Writing fantasy can be a tricky beast. I’ve teamed up with four talented fantasy authors to share tips for you in writing fantasy. The authors are:
Beth Revis: http://bethrevis.com/
Maureen McGowan: http://maureenmcgowan.com/
Lori M Lee: http://www.lorimlee.com/
Karen Akins: http://www.karenakins.com/
Enjoy!
Photo taken by Sarah Carpenter
As you may have remembered from my previous posts, a portion of all my earnings from my books go to charity. I’m thrilled to share with you a video that shows the results of the funds donated to Seoul Foreign School’s Dongdaewon campaign!
Every year Seoul Foreign School partners with the Eugene Bell Foundation to raise funds for MDR (multiple drug resistant) TB patients in North Korea. In SFS’s Hearts to Serve campaign they do plays, dares, bake-offs, and concerts to make this happen. A donation from every book in the Gilded Series that has been bought is also contributed to this endeavor. All funds raised go directly to buy medicine for individual patients since every patient’s medicine is unique.
If you purchased a copy of any of my books, thank you for making a difference in someone’s lives!
Dongdaewon 2015 from Sarah Carpenter on Vimeo.
How can you be a part of this? Visit the Unity in Action website. For the full story on the girl pictured at the top of this post, go here.
Today is the day! BLACKOUT by Meredith McCardle releases! I’m so excited about the sequel to the heart-pounding, fast-paced thriller of THE EIGHTH GUARDIAN. In fact, I’m so anxious to share this with you that at the bottom of this post, you can enter to win an autographed hardcover!
I absolutely loved book 1 of the Annum Guard series so it was hard to wait for BLACKOUT to come out. THE EIGTH GUARDIAN not only had interesting and unique characters, and not only was the world building so intricate and finely woven, but it was one of those books you just can’t put down until you reach the last page.
I know I’ll be devouring BLACKOUT the moment it arrives in my mailbox. If you’re looking for a unique, well-written time travel book, then you won’t go wrong with this series.
Here’s the blurb on Amazon:
Seventeen-year-old Amanda Obermann (code name: Iris) has more on her mind than usual. As a member of a covert government organization called the Annum Guard, which travels through time to keep history on track, Iris has been getting some particularly stressful assignments. Plus, Jane Bonner, the Guard’s iron-fisted new leader, seems determined to make life as hard as possible. Thankfully, Iris has Abe (code name: Blue), her boyfriend and fellow Guardian, who listens to her vent—and helps her cope with her mentally ill mother’s increasingly erratic behavior.
When Guardians start to disappear on their assignments, Iris makes a terrifying discovery: a “blackout” squad is targeting anyone who gets in the way of a corrupt force that’s selling out both the Annum Guard’s missions and Guardian lives. Together, Iris and Blue must go undercover to untangle the Guard’s elaborate web of secrets and lies. But when Iris discovers that the terrible truth may involve her own father, a former Guardian undone by his own greed, she must decide how much she’s willing to risk to rescue her friends…and how dangerous the consequences will be for all of humanity.
A thrilling time-traveling adventure that spans from Abraham Lincoln’s assassination to the Cuban Missile Crisis and back to the present day, this pulse-pounding sequel to The Eighth Guardian reveals that playing with time can turn into a deadly game.
BLACKOUT is available in hardcover, paperback and Kindle.
Learn more about Meredith on her website, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
To enter to receive your own autographed hardcover, fill in the Rafflecopter below!
First of all, a HUGE thanks to all the students, teachers, and schools who participated in this contest. It was an honor for us, SkYAuthors, to read the amazing work of the next generation’s writers. You all blew us away at your talent! Thank you for putting yourselves out there and for sharing with us your beautiful stories.
From Jessie Humphries, Lori M. Lee, Meredith McCardle, Rysa Walker, Chuck Wendig, and myself, we applaud you!
Now, as a refresher, here are the winning categories:
Without further ado, here are the winners:
School With The Most Entries:
Northwest Technical And Career Academy
6th grade winner: Mia Ottaviano
School: Woodstown Middle School
Teacher/Mentor: Mrs. Collins
7th grade winner: Emmeline Song
School: The Avery Coonley School
Teacher/Mentor: Michelle Schaub
8th grade winner: Juliana Morell:
School: Woodstown Middle School
Teacher/Mentor: Mrs. Jennifer Kelly
9th grade winner: Kayla Stuhlmann
School: Basic High School
Teacher/Mentor: Mauseth
10th grade winner: Madison Matthews
School: Panther Creek High School
Teacher/Mentor: Daria Johnson
11th grade winner: Kelly Litts
School: St Thomas Aquinas High School
Teacher/Mentor: Amy Schaak
12th grade winner: Emily Espanol
School: Northwest Career and Technical Academy
Teacher/Mentor: Debbie Olsen/Josh Symmonds
Runners Up:
1. Kai Garrison
School: Coronado High School
Teacher/Mentor: Mr. J. Watkins
2. Emilee Resop
School: Northwest Career and Technical Academy
Teacher/Mentor: Debra Olsen
And for the OVERALL FIRST PLACE WINNER … drumroll please….
Juliana Gessner
School: Ronald Reagan IB High School
Teacher/Mentor: Ms. Weinfurter
Juliana, come on down…
You have won Two (2) Kindle Fires HDX
(One for yourself and one for your nominated teacher-mentor, Ms. Weinfurter).
Also if you choose to complete your story/short story, the SkYAuthors will assist in getting the story published.
Congratulations, Juliana! Your entry totally blew us away. The odds of you winning this contest were less than .01%…and you did it! This is how…
There were four of us in that dank little cell: the doctor, the nurse, the dead man, and myself. The doctor was etching an escape plan in the dust while the nurse looked on with eyes full of practiced admiration. The dead man sat slumped in the corner, his chains rattling ominously. Beneath us the floor rocked and swayed with the swell of the waves, obeying the commands of the never-ending storm. It had been raining for days now. It was like the sky was trying to drown the ocean, and succeeding.
“Those nasty brutes may look tough,” said the doctor, his voice hoarse and strained, “but they’re poorly organized, and the storm should’ve worn ‘em out by now. If we could just break that lock–” his plan was interrupted by a bone chilling scream from above deck. There was a frantic scramble of stomping boots, followed by shouts, screams, begs for mercy. The ship rocked back and forth with more force than ever before, throwing us around like rag dolls, until–
Deathly silence.
I opened my mouth to speak, but it like my words had been stolen. We waited for a sound, any sound to indicate the survival of the pirates who’d captured us.
Tick… Tick… Tick… Tick…
My eyes slid to the watch on the dead mans wrist. Its face was shattered and the minute hand was missing. It was the only clock in the room.
Again, thank you to all who participated.
***All winners must contact Jessie Humphries at jessiehump(at)gmail(dot)com within thirty (30) days, to claim their prize and provide mailing information.***
2014 was such an overwhelmingly amazing year. I really don’t know where to begin other than to say thank you for being a part of it and for making it so special.
As you know, this was my debut year as an author. I had no idea what to expect. I won’t say it was easy. Juggling a demanding teaching job, trying to be a mom and wife, working at Disney, and launching 2 books was intense to say the least.
The biggest realization I came away from this year is realizing how supportive my family was. I really have the best family in the world (sorry to disappoint all of you who think YOUR family is the best). And I also am so incredibly grateful for my friends. They stepped up to help me when I was beaten down and exhausted. They stood by me during every difficult stage of this crazy journey.
And I’m also incredibly grateful to my agent, editor and the whole Skyscape pub team who completely came behind the Gilded Series and held my hand through this crazy journey. Their belief in my books and in my abilities kept me from being frozen in writer’s block and wanting to give up.
So what exactly happened in 2014 in my professional life? Here’s my list!
That list blows my mind. But you know, I’m so excited about 2015 too! So here’s what’s in store so far for 2015:
If 2015 is half as good as 2014 was, I will be thrilled. And I have a feeling, there’s going to be more awesome on it’s way too!
Guys, thank you for supporting me through this journey. You’ve helped make all my dreams come true and I’m humbled and yet incredibly thrilled.
Happy New Year!
What an amazing year 2014 has been already! But I recently heard some more incredible news about GILDED. I’m absolutely thrilled and overwhelmingly thankful because GILDED made it onto Amazon’s 2014’s Top-Selling New YA Releases!
Thank YOU for all of your support in helping make this happen. GILDED ranked 48th overall, which is wowsers!
And as you all know, 10% of all the sales from GILDED goes right to purchasing medicine for North Korean TB patients through the Eugene Bell Foundation. It blows me away that together we’re able to have a small, but real impact on a country that is desperate for food, warmth, medicine, and love.
Also I want to announce the winners for the Reviewer Appreciation Giveaway. So many beautiful reviews that literally made me want to race out of my house and give you all big, giant hugs. But then that might be a little strange. So I resisted the urge and decided to give away a second copy of my upcoming 3rd book BRAZEN!
Here are the winners!
For the Kindle paperwhite with the specially designed cover: Jennifer Drone
For the advanced, autographed hardcovers of BRAZEN: Heather and Ashley Ferguson!
My Holiday Contest!
And if you are feeling blue from not winning the contest, don’t worry. I’m hosting two SILVERN stocking giveaways. These stockings are the cutest EVER. And they’re filled with stickers, bookmarks and a mini poster of SILVERN. One of the giveaways is being hosted on my Instagram page here while the other is on my fan Facebook page. Both contests close on Dec. 20th!
I had the honor of reading Kat Ross’ SOME FINE DAY in its early stages, before the ebook released on Nov. 11, 2014. After breezing through this stunning science fiction thriller, the story still haunted me long after I finished the book.
The kindle version of SOME FINE DAY is now out in the world! The paperback version will be released on Feb. 17, 2015.
I’m thrilled to offer an official blurb for this book. Here it is:
“Some Fine Day is a gripping thriller that snatched me into a horrifying, futuristic world where science clashes with nature. This heart pounding adventure kept my pulse racing until I reached the end where I found myself utterly shocked and desperate for more.” —Christina Farley, author of Gilded and Silvern
Yep, it’s that good! Here’s the official blurb from Amazon:
A generation ago, continent-sized storms called hypercanes caused the Earth to flood. The survivors were forced to retreat deep underground and build a new society.
This is the story that sixteen-year-old Jansin Nordqvist has heard all of her life.
Jansin grew up in a civilization far below the Earth’s surface. She’s spent the last eight years in military intelligence training. So when her parents surprise her with a coveted yet treacherous trip above ground, she’s prepared for anything. She’s especially thrilled to feel the fresh air, see the sun, and view the wide-open skies and the ocean for herself.
But when raiders attack Jansin’s camp and take her prisoner, she is forced to question everything she’s been taught. What do her captors want? How will she get back underground? And if she ever does, will she want to stay after learning the truth?
Great news too! 20 free copies of this book are up for grabs on Goodreads here. Be sure to add this book onto your Goodreads list!
For more about the very talented Kat Ross, find her at these social media outlets:
I’ll leave you now with the book trailer for SOME FINE DAY, which is just as haunting as the book:
As many of you know, one of my favorite things to do as an author is to go to schools, libraries and festivals and teacher students and adults the elements of how to be a writer.
I’ve now updated my TEACHER page on my website with all of these details as well. But here’s a quick lowdown for you of what resources I offer for teachers, librarians and students.
Teacher Guides
These guides I created with the help of my publisher, Chris Valcarcel as the educational consultant, and Jennifer Messinger as the graphic designer, I’m able to offer them to you for FREE. There are two guides for GILDED. One is a study guide, which is useful for small groups and literacy circles. The other is a novel guide and quite extensive with higher order thinking questions. All are Common Core aligned!
STUDY guide to GILDED (grades 7-12): GILDED Study Guide
Full novel UNIT guide to GILDED (grades 7-12): GILDED Novel Guide
STUDY guide to SILVERN (grades 7-10): COMING SOON
Book Club Questions: Book Club
I LOVE school visits! As a former teacher, I have a blast teaching workshops for students and adults. I can adapt a presentation to your curriculum needs or brainstorm with you on other ideas.
Skype or Google Hangout Visits
Click here for Skype Visit Information
If you are interested in having me for a free Skype visit, fill out this form
School, Library, or Festival Visits
Presentations for schools, libraries, or festivals: Workshop Handout- For Schools
FSA Prep or Formal Essay Writing Presentations: FSA Author Visits Information
If you are interested, please contact me here.
Scholastic Book Fairs
GILDED will be in the Scholastic book fairs and clubs spring of 2015! If you wish for me to come to your school to autograph books at your book fair, please contact me. My fee for Central Florida is just the price of gas and lunch!
I also do writing workshops with Amy Christine Parker (GATED) and Vivi Barnes (OLIVA TWISTED) for schools, festivals and libraries. Check out our video!
Teacher Resources:
Plotting: The Everest Plot
Four Character Elements: Characterization
Character Development: Character Development
FSA Pinterest Page
Instructional Videos
I have videos for TEACHERS/STUDENTS here.
And for WRITERS here:
Finally, if you wish to get on my mailing list, interested in receiving bookmarks of school visits, fill out this form!
Today I want to take time to THANK YOU! You are the backbone of why I’m able to keep bringing out stories because it’s YOU who is reading, buying, sharing, and reviewing my books. I don’t take your time or thoughtfulness lightly.
And so to thank you for your support of SILVERN, I’m doing another reviewer thank you like I did for GILDED. But this one is bigger and better!
I’m giving away a Kindle paperwhite that has a special designed cover with GILDED on one side and SILVERN on the other. Plus it has both books preloaded on the inside. I know. It’s awesome! My son keeps trying to steal it! Here’s a pic of it with my Korean lantern, mini kimchi pots, Korean runner, and Chinese medicine chest.
And a second winner gets an advanced autographed hardcover (for US residents) or paperback (for international residents) of BRAZEN!!!! You won’t get this prize until closer to September of 2015, but still, you will be one of the first to hold it!
So how do you enter?
It’s pretty simple. Just review GILDED and/or SILVERN on Amazon and let me know by filling in the rafflecopter form below. Your review doesn’t have to be 5 stars or another novel. 1-2 sentences is fine!
A salute to you!
I’m absolutely thrilled to share with you that yes, there will be a Gilded Book #3! The Gilded Series will be a trilogy!
I know, you guys have been hounding me ever since SILVERN released and you got to the end of the book and were like:
And you wanted to hunt me down.
Especially since I didn’t have a solid YES answer for a book 3 yet. But thankfully you didn’t kill me because now I can be here to tell you that YES there will be a Gilded Series Book 3!
Last night I happily signed the contract with Skyscape and I got the go ahead to share the news with you.
There have been lots of guesses and speculation on what book three will be called. Bronzed seems to be the most popular. But that’s not it. Are you ready for it…..
Book Three will be called BRAZEN!
Just like in GILDED and SILVERN, the title symbolizes something from the book plus as you can guess BRAZEN is a double entendre (play on words).
When it will be released? Look for BRAZEN to meet the world on Sept. 29, 2015!
So what is this book about? Hmm… pretty much anything I tell you will be either spoilery for SILVERN or for BRAZEN.
But I can tell you:
1. It’s set in South Korea and _______. Oh! Can’t tell you that one! But I will say it’s a place I’ve traveled to.
2. All of the old characters and mythological creatures are back along with a few new ones.
3. You will get to attend a Grand Council meeting.
4. The stakes are even higher than before with more battle scenes, more strain on relationships, more mythological creatures, and well, MORE!
5. I literally cried three times while writing this book. I used to scoff at writers who cried over their manuscripts. I scoff no more because yep, I’m guilty!
6. It’s my favorite of the three. So just for that reason you’ll need to make sure you read it.
Okay, so I’m going to go now and be perfectly calm all day and write peacefully at my desk.
Yeah, right!