Happy New Year!

Wow, I can't believe 2013 is here, and 2012 is over. How did this happen? Where did all the time go? 2012 was a strange mix of hurry up and wait for me, and try as I might, I really can't believe that my debut is right around the corner. I guess maybe I'll start believing it once it's here. Then again, maybe not.

Anyway, 2012 was an awesome year, full of some awesome things. I got to do my first 3-day Event (just a Starter, but still awesome, and yes I'm talking about horses here). I sold my YA sci-fi to Balzer & Bray (HarperCollins), the newly dubbed Avalon. I got to see and reveal the gorgeous cover for The Nightmare Affair twice! Not to mention the arrival of real, hold-them-in-my-hands ARCs. And I made a bunch of new writerly friends. It was definitely a year to be thankful for.

I don't really have any resolutions or goals for 2013. All I want to do is survive all the coming crazy and the busy, insane schedule. Oh, and to have some fun along the way.

So have a happy New Year! I hope your 2013 is full of good friends, good times, and most especially good stories!

***Originally published at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to those of you that celebrate, and Happy Holidays all around.

If you don't believe in this sort of thing, I can only say that I hope you at least believe in the power of story. Because this one is the ultimate hero stories when you really think about it. Frodo saved all the peoples of Middle Earth. Harry Potter saved all his friends and companions. But Jesus saved all the world and all the people in it throughout all time. And that's pretty freakin' amazing.

So again, Merry Christmas and happy writing!

***Originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Updated Cover Reveal, ARC Giveaway, and Title News!

First up, the updated cover for The Nightmare Affair has been revealed over on JeanBookNerd.com. Check it out here and enter to win a signed ARC of the book! And let me know what you think. Personally, I think it rocks!

In other news, my little sci-fi thriller formerly known as Finding Eden has been rechristened. And the new title is....

AVALON

What do you think? Personally, I think it rocks pretty hard. In other words, I'm totally in love with it.

The book is officially available on Goodreads thanks to awesome-sauce Inky over at http://bookhavenextraordinaire.blogspot.com, and there's a slightly updated blurb about it, too:

17-year-old Jeth Seagrave, leader of a group of talented spaceship thieves, finds his life on the line when he takes on a high risk job for his crime lord employer in order to earn a way out of the life for him and his sister. Pitched as Firefly meets White Cat.

And here's the link if you want to add it.

Oh, and one last final tidbit, in case you're wondering. Avalon is the name of a very special, very important spaceship. She's really a character all by herself, almost. I can't wait for you to meet her, and Jeth and the rest of the crew.

***Originally published at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Debut Debutante and Giveaway

I'm so thrilled to say that I'm a debutante! Definitely the first that has ever come out of my mouth (or brain? or fingers? since this is a written thing...never mind). The event is being hosted by the spectacular Badass Bookie, and my introductory post is up right now. In it you'll get to see my dream dress and learn 10 wacky, weird, and semi-fun things about me. And TOMORROW, you'll want to check back for a sneak peek at The Nightmare Affair and a chance to win an advanced copy of the book. Check it out here!

Update - and the giveaway is live! Enter here. (Note: the giveaway is for a pre-order, not an ARC. But I will be giving away a couple of ARCs soon!)

 ***Originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Book Love: The Raven Boys

First off, Happy Thanksgivings to everyone of you who celebrates it. I hope your day is full of lots of good food and good times with loved ones, as mine will be.

Now onto the main point. Maggie Stiefvater is giving away signed bookplates of The Raven Boys for anyone in the US and Canada who wants them, and oh boy do I do. (Details here.) I LOVED this book so much. I have compared my experience reading it to something akin to the way I felt watching Goonies as a kid, a sense of complete and utter wonderment and a desperate desire to be a part of this world and to share the adventures with this characters. I cannot wait for book 2.

So in order to get my bookplate, I have to present a picture of myself (or a pet) holding my copy of The Raven Boys. I decided to use my pets and quite a few of them volunteered to participate. (And no not all of them are represented.)

(This last cutie technically isn't mine, but my sisters. Still, he wanted to pose.)

***Originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

teamTEENauthor November Theme: So you Wanna Be a Writer?

First of all, if you wanna be a writer, then yah! Congrats! Best. Decision. Ever. Now all you have to do is read a lot, write a lot, and never give up. The old idea that success is 20% talent and 80% tenacity (or whatever the formula) is true!

Beyond that, my only true advice is this: If what you’re doing isn’t working, then try something else.

Sounds simple, right? But it’s not.  So many writers—myself included at one time—possess the determination to keep on writing story after story or novel after novel regardless of failures and near misses, but we fail to make changes between each attempt. And like Albert Einstein once said, the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

So what kind of changes am I talking about? Well, that depends on the writer, of course. For me, the change I needed to make was the way I approached writing the first draft.

Before The Nightmare Affair, I was a complete pantser. I just hit the page running and didn’t look back. The result, naturally, were stories that required a lot of revisions/rewriting afterward. Unless you are Stephen King (and even he admits in his fabulous book On Writing that he doesn’t get it right the first time either) you’re bound to go off track in places. For me as a pantser, this meant going off track in a lot of places. It also meant a lot of self-doubt and discouragement when I started on the second draft.

With the The Nightmare Affair, however, I decided to employ a different tactic. I became a “pantser who stops and asks for directions.” What this means is that I still approached the first draft without an outline or any deliberate plotting, but rather than running along as quickly as I could, I took my time scene-by-scene, chapter-by-chapter, and character motivation by character motivation to think about what was happening, why it was happening, and then what would happen next. Rather than follow my instincts, I questioned those instincts, tested them for viability before putting them down on the paper. Like this:

• Why is character B behaving this way?
• What is his motivation?
• Where am I at in the “story arc?”
• Is this scene serving multiple purposes? Does it advance the story? Provide character development?

The result of this change was exactly what I needed—a first draft in much better shape than any I’d written before. This made revising a heckuva lot easier. I was able to take it through multiple drafts without getting discouraged. And of course, several months later I signed with my agent and then sold the book. It was like magic.

So take a look at what you’ve done in the past that hasn’t worked and then try something new this time around. You just might find your magic, too.

Good luck and happy writing!

And be sure to check in with the rest of the teamTEENauthors:

• Julie Cross
• Adam Leonard
• Pip Harry
• Hilary Weisman Graham
• Janci Patterson
• Jessica Corra
• Kimberly Sabatini
• Laura Ellen
• Suzanne Lazear
• Trish Doller
• E.C. Myers
• Elizabeth Amisu
• Erika O'Rourke

***originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there.*** 

Nightmare Affair Blog Tour Signup

Good news for any interested bloggers out there. The sign up sheet for The Nightmare Affair blog tour just went live. Thanks so much for Shane Morgan at Itching For Books for hosting. Details here: http://itchingforbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/blog-tour-sign-upthe-nightmare-affair.html

Happy Friday!

***originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Giveaway Announcement

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The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

I'm sure most of you have heard about this blog hop by now, and it's my turn! I was tagged by the fabulous Liz Coley.

Here it goes:

1. What is the working title of your current WIP?

It's currently untitled, but I refer to it as FE_Prequel. Real creative right?

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?

This is a prequel to my YA sci-fi novel (currently titled Finding Eden but changing soon) that's upcoming from Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins).  

3. What genre does your book fall under?

It's a YA sci-fi, the kind with space ships and guns.

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I haven't come across anyone that fits my MC. But in my mind, I picture Jeth as a teenaged version of Malcolm Reynolds, and if you don't know who this is, I'm afraid we can no longer be friends. (Kidding, well sorta.)

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenaged thieves must pull off a dangerous heist for their crime lord boss while training their newest and youngest member--Jeth's little sister, Lizzie.

6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I'm represented by Suzie Townsend from New Leaf Literary, and this prequel should be coming out as an ebook prior to the release of the novel.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Unknown. I'm still working on it.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

The announcement in PM described the series as Firefly meets White Cat by Holly Black. I'm down with that.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to explore what happened before the events in the first book.

10. What else about your book might pique your reader's interest?

It's written in 3rd person and from a male point of view. There's lots of action and sci-fi fun.

Now, I'm supposed to tag 5 writers to post next, but so many people have already been tagged for this one. Instead, I've decided to list some of my favorite up-and-coming writers. All of these ladies are super talented, and I hope you'll take the time to check out their stuff and put them on your radar. You won't regret it!

Lori M. Lee

Cat York

Kathy Bradey

Farrah Penn

Victoria Scott

Happy Writing!

***Originally published at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

teamTEENauthor DARE DAY and Contest

So not only am I participating in a dare for this month's teamTEENauthor blog, but I've also got a link to a really awesome, really big contest you're going to want to know about. It's also a scavenger hunt. Find out all about it here. 

Now for the dare. This month, the Perfect 10 teen panel came up with 3 options for the authors to choose from for the October 2012 Dare Day:

1. Cover your face with peanut butter and take a picture

2. Write your most embarrassing moment from your teen years, Shakespearean style

3. Post pictures and other links all about your celebrity teen heartthrob crush from middle school/high school. Your own Justin Beiber so to speak.

My choice this month is number 3. And the answer is Tom Hansen from 21 Jump Street as portrayed by the ethereal wonderfulness of Johnny Depp.

And here is video proof of why this was a perfectly valid crush to have: link. Not only did I have a crush on this character, but I had a crush on the entire show. The idea of young undercover cops infiltrating local high schools? Yowza. I think I would like to write a couple of books with that premise even now. So yeah, I still might be carrying this crush a little, all the way from middle school.

(And before you ask, no I haven't seen the movie. This show was craptastically awesome, and I would prefer to keep it that way in my memory)

And check out these dares from the other teamTEENauthors:

• Adam Leonard
• Pip Harry
• Hilary Weisman Graham
• Janci Patterson
• Jessica Corra
• Kimberly Sabatini
• Laura Ellen
• Suzanne Lazear
• Trish Doller
• E.C. Myers
• Elizabeth Amisu
• Erika O'Rourke

 ***Originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Cover Tweak and Context 25

Yep, you read that title right. The cover for The Nightmare Affair is getting tweaked. Now before anybody panics, the cover is staying mostly the same. The only change will be the girl silhouette aka Dusty. She's getting a makeover to emphasize that the book is a YA and not an MG (if there was any doubt, it is most definitely YA). I've seen the early comps of the change, and they are fabulous. Dusty's getting new clothes, new hairstyle, a brand new and more accurate look. If you liked the cover before, you're going to like it even more when you see the update. I promise!

My other big news of the week is that I'm going to be a panelist at this year's Context 25, a sci-fi/fantasy convention with a literature focus that takes place in Columbus, Ohio. You can find the schedule here. I'll be the blond woman trying her best not to look stupid as I attempt to live up to the title of "entertaining guest." Ha, ha aren't they in for a surprise! Kidding. Well, mostly.

So if you feel like coming out, cheerleaders, hecklers, and SF enthusiasts are all welcome.

***Originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

teamTEENauthor September Topic: Harry Potter

Learn more about teamTEENauthor and my teamTEENauthor friends here.

Oh Harry Potter, where to begin? My undying love for Harry Potter is a topic I could on about for hours. My debut The Nightmare Affair would not be the kind of book it is without Harry Potter as an influence. But that’s a topic for later, perhaps. Instead I’ve decided to come up with the top five signs you might be a Harry Potter addict (hint: I’m guilty of all of them!)

 5. You ritualistically listen to the audio versions of all 7 Harry Potter books.

Yes, I do this. Over and over again. I have a long commute to my day job, and audio books are the only things that make it bearable. Now, while I do listen to other books on audio, I always frame those listens around Harry Potter. I can’t help it. I have a compulsive need to hear the story. And every time I listen, I catch something new. Oh, and can I just say how much better Lord Voldemort’s name sounds in the first 4 books when the “t” is silent the way JK Rowling initially intended it to be? Um, yeah, we can blame the films for that awful change.

 4. You called in sick to work to finish book 7.

Yep, I did this (and don’t worry, the boss knows). When book 7 came out, I was at a horse show, but my husband went out and grabbed the book for me. As soon as I got home, I spent the next two days in my favorite chair tearing through it and avoiding the internet and potential spoilers. I cried and cried in so many places. And burning up an entire day’s worth of PTO, was completely worth it.

3. You describe your child’s educational career in Harry Potter terms.

 Yes, again, guilty. And here’s the proof:

Now to be fair, an entire conversation broke out among my twitter friends about the goodness that exists in Slytherin. And I totally agree. Snape is awesome, no doubt. But the first day of preschool my daughter exhibited some of the more negative traits of Slytherin. And really, she belongs in Gryffindor (for the record, I’m a Ravenclaw). Firstly, she’s incredibly fearless, at least when it comes to any kind of social situation. To give you an idea, when she was 2 we took her trick-or-treating, and she walked right into a stranger’s house! Seriously, she just burst through the door and into a dinner party. Everyone thought it was funny. Me, I thought it was a bit scary. Secondly, she’s a bit of a show-off, always wanting to be the center of attention.

2. You understand that the reason why the movies pale by comparison is because they left out all the whimsy.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the movies. But for the longest time I couldn’t figure out why they were so “meh” when compared to the books—I mean beyond the usual “the movie is never as good” thing. I finally figured it out one day while listening to the audio books. The filmmakers cut out all the funny and whimsical/magical moments that really give the books their special flavor. My favorite example of this comes from book 6 when Dumbledore picks up Harry at the Dursleys’. In the book Dumbledore offers the Dursleys something to drink by conjuring glasses out of thin air. But of course, the Dursleys refuse to accept the glasses which then spend the rest of the scene knocking them in the head. It’s hysterical and the kind of thing that would’ve been visually funny. In the movie though, we go straight to the scene with Horace. I understand why the filmmakers did this, but it still makes me sad. This is also why I harbor a deep hope that someday there will be a cartoon version of Harry Potter that includes ALL the whimsy and magic.

 1. You bought your house because of the cupboard under the stairs.

Well, this one isn’t entirely true, but it definitely didn’t hurt our decision. Rest assured—none of my children have ever been forced to live inside it. Although, more than one cat has spent a couple of hours locked up on accident. I have a feeling they didn’t mind. And no, unfortunately, none of them are named Crookshanks. But I might remedy that someday…

So what are your signs of Harry Potter addiction?

And check out these other teamTEENauthor members talking about HP!

Julie Cross
Janci Patterson
E.C. Myers
Elizabeth Amisu

***Originally published at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

A Preview and a New Blurb

Hey all! Just wanted to give you a quick update. Firstly, my guest post at Fiction Freak went up yesterday. It contains a small preview of a section of The Nightmare Affair. Check it out here.

I'm also blogging today over at the Lucky 13s about signs of a Super Star Agent (here's a hint: Mine is one!)

And lastly, but definitely not leastly, I've been given the go ahead to share another blurb for The Nightmare Affair from the fabulous, New York TImes bestselling author Marissa Meyer, author of Cinder! I couldn't be more thrilled with what she had to say.

And here it is:

“The Nightmare Affair is brimming with wit and charm, along with plenty of mysteries that kept me guessing to the very end. Mindee Arnett has created a brand new school of magic to delight and enthrall us, and I'm sure I won't be the only reader impatiently awaiting the next adventure at Arkwell Academy.”—Marissa Meyer, New York Times bestselling author of Cinder

Happy writing!

 ***originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Winners and News!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in my giveaway. I'm so happy to announce the winners.

First up, the ARC of Renegade by J.A. Sounders and a swag pack of The Nightmare Affair goes to:

Hwa Sun Kang of The Shangri La of Books!

The two runners up, both receiving swag packs of The Nightmare Affair are:

Magan Bagan of A Trail of Books Left Behind

and

Lisseth of Read-A-holicZ

Winners, please send me your address information so I can get these prizes out to you pronto (mindeearnett@gmail.com)

And now for the news. I've had two announcements appear in Publisher's Marketplace. First, the audio rights to The Nightmare Affair went to Audible.com in a 3-book deal. And second, German rights went to Heyne in a 2-book deal at auction!

Needless to say, I'm very excited :)

Have a great holiday weekend!

***Originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Giveaway: Renegade ARC + Nightmare Affair Swag

Okay, as promised, I'm giving away my ARC of Renegade by J.A. Souders plus some swag packages for The Nightmare Affair. There will be three winners. The first will win the ARC plus a bookmark and an Arkwell Academy Student Guide (inside picture here). The two runners up will receive the bookmark and Guide as well. The contest is open internationally.

To enter, just comment on this blog. You can earn an extra entry for mentioning the contest on twitter and facebook (1 entry each, so 2 possible). If you mention on twitter, be sure to include my handle (@mindeearnett) so I can track it. And if you mention on facebook, provide the link in your comment. Here's a short link for the contest: http://wp.me/p29HNn-60. The contest will be open until midnight Thursday, eastern standard time.

Good luck!

So here's the cover and description of Renegade from Goodreads. This book was unlike any I've read. It was dark and twisted, ultra-fast paced and completely thrilling. I enjoyed it immensely, and I'm sure you will, too.

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. Her memories have been altered. Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

And here's a picture of the front and back cover of The Arkwell Academy Student Guide:

 

***Originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Cover Interview and Upcoming ARC and Swag Giveaway

Hi all!

Today I'm over at the awesome Gypsy Book Reviews discussing my cover for The Nightmare Affair. It's got some sneak peeks into the book along with some other fun stuff. Plus, Ashelynn is super nice and smart and you should follow her blog anyways because it rocks. Go check it out here. 

Also, be sure to show up next week as I'm going to be holding a giveaway for Renegade by J.A. Souders. This book is amazing. I tore through it, completely engaged by the creepy, intense, and weirdly beautiful story. The ARC winner will also receive a swag package for The Nightmare Affair - a bookmark and one of the extra-awesome Arkwell Academy Student Guides. I've got photographs off the guide over on my Facebook author page. It includes custom artwork based on the book and an in depth look at the world it takes place in. There will also be two runners up who will receive the swag package as well. Entering will be easy and painless, I promise.

See you then!

***Originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Book Rec: The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loftin

I had the good luck to read this fantastic book last November. I tore through it and loved every second. It's deliciously gruesome and wonderful, a modern Hansel and Gretel. It also has one of my all-time favorite supporting characters, the delightful Andrew. Oh, and the cover rocks, too. The book comes out today. Go get it! See the description from Goodreads below:

When Lorelei's old school mysteriously burns down, a new one appears practically overnight: Splendid Academy. Rock-climbing walls on the playground and golden bowls of candy on every desk? Gourmet meals in the cafeteria, served by waiters? Optional homework and two recess periods a day? It's every kids's dream.
But Lorelei and her new friend Andrew are pretty sure it's too good to be true. Together they uncover a sinister mystery, one with their teacher, the beautiful Ms. Morrigan, at the very center.

Then Andrew disappears. Lorelei has to save him, even if that means facing a past she'd like to forget – and taking on a teacher who's a real witch.

What Lorelei and Andrew discover chills their bones – and might even pick them clean!

***Originally published at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there*** 

Linky Links

Just a quick note to let you know some places you can find me on the internet. I did a W.O.W - Writer Odyssey Wednesday interview over at Chasing the Crazies. You can read it here. 

Also, the link to my WriteOnCon post is here. You can comment to win a Query + 1st Chapter critique from me as well a swag package for The Nightmare Affair (a bookmark and one of the super-awesome-you-want-this Arkwell Academy Student Guide).

***Originally posted on www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

WriteOnCon Reminder!

Just a quick reminder about WriteOnCon. It's happening right now! What are you waiting for?

http://writeoncon.com

***originally published at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Blurb for The Nightmare Affair

I've got the most awesome news to share! I've received an absolutely fantastic blurb for The Nightmare Affair by none other than Kendare Blake! That's right, the ultra-talented author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Girl of Nightmares, and the forthcoming Anti-Goddesses series, has this to say about my book:

"Mindee Arnett has a knack for magic. The world of Nightmares, Sirens, Wizards and Demons at Arkwell Academy is wondrous and strange, yet so human and well-drawn that you get the feeling you might stumble into it by accident if you go out wandering too late. THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR is whimsical and wild. I read it too fast. What's next, Arnett?"—Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood

Yes, I could faint from joy or cry or maybe just jump up and down a lot. How about all three? Kendare is such a fine writer. I adore her work, and to have her enjoy mine in return is about as good as it gets. Her latest book. Girl of Nightmares is out in stores right now. Go get it. You won't be disappointed.

Oh, almost forgot to mention. I've seen the cover art for the ARCs, and this blurb appears on it! And speaking of ARCs, I've added this page to my website where you can formally request one. 

And last but not least, don't forget WriteOnCon is happening next week. My blog post on world building is going up Tuesday at 5:00, but there are dozens of live events you can participate in. Be sure to register soon. 

Happy writing!

***Originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Blogtour, Bookmarks, and Other News

I can't believe this is already happening, but I've got my first blogtour planned. The lovely Shane Morgan over at Itching for Books will be hosting it. The sign up should go up sometime next week.

My first order of bookmarks arrived last Friday, and while they are still quite lovely, the text came out a little blurry. I've gone ahead and ordered a new batch that should be much clearer. In case you were wondering, they look like this:

I'm also excited to reveal another swag item I'm working on: The Arkwell Academy Student Guide. The guide is going to give you a firsthand sneak peek into the world of The Nightmare Affair, including custom artwork by the ultra-talented Cat York. Here's a look at the front cover:

And last but not least, a reminder that WriteOnCon is coming up in less than two weeks. This is a free online conference and an extremely valuable resource for any up and coming writer. I'm a faculty member this year, and my blog post should be up on Tuesday around 5:00. It's on world-building, and wow, was it tough to write. I hope people find it useful.

Happy writing!

***originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there***

Today I'm blogging over at The Lucky 13s about my querying journey, a process I liken to the Choose Your Own Adventure books from the 80s and 90s (and if you're too young to remember theses, I recommend trying to locate one just for the experience). You can find the post here.

I will also be blogging as part of this year's WriteOnCon. I'll be discussing the frightening and highly importantopic of world-building. More to come. Book wise, this is a big week. I'll be turning in copy edits on The Nightmare Affair today or tomorrow as well as completing the first draft of book 2. There will be much celebrating at my home when this happens. Woohoo!

Also, I received cover proofs yesterday which enabled me to pretend that Nightmare is a real book:  

***Originally posted at www.mindeearnett.com. You can comment here or there.***