Cover Reveal! THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT

I've been staring (literally staring) at it for weeks. I'm so excited to finally share it with all of you!

I hope you love it as much as I do--and I'd love to hear your comments below. THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT will be on-sale January 8, 2013, so mark those calendars -- or pre-order now on Amazon or B&N!

Scroll down for more news.

Some of you might notice that Perry got a hair cut. Truth is, it's near impossible to find someone with the hair I picture for Per, which can best be described as post-apocalyptic surf-shag? I think he looks pretty good with shorter hair, too.

I really love the colors in this cover and how it compliments the first book... Thank you, HarperCollins design team! You've outdone yourselves! Thank you thank you thank you!

Moving on...

Roar and Liv Short Story: I'm almost finished with my first draft of the Roar and Liv short story and I'm really, really starting to wish it were a full-length book. There's something about Roar that's so fun and interesting to me--not to mention that his love for Perry and Liv is pretty darn disarming. I have absolutely loved being in his point of view and I can't wait to share this short piece with you. Stay tuned for more details!

Vacay: Finally, I'll be on vacation for the first part of July, so I might be quiet on the interwebz for a little while. Then again, maybe I won't be : )

Happy Summer! And thank you for the support. You guys make this writing thing so incredibly rewarding for me!

Update on My Assistants

This post has very little to do with UNDER THE NEVER SKY. It has very little to do with anything substantial, really. Don't say you weren't warned...

A few months ago, my editor asked me to put together a little video of my office and work space. She thought it might be interesting for people to see "behind the scenes." You can see it here, if you're so inclined. 

I'm probably guilty of making behind-the-scenes look a little more glamorous on the video than is actually the case. Right now, for example, I'm still in the running clothes I wore when I jogged this morning. It's hot here in Northern California and my scent has acquired a "delicate bouquet" throughout the day that might even turn Perry's nose. I digress.

My point wasn't to tell you that I'm seldom very pulled together when I write. The point was to respond to the inquiries I've received regarding my assistants, Ivan and Lola. Many of you (yes, many) have asked for an update. Here it is:

Here's the old girl, feeling miserable and smelling bad.
Doesn't she look forlorn? 

LOLA
 Lola has fallen on hard times recently. Approximately two weeks ago, in the middle of the night, she was absolutely doused by a skunk. The smell was such that nausea ensued for the entire the family. Tomato juice was attempted. Store bought solutions, too. As were internet recommended treatments with warnings like: "Don't put a cap on the solution after you've mixed it or it'll explode." Nothing worked. She went to the groomer, but it was too late. Skunk juice, we were told, is oil-based and if you don't get it early, then you'll be living with it for a good long while.

Doesn't Ivan look, um, forlorn, too?

As unpleasant as the eau de skunk is for us humans, it has to be miserable for the old girl, (did you know dogs' sense of smell is 40x stronger than ours?) so I've given her a few weeks off the hard editing. She's recuperating daily. Thank you in advance for your well-wishes.

IVAN
Ivan, on the other hand, spends a few hours sitting on the top porch step overseeing the neighborhood like Mufasa. Then he terrorizes birds, lizards, cats, dogs and the occasional kid for a few hours and heads inside to spend the rest of his days like this.

Such a hard life.

I have not given Ivan the summer off, but he doesn't listen. He has been warned and placed on probation. I sincerely hope he shapes up, but between you and me, his assistant position might open up soon.

There you have it. My assistants. Now back to writing.

Book Two Update! Comic Con in San Diego! Other Stuff!

Helllooooo!

Book Two, titled THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT, is in the can, peeps. It's just gone through copy edits which means it's, like, finished-ish. Which is so exciting! I can't wait to share the story with you. And the cover. It's amazing! Stay tuned for details on that front, coming up soon.

Comic Con San Diego!
I'll be signing books on Sunday, July 15th with a slew of amazing authors including but not limited to:
Scott Westerfield, Tahereh Mafi, Leigh Bardugo, Kami Garcia, Melina Marchetta, James Dashner, Victoria Schwab, Myra McEntire, Nathan Bransford, Did I Miss Anyone? And Can You Believe This List???

Switching gears, the YA Muses are talking about Writing Highs and Lows on the blog this week. Good stuff over here.

Finally, I just want to say a blanket THANK YOU to my readers and fans. I'm really flipping lucky. You guys being a big reason why.

Stay awesome.

New York and Book Expo America (BEA)

Monday and Tuesday of this week, I was in New York For BEA (Book Expo America). I’d been warned about the massive scale of this convention but even so, the scope blew me away. I read that the expected attendance this year is around 30,000, which is basically a small army of book people. (And it felt like war sometimes in that exhibit floor, let me tell you.) But it was awesome to see blogging friends, author friends, and HarperCollins folks, and amazing to see the book industry supercharged and thriving. Go books!

I started the week at IDPF (the digital/ebook Con) learning about advancements going on in that end of the book spectrum. Lots of cool stuff to look forward to; ebooks are really going to transform in the coming years. Here’s a shot of this small, specialty conference within a conference which ran all day Monday and part of Tuesday. Maybe it's because I live close to Silicon Valley, but the possibilities for digitally enhancing books are really intriguing me lately.

Among many others, this painting blew me away.
I challenge you to try this pose and expression at home.
Really. Try it. I'll wait... Are you laughing yet?
This is one of the most alluring portraits I've ever seen.
No matter where I was in the Frick, there she was, watching.

After a full day of sessions, I met Donna Cooner (friend, fellow YA Muse, and author of SKINNY/Scholastic October 2012) in SoHo for sushi and blood orange martinis. They did not suck, and I was so happy to talk with Donna, whose book is on the YA BUZZ Panel, and so deserving of the honor.

On Tuesday, I started the day with my amazing editor at the Frick Collection (we’re both art nuts). I'd never been to this museum but I'll definitely go back. The collection is beautiful, and the museum itself is gorgeous.

This isn't me in the red dress, but I've decided one day I will go to a gallery in formal wear because that is just the epitome of decadent coolness

Me with the one of the YA stars of the show, Donna Cooner

I returned to BEA in the afternoon and waited in line (a very long line) to have my copy of SKINNY signed, and then went to the Apocalypsies event – another highlight of my trip. This group of 2012 debut authors is truly outstanding, talented, supportive, and I’m just dang proud to be among their ranks.

I attended the HarperCollins cocktail reception that evening. There, I met Neil Gaiman (lifelong dream – check!). I also had the opportunity to meet Veronica Roth, author of DIVERGENT and INSURGENT. Veronica and I know each other through twitter and social media, but I’d never met her in person. I suppose it won’t surprise you to know that people have confused us because of our similar names. (It’s a case of mistaken identity that’s utterly flattering to me. Those of you who have read her books know why.) Anyway, she’s an absolutely lovely person. As impressive as I knew she’d be.

Me and Tamara at the Apocalypsies event
Spending time with Tamara makes me happy, as you can see.
Her upcoming novel, Time Between Us, deals with time travel. Maybe that's why?

I had to opportunity to talk with Brian Murray as well. He’s the President and CEO or HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide. I have to say, I was incredibly impressed with how approachable, intelligent and warm he was. We spoke for a little while about the future of ebooks, a topic he’s passionate and very knowledgeable about, and I left our conversation even more inspired to venture into this territory than before.

Apocalypsie Power!
Tamara Ireland Stone, me, Donna Cooner and Tiffany Schmidt
(None of us knows Robert B. Parker, nor have we fooled him.)
(Once or twice.)

After that, I had a quick bite to eat with my editor and then met some friends for drinks back in SoHo, before turning in.

Awesome time at BEA. If you have the opportunity to go too, take it!