Tomorrow is wear your Hollows Shirt Day!

I’m sitting at my desk this morning, ARC copy of EVER AFTER by my hand as I watch the right amount of snow falling, (not too much, not too little, and not too slippery) wondering what page I should read from EVER AFTER tomorrow at the tour kick-off event at Nicolas in Ann Arbor. Mmmm, decisions, decisions. Something with Al in it, or perhaps Ivy? Then there’s  Trent. But Jenks is the glue that holds it all together.  It’s a problem.

Today I’ll spend going over my event schedule and then packing. By now I’ve got it down to a science, knowing exactly what I can take, what I won’t ever use, and how to best use the space I’ve got, because I’m not taking any more than one bag and a carryon for two weeks, thirteen events, and a few visual media opportunities. But I am tempted, so tempted, to lose a precious amount of space and pack a roll of toilet paper. Nice shoes or roll of the good stuff? Oh, if only all I had to do was run out the door chasing dwarves.

I’m hoping to see a lot of readers over the next couple of weeks, and if you’ve never gone to an event before, bring a friend and give it a go.  (Am I coming within driving distance to you?) We have a tremendous amount of fun. The independent stores always let me have a sit-down Q&A for about 15-20 minutes, and I usually spill something I don’t mean to. I’m always amazed I don’t hear my inadvertent spoilers being bandied about on the social medias the next day, but it’s almost as if I’ve given you a secret and you hold it close, smug in the knowing. Even if you just want to sit in the back and listen, it’s fun. The thing is, how often do you get to spend a few hours in a room with people who love and UNDERSTAND what sparks in your imagination. Not often. Not nearly enough.

We’re in the last 24 hours now to get a personalized copy of EVER AFTER from Nicola’s before I head out. After that, it’s signed copies only. As always, international is okay, just email them first for a shipping quote. nicolasbooks@tds.net Nicola’s ordering page

And don’t forget. Tomorrow is wear your Hollows shirt day! You can post a link here to your picture, (I’d love to see it) or drop it on face book tomorrow when I open it up for posting photos for the day.

 

Holy Pixy Poo! It’s Friday!

Seriously, how did it get to be Friday so fast? I’ve got mega stuff going on, and still trying to  wedge a rewrite of a chapter into my day, just so things feel a little normal. I’m going to take today’s post to recap what I can. It’s going to be messy, and a little redundant, but just writing it all down will assure myself that I can wrangle ducks into a row.

First: I want to go in tonight and sign books at Nicola’s to send out to across the U.S., but they won’t call me in early unless I have two hundred, so if you want a signed-to-you EVER AFTER, personalized and everything, now is the time to do it. I will no longer be personalizing them after the 22, though I will leave a bunch of signed stock with just my signature. Here is how you get one of those bad boys. Nicola’s International is okay.

Second: The list of tour cities! The tour is nicely balanced this year, when you consider I’m only out for about two weeks and the United States covers four time zones. I’ve got a list of the cities and dates here, but please check the event’s page for any restrictions the store might have. I’ve tried to keep them updated, but if they don’t tell me, I don’t know. Please don’t let a “ticketed” event scare you off. Tickets are the stores way to keep track of how many people were at an event and to help the signing line move smoother. Don’t have a ticket? Don’t sweat it. Come anyway. I don’t leave until everyone’s book is signed. We have a lot of fun. Event’s page

Thirdly: Can’t make a signing? We have a way. The 1/23 Seattle event will be live streamed, (7 pm West Coast Time!!) and they tell me there will be a way for you to ask me questions by way of the chat room. You might want to drop over to the channel now and get an “account” which is basically making sure your machines are talking so you can get into the chat room. You don’t have to sign up for anything to watch, but seriously, it’s a lot more fun if you do. Click to get your machines talking before the last-minuite crush.

Fourth: Chapter releases! You can start to read EVER AFTER RIGHT NOW!!!  Yes indeed. Just pace yourself because there are only three out there right now.
Chapter One Scroll down to find it right on my website.
Chapter Two If this one doesn’t work, try this. Chapter Two
Chapter Three Still having trouble, go right to Harper.

Fifth: Okay, you read the chapters, and you’re still hungry. The first interview for the tour is up:  Quick Q&A with Kim I’ve got so much going on with interviews and such it boggles my mind. I’ll try to keep a running list of them on the front page of the website the next couple of weeks.

Sixth: I know everyone can’t get to a signing or purchase a book, and I know how important it is to have a piece of something you love. Therefore, we still have the EVER AFTER freebies which I can send to you if you send me a stamped envelope that you have pre-addressed to yourself. (A SASE) I won’t be able to mail them until we get back, but we’ve reserved enough to mail one to just about everyone who asks.  Guy and I design, print, and mail them to you ourselves, so it takes some time. This year, we have the Carew Tower coat tag that Rachel gets in chapter one. Mail your SASE to:
Kim Harrison
Ever-After tour freebie
PO Box 498
Dexter, MI 48130
USA

I’m sure I’m forgetting something . . . But that’s it for now!

Printing out book twelve, and voting continues!

Feels good to be back in my office today. I took the entire week off between Christmas and New Years, the first time I’ve done that in about ten years. I did NOTHING but piece together fabulous wooden puzzles, knit holiday socks and mittens for those I love, baked, cooked, ate, ate some more, and watched lots of movies, football, and the latest series drama coming out of Washington. But the mind never really steps completely away from the work, and it’s a relief to be able to sit in my quiet, peaceful office and feel the stress channeled into positive action.

I’m printing out  book twelve today to send off to my publisher. I’ve not looked at it in several months, but it felt as ready as possible when I put it aside. I see where I think it needs work, but I need a second set of eyes before I rip it apart so I don’t overdo it.

I know it would be faster to simply email it to my editor than print it out and send it along with an electronic copy, not to mention cheaper, but we both like working from paper and I’m hoping that if she has a real manuscript to work from that I’ll get it back with marks and comments instead of an electronic copy with easily read comments in the margin and changes made and needing only my approval. It’s the way things are heading. I both applaud it and dread it.

I work so much with stuff in my head and on the screen that I try to retain what I can of the tactile–of the cool sound of sliding paper, the stacks of print shifting from one side of my desk to the other to make the pacing easier to study, and the frowning over handwritten comments giving me time to soak in the meaning behind the question. Besides, I don’t catch typos on the screen well. The screen has always represented temporary, easily fixed. It’s only in the paper copy that it feels real and I pay attention. My bad.

The bunnies from A PERFECT BLOOD tour are ready for the next tour, and so am I! We just have one more store to decide, and it’s up to you.  The grudge match between Eagle Eye Books in Atlanta and Uncle Hugos in Minneapolis is still going on for a few days more. The voting is really slow, and I don’t think either store is going to make it to the 150 book cut off. You always run the risk of things not working out when you try new marketing techniques, but it might turn around yet. Not much happens between Christmas and New Years, and there’s an entire week to go. If you’re in Atlanta or Minneapolis, it’s a great way to get a signed book.

To vote for Atlanta.
To vote for Minneapolis.

Or you can order from Nicola’s and get it personalized . . . I know my website says we can’t personalize it with a note, but for an organized big release like this, we can and do! Just tell me who it’s for and that you want a note in the comment box when ordering.

And to see if I’m coming to your town, here’s the event’s page.