So, remember I put up that big laundry list of stuff yesterday and was all: That's everything! Nothing more to see here. Turns out, I lied. Because Blackwood is on this:
io9 Fall Preview: This Fall's Must-Read Science Fiction and Fantasy Books
In fact, it's right there at the top of the list. *faints* (Thanks so much to io9, seriously.)
I apologize if this is incoherent, for I seem to have forgotten to take allergy medication this morning and have had less coffee than normal. AND I got less sleep than normal, because I was completely wired after the fabulous party put together by regional Random House rep extraordinaire (and generally wonderful person) Eileen so I could meet and hang out with booksellers from our three biggest local bookstores (how lucky is Lexington to have Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Morris Book Shop, and Barnes and Noble? very) and a few other excellent bookish types and talk Blackwood. There was a giant powerpoint presentation projected on the wall with slides from the pinterest board and of the book cover (!) and I signed many copies of the book. (Psst: Other Strange Chemistry authors, lots of your galleys were given out as well! Excitement!) At any rate, a super-super fun evening with a bunch of wonderful people.
Which is meaning a super-drowsy Friday…
But there are still more relevant links. My cup runneth over.
- Feeling honored by and swoony about this First Look at Heroes and Heartbreakers by Victoria Janssen: "The fantastical mystery of modern-day disappearances on the site of such a famous historical disappearance kept me turning the pages, but what I enjoyed most in this novel were the characters." <3
- PW covers the launch of Strange Chemistry and Soho Teen for yesterday's Children's Bookshelf.
- The Ranting Dragon put Blackwood at 4 (and Shift at 9, plus more fabulous company like Malinda Lo's Adaptation and Rae Carson's The Crown of Embers) on its Top 30 Most Anticipated Speculative Novels Released in September (plus awesome graphic).
- A very nice review at Ink Scratchers by Jade: "One of the best parts of this book was the romance, both Miranda and Phillips were fantastic characters on their own but when you put them together they make an awesome team. This is a relationship that develops slowly, considering how fast-paced this book is in places the development seems real."
I like that Miranda and Phillips are getting the romance love today. It makes me happy. But it's a little ironic, because I'm representing Team Stomp (aka action!) over at Rabid Reads today in the epic Stomp vs. Romp contest. I channeled Dear Aunt Gwenda to give five tips for surviving an action sequence. Excerpt: "No, if you have to be a villain, make it epic. Be the worst you possibly can–burn books of poetry, wear a false mustache and twirl it regularly, and remember the number one rule of villainous fashion (aka “Black is always the new black”)–and maybe, just maybe, you’ll get to survive two, three, maybe even a series’ worth of books."
Go read and vote Stomp if you're so inclined. There is also a giveaway you can enter for a signed copy of Blackwood. (Winners of other signed copies of Blackwood, they're coming as soon as my author copies show up…so VERY SOON. I resisted the impulse to steal copies last night…barely.)
Hope you guys all have an excellent weekend.