My roommate from the NEC Conference, Marley Gibson, has some pictures up on the blog Books, Boys, and Buzz today, so if you want to see more costume party snaps, click here.
Here’s the picture of Jennifer O’Connell and me, in all of it’s grainy, blurry goodness (thanks, Marianne).
It was a little bit awesome to be at the NEC Conference, since that’s where the whole SSG ball got rolling. There, Marley pitched my book to an editor sitting at her dinner table. By the end of the conference, I had a bunch of requests and didn’t even know it. Within a week and a half, I had an agent, and within two more, I had a book deal. (Four years, four manuscripts, and three weeks, huh?) All weekend long, I kept hearing, “Oh, you’re the one.” Too funny.
On the plane flight home, I read Lauren Baratz-Logsted’s new YA release, Angel’s Choice, in one sitting. It was riveting. I actually sat on the plane while people were getting off because I wanted to finish it before I moved. Highly recommended. (Weird, though — Amazon shows it with a different cover than the one I have.)
Also recommended is this week’s book giveaway, Magic’s Child. This novel is the thrilling conclusion of Justine Larbalestier’s debut trilogy, Magic or Madness. It’s the story of Reason Cansino, an Australian girl born with magic in her blood who has to make a terrible choice: use her magic, and die young, or refuse to do so, and go insane. Justine’s books have won a ton of awards, which you can read about here and when I got my hands on an advanced review copy of this book, here’s what I said:
“The Magic or Madness trilogy is a rare treat: a naturalistic glimpse of a world in which magic is a dark gift indeed. Magic’s Child concludes the series with Larbalestier’s signature style of bewitching images, heartbreaking choices, and of course, the beauty of math. (Or, as Reason would put it, maths.)”
You can also download a free Magic’s Child screensaver on the Penguin website.
And now, you can win a SIGNED copy of Magic’s Child right here on the blog. Simply leave a comment and I’ll draw a winner on Friday. Good luck!
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:56 am
When you draw me, just draw my hair a lot shorter than it is in the picture. I finally got a haircut.
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April 3rd, 2007 at 10:21 am
Patrick is too clever!
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April 3rd, 2007 at 10:25 am
Never been to a conference. Though I’m planning to go to a fantasy writing convention next year with my sister. My book should be finished by then, so hopefully it will open up some opportunities.
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April 3rd, 2007 at 10:30 am
Diana, you’re notorious! LOL.
I just read the first Magic book, and I liked it. Maths!
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April 3rd, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I think the contest should be ammended to only include people who say nice things about me.
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April 3rd, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I’m entering in the hope you’re willing to mail the book out to the UK… Thanks!
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April 3rd, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I JUST bought Magic’s Child – d’oh! And a bunch of other books. I’m beginning to think I’m addicted…
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April 3rd, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Well, here I go playing the odds – maths again. Has anyone ever come up with a satisfying explanation as to why the Yanks and the Brits can’t agree on something as simple as a mutually acceptable contraction for the word “mathematics”?
I will also say a nice thing about Patrick, just to improve the odds: I admire his creative spelling of “amended”. I mean, if one m is good, two is better, right? And isn’t that what the word means – to take the good and make it even better?
So maybe we should all join the Brits and start saying “maths”. As Patrick so cleverly teaches, bigger is better.
(Was that nice enough, Patrick?)
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April 3rd, 2007 at 2:14 pm
The question that may bug you for years, Bill, is if you don’t win was that because you weren’t nice enough to me.
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April 3rd, 2007 at 3:56 pm
As someone who just read ANGEL’S CHOICE–and also blogged about it holding me captive in my seat–I can enthusiastically “second” your recommendation, Diana!
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April 3rd, 2007 at 4:49 pm
The recommendations sound great! Good summer reads!
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April 3rd, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Oh, I adore Justine’s MAGIC books. I hope I win, I hope I win! Yeah, I still jump up and down when excited . . . like a 2nd grader.
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April 3rd, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Patrick, clearly Annie hasn’t told you that if I were to draw you, hair would be the last thing you should be worried about. Counting hte number of arms and legs is a bigger problem given my art skills.
May, I think I may have to add that to my business cards. “Diana: Notorious.”
Karen, I ship all over. I shipped to someplace in southeast Asia recently… I want to say Vietnam? Thailand? I ship via slow boat, but it gets there.
(Patrick, I think that’s your problem. Move to Thailand. Or hire me a housecleaner.)
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April 3rd, 2007 at 6:59 pm
So glad you liked the book, Diana! I explained about the cover situ over at Tina’s blog and would explain it again now…but I need to go watch AI with my daughter!
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April 3rd, 2007 at 7:08 pm
congrats on your book deal. that must feel so amazing. pick me, pick me, pick me!
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April 3rd, 2007 at 7:11 pm
What an excellent way to encourage lurkers out of the shadows. Please enter me in teh competition/
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April 3rd, 2007 at 8:00 pm
The party looks awesome! And I love it when I find a book so good that I don’t even want to move. What a treat! =)
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April 3rd, 2007 at 9:29 pm
I want to go to a party where I get to wear a big cloak! I’ll leave the chef costumes to the less mysterious folks…
Okay, I’m not all that mysterious. I just like cloaks. It goes back to a love for Batman, but not the Adam West Batman.
Okay, I like the Adam West Batman too, but for different reasons.
Okay, I’ll shut up now.
Eric
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April 3rd, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I would love to win a copy of Justine’s book!! She’s an AMAZING writer, and I can’t wait to read this final book! Pick me!
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April 3rd, 2007 at 10:48 pm
I would love to have a copy of Justine’s book. Please enter me in your contest. Thanks so much!
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April 3rd, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Entering the contest to win the book. I should run a contest so I can find out how many people are willing to leave a comment on my LJ. (GRIN)
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April 3rd, 2007 at 11:30 pm
I guess you won’t mind shipping down under? I’ve just bought Magic or Madness and am thoroughly enjoying it.
And…also…is your book coming out in Australia? And if so, when?
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April 3rd, 2007 at 11:35 pm
*crosses fingers*
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April 3rd, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Now if I had something like that I would have a whole bunch of contests just to see who would actually read them and bother doing them. Clever, clever. Who’d of thought I’d be posting a comment on here too? maybe if I leave a long enough post I’ll just randomly get selected? I hope so. I suppose I’ll end this rant here before I get really detailed and descriptive and no one bothers to read this.
-Sarah (who doesn’t have a blogger account but can’t leave the long message being anonymous)
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April 3rd, 2007 at 11:53 pm
okay…so wait– if by some miracle chance I do get selected how are they going to find a way to tell an anonymous blogger?
I created a blogger account just for the sake of this contest. There’s dedication for ya.
-Sarah (the anonymous blogger)
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April 4th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Sarah, it’s cool. Just sign your name at the bottom of any anonymous posts and they are no longer anonymous, just like mail that is signed but doesn’t have a return address. “Other” works, too, because then I think you can just make the post appear to come from whoever you want.
Also, I think I’m getting a lot of newcomers today coming over from Justine’s blog. Hi, guys! I do book giveaways nearly every week, in a “the first hit’s free” reading lovefest.
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April 4th, 2007 at 12:04 am
Rebecca, I *wish* my book was coming out in Australia. However, I think it is available via amazon, or at the very least as an ebook at random House. Alternately, I just got my author copies, so there are more giveaways in the works!
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April 4th, 2007 at 1:52 am
I’d love to enter! I am looking forward to reading Justine’s book but haven’t managed to get dressed and go to the shops yet (the joys of working from home). This would allow me to read the book and stay in my PJs!
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April 4th, 2007 at 6:47 am
Wonderful! Sounds like you had fun…
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April 4th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Me me me me me! I want to win one!
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April 4th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Pick me, pick me, I’ll come power-level your priest for you! ;P
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April 4th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Love your costume. Magic’s Child sounds great.
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April 4th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Magic’s Child sounds great!!
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April 4th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
You know, WHEN I win, you could get one of those beeper things and put it on the book. That way when the gnomes take it and hide it with the other book, you can find both.
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April 4th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Patrick, my little cabbage, I have found your book. The gnomes rescued it for me.
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April 4th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I want to read Magic’s Child!
the first book was really, really good.
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April 4th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Justine Larbalestier is amazing and talented!
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April 5th, 2007 at 1:41 am
I loved Magic’s Child! Such a great conclusion to a fascinating trilogy.
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April 5th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
I’d love to win a copy!
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April 6th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
OH VERY cool!
I would be a seriously cool mom if I could win a signed copy for my dd.
Great idea!
I guess I should sign this the
North American Rebecca?
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April 9th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
i want to win a copy! i never read them but im getting them for my birthday on saturday.
i heard about this from Justine’s blog. question, does posting a lot of comments help your chanses of winning? just wondering.
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April 9th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Kierstan, Rebecca, and anyone else who posts here. I drew a winner last Friday, so the contest is closed now. Sorry!
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April 9th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
aw darn. wrong week. guess i should have checked the date this was posted.
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