Happy New Year!

My New Year's question to those of you who have been to book signings: What's the best thing about signings, and what's the worst? Also, what can authors do to make it even better? I've done many signings and would love to know what you love/hate about them. Please leave me a comment with details -- I want to do what I can to make my book signings worth your time.

In other 2010 news:

FADE comes out in paperback January 5. And GONE will finally be here February 9. Eeee!

My schedule is getting full for 2010. Check to see if I'm coming to a city near you.
Looking forward to meeting lots of fans! And if you are anywhere near Vero Beach, Florida, on February 27, I hope you'll come join me at my birthday signing. :D If I have to be away from family on my birthday, there's no better bunch of people to spend my day with than you. I may even bring a treat. Peanut butter for all!

Hope all your dreams come true in the new year.

Love and stuff,

Lisa

Read WAKE free!

Need a break from your winter break? Download WAKE for free between 12/26-12/31. You get 30 days to read it before it disappears.

Enjoy! Pick up FADE in paperback January 5. GONE hardcover comes out February 9.

Don't miss the GONE tour! If you want signed/personalized copies of my books but you're not near one of my tour stops, call one of the stores before my event there and order copies -- I'll sign it just for you and the store will ship it to you. GONE Tour.

The 14-city GONE Tour!

GONE (Wake, bk 3) releases Feb 9, 2010. Tour will immediately follow. Can't wait to see you! If you aren't near an event but want to buy signed/personalized copies of any of my books, call one of these stores ahead of time and order them. I'll sign them when I'm there and they'll send them out to you -- most stores are more than happy to take your order and ship books to you for a reasonable shipping fee.

*Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010, 7:00pm
w/ Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush)
Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 S. McClintock Dr.
Tempe, AZ 85283
480.730.0205

*Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010, 7:00pm
w/ Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush)
Barnes & Noble Oceanside
El Camino North Shopping Center
2615 Vista Way
Oceanside, CA 92054
760-529-0106

*Thursday, Feb 11, 2010, 7:00pm
w/ Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush)
Mysterious Galaxy
7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, Suite 302
San Diego, CA 92111
858.268.4747

*Friday, Feb 12, 2010 4:00pm
w/ Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush)
Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop
1030 Bonita Ave.
La Verne, CA 91750
(909) 599-4558
mrsnelsons@mrsnelsons.com

*Saturday, Feb 13, 2010, 11:00a.m.
w/ Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush)
Sam's Club
7480 Carson Street
Long Beach, CA 90808

*Friday, Feb 19, 2010, 7:00pm
Barnes & Noble Chandler Fashion Mall
3111 W. Chandler Blvd #2054
Chandler, AZ 85226
480-792-1312

*Saturday, Feb 20, 2010, 2:00pm
Barnes & Noble Eastside
w/ Robin Brande (Fat Cat)
5130 E. Broadway
Tucson, AZ 85711
520-512-1166

*Monday, Feb 22, 2010, 7:00pm
w/Heather Brewer (Eleventh Grade Burns - Vlad Tod #4)
St. Louis County Library Headquarters
1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. @ Clayton Rd.
St Louis, MO 63131
(314) 994-3300

*Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010, 6:30pm
Little Shop of Stories
133A East Court Square
Decatur, Georgia 30030
(404) 373-6300

*Thursday, Feb 25, 2010, (Time TBA)
Inkwood Books
216 South Armenia Avenue
Tampa, FL 33609
(813) 253-2638

*Friday, Feb 26, 2010, 6:00pm
Books & Books
265 Aragon Ave.
Coral Gables, FL 33134
305.442.4408

*Friday, Feb 27, 2010, 3:00pm
The Vero Beach Book Center
2145 Indian River Blvd.
Vero Beach, FL 32960
(772)569.6650

*Monday, March 1, 2010, 7:00pm
Books&Co at The Greene
4453 Walnut Street
Dayton, OH 45440
937-429-6302

*Tuesday, March 2, 2010, 7:00pm
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
2692 Madison Road
Cincinnati, OH 45208
Phone: 513-396-8960

FAQs

Wow, I have been getting a TON of fan mail lately, and I'm having a hard time keeping up. On my website I have an FAQ link, so you can find out info there. But I'll answer some questions here from time to time too, taken from the letters you send me. Here are the most frequent questions I get:

1. I read Cabel's Side of the Story on your website and loved it! Will you write the rest of the book from Cabe's perspective?
I don't have any plans to write a full book from Cabel's perspective at this time. Maybe someday down the road.

2. Are you going to write more books?
Why yes, yes I am. WAKE, FADE and GONE are a trilogy, and GONE comes out Feb 9, 2010. After that I have a YA paranormal stand-alone thriller called CRYER'S CROSS that will be out in spring 2011.

Beyond that is THE UNWANTEDS, a middle grade dystopian fantasy about creative children getting sent to their deaths, coming fall 2011.
And then DEAD TO YOU, a YA emotional thriller about a 16-year-old boy who, missing for the past nine years, returns home, coming spring 2012.

3. I'm writing a report on you/your books for a school project. What would you say is the theme of your books?
Okay, listen up: I can't do your homework for you. Please don't ask me questions that sound like they come straight off your assignment. That's YOUR job to figure out the theme, symbolism, denouement, rising/falling action, plot... When I was a kid...oh, never mind. But you know what I'm going to say. Don't ask me to do your homework for you. It makes me cranky. I don't answer letters like that.

However, if you need info about me, it's amazing what you can find by googling. You can learn stuff on the Lisa McMann wikipedia page (which is rather sparse. How about one of you doing a report updates the wiki while you're at it, hmm?) Or here: I was born in Holland, Michigan in 1968. I have two brothers and a sister. I graduated with a B.A. in English in 1990 from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Now I live in Arizona with my husband, son, and daughter. I have a dog and a cat. My hobbies include cooking, reading, and watching reality TV. I love avocados. Uh...I have about 30 short stories in print, the most famous of which is called The Day of the Shoes (Google it). Another is called Like Waves on Rocks (you know what to do). These short stories are NOTHING like the WAKE books.


4. You should make a movie of your books!
I'd totally love to see a WAKE movie. At this time, we have received many inquiries from Hollywood and two offers, but sadly, neither of them worked out. I will keep you posted on any developments, but right now, there are no plans for a WAKE movie. Cross your fingers that it happens someday! Also, many of you want to star in the movie. Just so you know, if a movie ever happens, I will have no control over who is cast. But I'd pick YOU if I could! :)

Hope your holidays are awesome.

Finally...some very exciting news I can share!

From Publisher's Weekly

and a Press Release from my publisher, Simon & Schuster:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BESTSELLING AUTHOR LISA MCMANN SIGNS

FOUR-BOOK DEAL WITH SIMON & SCHUSTER CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING

New York, NY, December 14, 2009— Lisa McMann, the New York Times bestselling author of the young adult paranormal thrillers Wake and Fade and the forthcoming February 2010 release Gone, has signed a four-book deal with Simon Pulse and Aladdin, imprints of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. The deal, for world rights, including audio, is for two young adult novels to be published by Simon Pulse, and two middle-grade novels to be published by Aladdin. Michael Bourret of Dystel and Goderich negotiated the deal, and is handling film rights.

Dead to You, a young adult novel of psychological suspense about a teenage boy who was abducted nine years ago and is now returning to his family, will be published on the Pulse list in hardcover in spring 2012 with a paperback edition to follow in spring 2013. Pulse will also publish a yet-to-be-titled young adult novel in hardcover in spring 2013 with a paperback edition in spring 2014. Aladdin will publish The Unwanteds, a dystopian middle-grade fantasy novel about kids who are exiled from their homeland when they display signs of creativity to a hidden world where they are trained to use their abilities and hone their magical skills, in hardcover in fall 2011 with a paperback edition in fall 2012, and a yet-to-be titled middle grade novel in hardcover in fall 2012 and paperback in fall 2013.

“Lisa McMann is incredibly creative and the characters she creates leap off the page,” said Bethany Buck, VP & Publisher of Aladdin and Simon Pulse. “Lisa has taken the world of young adult paranormal romance by storm and the publication of these new novels for teens and middle graders will expand the work of this rising star to a broader audience, and we couldn’t be more pleased about it.”

“I'm absolutely thrilled to continue bringing new, edgy YA characters to life with the wonderful Simon Pulse group, and anticipating tremendous fun spreading out a bit into the world of middle grade dystopian fantasy with Aladdin,” said Lisa McMann. “Simon & Schuster has supported me from the beginning and I'm so proud to be a part of the team.”

Lisa McMann is also the author of Wake and Fade. She lives with her family in Phoenix, AZ. Visit Lisa at www.lisamcmann.com or www.myspace.com/lisamcmann, and on Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, one of the leading children’s book publishers in the world, is comprised of the following imprints: Aladdin, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Beach Lane Books, Libros para niños, Little Simon®, Little Simon Inspirations™, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Simon Pulse, Simon Scribbles, and Simon Spotlight®. While maintaining an extensive award-winning backlist, the division continues to publish acclaimed and bestselling books for children of all ages. In addition to numerous Caldecott, Newbery, and National Book Award winners, Simon & Schuster publishes such high-profile properties and series as Eloise, Olivia, Raggedy Ann & Andy™, Henry & Mudge®, The Hardy Boys®, Nancy Drew®, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown, Nickelodeon’s® Dora the Explorer®, Wonderpets® and SpongeBob SquarePants®, and coloring & activity books for Universal’s Curious George®. For more information about Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, visit our website at http://www.simonandschuster.com

Agent Appreciation Day: An ode to Michael Bourret

I heard through twitter that it's Agent Appreciation Day today, and I can't pass up the opportunity to love on my agent, Michael Bourret of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

When I first started agent hunting in 2006, I ran across Michael and read his bio on the DGLM website. It was short, simple, and funny, and he liked all the same books I liked as a kid. I took an instant liking to him. I was told at the time (by people who had agents) that there is no such thing as a "dream agent" but I kept coming back to Michael. I sent him a query for my first manuscript. Sadly, I never heard back. (We discovered later that he remembered that query, asked to see pages, but his email to me bounced because my server was messed up. Proof that email fails, people -- never let an unanswered query sour you on your dream agent!)

That first manuscript never made it, but a few months later I had WAKE ready to query. Michael was in my first batch of emails for that query, and the first to respond requesting the full manuscript. Five days later, amidst other agent interest, we became a team, and I can't imagine a better fit for me.

Michael is savvy and smart, he's on the cutting edge of technology, and he has incredible passion for books. He's also extremely personable, yet doesn't hesitate to fight on my behalf when necessary. He's an incredible agent, born for this job. But he's so much more than an agent. He is a confidant and friend. I am the luckiest author in the world to have him on my side.

In case I didn't say it today yet, you rock, Michael!

I have notified the winners via email!

Dear everyone,

You are amazing. Reading through all the comments took me a while! I am so thankful for all you have done to spread the word about the WAKE trilogy. Thanks for playing and I wish everyone could have won. :(

Way to go. See you around -- and if you want to say hello, I'm pretty good at answering fans who write on my Facebook fan page wall.

Contest is now over.

Tomorrow I will pick winners randomly. Good luck to all! I'll email winners so that's the spot to watch.

Thanks to all for participating! Love you lots.

xox

FREAKING HUGE CONTEST-O-THANKS

Click here for details on how to enter. Or just scroll down two posts.

Kalamazoo-zoo!

We interrupt the FREAKING HUGE CONTEST OF THANKS (see below) to remind you that I will be in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this Thursday and Friday. Thursday night is a signing with James Owen (Here, There be Dragons) at the Kalamazoo Public Library at 6:30. Directions and stuff at the link!

Friday is an all day Youth Literature Festival.

Hope to see you there!

2nd Annual Freaking Huge Contest-O-Thanks!

Last year's contest was so fun, I decided to do another November contest to thank you all for spreading the WAKE/FADE/GONE love. CONTEST ENDS AT MIDNIGHT EST on NOVEMBER 26, 2009 (That's Thanksgiving Day, for the USians).

This time? I'm giving away THREE advance copies of GONE. And maybe a couple copies of WAKE and FADE. And a darling, adorable dream necklace that I bought from JB and Me in my old hometown of Holland, MI.




This contest is open to the entire universe, as long as you have a mailing address.

Here's how you enter:

Tell people about my books. You can...

-add the magic countdown widget to your blog (grab it from a few posts below)
-link to this contest and let your friends know about it
-post a blog review or a notice of the contest or my books to your followers
-tweet about it
-put it in your facebook/myspace status
-write a review on indiebound.org/amazon.com/bn.com/borders.com, etc
-write a review in your school newspaper or tell ten friends/acquaintances/enemies to read the WAKE trilogy
-whatever other creative way you can think of to get the word out (picket signs on street corners, sandwich boards, naming a street after me...you know. Fun stuff like that)


THEN:

Post a quick note summarizing what you did in the comments below and provide a link if applicable.
Also post your email address so I can contact you if you win.


Easy peasy. Done.


NOTES:


This is the only location on the internet where you can enter. Do not try to enter by tweeting at me or sending me email or facebook messages.

IF you do not want to win GONE (book 3) but would like WAKE (book 1) or FADE (book 2) instead, just mention that in your post. I recognize that some people entering will not have read the first book yet, so that might be more appealing to some. YES, I will still give away three copies of GONE no matter what.

PLEASE do not ask me a thousand different questions about what qualifies as spreading the word, or if you're doing it right. If you don't understand, don't enter. Or ask a friend. Just do something like I mentioned above and assume I won't disqualify you. If you feel good about it, so do I. I love you but I'm kinda busy right now so I'm not taking questions on the contest.

(GOSH, McMann. So cranky.)

Hey, why not find me on facebook / twitter / myspace while you're at it?

Lots of love to all of you, and again, THANK YOU for all you have done for me. I really appreciate the way you guys spread the word. You make me so happy and thankful.
xoxo

My Twitter Simon and Schuster Author Chat: 11/3 @ noon EST!

Follow me on Twitter (@lisa_mcmann) and join me for the first official Simon & Schuster author chat, taking place on Tuesday, November 3, at noon EST!

Follow Simon & Schuster too and if you want, send them your questions early so you can read the answers even if you aren't able to make it to the chat. I'll try to get to all of them! I'd really love it if you'd join us.

Also in November:

Kalamazoo Youth Literature Seminar in Michigan on Friday, Nov 13, with author James Owens! Just want to say hi and get your books signed? Come Thursday night, Nov 12.

Where you can find me this month

As always, I'm most active on Twitter and Facebook. There are links in the sidebar if you'd like to find me there.

Now for October. Officially and unofficially...here are some things on my calendar that you might be interested in.

*Wednesday, October 14, 8pm EST / 5pm Pacific
Chatting online with Mundie Moms!

Immediately after that at 7pm Pacific, I'm heading out to my local indie, Changing Hands, to listen to fellow S&S author Scott Westerfeld talk about his new awesome book, Leviathan.


*Saturday, October 17, 5pm Pacific, I'll be attending Robin Brande's launch party for her second book, FAT CAT, again at Changing Hands. You should totally come -- Robin is an awesome speaker and both of her books are terrific. Her fist is called Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature, and it recently was optioned for film.


*Wednesday, Oct 21, 6pm Pacific / 9pm EST, I'll be chatting online with Readergirlz for Teen Read Week. Everyone is invited! Please stop in!
And immediately after that, I'll be driving back to Changing Hands for the bazillionth time this month to see author James Dashner talk about his new book, The Mazerunner! (7pm)


*Thursday, Oct 22, 7pm Pacific, I'll be attending The Secret Garden, a musical by Actor's Youth Theatre at the Mesa Arts Center. My kid is in it! And it's going to be awesome. If you live in the valley, please come and support this excellent organization -- shows run Tuesday thru Friday that week. And hey, if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket but you aren't near enough to attend a show, consider dropping them a small donation -- tax deductible (they are a 501C3). Times are tough all over, especially for self-funded arts programs like these that add so much to the community and the lives of our creative teens.

(I am also getting my hair done that day by the amazing Lori, hairdresser to the stars. More red stripes please!)


*Saturday, October 24, all day -- I'll be in Austin, TX at the Teen Book Festival! Just to clarify, this is not just for teens -- all lovers of teen books are invited! This is my first author visit to Texas and I've been dying to get down there, so I'm very excited. If you live anywhere near Austin (or even if you don't), come on out for an awesome day filled with authors and panels and book buying and signings and I'm sure tons of laughs. With that many teen authors in one place, it could get a little dangerous.


*Coming up in November -- Kalamazoo Youth Lit Seminar!

So I'm working on a new book...

GONE comes out Feb 9, and my part of that (writing it) is done. So yay! Only four months to go. If you haven't stolen my GONE countdown widget yet, you can grab it below.

Meanwhile, I have work to do!

I am under contract for another book with Simon Pulse, and I'm writing it now. It's called Cryer's Cross and it's a creepy paranormal stand-alone novel about a high school senior girl named Kendall who lives in a small town in Montana, where nothing creepy ever happens...until now.

Is there any sort of love story? Why yes, yes there is.

Cryer's Cross is scheduled to come out in spring 2011.


STEAL THIS WIDGET. It's magic. It updates automatically whenever there's news about the WAKE books or about future stuff.

Blogfest 2009 is now LIVE! (and Facebook Fan Page)

Go check it out: Blogfest!
I'm having fun procrastinating by reading all of these interesting answers. My first answer goes up Tuesday the 22nd, I think.

Also, I just started the official Lisa McMann fan page over on Facebook -- the link is at the top right corner of my blog (where I am sporting my new red stripey hair, even though it's hard to see it in that photo).

Why make a fan page for myself? It feels weird and vain and I put it off for a long time. But then I discovered that eventually Facebook cuts you off from having new friends when you reach a certain level. As I near 3000 friends on Facebook with usually about 10-12 new requests each day, I got to worrying. Then I heard that a fan page is the way to go.

So I started this fan page and I want it to be very interactive. I'll post info there. And for as long as I can handle the workload, I hope to respond to all comments over there as well. I'd love it if you'd join me and maybe spread the word about the fan page for me if you are so inclined.

Thank you so much for being great. 'Cuz you are.

Simon and Schuster Blogfest coming soon -- get your countdown widget!

Find out more about Blogfest

HEY! Win a free signed copy of WAKE or FADE

Over at Free Book Friday! This week only!

Also, teens (12-18) please vote for your favorite books before Sept 18! WAKE is a contender along with tons of other cool books. If you are not between the ages of 12 and 18, please find someone who is and pass it on.

Thanks!

P.S. Did you have a good summer?

Coming soon -- Blogfest 2.0!

If you were around for last year's blogfest, you know how cool it was to hear from dozens of your favorite authors on various subjects.

Well, it's coming up again soon! No link yet, but I'll keep you posted.

Teens' Top Ten -- voting is now open (ages 12-18)!

Hey teens, you can now vote for your three favorite teen books from YALSA's Teens' Top Ten list. And guess what? WAKE is on that list (along with other awesome books)!

Voting is now thru Sept 18. Go WAKE!!

Warm greetings to international readers

It is good to have you around!
Some form of the WAKE trilogy already exists, or will soon appear, in the following languages:

Circulo de Lectores / Spanish Book Club
Atlin Kitaplar / Turkish
Patakis / Greek
PT Gramedia / Indonesian
Amarin / Thai
Boje Verlag / German
WYDAWNICTWO Amber / Polish

I wish I could speak all your languages! Hope you enjoy the books.


Also, don't forget to download Cabel's Story for free! Click on the link on my home page: http://lisamcmann.com

The Magic McWidget!

Grab the McWidget and put it on your website, blog, or social networking site! It's magic -- it'll stay updated with news of the WAKE trilogy, my future books and contests, and other important news. (psst...if you put the widget on your site, you just might be eligible for a McWidget Contest in a couple weeks...for an arc of GONE. More news on that mid-August!)

And go read the free Cabel story I wrote for you! Just click, register, and download it!

Michigan, here I come!

This is the time of the year when my husband, children and I make our annual pilgrimage to Michigan to visit family. The weather appears to be really lovely (upper 70s to low 80s, which is a dream compared to the 110-115 we are having here in Arizona). We have family in the Detroit area and also in the Grand Rapids/Holland area, and we'll be spending a few days with each. Plus my niece is getting married. Congrats to Alyssa and Jake! Two very cool people.

Visiting family makes it convenient for me to do a few book signings while I'm there as well. This year I'm making three stops, and I'll be reading an excerpt from GONE. :) Please come if you are nearby:

*Saturday, August 1, 2:00 PM
Borders - Novi
43075 Crescent Blvd.
Novi, MI, 48375
(248) 347-0780


*Monday, August 3rd, 6:00 PM
Pooh’s Corner Breton Village
Reading, Signing/Reception
1886 1/2 Breton Rd. S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49506


*Tuesday, August 4, 7:00 PM
Schuler Books and Music, Inc
2660 28th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Phone: 800 331 1727 (MI only)
616 942 2561
Fax: 616 942 9238
email: info@schulerbooks.com

Also, watch for me in the Grand Rapids Press this week as well as on WZZM TV 13's Take Five (on Tuesday morning, Aug 4, between 9 and 10 am).

Hope your summer is going great! Keep an eye on my website in August for a special free short story download -- it's a Cabel story companion to the WAKE trilogy.

GONE description

I got the GONE cover in the mail today. It says:



OPEN YOUR EYES.

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...



And the back flap is a quote from the book:

He reaches toward her, his fingers black and bloody, his eyes deranged, unblinking. Janie is paralyzed. his cold hands reach around her neck, squeezing tight, tighter, until Janie has no breath left. She's unable to move, unable to think. As his grasp tightens further around Janie's neck, his face turns sickly alabaster. He strains harder and begins to shake.

Janie is dying.
She has no fight left in her.
It's over.

GONE cover

GONE will be out February 9. Here's the cover:



Fun story -- When I was on tour for FADE, I was in talks with my editor Jen Klonsky and the artist who did my first two covers, Sammy Yuen (who rocks, right?) about what sort of cover we were going to do for GONE. Anyway, Sammy had an idea to use an empty chair for the cover, which works SO GREAT with the story (you'll find out why when you read). They asked me to send pictures of chairs I liked so that we could get style ideas. So when I was at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco I saw this cool, simple chair in a spotlight in the lobby. I loved it, so I took a photo of the chair on my cell phone. Sammy created the cover based on that chair.

The other cool thing is that the Clift Hotel was the same hotel whose manager let me keep Miss Spoobin. Aren't they a great group?

Signing Saturday!

Saturday, June 20, from 6-8pm at B&N Chandler Mall in Chandler, Arizona. Don't miss other great authors there throughout the day, including the fabulous Janette Rallison at 3pm.

If you're local, I hope you come out to see me! I will have WAKE dog tags for those who purchase the books -- pretty freaking cool. Maybe I'll even bring Miss Spoobin.

GONE will be out February 9, 2010!

Random things to talk about today:

1. Yes, GONE (the last book in the trilogy) is scheduled for February 9, 2010. Yay! Hope to show you a cover sometime soon, too. I'm especially proud of the GONE cover, but I'm not going to tell you why until you see it.

2. Hello Poland! I hope you are enjoying WAKE (or DREAM, I think you're calling it)! I heard that it's out in Poland now -- I've even gotten some fan mail from there already. Welcome to my website and blog!

3. Bloggers! Hi! I just want to say a special thanks to all the awesome book bloggers who are patient and good and know how to wait for a reply to an interview request. Almost all of you are awesome like that, yay! You don't bombard me with requests when you haven't heard from me immediately, and you don't make up fake "blog supporters" to beseech me on your behalf, and you don't harrass Other Important People In My Life in order to get me to respond to you -- wow, MOST of you are really freaking terrific and amazingly non-stalkerish, and for that, I am SO GRATEFUL! Thank you!!

4. The WAKE trilogy as audiobooks: Sometime in January, WAKE and FADE will be available as audiobooks! And the GONE audiobook will come out in sync with the GONE hardcover, Feb 9 or thereabouts.

5. I cannot wait for the Harry Potter movie. Can you?

Slacker

I'm a complete slacker. Ah well, such is summer. But I do have some fun news.

My publisher and I want to give you something to keep you busy while you wait for GONE (Wake book 3) in February. So, sometime in August, I'll have a short story for you. It'll be about Cabel, and it'll be available as a FREE download. Pretty freaking cool, right? We thought it would be a cool way to say thanks to the fans, and also it would give you guys an opportunity to show your friends a little freebie sneak peek at the characters and the trilogy without them having to commit to purchasing a book.

Sound okay?

Okay. Back into the cave. I've got some work to do before I head to Chicago in July. As always, keep your eye on my Tour page for my latest travels: http://lisamcmann.com/html/tour.php

Best of Arizona

Critics at the Arizona Republic newspaper have chosen yours truly as the Best Breakout Author in Arizona. It's so awesome and makes me giggle to be on a list with Best Local Sports Star (Shaquille O'Neal) and Best Reality Star (Scott MacIntyre of American Idol).

Coolness!



P.S. I've been scarce lately. Writing hard to get as much done before my kids get out of school for the summer. Six school days left. Eeeek!

Teachers, librarians, have Ellen Hopkins at YOUR school

I've tweeted and facebooked quite a lot about Project Book Babe, a fundraiser for bookseller and personal friend Faith Hochhalter, who has breast cancer.

Well, I just have to point out this most fantastic auction item, because it's worth a ton:

Have Ellen Hopkins, author of Crank, Glass, and Burned, visit your school! In the 2009-2010 school year, Ellen Hopkins has offered to visit a school in the contiguous United States free of charge. She is generously waiving her honorarium and will cover her own travel expenses. She will do a full day, up to three presentations of any size, at a middle school or high school. The winner of this item will be contacted by Ellen Hopkins to set up a date.

Let's talk about email

I am excited to say that both WAKE (paperback) and FADE made the NYT Bestseller lists this week, both at number ten. That's ten weeks for FADE. Pretty cool milestone. Also, FADE made it onto Publishers Weekly's list as well for the second time.

Also exciting? Check out the FUNKY cover for the UK/Australia edition of WAKE. I think it comes out in November!




It was a fun week, no? However, the week was frustrating, too. My email was acting up. Behaving badly. Very naughty. But it appears to be working again. The sad thing is that I lost about a week's worth of fan email. So if you wrote to me through my website form anytime from April 7 - 13, please feel free to write to me again and I'll try to respond as quickly as I can.

If you wrote before April 7 or after April 13, I have your email, I just didn't have a chance to respond yet. I'm running about a month behind. Thanks for being patient.

Let me answer a few of your burning questions now:

1. I have not sold movie rights yet. I don't have any control over making a movie. I write books, Hollywood people make movies. If someone from Hollywood wants to make a WAKE movie, I will be sure to let you know.

2. GONE is the third and final book in the WAKE trilogy. It will come out next spring, likely February or March. I will not post a summary of it until I have one, and then I will. No, I don't know when that will be. :) I will also post the cover when I have it.

3. I have been suddenly inundated with requests for book donations for auctions, charities, library fundraisers, and other worthy causes. I love to donate books. I'm generous and like to help people. However, I am running out of books, money for postage, and time to do mailings and stand in line at the post office. I'm really sorry.


Also, I have to ask you a favor.

If you've written an email to me, and I've written back, I'm probably in your address book. And when you forward your chain email/jokes/etc to your entire address book, you send it to me (and all the other authors you've ever written to). This? Is not fun for us, especially when a lot of you do it. Please don't send us your junk mail. I know you didn't realize you were doing it, and it's okay. But now you know. Thank you for taking me out of your address book! :)



Thanks all!

Congratulations to Hosanna Kabakoro!

She is the winner of the Fund Your Dreams Essay Contest, where S&S and I asked, "What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?"

Read Hosanna's essay here.

Hosanna will receive $1000 for her efforts.

Thanks again to all who entered!

xo
Lisa

The winner of the Greatest Obstacle Essay contest has been notified.

I spoke with the winner just a few minutes ago via phone. We have some formalities to conduct over the next days and weeks and of course we will be asking for permission to post the winning essay on the Simon & Schuster website. All I can say is that the winning essay really blew me away. I'll let you know where you can find it as soon as I have that information - it might be a few weeks.

Thank you all for your patience. This contest was much harder to judge than I could have ever imagined, and I couldn't have done it without the help of Bess and Venessa at Simon & Schuster, who did all the hard work.

Thank you to all who entered. It was incredibly moving to read all of your stories. Thank you for putting your hearts into this contest. I am in awe of everything that you've overcome, and I'm so proud of you. Keep writing. You are wonderful.

Regarding the Greatest Obstacle essay contest...

We've narrowed the entries down to about 10. I hope to be choosing a winner in the next 24 hours, and then Simon & Schuster will notify the winner. I don't know exactly when this will happen.

UPDATE (4/7): I still don't have a winner, but I'm working on it very hard. I'll tell you right now, there is no easy choice here. You should all feel very proud about your work.

Thank you for your patience.

Cincinnati

Well, now. The Joseph Beth signing was another tremendously lovely and good-looking crowd that contained some fabulous people, including Alice Pope and some LOVELY bloggers whose names I will not mention because I'm not sure if their attendance at this event has been made public yet. But we had a terrific chat with them.

Yesterday was somewhat dimly lit, it appears, in Miss Spoobin's journey. There are sure to be other better photos out there soon of Miss Spoobin in all her glowing glory, but my camera was perhaps behaving poorly because I have neglected to personify it. Er...him.

At Mother of Mercy High School, a fabulous place, Miss Spoobin meets English teacher Mr. B:




And here is Miss Spoobin with school alum Mary who came to the event just to see us.


Finally, Miss Spoobin takes an historic view and a delicious meal at the Rookwood Bar & Grill, where we sat in a kiln with friends Ken and Janelle.


I didn't have an opportunity to take any photos at the signing, so if anyone has any, please let me know.

Heading out to West Chester soon, and then it's on to NYC, woo!

Cincinnati and NYC

My computer tells me it's 3:41 a.m. I think I may have to change computer to Eastern Daylight Savings Time to make myself feel awesome about being awake at this hour.

But.

If I can get me a glass of good old ice cold Midwest tap water, I will be a happy woman. Growing up in Michigan has some excellent benefits.

*waves* to mommy and daddy up north, just one state away.

Okay, so. Today.7pm, Joseph-Beth in Cincinnati.

Saturday, 12:30, B&N West Chester.

Please come!

The hotel manager (David, who rocks) at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco said I could keep Miss Spoobin, so she will be with me as my special guest.

Tales of (Miss Spoobin in) the City

(with apologies to Armistead Maupin)

Business first:
Copperfield Books in Petaluma tonight at 7!

And then. I hook back up with Cassandra Clare and we'll appear in Cincinnati Friday and Saturday.

Then Cassie and I will meet Elizabeth Scott in NYC Sunday, and Cassie and I will do a final library event on Monday.

Tour details here.


In other very important news, I have acquired a friend.

It was in the wee hours of Sunday night that I had a hankering for the world's most perfect food: peanut butter. I was delighted to have a Walgreen's across from the hotel, so I scouted around and to my delight, I found a jar of creamy JIF, my favorite. Bought it and back in my hotel room, I opened it up.
It smelled delicious.

And then.

I realized I didn't have anything in the room with which to eat it. And so I did what all teen authors would do: I tweeted about it.

Meanwhile, I had called room service for ice, and when it arrived, there it was.

A spoon.

Yay!

All was good in the world.





The next morning, as I packed up for my school visits, I realized that if I left the spoon in the room, housekeeping would take it. And then I would have tragedy in my life once again.

Well, so, I borrowed the spoon, and it traveled with me to school. Of course I tweeted and someone asked me what I'd named her (because she is obviously female).

"Miss Spoobin."

That's what I said. And that is her name.

After that, I got another spoon with room service, and then another and another. I began to hoard them. I have a slight problem, I know.



Can you tell which one is Miss Spoobin? She glows just slightly, of course.

On my travels, I realized just how lonely I was getting because I began showing Miss Spoobin to my new friends. We took photos.

Have you ever heard of the Flat Stanley Project?


This is kind of like that. My friend Daniel sent me his Flat Stanley a few years ago. We took him to pan for gold.





I digress.

Here are some places Miss Spoobin has been, besides the peanut butter jar.

Deer Valley High School:



With radio station host Jim Foster:



Lunch with my friends (who brought me wonderful little individual cups of my fave pb so I can carry them in my purse):



At Clayton Books:



Capuchino High School with Books, Inc. and the You Say Read, We Say Party Book Club:


To my friends in Cincinnati and NYC who want a photo with Miss Spoobin, well, I don't have an answer for you yet as to whether she will be accompanying me. I am not a thief (not anymore, anyway), so I will find the manager of the hotel and ask if I might purchase Miss Spoobin.

Wish me luck.

UPDATE:
Hotel manager David just said I can keep Miss Spoobin! Yay, I love David!

Wow, Vroman's!

Cassie and I had a great turnout at Vroman's last night, and we met some awesome people.





We sold out of WAKE -- very sorry to those who didn't get a copy. :( I'm sure Vroman's will have it in stock again very soon, but if you want a signed copy, Mrs. Nelson's Books in LaVerne has some autographed copies in stock.

Holy Guacamole, Oceanside!

YAY for an awesome signing last night in Oceanside, CA, where approximately 200 people attended the event. What a blast!




Tonight's signing is at Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego, 7pm.

Friday: Mrs. Nelson's Books at 4pm, then Vroman's at 7pm.

Saturday: Borders in Torrance, 3pm.

Full tour schedule is here!

Tour and Twitter

I'm here on twitter: http://twitter.com/lisa_mcmann Follow me! I'll be tweeting from the road.

TOUR:
Six stops (plus schools) in the San Diego / Los Angeles area, all with author Cassandra Clare.

Three days in the San Francisco area.

Two days in the Cincinnati area with Cassandra Clare.

Two days in New York City with Cassandra Clare.

I'm excited to meet you! Check the tour page for all the details.

TOUR TOUR TOUR!

My official tour runs from March 25 - April 6 and I'll be visiting 12 cities.

I'll be with the fabulous Cassandra Clare (City of Glass) much of the tour (except when I'm in San Francisco, she's in Houston). She is the coolest and I can't wait! We'll be doing school visits during the days and signings in the afternoons and evenings.

You can always easily find where I'll be by visiting the tour page on my website.

Up first are the San Diego and Los Angeles areas, including B&N Oceanside, Mysterious Galaxy, Mrs. Nelson's Toys & Books, Vroman's, Borders in Torrance, and B&N Huntington Beach.

Hope to see you in southern California!


P.S. I haven't had a chance to recap the Tucson Festival of Books of last weekend, but my friend Amy did it over at Dog Fact 9, and since I was with her much of the time, this pretty much covers it!

Kitteh update

We have chosen a name for the kitty. Kitty is tough and strong. She doesn't take any crap from the dog (Jessie). And she seems to be in charge of all of us already.

Therefore, we have named her after one of my favorite characters in the WAKE trilogy...


Captain.

Cappy, for short.

Thanks to an anonymous emailer for that suggestion! I think it's perfect.

I has a NYT bestselling kitteh...and she needs a name.

YAY!!

We adopted her this morning. Kitteh was a stray who was found by someone at a gas station and taken to the humane society. She was scheduled to be euthanized but a bunny rescue group saved her and brought her to Petsmart, which is where we found her. She is probably around 10 months old. She is a muted torti and very skinny and petite. She is gray, white, and brown.

Our dog is anxious to meet her, but we are not quite ready for that. Taking it slow. :)

This is the best photo we have of her, taken at the store this morning. When she comes out of hiding I'll add more.



So...will you help us name her?

Post your name suggestions here by Tuesday at 5pm. We'll choose a name and let you know what it is!!

And finally, thank you for my kitteh!! You guys all rock.

Guess WHAT?!?!?!

I can haz kitteh.

And we hit a new number on the New York Times bestseller list -- number six!

I won't be able to look at cats/kittens until Sunday at the earliest, and it probably won't be until next week. But when we do find one, I will post pictures!

Thanks to everybody who spread the word and bought FADE over the past few weeks. You are terrific people. It's amazing to think FADE's spent four weeks as a NYT bestseller. Wow! Crazy awesome.

xox

Where I'll be this week, PW #9, and things people say

THIS WEEK: I'll be a sneaky hidden customer cheering on author A.S. King (The Dust of 100 Dogs) at Changing Hands in Tempe, AZ on Thursday at 4:30. Please come to see her-- she is really awesome. You'll love it. If you need copies of WAKE or FADE personalized, that would be a good time/place to find me and learn about a fantastic new author at the same time.

On SATURDAY I'll be in Tucson at the Festival of Books. It's going to be a blast. See my Tour Page for details on what I'll be doing.

PW #9: This means holy crap, FADE hit the Publisher's Weekly bestseller list this week, coming in at #9 on the children's hardcover chapter book list. Wow! That is totally cool and a first for me! (Alas, it does not fulfill the kitten agenda. Stupid fine print)


THINGS PEOPLE SAY: Today I got a note from a teen in Philly who wants to drive to NYC to see me on tour. Also, there's a group of readers from the midwest who are driving many hours to come to a signing in Cincinnati. The people who are willing and interested in taking a day (or more) of their lives to come out and see me in person -- that just floors me. I think it's awesome, and I can't wait to meet you. You give me warm fuzzies.

Here, kitteh kitteh...

FADE came in at #7 on the NYTimes bestseller list this week! Which means one thing: only one more week on the list separates me from adopting a tiny, adorable kitteh who needs a home.

Save a kitteh -- tell your friends to buy a copy of FADE today!

Announcing the Pulse Spring Fling Contest winners!

The Pulse Spring Fling Contest, celebrating new releases by Lisa Schroeder (FAR FROM YOU), Elizabeth Scott (SOMETHING, MAYBE) and me (FADE, Wake book 2), received HUNDREDS of entries.

Congratulations to the winners!!

McKenna (first prize) - signed copies of all the hardcovers, above, and a phone call from one of us

Olivia (second prize) - a box of books from Simon Pulse

Megan (third prize) - a signed copy, her choice, of one of Lisa's, Elizabeth's, or my backlist titles.

All winners have been contacted via email. Many thanks to all for playing!

Matt says that if I make the NYT bestseller list 2 more times, I can have a kitten.

And in other news, my teacher friend Greg, student friend Mallory, and a bunch of other young women at Mother of Mercy High School in Cincinnati made a video tribute to WAKE. It is made of awesome.



This makes me even MORE excited for my visit to Cincinnati on the FADE tour, April 3 & 4.

You ladies (and gents) are amazing.

FADE moves up to #8 on NYTimes Bestseller list!

You people are determined to get me to come out and play, aren't you.

THANK YOU!!!

I hope that you know this is all your fault. We did it, YAY!!!


Love and hugs. Bottom of my hearty-heart. Thank you.

Off topic: lunch

There are few things more satisfying than successfully flipping something in a skillet.

I love to cook and I haven't talked about cooking on my blog in a long time. Today, I will tell you about my lunch because it is SO good.

It is:

brown rice
roasted cauliflower and broccoli
garlic herb shrimp (yes, it was frozen. I live in AZ. Sue me.)
and topped with avocado.

If you are looking to learn to flip something in a skillet, shrimp works well. So do nuts if you ever toast them for salads, etc. You need a skillet with rounded sides -- so it works a little like a half-pipe for you skaters out there. You gotta move fast enough to clear the top but the curve helps you come back down in the pipe, not outside of it (ideally. Heh.). Start with a smaller sized skillet, like an 8 or 9 inch. Shake the food back and forth a little so you get a feel for how much force you need to put into the flip, and then just go for it.

Once you become flawless with tossing non-damageable things like shrimp or almonds, try eggs over medium/hard and then work your way to over easy. It takes some quick wrist movement and a gentle landing. Flipping eggs over the sink on the disposal side is a good idea until you've got it down. :)

Such satisfaction! And it'll impress people. Like being able to shuffle cards the cool way. It looks cool but takes practice to get it right.

(I learned how to shuffle from Laurie Genzink in the locker room in 8th grade. I learned how to flip things in a skillet from Alton Brown.)

Okay, now it's back to the underground where I am writing GONE.

FADE debuts at #10 on the NYT bestseller list!!

You guys amaze me. You're astounding. Fabulous. Unstoppable. (And extremely good looking.)

Thank you for buying my books and for telling your friends!! FADE hit the NYT bestseller list with its first week's sales. That so totally rocks.

Let's keep it going! If you have a chance in the next few days, please tell a new friend or two about the WAKE series.

Love and hugs,

Lisa

About the next six weeks... and GONE (Wake book 3)

In case you haven't heard, FADE (Wake book 2) is out!! You can find it in stores and online everywhere.

And now, it's time for me to hibernate and really focus, to pour my heart into the third and final book, GONE, so that we have something fantastic to deliver to you in spring 2010. I have a lot of work to do on it yet before I go on tour at the end of March (with Cassandra Clare, yay!).

So if you cannot find me in real time online, or if you have sent me fan mail and haven't heard back yet, or if I haven't responded to your Facebook, Myspace, or Goodreads message or comment, please understand that it's because I need to focus on making GONE the best book I can make it.

Thanks to all of you for your awesome support and for buying WAKE and FADE!! I'll come out to play more often when GONE is all shiny and awesome. :)

xox and love,

Lisa

interviews

If you want to read some recent interviews, try these:

Cynthia Leitich Smith (whose new book ETERNAL, sequel to Tantalize, also just came out -- check it out!)

Liv's Book Reviews

And here's a neat new review of WAKE by a very cool person I met the other night at Changing Hands.

Wheee!

Visit www.LisaMcMann.com!


Hey all! Here's where I'll be this week:

*Monday, February 9, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Spring Author Panel at Changing Hands Bookstore. Explore how to write, market, and publish first-rate teen literature with authors Lisa McMann (Wake), James Owen (Indigo King), Janette Rallison (My Fair Godmother), and Laurie Brooks (Selkie Girl). Joining them is literary agent Erin Murphy. Panel moderated by Changing Hands Bookstore’s children’s book buyer Brandi Stewart.
6428 S McClintock Dr
Tempe, AZ 85283
480-730-0205


*Tuesday, February 10, RELEASE DAY!!!!!
(okay, I'm lame. I have no plans for this day. I'll be updating websites to say "FADE is now available!" or something. Chatting on Twitter or Facebook. General goofing off.)


*Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Barnes and Noble
Chandler Fashion Mall (Fwy 101 & Chandler)
3111 W. Chandler Blvd #2054
Chandler, AZ 85226
480-792-1312


*Thursday, February 12, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 S McClintock Dr
Tempe, AZ 85283
480-730-0205
(McClintock at Guadalupe)

From Publisher's Marketplace today...

"Author of the NYT bestseller WAKE Lisa McMann's next paranormal stand-alone, again to Jennifer Klonsky at Simon Pulse, for publication in spring 2011, by Michael Bourret at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (World)."

25 Random Things...about Cabe

In honor of the release of FADE (Wake, Book 2), and also on behalf of the 859 people who have tagged me for 25 Random Things on Facebook, I give you a glimpse behind the scenes of Cabel Strumheller, book character extraordinaire.


25 Random Things about Cabe:

1. Sometimes, when I think about my mom, I can’t really remember what she looks like. I hate that.

2. I feel kind of guilty that I don’t think about her much at all, and then I wonder if she ever thinks about me. Probably not.

3. When I was in the hospital, I read a lot. Like, everything on the book cart. Even the Judy Blume stuff, which wasn’t too bad, actually.

4. I hate mowing the grass, especially the back yard behind the shed. My heart always pounds a little, like something’s going to jump out at me, even though I know it won’t. You know what I mean?

5. When I’m at school, I usually feel like I’m acting. Most people there have never seen the real me.

6. Sometimes I miss living with my brother Charlie. Back when it was just the two of us, I mean. After dad, but before Megan came into the picture, even though she’s totally cool and I like her a lot.

7. But if I think about it, I really do like being alone sometimes...I like that quiet house creakiness right before I fall asleep.

8. I like the sound of Janie breathing even better, all quiet and smooth, when she’s just falling asleep.

9. I’ve always wanted a pet. A dog, probably. But I really get scared sometimes that I wouldn’t be around enough for it. That I’d let it down and it would be all lonely ‘n shit. There’s enough of that in the world.

10. After I met Janie and figured her out a little, I started watching The X-Files reruns. She’s not so strange after all, you know? Compared to that, I mean.

11. I would totally never do a Facebook page unless I had to for work. I mean, what’s the point? It would just be acting all over again. That gets a little tiring.

12. Unless Janie signed up too.

13. Which she totally wouldn’t.

14. Hell, though...I dunno. She might, now that I think of it. Just so she could spy on people.

15. You know, that’s not a bad idea...

16. Changing the subject: my favorite color is green. Not like Kelly green or grass green or that disgusting mint color that reminds me of old people and babies. More like the color of dried herbs. Sage green. That’s it.

17. Sometimes after dark I get the board out. There’s a skate park by the school. I’m pretty good, still.

18. I really freaking hope I can keep this car forever.

19. I have no idea what to think of Janie’s mother. She is the strangest person I’ve seen, and believe me, I know some strange people.

20. I can’t stand it when I don’t know what’s going on.

21. I enjoy reading the news. I also like knowing a lot of random shit. It amuses me to see people’s reactions.

22. That time when Janie hit me in the gut with the door handle after the dance? I almost didn’t follow her. I mean, god. Who would follow a girl like that?

23. I know, I know. Me.

24. I really like to cook, and if anybody wants to give me shit about that, I’ll f*cking punch their lights out. Cooking’s dope. It’s like getting a chemistry formula right or putting a car together. Recipes, instructions, formulas...it’s all the same.

25. Some people think guys like me don’t exist. That’s a lie. Don’t believe it. I’m right here. We’re everywhere. The quiet ones. If you can look away from the shiny for a minute, you’ll see us.

Pulse SPRING FLING Contest!!

A reminder -- lots of books to win here! Easy entry. Click on the image.




To enter, simply send an email to pulsespringfling@gmail.com with the words Pulse Spring Fling! in the subject line and answer the question, "Who is your favorite fictional couple?" in the body of the email.

One entry per person, US residents only. Contest begins January 1, 2009 and ends February 14, 2009. Winners will be announced Monday, March 2nd, with prizes delivered mid-March.

Happy release day, A.S. King!

THE DUST OF 100 DOGS is officially out. Congrats, Amy!! Can you believe the day has finally come?

Readers, check out what Reviewer X has up her sleeve in celebration. Win stuff...including signed copies of WAKE and FADE.

Dear librarians,

Thank you for choosing WAKE as a Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. I have a heart for reluctant readers and wrote WAKE with them in mind. Such an honor.

Also, my sympathies in the tragic loss of two of your own after the convention. Warm thoughts to the families and all those readers and co-workers affected by this...I'm sure there are many.

FADE signings coming up!

Hello lovely friends! Guess what?

I have in my hands an official copy of the FADE hardcover. It's freaking gorgeous. And it's about 40 pages longer than WAKE (for the same price as the WAKE hardcover, which I thought was pretty cool).

If you live in the Phoenix area like I do, the B&N in the Chandler Mall already has copies of FADE in stock. Seriously. I just bought one there yesterday. Go.

I'll be doing a signing there on Wed., Feb 11 at 7pm. Please come!

And if you don't live nearby but you want a personalized/signed copy, call this store now and order one (or five). Or if you want WAKE, hardcover or paperback. I'll sign 'em all while I'm there on Feb 11, and they'll ship them to you (you'll need a credit card):

Barnes and Noble
Chandler Fashion Mall (Fwy 101 & Chandler)
3111 W. Chandler Blvd #2054
Chandler, AZ 85226
480-792-1312 (ask for Sibley, Melissa, or Cathi...tho' anyone should be able to help you)

The next night, Thursday, Feb. 12, 7:00pm, I'll be signing at my local independent bookstore, Changing Hands in Tempe. They'll take phone purchases too!

Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 S McClintock Dr
Tempe, AZ 85283
480-730-0205
(McClintock at Guadalupe)

You can call them ahead and order signed copies of WAKE or FADE, too, and they will ship them to you. I'm happy to personalize and sign, especially since these are stores close to home and I don't have, like, a plane to catch an hour after the event. :)


Please keep an eye on my website tour page for updates -- I'll be doing a 10-day U.S. tour in March with Cassandra Clare (City of Glass). More info when I have it! Here's the page to watch and bookmark: http://lisamcmann.com/html/tour.php

Much love! Please help spread the word. I really appreciate your awesome support of me and the WAKE series. You rock. Truly.

Lisa

FADE countdown clock

(another one!)


Visit www.LisaMcMann.com!

We get fan mail

There is a form on my website where you can send me your comments or just say hello.

If you would like a response, please double-check the email address you put into the form. I've replied to a few of you whose emails have bounced. That makes me sad, because then you think I didn't even try. Wah.

As of this moment, 12:10 pm mountain time on Saturday, Jan 17, I have replied to all fan mail. Yes, I am caught up. Yaaaaaaaaaaaa-- *plink*

Er...scratch that. :)

Seriously, though, if you sent me mail through my website form before today and did not get a response, feel free to try again if you want to (and double-check that you spelled your email address correctly).

Thanks!

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

I want to tell you about a wonderful new author and her new book.

It's called THE DUST OF 100 DOGS, by A.S. King.

I first met A.S. King on a message board for writers, but I didn't know her very well. Her book sounded interesting, and so I asked her about it. I offered to read it for a possible blurb -- and there are a few out there who know that I won't blurb just anything. I really have to love it.

Well, I loved it. Here's the story in 1.5 minutes.




And now, this much-awaited book is almost out. In fact, I noticed that it's shipping from at least one online store. Ask your local bookstore for it, and your local library. If they don't have it, please ask them to carry it.

It's on the mature side of YA, so keep that in mind. 14-15+ feels about right as a rough guideline.

WAKE is a 2008 Cybils Award Finalist!

The review is up on the Cybils website, which makes this wonderful honor so real.

I can't believe I'm a finalist in something with Neil Gaiman. NEIL GAIMAN, people. OMG. And Graceling, and Hunger Games, and all the others in the sci-fi/fantasy category...it's overwhelming.

I feel a need to say something to all of you bloggers out there. And I get a little emotional sometimes, so if you don't like that, you can go ahead and bite me (or just skip this next bit):

You have been there for this book, and I am ever grateful. So many of you read WAKE and spread the word, and you interviewed me and reviewed the book and recommended it, and people listened to you. You told your teen friends and Twilight Moms and college students and paranormal geeks and so many people who said they hate reading about WAKE and they found me on twitter and facebook and myspace, and they told me they bought WAKE because they'd heard so much about it, and they read it and it meant something. You are a powerful group -- and I'm thrilled to have spent this last year getting to know so many of you.

The WAKE paperback came out Dec 23, and in an economy that makes every author cringe, it came out with a huge bang. No, we didn't hit the NYT list with it, not yet anyway, but you know what I think? I think it came out so strongly because of the Cybils shortlist. What fabulous timing. And maybe there's hope for that NYT list soon -- we'll keep trying. I hope you'll remember FADE when the time comes, February 10.

So thank you, book reviewers, teachers, librarians, and teen reviewers. And thank you to all the wonderful judges who read SO many books and, when the dust settled, chose WAKE to sit alongside all the amazing titles on the shortlist.

Thanks for spreading the love. And don't miss my little attempt at spreading the love back to you -- see the posts below this one for two great contests, one prize being books and the other, Cold. Hard. Cash.

xox
Lisa

FADE Countdown Clock

Get this widget!

Pulse SPRING FLING Contest!!

Happy New Year!!

I'm so excited to post about this new contest not only because we have some great prizes, but also because I get to share this contest with two awesome Pulse authors who are also releasing new books this season, Elizabeth Scott (SOMETHING, MAYBE) and Lisa Schroeder (FAR FROM YOU).

It's so easy to enter. Just follow the instructions in the graphic. And feel free to grab the photo and post it in your own blog.

Just in case you can't see the image, here's the contest info:

Pulse Spring Fling Contest!

Grand prize: One signed copy each of Far From You, Fade, and Something, Maybe along with a phone call from your choice of one of the three featured authors

Second prize: A box full of Pulse books

Third prize: Your choice of a signed copy of any one of the featured author's backlist titles


To enter, simply send an email to pulsespringfling@gmail.com with the words Pulse Spring Fling! in the subject line and answer the question, "Who is your favorite fictional couple?" in the body of the email.

One entry per person, US residents only. Contest begins January 1, 2009 and ends February 14, 2009. Winners will be announced Monday, March 2nd, with prizes delivered mid-March.

Enjoy!

Also, if you like to write, S&S and I are having an essay contest as well with another great prize. See my website, http://lisamcmann.com for details.