My book reviewer friend Khyrinthia (on twitter) wrote a story character with my name in ceramics class and then made this awesome You Tube blog and dedicated it to me and my 'bad day,' yesterday.

Khy is so cute and nice and has *magic* bangs.

The bunny references are because of our Zombie Bunnies that ruined the endings of all of our books at our Savannah Retreat. Since then, I've had an abnormally high respect for fluffy furry creatures. You would too if you saw them eat werewolves in cold blood.

People who don't normal follow my blog: I'm sure you have no idea what I'm talking about and I apologize.

Anyway, I'm so touched and honored to have a You Tube dedicated to me! This is the first.

Thanks Khy!!! Team Bunny!

1. A Nerdtastic fellow helped me pick out a new battery for my MacBook at the Apple store. Can I say how much I love the Apple Store? Everything is so shiny. The people working there are so smart, and savvy, and awesome. I want to pitch a tent and move in.

2. My final line-edits. Are coming. Slowly. Partly do to "technical difficulties" ie: my laptop dying every fifteen minutes, me having to search for my auto-saved novel while the kidlets are tearing apart the living room, I can't save my author pics (which I'm DYING to show you) on my computer, re-wiring our neighborhood because everything going digital, the bank is having auto bill pay crash, then the dog's out of food, planning vaca, waiting on hold for hours, then, then, then...blah. It's just been total chaos. And the exact kind of stuff I *hate* taking the time to deal with. I'd rather be running through the sprinklers with the kidlets or staging a sword fight for my next witch book. Mundane household problems? GET IN THE OVEN!

3. Interesting online controversy from John Green's much blogged about Royalty Vs. Big Advance (that today, he seemed to be taking back a bit.) To the idea of shorter is better, or is it? People seem sort of edgy in general (me included.) Heat. Economy. Perverted governors? Too many untimely deaths last week. (RIP) I hope after a good weekend of BBQ's and fireworks, things will chill out.

4. I finished Maggie Stiefvater's SHIVER. The writing is lyrical and lovely, the setting pitch-perfect, and such a page-turner. I just really really enjoyed it and can't wait for the second novel in the series.

5. I had a dream last night that the Gothic Girls met at a ski resort in Canada for our "Monthly meeting." There was a gondola, some crying and some buffets involved. Clearly, I need to get out more. Clearly I miss my girls!

6. And in the Totally Awesome Department: The Teen Bloggers/Reviewers that I've met are making me so happy. I've been featured on this column called Waiting for Wednesday, I think ten times now!? Every time it happens I'm like a girl getting asked to the prom. Seriously. It tickles me rainbow that these astute readers are so excited about my book, and then it makes me even more anxious to make it the best book I can before it's totally out of my sticky hands. Which brings me back to #2...

Ah, such is the wacky cycle of life, which I'm so grateful to have. Even when I need some cheese with my whine.
Happy Fourth, everyone!

In this scene the Witch is playing the coveted role of: Mundane Household Problems.

READ THIS: http://carolrhoda.blogspot.com/

And then come back and talk to me if you'd like.

Editor Andrew Karre's post and SHIVER author Maggie Stiefvater's m_stiefvatercomment are incredibly thoughtful and I agree wholeheartedly.

I'm reading SHIVER now. Read 2/3 of it on the plane home from Savannah, and nearly finished it last night. That does not an overly long book make. Most people read it in one sitting (because its page turningingly awesome!) If it was any shorter, I wouldn't feel as drawn into her characters and their (literally) chilling plight.

Saying to a YA author: "Tell your story in 200 pages or less. GO!" is a ridiculous concept when you're talking about an highly articulate and thoughtful YA audience who obviously want to delve into the universe you've created. (Primo example: Stephanie Meyers, JK Rowling--clearly teens/kids are not frightened away of the length of these novels. I would argue, that the heft of those books is one of the many reasons they are so drawn in to those series. They can sit back and languish in the world instead of finishing the entire novel during one bus ride to school.)

This is not to say short is bad. It's not by a long shot. HOW I LIVE NOW is a perfect example of a beautifully written novel that doesn't have a high page count. But that novel pulls it off because of the rich writing that is full of substance and detail. You won't find five pages discussing Daisy getting dressed, or cooking eggs.

That said, YA readers don't need to be dumbed down by someone presuming novels must be short in order to hold their attention. Less is not always more, and writing is indeed art. Publishing is a business, yes, but no one will be happy with books being churned out in robo-form: same length, same style, same page count. That is lame. Terribly lame.

Books are not One Size Fits All.

I believe, as writers and editors and readers, we can find a happy medium between Cliff Notes versions of YA novels and cutting down a forest to print one book.

Writing the story you need to tell, in the tightest, most beautiful way possible should be the goal-- not the last number on the final page.


Remember what some A-rod said about this guy:

TOO MANY NOTES!
And we all know how untalented Mozart was. ;)

http://www.sparksflyup.com/weblog.php

Major players (authors) *updated to add: there is now an insightful comment from an editor as well* weigh in on the controversial subject of GIANT HUGNORMOUS ADVANCES that (may or may not) drain publishing houses VS. decent advances that an author is (more likely to earn out quickly?) and earn royalties for. John Green proposes bigger royalties and smaller advances across the board, which could benefit everyone in the industry: authors and houses alike.

I haven't been this riveted by a blog conversation in awhile.
It's sort of turned into a Team Big Advance VS. small-advance-but-I'm-happy kinda chat with a side of spicy, "I needed the Super-sized advance to quit my day job."

Good stuff!

Ladies and Gentlemen: This should be the final cover for SEA.

I promised some tweet friends I'd show it today, so here goes.

Also, should mention it's my wedding anniversary! Some odd years ago we were married in a floral garden of a vineyard in Napa county. Our reception was in a wine cave adorned with candleabras. Very Phantom of the Operaesque. Very lovely. One of the very best days of my life.

We've been together since we were nineteen.

Have never broken up. Not even for five minutes.

It's one of the reasons I believe that sometimes young love can last. When it's real, that is.

So what a nice date to share the final cover of my first book baby. The novel that was inspired by my husband and all the awesome that he brings into the world.

Without further adieu, here is my new font. I think it's evocative in all the right ways and really matches the setting of the story. (What I really think is that I owe the Art designer a few dozen tubs of frozen mini peanut butter cups.)

Hope you like it, too.

Okay, I'll admit it. Getting followed around by an awesome photographer yesterday evening 'on location' was pretty fun. At first I was nervous, but she made me feel so comfortable that I was willing to follow her anywhere (including, at one point, lying on a wet stone fountain wall to get a good shot.)

Before the shoot I had to beautify (as y'all remember me Twittering about).

Let's call it Beautifying Heidi (no small task)

1. Hair. I showed up in my yoga clothes and my regular hair cut lady washed, blew-dry and then "styled." (Flat iron so it looked silky--even from the back!)

2. Clothes. I zipped over to GAP after the hair got slicked up looking for solid colored shirts that would match my book jacket without being the exact same color and also look descent on me. Tall order. Purple washes me out, yellow is okay, but I really wanted something blue. So I bought five shirts. Two with a nice rope-like neck-line, two with puffy peasant sleeves, and a plain turquoise one. Then dashed for my make-up appointment.

3. Make-up. I should clarify, that me and make-up are not friends. We never have been. I don't really know how to apply it, I never learned. My sister made me up for my high school pictures and for my wedding. But now she lives in Oregon with infant twins, so she was clearly unavailable for the job. So my friend's husband owns a Dermatology clinic that is also very much a beautifying place (lypo, Botox, you-name-it-they-got-it). So I sat in the waiting room feeling weird (like the first time you go to the gynocologist and you just know everyone is wondering why you are there.) But luckily there was only one old man sitting there. The lady welcomed me in (my friend had warned her about my make-up aversion) and she said, "First we'll do your eyebrows." I'm like, "okay, that's fine." Closed my eyes and then felt hot wax crawl across my forehead. Then a bandaid like thing then a stinging ZIIIIPPP. Okay.

Me: "Are you waxing my eyebrows?"
Her: "Yes. Is that okay?"
Me: "Um. Sure?"

Then came the make-up. She was so sweet and didn't put on too much, but still when she held up the mirror I was so fearful I would look like this:

Because clearly that is someone with too much make-up.

After I took off some of the mascara I looked fine, like my mother-in-law said, "You look like you, only brighter."

So last step:

The Photoshoot!

She wanted to take some simple images against a green wall. I leaned over on my elbows and she shot me from across the way. She encouraged me to play with my hair and toss it around etc.

Me: (bubble over my head) Do you know how much it cost to get this straight and silky? NO PLAYING.
Me: (in real life) Sure!

She sort of got what I was going for right away. (As I mentioned, she is a pro.)

And we just had a lovely, lovely time. Her daughter is a big YA fan and was so excited that her mom was photographing an author. They both want to come to my release party and Anne asked if I was ever famous if she could be my personal photographer. I was so flattered, said YES of course, but told her not to quit her day job waiting for that. =)

Honestly, after getting the agent offer, the Putnam offer, and the cover...this was my favorite SEA related thing so far. It was just very very very cool.

So 500 shots later, we were finished. And I felt like a minor celebrity for reals.
Thanks, Anne Knudsen for trying to find the heart of the book in your shots.

Without further adieu here are the pics of her taking my pics. (NONE OF THESE ARE ANNE's official photos. Will post those later date. She will send me 200 of her favorites and I get to choose from those for my author pic, press kit, and website etc. (oh and of course twitter and the like!)

Enjoy!


Posing

More posing

Anne showing me the pics so far (so many!)

Hubby took this one while Anne was photographing me. That's the 'look' she liked the best.

SEA is debuting JUNE 10, 2010!!!!

Not August like I originally thought!

*happy discos around the world*

PS. It's also my Grammy's birthday. Awwww.

So you asked about the writer's retreat. I think I needed a few days to let it sink in so I could try and do it some justice. Here goes. Be warned: it comes with some cheese. Can't be helped.

When I was in college, and a creative writing major, I was entirely charmed by the idea of writers communing together. I saw this movie Haunted Summer, which starred the dreamily freckled Eric Stoltz as Percy Shelley. It was about their haunted summer. Percy, Lord Byron, and Mary Shelley and others. It's about the summer Mary wrote Frankenstein. They lived in a castle, boated by day, and partied by night. They wrote poetry, they romanced, they created...basically, it's the best movie ever.

I read several biographies about the trio, and just found them incredibly alluring--and wished that one day, if I was really lucky, I'd be published and I'd retreat with other writers like me.

I mean, seriously, it was in my Top 10 of all wishes (including being stranded on a desert island with Taylor Kitch, yet I digress.)

So fast forward a few odd years and Maggie Stiefvater sends me an email invited me to join her and 7 other authors at a writers retreat in Savannah, Georgia.

Um.

YES! I replied before even checking with my husband, arranging childcare, etc. etc. The answer was simply YES and I'd figure out the rest, which I did.

And it was just as awesome as I imagined a retreat would be.
Granted, there were no sailboats, (though we could have used one in the monsoon). There was no opium (but not for lack of searching). There was not THAT MUCH illicit romance either.

But there was writing talk.

Lots of it. And there was reading. There were fresh Shiver ARC's signed by their charming author. There were discussion of dreams. And literature and plans. There was creating and playing and laughing. And yes, there might have even been a few tears. Of happiness. During a meal of fresh flounder and red wine in a pre-civil war ballroom.

Remember my long time readers when I posted about SCBWI the day I got my first offer for SEA? How I was sitting in the front row with Cecil Castelluci on my right, Lisa Albert on my left, and was listening to John Green speak about the importance of revision?

If my inner-self could have shown through my skin at that moment, tears pinging in my eyes from so much awesome, I would have rivaled Edward in the sunshine. Seriously. That moment in the ballroom surrounded by those 8 awesome writers was Just Like That.

Maggie asked that night in the ballroom, (because she was in charge of making sure our dinner conversations didn't soley consist of potty humor), what would have to happen in our careers to feel like we'd "arrived."

Everyone had different ideas: book numbers, financial goals, award accolades, etc., and me? I actually burst into happy tears. I mean, total melodrama, Gwyneth Paltrow winning her Oscar for Shakespeare in Love, ridiculous tears. I mean, I wanted to make fun of myself, but there they were, and I simply said, "I have a book coming out. I have two beautiful kids that I love, and I'm sitting here surrounded by you people. I never imagined life could be this cool."

So last week was my Haunted Summer.
And guess what? I plan on having a lot more.

And then Tessa chucked a deep fried piece of Calamari at me from across the table.
A food fight ensued.
And we were asked to leave the restaurant.

(Everything but the last three lines is entirely true.)




Heidi, Carrie Ryan, Dawn Metcalf

Jackson Pearce, Tessa Gratton, Maggie Stiefvater
(Looking appropriately devilish)

Flounder remains. Looked grizzly, tasted grand.

...or How Not To Make A Book Trailer...lol

TEAM BUNNIES!
Thanks to watchmebeJackson Pearce for her video awesomeness and to my Gothic Girls for an amazing five days.

Also m_stiefvater confesses secrits of our trip! shame!

Tessa's wonderful DAY 2 RETELLING: http://everflame.livejournal.com/527679.html

http://www.cynthealiu.com/win-critique-from-heidi-r-kling/

Here's the page to bid!

Don't let BERK go for higher than me! (Of course, he's on their right before me. I can't escape him!)

I promise I'll do a really good job! And I will never offer again. Never ever ever ever ever. =9

Cynthea says: “Heidi is a gem in our writing community. One of the most supportive authors I know, I have no doubt her critique will be helpful, inciteful, and constructive. That’s who Heidi is.” - Cynthea Liu.

Aw. *blush*

I donated a five-page manuscript critique as part of Cynthea Liu's TAKE A DARE launch party.
Cynthea is the brains/creativity behind Author's Now, a wonderful community that welcomes all new writers.

As a big supporter of Cynthea and AN! I wanted to contribute something.

The auction is under TRIPLE DARE, if you're interested in bidding!

http://www.cynthealiu.com/showyoucare/

Thanks!

1. Cover gods spin their magic once again this time for couch-bed-late-night-giggling-partner: fabulousfrock

Congrats, Jackie!

2. everflame is doing a Day-by-Day account of our retreat complete with a beautiful description of our temporary home. Add her to read, because, as I told her, my account would be more like, "Rpatz arm puppets! Delicious dinner! Rpatz arm puppets! Haunted trolley!"

And it wouldn't really do the trip justice.

3. Stay Tuned for the Vlog. I *believe* it was promised to appear later on today. Pay no attention to the girl under the table with the bad zombie timing.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

(back row left to right) Maggie, Brenna, Heidi, The Cannon, Jackson, Jackie, Dawn, Carrie
(front row left to right) Tessa, cannon base explaining historical importance of said cannon, Linda

*Check out the dripping Spanish Moss in the background. So awesome.*

Stay Tuned tomorrow for our YOU TUBE Puppet Show of Doom AKA: The Gothic Girls Book Trailer...a Medley of...um...well you decide.

Thanks to Linda for the pic!

PS. The pic is bigger on m_stiefvaterblog and she lists our books because she's awesome like that. Whereas I just make bad jokes about cannons.

Greg Neri's gneri new teen novel is out Friday!
Check out this awesome book trailer...

Five nights + 9 authors= So much better than I even thought it would be!

Bedtime? 3:00 a.m.
Wake-up? 11:00 a.m.
Eat? When we remember to.
Entertainment: Puppet shows.
Dinner discussion? POV, tense usage, how's and why's.
Verdict? Awesome!

Here's some pix.

Jackson Pearce and her luminous hair watchmebe in the kitchen nook

Heidi in her cozy twin bed before carrie_ryan stole it and banished me to the sofa bed. (It was either that or her lobbing off my head. I chose the couch.)

Left to right: Maggie m_stiefvater Tessa everflame Jackson, Heidi

Brenna brennayovanoff playing Sleeping Beauty in our fanciful green porch.

dawn_metcalf looking gorgeous.

Left to right in a U-shape: Heidi, Carrie Ryan, Maggie, Tessa, Brenna, Jackie fabulousfrock, Dawn, lindajsingleton.
Haunted Trolley ride...we have on our 'vampire' faces. Are you scared? =;

I swear I'll stop calling her by her full title soon. Well, as soon as she gets off the list anyway. =;

Here's the pic from last night's lovely dinner.

What you don't see?

The line of Buddha's behind us, palm fronds, and dessert on our plain white table.

Why no dessert?

Evil waiter declared: The Kitchen is CLOSED. No dessert for YOU!

Aprilynne in the pink, me in the blue. Dig our awesome arm across-the-table hug?

Dinner with Aprilynne was so fun last night!
It's always so fun to meet writer friends in real life.
And tomorrow early early early morning (I have to leave home at 4:00 a.m.!) I'm flying to meet some more.

Don't forget to follow our writer's retreat shenanigans here: http://twitter.com/GothicGirls
And look for watchmebe vlog posts!



Okay off to pack and get my family situated for 5 nights without me. *gasp!*

It's official. I'm insane.

I miss my book! I miss working on revisions! I miss my editor emailing me telling me faxes are arriving. I miss packages of notes from Fed Ex slamming against my door.

I miss my characters.

*cries*

Writing is such a strange profession. It's all high's and low's with not much in between.

BUT BUT BUT---the universe is hearing my cries because:

New York Times Bestselling author Aprilynne Pike is flying in tonight, taking the train down, and we're having dinner together at the hippest restaurant in town! I can't wait. I may even spin her by our two local indy's to sign stock and show her off.

AND AND AND---

FRIDAY I leave for my Gothic Girls retreat in Savannah with Maggie, Jackson et al---I think this will prove a distraction.

I don't know.

Maybe it's also because Super E graduates from Kindergarten next week
Princess B is talking and walking
And I'm leaving them both for 5 nights which kinda breaks my heart.
I never leave my kids.
And my SEA launch is this week at Putnam and now I've done my best with the book and it's sort of out of my hands.
And everything is just moving along so fast
And then stops.

You know what I mean?

Okay. Thanks for listening.

Hi Sarah! Thanks so much for coming on Author Chat. What is the story of The Demon's Lexicon?

It's about this totally normal guy who goes to school, lives in a rundown council house with his mother and his brother, practises swordwork in his garden at night so he can fight off the demons that the magicians send after them...

We all know guys like that, right?

Have you always been into supernatural things?

Not always: when I was about ten it was nothing but the classics - I was the only ten year old I knew who had read about thirty novels by Anthony Trollope. Then I went to the library because it was that or my parents re-mortgaging the house to keep me in books, and they wouldn't let me into the adult section, so I discovered the wonderful world of children's and teen fantasy! I was hooked.

Are you worried that you writing may encourage real demons to rise and possess you?

It's a concern. I have to remember not to sell my soul for trivial things, like a raspberry sorbet on a hot day. I'm going to save my soul to spend it on something really good... Not that raspberry sorbet isn't good, but they don't ask for souls at the store.

What inspired DL?

A documentary on wolves. Christina Rossetti. Shakespeare. The tall, dark and handsome men of few words in books, and finding myself always wondering what it would be like inside their heads instead of staring at their sculpted muscles. (Not that, you know, I have anything against staring at sculpted muscles...)

Who are some of your favorite authors that inspire you?

The fantasy authors I found at the library first and who made me love fantasy were Diana Wynne Jones and Margaret Mahy. My very favourite author in the world is Jane Austen. And I have many writer friends who both inspire and incite me to admiration every day!


You know I read the ARC and have a way big crush on Nick, so this is an easy one for me, but for you. Of all your fabulous characters, which one would you choose to take with you on a life-time desert island stint?

I fear I would have to take Nick, as he would know many hunting skills. I would take Alan, but reading Lord of the Flies let me know you really shouldn't risk being marooned on an island with someone who wears glasses. If they got broken, where would we be? Plus he has a bad leg. So it will have to be Nick.

That is, if I can't take a magician who could just zap me out of there...

Okay, with your island partner in mind, what three things do you take along with you? (fish and bananas and water are already provided)

Books for me. Weapons for Nick. Wood for Nick to build a house for me while I read! (I worry I'm going to be a useless island companion, and Nick will feed me to the sharks.)

What's up next for you? A sequel (I hope!)

The Demon's Covenant, the sequel to the The Demon's Lexicon, is out June 2010. Your every wish is my command, Heidi. (I'm like a genie in a bottle...)

Do you have any advice for a aspiring writers?

I know it's cliched, but keep trying! I wrote more than twenty books before I wrote The Demon's Lexicon, it can be done!

DL is so visual. I so hope it gets made into a movie! If you could pick anyone to star as Nick who would it be? Mae? Jamie? Alan?

You know, I don't know who would be really excellent - if anyone reads the books and thinks of someone, I hope they let me know! I might love Rachael Leigh Cook as Mae, as I always liked her in movies, plus she is tiny and has big brown eyes.

Picture me with pink hair. Win.

Oddly, I have the evil side cast. I'd want Rufus Sewell for the villain, Arthur, and James McAvoy for his Irish sidekick Gerald. (What do you mean 'keep dreaming, honey?' It could happen...)

This is actually perfect casting for Gerald. Well done, SRB. =;

Thanks so much for coming on and for writing one of my favorite books of 2009!

Thank YOU for having me, Heidi my petal!

You're welcome and in case you were wondering? My casting pick for Mr. Nick, tall, dark, and brooding?


Hollywood? Are you listening? Look no further than. All that missing is a sword.

--THE DEMON'S LEXICON by Sarah Rees Brennan, www.sarahreesbrennan.com

Walk the Sinister Side June 2, 2009
Buy it everywhere TODAY!!!!!
I loved loved loved this book. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll fall in love...(Okay, maybe just me, but still, read it now!)

Wanna know something?

Just like spinning disco balls?

Then go here: http://community.livejournal.com/10_ers/155166.html

Teen bloggers/readers are asking us the most amazing questions!

And I got to use Napolean Dynomite in a sentence. *bonus*