NYT best selling author

Monday, December 21, 2009

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.

Monday, December 14, 2009

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 niƱos, 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

Friday, December 11, 2009

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!

Friday, November 27, 2009

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.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

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

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

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!

Thursday, November 05, 2009

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

Monday, October 26, 2009

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.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

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!

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

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.

Monday, September 21, 2009

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.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

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?

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

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.

Monday, August 24, 2009

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!!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

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

Friday, July 31, 2009

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!


Monday, July 27, 2009

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.

Monday, July 20, 2009

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.