has told me that, around the end of this year, HarperTeen is moving toward making all of their new releases available for the Kindle — so Stargazer will definitely have a Kindle edition. Right now we don’t know whether they will be creating a Kindle version Evernight as well, but as soon as I find out, I’ll let you guys know.

And Another Book Read has a fabulous review of Evernight up today. I’ll be doing an interview with this site too, and will link once that’s ready.

For some reason I can no longer remember, I signed up for a “fun run” in Central Park. I do not usually put the words “fun” and “run” in the same sentence. The run is this afternoon, so wish me luck!

— that the website has been updated! Some news (already outdated — hmm, must fix) has been added, along with a little extra info about Stargazer and, thanks to you guys, an actual FAQ.

Remember, you’ve got almost two weeks left to enter the sixth Evernight contest — take your picture with the book and your receipt, and you will be entered in the drawing to win a $100 gift certificate and the right to name a character in the fourth book of the series.

My first-ever reading on Saturday went well. Books of Wonder is an incredible place; I remember it fondly from many midnight trips to buy Harry Potter books. (They had live owls, y’all. That’s how great the midnight parties were.) I got to meet the great Gail Carson Levine, Sarah Beth Durst, Scott Mebus and Diane Zimmerman, all of whom read and answered questions too. If every public appearance is as much fun as that, I’ll be in good shape. Right now my next appearance is at the Backspace conference in NYC in August, but if that changes, I’ll let you guys know.

Also, as a devotee of classic movies, I have to say farewell to the glamorous, incredible Cyd Charisse, who passed away today. If you aren’t familiar with her work as a dancer and actress, please click the below video and prepare to be blown away.