Very slow spring, and that’s okay

I’ve got a very slow spring unfolding in my yard this year, and that’s okay because really, it’s only mid March. The cold kept me inside apart from a small stint raking out one of my front flower beds that took about an hour or two of easy work. They went to bed nice last fall, so there’s nothing too strenuous, and if it stays chilly, I will get to the entire yard before new green shows up which is kind of what you want so you don’t shock the new stuff. Anyway . . . green is coming up, and the first of my crocus, in the ground now for about five years, is making itself known. I give it a few more weeks and a ten degree shift up, and I’ll have the rest up as well.

Not much outside work this weekend, which pushed me inside where I used the last of our maple syrup to make maple candy–just in time for the new stuff that our neighbors are tapping just down the road. I do love shopping small. It makes me feel connected. So far, we’ve had a good tapping with warm days and cool nights. There’s only a small band of latitude where you can tap for maple syrup, and I’m glad I live in it.

Tim says it’s the best maple candy I’ve made, but he might be bias seeing as he was right there, helping me scrape it out of the pan. Honestly, eating it still warm from the pan is like an entirely different candy. If you want my 4 ingredient recipe, it’s in the HOLLOWS INSIDER. B&N Amazon

I can’t believe the price hasn’t dropped significantly on this one yet, but I think it’s because it’s so . . . unconventional, truly a labor of love on my part and a Herculean effort on my publisher to take my graphs, photos, forms, emails, and connected, unique story line and make it look professional. Remember the contests to get your own photos into it? (grin) Wow, I’ll never do it again, but it will always stand as a four-color, glossy, glow in the dark testament to the power of passion.

And it’s got Tim’s waffle recipe in there, too. (laugh)

P.S. Robins have been back for about a week now. Yay!

 

Harper is having a giveaway!

Harper is moving offices later this month, and they are doing the same thing Guy and I did last week–digging to the back of our closets. And boy did they find something!

So to help celebrate the upcoming, post Labor Day publication of THE WITCH WITH NO NAME and the 10th anniversary of book one, DEAD WITCH WALKING, they are giving away signed Hollows books on the Voyager facebook page. One of them is the Hollows Insider, and if you’ve not seen this yet, take a look. It is truly one of the most heartfelt pieces of work that I’ve ever written, full color and containing photos submitted by readers. Oh, and it glows in the dark.

I went over and checked the giveaway out, and though it is open only to US and Canada because of it being a US/North America edition, you’re not giving info to FB even though that’s where you enter. You’re basically signing up for the Harper Newsletter (if you opt for it) Click here to enter!

Already caught up? You can preorder The Witch With No Name. (Early chapter release is here: Chapter One, The Witch With No Name

Pre-Order Today! 

Amazon	B&N Signed
Nicola’s Signed!	iTunes

Hollows full-color world guide in new formats

It’s big, it’s beautiful, it has its own story line, and it’s the most gorgeous expression of my love affair with the Hollows that I’ve worked on, and believe me, I worked on it, messed around, tweaked, played, and generally invented myself into a corner, hoping my editor would go for it when I finally turned it in, never telling her what I did. I was terrified, and I bit my nails to the quick for six months as it slowly evolved to include the pictures (some of which you provided) then two-color, then four-color, then glossy, and finally, a glow in the dark cover as the art team at Harper took all my messy ideas and made them reality.

I’ve been telling people that it was only the first edition (the hardcovers) that will have the glow in the dark slipcover, but my editor did it again, and even the mass market, which comes out today, will glow. I am so excited, and I hope some of you who don’t like world books will take a look at it. It is not your everyman’s world guide. This is truly a collector’s gem.

I have a few interior shots at the website, and the story of how some of the readers provided the newspaper articles. [Here]

I think you can still hunt around and find the hard cover, but the mass market just came out, and there’s even a Nook and Kindle version coming soon.

Amazon Hollows Insider oversize mass market

Hollows Insider Kindle (August 27)

B and N Hollows Insider mass market/Nook (August 27th)

Muse and the music-and a little bit of signage!

After over a year of working with Peri, I found her soul yesterday. It’s going to be a hell of a series. At the end of the link here, you can click to listen. Banks-Before I Ever Met You. https://soundcloud.com/banksbanksbanks/banks-before-i-ever-met-you

Also, did you know the glow-in-the-dark HOLLOWS INSIDER is soon to become an extinct species? I signed like twenty of them last weekend in Florida, but that’s not going to last. They will becoming trade paperback this year, and the new copy will not glow in the dark. I think you can still get them, but they are becoming harder to find, and in a few months? (shrug) I don’t know if the Virginia Festival of the Book will have them onsite this next weekend when I sign there with Palmer, Pattersson, and Frost,  (event schedule) but Nicola’s still has a few, and I’ll put my name on this first edition for you if you hustle. 🙂 They have a bunch of my other titles, too. http://www.nicolasbooks.com/book/9780061974335

First Editions

First edition? How to you know? Well let me tell you! Every book, be it mass market, or hard cover, has a string of numbers at the bottom of the page that follows the title page. The title page is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s usually where I sign, along with the title and author, and publishing info. But it’s the one following it where all the disclaimers are that you’ll find the edition number. The numbers at the bottom count down from 10 to 1 in the first editions, 10 to 2 in the second editions, 10 to 3 in the third editions, and so on. After the 10th edition, they start over from 20 to 11.

Sometimes I can tell by the feel of the book and the yellowing of the pages if it’s a first edition and I take an extra moment in the signing line to lovingly flip the page to check it out. I’m right about 90% of the time. The other 10% I’m usually way off and the book has just been loved to near death and the owner and I have a laugh and I usually find out it’s been dropped in the tub or passed around to fifteen people. (which I love even more). 🙂 So first editions mean something to me, yes, especially DEAD WITCH WALKING, the only one I really look for. There weren’t a whole lot of them released in comparison to a release now, and I only spot one or two in the entire two weeks that I’m out.

The only reason I bring it up today is that I know first editions are important to some of you guys as well, be it mass market or hard cover, and I’ve got a few titles that the first edition will soon be hard to find. Right now, I’m guessing it’s probably 50/50 that the EVER AFTER you find on the shelf or order from Amazon is a first edition. I started seeing 2nd editions in the lines even before tour was over, but Nicola’s still has them, having stocked up before I left. I can sign it, too, if you ask in the comment box when ordering. http://www.nicolasbooks.com/book/9780061957918

And even more rare as a first edition will be THE HOLLOWS INSIDER. This is the Hollows world book, the one that glows in the dark. The one that I pulled my hair out over. The one I lived in fear for six months for because I had stepped over the line of expectation and I didn’t know if my editor was going to go for. (She did, and I’d love her for that if nothing else.) The one that is a real and solid expression of my commitment and love for what I do. (And I will NEVER do this again.) I’m surprised that they haven’t been pulled already, but I got notice today that trade paperbacks will soon take their place. You can still get the first edition hard covers from any store as far as I know, though they might have to ship it in, but again, Nicola’s has them, and if you ask in the comment box when ordering, I will drop in and sign the glow in the dark hard cover for you before they ship them out. http://www.nicolasbooks.com/book/9780061974335

A Perfect Blood is a Finalist at Goodreads choice awards

Thanks to you, the readers, A Perfect Blood has made it through the first two preliminary rounds and is a finalist in the paranormal fantasy category of Goodreads annual reader choice awards!  Thank you, everyone who has been active in voting for their favorites in all twenty categories over the past couple of weeks. This is your last chance to pick your favorite and vote one last time before the winners are announced November 27th. The link takes you to the front page with all the categories. A Perfect Blood is in the paranormal fantasy genre, but do check out all the rest.

Also, I’m headed into Nicola’s tomorrow to sign the orders that have come in. If you’re looking for a signed book for gift giving this year, now would be a good time to do it. 🙂 Nicola’s page at Kim’s website

They will ship international, and they ask that you email them at nicolasbooks@tds.net for a shipping quote before ordering.

Manic Monday, lightening round

Manic Monday is over. I am so totally overwhelmed right now. The hardcovers went unexpectedly fast, and I’m shocked and embarrassed that I misjudged this so badly. We didn’t get anywhere near the hour window. Guy feels as bad as I do, so we’re going to keep it going a short time longer with the understanding that the A PERFECT BLOOD are gone. We have hard covers for Pale Demon and Black Magic Sanction and White Witch, Black Curse that we were going to offer later, but if you will take one of these instead, we will ship them to you at the same price as A PERFECT BLOOD. Please give Guy a day or two to reorganize and contact you to see if you would like your pay-pal refunded or the other title offer.

Again, I am embarrassed that we misjudged this so badly, which is why I’m trying to make it better. 
Manic Monday ends at 12:30 EST

Update 10/25 : Manic Monday-ers. Guy has contacted everyone who had a choice of an alternate book or funds refunded and is waiting to hear back from you by Friday noon, EST. If you sent him funds and haven’t got an email from Guy, then your book is already on the way to you. 🙂 Thank you again for your understanding. It was shocking how fast they went.

Want a signed Harrison book? In celebration of the mass market of A Perfect Blood hitting the NY Times list, I’m giving away signed copies of the hardcover for postage and handling.

We’ve got about 70 of these, so between noon and 1:00 EST today, paypal Guy your address and the appropriate shipping and handling to coldtoastwritingsllc@comcast.net and if you are among the first 70, we will send you a signed hardcover of A Perfect Blood. We think this will take about an hour, but if they are all claimed before the one-hour window, I will repost here and at FB and of course refund any paypal monies that slipped in the meantime.

Again, wait until noon, EST, or your money will be refunded. Put Manic Monday in the subject line so he doesn’t get them confused with the Tour T’s being offered right now as well.

USA will be $4.10
Canada is $10.70 and will take a few weeks extra shipping time.
International is $19.95, and it might take up to six weeks.
Everything should be in the post by Friday. Seventy pieces of mail take some time to address.

Make sure you put your current address in at the notes to seller space.  **** No address in the notes to seller space, and your money will be refunded.****

As for me, I had a great weekend with decorating and moving leaves around, but I ate way too much sugar. I think it’s the shifting seasons that pull me into bad eating habits. It’s either that, or I’m in the kitchen a lot more. But regardless, it started Friday night with me making shortbread for dinner, then doughnuts and a carmel apple for breakfast on Saturday, and ending on Sunday with making (and eating) maple sugar candy for dinner. (recipe in The Hollows Insider)  I tried pouring the candy into pumpkin molds this time, and it worked out fantastic. After fifteen years of making this recipe, I finally think I might have this down. Dude, this is really good stuff, but if the only thing it has in it is maple syrup, whipping cream, and butter, you know it’s not good for you.

I think I’ll be eating cereal and yogurt today.

A Perfect Blood ARCs Contest

Yep.  The ARCs are in!  I just got my nine Hollows ARCs to give away to the category winners of the Halloween Costume contest, so if you’ve not sent me your Halloween photos, now is the time.  I have almost caught up to Halloween’s flood of entrants, and if you sent me a photo before this Friday, it should be up by now.  🙂  I want to thank everyone who has entered.  This is the fifth year that I’ve done this, and it just keeps getting better and better.  Category winners will receive a signed ARC of A PERFECT BLOOD, and since they are in my office right this second, I can ship them out the week the contest ends.  (which is like this Saturday!)  How to enter  This is usually the only way I give ARCs away.

If you are still looking for your signed copy of THE HOLLOWS INSIDER, you may want to take a look at BookPerk.  This is a Harper promotion site that features their authors with fun offers.  Until they last, they are offering a signed, first edition Hollows Insider along with a free copy of Dead Witch Walking.  Shipping is free.

BookPerk

Lots of you have been asking for hints and spoilers for the upcoming release, and I do have some good news for you.  There will be an excerpt in an upcoming, specially priced e-version of Every Which Way but Dead (Not yet, soon.)  I will also be revamping my website in the coming months and will have an excerpt there as well.  Harper Voyager usually has several chapters that they release early, and if you want to get in on that, you might want to sign up for their Author Tracker.  I can’t paste the widget here, but there’s a sign-up box on the front page of my website.  At the left hand sidebar

I had a great weekend working in my yard.  Got the leaves out of the beds and off the lawn, and even put in a few bulbs.  And . . . I got my hat done.  It’s blocking right now, but when it’s dry, I’ll post a picture.  🙂

Signing at Ann Arbor, MI tonight!

I’ll be at Nicola’s tonight at 7:00 to sign The Hollows Insider, and since it’s likely to be a somewhat smaller event, I can slow down and sign your back list, too, if you feel inclined to bring them in!  We’ve still got a few Madison books to give away, and, er, candy, a few T-shirts, and of course Rachel’s conference badges.  I am looking forward to seeing some of you there.  This is the first time I will be signing at Nicola’s, and they have gone out of their way to make available to people unable to get to an event the chance to get a signed and personalized first-edition, glow in the dark cover Hollows Insider.  You have to put your order in now, though, so I can sign them when I’m there.  Give then a call at 734.662.0600 Price is 25.99 plus tax and shipping.  We may be able to continue this after tonight, but the book might not be personalized.

We had a great Halloween night giving away candy on our doorstep.  I just about panicked at one point because of the number of people standing at the bottom of my porch steps wanting candy.  If we had run out then . . .   Seriously, it was fabulous fun, and some of the costumes have had a lot of thought put into them.  I’m still getting tons of photos from you for the  A Perfect Blood ARC contest.  I try to give everyone a day at the front page of the contest before I move them back, so please be patient until I get to yours.  🙂  Contest!

I also have a few more links from Comic Con that are still coming in.  The first is from Publishers Weekly, the second from MTV  🙂

It is also National Novel Writers Month, or NaNoWriMo for those of you in the know, or simply NaNo, where thousands of published and pre published writers hammer out 45,000 (?) words in one month.  I was hoping that I would have this rewrite done in time to start with you and play along on the sidelines, but alas, it is not going to happen this year.  I’ve got about three days yet to wrap it up, and then a week to plot before I can do a big push of rough draft.

The best part about NaNo is that it’s not quality that is your measure, but quantity.  The goal is to push out as much tripe, garbage, and “word vomit” (pardon me) that you can so that you can find both the satisfaction of completing a novel, (no matter how sucky) and realize that in that mess of words is a story that is GOOD!  You just have to go back and rewrite it–after you write THE END, and not a moment sooner.  It’s kind of scary how close this NaNo method to writing is to mine.  Interested?  Here’s the jumping in point.

You ask, and sometimes, it happens. . . -grin-

There has been some questions lately on the possibility of me finding an outlet for signed, even personalized copies of the Hollows Insider, and between me, my publicity guru, and my new local store, we have cobbled together what I hope to be a beautiful friendship.    Right now, Nicola’s is going out of their way to put into place before Tuesday night, a way for you to order a signed, personalized-to-you, first-edition, glow in the dark Hollows Insider.  I’m hoping that this grows into a new signed book outlet, but for now, I’m delighted that they can scramble about and provide this way for you to get a signed Hollows Insider.  (25.99 plus tax and shipping)

If you are interested, call Nicola’s Books at: 734.662.0600  and give them the info that they need.  I will be able to personalize them if you contact Nicola’s before Tuesday night.  After that, I’m not sure if they will be personalized or just signed.

of Ann Arbor, Mi