SLA Join the Blizzard Giveaway: Summer Edition WINNER!

We interrupt your pool-lounging, sun-bathing, ice-cream-eating shenanigans to bring you: the winner of the SLA Summer Giveaway!

And the winner is...

*drum roll*

LYNSEY NEWTON!!

Congratulations, LYNSEY!! I'll be contacting you lickety-split.

Another hearty THANK YOU YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL to everyone who participated! You make my world sparkle.

Don't forget to check back in September for the SLA Join the Blizzard Giveaway: AUTUMN EDITION!

Join the BLIZZARD: Summer Giveaway!

Today is the first day of summer for 2013. While to most of America that means bathing suits, suntan lotion, and ice cream, in my little world it means it's time for another opportunity for you to:

For those of you going "Blizzard? What blizzard? It's 80 degrees and sunny outside!" let me recap:

In SNOW LIKE ASHES, there are four "normal" kingdoms and four season kingdoms: Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Thus on the first day of each season both this year and next year, I will be giving away increasingly-awesome SLA swag packs. They'll start out with season-themed goodies and will grow to eventually include ARCs and signed copies. Aside from giving you guys fun treats, these giveaways also serve to create the Blizzard.

What is the Blizzard? In nature, blizzards would be ineffective without the individual snowflakes that make them so very powerful. The same with books -- books are volatile, intense things, but would ultimately be nothing without each individual reader who makes them so very powerful. By spreading news of these contests via Twitter, adding SNOW LIKE ASHES on Goodreads, commenting on this post, and more, you contribute to the storm that in Fall 2014 will result in SNOW LIKE ASHES!

To make yourself the envy of the world and proclaim your status as a part of the Blizzard, every seasonal prize pack winner will also get a super-special, handmade-by-yours-truly snowflake charm. Observe:

You create the storm!

For this most glamorous of second seasonal SLA giveaways, the prize pack comes stuffed with all sorts of SUMMER goodies! In SNOW LIKE ASHES, the Summer Kingdom is known for -- what else? -- pleasure. Relaxing and enjoying life and all in all having a good time of things. There are both benefits and very unfortunate political ramifications to being the kingdom known for pleasure, but in Summer, the bad stuff doesn't seem quite as bad. Thus it is only appropriate that the prize pack for the SLA Blizzard Giveaway: Summer Edition comes complete with all manner of things to help you sit back, relax, and enjoy the summer of 2013.

How do you get this most glamorous of second seasonal SLA prize packs? Simple! Click the link below and obey the Rafflecopter gods. Join the Blizzard, win free stuff!

Sweet and spicy chocolate that embodies the heat of Summer, a Sun & Sand candle to put you in a beachy mood, a $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card so you can buy that perfect Summer read, and of course, your piece of the SNOW LIKE ASHES Blizzard! 

The SNOW LIKE ASHES Blizzard Giveaway: Summer Edition runs June 21-July 4 and is open internationally. The winner will be announced Friday, July 5!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The next BLIZZARD is coming...

...on June 21, 2013.

Win prizes. Join the Blizzard.

The SNOW LIKE ASHES Join the Blizzard Giveaway starts again in ONE WEEK. And this time, it's all about SUMMER.

Announcement

It's not that exciting, sorry.

I've decided to switch some things around here on the blog. All of my Tuesday/Thursday "How Writing Feels" posts that you all know & love so much will now be on my Tumblr page (http://sararaasch.tumblr.com). This blog will still remain active, as I will use it for giveaways and such (news of which will be posted to Tumblr, directing people to the giveaways on this here blog). So my Tumblr page will slowly become the best place to keep up on all of my happenings, but I will keep my Blogger site mainly because Tumblr doesn't support Rafflecopter. Sneaky, sneaky Tumblr.

Hope your Memorial Day weekends are awesome and wonderful!

TRANSPARENT Winner!

After careful random-number-choosing, the winner of the signed copy of TRANSPARENT, bookmarks of RELIC and INSOMNIA, and the tiny invisible clay Fiona doll is:

ALYSSA SUSANNA!!

Congratulations, Alyssa! Email me at seesarawrite(at)gmail(dot)com and I'll get your goodies in the mail!

Everyone else -- get thee to a bookstore and fill your life with all the goodness TRANSPARENT has to offer!

How Writing Feels

When you first learn you got an agent and/or sold your book.

TRANSPARENT Giveaway!!

I told you yesterday that I would be giving away a signed copy of Natalie Whipple's amazingly colorful and intense debut, TRANSPARENT, plus a fun TRANSPARENT-themed handmade goodie made by me, myself, and I. And today, THAT HAPPENS.

I'm going to make this as simple as possible: leave a comment on this post telling me what kind of mutation/super power you would want to have if we all lived in the super-cool alternate world of TRANSPARENT, and this Friday, May 24, I will randomly pick someone to win THIS:

 ALL OF THE AWESOME. IT CAN BE YOURS.

Firstly and most importantly, a SIGNED COPY of TRANSPARENT.

In very appropriate ORANGE INK!

Nextly, TWO super shiny beautiful bookmarks by other super shiny beautiful 2013 debuts! Put these on your TBR pile, people!

RELIC by Renee Collins and INSOMNIA by JR Johansson!

And lastly, the handmade TRANSPARENT goodie! 

 TINY INVISIBLE CLAY FIONA

She's about one-and-a-half inches tall and complete with her signature this-is-so-people-know-where-to-look glasses! 

Go! Enter! Win the greatness!

TRANSPARENT Release Day!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled "How Writing Feels" to bring you a special book news bulletin.

There's a book out today. An awesome book. A magical, colorful, unique, crazy book, written by one of my dearest, colorfulest, craziest writer friends, Natalie Whipple. And this colorful, unique, crazy book is called TRANSPARENT.

Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is.

An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.

After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fiona feels like a normal life is within reach. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.

Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl.

You want this book, right? You want this book BAD, right? I thought so. Because you're awesome, and this book is awesome, and I know you two will get along like WHOA.

Because of how much you two will get along, I'm GIVING AWAY a SIGNED COPY of TRANSPARENT tomorrow! Why tomorrow? Because Natalie's launch party is TONIGHT at The King's English bookstore here in Salt Lake City. So all of you awesome people who are in SLC have the chance to come get your own signed copies TONIGHT, and you should. You totally should. Because, like I said, awesome. Lots of it.

But in case you are unable to attend the gloriousness of Natalie's launch tonight, tune in tomorrow for your chance to win not only a signed copy of TRANSPARENT, but an extra special TRANSPARENT-themed goodie handmade by yours truly!

Also, Natalie is interviewed today over on the Valentines!

HAPPY LAUNCH DAY, NATALIE!!

How Writing Feels

The face you give yourself when you write something really, really badass.

I've caught the CRAZIES!

Today I'm over at Chasing the Crazies, talking SNOW LIKE ASHES, publishing, and what it was like leaving my first agent. Come say hi!

How Writing Feels

When someone points out a huge plot error you made that makes most of your book null & void.

How Writing Feels

When a book sells that sounds identical to one you tried to sell a few years ago only this one sold in a six-figure pre-empt and yours...didn't. At all.



The Hiddles makes everything better.

How Writing Feels

When you read about someone's fourth book sale this year and think if book writing were pole dancing, they'd be this person.



And you'd be this person.

Suddenly, Chocolate. Everywhere. THOUSANDS OF THEM.

I knew my time was coming, but I didn't expect it would come so QUICKLY, ya know? I barely got a moment to grasp the hugeness of what was happening and then BOOM. It's here. I'm having trouble coping.

Why am I having trouble coping? Today is my first Cupid's Arrow over on the Valentine's blog. Go, watch, laugh at my expense. But know that I did this for you. I DID THIS FOR ALL OF YOU.

*dramatic sigh*

How Writing Feels

When your agent/editor asks you to redo a really big section of your book.

How Writing Feels

**EXCITING NOTE**

I'm over at Mindy McGinnis' blog today, talking about SNOW LIKE ASHES, publishing, and other various shenanigans. Come say hi!

Now for today's How Writing Feels:

That one point during drafting.

VIDEOS. FAMOUSNESS.

GUYS. I'M ON TV.

Well, a YouTube channel, but that's close enough. Right? Right.

I've taken over the OneFour YouTube Channel today, talking about inspiration, SNOW LIKE ASHES, and my secret shames. Feel free to head over there and mock me shamelessly for just how absurd I am on video.

NOTE THE FIRST: My plan is to post a video to the OneFour YouTube Channel on the last Monday of every month, thereby partaking in all of the monthly YouTube topics, in case you just can't get enough of my ridiculosity. Yes, that's a word.

NOTE THE SECOND: If you REALLY DO want more of my ridiculosity, check out the Valentine's this Friday when I'll do a Cupid's Arrow that involves lavender, inappropriate conversation, and exploding hot chocolate.

How Writing Feels

When the six degrees of separation in the publishing industry mean you know someone who knows someone who knows Leigh Bardugo.

How Writing Feels

When you totally OWN that one scene.

How Writing Feels

When someone compares their book to The Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter, The Bible, or some other ridiculously successful book.

How Writing Feels

When you say something particularly funny on Twitter.

How Writing Feels

The first time you get an edit letter.

How Writing Feels

When you tell a non-bookish person about a plot you've been working on for months and they spend half an hour explaining all the other directions your story should go instead because they are "your readership" and they know best.

How Writing Feels

When someone drops a lot of really fancy marketing phrases and you try to be all cool like yeah, you totally do those things to, when in reality you're like:

Join the Blizzard Giveaway: Spring Edition WINNER!

The winner of the first ever SNOW LIKE ASHES Join the Blizzard Giveaway is:

*drum roll*

LAUREN!

Yay, Lauren!! I'll be contacting you very soon to get you the fabulous spring prize pack.

Thank you so much to everyone for participating in this most awesome of first giveaways, and be sure to check back in June for the Summer Edition of the SLA Join the Blizzard giveaway!

How Writing Feels

When you realize being published means you'll have to be social at writers conferences.

How Writing Feels

When a crit partner figures out what's been causing that unruly scene of yours to be so unruly.

Interview!

Drop by the OneFour KidLit blog today to see an interview with yours truly!

And don't forget -- there's still ONE WEEK to enter the SNOW LIKE ASHES Join the Blizzard Giveaway: Spring Edition!!

How Writing Feels

When you realize a character/scene you love doesn't add anything to the manuscript and has to be cut.

How Writing Feels

The first time it really hits you that people Out There will be reading your book.

Join the BLIZZARD

TODAY. Today is the day I invite you to:

What is the Blizzard? Why should you join? And why today, of all days? Well, today is a very important day in 2013. One of four very important days in 2013, actually: the first day of a season change.

In SNOW LIKE ASHES, there are four "normal" kingdoms and four season kingdoms: Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Because of the importance of seasons in SLA and how giddily happy seasons and season changes make me, I'm starting season-themed SLA giveaways! How they will work:

On the first day of each season both this year and next year, I will be giving away increasingly-awesome SLA swag packs. They'll start out with season-themed goodies and will grow to eventually include ARCs and SIGNED COPIES as it gets closer to SLA's launch.

That means you will have EIGHT opportunities to win various SLA goodness on top of all the crazy launch stuff I'll do next year. And knowing me, I will make it as simple as humanly possible to give you stuff, because you're pretty and I like you and I want you to have stuff.

Aside from getting a chance to win fun season-themed awesomeness, when you enter these contests, you will become part of the SNOW LIKE ASHES Blizzard.

Blizzard? Sara, that sounds dangerous. We want swag, not destructive weather. WE WON'T STAND FOR THIS.

Now now, would I cheat you in such a way? I mean metaphorical Blizzard. Blizzards are volatile, powerful things caused by wicked weather and frigid temperatures. But no blizzard would be effective without each individual snowflake that makes it so very whirling and scary and powerful. The same with books -- books are volatile, intense things, but would ultimately be nothing without each individual reader who makes them so very powerful.

By spreading news of these seasonal contests via Twitter, adding SNOW LIKE ASHES on Goodreads, commenting on this post, and more, you contribute to the great and terrifying storm that in Fall 2014 will result in SNOW LIKE ASHES. This book will be nothing but a sad little flurry without the support and loyalty of readers like YOU!

Now -- THE PRIZES!

As an outward symbol of your Blizzard status, every seasonal prize pack will come with a special snowflake charm (handmade with love by yours truly)!

You create the storm!

For this very first seasonal SLA Blizzard Giveaway, the prize pack includes a whole slew of fantastic SPRING goodies. In SNOW LIKE ASHES, the Spring Kingdom is a kingdom built on war, which might seem like the opposite of what spring the season is -- flowers and growth and life renewed. Even though the Spring Kingdom is battle-hardened and controlled by a ruthless king, it still embodies the beauty and art that spring the season emanates so very well. Thus the prize pack for the SLA Blizzard Giveaway: Spring Edition is stuffed full of spring prettiness.

A bag of the finest spring wildflowers, a chick stress ball to combat those stressful winter blues, and the richest, most decadent of all Easter candy: Lindt Spring Truffles!

Have I tempted you enough? Now, onward to the SLA Blizzard Giveaway: Spring Edition! Join the BLIZZARD, win free stuff!

To enter the Spring SNOW LIKE ASHES giveaway and become part of the Blizzard, obey the Rafflecopter gods below. The Spring SLA Blizzard Contest runs March 20-April 2, and the winner will be announced April 3, 2013. Open internationally, so have at it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How Writing Feels

When you get home from Day Job and settle into Writing Mode, which means comfy clothes.

Raving about POISON

I'm going to rave for a minute. Yes, rave. Don't worry, I'm wearing protective gear and a mouth guard.

What am I raving about, you may ask? GIFs, publishing news, blizzards, or some other random doodad I mention way too often with hopeless abandon on my blog? Nope. Something even better: Bridget Zinn's POISON.

If you're unfamiliar with Bridget Zinn and her delightful YA fantasy debut, check out her webpage and take a moment to marvel over the glorious riot of color that is her cover. One of the greatest things about being a part of the YA community is the sense of camaraderie that arises when certain books or people burst through the pile of rejection and publishing mayhem to truly shine. Bridget Zinn and her novel are certainly shining this week.

For those of you who are unaware of Bridget and her heart-wrenchingly inspirational story, please, please check out her webpage, particularly the tab Help Spread the Word. Every author dreams of the day they will get to see their book on a shelf in a bookstore, and the hectic yet fulfilling time leading up to that day when they will dive into interviews, blog posts, Twitter-promotions, and other crazy marketing events in an attempt to get the word out. Because that dream is so much a part of the publishing process, it is only right that we pick up the publicity where Bridget can't.

And not only because she can't, but because POISON is phenomenal. Truly, deeply phenomenal. This book is a gem of a story that is just as colorful, vivacious, and FUN as its glorious cover. Kyra is at once flawed and perfect, and leads you along on her journey much the same way her adorable pig-sidekick Rosie leads Kyra along -- by shuffling determinedly into adventure after adventure, never once hesitating or apologizing. This is one of those stories that leaves you with that tingle of satisfaction, and stays inside of you for years to come. POISON is undoubtedly an instant classic. Bridget's sweetness is just the icing on the cake of this delectable morsel.

So go! Buy the book, get lost in the Kingdom of Mohr, and spread the awesomeness of Bridget, Kyra, and POISON!

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend. 

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart...misses. 

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her? 

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

How Writing Feels

When your super dark and twisty crit partner tells you to make a certain scene even darker.



(Yes, I did just want to use The Hiddles in a blog post. *stares* *drools*)

ONE WEEK

THE ANTICIPATION.

Can you feel it? CAN YOU TASTE IT?

Because a Blizzard is coming. And it will be AWESOME.

What is this madness??

March 20. 

This blog. 

FIND OUT.

How Writing Feels

When your agent/editor/CP's edit is exactly the thing you needed to hear to make your entire book snap into glorious verbiage perfection.

How Writing Feels

When your hand freaks out and hits some random chain of keys that tell your Word doc to chew up every change you spent the last five hours making and spit it all out into the empty nothingness of ain't-never-getting-that-back.



Why does Word even HAVE that command?

A BLIZZARD is coming...

...and it's coming for YOU.

What does it mean??

Find out Wednesday, March 20, 2013!

How Writing Feels

When you were too cheap to hire a website designer but you still managed to figure out how to do something super fancy to your blog/website/Twitter account on your own.

How Writing Feels

When you get an epiphany in the middle of the night and wake up the next morning, grab your computer, start writing, and get halfway through the scene before you realize you actually have no idea where this is going.

How Writing Feels

When you tell a non-writing person you sold your book and they ask when it will be out and you tell them and they say something to the effect of "Well, you must not REALLY be getting published if it takes that LONG."

How Writing Feels

When you finally get to write that one scene you've been playing over and over in your head for months.

How Writing Feels

When you read a friend's WIP and you can feel their book's awesomeness bitch-slapping everything you've ever written.

Make sure to check out http://yavalentines.blogspot.com/ today for our first Sweet Six interview with author AG Howard, PLUS a SPLINTERED giveaway!!

The Valentines!

*saunters over*
*shoves hands in pockets*
*leans in close while still appearing completely nondescript*

Psst.

Hey. You.

Yeah, you.

Something really cool is happening over here and I think you should go check it out or something.

*saunters away*
*once gone, you notice a note has been left in your pocket. a small pink heart with a strange number scribbled on the surface...*

How Writing Feels

When writer's conferences bring lots of my most fabulous friends together.

How Writing Feels

When you are friends with super fabulous authors and get a sneak peak on their next big project.

How Writing Feels

When someone you're critting for loves one of your bigger edits and you try to be all smooth.

When you really feel like this.