INCARNATE winner!

Congratulations, Chen Yan Chang!


I'll email you today to get your address. Thanks for participating, everyone!

pssssssssssssssssssssssst...

People have been talking about SLIDE!!!!

"Jill Hathaway provides a fresh, vibrant voice to young adult literature. Skillfully filled with drama and tension, SLIDE is part mystery, part romance, and wholly engaging with its strong heroine and tornado-worthy twists. I simply could not put this book down."


-Laurie Stolarz, author of the thrilling TOUCH and BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series

"Heartbreaking and heart-pounding at the same time! A wonderful, intense story, SLIDE had me hooked from the first moment Vee slid into someone else's mind. I stayed up way too late because I had to see how it ended."


-Cynthia Hand, author of swoony UNEARTHLY and HALLOWED (which I may have gotten an advance copy of in the mail yesterday... goooooo, Team Tucker!!!)

I have to admit, I am tripping out a little on the knowledge that these amazing writers read and liked SLIDE. I've been kind of in LaLa Land lately, knowing that pub day is coming up SOMEDAY but not soon. Well, this makes it all the more real. People are reading SLIDE. Some people will like it, and others won't. It's out of my hands now. But knowing that these two brilliant and lovely authors enjoyed my story makes it all worth it.

Tell the Truth Tuesday

1. Having a toddler eats into your sick days like crazy. The munchkin is sick yet AGAIN, and I stayed home with her yesterday....

2. Which meant I was home when the UPS man dropped off a package from HarperCollins UK. It was a box full of books! They did a promotion called Spill the Ink and sent boxes of six children's books (including SLIDE) to booksellers in the UK. And there was food! And tea! And earplugs! Seriously made my day!

3. I figure if the UK ARCs have gone out, it's okay for me to post the UK cover of SLIDE, which I'm doing over on the sidebar. I love it, especially the eye with the creepy, strangly hands reflected. Oh, and the bit of pink hair that we can see! Oh, and the varsity kind of font used for the title since, you know, dead cheerleaders.

4. In unrelated news, I think I've hit the point in pregnancy when I'm just never sleeping again. Unless the air conditioner is on, which I don't think I can convince my husband is a good idea through December.

5. Which brings me to... I seriously have to give the husband props. He came home from work yesterday to make enchiladas and give the munchkin a bath before he had to go back to school to line judge at a volleyball game. This allowed me to finish off the few persuasive essays I had waiting to be corrected. Next up? Literary analyses! But I think those aren't coming in until next week, so yay!

If you haven't entered the ARC contest for INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows, see below! It runs through Thursday night! Winner posted on Friday!

Interview with Jodi Meadows and INCARNATE giveaway!!

Is this not the most gorgeous cover you've ever seen in your life? I remember the first time I saw it. I thought, "Must. Read. Now." Well, I had the pleasure of reading the first installment of the Newsoul Trilogy last week, and it was enthralling! Here's a little about INCARNATE: 

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why. 

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame? 

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? 

Jodi was kind enough to answer a few questions for me...

Me: You introduce an interesting concept of soulmates in your book about reincarnation. Some of the characters believe they're meant to be with one other person for all eternity, but not all of them have that belief. Do you believe in soulmates personally?

Jodi: I would like to. The whole idea of having a soulmate is romantic and terrifying. Hmm, there's enough potential complications to fill a book...

Me: Your book is so rich with fantastical creatures. What inspired you to play within the realm of fantasy?

Jodi: I love fantasy! It's my first love, actually, and since I had to make up a new world for my reincarnated people to occupy, why *not* add dragons? Why not add sylph and centaurs?

Me: What's your favorite way to spend a Friday evening?

Jodi: Writing. I know. It's not very exciting unless you're living in my brain. And then it's maybe too exciting.

Me: Do you have any pets?

Jodi: I do! I have a small army of ferrets, a Kippy, and a fish that looks like a wingless dragon. I try not to mess with the fish.

Me: How many books are in the INCARNATE series? What can we expect after that?

Jodi: Three books! It's a trilogy. I don't know the titles of the other two. If you figure them out, please let me know? After that? I have lots and lots of ideas. I can't say anything specific about what I'm currently working on, but here's a hint: I researched dark matter.

Me: Oooooh, intriguing! Thanks for stopping by, Jodi!

~~~

I have a copy of INCARNATE to give away to one lucky winner. It's the usual rules. In case you need to be reminded:

1. You must be a blog follower to enter. (+1 entry)

2. You can earn extra entries by tweeting, Facebooking, or blogging about the contest. (+1 entry each)

3. Tally up your entries in your comment below, and don't forget to include your email address so I can contact you if you win!

4. Yes, it's international.

5. The contest will end Thursday at midnight (Iowa time). I'll post the winner on Friday morning.

GOOD LUCK!

Goals are addictive.

Hi, my name is Jill, and I'm addicted to my planner. You see, every year I get one of those cool school agendas with all of the early-outs and vacation days marked. And it's my favorite activity ever to make to-do lists in this little notebook. I write down my lesson plans for each class, worksheets I have to print off, errands to run after school. And each item has a little square box next to it so I can check off each task as I finish it. It's hard to explain the satisfaction I get as I check each chore off. It's like a little burst of pleasure in my brain. It's a high. And I'm addicted.

Two weeks ago, during the Week of Not Eating Out, I used my planner to write down my grocery list and what we planned to make every night. It worked perfectly. I was careful to plan meals that we'd WANT to eat so I wouldn't be tempted to pick up a burrito on the way home. The healthy eating part of my plan hasn't kicked in yet. We'll get there, but first we need to solidify this habit of preparing meals and eating at home.

The tiny taste (haha) of success I've had in the past couple of weeks has inspired me. It reminds me of something I knew once but forgot in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of getting the munchkin ready for school and grading papers and just basic SURVIVAL. But here's what I forgot: GOALS ARE ADDICTIVE. Well, in particular, REACHING GOALS is addictive.

It's hard to get started with a new routine. It really is. Whenever I start writing a new book or working on a round of revision, I have to fight to make myself get those words on paper. But as the days go by, and I start racking up the word count, the momentum is what keeps me going. It's the thrill of seeing my manuscript grow from 10 pages to 25 to 250. Same thing with this No Eating Out rule. I love seeing our success reflected in our bank account. And I suspect, when we add the healthy eating element, I will love  seeing the numbers on the scale and on the tags inside my clothing go down.

This will be a long process. I'm pregnant. I'm in no hurry to lose weight. But after we have the baby, as we're settling into a new normal, I want to get into the routine of eating healthier food and exercising regularly. I'm thinking of the Couch to 5K program, maybe in the spring. Just in time for me to go on book tour and be a bridesmaid in my sister's wedding.

I know, I know. I gave this whole speech last New Year's. But here's the realization I've made since then, when I slipped up and felt like I failed at Life. It's all about the little steps. The little tasks you can check off your list. Did you go for a 15 minute walk? Check it off the list. Eat a banana? Check it off the list. And the little steps will eventually add up to something big.

You get five stars, and YOU get five stars!

So I've done a lot of thinking about this Goodreads thing. A lot of authors don't rate books at all. They just mark it as read and post a few thoughts. Other authors assign ratings as they did before they got their publishing deal, according to however they felt about the book. They're not afraid to give two or three stars, even though it might mean burning some bridges in the end. Or maybe they haven't realized that giving someone a two star review will not only hurt the author who's being reviewed, but it might very well come back to bite the reviewer in the tush. Publishing is a small world, and a low rating is bound to ruffle SOMEONE's feathers--be it author, agent, editor, or friends of any of these peeps.

You might have noticed, if you follow me on GR, that I fall into neither of these camps. I give all books I post on GR five star ratings. Do I post every book I read on GR? No, not if I don't like it. But I figure if I like a book enough that I'd suggest it to others, I'll go ahead and give it five stars. Why not? People rate books they haven't read all the time, and that's one of authors' biggest pet peeves. It drags down their average if people who haven't read the book are giving them one or two stars. (Which actually isn't a huge deal once you start getting a bunch of ratings, but when there's only a two star rating for a book that hasn't even been written yet, I'd imagine it could drag down an author's self esteem.) So why shouldn't someone who HAS enjoyed the book give the ratings a little boost in the other direction? I'm only doing it for books I've enjoyed, so I feel okay about it ethically. I like to pretend like I'm Oprah while I'm doing it. "YOU get five stars! And YOU get five stars!" And then some glitter confetti comes down from the sky.

I'm not sure why I felt the need to post about this habit. I suppose because there's been so much out there lately about how authors should NEVER RATE BOOKS. And also to explain to people who are curious about why all the books I suggest on GR have five star ratings. Meh. I don't think it's a big deal. I'm just talking about the books I like.

Anyway, have a fun-filled, relaxing weekend! I'll be back next week with an interview with the talented, ferret-loving Jodi Meadows and an INCARNATE giveaway!

Tell the Truth Tuesday

1. The crisper drawer in the refrigerator is really for Diet Pepsi, right?

2. In our Week of Not Eating Out, I realized we only know how to make about seven meals. Doh.

3. When I am stressed, the only thing that will make me feel better is chocolate.

4. I am stressed.

5. I was all excited after school because I'd cleared my desk of Things I Must Grade. But then a girl came in with her revisions.

6. The munchkin might have gone to sleep in her princess dress last night.

7. Munch and I watch Jem together. Truly outrageous. The cycle of life is complete.

Hee. Watching this, I think I like the Misfits better.

And the winner is...

Valerie at Stuck in Books!

Congrats!

I'll mail your copy of UNDER THE NEVER SKY (plus some signed SLIDE and FRACTURE bookmarks) today!

Tell the Truth Tuesday

1. I'm reading and loving INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows. What a freaking awesome premise.

2. Our first day of The Week of Not Eating Out went well. Except I forgot to buy enchilada sauce for the enchiladas. Meh, we had tacos instead. Still good.

3. For some reason, my daughter keeps carrying around this curtain rod I never got around to putting back up after painting our bedroom. She LOVES it. Guess I just wasted money on all the birthday presents I bought for her.

4. Mmmmm. Diet Pepsi and Reese's Pieces.

5. I might just love my Snoogle more than my husband.

Win an ARC of UNDER THE NEVER SKY!!!

There are certain perks to being an author. I think the biggest one, for me, is being able to request advance copies of delectable Harper books. A few weeks ago, I was insanely lucky and got a package with Veronica Rossi's UNDER THE NEVER SKY inside. (Thank you, Donna!!!!) Cue shrieking, jumping around, and generally freaking out my almost-two-year-old.

Even though it was the first week of school, I finished the book in two evenings. Yeah, it's THAT addictive. The world Veronica has created is incredible, and I loved the way she developed her characters and the relationship between her two main peeps. No insta-love here. In fact, Aria and Perry are deeply suspicious of each other at first. It takes them a long time to learn to like and respect one another because they've both been brought up to think the other one's culture is weird and barbaric. I won't say too much more because I don't want to ruin it, but believe me when I say this book has to go on your TBR list if it isn't already.

Here's what Goodreads has to say about UNDER THE NEVER SKY:

Exiled from her comfortable home, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland – called the Death Shop – are slim. Violent energy storms can strike suddenly, and even the very air she breathes might kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild, dangerous – a savage. He’s also her only hope. 

Because Aria alone holds the key to his redemption, Perry needs her, too. Their unlikely alliance will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky. 

Debut author Veronica Rossi is accumulating fans from all over the globe—the book has already sold to more than twenty countries. It’s not surprising that foreign rights for this title have been flying off the shelf. It’s a tantalizing romance in any language.

~~~

Okay, here's your chance to win your very own copy of Veronica Rossi's UNDER THE NEVER SKY!

The usual rules:

1. You must be a follower. (+1 entry)
2. You can earn extra entries by tweeting, facebooking, or blogging about the contest. (+1 extra entry each)
3. Add up your entries in your comment and leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.
4. Yes, the contest is international.
5. I will accept entries up until midnight on Thursday and post the winner on Friday morning.

GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE!

why i teach

So I survived the first two weeks of school.

And you know what? I'm having a really good time.

I don't think I'm the sort of person who's cut out to stay home all day. When I got my book deal, lots of people asked me if I was going to quit my "day job." But the thing is... teaching isn't just my day job. I love the kids. I love my colleagues. I love Language Arts. I mean, who else gets to shove a copy of ENDER'S GAME into a reluctant reader's hands and watch them devour it? Who else gets to teach kids to effectively express themselves through words? Who else gets to plan units on dystopian literature and combine works like BRAVE NEW WORLD and 1984 with THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT and WALL-E?

I love teaching. I love pushing my students to do their best, be their best. I love that the football players spilled into my classroom yesterday and told me that they shared an essay by Muhammad Ali (that I helped them to find) at a banquet the night before. I love that a few kids from my creative writing class yelled my name and waved when I was leaving school. I love that I helped 70 kids start (private) blogs and that they share their words and lives with me there daily.

Sure, I love writing in an almost-obsessive way. But I love sharing the experience of writing with my students. Pretty soon, my creative writing class and I will be gearing up for National Novel Writing Month. I'm working on an outline for a non-SLIDE-related story that my editor and agent have shown enthusiasm for, and in November I'll write along with my students, finishing the rough draft. And then we'll discuss the long path of revision that awaits us.

Sigh. I can't wait.