Book! Release! News! and a cupcake

Today is 12/12/12, which I find terribly cool. This calendar triptic will not occur again in my lifetime. I was so hoping my box of books, i.e. my very own personal copies of The Language of Souls (in PRINT!) would arrive today. But even though I keep checking my front porch, no luck yet.

But that doesn't mean I still can't celebrate, because The Language of Souls is officially out in PRINT! So exciting. :)

[Update: They came; they came! And I love them. :)]

Where to find it:

	Print	Digital
	Amazon Barnes & Noble	Nook Kobo iTunes Smashwords Kindle (USA)	Kindle Canada Kindle UK Kindle Germany Kindle Italy Kindle France Kindle Spain Kindle Japan

Also, in blog-worthy, cupcakey news, I met a lovely baker today. She makes cakes & cupcakes. I kid you not. Actual, mouth-watering cupcakes. Yummmm. I had a delicious coconut sprinkled vanilla cupcake that did the trick. (How else would you celebrate a book release if not with a cupcake???)

If you're ever anywhere near Westford, MA, you need to go to Sweetpeas Bakery at 129 Littleton Rd. stat (waves to Melissa! Thanks for the cupcake!!)

Here's a photo of Sweetpeas adorable cupcake logo. (No, I didn't get a photo of the actual coconut cupcake. It mysteriously disappeared.  ;))

  ©Sweetpeas Bakery, Westford, MA
(full of cupcakey goodness)

PS hmmm, I think I need a cupcake in my blog header...

Marley Gibson, Bestselling YA author - Three Things & a Cupcake

Marley Gibson, bestselling author of the GHOST HUNTRESS series for young adults is here to share three things with me. Marley has been a great friend to me over the years and is a truly outstanding person all around.

Secret: If you're planning a party or event--or maybe you just need some warm, friendly support--then you definitely want Marley on your team.

THE GHOST HUNTRESS SERIES

Ghost Huntress Book 6: The Journey
Now available!

Get them all!

Lena: Welcome, Marley! :) What can you tell me about The Ghost Huntress series?

Marley:

• The idea for The Ghost Huntress series came from going to the New England Romance Writers Conference and attending the "Ghost Hunting 101" session. The whole first GHOST HUNTRESS book came to me like a movie.
• My favorite scene in the story is when all the secrets, threads, strings, clues, hints...when everything comes together in that pinpoint of information for the reader. That "pay off pitch" and "booyah!" moment.
  
  (Lena: Yeah, I love "booyah!" moments too. :))
• When I first came up with Kendall Moorehead of the GHOST HUNTRESS series, I had Amanda Bynes in mind. Since then, Amanda has grown up -- and gotten into a LOT of post-teen trouble. Now, I think a good Kendall would be (and don't laugh) Miley Cyrus....but she'd have to ditch the southern accent. LOL! Also, Emma Watson and Victoria Justice come to mind, as well.

Lena: Hmmm, I think I'd like to see that movie... Thanks for visiting me on my blog, Marley! One more thing...what kind of cupcake would you like? (Shows Marley a mouth-watering tray of cupcakes...)

Marley:  In honor of my Alabama Crimson Tide making it to the college football championship again, I'd like that elephant cupcake--along with a huge ROLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!

	Lena: The elephant one, huh? (Personally, I'd go for the TIGER one -- Go, Clemson!! Go, Tigers!! -- but whatever. ;)) Anything for you, Marley. Here's an elephant cupcake especially for you!
	Marley: Thanks, hon! = )

Lena: You bet! My pleasure. (It's really sort of adorable, isn't it??)

Photo credit: (c) SweetRevelations

Giveaway, Guest post, and 99 cents! Also, PAPERBACK!

Breaking News!
That's sounds VERY important doesn't it? Actually, I just have a few links to share:

• On Tales of Whimsy today: "A Language of Souls Contest for Two"
  (Lena: That's right, we're giving away not one, but two ebooks! For the low, low price of FREE! Contest ends Dec. 17)
• I have a guest post on Lisa Amowitz's blog today on my cover design process. Wheee! :)
• The Language of Souls is still 99 cents on iTunes and Nook!

And stay tuned for more breaking news of The Language of Souls paperback release...

Paperback edition coming soon!

And...here's a little sweet cupcakey goodness to celebrate:

Photo credit: (c) SweetRevelations

xoxo :)
Lena

99 cent ebook sale (Kindle, Nook, iTunes...)

Update!
The Language of Souls is currently on sale for 99 cents everywhere ebooks are sold! (Well, almost everywhere. :))

Where to Find It

• Kindle
• Kobo
• iTunes
• Nook
• Smashwords

YA author Kristine Carlson Asselin - Three Things and a Cupcake

Kristine Carlson Asselin, co-author of "Stella's Hero" in Timeless: An Anthology of Young Adult Romance, is here to tell me three things about her story. (I love this cover btw! Very romantic.)





Now available on Kindle and Nook!

So here's Kris:

 

Thanks to Lena for asking me to be on her blog today! I love that she asked me to talk about "Stella’s Hero," my short story from Timeless: An Anthology of Young Adult Romance. I co-wrote the story with my friend and (sometimes) partner in crime, middle grade writer Ansha Kotyk.   

1. The idea for Stella’s Hero came from…
   
   
   We really wanted to write something for the anthology, but neither of us had time to focus on it. We were crit partners already, so we thought if we brainstormed a story together it might be faster than working on something alone. And was it ever! We both loved the Victorian Boston era—and our story about a teenage girl who falls in love with a Chinese immigrant just literally flowed out of us. We wrote the draft (about 7K words) in three days, after brainstorming together and outlining a rough plot. Then we just went back and forth polishing key scenes. We were so excited when the editors at Pugalicious Press accepted it!
   
   (Lena: Three days??? That's amazing! :))
2. My favorite scene in the story is “the dark moment.” LOL It’s when Stella thinks Jie doesn’t love her and considers walking into Boston Harbor and letting her petticoats and skirts drag her to the bottom. It’s so tragic and romantic—and then he comes for her and all is right in the world. Except you know things are about to get really hard for them as they run away together. Sigh. I think most of that scene is Ansha’s, and it’s wonderful.
3. If I could cast an actress to play Stella, I’d have to choose…. I used to be good at this game…Hmm…I’d say someone like Kiera Knightley. An actress who can be sweet and innocent, but also really strong and stand up for herself and the ones she loves. And someone you can imagine bucking tradition.

Lena: Thanks for stopping by for a visit, Kris! One more thing...what's your favorite flavor of cupcake?

Kris:  My favorite cupcake would definitely be chocolate on chocolate, filled with chocolate. J

Lena: Oh, wow, that sounds delicious.... Shall we post a drool-worthy picture? Uh, yeah, of course. ;) This one's for you, Kris!



Photo credit: (c) SweetRevelations

 

You can find Timeless on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

 

Book Update! News! Squee!!

My print proofs arrived today and I almost cried, but I didn't. I did hug them, however, (that's normal, right??) and generally squealed and was incoherent for a bit. I kept announcing gleefully: "It's my book! Look, my book came!"

And they all just smiled and obediently read over the Acknowledgements page, where I mentioned them by name. Oh my gosh... My family is sooo patient. LOL

Photo op:

Proof copies 1



Proof copies 2

The lighting is pretty awful, sorry, and the images are a little blurry too. I'll definitely take new pics tomorrow, but I just couldn't wait.

Ah. Happiness is seeing your book in print. :) I'll put my critical eyes on it tomorrow (things will need to be tweaked, I know; that's why they're called "proof"copies), but today is for simply enjoying the moment.

And, to celebrate properly, please enjoy this yummy cupcake! ;)

Photo used with permission, © SweetRevelationsCupcakery

 

YA author Erin Cashman - Three Things and a Cupcake

Erin Cashman, author of the sensational YA supernatural fantasy, The Exceptionals, is visiting me in the blogosphere today (which sounds so very sci fi doesn't it???) She's graciously agreed to spill three things about her book. (I've read it and it's wonderful.)



Click image to see book listing on Amazon

So here's Erin:

1. The idea for The Exceptionals came from my father.  Growing up, he used to always tell me we only use ten percent of our brain. I’ve often thought about that, and wondered what if some people can use more than ten percent of their brain. What could these people do? Would they be brilliant scientists like Albert Einstein? My mother believed in ghosts, and she used to go to a medium. Maybe the medium could use a different part of her brain. I’ve always believed in things we can’t see, things that don’t always make sense.

2. My favorite scene in the book is near the end, the last scene with Claire and Dylan, but I won't talk about it since it will give away the ending! I also love The Prologue, since I think it really gives insight into Claire and her character.

3. If I could cast an actress to play Claire, it would be Emma Watson. Maura Crane Walker would be played by Jennifer Connelly, and Josephine would be played by Jennifer Aniston. That would be a great cast!



Emma Watson © Warner Bros Pictures

Lena: That would be a great cast. I can definitely see Emma Watson as Claire! Maybe something like this, but with a hawk. :)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit, Erin.

Erin: Thanks for interviewing me! 

Lena: One more thing...what's your favorite flavor of cupcake?

Erin: My favorite cupcake is definitely carrot cake cupcake!

Lena: Yum...shall we post a picture of one? Why, yes. This one's for you, Erin.

Photo credit: .imelda via Flickr Creative Commons

Author Interview and Cover Reveal Post Today!

My writer friend, Kristine Carlson Asselin, interviewed me over on the YA Stands blog today and featured a cover reveal for The Language of Souls!

Three Things and a Cupcake

1. Though not technically launched yet (shhhh, so many other retailers are processing), but The Language of Souls has jumped through the hoops at Amazon & is now available on Kindle. Woot! And on Smashwords too.

2. Still waiting on Kobo, iBooks, Nook, etc... I'll post once it's available. It will also be available in print. (Oh, the joys of formatting a print book! I really do love formatting, actually, even though it drives me mad sometimes. :))

3. My Twitter account got hacked, probably, most likely, because of the Twitter app I'd added here on the blog. Boo hiss!!! So now I'm switching to just a link. Bummer. In better news, Twitter foiled the hack attempt and emailed me to change my  password. So I didn't get any spammy links or naughty pics posted in my feed. Thank goodness. Yay, Twitter!

...and, finally, a cupcake:

Photo credit: Bossacafez via Flickr Creative Commons

And now I want one. ;)

Hurricaine Sally is blowing through

Hurricaine outside. Warm inside. Still have power. Yay!

Welcome!

Getting closer to launch!