Attention MA Authors: Marketing and Bookstores Talk at the Writers’ Loft!

July 21, 2015Leave a comment

These days, most authors have to finagle a lot of their own promotion. And unless you have a background in marketing, it can be difficult to figure out what’s worthwhile and who you should connect with and how you should plan for events.

That’s when you bring in the experts. Wednesday, July 22 (tomorrow!) friend, writer, and former bookstore event maven, Allison Pottern Hoch, is giving a talk at the Writers’ Loft about book marketing and working with local independent bookstores.

I’m excited to hear Allison’s advice and figure out ways I can better market my work and connect with the wonderful people at our local bookstores. Come on out and take notes with me!

Friday Fifteen

July 17, 2015Leave a comment

Happy Friday, everyone! Tonight, I’ll be at Porter Square Books with a bunch of awesome YA authors, so come say hi, get some books signed, and chat with us about all things writing/reading.

And even if you’re not in the general Boston area, we can get the weekend rolling with a look at what I’ve been reading and writing in fifteen words or under:

Reading: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Brought back lots of good first year of college feelings. Also dig a fandom story.

Writing: “Fortunately, we’re accepting volunteers for the secret project.”
Hijinks in the WIP!

Tunnel Tour and Author Panel – Friday, July 17!

July 8, 2015Leave a comment

One of my favorite parts of being an debut author was getting to know other authors who have had books published in the last few years or have books coming out soon. So I’m way psyched to get together with a bunch of other debut authors as part of Susan Adrian’s Tunnel Tour. Get ready for a great conversation about books and publishing and writing and inspiration and more! The details:

Tunnel Tour, YA Author Panel and Signing
Friday, July 17 at 7pm
Porter Square Books
25 White Street, Cambridge, MA 02140

I can say with great confidence that every panel member is an awesome person and wildly talented author, so make sure to come out and say hi!

Book Cupcakes, Long Showers, and Writing Through Rejection: a YA Panel at Blue Bunny Books

March 17, 2015Leave a comment

The whole group--Cara, Kim, me, Gina, and AC!

The whole group, from L to R–Cara, Kim, me, Gina, and AC!

There are few things that can get me out of the house on a rainy Saturday. One of them: an awesome event at a local bookstore with a few other fantastic YA authors. Blue Bunny Books & Toys hosted us and, if you haven’t been before, it is the cutest store. Seriously, even if you’re not in Dedham, make the trip.

Our panel consisted of Kim Harrington, Cara Bertrand, AC Gaughen, Gina Damico, and me. We ended up having a great mix of genres represented, from paranormal romance to historical adventure to mystery to dark comedy to contemporary. It was cool to learn about how everyone approaches the writing process (we all understand the importance of showers as a place for creative thought) and creatingcharacters that feel real. We talked about powering through rejection, because every writer faces rejection in all stages of their careers; and as hard as rejection is, I always appreciate when I hear about how hard other writers have worked to get an agent/get published/sell their ninth book/etc. We answered questions from the audience and signed books and chatted with fellow book lovers about the importance of colorful nail polish.

Our very own book cupcakes!

Thanks so much to the Blue Bunny team, my fellow panelists, and everyone who came out to see us. What an awesome way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon!

This Saturday, YA Panel at the Blue Bunny!

March 10, 2015Leave a comment

This Saturday (March 14, aka 3/14, aka Pi Day) at 4pm, I’ll be at Blue Bunny Books & Toys with four other awesome YA authors for a conversation about writing books for teens, the YA community, and (hopefully) our favorite kinds of pie. The details:

Young Adult Author Panel Discussion and Book Signing
Saturday March 14th, 4pm
The Blue Bunny Books & Toys
577 High St, Dedham, Massachusetts 02026

Check out the the Facebook event page for more details. In the meantime, some non-blue bunnies:

See you on Saturday!

Upcoming Event: YA Panel at Porter Square Books on July 17th!

March 4, 2015Leave a comment

Summer might seem like a long time away, especially for those of us in the Boston area who are still surviving the coldest/snowiest winter ever. Fortunately, I’m looking forward to a July 17, when I’ll be on a YA panel with several other 2014/2015 debut authors! The details:

Young Adult Author Panel Discussion
Friday, July 17th, 7pm
Porter Square Books
Porter Square Shopping Center, 25 White Street, Cambridge, MA 02140
Join YA authors Susan Adrian, Jen Brooks, Annie Cardi, MarcyKate Connolly, Trisha Leaver, Rachel Shane for a panel discussion, moderated by YA author Mackenzie Lee, as they talk about reading, writing, and the debut experience.

Porter Square Books is where I had the launch party for The Chance You Won’t Return and I’m so excited to be back there with a bunch of other lovely debut authors. Mark your calendars!

Upcoming Event: YA Panel at the Blue Bunny on March 14th!

February 5, 2015Leave a comment

Two cool things about living in Massachusetts: lots of awesome bookstores and a great community of YA and children’s writers and readers. These two things come together next month, when I join some favorite local YA authors for a panel at the Blue Bunny Bookstore in Dedham, MA. The details:

Young Adult Author Panel Discussion and Book Signing
Saturday March 14th, 3 p.m.
The Blue Bunny Books & Toys
577 High St, Dedham, Massachusetts 02026
Join YA authors Cara Bertrand, Kim Harrington, Annie Cardi, AC Gaughen, and Gina Damico for a panel discussion, Q&A, and some tasty treats.

I’m so excited to be part of such a great group. Plus, it’s March 14th, aka 3/14, aka Pi Day, so there may even be celebratory pie. What more could you want?

And since it’s an event at the Blue Bunny, that’s an excuse to share a bunny gif, right?

Hope to see you all next month!

Links Galore

January 28, 2015Leave a comment

Lots of link-y goodness:

Books featuring diverse and loving families.
Maggie Stiefvater answering questions about genre and marketing and what all that means for readers and stories.
Some actual YA suggestions to replace not-YA books on the Time list.
These new childhood classics look so fun and beautiful!
Famous author handwriting always reminds me of how awful mine is.
Margaret Willison, awesome person and awesome librarian, on Broad City and books teens read.
Let’s travel to the world’s coolest bookstores.
Sick days require cozy reading.
Introducing young readers to meta-texts.
I love when sci-fi authors use real science in their books.
Books and tea are a perfect combination.

Links Galore

September 22, 20142 Comments

So many links!

Celebrate Banned Book Week by reading one of these famously challenged books.
A history of YA, or just who is that Printz guy anyway?
I want all of these book nooks.
You don’t have to be back at school to appreciate this list of back to school books.
Excellent post from Sarah Dessen on taking breaks and letting the story come to you.
Paula Yoo on publicity and thinking outside the box.
Non-point-of-view characters have their own front story.
For Hispanic Heritage Month, awesome authors on why we need diverse books.
And speaking of diverse books, some to add to your reading list.
Guys, I love Oxford. Someone please invent teleportation because I need a Ben’s cookie.
Great post by Shannon Hale on the neutral love interest.
All of this.
Seasons in publishing, and why it matters/doesn’t matter.
It’s okay to look at Tumblr every hour, I swear!
Uh oh. (Don’t worry, coffee, they can’t separate us.)
Glad to see so many children’s/YA characters on this list.
Seriously made me laugh out loud.
I never knew I needed the A Wrinkle in Time Quintet album by Sufjan Stevens until now, but I really need it now.
“I know what kind of working author I want to be. It’s just a matter of finding a way to get myself there.” Love Nova Ren Suma.
How teen cliques get their names and what sticks over generations.
“The dog is a metaphor.”
Speaking of dogs.
My new favorite article about adults reading YA.

Come Find Me at Buttonwood Books Tomorrow Night!

August 12, 2014Leave a comment

Tomorrow I’ll be at Buttonwood Books in Cohasset, MA (just outside of Boston) for a panel and signing with my fellow 2014 debut YA author the lovely Skylar Dorset!

Come for the discussion about YA writing, stay for the signing and smiles.

The details:

YA Author Panel and Signing
August 13, 7pm at Buttonwood Books
747 CJC HWY RTE 3A
Cohasset, MA 02025

The weather is supposed to be kind of gross, but hopefully by 7pm things will have calmed down. And what better way to spend a rainy day than by hitting up a local bookstore?