Do you like my new reading glasses?

They look yellow but they are actually green. I got them on tour at University Book Store in Mill Creek, WA.

Here's the rest of my CRYER'S CROSS TOUR:


Sunday, Feb 13, 2011, 3pm (with Caridad Ferrer -- When the Stars Go Blue)
BARNES & NOBLE
19401 Alderwood Mall Parkway
Lynnwood,WA

Tuesday, Feb 15, 7pm
BARNES & NOBLE
2825 West Main St.
Bozeman, MT

Wednesday, Feb 16, 6:30pm
MURDER BY THE BOOK
2342 Bissonnet St.
Houston,TX

Thursday, Feb 17, 7pm
BLUE WILLOW BOOKSHOP
14532 Memorial Dr.
Houston,TX
NOTE from the bookstore's website: This event is free and open to the public. In order to meet Lisa McMann for book personalization, you must purchase Cryer’s Cross from Blue Willow Bookshop.
A limited number of autographed copies of Lisa’s books will be available for purchase after the event. If you cannot attend the event, but would like a personalized copy of her book, please call us at (281) 497-8675.

Friday, February 18, 2011, 7pm
A Real Bookstore
113 Prairie Road, Fairview, TX 75069

Saturday, February 19, 2011, 3pm
BOOK PEOPLE BOOKSTORE
603 North Lamar Blvd
Austin,TX
*note from the bookstore: You must purchase a copy of Cryer's Cross from BookPeople in order to get any of your books signed.

Saturday, Feb 26, 2011, 3pm
The Poisoned Pen
4014 N Goldwater Blvd. Suite 101
Scottsdale, AZ 85251



Monday, March 7, 2011, 9pm Est / 8pm Central

Watch for me on OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network)! I'll be on the show Searching For... and some West Michigan fans just might be too. Hint...My search has *something* to do with Cabel from the WAKE trilogy!



Saturday, March 12, 2011
Tucson Festival of Books
Tucson, AZ

Saturday/Sunday March 19 & 20, 2011
Teen Author Festival NYC
more info to come



Monday, March 21, 2011, 7pm

Little Shop of Stories
133A East Court Square
Decatur,GA


Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 7pm

BARNES & NOBLE #1955
7660 Northpoint Parkway
Suite 200
Alpharetta,GA



March 23, 2011, 7pm
Indigo - Yorkdale Mall
3401 Dufferin St.
Toronto, ON
(416) 781-6660

Also appearing in 2011 at:

*LA Times Festival of Books Apr 30/May 1

*Phoenix Comicon May 27-29

*more info to come

Cryer's Cross is in stores! Signings this week:

Tonight (2/9): B&N Oceanside, CA, 7pm, with Kiersten White (Paranormalcy)
Tomorrow (2/10): Mrs. Nelson's in LaVerne, CA, 4pm
Friday (2/11): B&N Santa Monica, CA, 7pm, with Katie Alender (Bad Girls Don't Die)
Saturday (2/12): University Book Store, Mill Creek, WA, 3pm
Sunday, (2/13): B&N Lynnwood, WA, 3pm with Caridad Ferrer (When the Stars Go Blue)

You can currently find signed copies of Cryer's Cross at:
Yellow Book Road in San Diego area
Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego (they ship!)

Next week's signings: Bozeman MT (2/15), then Texas! Find all the details here.

Packing for the CRYER'S CROSS TOUR!! Starts Feb 8.

Once again I find myself packing a single carry-on for a long tour. This time it's 14 days. I love the challenge of picking just the right number of essential clothing items to make it through, and planning out the stops where I'll need to do a little laundry.

One reason I decided to do it this way last year is because it's cheaper to pay for a handful of laundry items at a hotel along the way than it is to check a bag for seven flights at $25 a pop.

And then there's the awesome ease of breezing past baggage claim and getting right to my media escort/driver/cab, and not having to worry about lost luggage issues especially with all the crazy storms we've been having around the country lately.

Here's a look at last year's packing for the 12-day GONE tour: http://bit.ly/i2YB0l

And here's my tour schedule! I'm so excited to visit some new cities this time, including Southern California, Seattle area, Bozeman MT (where Cryer's Cross is set), and several stops in Texas. Let your book lover friends know I'll be in town, will you?

Tuesday, Feb 8, 2011, 7pm
MYSTERIOUS GALAXY BOOKS
7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. #302
San Diego,CA

Wednesday, Feb 9, 2011, 7pm (with NYT bestselling author Kiersten White -- Paranormalcy)
BARNES & NOBLE - OCEANSIDE
2615 Vista Way
Oceanside,CA

Thursday, Feb 10, 2011, 4pm
MRS. NELSON'S TOY AND BOOK SHOP
1030 Bonita Ave.
La Verne,CA

Friday, Feb 11, 2011, 7pm
BARNES & NOBLE
1201 3rd St. Promenade
Santa Monica, CA


Saturday, Feb 12, 2011, 3pm
UNIVERSITY BOOK STORE
15311 Main Street
Mill Creek,WA

Sunday, Feb 13, 2011, 3pm (with Caridad Ferrer -- When the Stars Go Blue)
BARNES & NOBLE
19401 Alderwood Mall Parkway
Lynnwood,WA

Tuesday, Feb 15, 7pm
BARNES & NOBLE
2825 West Main St.
Bozeman, MT

Wednesday, Feb 16, 6:30pm
MURDER BY THE BOOK
2342 Bissonnet St.
Houston,TX

Thursday, Feb 17, 7pm
BLUE WILLOW BOOKSHOP
14532 Memorial Dr.
Houston,TX
NOTE from the bookstore's website: This event is free and open to the public. In order to meet Lisa McMann for book personalization, you must purchase Cryer’s Cross from Blue Willow Bookshop.
A limited number of autographed copies of Lisa’s books will be available for purchase after the event. If you cannot attend the event, but would like a personalized copy of her book, please call us at (281) 497-8675.

Friday, February 18, 2011, 7pm
A Real Bookstore
113 Prairie Road, Fairview, TX 75069

Saturday, February 19, 2011, 3pm
BOOK PEOPLE BOOKSTORE
603 North Lamar Blvd
Austin,TX

Saturday, Feb 26, 2011, 3pm
The Poisoned Pen
4014 N Goldwater Blvd. Suite 101
Scottsdale, AZ 85251



Monday, March 7, 2011, 9pm Est / 8pm Central

Watch for me on OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network)! I'll be on the show Searching For... and some West Michigan fans just might be too.



Saturday, March 12, 2011
Tucson Festival of Books
Tucson, AZ

Saturday/Sunday March 19 & 20, 2011
Teen Author Festival NYC
more info to come



Monday, March 21, 2011, 7pm

Little Shop of Stories
133A East Court Square
Decatur,GA


Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 7pm

BARNES & NOBLE #1955
7660 Northpoint Parkway
Suite 200
Alpharetta,GA



Plus a stop in Toronto, Wednesday March 23,
more info to come



Also appearing in 2011 at:

*LA Times Festival of Books Apr 30/May 1

*Phoenix Comicon May 27-29

*more info to come

CRYER'S CROSS TOUR!! Starts Feb 8.

Tuesday, Feb 8, 2011, 7pm
MYSTERIOUS GALAXY BOOKS
7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. #302
San Diego,CA

Wednesday, Feb 9, 2011, 7pm
BARNES & NOBLE - OCEANSIDE
2615 Vista Way
Oceanside,CA

Thursday, Feb 10, 2011, 4pm
MRS. NELSON'S TOY AND BOOK SHOP
1030 Bonita Ave.
La Verne,CA

Friday, Feb 11, 2011, 7pm
BARNES & NOBLE
1201 3rd St. Promenade
Santa Monica, CA


Saturday, Feb 12, 2011, 3pm
UNIVERSITY BOOK STORE
15311 Main Street
Mill Creek,WA

Sunday, Feb 13, 2011, 3pm
BARNES & NOBLE
19401 Alderwood Mall Parkway
Lynnwood,WA

Tuesday, Feb 15, 7pm
BARNES & NOBLE
2825 West Main St.
Bozeman, MT

Wednesday, Feb 16, 6:30pm
MURDER BY THE BOOK
2342 Bissonnet St.
Houston,TX

Thursday, Feb 17, 7pm
BLUE WILLOW BOOKSHOP
14532 Memorial Dr.
Houston,TX
NOTE from the bookstore's website: This event is free and open to the public. In order to meet Lisa McMann for book personalization, you must purchase Cryer’s Cross from Blue Willow Bookshop.
A limited number of autographed copies of Lisa’s books will be available for purchase after the event. If you cannot attend the event, but would like a personalized copy of her book, please call us at (281) 497-8675.

Friday, February 18, 2011, 7pm
A Real Bookstore
113 Prairie Road, Fairview, TX 75069

Saturday, February 19, 2011, 3pm
BOOK PEOPLE BOOKSTORE
603 North Lamar Blvd
Austin,TX

Saturday, Feb 26, 2011, 3pm
The Poisoned Pen
4014 N Goldwater Blvd. Suite 101
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Saturday, March 12, 2011
Tucson Festival of Books
Tucson, AZ

I'll be making stops in New York, Atlanta, and Toronto in March as well -- no details yet.

No Name Calling Week Jan 24-28

A bunch of authors (including me!) participated in making videos for No Name Calling Week. Check it out here.

WAKE: Cryer's Cross Trailer

WAKE: Cryer's Cross Trailer: "Check it out!"

Re-post: WAKE is being challenged at Oliver Middle School in Broken Arrow, OK

Please note: this is not a new post. I am re-posting this at the top of my blog because apparently every student in the US is doing a paper about this right now. This is ALL THE INFO I HAVE. Please do not bombard me, my assistant, or my agent with lists of questions to answer for your research paper. Thank you. I will not be answering anyone specifically--I'm working on some pretty strict deadlines and besides...I can't do your homework for you. Thanks for understanding!

FIRST POSTED January 10, 2011.

A parent would like to have WAKE removed from the school because she objects to adult language and feels that WAKE promotes drug use and sexual misconduct.

I believe WAKE shows teens and tweens the dangers and the consequences of drugs in a real setting. Kids are SMART. A mention of drugs does not equal promotion of drug use -- that assertion is absurd. As for the language...anyone who has spent time in middle and high schools knows how kids talk. Authenticity in books important.

The sexual misconduct thing -- I don't understand. There is no sex in WAKE. There are non-graphic sexual dreams which are typical for anyone in puberty or older. Kids deserve to know they are not the only ones having sexual dreams...and that it's okay. Acknowledging reality does not promote sexual misconduct.

But writing a story about a girl whose mother is an alcoholic and whose father is non-existent does bring in a lot of email -- from kids as young as ten who say things like "thank you for writing about Janie. My family is similar. Now I don't feel so alone." I am so sad that this parent wishes to take away the chance for a Broken Arrow middle schooler to feel comforted by the fact that they are not alone.

The complainant felt that reading the book would result in underage use of substances and premature sexual behavior.

I disagree wholeheartedly and I hate that this person is not giving kids any credit for being logical. Knowledge is power. Sheltering kids from things that happen to teens and tweens in real life is NOT doing them any favors. I say it again: kids are smart. They know the difference between somebody saying "Drugs are good for you, try them!" and a scene where students are doing drugs and are then sent to jail. Why do kids understand this when so many parents do not?

I believe that the first meeting regarding banning WAKE from the school is tomorrow (Tuesday). I've provided a letter of response, but I'm sure the principal would like to hear from others who have opinions on the topic of free speech and censorship, as well as specific comments about WAKE. If you feel so inclined as to write a letter in support of WAKE, and maybe sharing some of the benefits you received from reading it and why you think it's important to have books like WAKE available for students, I found the principal's email on the school's website.

Please be polite and professional. I am very thankful for your support.

The school district website can be found here: http://www.baschools.org/ (The link for Oliver M.S. can be reached by clicking on "School Sites" on the left menu.)

Cryer's Cross Trailer

Check it out!

Hope you're having a great holiday!

A little update for your 2011 calendar:

GONE comes out in paperback January 4.

CRYER'S CROSS (teen paranormal) hits US/Canadian bookstore shelves on February 8. You can preorder now from your favorite internet bookstore and/or come see me on tour!

THE UNWANTEDS (dystopian fantasy) comes out September 6. (For those of you who wish my teen paranormals were longer, you will be in for a treat here). I'll have more info on this book in a few months.

You can now grab the Cryer's Cross widget for your site and it will stay quiet for your readers -- they'll just have to click the "play with sound" to hear it.

I have two books to write this year (the 2nd book in THE UNWANTEDS series, and a teen thriller that I haven't figured out yet), so I'm working hard on the first and thinking hard on the second. I want to keep you busy! :)

So that's what's happening here in McMann land. What's new with you?

CRYER'S CROSS - from author Lisa McMann

Here's a little 2-minute interview I did the last time I was in New York.

GONE is up for a Goodreads Choice Award!

Wanna vote for it? It's up to you who wins (and many thanks for the nomination, which was also up to you). Click below to vote!

2010 Goodreads Choice Awards Official Nominee: Best Goodreads Author Vote for this book!

Cryer's Cross arc contest!

UPDATE: Congrats to winner Alexandra from South Carolina! She has been notified and the arc has been mailed out.


I'll be giving away an ARC of Cryer's Cross in my next (fairly infrequent) newsletter. Sign up here to get the details!

Less than 3 months until CRYER'S CROSS!

Have you added it to your Goodreads account yet?

So.

How do you like the new countdown widget up there? Is your volume on? If not, turn it on and replay. Let me know what you think!

If it's not too much trouble, I'd love it if you could share the widget by tweeting, facebooking, myspacing, etc, or posting it on your blog.

Thank you!

Lisa

October Appearances: Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix, and Louisiana!

Check my website tour page regularly for details. (Specifics on Livingston Parish Libraries in Louisiana to come.)

Also on that page -- please take advantage of the Demand It! widget. Maybe I'll come to your nearest major city some day!

Amazing blurbs for CRYER'S CROSS from authors Alyson Noël and Heather Brewer

Well, Cryer's Cross is just over five months away (Feb 8, 2011), and I'm so thrilled that two of my favorite authors have read and blurbed it! Here's what these awesome people have to say about it:

“CRYER’S CROSS is an eerie, gripping, totally addictive, breathtaking whirl of a book with an ending that left me haunted for days. Lisa McMann has done it again—this book is unputdownable!”—Alyson Noël, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of THE IMMORTALS series.

"A brilliant, engaging, scary piece of fiction. Every word had me sliding closer to the edge of my seat and gripping the cover tighter and tighter. There are books in the world that make you question your reality and the things that go bump in the night - this is one of them." --Heather Brewer, New York Times Bestselling Author of THE CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD Series

I am delighted beyond words and forever touched that these two heroes of mine would not only take the time to read an early copy of my book, but that they'd say such lovely things. What a gift.

I hope the rest of you enjoy Cryer's Cross too!

Wish you could autograph my books :(

You can always buy personalized, autographed copies of my books here: http://www.evermorenevermore.com/lisamcmann.htm . They ship worldwide!

Ask me anything

Want me to tour in your city?

Sign up at Eventful and Demand it!

View all Lisa McMann tour dates

I love you

Hey everybody, I saw we got a bit heated in the comments in the last post. So I wanted to say that I love you all. (Awwwww!!! Do you love me too? You do? YAY!)

Here are some facts:

I have no control over anything to do with the movie. I do not pick the actors. It doesn't matter how hard you try to "reason" with me in the comments -- I really truly don't have any control, so I hope you'll tone down the "do something, Lisa!" stuff. Because I can't do anything. Besides, I'm thrilled about this development in the movie arena.

That said, I think everyone should have the right to free speech. I don't mind that you disagree with things. That's fine. But I don't like it when people say things like "if you love us you'll change things or else we'll stop being your fans." See above -- I have no control. And it's hard to believe a true fan of the books would do that. Still, I respect your right to say how you feel.

There's no guarantee that the movie will be made. If it is, don't forget we have an amazing writer attached in Christopher Landon.

I love you all no matter how you feel about Miley Cyrus being in talks to play Janie. For the record, I think that all actors have to try new things to grow and transition from child to adult actor. I think Miley would do a great job. But there's no guarantee of a movie so maybe everybody should just calm down for a while.

I hope that those of you who do not like Miley will realize that nobody will force you to watch her movies. It's that simple, folks. You don't like it? Don't go.

Did I mention I love you? Cuz I do.

The rumors are true -- WAKE movie news!

Paramount and MTV Films have picked up the film rights to the WAKE trilogy, with Christopher Landon (Disturbia) writing/directing. Miley Cyrus is considering the lead role.

As you know, even with people and studios attached, it takes a lot for a movie to actually happen, so there are no guarantees it'll get made. But I'm crossing my fingers.

I am thrilled!

As soon as I have more information, I will let you know. Read all the details at the link above!

xox
Lisa

P.S. I have no control over casting or anything else -- I'm just here to let you know what's up. So please, don't be all about the hatin' all over my blog, my lovelies! Did I mention I am thrilled? I am! I think Miley is awesome. Anybody who can accomplish more by the age of 17 than I can do by the age of 42 is top notch in my book. I think every teen has tremendous potential to shine, don't you? xox

Thank you, teachers!

It's the end of the school year and I just want to give the teachers a little nod for being awesome.

When I speak to teacher/librarian groups, I talk about what a difference they make in kids' lives. The hard part about that is that they don't often find out how they affected a student.

I talk about two teachers in my life who each did something small to make my life change dramatically. And if you ever are in attendance at one of these speeches, you'll likely hear the whole story. But in a nutshell, these two teachers did things that were above and beyond the call of duty, even though to them, it probably didn't feel like much.

Teachers, thank you for making a difference in the lives of your students. You may not realize that a word of encouragement from you today may change the course of a student's life. Hopefully 25 years from now, they find you on Facebook to tell you what you meant to them.

Wanna have lunch? Do The Write Thing For Nashville Auction

Hello everyone!

In light of the recent terrible flooding in Tennessee, I'm trying to Do The Write Thing For Nashville by donating an item, and it's up for auction RIGHT NOW, for three days only.

I'm offering the following (to bid, you need to go to the above link and leave a comment with your offer):

Lunch! For you and up to three of your besties. With yours truly. I'll fly to your city and meet you for lunch and we can talk about books and publishing and agents or we can just hang out and chat about peanut butter and pork butt (not together, eww!) and Miss Spoobin.

Speaking of Miss Spoobin, the winning bid gets to take her home! And each person at the lunch will get a signed copy of GONE.

How's that for fun? Get your group of friends together, pool your moolah, and bid! Or buy it as a surprise for your teen or librarian or teacher or BFF or spouse.

And please check out all the other very cool items up for bid, too -- lots of awesome stuff in all price ranges, and it's all for a great cause!

Scottsdale: Civic Center Library tonight!

It's a paranormal PJ party. I'll be there from 7-8pm signing books and talking about the WAKE trilogy.

On a side note for those of you doing The National Day of Silence today...rock on. Thanks for standing up to bullying.

Operation Book Drop is today!

I've participated in the Readergirlz sponsored Operation Teen Book Drop since its inception and today is no exception. I'll be dropping signed copies of WAKE at my daughter's orthodontist office waiting room (Dr. Wing) late this afternoon, over on Ellsworth and Guadalupe in Mesa, AZ:

What is Operation Book Drop?

Check it out:




Help rock the drop!

The Call Me Bookclub Sweepstakes

Hello readers. I want to direct your attention to a pretty awesome contest through my publisher, Simon & Schuster. It's called the Call Me Book Club Sweepstakes and you can enter to win up to 25 copies of a book plus a phone call from the author if you are either:

1. a book club
2. a teacher/classroom

Check it out!

We have a WINNER!

The "Don't Let Your Dreams Fade" vlog contest is over and, after much agony, I have chosen a winner. I loved Ally's vlog. She seemed very real to me.

When I was explaining to my publisher why I picked Ally, I wrote this:

"I loved that she talked about how going through a year's worth
of testing for learning disabilities made her not really like reading or
writing, but that she has come back to it and now dreams of making it
her career. I loved that she was sitting in front of her own writings,
taped to the door, but didn't mention them. I loved that she mentioned that she's in that tough third kid position, who will struggle money-wise with
college because of older siblings. And I love how at the end, she says, 'I hope you pick me, but...if you don't, I'm okay with it.'

She feels like the kind of person I'd enjoy hanging out with in real
life."

Meet the winner, Ally:




Many thanks to all who entered. I loved hearing your stories and I watched all of the entries. You guys are all awesome and it was hard to have to pick just one winner. You all are winners to me. Thank you for sharing a bit of yourself with me.

Look what I found!

Every now and then I run across fun WAKE things.

Here's a link to the Jamestown Loop which shows a photo of some students who made South Carolina Young Adult Book Award banners of YA books on their state list. The WAKE banner team came in 3rd place and won a prize. Congrats!

What a great tour!

I am home from the GONE tour, and delighted to tell you that we are back on the NYT series list with the WAKE trilogy! Such a difficult list to make, and I never expected us to hit it more than one week. Thanks for coming to my signings and buying my books! This is all thanks to you.

Just checking in from Cincinnati...

...to let you know I am on day 9 of the tour and the whole carry-on-only thing has been a huge success. I've done laundry twice and that's all I'll need before I head home on Friday. Haven't run out of any product yet, though the tiny bottle of hairspray is almost out and I may need to stop somewhere to grab a bottle to get me through Toronto.

And speaking of Toronto, please come to my signing (along with Becca Fitzpatrick) Wed, March 3, 7pm, at:
Indigo
Yonge & Eglinton
2300 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M4P 1E4 Canada
(416)544-0049

Packing For Tour

I feel like I'm getting good at this packing thing, and I've learned a lot since that first tour a couple years ago when WAKE was just a baby.

I'm heading out in the morning for the third and final leg of my GONE tour. This time I'll be gone 12 days. And I've decided to attempt carry-on only.

Why?

1. Because I'm slightly crazy. Also because I managed it quite nicely for five days (Becca Fitzpatrick managed for six, so of course now I must beat her record)...and if I can do five days, I can do twelve, as long as I have a chance to stop at a drug store somewhere in there to restock on hair product (because it *is* all about the hair, isn't it?) and a hotel that does overnight laundry. Which I will have, because Simon & Schuster takes good care of me.

2. Because I don't like waiting to check bags, and I don't like waiting for my luggage. And I don't like fretting if the luggage doesn't arrive. With seven flights in snowy places, the chance of my bag being lost feels big.

3. Because I have a great carry-on that has wheels that swivel all directions, making a huge difference in maneuvering through the airport/bathrooms/airplane aisle. Huge HUGE difference. I mean it. I would not do carry-on without spinner luggage. (And no, I didn't pay $400 for it. It was 60% off when I bought it. Worth every penny)

4. Because I want new underwear. See, I don't think it's wise to send your undies out for hotel laundry. At $3-4 a pop to wash, it just doesn't seem worth it when you can buy new for that price. And you don't want to carry them with you for 12 days - yuck. So you just pack up all of your old grungy underwear that you've been meaning to get rid of, and throw it away every day. Surprise, housekeeping! And then when you get home, treat yourself to some new ones. :)

5. Because checking a bag means $20 with most airlines, and I'd rather spend it on laundry services, because they even iron stuff, if you can believe that. Crazy, I know.

6. Because I really only have 6 or 7 tops I love anyway, so why pack a bunch of clothes that I tell myself I'll wear when I know I really won't? When I'm on tour, I really just want to be comfortable and in my favorite clothes.


So...now that I've made the decision, I admit I'm a little nervous about it, but I think it's going to be okay. And I think I'll even have a teensy bit of room to spare.




So what's in the bag? I had to pack for cold and warm weather, as I'll be visiting St. Louis, Atlanta, Florida, Cincinnati, and Toronto.

Absolutely everything matches with everything else. My own personal Garanimals. Thin fabrics do well when rolled and they fit into those little gaps nicely. You won't mind if I'm a little wrinkly, will you?
Here's the list!

--13 pairs of undies* (an extra for emergencies, of course)
--10 pairs of socks* (that's all I own...so I may have to wear a couple pairs twice...)
--5 long sleeve tops
--2 short sleeve tops
--2 jackets*
--1 sweater*
--5 camis*
--3 pairs of jeans*
--1 pair of shoes* (Saucony walking shoes, well broken-in)
--1 pair cheapo flat slippers stolen from London Hotel NYC
--1 belt
--1 jammie shirt
--1 pair yoga pants
--1 "dry" toiletries bag
--computer cord
--phone charger

(*)indicates I'll be wearing one of these on the plane, so they will not be in the bag.

The quart-sized bag of liquids goes in my over-the-shoulder bag, which also holds:

--itinerary (prepared by my awesome publicist Nicole)
--Macbook air in a padded envelope (it's okay to laugh)
--purse
--phone
--a copy of GONE
--e-reader
--book signing pens
--sunflower seeds and an individual cup of peanut butter
--one small med bottle containing: ibuprofen, Tylenol PM (key for getting to sleep on time when wired from evening signing and having to get up early for school event), Excedrin (for after those double school events), antihistamine, immodium, and zantac. Yes, we travel prepared for everything, and when you eat 36 meals in a row on the road, you must be prepared.


So...I think I'm ready!

The WAKE trilogy hits the NYT bestseller list!

With the release of GONE, my books move to a different list on the New York Times Review -- the series list. So rather than GONE competing against other titles as an individual, the entire trilogy competes against other series'. Chances were pretty slim that we'd make this list, but lo and behold, we did it, and at number 8! Thank you for buying the books and making this happen! *hearty-hearts*

GONE on its own hit the USA Today list at #118, which is very cool because it includes all books.

Also, major congrats to a most deserving author and friend, Heather Brewer, who hit the NYT bestseller list (among others) for the first time with her Vlad Tod series. Incidentally, if you are in the St Louis area, she and I will be together signing our NYT bestselling series' books this Monday, Feb 22, at the St. Louis Library. And then to celebrate, we're both going to get new tatts. Heh. (Mom, uh, they're just the temporary stick-on kind, just like the one that's been on my ankle for four years.)

The tour is going great and I had so much fun meeting fans in California and Arizona. Coming up:

Tucson
St. Louis
Decatur, GA
Tampa
Coral Gables
Vero Beach
Cincinnati
Dayton
Toronto

Can't wait to meet you!

Happy GONE day!

GONE is officially out today! This week's signings: Tue 7pm Changing Hands, Wed 7pm B&N Oceanside, Thu 7pm Mysterious Galaxy, Fri 4pm Mrs. Nelsons, Sat 11am Sam's Club Long Beach, 3pm Borders Canoga Park... More: http://digg.com/u15mP0

Word on the street: GONE is out in many stores!

The official release day for GONE (Wake, bk 3) is Tues, Feb 9, but I've heard from all over the US that people are snagging their copies and devouring GONE. I see on various online stores (indiebound.org and others) that it's shipping. So head out this week and grab it or order it! While you're at it, pick up a copy of WAKE or FADE (now both in paperback) for a Valentine's gift. Or try the audio books. You can find my books in lots of places including independent bookstores everywhere, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Target, Sam's Club, BJ's, Indigo, and Amazon.

Today I am doing laundry and getting ready to pack. My tour starts Tuesday -- I really hope to see some of you along the way!

Thanks for being such awesome fans. Hopefully I'll have some good stories and photos to share from the road! And of course, I'll be bringing Miss Spoobin with me. :)

I'm on BlogTalkRadio

You can listen live at 1pm ET today (Feb 4) or listen to the recorded program later.

Don't Let Your Dreams Fade vlog contest: $1000 prize!

Here's an example of one way you can make your contest video. This is my daughter Kennedy. It took her about an hour to film and edit the video (you don't need to edit if you don't know how). Easy peasy!

First, read all the details and the fine print so you know if you qualify -- this is a contest for US Teens ages 14-18. (Yes, just US teens. It's a US publisher.)

Just use whatever camera you own or can borrow, and upload the video to youtube or any other video hosting site that will give you a link to it. Show your friends -- no need to hide it -- and enter on my website at the link above by including the link to your online video.

Contest ends March 8th. And I am the final judge. Fun times for me!

Countdown to GONE and tour info

We are getting close (Feb 9th is the official day!) and I'm so excited to start my tour. Click here to see all the details. As you can see, I'll be with the awesome Becca Fitzpatrick for the first leg of my tour, visiting these cities together:

Tempe, AZ
Oceanside, CA
San Diego, CA
LaVerne, CA
Long Beach, CA
Canoga Park, CA

Then I fly home (on Valentine's Day to see my hubby, yay!) and do some events locally for a few days:

Chandler, AZ
Some schools in the area
Tucson, AZ

And then I'm off to see more of North America:

St. Louis, MO (with the amazing Heather Brewer)
Decatur, GA
Tampa, FL
Coral Gables, FL
Vero Beach, FL (did I mention this event is on MY BIRTHDAY??)
Dayton, OH
Cincinnati, OH

and finally:

Toronto, ON, Canada!

I wish I could stop in everyone's city, but that's impossible! So sometimes we both have to travel in order to see each other, no? Hope to see you.

xoxo

Fund Your Dreams Sweepstakes -- win $1000

STARTS 1/5/10! Ends 3/8/10.

Hey teen readers, remember last year when we did that cool essay contest and a very talented teen writer named Hosanna Kabakoro won $1000 toward furthering her life goals?

Well GUESS WHAT? My awesome publisher, Simon & Schuster, was so impressed with that contest that they decided to do ANOTHER CONTEST THIS YEAR in conjunction with the FADE paperback release (which is now -- go buy it)!

Isn't that awesome?

This year, instead of an essay, we are doing a Vlog contest -- a video blog. Because of legal issues, bleh bleh bleh, it's only open to residents of the US. And it's only for ages 14-18. I'm sorry to those of you who don't qualify, but it is what it is and I have no control over that.

The question you should be thinking about is "How are your dreams and goals like Janie’s?" Videotape yourself answering the question. You have two minutes or less to provide a convincing argument. Be creative! Be serious! Be funny! Just be anything but boring.

Please read all the instructions, even/especially the fine print, before you enter. There is NO HURRY -- you have until March 8. So make sure you do your best before sending it in -- no do-overs.

Find all the info on my website.
or in the back of the brand new FADE paperback. Go!

PS I get to pick the winner. And then I get to call you and be on the phone with you when you wet your pants with joy over winning $1000. Best. Job. Ever.

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!