Hi, y’all! Miss me?
Well, as of 4:48 Tuesday afternoon, I sent off my revisions on Secret Project #1, which was my first novel of the year. February 2nd, and I’m already one book (and one short story) down. I wrote over 65,000 words in the month of January. And yes, I do feel smug about it.
I also saw my first cover of the year. Zombies vs. Unicorns is already floating around these here internets. And let me just say — I LOVE THIS COVER. I love it so much. I want to hang a print of the artwork on my wall. It’s nothing like what I was expecting, but marvelously unique and eye-catching and perfect for this collection (she says, having only read two of the stories in it).
And Simon & Schuster is already working hard on the promo, as you can see (check out my new Twitter icon, too). You can even partake in a ZvU poll. (Vote TEAM UNICORN, please!)
My other favorite thing about this anthology is it’s releasing right smack dab between the release of the Rampant paperback and Ascendant. Let’s just say that this fall is going to be chockers with killer unicorns. I may have mentioned this back in 2009, but what the heck, new year. My short story in the anthology is entitled “The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn” and it’s a standalone story set in the same world and timeline as Rampant and Ascendant. It’s about a young unicorn hunter who isn’t living in Rome and how that’s working out for her. (Hint: Not well.)
And, now that it’s February and my schedule has gotten a little less hectic, I definitely plan to b blogging more. I’ve got giveaways planned, some conversations about romance and love stories, a debate on the dystopian fiction, authorial control, gender bias, and all kinds of super juicy topics that have been brewing for months in my brain. Stay tuned!
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:44 pm
The link to the poll seems to be busted. Will (of course) vote for unicorns once I can find it.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 2:51 am
The anthology sounds great, I can’t wait to check it out. It’s great to have so many talented authors in one book! It’s a shame because I feel conflicted though… What happens if you love zombies and unicorns, equally but in different ways?
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February 3rd, 2010 at 8:21 am
That book is going to look beautiful on my bookcase! Go Team Unicorn
Congratulations on finishing the book. I know it’s your job but that’s still a VERY impressive word count – did you sleep?
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February 3rd, 2010 at 10:20 am
Hi, Gina. I fixed it. Sorry ’bout that.
Hi, Sophie. I find I am partial to zombies as well. I htink there is room for everything, and if you like both, then this anthology should be right up your alley.
Hi, Alexa. No, I did not sleep. I definitely did not celebrate my birthday. Sad face.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 11:04 am
So glad you’re back, Diana – I’ve missed your blog!
Also, I love that cover. I totally want it on my wall as well! Can’t wait to read this entire anthology.
Congrats on finishing your first book of the year! My latest wonderful news is that thanks to the publication of my first article on children’s publishing back in October, I’ve been asked to write my first PAID article (also on children’s publishing) ever! =)
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February 3rd, 2010 at 2:15 pm
I’ve got giveaways planned, some conversations about romance and love stories, a debate on the dystopian fiction, authorial control, gender bias, and all kinds of super juicy topics that have been brewing for months in my brain
Yum! Yes, please.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 3:31 pm
I really can’t believe the amount of work you’ve been doing. But it sounds like it’s seriously going to pay off well. That cover is awesome. LOVE it!
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February 3rd, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Will ASCENDANT be coming out in hardback?
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February 3rd, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Congratulations, Tiff! That article sounds so cool. Where might one read it?
THanks Shveta!
Thank you, Angie. It does mean one extra release this year, though I remain undecided if anyone is going to know about it.
PR: Yes. But I’m surprised how often I get asked that question.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 4:56 pm
I’ll let you know when it comes out, Diana. Haven’t written it yet!
If you feel like reading an archival study of Canadian children’s publishing, my previous article is available here: http://bit.ly/cPQ10y
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February 3rd, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Just realized that you said that you “remain undecided if anyone is going to know about” your secret project…are you writing in another genre (romance?) under a pseudonym? Can you give us a little hint?
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February 3rd, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Tiff, actually, that article was very interesting. I love reading about the history of publishing houses (you may recall that I wrote my college thesis on LOST HORIZON< which was the first “Pocket” paperback) and also, LM Montgomery!
And yes, it is under a pseudonym. Otherwise, how much of a secret would it be?
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February 3rd, 2010 at 7:18 pm
I voted for zombies. Please forgive me.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Diana, I didn’t know that about your college thesis–that’s so awesome! I’m glad you enjoyed it; I loved doing the research.
One of these days, we will meet up and I will trade you LM Montgomery research for your pseudonym. =)
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February 4th, 2010 at 5:36 am
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February 4th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Remember, SSG first came out in hardcover, but then the rest of the Rose & Grave novels only came out in trade paperback.
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February 4th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Amazingly, PR, I do recall that.
Rampant, however, is an entirely different genre, published in an entirely different market. It is a genre that is doing quite well, in fact, and part of a market segment that has very strong library sales, for which hardcovers are preferred. The market for YA hardcovers keeps growing, while the market for adult hardcovers keeps shrinking. Additionally, Rampant hardcover, though 50% longer than SSG the hardcover, is 5 dollars cheaper. It’s only three dollars more than the T&G *paperback.*
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February 4th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
65,000 in one month! That is impressive. Especially considering the fact that you somehow fit revisions in there as well.
Do you think it’s a myth that an author needs to take a significant amount of time between the first draft and the revisions in order to gain the necessary distance from the work? Have you ever found this useful?
Very excited that you are blogging again
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February 5th, 2010 at 1:53 am
Beth, I don’t think it’s a “myth” — I think it’s a good idea. I always try to take as long as my schedule allows — which sadly, isn’t often very long, though I do find that more distance allows me to see things more objectively. Sometimes in subsequent rounds of editing — even copyediting — I make changes I was wedded to keeping in earlier rounds.
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