tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61508445459263504542024-03-06T19:34:22.430-08:00From Unknown to Slightly Better KnownTalia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-29989548681101621342016-09-08T21:15:00.001-07:002016-09-08T21:15:43.135-07:00Looking Ahead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGw-xH_wFNCBaoRghyqw5ZrcPfiyMXDcKPw1AI9RoMWhx0TUfiYGBs0OtZNZw0AP3zb1JM47J1CnOP1jirJlbbE-ibnVBEFbS7IREIkQmA-gkjhhLXpMof9LLGC1xnZiTOPWL2idybrbf/s1600/Back+and+front+cover+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGw-xH_wFNCBaoRghyqw5ZrcPfiyMXDcKPw1AI9RoMWhx0TUfiYGBs0OtZNZw0AP3zb1JM47J1CnOP1jirJlbbE-ibnVBEFbS7IREIkQmA-gkjhhLXpMof9LLGC1xnZiTOPWL2idybrbf/s320/Back+and+front+cover+art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
It's been a while since I've posted. For those of you who asked, yes, I am still writing, and yes, I would love to write the third Bandia book, but my focus has to be on new stories for the immediate future. It doesn't help that I was set back by severe carpal tunnel last year. I'm all better now, re-energized and back into a writing groove. The great thing about being laid up, was that it gave me lots of time to dream up new characters and plots. <br />
<br />
If you're interested in writing craft and publishing, don't forget to check out <a href="http://yamuses.blogspot.com/p/resources.html" target="_blank">YA Muses</a> which has years of archived posts by me and the other Muses on all aspects of novel writing and publication. <br />
<br />
Lastly, if you know of any schools or library within 3 hours of driving from Sacramento, CA who would be interested in doing a book event, I am offering 100 signed copies of SPIES & PREJUDICE to the first 10 middle schools or high schools that bring me in. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-25311492469427315842014-07-04T07:44:00.002-07:002016-09-08T20:56:47.239-07:00Updates!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEiFLBI8SXxy6xzBAwIs8TIxvTnXl57EedgamGDsorATUAo6kCkc6FI8EEx5WqYeoso71k2afs-PQ0HMaSGYllJrdLnDV4do7Br-Fqaec3IDqvBU_1dKTRTW4zEf1GHQnNwTfxA8YbwaF/s1600/huck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEiFLBI8SXxy6xzBAwIs8TIxvTnXl57EedgamGDsorATUAo6kCkc6FI8EEx5WqYeoso71k2afs-PQ0HMaSGYllJrdLnDV4do7Br-Fqaec3IDqvBU_1dKTRTW4zEf1GHQnNwTfxA8YbwaF/s1600/huck.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huckleberry aka "Lulu"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A few updates:<br />
<br />
1. For those of you who have asked, there are no <i>current </i>plans for a third BANDIA book, but I would love to write one. It's just a matter of finding time with other projects that I'm working on. <br />
<br />
2. I am working on other novels, but nothing I can talk about yet. There is one, in particular, that I'm dying to share... <br />
<br />
3. We lost our beloved Saint Bernard Huckleberry to Addison's Disease last year. He was the inspiration for Lulu in SPIES AND PREJUDICE, and he passed away just before the book came out. He was only four, and we will always miss him.<br />
<br />
4. We rescued a six year old Saint Bernard in January. Ninja is giant and a little quirky. He will protect his food from robins and bullfrogs by barking like crazy, but he had no reaction to a rattlesnake in the living room- as long as it stayed away from his bowl, he was cool. I, on the other hand, screamed and flailed and generally panicked until the snake wrangler arrived and took the snake away. The snake retreated to a corner and from what I can tell, napped.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYI4ogm4mv9sC_YtdbG4YmqT5UuH8VhnkQmqrumCOT6i4uf2dTzKmbcOgKlZdF_86EdUAL8TQemjcGz4VXOiGimkvWrk3s-ebuJzR3NMBzYHgtRtXLKKtoMN0G_soRuCAPUO7Cf2JzcOv/s1600/Ninja+and+bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYI4ogm4mv9sC_YtdbG4YmqT5UuH8VhnkQmqrumCOT6i4uf2dTzKmbcOgKlZdF_86EdUAL8TQemjcGz4VXOiGimkvWrk3s-ebuJzR3NMBzYHgtRtXLKKtoMN0G_soRuCAPUO7Cf2JzcOv/s1600/Ninja+and+bowl.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ninja on guard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
5. I've gotten the opportunity to meet so many bloggers and readers and fellow book lovers. Reading and writing can be so solitary, but sharing stories with you is amazing!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hope your year is full of happiness and books! Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-24093608706492786582013-06-15T13:21:00.000-07:002013-06-15T14:23:23.156-07:00Spies and Prejudice Launch Party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VvoL7QW_vrj7SN4w9tEAvuLfddQOfvi0GyDXISHGwGLqh3TRO_DoHizsGW5DuirXk3lmC-csnPTLSsnqiGQSJ5qy__b0qmJLLwcGToI2-2UJySNrouFKTc5YOSk131piY0P2GgrBK9sO/s1600/09+-+SpiesandPred_Galley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VvoL7QW_vrj7SN4w9tEAvuLfddQOfvi0GyDXISHGwGLqh3TRO_DoHizsGW5DuirXk3lmC-csnPTLSsnqiGQSJ5qy__b0qmJLLwcGToI2-2UJySNrouFKTc5YOSk131piY0P2GgrBK9sO/s320/09+-+SpiesandPred_Galley.jpg" width="213" /></a>You are invited to celebrate the official launch of Spies and Prejudice with me at the Avid Reader in Davis, CA on Saturday, June 22nd at 4:00 p.m.<br />
<br />
There will be cake!<br />
<br />
There will be prizes!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SDrkRB9_VRTyz6YF5-ptVqzG-HRRNiaynC8HbqrdHKbkd55ItlZOSa8igOS60K2xBLqHmBv2yTRN5rsrpEC8RkSJecfqeBBFTz2mIV-KkvoPSRjt33sCzRoRk3ffOuPseRhMYmXzfDPS/s1600/Tarnish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SDrkRB9_VRTyz6YF5-ptVqzG-HRRNiaynC8HbqrdHKbkd55ItlZOSa8igOS60K2xBLqHmBv2yTRN5rsrpEC8RkSJecfqeBBFTz2mIV-KkvoPSRjt33sCzRoRk3ffOuPseRhMYmXzfDPS/s320/Tarnish.jpg" width="211" /></a>There will be readings!<br />
<br />
And lots of general merriment. <br />
<br />
The best part is that this will be a co-launch, along with my friend Katherine Longshore's beautiful book, Tarnish, which is released on Tuesday. It's about a teen Anne Boleyn, newly arrived at the Tudor Court, a girl who wants to be heard, wants to fit in, and wants the freedom to make her own choices. You can't read this book without falling in love with Anne, and wishing that her life had turned out differently. It's heartbreaking, but also a wonderfully romantic and uplifting look at a girl who would change history.<br />
<br />Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-6173065589837607192013-06-03T22:35:00.002-07:002013-06-11T09:21:50.516-07:00The SPIES AND PREJUDICE BLOG TOUR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPddT1MVg0lt3IVZ1Nn53OSl9asH-BVxDjKzewaexQZNryT_ZWQqZBHLfD6cliu2LfX9V2k7LRwDwWSb2rG0RLp0IGB3hh_qAoIkaRx3P03MWfOkQzV4M8XsfV8aogk_ZXasWaySTqVzfJ/s1600/spies_prejudice+badge.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPddT1MVg0lt3IVZ1Nn53OSl9asH-BVxDjKzewaexQZNryT_ZWQqZBHLfD6cliu2LfX9V2k7LRwDwWSb2rG0RLp0IGB3hh_qAoIkaRx3P03MWfOkQzV4M8XsfV8aogk_ZXasWaySTqVzfJ/s1600/spies_prejudice+badge.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Thanks to Rock Star Blog Tours for sponsoring the tour for Spies and Prejudice. It runs from June 4-17, and includes stops at some of my favorite blogs!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/4/2013
<a href="http://ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com/2013/06/blog-tour-and-giveaway-spies-and.html" target="_blank">YA Sisterhood</a>- Review</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/5/2013
<a href="http://www.pageturnersblog.com/2013/06/spies-and-prejudice-blog-tour-review.html" target="_blank">Page Turners Blog</a>- Review</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/6/2013 <a href="http://thereviewsnews.blogspot.com/2013/06/spies-and-prejudice-blog-tour-guest.html" target="_blank">The Review News-</a> Guest Post (Research for Spies)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/7/2013
<a href="http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/2013/06/blog-tour-spies-and-prejudice-by-talia.html" target="_blank">Two Chicks On Books</a>- Guest Post (The Spies Playlist)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/8/2013
<a href="http://whatthecatread.wordpress.com/2013/06/08/favorite-jane-austen-adaptations-a-guest-post-by-talia-vance/" target="_blank">What The Cat Read</a>- Guest
Post (Favorite Jane Austen Adaptations)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/9/2013
<a href="http://www.imabookshark.com/2013/06/blog-tour-talia-vance-spies-and.html" target="_blank">I'm a Bookshark</a>- Guest Post (Dream Cast)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/10/2013
<a href="http://www.debbiesworldofbooks.com/2013/06/09/blog-tour-spies-and-prejudice-by-talia-vance-giveaway/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DebbiesWorldOfBooks+%28Debbie%27s+World+of+Books%29" target="_blank">Debbie's World Of Books</a>-
Guest Post (Things a Spy Girl Needs)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/11/2013
<a href="http://www.magicalurbanfantasyreads.com/2013/06/character-comparison-spies-and.html" target="_blank">Magical Urban Fantasy Reads</a>-
Guest Post (Characters from P&P)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/12/2013
<a href="http://www.lushbudgetproduction.com/">Ravenous Reader</a>- Guest Post (My favorite scenes)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/13/2013
<a href="http://www.taterstalltails.com/">Taters Tall Tales</a>- Guest Post (My favorite quotes)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/14/2013
<a href="http://www.fiktshun.com/fiktshun/">Fiktshun</a>- Guest Post (Scene from Tanner's POV)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/17/2013
<a href="http://www.literaryexploration.com/">Lit Explorer</a>- Guest Post (My Interview with Berry Fields)</div>
</blockquote>
Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-54925584042835882592013-03-02T14:30:00.000-08:002013-03-02T14:30:02.819-08:00Back Cover Copy for GoldOn the heels of the cover, I just got a peek at the cover copy for Gold! I finally get to tell you that Austin features very prominently in this story. Don't worry, Blake is back too, and his love for Brianna will be tested in ways that neither of them ever imagined. Plus, it's set in Ireland, and there's time travel, and just, gah, I want to tell you everything, but I can't, so here's the summary:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQDjnl1moP7Jng-45kyIs-ZOU2b5vA8uKJN8eq0npqQu77HFC5mB2ZDBqIxsQMEhUIBnyn_Rr0RGtRo8eGE08WMaSyodCz-r4xA-Bx1qLqFji3u3YGjVVdJPkDLsZiQUH9fVKlxUE1R1t/s1600/Gold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQDjnl1moP7Jng-45kyIs-ZOU2b5vA8uKJN8eq0npqQu77HFC5mB2ZDBqIxsQMEhUIBnyn_Rr0RGtRo8eGE08WMaSyodCz-r4xA-Bx1qLqFji3u3YGjVVdJPkDLsZiQUH9fVKlxUE1R1t/s320/Gold.jpg" width="207" /></a><i><span id="freeText16404896015931753651">Descended from an Irish
demigod, Brianna has fled to Ireland to escape destruction at the hands
of her sworn enemies, the Sons of Killian. Taking refuge at the estate
of her former nemesis, Austin Montgomery, Brianna discovers a rift in
time that opens to an era before the feud began.<br /><br />Wrestling with
her newfound feelings for the more innocent Austin, Brianna begins to
wonder if she can alter the past. But when Brianna and Austin learn that
the Sons are raising an army of mythical beasts, the pair will need to
use their magical strength in the present to avoid a tragic end.</span></i><br />
Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-80613474567486308042013-02-27T20:10:00.000-08:002013-03-02T14:24:50.676-08:00Cover for GOLD!!So in case you haven't seen it yet- the cover for GOLD was released this week.<br />
<br />
It turned out even better than I imagined it would when I saw the mock-up a few months ago. Not only does it compliment the cover for SILVER, it fits with the story in so many ways. The setting is an actual location from the book, and looks exactly as I imagined it. Off in the distance, you can see the ruins of an old castle on the bluff, another feature that figures strongly in the book. And I love the way Brianna is so much brighter and colorful, a fitting distinction from her near invisibility in SILVER.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyd9YnZq49O0wcWhzIwNg8Se8X-cTgt6khsVsTyr6y2PURlwICSJA6jxfvfP3vXDPHp9iKHfu5oOQUSqCFLuHKf22O9xkjxkoHvf7Pew75HHMrxPeqGO4wj2ikKysyCM4AF9gBAhZ5Z57o/s1600/Gold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyd9YnZq49O0wcWhzIwNg8Se8X-cTgt6khsVsTyr6y2PURlwICSJA6jxfvfP3vXDPHp9iKHfu5oOQUSqCFLuHKf22O9xkjxkoHvf7Pew75HHMrxPeqGO4wj2ikKysyCM4AF9gBAhZ5Z57o/s400/Gold.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<br />
And it looks so pretty next to SILVER:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdE_jBcRL-cd-evG7vN7QDMPf1noD7o-BQZ7HjDZiR_BzbcGyyeFRHrpRdO0V6Nz9STMGNO8mIp46fILHBQj5nVWsHM_2PYqakFCpCjx_PBDoiPSMf-QKmaMVsdcB-tMRKY3975uZth8Ad/s1600/Silver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdE_jBcRL-cd-evG7vN7QDMPf1noD7o-BQZ7HjDZiR_BzbcGyyeFRHrpRdO0V6Nz9STMGNO8mIp46fILHBQj5nVWsHM_2PYqakFCpCjx_PBDoiPSMf-QKmaMVsdcB-tMRKY3975uZth8Ad/s400/Silver.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-45390972112551355182012-08-21T19:48:00.003-07:002012-08-31T22:20:01.422-07:00Upcoming Appearances and Blog Tour InfoSo, try as I might to hold those finished copies tight, it seems that Silver shipped early to retailers, and in some places Silver is already available. Three weeks early! Needless to say, I am not at all prepared. I do have some fun events coming up in the next few months that I wanted to share in case you get a chance to check them out.<br />
<br />
APPEARANCES: <br />
<br />
<b>August 26, 2012 4:00 p.m. Litquake, Palo Alto, CA</b> <br />
<br />
Appearing at Litquake
with a panel of Young Adult authors including Katherine Longshore
(GILT), Corrine Jackson (IF I LIE) and Veronica Rossi (UNDER THE NEVER
SKY). We will be discussing our books and publication journey, and
doing a signing. The event takes place at the Oshman Family JCC, 3921
Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303. Admission is free.<br />
<br />
<b>September 15, 2012 4:00 p.m. The Avid Reader, Davis, CA</b><br />
<br />
SILVER
launch party! Come celebrate the release of my debut novel at the Avid
Reader in Davis, CA. I will be joined by Katherine Longshore (GILT),
Veronica Rossi (UNDER THE NEVER SKY) and Donna Cooner (SKINNY). <br />
<b><br />September 29, 2012 2:00 p.m. Bay Books, San Ramon, CA</b><br />
<br />
Appearing with Katherine Longshore (GILT), Corrine Jackson (IF I LIE) and Veronica Rossi (UNDER THE NEVER SKY).<br />
<br />
<b>October 12, 2012 2:00 p.m. NCIBA Annual Conference</b><br />
<br />
Signing finished copies of Silver at the Flux booth during the Northern California Independent Booksellers Annual Conference in South San Francisco.<b> </b> <br />
<b><br />October 24-26 Charlotte, NC</b><br />
<br />
YOUR
BEST BOOK Workshop. I'll be on a panel with fellow YA Muses Katherine
Longshore (GILT), Veronica Rossi (UNDER THE NEVER SKY) and Donna Cooner
(SKINNY) and Bret Ballou, discussing revision and our journey to
publication. We are also planning to do a local signing so stay tuned
for details.<br />
<br />
<br />
BLOG TOUR:<br />
<br />
Stop by the SILVER blog tour hosted by the fabulous Jaime and Patricia at 2 Chicks on Books:<br />
<br />
9/1/2012- YA Sisterhood- <a href="http://ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com/2012/09/silver-by-talia-vance-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">Blake Interview</a><br />
9/2/2012- Page Turners Blog hosted by Sophie- Lightening Round Q&A<br />
9/3/2012- The Review News- Review<br />
9/4/2012- Two Chicks On Books- Dream Cast Post<br />
9/5/2012- What The Cat Read- Silver Playlist<br />
9/6/2012- I'm a Bookshark- Top Ten Scenes from Silver<br />
9/7/2012- Debbie's World Of Books- Guest Post<br />
9/8/2012- Magical Urban Fantasy Reads *****Release Day**** Scene from Blake’s POV<br />
9/9/2012- The Ravenous Reader- Interview and Review<br />
9/10/2012- Taters Tall Tales- Review<br />
9/11/2012- Books Over Boys- Interview<br />
9/12/2012- Jean Book Nerd- Interview<br />
9/13/2012- Fiktshun- Celtic Myth Guest Post<br />
9/14/2012- Literary Exploration- Interview<br />
<br />
<br />Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-42906532074298155122012-08-11T11:02:00.000-07:002012-08-11T11:02:21.036-07:00Reality is Sweet and Sad and ScaryEvery writer dreams of the day when a story becomes a book. Since Flux first offered on Silver nearly two years ago, I knew this day would come. But knowing it and experiencing it are two totally different things.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Qc5Bi2FPdVDoWao27jEFyr6MZxYUmX-iwloDclUoCHtbR1FU7wsXnZLjPhBCWnPg9leTZ20xBFhVZZYYdD96GwIhZsK99PE0JQutKoiGwD3YCbc6SKzkio4lbsrETdNbJGLXhUnWW-1z/s1600/Silver+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Qc5Bi2FPdVDoWao27jEFyr6MZxYUmX-iwloDclUoCHtbR1FU7wsXnZLjPhBCWnPg9leTZ20xBFhVZZYYdD96GwIhZsK99PE0JQutKoiGwD3YCbc6SKzkio4lbsrETdNbJGLXhUnWW-1z/s320/Silver+books.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today, the dream is a reality. I am holding a finished copy of Silver in my hands. I don't know whether anyone will buy it. I hope so. I hope that some of them will like it. But as I sit here today, one month before my debut novel is released, I don't want to think about sales and reviews and marketing. The reality of my dream is something completely unexpected to me. <br />
<br />
I am excited, of course. Still, there is a bittersweet quality to publication that no one warned me about. The reality is that this book is no longer going to be mine. I am going to have to let it go out into the world, to succeed or fail on its own. <br />
<br />
Before that happens, I want to keep it close. I want to remember that when I sat down to write this book, there was no expectation that anyone but me would ever see it. This book was a labor of love, a place to explore characters and themes and stories that mattered to me. It was a playground for me to escape to and let my imagination run loose. <br />
<br />
I want to remember how these characters took on a life of their own, surprising me in the most delightful and exciting ways. I loved uncovering their secrets, especially the ones they tried to keep buried. <br />
<br />
I want to remember how difficult it was to keep going at times. There were days when I thought I might never finish. Still, I kept coming back to it, one weekend day at a time. There were days when my heart bled onto the page, and days when I laughed out loud. Everyday was a journey.<br />
<br />
I want to remember that I didn't write this book for others. I wrote it for me. And whether it sells or not, whether people read it, whether they love it or hate it, one simple thing will always be true: I love this book. I am proud of how far Silver has come from those quiet days when it was just me and these characters and a keyboard, feeling my way through the story. But it is those days, when I wrote for the sheer joy of discovery, when pieces of me tangled up with the words, those days are the reason this book even exists.<br />
<br />
In a month, Silver won't be mine anymore, it will belong to the marketplace. I will let it go and hope for the best. For now, I am holding my finished copies tight. Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-3141047574262385962012-07-21T17:50:00.001-07:002012-07-21T21:30:40.190-07:00My Favorite Quotes<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think every writer has a
few lines or passages that they are especially attached to, those “darlings”
that managed to stay in the manuscript.
In creating this list, I realized that I love most of my favorite
passages not because they were particularly well written or poetic, but because
they captured a character or a moment in a way that made everything fall into
place for me as a writer. I also
realized that some of them contain spoilers, so I’ve tried to limit this
list to quotes that don’t give too much away. Occasionally, I have hidden the identity of one of the speakers in the quotes from Gold, so as not to spoil some things that happen in Silver.
The last caveat- all are subject to change on final publication.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“So
you’re saying I’m a slut?” Probably true
at this point, but no way I’m going to stand for Joe insulting me in my own
car. It’s bad enough that I’m never
going to get the hair gel off the ceiling.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">–
Brianna Paxton, <i>Silver</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I loved this moment because it made me laugh
when I wrote it. I had no idea Joe was so
tall until he folded himself into Brianna’s compact car, and his pompadour
smashed against the ceiling.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> ***</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>I don’t mention the fact that I got kicked out
of my dojo. I never understood that
one. What was the point of teaching
someone how to take out a knee if you weren’t actually allowed to do it? </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">_ -Berry Fields, <i>Spies and Prejudice</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Berry is describing an incident in
sixth grade where she beat up a boy who was harassing her best friend.
It’s a small piece of backstory that
helped me understand Berry’s voice and personality.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> *** </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i><span style="color: red;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">His
breath comes harder as his hand finds the bare skin of my thigh. “Do you want me to make you forget him?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Yes,” I say, though I barely remember who it is I’m supposed to be
forgetting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> – Brianna Paxton and [???], <i>Gold</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This moment came as a complete surprise
to me. The scene revealed so much about
these two characters, and the guy in particular. It was supposed to be a romantic scene, and
it was, but it was also a scene full of raw emotion that I wasn’t expecting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> *** </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.75pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.75pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tanner’s voice is low and
warm next to my ear. “You know I can hear you, right? I’m standing right here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.75pt 0in 0.75pt 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.75pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I clutch the latte to my
chest, creating a makeshift shield. “So
you are. What’s the matter? Yogurt not your thing?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.75pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.75pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Something like that.” He starts to smile. “You think I’m hot?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.75pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“You
think you’re hot. There’s a difference.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">-Berry
Fields and Tanner Halston, <i>Spies and
Prejudice</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This
moment really captured the push and pull of Berry and Tanner’s relationship for
me. Berry deliberately pushes him away
because of her dislike of him, but there is an undercurrent of attraction too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> ***</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">5 <span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Sparks of silver illuminate the green in his
eyes. “I know you, Brianna. Not just what you are. Who you are.
If you come after me, you’ll have a damn good reason for it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">-
Blake Williams, <i>Silver</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I love that
Blake doesn’t sugarcoat the danger Brianna poses, but still wants to trust her
on some level, even when she can’t trust herself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> *** </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I laugh with him. “You know for an evil killer, you’re kind of
fun to hang out with.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> “I could say the same thing about
you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">-Brianna Paxton and [???], <i>Gold</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> This exchange was fun, because Brianna needs a friend so badly at this moment in the story. I loved that
she found one in such an unexpected place.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> ***</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>The school day drags by in a haze of
distraction. I try to look forward to my
A.P. biology and calculus classes, where everything will have an
explanation. A right answer. When I was kicked out of middle school and
put on independent study, math and science were my only friends. They helped me make sense of the world
again. Today, they’re no help. There’s no comfort in the Pythagorean
Theorem, no solace in the Punnett square. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">‑Brianna Paxton, <i>Silver</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This passage is one of my favorites because
Brianna’s ability to shut out the things she can’t explain is slipping.
It’s the moment in the story when Brianna can no longer hide from who
she is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So those are some of my favorite quotes from my manuscripts. At least for today. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i> </i></span></div>Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-40056215769267535302012-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:002012-05-09T00:00:07.080-07:00WINNERS!Thanks to all who stopped by on the YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes! I loved meeting you here, and it was great to see all the cover love for Silver. I hope you'll come back from time to time to share my latest news. If you're interested in all things writing related, you can catch me on Wednesdays at the <a href="http://yamuses.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">YA Muses blog</a> where I blog about craft along with fellow Apocalypsies Donna Cooner, Katherine Longshore and Veronica Rossi, and the always entertaining Bret Ballou. <br />
<br />
Without further ado, the winners (courtesy of Random.org) are:<br />
<br />
1. Emily the Ninja Librarian (Comment No. 3)<br />
2. Becky Lejuene (Comment No. 6)<br />
3. The second Joy (we had two) (Comment No. 74)<br />
<br />
I'll be contacting each of you to get shipping addresses for you pre-orders of Silver. Congratulations, and thanks again for participating in the Race! <br />
<h1>
True Random Number Service</h1>
<h2>
Random Integer Generator</h2>
Here are your random numbers:<br />
<pre class="data">6 3 74
</pre>
Timestamp: 2012-05-09 03:30:56 UTC<br />
<form action="" method="get">
</form>
Note: The numbers are generated left to right, i.e., <a href="http://www.random.org/faq/#Q2.3" target="_blank">across columns</a>.<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-35780276159215948292012-05-01T22:57:00.001-07:002012-05-08T20:26:35.988-07:00The YAmazing Race with MGnificent PrizesWelcome to my little corner of the YAmazing Race! <b>The Contest Runs from May 2, 2012 beginning at noon EST and runs to May 8, 2012. </b><br />
<br />
<b>THE CONTEST IS OFFICIALLY OVER. THANKS TO THOSE WHO ENTERED</b><br />
<b>Don't forget to check <a href="http://apocalypsies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">the Apocalypsies blog</a> on May 9th for winners of the YAmazing Race. Winners of my giveaway will be announced here on May 9th!</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VurKcKMdpUqxgZ8Y_mjS8SntcseAC8KTWCltWE3ZePa9rbXu2v-mQ57nvmT5SrHzepYp-31nG7Zc0bh6eIFp6OFmhZQDEuPYNOlejFZRqVE-2tNlvfLHGo-SNmA20PgsgltqYqcxYpdZ/s1600/yamazing-race.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VurKcKMdpUqxgZ8Y_mjS8SntcseAC8KTWCltWE3ZePa9rbXu2v-mQ57nvmT5SrHzepYp-31nG7Zc0bh6eIFp6OFmhZQDEuPYNOlejFZRqVE-2tNlvfLHGo-SNmA20PgsgltqYqcxYpdZ/s320/yamazing-race.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The YAmazing Race with MGnificent prizes is a fabulous blog hop featuring over 50 debut authors, and prize packs that include ARCs, gift certificates, swag, and more! If you haven’t yet been to the Apocalypsies website, please click <a href="http://apocalypsies.blogspot.com/">here</a> to start from the beginning and read the complete rules. Now on to the race!<br />
<br />
SILVER by Talia Vance (Flux, September 8, 2012)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtpNq3t1hVAJm3R14hdkYt3jFJGbc1TK_Q6zoFc8xB3YvHapMYzdr_iKlWYevYhvMck_UNIS-Xyk34SgF54UTiKubZEmrN_slur-vmGrmCNqhtq5k7UgV_0p4KDCLYfPaqmyiOgQ8et45/s1600/Silver+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtpNq3t1hVAJm3R14hdkYt3jFJGbc1TK_Q6zoFc8xB3YvHapMYzdr_iKlWYevYhvMck_UNIS-Xyk34SgF54UTiKubZEmrN_slur-vmGrmCNqhtq5k7UgV_0p4KDCLYfPaqmyiOgQ8et45/s1600/Silver+cover.jpg" /></a></div>
<span id="freeText16867813951765601559">Beauty is pointless when no one's looking. <br /><br />Brianna Paxton has been invisible to guys since the eighth grade. She’s pretty enough, it’s just that no one bothers to look. There’s almost nothing that can’t be explained with science, and Brianna has a theory: she’s missing the pheromone that attracts people to one another. Brianna’s theory is shot to hell in one frozen, silver moment, when time stops and Blake Williams not only sees her, he recognizes something inside her that she’s been hiding from even herself. <br /><br />Before Brianna fully understands who and what she is, she accidentally binds her soul to Blake. Forced to find a way to reconcile forbidden love and her bloody heritage, Brianna discovers that there's nothing pointless about her, and Blake may be in the most danger of all.</span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText16867813951765601559"><b>But wait there's more:</b> In addition to the great prizes you can win by completing the questions at the end of this leg of the race, I am going to give away three pre-orders of Silver to three lucky North American resident who leave a comment here! Leave a comment and then check back on May 9, to see if you are a winner! And don't forget to add Silver to <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194637-silver" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span id="freeText16867813951765601559"><b>The next stop on the race is <a href="http://www.sarawalshbooks.blogspot.com/">HERE</a></b></span><br />
<b><br />GO FLYING GRIZZLIES!!!</b></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQRK_SGHyv5TdAz4s0xjujBjUvoROmdPQdH1uRxSQDAghO9HfNhTajHfo5D8ox1x7dF1bG6lGr0CC7bB0bVpAJop3XZIS387xW7z0SW26Y4I8AV1btUWDqr_UPxl4BjwjWZfF-tSN4FTT/s1600/killer+pengiun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQRK_SGHyv5TdAz4s0xjujBjUvoROmdPQdH1uRxSQDAghO9HfNhTajHfo5D8ox1x7dF1bG6lGr0CC7bB0bVpAJop3XZIS387xW7z0SW26Y4I8AV1btUWDqr_UPxl4BjwjWZfF-tSN4FTT/s320/killer+pengiun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com88tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-66509476756105041452012-02-28T22:10:00.000-08:002012-02-28T22:10:09.784-08:00SILVER CoverIn case you missed it, the cover for SILVER is out! I love the way it evokes both Brianna's invisibility and her epic journey. I just want to hug the designer. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVOC8iwm1JiSJ65yHT89AnIKzGE2-wAlbu1OQHmnj39dNJNey3SG4K7upeFDvslY33uUU-LM4Y6u_lNdbg92jqJV2jM1mkwPUwych1qzygiRyLzSlu87Eh6_qlyntE1AHBGoNPXsz8kY3/s1600/Silver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVOC8iwm1JiSJ65yHT89AnIKzGE2-wAlbu1OQHmnj39dNJNey3SG4K7upeFDvslY33uUU-LM4Y6u_lNdbg92jqJV2jM1mkwPUwych1qzygiRyLzSlu87Eh6_qlyntE1AHBGoNPXsz8kY3/s1600/Silver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVOC8iwm1JiSJ65yHT89AnIKzGE2-wAlbu1OQHmnj39dNJNey3SG4K7upeFDvslY33uUU-LM4Y6u_lNdbg92jqJV2jM1mkwPUwych1qzygiRyLzSlu87Eh6_qlyntE1AHBGoNPXsz8kY3/s320/Silver.jpg" width="207" /></a><span id="freeText13254404019005629085">Beauty is pointless when no one's looking.<br />
<br />
Brianna Paxton has been invisible to guys since the eighth grade. She’s pretty enough, it’s just that no one bothers to look. There’s almost nothing that can’t be explained with science, and Brianna has a theory: she’s missing the pheromone that attracts people to one another. Brianna’s theory is shot to hell in one frozen, silver moment, when time stops and Blake Williams not only sees her, he recognizes something inside her that she’s been hiding from even herself.<br />
<br />
Before Brianna fully understands who and what she is, she accidentally binds her soul to Blake. Forced to find a way to reconcile forbidden love and her bloody heritage, Brianna discovers that there's nothing pointless about her, and Blake may be in the most danger of all.</span>Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-90189710535229463402011-08-04T10:19:00.000-07:002011-08-04T10:19:02.593-07:00NEVER SKY ARC, Conferences and CelebrationsIt is our Blogoversary over at the <a href="http://yamuses.blogspot.com/">YA Muses</a> blog, and to celebrate, we're giving away a signed copy of the ARC of Veronica Rossi's beautiful debut UNDER THE NEVER SKY. This is a wonderful book, with vivid characters and gorgeous prose. I can't wait to talk about it withe the rest of the world, so hop on <a href="http://yamuses.blogspot.com/2011/08/contest-book-review-writing-groove.html">over</a> and comment or follow to be entered to win, so we can chat.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, the fellow Muses and I are all headed for a weekend of celebration in LA for the National SCBWI conference. If you will be there, please say Hi. One of the unexpected joys of embarking in the solitary pursuit of writing has been meeting so many wonderful people who love books.<br />
<br />
I've reposted my <a href="http://yamuses.blogspot.com/2011/08/revision-checklist-reprise.html">Revision Checklist</a> post for our "Best of" week. This is my step by step process for taking a manuscript from first draft to finished product. I hope you find it useful.Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-17522346649146026782011-04-16T18:56:00.000-07:002011-04-16T18:56:12.259-07:00Getting Started AgainI started a new book today.<br />
<br />
Which got me thinking about first drafts. I've started exactly five. I've finished exactly two.<br />
<br />
But the thing with those two that I've finished is that there were LOTS of stops and starts along the way. The first one that I finished was the book now know as BANDIA, and it was really the third version of a book I tried to write many, many times, over many, many years. Finally something clicked, but not before I got distracted by a shiny new idea that would become SPIES & PREJUDICE. I got fifty pages into that one before I set it aside to finish BANDIA.<br />
<br />
But then we sold SPIES off of those same fifty pages, and I HAD to finish. So I did. In eight weeks. Which surprised even me. That experience gave me a great deal of confidence. I can write another book. I might even be able to write a lot more of them. And hey, if I can write a book in eight weeks, I should be able to churn out two or three a year, right?<br />
<br />
Um, no. Since finishing the first draft of SPIES, I've written exactly 10K words on one project, 350 words on another, and 2500 words on this new one. Yes, you read that right, I have THREE shiny new projects in beginning stages. I absolutely intend to finish every one of them, but I'm not going to kill myself if I end the year with only one completed first draft by years end.<br />
<br />
And since I'm under contract for the BANDIA sequel (which, ahem, is not one of the three), I'm pretty sure that's the one I'll have finished.<br />
<br />
Still, it's fun to have new worlds and characters and plots to think about. And who knows? I might end the year with two shiny new manuscripts in hand.<br />
<br />
I can dream anyway!Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-25114492878739701552011-02-21T19:39:00.000-08:002011-02-21T19:39:55.005-08:00New Holding Page!Still not a website, but today my new holding page went live. <br />
<br />
Thanks to Maddee at <a href="http://xuni.com/">Xuni.com</a> for bringing a little piece of me to life on line!<br />
<br />
Check it out <a href="http://www.taliavance.com/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
I love it! The website itself won't be ready for a few months, but for now I really love this page.Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-21966450419274657512011-02-20T20:58:00.000-08:002011-02-20T20:58:06.499-08:00Killing a DarlingI've just started the first round of edited revision on SPIES. As much a I can't wait to be on the other side of this revision with a finished manuscript in hand, revision is my favorite part of the writing process. The first draft hurts because it's both overwhelming and unknown. But revision, revision is where a manuscript becomes a book, where characters become real, where plots have a purpose and where stories come to life.<br />
<br />
I love discovering the hidden depths of my characters and the deeper meaning behind my stories. I love exploring themes and plot threads in more detail. I love adding layers that make the story richer and more complex.<br />
<br />
Bur Revision is hard too. Not every scene, or plot thread, or character serves the story. And it can be hard to let them go. <br />
<br />
One of my favorite characters got cut today. It was my idea to cut him, because the overall story loses nothing from his absence. He was a literal darling, brightening every scene he was in with a touch of humor. He didn't serve any purpose that wasn't being fulfilled by another character though and I needed to simplify. <br />
<br />
I've cut characters from manuscripts before. Body counts are nothing new for my revision process. But this one hurt more than the others because I loved him so much. <br />
<br />
So tonight I raise a glass to Jason Hiles, thank him for the laughs and friendship, and send him into literary limbo. For now. He'll be back. <br />
<br />
And I promise him one hell of a storyline.Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-67823854544470935372011-02-13T17:15:00.000-08:002011-02-13T17:15:34.537-08:00UPDATE or WHERE HAVE I BEEN?So it seems as if I've fallen off the face of the earth right? Nope, I'm still here. And I've been very, very busy over the last few months.<br />
<br />
Turns out that when you sell a book off of a partial manuscript, you actually have to deliver a finished product. Who knew? So I spent three months from September to December writing. Then writing some more. Then revising. Until a finished manuscript of SPIES & PREJUDICE was born. It was a lot of fun to write, and I'm about to start the editing process.<br />
<br />
And I've been blogging as a regular member of the YA Muses blog. I blog weekly usually on Wednesdays. You can find me over at http://www.yamuses.blogspot.com. The Muses is a blog featuring my entire critique group. We've learned so much in the last year as we've moved closer to becoming published writers, and the blog is place to share our experiences, writing processes, books we love and more. Plus, my critique partners are some of the most amazing writers I've had the privilege to read. <br />
<br />
Finally, I've been working on a new project, a new manuscript that for now is just for me. It's fun to write without any deadlines or expectations. <br />
<br />
Writing a book under contract was wonderful and terrifying. It's a great feeling to know your writing will be published, but it also brings a lot of pressure that you don't have when you're writing on your own. In order to keep from becoming completely paralyzed and get a draft of SPIES on paper, I had to shut all of that out and just write the book for me. It wasn't easy though, and I'm still not sure how I managed to do it. I imagine published authors experience this to an even greater degree, because they not only have a publisher, but a legion of fans who they don't want to let down. Talk about pressure.<br />
<br />
As stress goes, this is definitely the good kind, because you know how lucky you are to have people who are looking forward to your next book. And having a deadline really motivated me to sit down and write, as opposed to meandering my way to a first draft like I did in the past. I proved something to myself.<br />
<br />
I am really doing this.<br />
<br />
I am a writer.Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-80938343185619867932010-09-17T16:34:00.000-07:002010-09-17T18:35:21.222-07:00The Craziness of PublishingSo, if you follow me on YA Muses, Twitter or the Blueboard, you might have heard that I got my first book deal, and my second, all in the same day. How did this happen? I'm still trying to figure it out, but near as I can tell social networking and conferences had a lot to do with it. And while a personal connection won't sell a book by itself, it can open the door to unexpected opportunities. <br />
<br />
Circa April 2010: I had just signed with Sarah Davies with my very first novel, a Celtic YA paranormal called BANDIA, involving forbidden love and hot guys with no shirts. We were discussing a pretty major rewrite when I attended my local SCWBI conference in Rocklin, CA. Unbeknownst to even Sarah, I had started a second novel while I was querying BANDIA, the book that would become SPIES & PREJUDICE, a Veronica Mars style retelling of Pride & Prejudice. I submitted the first fifteen pages of SPIES for a conference critique, and through luck of the draw, I drew Flux editor Brian Farrey. Brian approached me at a break and when I wasn't hyperventilating, I think I heard him say that he really liked my writing voice and would love to see the whole manuscript for SPIES. I told him the book wasn't finished, but that I had a paranormal I was revising with Sarah. Brian and Sarah talked, and we made sure he was on the submission list for BANDIA.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to May 2010: I was fumbling around on Twitter when I found editor Elizabeth Law (@egmontgal) on an #askagent thread. I started following her and happened to catch a tweet about an off-Broadway show called Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson that she enjoyed. Oddly, my husband and I had once joked about writing a musical about James K. Polk and had even written a few bars of a song about Manifest Destiny, so I sent a reply to Ms. Law asking about the AJ show. She replied with the details, and my husband and I got tickets to see it a few weeks later when we were in NYC. When I got back to CA, I let Elizabeth know that we'd seen it and really enjoyed it. We exchanged some Tweets over the summer as I rewrote BANDIA, and I continued to follow Elizabeth, learning that we liked a lot of the same books and that she really seemed to care about YA and MG books. <br />
<br />
August/September 2010: BANDIA, all revised and on submission for just over a week, got an amazing offer from Brian Farrey. A multiple book offer, with options for even more books featuring the characters from BANDIA. I was over the moon. I'd met Brian and heard him speak. I knew Flux would be a good home for my books, and that it wouldn't flinch at some of the edgier aspects of BANDIA. And one of my favorite YA authors is Simone Elkeles, whose LEAVING PARADISE is with Flux. (Congrats to Simone for hitting the NYT list last week with the sequel, RETURN TO PARADISE). <br />
<br />
But we still hadn't heard form Egmont. And I was torn. Because I really wanted to work with Elizabeth too. So when Elizabeth called Sarah to talk about BANDIA, somehow it came up that she wanted to see my other projects. SPIES had been put on the back burner while I revised BANDIA, but I sent over the partial manuscript. Two hours later, I was on the phone with Elizabeth, who was even more delightful in person. We had an offer on SPIES that same afternoon.<br />
<br />
But could I really do both deals?<br />
<br />
Sarah immediately started talking timelines and delivery dates, and it soon became clear that the timing would work out so that, yes, it was definitely doable.<br />
<br />
And so I get the best of all worlds. I get to work with the two editors that I connected with on my own, in completely unrelated ways. I have no doubt that these personal contacts went a long way to getting Flux to read and offer on BANDIA so quickly, and Egmont to dig a little deeper to discover SPIES. But none of it would have happened if I didn't have a wonderful editorial agent like Sarah, who helped me turn BANDIA into something marketable and went above and beyond to get me my first deal and my second. On the same day!<br />
<br />
If you haven't seen them, here are the announcements from Publishers Marketplace:<br />
<br />
Talia Vance's debut SPIES AND PREJUDICE, pitched as Veronica Mars meets PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, in which a teenage private investigator goes undercover to discover that the mother she thought was dead is actually in the witness protection program, and the guy she was determined to hate is the one person who can save her life, forcing her to re-evaluate everything she thought she knew about herself, her family, and love, to Elizabeth Law at Egmont, for publication in Spring 2012, by Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency (NA). <br />
<br />
And:<br />
<br />
Talia Vance's BANDIA, rooted in Celtic mythology, a story of forbidden love, as a girl discovers too late that she's descended from a deadly Irish goddess, having accidentally bound her soul to the hot guy whose tribe is sworn to destroy her; falling for the one boy it would kill her to love, and with her survival depending on his death, she must find a way to break the power of her dark inheritance, to Brian Farrey at Flux, in a two-book deal, for publication in Fall 2012 and Fall 2013, by Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency (NA).<br />
<br />
And now I need to stop bouncing off the walls and get to work. I have deadlines :) <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-49550255387799345442010-08-11T21:15:00.000-07:002010-08-19T17:26:07.354-07:00My Manuscript has a Body CountMy manuscript is bloody. It's been hacked and cut and beaten. It's had its guts pulled out and put back in. And it's been retitled. And retitled again. My manuscript has a body count.<br />
<br />
The fist casualty- subplots. Some of these subplots were funny, others had shocking twists. A select few even had some achingly beautiful prose. But don't feel sorry for them either. They were guilty as sin. They distracted from the main character arcs, complicated the plot unnecessarily, stopped moving the story forward, or *gasp* were a little too convenient. In short, they had it coming.<br />
<br />
The second casualty- characters. Some lovely characters with invariably witty dialog and secret agendas. The gay son of a macho warrior who gets off on disappointing his father and has a wicked sense of fashion? Sadly, gone. The little girl with magical healing powers that are never explained but critical to the climax of the story? Axed. Not that anyone really misses her.<br />
<br />
The third casualty- werewolves. What?? But this was a WEREWOLF book. Surely the werewolves had to stay. Nope. The werewolves were guilty too. Turns out that the werewolves were weighing down the story with my own preconceived notions and baggage associated with the wolf mythology. Getting rid of the wolves freed me up to reimagine the story and focus on the characters. And as a bonus, no bestiality undertones!<br />
<br />
The fourth casualty-almost the entire second half. Forty thousand words. Some of them really good words, but words that didn't serve the main characters or conflict. Some great scenes died here. And I can't lie. It was bloody. <br />
<br />
The fifth casualty- fear. You'd think with all this cutting and shredding, that there would be no getting rid of the fear. And at first, there was a lot-seriously, a lot- of fear. Fear of cutting out some of the best parts of the book. Fear that I couldn't write anything better or even as good. That fear was killed off the old-fashioned way. Not by slashing (even though I wished I could), but by creating. Writing. Who new that writing could be such a powerful weapon?<br />
<br />
So don't worry about my manuscript and it's body count. It's fully recovered.<br />
<br />
And then some.Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-45983844252378217702010-04-25T13:37:00.000-07:002010-09-16T07:45:40.323-07:00In which my manuscript becomes the BacheloretteI have been submitting my paranormal YA for a few months now. There have been many hopeful meetings with producers (queries) that led to a few callbacks (requests for partials) and even a few dates with the Bachelor (agents who read the full). There was even one meet the parents that was so close, but alas, the Bachelor did not choose me.<br />
<br />
And then something strange happened. All of a sudden I had not one, but two agents requesting revisions and offering to look again. Then an offer from one. Then an offer from a third agent. Everything seemed crazy and possible, and for a week I could barely think straight. My manuscript, like Tristan, got to be the Bachelorette.<br />
<br />
So yes, you really can find a match on a reality TV show, I mean, through the querying process. I am pleased to announce that I am now represented by the wonderful Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency! http://www.greenhouseliterary.com<br />
<br />
For those who are querying take heart. I did not know Sarah. I didn't know anyone who knew Sarah. I did not attend a conference where Sarah was speaking. Nope. I did things the old fashioned way. I sent a blind query + 5 pages, following the submission guidelines on her website.<br />
<br />
Before querying, I did read her blog and several interviews with her available online. I spent some time on writer forums to get a feel for the buzz about her, and I felt confident that she would be a good fit for my work. I continued to do research even after sending my query, only to see a comment from another writer that Sarah had recently said she was seeing way too many werewolf/shapeshifter books. My heart sank. Yes, I had sent her a werewolf/shapeshifter book. So I wrote that query off.<br />
<br />
Then, I got an email in my box from Sarah's co-agent in the UK, Julia Churchill. Julia said she was reading Sarah's mail while Sarah was at a conference, and that she liked the pages. So I sent them out, thinking I was lucky that someone else was reading the mail, but that Sarah would probably reject me pretty quickly.<br />
<br />
Not so. Turns out, Sarah had read my query originally, but was on the fence about it because of the subject matter. She liked the sample pages enough to send it to Julia for a second opinion. So I was lucky that Julia liked the pages too.<br />
<br />
Sarah went out on a limb to offer representation, even though we agreed that the manuscript would have to undergo a pretty significant revision before it could be submitted to publishers. Sarah's experience as an editor (she has worked with Phillip Pullman and Meg Cabot!) gave me complete confidence in her judgment. I agreed with her comments, and feel like the revisions are going to take this book to a level far beyond my original vision.<br />
<br />
Finding an agent who believes in you is a major milestone for any writer. Finding someone who believes in you AND is willing to put the time in to make your work sing. That's priceless.<br />
<br />
So, I am of course thrilled, excited and bouncing off the walls.<br />
<br />
But enough gushing.<br />
<br />
I have work to do. My poor characters have no idea what's coming...Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-13020825509935635732010-03-03T19:28:00.000-08:002010-03-03T19:42:57.591-08:00The dog ate my homeworkHuckleberry is a great puppy, but he can be a little needy. If left alone for more than an hour or two, he has been known to get bored and be a bit distructive.<br /><br />The good news is he doesn't dig up the carpet or tear down the walls, although at 150 pounds he certainly could. Shoes? Nope. They're perfectly safe. Rawhide bones? Nary a tooth mark.<br /><br />It seems Huckleberry has a taste for literature.<br /><br />The hardcovers are the most popular, as he can really sink his teeth into a strong binding. There's the added bonus of a removable cover which can be easily shredded into a thousand tiny pieces. It's really quite pretty. When not scattered about your lawn. The paperbacks are fun, but pose no challenge. Easily digestible pulp fiction appears to be a favorite. <br /><br />The books are usually still legible, if you can pry the battered pages apart. Who knew Saint Bernard drool dried to the consistency of Elmer's glue?<br /><br />I am almost afraid to contact the dog behaviorist. The first question will be,"Um, why do you keep 47 books on your nightstand?"<br /><br />And then, "Aren't these for teenagers?" <br /><br />Followed by, "Are they ALL about vampires?"<br /> <br />So for now Huckleberry's book stash is safe.Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-1054924896505304662010-02-28T17:46:00.000-08:002010-02-28T18:28:00.745-08:00Writing Conferences- worth the investment?<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For those of us seeking publication, the question eventually comes up- should we spend the time and money to attend a writers' conference? Many of the very same folks who will tell you not to bow to vanity presses and for pay reading services, will tell you that it's perfectly okay to shell out hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars to attend a writing conference.<br /><br />Only you can decide if attending a conference is worth the investment. I attended my first conference in December, and I have to say it was a fantastic experience. Not only did I receive some wonderful critiques and writing advice, I also made some wonderful writer friends, people who understand the huge sacrifices and emotional investment that goes into writing in a way that folks in the real world never will. To help you make a decision, here are some pros and cons based on my experiences:<br /><br />PROS:<br /><br />1) Agents, Editors and Published Authors Oh My!<br /><br />Yes, it's a great opportunity to network, and there may even be opportunities to pitch your work, but the caveat is that you want to make a positive impression. Be ready.<br /><br />2) Frank advice about what's selling (and what's not)<br /><br />It's good to understand your market, but don't get caught up in trying to write to what's hot. By the time your book is ready, something else will be the next big thing. Try to write THAT.<br /><br />3) A chance to meet other like-minded writers<br /><br />Don't underestimate the power of a good support group. Conferences provide a great opportunity to network with your peers, who may become future critique partners, colleagues or friends.<br /><br />4) Professional Critiques<br /><br />The conference I attended included several critique sessions, including other participants and at least one publishing professional. It was fun to see people react to the work in real time, and the advice I received helped me take my writing to the next level. This type of thing is not for the faint of heart, but if you can brave the scrutiny and accept constructive feedback, by all means go for it.<br /><br />CONS<br /><br />1) Agents, Editors and Published Authors, Oh My!, Part Two<br /><br />You only get one chance to make a first impression. Make sure your pitch is ready, your writing is polished, and your attitude is professional. This sounds like a no brainer, but trust me, when you see that dream agent across a crowded room and your breath catches in your throat, it's easier than you think to panic and go into crazy stalker mode. I might know a little bit about this, but that's another blog post...<br /><br />2) Cost<br /><br />There's no doubt that conferences are a huge investment. Even those with reasonable fees usually involve travel and overnight stays. Writing already involves a huge amount of time away from our families, so it can be hard to justify the time investment.<br /><br />3) No One's Going to Sign You Up<br /><br />Sorry, your manuscript is not going to be spotted from across the dinner table and 'discovered' like Cindy Crawford in the food court at the mall. While you might make contacts that lead to eventual representation or sales, the actual submission will take place after the conference, and your book will be subjected to the same scrutiny as if you had queried blindly.<br /><br />4) Not Everyone's Going to Like Your Work<br /><br />If you are given an opportunity to pitch your work or get a critique, be prepared for subjective reactions that might not be all positive. Not everyone is going to love or even like your work. It's one of the risks you take by putting yourself out there. And one of the benefits, since constructive feedback can only make your writing better.<br /><br />5) Not Every Conference is Right for You<br /><br />Make sure the conference is right for your writing goals, fits where you are in your writing journey and is a fit for the genre you're writing in. After spending all that time and money to be there, you want to make sure that you're learning information you haven't heard before, meeting people who work in your genre, and moving forward with your career goals.<br /><br />I've loved my conference experiences, and I can't wait for the next one I'm attending in April. But I can also see why some writers would rather spend their time, well, writing. <br /><br />Like everything else in this business, there are no easy answers.<br /></span>Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-65471906492880338832010-02-15T16:51:00.000-08:002010-02-15T17:17:16.000-08:00Submitting to Agents and DatingI've heard the analogy, that finding an agent is like dating. After all you're looking for a long term relationship with someone who will love you (or at least your work), and who is communicative, enthusiastic, professional, etc. <br /><br />Except its not like dating at all. Unless you're dating on the Bachelor.<br /><br />Because let's face it, when you send out that query letter, you've already vetted the agent and presumably assumed that they have what it takes to market your work. The agent is the awesome guy that everyone is vying for. Now how to make yourself stand out from the pack?<br /><br />With the query, it's not so much a date as an audition. Is my manuscript pretty enough, funny enough, engaging enough, to make it past the producers? Will my manuscript ever even get to meet the Bachelor, er agent?<br /><br />And when you do make it past the query stage, and the agent requests sample pages, it is a bit like a first date. But it's a first date with 30 other pretty, funny, engaging manuscripts hanging around in the background, waiting for their shot with the agent.<br /><br />Maybe you get a rose or two, and the field gets narrowed. Things feel like they're really clicking. And you make it all the way to meet the parents and the agent reads your full manuscript. Great news, right? <br /><br />So your manuscript was selected from the 100s, possibly thousands who auditioned. You made it through some rose ceremonies. All the way to the finale. At this point, half the country (or at least your family and friends) is routing for you. And you just might get picked. Or you might get kicked in the teeth on national television. <br /><br />I don't know about you, but when I was dating, my husband didn't already have an established girlfriend that was his top priority or a throng of women competing for his attention. (Okay, there were one or two, but that's another story). <br /><br />I know that a beautiful story is all it takes. And if it's really good, the tables can be turned. So maybe my manuscript will go on to be the Bachelorette.<br /><br />It worked for Trista.Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-72520873807666446872010-01-31T17:34:00.000-08:002010-01-31T17:51:38.237-08:00Waiting and Writing and 'RithmiticFirst the waiting. <br /><br />Waiting sucks. No question about it. Especially when you feel like you are either on the precipice of one of the most exciting journeys of your life, or you are about to run smack into a wall. And you're waiting to find out which one it's going to be. <br /><br />That's how I've felt for the last four weeks, with a couple of full manuscripts out with agents.<br /><br />Will they like it? Will they like me?<br /><br />It's like the first day of a new school, except you don't know the outcome for weeks. Sometimes months. And you have to understand that most of the time the answer is going to be, "um, no, but it's nothing personal." Still, as long as the book is out there, there is hope.<br /><br />Then comes the writing.<br /><br />Every writer, agent and publishing professional advises writers to start on the next book as soon as the first is out on submission. Don't waste those precious months of waiting, when you could be writing. And if this book doesn't sell, you'll have the next one ready to pitch.<br /><br />Great advice. It is. Sounds simple really.<br /><br />Except I can't make it work. I'm trying desperately to get back into my WIP, but my heart is still all tangled up with the characters in the book on submission, and my mind keeps racing through situations for a sequel. <br /><br />I really need to find a way to put book 1 behind me and focus on the present. I know the best way to get over an old love is to find a new one. But I'm so not over it.<br /><br />Sometimes one plus one doesn't equal two. <br /><br />Hmm, maybe there's a story there somewhere.Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150844545926350454.post-81919334522560671212010-01-24T17:34:00.000-08:002010-01-24T17:47:31.719-08:00On reading, writing and chocolate chip cookiesI got my Amazon order and I've been catching up on some recent titles in my genre. I wonder sometimes if writing is ruining reading for me in some ways, since I find myself deconstructing every aspect of the books I read. Then I find something that totally and completely transports me into another world. When it happens it's amazing, and I'm reminded why I write in the first place.<br /><br />I just read SWOON, which I quite enjoyed, although it has more sex and casual drug use than I normally see in YA books. I found it interesting that I had more difficulty with the casual drug use than the sex. I couldn't shut off my mom radar, which is normally not an issue for me.<br /><br />Also finished DEVOURED, a dark, modern take on Snow White. The whole heart eating thing was a little creepy, but it was a fun read.<br /><br />Just started FALLEN. It's in third person, which seems to be making a bit of comeback. <br /><br />As a writer, I want to write something that will take people out of their own head, and transport them. I know writing does that for me. It's just harder for me to go there as a reader.<br /><br />Oh well. My daughter made chocolate chip cookies today. So it's a good to day to be in the real world.Talia Vancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03029105840248690575noreply@blogger.com0