tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36151563350373982652024-03-05T22:15:53.009-06:00Fiona Paul--YA AuthorRants, raves, and random musings from a professional daydreamer. Now with adorable cat pictures.Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-10104539335742937882016-02-16T04:00:00.000-06:002016-02-16T11:16:40.924-06:00New Look for the Eternal Rose Books + Free Short Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Hi :)<br />
<br />
Many of you probably know I blog mostly (and by "blog mostly" I mean run a contest about once a month) over at my <a href="http://www.authorpaulastokes.com/" target="_blank">Paula Stokes website.</a> In fact I'm running <a href="http://www.authorpaulastokes.com/2016/02/the-great-gatu-create-book-boyfriend.html" target="_blank">an awesome build-a-book-boyfriend contest</a> over there right now where the winner can see their ideal book boy in a future Paula Stokes novel! But today I wanted to reach out to all of the Secrets of the Eternal Rose fans to make sure you knew you could score a free short story prequel called <i>Disastrous Desire.</i> It's full of glamour and mystery and it has a gorgeous sexy cover that will look fabulous on your e-reader or tablet. See:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPVnwdyTZLAiDaVyB8XHVuLCih3-0qOuV1VLiMwEgQuN5Mo9Z-uWsH7U-gMrQZhzMgQToIbkFERt51A9h9i3q_XR4FOAiSnFZP_xoGUt5z01BKjrczHgRrUizKUi6CS7KYit0Y-kVHWSV/s1600/DisastrousDesireFINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPVnwdyTZLAiDaVyB8XHVuLCih3-0qOuV1VLiMwEgQuN5Mo9Z-uWsH7U-gMrQZhzMgQToIbkFERt51A9h9i3q_XR4FOAiSnFZP_xoGUt5z01BKjrczHgRrUizKUi6CS7KYit0Y-kVHWSV/s320/DisastrousDesireFINAL.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<i>“A sensual tale where no one can be trusted and passions kill.”</i> <br />
–Andrea Cremer, New York Times bestselling author of the Nightshade series<br />
<br />
Eighteen-year-old Mariabella has recently elevated herself from the rank of common prostitute to the status of courtesan, a respected high-class escort for those men in Venetian society who can afford one. Mariabella steps out to attend a party on the arm of her powerful new patron, certain that the night will be filled with glamour, secrets, and adventure—but the world she has immersed herself in is more dangerous than she believes.<br />
<div>
<br />
Don’t miss this short story prequel set in the thrilling world of Fiona Paul’s Secrets of the Eternal Rose series. This free story also includes four chapters of Venomous Kiss, the first book in a romantic series tinged with true love and heartbreaking betrayal.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Disastrous-Desire-Secrets-Eternal-short-ebook/dp/B01B4BD6MC" target="_blank">Download from Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/disastrous-desire-fiona-paul/1123319719?ean=9781518361692" target="_blank">Download from B&N</a> </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In fact, the book development team <a href="http://www.paperlanternlit.com/" target="_blank">Paper Lantern Lit</a> has renamed and redesigned the entire trilogy, so if you wanted to read this series but you've been struggling to find copies of any of the books, they will be widely available again this spring, starting with the re-release of Venom as Venomous Kiss on March 17, 2016.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>In the meantime, feast your eyes on the amazing new covers!</b></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqScjJEXpoOs90rHL9QvR2oL1xiEocvEp9gctOfx1Te06YYAGfgv6Ex0mAyHnMUE1hO7Fmj-iwv_LzsTXe8vFGcUrGGGd6Va6h1GEyPEAo3EaKd4ZZSc-MCEKYWItavaMFPfcnmjwcjaT/s1600/_VenmousKissFINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqScjJEXpoOs90rHL9QvR2oL1xiEocvEp9gctOfx1Te06YYAGfgv6Ex0mAyHnMUE1hO7Fmj-iwv_LzsTXe8vFGcUrGGGd6Va6h1GEyPEAo3EaKd4ZZSc-MCEKYWItavaMFPfcnmjwcjaT/s320/_VenmousKissFINAL.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div>
Cassandra Caravello has everything a girl could desire: elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, and a handsome, wealthy fiancé—yet she longs for something more. Ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.</div>
<br />
When Cass stumbles upon the body of a murdered woman, she’s drawn into the dangerous and tempting world of secret societies, courtesans, killers, and a mysterious street artist named Falco, who could be the most dangerous temptation of them all.<br />
<br />
Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, but his habit of getting into trouble could destroy the perfect life Cassandra has built. Will she find the murderer before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?<br />
<br />
Formerly published as Venom, Fiona Paul’s first installment of the Secrets of the Eternal Rose is perfect for fans of Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
In the second installment of the Secrets of the Eternal<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvgnFGqFWgOqrbwbDmopfoWMX6wX5tri0GTxalf83fm_Hxjru2Axj_mx31Xovvq9FDlFyhLqT55JROkijr-a-RfcN5f9K_CPdQhQP93iYCqg0Eo92whIlT-G7azTzhkPQWuLouzKZwkHI/s1600/PoisonousTouchFINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvgnFGqFWgOqrbwbDmopfoWMX6wX5tri0GTxalf83fm_Hxjru2Axj_mx31Xovvq9FDlFyhLqT55JROkijr-a-RfcN5f9K_CPdQhQP93iYCqg0Eo92whIlT-G7azTzhkPQWuLouzKZwkHI/s320/PoisonousTouchFINAL.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div>
Rose series, Cassandra Caravello is trying to forget Falco, the wild artist who ran off with her heart, as she grows closer to her strong, steady fiancé, Luca. But Luca has his own share of secrets. When he’s arrested by soldiers in the middle of the night, Cass’s life is once again thrown into chaos. </div>
<div>
<br />
So begins her journey to Florence to prove Luca’s innocence. In the city haunted by whispers of vampirism, secret soirees and clandestine meetings of the Order of the Eternal Rose, Cassandra also finds Falco, who is working for the Order’s eerily stunning leader, the Belladonna herself. <br />
<br />
Nothing is as it seems in this seductive mystery, where the truth may be the deadliest poison of all.<br />
<br />
Formerly published as Belladonna, the second book in the trilogy is perfect for fans of Jennifer Donnelly’s These Shallow Graves.</div>
<div>
<b><i><span style="color: magenta;">Available April 12, 2016</span></i></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVs9eHRigey7UDsoovO1Yihudazy1SnC6VPpP7jEElS4oyDJfY2UaIgQf8GEwfZoVPjNM7Pv6D7KMFR2Y3hOooTI_7h5nlXgvJWaMzn_nyiR6qoI6ioQVfvo-0bzhw3fkqzL7E8Du2aeU/s1600/DangerousHeartFINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVs9eHRigey7UDsoovO1Yihudazy1SnC6VPpP7jEElS4oyDJfY2UaIgQf8GEwfZoVPjNM7Pv6D7KMFR2Y3hOooTI_7h5nlXgvJWaMzn_nyiR6qoI6ioQVfvo-0bzhw3fkqzL7E8Du2aeU/s320/DangerousHeartFINAL.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
Cassandra Caravello and Luca are fugitives, on the run from the law and the deadly Order of the Eternal Rose. As they pursue the only evidence that could save them, their worlds—and their romance— are torn apart by spiteful friends and murderous enemies.<br />
<br />
When Cass finds herself ensnared in the Order’s twisted plot, Falco emerges once again as her only hope for freedom…but this time, Luca has a shocking scheme of his own. <br />
<br />
From ancient mercenaries to sly magicians, clever courtesans and vengeful killers, no one can be trusted. In the breathtaking conclusion to the Secrets of the Eternal Rose trilogy, Cass must confront the Order and decide where her heart lies, once and for all. <br />
<br />
Formerly published as Starling, this romantic mystery is perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl.<br />
<div>
<b><i><span style="color: magenta;">Available May 24, 2016</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><span style="color: magenta;">Right now you can pre-order all three titles for .99, 1.99, and 2.99 respectively! That's over 1000 pages of swoony Renaissance mystery for less than $6.00. I'm not sure if these prices will go up, so if you're interested in the books, you might want to snap them up sooner rather than later :)</span></b></div>
Paula Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554982750210319316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-27886058723937470102014-06-10T11:08:00.000-05:002014-06-10T11:08:13.317-05:00Where I've Been...Heeeeeeey.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure how many people are still reading this blog, but you probably know I also write as Paula Stokes. My first YA contemp, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068910-the-art-of-lainey?ac=1" target="_blank">THE ART OF LAINEY</a>, released last month, and I now have five more books and a 100-page e-novella coming out under my real name. Pretty epic, right? I think so ;-) I'll be blogging over at <a href="http://www.authorpaulastokes.com/" target="_blank">Author Paula Stokes</a> mostly from now on. Come see me--I miss you! :-)Paula Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554982750210319316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-17008762178294442392014-03-20T13:04:00.000-05:002014-03-20T13:11:57.675-05:00Happy Birthday STARLING!Hi hi :)<br />
<br />
I'm so excited that STARLING flutters into the world today. If you happen to see it at your local bookalicious place (be that a library or bookstore), snap me a pic and tweet it to @FionawritesYA.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1374280637l/13399051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1374280637l/13399051.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I'd talk all about what it's like to finish a trilogy, but I already did that for my friend Stacee at <a href="http://toofondofbooks.com/">Too Fond of Books</a>, so look for that post on Monday. Speaking of Monday, Australian STARLING releases then. Go get that pretty dress cover, Aussie-types :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cuddlebuggery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Starling-AUS-196x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cuddlebuggery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Starling-AUS-196x300.jpg" height="400" width="260" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
AND<br />
<br />
In honor of both Starling's release and @pstokesbooks finally amassing 1000 twitter followers, I am getting ready to do a dual WHERE IN THE WORLD IS?? contest with both <i>Starling</i> and <i>The Art of Lainey</i>. Be sure to stay tuned for that.<br />
<br />
Happy reading and writing!Paula Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554982750210319316noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-18668355639991137372014-03-11T00:00:00.000-05:002014-03-11T00:00:03.342-05:00Happy Birthday Nikki: Thoughts on SerendipityWhen I was in elementary school, I was obsessed with a series of books by Stephen Cosgrove. One of them was called <i>Serendipity</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1285744375l/262050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1285744375l/262050.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<br />
Isn't she the cutest? I don't honestly remember the storyline, but I remember this was my introduction to the word <i>serendipity</i>. Even as a seven-year-old, I loved the idea of stumbling across something awesome purely by chance.<br />
<br />
This happened to me in June of 2012, at a book event called <a href="http://teenauthorcarnival.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Teen Author Carnival </a>that took place in NYC. I got invited as <a href="http://fionapaulbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fiona Paul</a> because I was going to be at Book Expo America with the 2012 debut group, <a href="http://apocalypsies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">the Apocalypsies</a>. I remember being overwhelmed by BEA, being exhausted as I hurried from the conference to the library with a group of other authors. I remember feeling outclassed and outperformed by many of the other writers doing panels with me. They were all so polished, so professional. Me, I was sweaty and shy and scared.<br />
<br />
After the panels were over, the authors hung out to sign books. My first book wasn't out yet so I was signing ARCs and bookmarks. One of my editors came up to me and gave me an ARC of <i>Venom</i> that someone had won as part of a box of books but forgotten at the library. "I figured you might want this," she said. My first thought was: <i>Yikes. One more thing to fit in my already overstuffed luggage.</i> But I put it away and kept talking to readers. I was sitting next to <a href="http://laurenmorrill.com/" target="_blank">Lauren Morrill</a>, another 2012 debut (she's awesome, buy her books!), when a tiny sprite of a girl bounced up to me. "Do you know if they'll be giving away more ARCs of <i>Venom </i>at BEA tomorrow?" she asked.<br />
<br />
"I'm not sure." (Authors are usually the last to know anything). I paused. "How old are you?"<br />
<br />
"Thirteen," the girl replied.<br />
<br />
"Hmm. <i>Venom </i>is technically age 14 and up." I looked at Lauren Morrill. She looked at me. This girl looked younger than thirteen. But she was so cute and enthusiastic and it wasn't like the people at BEA were carding book readers to make sure they were old enough to get the free ARCs. I made one of those split-second decisions. "Here." I pulled out the copy of <i>Venom</i> my editor had just given me. "I just happen to have an ARC with me. You can have it, but if any of the material makes you uncomfortable, just skip over it, okay?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/428383814079897600/-XzUj-Ku.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/428383814079897600/-XzUj-Ku.jpeg" width="200" /></a>The girl nodded happily. I signed the ARC for her and she bounded off. That girl was blogger Nikki Wang from the blog <a href="http://fiction-freak.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fiction Freak</a>. I didn't think too much about the interaction, aside from praying that I wouldn't get an angry email from Nikki's mom if she found the ARC and deemed it too adult for her daughter.<br />
<br />
<div>
After I got home from the conference, Nikki emailed me about doing a feature on her blog. I said yes. We got to talking. We got to talking some more. Slowly, via the magic of the interwebz, Nikki and I became friends.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oHq4p6HKp1w/Ur-O5dukpFI/AAAAAAAAHaQ/Bax6pHRL2-g/s1600/Newest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oHq4p6HKp1w/Ur-O5dukpFI/AAAAAAAAHaQ/Bax6pHRL2-g/s1600/Newest.jpg" height="154" width="320" /></a></div>
Since then, Nikki has been a such huge motivational and promotional force in my writing career that I wanted to write this happy birthday blog post just to thank her. THANK YOU, NIKKI! Many other bloggers have inspired and promoted and motivated me too, and I am grateful to all of them. But Nikki truly has gone above and beyond, in so many ways. Here's just a smattering of things she is to me:<br />
<br />
1. One-girl focus group if I have a question about teenspeak or whether teens do or don't like something.<br />
<br />
2. Reviewer extraordinaire. The PenguinTeen catalog even blurbed her:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2hDJAVlwUoqgEAFQYrfXw9r3-1msjF1kvKepFah972hV6_8Ap_KGNmFVJJNU273TyaVI3kxNkbTSwzbN_afcl7B69KzP1M1X_Cl1CMECQJzQuP6XNyvg4WhKWqK9lnqMy1g5szZ9rSIw/s1600/nikki+blurb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2hDJAVlwUoqgEAFQYrfXw9r3-1msjF1kvKepFah972hV6_8Ap_KGNmFVJJNU273TyaVI3kxNkbTSwzbN_afcl7B69KzP1M1X_Cl1CMECQJzQuP6XNyvg4WhKWqK9lnqMy1g5szZ9rSIw/s1600/nikki+blurb.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
3a. Epic supporter. She sponsored a readalong with blogger Annabelle from <a href="http://www.sparkles-and-lightning.com/" target="_blank">Sparkles and Lightning:</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj610/annabellelovell/VENOMreadalonggraphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj610/annabellelovell/VENOMreadalonggraphic.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
3b. She also made my first fan art for both the Eternal Rose series and The Art of Lainey:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9m7cucXknonfA5Mym1wh3E2PnLo2LtE4Teum6OV0ls3nkLWwzRI2qQ9jrQpcHLSkQguwwD3wstnTW0N_p4MVeK2HPCvAd7QomS29BKTK6U2L3qzyYpuF9J1J_LSjIiIjBneBWp7movA8/s640/Cass+by+nikki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9m7cucXknonfA5Mym1wh3E2PnLo2LtE4Teum6OV0ls3nkLWwzRI2qQ9jrQpcHLSkQguwwD3wstnTW0N_p4MVeK2HPCvAd7QomS29BKTK6U2L3qzyYpuF9J1J_LSjIiIjBneBWp7movA8/s640/Cass+by+nikki.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-k08oYZWuke8Af9fSERqgyKvg4TW6GM5-FO63Nuf7ISCYR3LVBu17jbmb_UPgXXNEQK3IamOAeDcuaIYsECNNABidyswUUHHZgJeMVsrq4-A7j57QSeYZi2uVVrR7ZXzFomlIgAorsFM/s1600/Art+of+Lainey+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-k08oYZWuke8Af9fSERqgyKvg4TW6GM5-FO63Nuf7ISCYR3LVBu17jbmb_UPgXXNEQK3IamOAeDcuaIYsECNNABidyswUUHHZgJeMVsrq4-A7j57QSeYZi2uVVrR7ZXzFomlIgAorsFM/s1600/Art+of+Lainey+(3).jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
3c. She also personally encouraged her friends to read my books.<br />
<br />
3d. She also had me on her blog multiple times to promote my writing.<br />
<br />
3e. She's also heading up THE ART OF LAINEY blog tour via the company she started with her friends, Merp Squad.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://merpsquad.com/wp-content/themes/merpsquad/images/merp-squad-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://merpsquad.com/wp-content/themes/merpsquad/images/merp-squad-logo.png" height="96" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
3f. She's also done a lot of other little things to promote me, like being first to sign up for my street team and tweeting and FB likings and sharing my bookmarks, etc.<br />
<br />
4. Graphic designer. She made the banner and button I'll be using as part of a multi-author tour this July. More info on that coming soon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEFfgJhsnS9IWagtk-U2DvOulKzEUx7Heo0FcTavLEh2xIq1b7I659Moi7H98L6xpSnYOmQqtPXFSx6xaG83kNtf3kiflVQKcYRsVAVlR16checYcPNn0-sdpYcvA-ww6FZMe08tkmLLc/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEFfgJhsnS9IWagtk-U2DvOulKzEUx7Heo0FcTavLEh2xIq1b7I659Moi7H98L6xpSnYOmQqtPXFSx6xaG83kNtf3kiflVQKcYRsVAVlR16checYcPNn0-sdpYcvA-ww6FZMe08tkmLLc/s1600/Untitled.jpg" height="133" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
5. Last, but never least, friend :) Maybe it's weird for a "grownup" to have teens as friends, but I like to think of it as one of the best things about the internet. Cyberspace breaks down barriers that might keep people apart in real life.<br />
<br />
I am so glad I made that random serendipitous decision to give my extra copy of <i>Venom</i> to Nikki almost 2 years ago. Whether you're Team Fate or a big believer in free will, I encourage you to remain open to the idea of serendipity. Life hands you amazing things sometimes when you're not even looking for them. You never know--the next person you meet might become your Nikki Wang :)<br />
<br />
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKKI! <333<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Paula Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554982750210319316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-44232489816798170342014-03-10T10:00:00.000-05:002014-03-10T10:00:03.207-05:00The STARLING BLOG TOUR!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.booknerdtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Starling_Tour_Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.booknerdtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Starling_Tour_Banner.jpg" height="195" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Guys, guys, I can't believe it's finally time for STARLING to release. I finished revising and editing this book over a year ago, so for the longest time it felt so dreamy and distant, almost like it hadn't happened.<br />
<br />
But that time has come to an end as the book gets ready to finally hit the shelves. Thanks to Jean and Book Nerd tours for setting up an awesome tour for me. It's full of Q&As, fun guest posts, and GIVEAWAYS! <a href="http://www.booknerdtours.com/2014/starling-by-fiona-paul.html">Here's a link so you can follow along with the merriment!</a>Paula Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554982750210319316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-75955412724493124662013-11-17T10:31:00.000-06:002013-11-17T10:31:40.539-06:00Thoughts about STARLING, plus an excerpt!<i>Hi. There seems to be some confusion about the third book in the Secrets of the Eternal Rose series. Originally the book was called FORBIDDEN. This title was in place before I even began to write the book, and when I was finished my editors and I all believed that the book needed a new title. STARLING was suggested by my Penguin editor, along with two other possibilities, both of which didn't capture the feeling of the narrative arc the way STARLING did.</i><br />
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>We all felt STARLING was a good choice, but it was March of 2013 when we made this decision and the VENOM paperbacks were already at the printer. So if you bought a Venom paperback (thanks!) the end of your book will announce the title of book three as FORBIDDEN. That is no longer the title. Apologies for the confusion :-)</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Note: many readers believe STARLING to be a spoiler for the end of the trilogy, since that's the nickname that Falco gave her. The reason we went with this title is because it fit Cass's journey of learning to fly, to free herself from the expectations on her under her own terms. It has nothing to do with the romantic resolution.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Here's a short excerpt to give you a little idea of what Cass and Luca are up to at the beginning of the book!</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Excerpt from Chapter 4, edited slightly to remove spoilers</b><br />
<div>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
The next day, Luca awoke free of fever and feeling stronger. Cass informed him of everything Narissa had told her.<br />
<br />
“Vampire attacks in Venice? Could it be a coincidence?” He stretched his injured shoulder across his chest, massaging his stiff muscles with his other hand.<br />
<br />
“I don’t know, but we should find out more before we go to Florence,” she said. “If Belladonna has come to town, it quite possibly means that she believes the book is here.”<br />
<br />
Luca looked down and noticed Slipper still curled up on the wool blanket. He petted the cat gently. “What do you recommend?” he asked.<br />
<br />
“I suppose we could do like Narissa and eavesdrop at the market,” Cass suggested.<br />
<br />
“What about that workshop you told me about, the one with the symbol for the Order? Perhaps we should go by there and see if there’s any obvious activity.”<br />
<br />
Cass blanched. She had mentioned Angelo de Gradi’s workshop to Luca but had never told him that she had broken in with Falco. He didn’t know about de Gradi’s collection of body parts or how the physician had nearly caught Cass trespassing. He didn’t know the mere mention of the place terrified her. She scooped Slipper into her arms, nestling the cat against her chest. He blinked sleepily and then started to purr.<br />
<br />
“Cassandra,” Luca said. “You’ve gone white as a seabird. I don’t mean for us to go inside. I thought we might watch the building for a bit and see if anyone comes or goes.”<br />
<br />
She nodded, but the thought of it made her breath go taut and her heart slam against her rib cage. The room with the tin basins appeared before her. She could smell the tinge of balsam in the air. She could feel the fabric of her nightgown catching on the broken shutter.<br />
<br />
Angelo de Gradi’s hands reaching out for her...<br />
<br />
“Or I could go alone,” Luca offered. “You could wait here for me.”<br />
<br />
Cass knew they would be in little danger if they were only going to watch the de Gradi workshop from afar, but she never wanted to go anywhere near that horrible place again if she didn’t have to. But how to explain that without divulging that she had been inside, with Falco?<br />
<br />
“What if you go to the workshop and I go to the market,” she suggested, releasing a squirming Slipper to the floor. “Then we can meet back here later and discuss what we’ve found.”<br />
<br />
Luca watched as the cat pounced on a ball of dust. “It’s not safe for you to go wandering around the Rialto by yourself.”<br />
<br />
“Luca, be reasonable. I’ll borrow a servant’s outfit and no one will even notice me. The market is always crowded. I’ll blend in with the masses.”<br />
<br />
He reached out to touch the diamond necklace that hung in the hollow of her throat—a lily. He had given it to her before his arrest. “You’re a little well adorned to be a servant,” he said drily.<br />
<br />
Cass tucked the pendant inside her bodice and chemise so that even the chain was hidden. “All better,” she declared. “Besides, consider this: if anyone is still looking for us, there’s a greater chance we’ll be recognized if we stay together, right? It’ll be safer for us to split up.” She wasn’t sure if this was technically true, but it made a logical kind of sense. The Senate knew she and Luca had escaped as a pair. They would most likely be expecting them to still be together.<br />
<br />
Luca appeared to be thinking it over. “Just the market?” he asked. “You promise you won’t go anywhere else without me?”<br />
<br />
“I promise I won’t do anything foolish,” Cass said. “Between the two of us, perhaps we’ll hear something about Dubois or Belladonna, or if not them, then something about this sudden scourge of vampires. If we don’t, we’ll plan to head to Florence tomorrow.”<br />
<br />
Luca frowned. “I know how strong you are, Cassandra, but I hate the thought of leaving your side even for an instant. Perhaps we’re crazy to fight the Order by ourselves. Perhaps you should remain here and I should take the pages we have to the Senate and ask them to hear my testimony.”<br />
<br />
Cass shook her head vehemently. “Don’t be ridiculous. Dubois owns the Senate. They wouldn’t hear your testimony. They’d probably execute you immediately.” Leaning close to Luca, she ran her fingers through his hair and then pressed her lips to his cheek. “I risked the world to get you back. I will not lose you again.”<br />
<br />
Luca turned toward her. Cradling her face with one hand, he closed the gap between them until his forehead rested against hers. “I never imagined you . . .”<br />
<br />
“What?” Cass whispered, the soft word melding with Luca’s breath. The sharp smell of the theriac balm tickled her nose. She could see the beginnings of a beard already growing out on his cheeks. “Wouldn’t want you to die?”<br />
<br />
He leaned away so that he could look into her eyes. “That you would look at me as you are, and speak in this manner. Not as if you’d feel responsible if something happened to me, but as if you’d feel . . . lost.”<br />
<br />
Cass felt her heart opening. It was like Luca had put into words something she hadn’t been able to herself. “Without you, I would be lost,” she admitted.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Want more STARLING? The book goes on sale March 20, 2014.</i></div>
</div>
</div>
Paula Stokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554982750210319316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-67280298494062027362013-10-06T14:00:00.000-05:002013-10-07T14:35:56.496-05:00The YA Scavenger Hunt is now over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuboWMk_RDARJgmIVOkPeRDSW8ua6gwjNdaiIsuniYoaqIknYszLecGUfVymLF09mCwZob0dBeAK7KV6bWAuFeoxPpyrT3sUAkqGnWtgbq6T0McCpCWiALT9Swr8g9kYMhX-NSCZ5csZY/s1600/scavenger+hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuboWMk_RDARJgmIVOkPeRDSW8ua6gwjNdaiIsuniYoaqIknYszLecGUfVymLF09mCwZob0dBeAK7KV6bWAuFeoxPpyrT3sUAkqGnWtgbq6T0McCpCWiALT9Swr8g9kYMhX-NSCZ5csZY/s400/scavenger+hunt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
#YASH is now over. Thanks to everyone who participated. I totally loved reading your comments about your favorite part of the hunt. THE RAFFLECOPTER HAS SPOKEN! My winner is Tal R.<br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks again for visiting and I hope everyone had a wonderful #YASH :-)Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-68444324701701666912013-09-28T11:23:00.000-05:002013-09-28T18:04:53.124-05:00A few things...Updates and info and fun stuff--list style:<br />
<br />
1. I am starting a critique collaboration with Tara Kelly, Jessica Spotswood, and Elizabeth Richards. We each have two published novels with more on the way. All four of us love to critique query letters and manuscripts. We're offering competitive pricing for a variety of services and even student discounts on full MS critiques. Our official launch date is October 1. Come check us out at <a href="http://www.manuscriptcritiqueservices.com/" target="_blank">Manuscript Critique Services.</a><br />
<br />
2. I am participating in <a href="http://yascavengerhunt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">YASH, the YA Scavenger Hunt</a> which will run from Oct 3rd to October 6th. I will be giving away a signed copy of BELLADONNA, as well as running a secondary international contest for a gift card to <a href="http://www.powells.com/">Powell's Books.</a> My exclusive material is a deleted scene from BELLADONNA, as well as a little teaser from STARLING. There are 60 authors participating this year! If you love books, you don't want to miss YASH.<br />
<br />
3. It has come to my attention that some of you have not read the amazing <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6512140-going-bovine" target="_blank">GOING BOVINE</a>, one of my favorite books of all time, so I will be rambling on about its awesomeness on the <a href="http://yavalentines.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">YA Valentines blog</a> on October 8th. If you have not read it, come find out why you should.<br />
<br />
4. My cover reveal for my first contemp, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068910-the-art-of-lainey" target="_blank">THE ART OF LAINEY</a>, will be on October 9th at <a href="http://cahreviews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ensconced in YA.</a> I don't want to give away all of the fun details, but let's just say if you ever wanted to be in a book, you should probably stop by and enter the contest :)<br />
<br />
5. I will be launching a Paula Stokes website/blog in October. More info on that soon. I will still post relevant Fiona-esque things here.<br />
<br />
6. Someone left this random sunflower in the hallway of my building and it brightened my day. I have decided I really like sunflowers :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzCgubCbAQqANW2zWZPmDIROaZ2DEDvUUAIDHoNlBmt6-F6e9n7xWO1bKPtVFuJdA62zeiuii_7KnACS7p05Swzmem90q8yv4OzW5NRFS2b267MLIQl29zb6j34m52P3tjOzh0XpQ_Vg/s1600/IMG_5910%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzCgubCbAQqANW2zWZPmDIROaZ2DEDvUUAIDHoNlBmt6-F6e9n7xWO1bKPtVFuJdA62zeiuii_7KnACS7p05Swzmem90q8yv4OzW5NRFS2b267MLIQl29zb6j34m52P3tjOzh0XpQ_Vg/s400/IMG_5910%5B1%5D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
That's all I got! Happy reading, writing, and whatever :)Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-4170805900200401042013-08-01T00:00:00.000-05:002013-08-01T14:27:20.023-05:00BELLADONNA playlistSo I came across this list when I was finishing up the edits for Starling and figured I'd share. Once again, I've tried to include more contemporary choices along with the dark 90s music that is my favorite. Sorry, I am not linking these, because I worry about linking to websites that will go dead and/or are in violation of copyright.<br />
<br />
PRETTY GIRL by Sugarcult<br />
<br />
VOODOO by Godsmack<br />
<br />
BLOODSTREAM by Stateless<br />
<br />
GET OUT ALIVE by 3 Days Grace<br />
<br />
DOWN BY THE WATER by PJ Harvey<br />
<br />
COSMIC LOVE by Florence and the Machine<br />
<br />
AERIALS by System of a Down<br />
<br />
PASSIVE by A Perfect Circle<br />
<br />
INFECT by Bad Religion<br />
<br />
LEAVE by Jojo<br />
<br />
LYING FROM YOU by Linkin Park<br />
<br />
DOWN IN A HOLE by Alice in ChainsFiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-19359954187849867092013-07-23T11:33:00.002-05:002013-07-23T11:35:22.682-05:00Blog tour winner!Winner of the entire signed trilogy is: Rebecca Herman!<br />
<br />
Email me or DM me on twitter, please. Let me know if you want the books signed, personalized to someone, etc.<br />
<br />
Thanks to everyone for your comments. I responded to some of your blog tour ideas at the bottom of the comments of the previous post. I will definitely revisit your ideas in the future :) Thanks to all the Australian, US, and Canadian bloggers for being part of my fabulous and fun blog tours and thanks to everyone who came along for the ride. I had a blast. See you next time!Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-44496296468368556002013-07-16T00:00:00.000-05:002013-07-22T22:16:42.261-05:00When blog tours COLLIDE! + GIVEAWAY!!Hi guys. So today is the day--the end of the blog tours and BELLADONNA's release day. Man, it seems so long ago that I finished writing that book. Publishing is weird like that--by the time your book comes out you're like, "Wait, which one is that again?" :)<br />
<br />
So I had big plans for this contest. I was going to turn the whole Where in the World thing around and do a Where in St. Louis, featuring some of my local hangouts and some of the things I love about my city.<br />
<br />
But then I got another edit letter for <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068910-the-art-of-lainey" target="_blank">my first contemp</a>, and some unrelated distressing news. And then I wasted some time being sad and anxious and going through the whole "I am working twice as many hours for half as much money. Is this whole writing thing worth it?" line of questioning.<br />
<br />
And it is. It really is. But my work-life balance sucks right now. I can't remember the last day I quit work before midnight and I don't foresee doing that anytime in the next week until my next round of edits are done. So instead of spending all day wandering the city in search of fun photo ops for this contest, I'm going to do something different with the contest and spend today working on revisions. I hope you understand.<br />
<br />
To some lucky US or Canadian person, I am giving away a VENOM paperback, a BELLADONNA hardcover, and a STARLING ARC--a trilogy of books for one big winner. All signed to whomever you want. All with matchy-matchy covers. I am going to select the winner of the contest randomly, from people who comment in the comments below, but I am giving everyone an extra entry (up to 15 total entries) for each of the US/CA blog tour posts they comment meaningfully on.<br />
<br />
I don't normally angle for comments/likes/etc. in this manner, but I worked hard on the tour posts and all of the awesome US and CA bloggers worked hard too, getting everything up on time and laying out their posts in a visually appealing way. (Australia--you guys also rocked, but I can't send books overseas at this moment and you guys wouldn't want our US covers anyway, but for realz, I love you too). All of my lovely blogger peeps retweeted each other and supported each other and I feel so lucky to know them. They deserve your page hits and your comments.<br />
<br />
For your comments on this post, I am curious to know how you feel about blog tours: Why do you like being a tour stop? Do you only read the posts with giveaways? Do you ever follow an author's entire tour? What do you wish you could see more of in blog tours? What do you want to see less of? I offered a stop to one US blogger who said, politely but frankly: "No thanks--I don't want an excerpt." You won't offend me with any of your thoughts. For your first entry, tell me anything you want to tell me about blog tours so next time I can make mine even better :)<br />
<br />
This contest will run from now until the morning of July 22nd at which point I will close comments on this thread, count up the comments elsewhere, and use a random number generator to pick a winner. BEST OF LUCK!Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-12297835410206724282013-07-09T00:00:00.000-05:002013-07-09T00:00:04.101-05:00Get a signed copy of BELLADONNAHi guys! BELLADONNA releases in the USA one week from today and I just wanted to let everyone know if you want a signed/personalized copy, and you live in the USA, you can preorder your copy from my local indie bookstore, Left Bank Books. I live about a mile away from the Euclid Left Bank store and will don my walking shoes (actually, they're Nike running shoes I designed myself on the NikeID website!) and hoof it to the store just to sign your book :)<br />
<br />
Just order from <a href="http://www.left-bank.com/book/9780399257261" target="_blank">this link </a>and in the special comments let them know that you want the book signed and if you want it personalized what name I should write. Easy, breezy! If you're looking for a signed VENOM paperback, those should be available also. Thanks for all of your support <333Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-23661532625946964082013-06-28T12:00:00.000-05:002013-07-01T23:45:09.540-05:00A TRILOGY of blog tours!Because I pride myself on being an international sort of chica, I was psyched when bloggers from Australia, Canada, and the USA all reached out wanting to be part of a BELLADONNA blog tour.<br />
<br />
Therefore, I give you:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIqII7q5bIp617589iMPhahnnwBbyz2dxiZSodMqXq1NV15N-RbbjdLxSFVidEa9P4oRwCD5rtgHVlqcwbMs3DRT9IR3-B8LCQ7cD4R63G0wZLNl2mybuaTskWB8jur4JRJEne1Go7W4/s1600/6298_Belladonna_160x90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIqII7q5bIp617589iMPhahnnwBbyz2dxiZSodMqXq1NV15N-RbbjdLxSFVidEa9P4oRwCD5rtgHVlqcwbMs3DRT9IR3-B8LCQ7cD4R63G0wZLNl2mybuaTskWB8jur4JRJEne1Go7W4/s400/6298_Belladonna_160x90.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Featuring: reviews, fun Q&As, excerpted teasers with commentary, and an interview with a certain dashing artist.<br />
<br />
FOLLOW THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR:<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 350px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 12800; mso-width-source: userset; width: 263pt;" width="350"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px blue; height: 15pt; width: 263pt;" width="350">1 July <a href="http://badassbookie.blogspot.com.au/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://badassbookie.blogspot.com.au<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px blue; height: 15pt;">2 July <a href="http://turnersantics.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://turnersantics.blogspot.com</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px blue; height: 15pt;">3 July <a href="http://treasuredtalesforyoungadults.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://treasuredtalesforyoungadults.wordpress.com</span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px blue; height: 15pt;">4 July <a href="http://speconspecfic.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://speconspecfic.com/<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px blue; height: 15pt;">5 July <a href="http://pixelski.blogspot.com.au/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://pixelski.blogspot.com.au/<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px blue; height: 15pt;">6 July <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://tsanasreads.blogspot.com.au/">http://tsanasreads.blogspot.com.au/<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></a></span><br />
7 July http://bookomatic.blogspot.com.au</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px blue; height: 15pt;"><br />
<br />
I also give you:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHMwZNW_0622m7Jw0E78ljfK4fUseCRLeTC_VE-l2cwk-Qt-TWRUvLxQe-XrsR3cLWDhn5KRVDKsgzvwsKGlg4qTYE0Gp36TbCwT8WsDqX65l8iqxxlNZ3nt225fDy-_BsPJo0ev1zE0/s1600/belladonnatour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHMwZNW_0622m7Jw0E78ljfK4fUseCRLeTC_VE-l2cwk-Qt-TWRUvLxQe-XrsR3cLWDhn5KRVDKsgzvwsKGlg4qTYE0Gp36TbCwT8WsDqX65l8iqxxlNZ3nt225fDy-_BsPJo0ev1zE0/s400/belladonnatour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 351px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This US tour kicks off with the
release of the COMPLETE VENOM EPILOGUE which was cut during editing. Then,
all week I will be posting exclusive excerpts from BELLADONNA and talking about
research, revision, collaborating, etc. If you're interested in the writing
process or checking out non-spoilery bits before the book hits the
shelves, don't miss this tour. Tour ends with a giveaway of a STARLING ARC!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>FOLLOW THE USA TOUR:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Posted
by<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Website<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 229.5pt;" valign="top" width="306"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">URL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.9pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Date<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Adam<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Paper
Lantern Lit<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 229.5pt;" valign="top" width="306"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://paperlanternlit.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://paperlanternlit.wordpress.com/</span></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.9pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">July
8th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pam<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bookalicious<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 229.5pt;" valign="top" width="306"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://glass-of-wine.blogspot.ca/"><span style="color: windowtext;">bookalicio.us</span></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.9pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">July
9th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Teresa<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Readers
live a thousand lives<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 229.5pt;" valign="top" width="306"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.readerslive1000lives.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.readerslive1000lives.com/</span></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.9pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">July
10th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lili<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lili’s
Reflections<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 229.5pt;" valign="top" width="306"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://lilisreflections.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://lilisreflections.blogspot.com/</span></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.9pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">July
11th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kari<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kari’s
Crowded Bookshelf<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 229.5pt;" valign="top" width="306"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://karisbookshelf.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://karisbookshelf.blogspot.com/</span></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.9pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">July
12th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nikki<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fiction
Freak<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 229.5pt;" valign="top" width="306"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://fiction-freak.blogspot.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.9pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">July
13th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sara<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Forever
17 Books<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 229.5pt;" valign="top" width="306"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://forever17books.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://forever17books.blogspot.com/</span></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.9pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">July
15th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fiona<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fiona
Paul’s blog<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 229.5pt;" valign="top" width="306"><div class="MsoNormal">
http://fionapaulbooks.blogspot.com<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 36.9pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">July
16th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Running concurrently with the USA
tour and not to be outdone, I give you:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4b9KBifb_TJhtwbb8Wmb3LZ4JgchcyqndBQzAbB8KEc4MmIxiyy5ANPZWMXYyA7ptFW_cnBkkPXERernGlHXOj6OyJFFvkp2xTlSA8rStA-GN6DZb0H61XZ6tpGC6w9oiLPZHEPOcYU/s1600/blog-tour_belladonna_fiona-paul_header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4b9KBifb_TJhtwbb8Wmb3LZ4JgchcyqndBQzAbB8KEc4MmIxiyy5ANPZWMXYyA7ptFW_cnBkkPXERernGlHXOj6OyJFFvkp2xTlSA8rStA-GN6DZb0H61XZ6tpGC6w9oiLPZHEPOcYU/s400/blog-tour_belladonna_fiona-paul_header.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Team Canada's tour is full of fun
lists, interviews, travel recommendations, deleted scenes, and thoughts on
writing a trilogy. This tour will also culminate on my blog on BELLADONNA'S
release day where all of you North Side peeps will also be eligible to win an ARC
of STARLING.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>FOLLOW THE CANADIAN TOUR:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Posted by<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Website<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 237.95pt;" valign="top" width="317"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">URL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.55pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Date<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Razorbill CA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Razorbill CA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 237.95pt;" valign="top" width="317"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Razorbill.ca<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.55pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">July 8th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Kathy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">A Glass of wine<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 237.95pt;" valign="top" width="317"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://glass-of-wine.blogspot.ca/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://glass-of-wine.blogspot.ca/</span></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.55pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">July 9th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Siobhan<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Conversations of a reading addict<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 237.95pt;" valign="top" width="317"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://conversationsofareadingaddict.blogspot.ca/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://conversationsofareadingaddict.blogspot.ca</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.55pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">July 10th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Maria<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Fantasy’s Ink<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 237.95pt;" valign="top" width="317"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://fantasysink.blogspot.ca/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://fantasysink.blogspot.ca/</span></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.55pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">July 11th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Jessica<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Read My Breath Away<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 237.95pt;" valign="top" width="317"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://readmybreathaway.blogspot.ca/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://readmybreathaway.blogspot.ca/</span></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.55pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">July 12th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Emilie<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Emilie’s Book World<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 237.95pt;" valign="top" width="317"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">http://emiliebookworld.blogspot.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.55pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">July 13th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Giselle<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Book Nerd Canada<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 237.95pt;" valign="top" width="317"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://booknerd.ca/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://booknerd.ca/</span></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.55pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">July 15th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.9pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Fiona<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Fiona Paul’s blog<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 237.95pt;" valign="top" width="317"><div class="MsoNormal">
http://fionapaulbooks.blogspot.com<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 63.55pt;" valign="top" width="85"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">July 16th<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><br /></strong></span></o:p>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>SEE YOU ON RELEASE DAY WHEN I GIVE AWAY THE FIRST ARC OF STARLING, THE FINAL BOOK IN THE SECRETS OF THE ETERNAL ROSE TRILOGY :)</strong></span></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-45449281073015769052013-06-06T12:14:00.000-05:002013-06-07T11:41:53.365-05:00For love of blog tours...and MAD PRIZESHi! I just wanted to let you know about a few fun things coming your way:<br />
<br />
I am doing a 4-day Summer Solstice Sequels blog tour with my fellow Breathless Reads alums Elizabeth Richards, Jessica Spotswood, and Lili Peloquin. All of these spots are filled, but thank you for your interest :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRB0oZKNKLVh52DdYLUA8s4VC1E7ldE3S8cYu2pGt0FUg75T7nwe8-pfhhABmn8YK1NKi3Pkl300EOFg69f5g-qegR6GWLBbwNCcq0wZKt-CsluafLH_9hvGlH83g4r9duaxlZrwTohM/s1600/sss_tour_banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRB0oZKNKLVh52DdYLUA8s4VC1E7ldE3S8cYu2pGt0FUg75T7nwe8-pfhhABmn8YK1NKi3Pkl300EOFg69f5g-qegR6GWLBbwNCcq0wZKt-CsluafLH_9hvGlH83g4r9duaxlZrwTohM/s400/sss_tour_banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We'll be hanging out on 4 different blogs and sponsoring 4 different contests with 4 different prizes. Also, I've heard there may be humiliating teen photos of us... On June 20th we're having a Twitter party under the #SSSequels hashtag where there will be MAD PRIZES.<br />
<br />
Now that I have your attention, heh, I also wanted to tell you I'm thrilled to be doing an Australian blog tour as well as a North American one for BELLADONNA. The Aussie tour is good to go, but the American one needs four more bloggers. Dates for this tour are July 9th through July 15th. Since I only have a few spots, I will be giving precedence to bloggers that are really crazy about the series but that I have never done features with before. Not to say that I don't appreciate my super-loyal bloggers (you know who you are <333) but I just want to give some new people a chance to get in on the fun.<br />
<br />
<b>Requirements:</b><br />
You must have a primarily YA book-related blog.<br />
You must have at least 250 followers.<br />
Your blog must be formatted and designed to be readable.<br />
You must have read and reviewed Venom (GR, Amazon, blog, etc.)<br />
You must be at least 13.<br />
<br />
Is this you? Email me at fionapaulbooks at gmail dot com by June 10th if you're interested in being part of the tour. I will select people randomly from the responses I get. If you're not selected or your blog doesn't have enough followers, no worries. I have (at least!) 3 more books coming out and I promise I will include you in the future if you remain interested.<br />
<br />
Thanks! Happy reading, writing, and living :)<br />
<br />Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-25585811247292177722013-06-02T12:40:00.002-05:002013-06-02T12:41:43.297-05:00For love of bloggersSo I haven't been as visible online lately because I finished graduate school and went on an epic trip without much internet access. And I honestly feel healthier being online less. I'm in the process of working up some promotional stuff for Belladonna's release, as well as edits for my contemp, revising a seekrit manuscript, and drafting an MG. (Not sure how that last one will go, but it's going to be a fun experiment).<br />
<br />
Oh, and I'm looking for jobs in Portland, OR because I would like to move there. Do you live in Portland? If so, hire me :D<br />
<br />
Anyway, I just wanted to say a kazillion hugs and love to all of the readers and bloggers who have posted, tweeted, emailed, and/or bought Venom. You guys mean the world to me, even if I'm not online every single day telling you that. Thank you, thank you, thank you! When I get a tweet like the one I got today, with the awesome fan art below, it totally blows me away and reminds me of how amazingly lucky I am to have supporters like you. Yes, YOU! So thanks to Nikki from <a href="http://fiction-freak.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fiction Freak </a>for this totally cute representation of Cass, and if anyone else has Venom fan art, send it my way so I can loooooooove on it :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9m7cucXknonfA5Mym1wh3E2PnLo2LtE4Teum6OV0ls3nkLWwzRI2qQ9jrQpcHLSkQguwwD3wstnTW0N_p4MVeK2HPCvAd7QomS29BKTK6U2L3qzyYpuF9J1J_LSjIiIjBneBWp7movA8/s1600/Cass+by+nikki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9m7cucXknonfA5Mym1wh3E2PnLo2LtE4Teum6OV0ls3nkLWwzRI2qQ9jrQpcHLSkQguwwD3wstnTW0N_p4MVeK2HPCvAd7QomS29BKTK6U2L3qzyYpuF9J1J_LSjIiIjBneBWp7movA8/s640/Cass+by+nikki.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-5873507150775192892013-04-19T19:15:00.001-05:002013-04-20T00:09:29.653-05:00An interview with VENOM's interior book designer<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="color: #222222;">
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div>
<br />
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Venom hit the shelves, a lot of people emailed and tweeted to say that it was one of the most visually appealing books they had ever seen. From the gorgeous mask on the cover (courtesy of cover artist Kristin Smith), to the deckled edges, to the swirls and whorls on the pages, there's no doubt--Venom is stunning. In fact, the inside is so ornate in places that many bloggers, like <a href="http://www.girllostinabook.com/2012/12/review-venom-by-fiona-paul.html" target="_blank">this one</a> and <a href="http://booknerdreviews.com/2012/12/review-venom-secrets-of-the-eternal-rose-1-fiona-paul/" target="_blank">this one,</a> included pix of the design in their reviews. And even the readers who weren't huge fans of the story quite still commented on how beautiful the book is. So who do I have to thank for that? My editor? Book faeries? Would you believe an interior book designer? Yeah, apparently that's a real job, and what a cool job it must be :) I reached out to Venom's designer, Amy Wu, to find out more about just how the book ended up so gorgeous and perfect. </span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. So you're an interior book designer. What exactly does that entail?</b>. </span></i></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: Yes, I am an interior book designer for YA novels here at
Philomel Books! I also work on our picture books. The art department is made up
of the art director, Semadar Megged and myself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything within the pages are planned and specifically
placed on the page. The best way for me to explain what we do is we decide how
a book is read, from the size and style of the typeface, to how many pages it
will be, and how a chapter opens, usually with artwork or ornament elements. </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><b>2. When you're assigned a title, what's the process like? Are you given basic instructions by the editor or cover designer? Do you have to pitch your ideas to a committee? Or are you just given free rein to make books beautiful however you see fit?</b></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: Semadar and I meet with the editor to discuss each title.
We ask questions like what is the age group, how long should the book be, is
there anything we should incorporate into the design, such as a symbol or
emblem from the story. For example, here are the notes I jotted down during the
Venom meeting with Jill:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14
and up<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Venice<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16<sup>th</sup>
century<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Renaissance
<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
possible, page count should be around 400 pages (Venom was 448-pages)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Big
margins, spacious design <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Type
size and space feel <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Need
room for epigraphs introducing each chapter<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rose
petal design element<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Deckled
edges<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The interior designers aren’t always shown the jacket
design. Sometimes I do not see the front cover until after I have designed 1<sup>st</sup>
pass. This is a double edge sword. Firstly, it is good if I don’t see the
jacket because I do not feel bound to the jacket’s aesthetic. However, I do
like to tie the jacket and interior design together. Usually I accomplish this
by using the same typefaces and title treatment on the jacket. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I come up with several design variations, which I show the
art director, and we tweak what I have. Once I’ve finalized at least 3 options,
I show the editor who has the final say. I’m not sure if I would want free rein
with the interior design, Semadar and Jill will always catch something that I
might not see. It’s nice that I can collaborate and go back forth before
settling on a final design.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><b>3. Do all Penguin Teen books have interior designers?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: Yes!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>4. Do you have any specific training that helped you land your position?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: I went to the School of Visual Arts for my undergraduate
and I specifically studied book design. My portfolio out of school centered on
books. I took a class with Steven Brower in my junior year called Book Jacket
Design and Beyond and he was later my senior portfolio teacher. My very first
design job out of school was at Eric Baker Design. I worked on many books
there, but no experience in children’s books and YA Novels until coming to
Penguin Group.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><b>5. Can you tell us some of the other books you've designed?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: Since I’ve started at Penguin Group, I’ve designed three
picture books, The World’s Greatest Lion by Ralph Helfer, Bully by Patricia
Polacco, and Max and the Tag Along Moon by Floyd Cooper. YA Novels I’ve
designed include John Flanagan’s latest series called Brotherband Chronicles,
Lisa Graff’s two novels with us, Double Dog Dare and A Tangle of Knots, as well
Jane Yolen’s spin on fairy tales, Snow in Summer and Curse of the Thirteenth
Fey, as well as the Charlie Collier series by John V. Madormo. My latest
interior book design was Kari Luna’s The Theory of Everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><b>6. What about one book you wish you could have designed, but didn't?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: One book I wish I designed amongst the Philomel titles is
Between Shades of Gray. When I first started back in May 2010 that was the
first novel I read of ours. Semadar designed the interior of this one, along
with Ruta’s newest title Out of the Easy. This was before Amy’s (B.A.) time.
Another YA novel I wish I designed outside of Penguin is </span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
by Ransom Riggs (Quirk Books). I’m a big fan of Diane Arbus and the interior
design of this book reminded me of her.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><b>7. Have you read any of the blog reviews that gush about your work with Venom? I've read more than one where the reviewer was so blown away by the interior that she posted pictures of it on her blog. (Pretty sure you're earning Venom an extra half star per review...and I'll take it! :D)</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: That is very sweet. I have read blog reviews of Venom,
where they mention the interior design and the deckled edge, but not the one you
speak of with photo evidence! Please send it my way!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><b>8. What's your favorite part of the interior of Venom, the design you most enjoyed doing?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: My favorite part of Venom’s interior design are the
epigraph pages, dark background, the triangular florid ornament framing each
quote from The Book of the Eternal Rose. The quotes are all dark and mysterious
and hint towards the chapter ahead and the stark black background is aligning
with the tone. I also really like the sliver of the flourish in the gutter of
the book. It ties in well with the Venetian backdrop of the story and it
reminiscent of the gilded architecture during that period.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I enjoyed designing Venom. I really got to take my time and
reiterate my layouts until what the readers now see. Here are some designs that
did not make the cut; perhaps your readers would be interested in seeing those
too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[Amy sent these amazingly awesome other sketch ideas, but alas I am not skilled enough to embed pdf stuff into my blog or make pdf stuff into jpg stuff. I am not even skilled enough to make Blogger stop doing this weird highlight-y stuff and changing my arial to TNR when I'm not looking. #AuthorFail]</span></i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><b>9. Do you do any freelance design of books or other stuff? </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: There are only two books I’ve designed as a freelancer
and they were both with W.W. Norton. Those two titles were Carl G. Jung’s The
Red Book and the photographs of Benjamin Mendlowitz in the third volume of the
Wooden Boats. My most recent freelance gig was a European healthcare and tech
magazine called Insights. I helped design their premiere issue. My personal
website is www.amywutoo.com.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. And, you know, because it's the question that is most pertinent to everything in the world...Falco or Luca? [Actually Amy volunteered to answer this herself, but, you know, it is super-important :D]</span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: I’m torn. I keep going back and forth between the two lads.
My head picks Luca and my heart picks Falco. </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Like Amy, I also need both boys :) Luca is so sweet but Falco is, well, Falco. Do you have questions for Venom's amazing designer? What other books have you really noticed the interior design of while reading?</i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-82568185076912259952013-03-16T16:02:00.000-05:002013-03-16T23:36:20.217-05:00Is work-for-hire right for you?<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There are plenty of work-for-hire
opportunities out there—everything from developing short articles for <a href="http://www.demandstudios.com/" target="_blank">Demand Studios</a> to writing educational content for textbooks to writing full-length novels for
book development companies. With respect to full-length novels, WFH isn't a
guaranteed lifelong job in publishing or a surefire path to an agent, but it
can</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">teach you a lot. You can learn how to be a disciplined writer. It can give you a chance to practice your craft.
And if you're not already published, it can serve as a crash course in the
field of publishing and introduce you to other authors and industry pros. And
all of THAT stuff may very well help you get your original work published.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
But how to know if you're a good fit? </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<i>1. Are you comfortable with what the company is asking?</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
WFH contracts vary widely. Some share copyright. Some demand publicity and
touring. Some insist you put your picture on the jacket flap, have a blog, and
even be open to touring. Some insist you<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>don't</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>put your picture on the jacket flap
and don't even want you to publicly associate yourself with the book. Some pay
royalties or subrights. Some don't. Be sure you know what the company's
expectations are before you sign on the line.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<i>2. Do you have an agent, a lawyer, or a high knowledge of contracts? </i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://www.hilarytsmith.com/2012/01/playing-for-house-editorial-assistant.html">Packagers
and publishers alike are going to offer you less-favorable contracts<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></a>if you don't know enough to
advocate for yourself. Even if you are a savvy negotiator, keep in mind that wages
are usually set by supply and demand and there is a much greater supply of
talented writers out there than demand for them. Just look at the gazillions of
people providing entertaining online content for free. Note: the Authors' Guild
will not review WFH contracts, at least that's what they told me.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<i>3. Are you fast?</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://theoeditrix.com/2012/09/24/the-roy-g-biv-of-female-experience-a-big-ol-interview-with-libba-bray/">Here
Libba Bray talks about how “if you can outline a book and then write it in six
weeks you can do pretty much anything.”</a> Six weeks even sounds fast to me, but being expected to write and revise 30-40 pages a week is well within the realm of normal. If I'd had a full-time job or a family, I never could have kept up with my own writing and my work-for-hire stuff. And I am very fast :)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<i>4. Are you flexible?</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
In a WFH contract it isn't all about you and what you want. Maybe you'll get to
write the outline. Maybe not. Maybe all your thoughts will be embraced. Chances
are, some of them will be embraced and some of them will be vetoed. You may be asked to write a book that you wouldn't necessarily want to read.
Are you cool with that? If not, make sure you and your editor have the same
creative vision upfront and provisions for how to reconcile differences that might arise along the way.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<i>5. Do you have enough time to write WFH and continue your own writing too?</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
This was a big one for me. I put a ton of effort into my work-for-hire books
and I do feel proud of them, but if I had needed to put my own writing on hold,
I would have felt like WFH was a step away from my dream. Doing it as I did, I
clearly see the benefits I got from my contract and I don't feel like I
deferred progress toward my ultimate goal.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<i>6. Do you love the project?</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Writing is hard work. Revising is even harder work. The more you
love your story, the easier it is to keep polishing it until it is perfect.
Imagine being forced to read a book you feel so-so about. Now imagine being
forced to read that book 30 times in 3 months as you write and revise it. Yeah.
That would be crazy-making, right?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If you can answer yes to those
six questions then congrats, it sounds like work-for-hire is right for you. But
here's everything I've ever read about work-for-hire--the good, the bad, the
thought-provoking--in case you're on the fence or just curious:</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.paperlanternlit.com/">Paper Lantern Lit</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>has been profiled in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/small-business/teenlit-queen-takes-up-book-packaging-11292011.html">Businessweek</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3001757/paper-lantern-lit-matches-undiscovered-writers-publishers-create-mass-market-hits">Fast
Company</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_4481152_find-workforhire-assignment-book-packager.html">How
to find a work-for-hire assignment.</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is book packaging<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.teenwritersbloc.com/2010/11/15/book-packaging-ya%E2%80%99s-dirty-secret/">YA's
dirty little secret?</a> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/69474/">The development company
behind I am Number Four is surrounded in controversy regarding its contracts.</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The always hilarious and
insightful<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/2010/11/13/the-james-frey-problem/">Maureen
Johnson weighs in on the scandal.</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
In the interest of fairness, here's<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.bigjimindustries.com/wordpress/index.php/category/projects/">James
Frey's blog</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>where he tells
his side of the story and how things at FFF have changed.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><a href="http://shelversanon.blogspot.com/2013/02/paper-lantern-lit-squicky-or-ingenious.html"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bookshelvers Anonymous wonders about
Paper Lantern.</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://www.kenyonreview.org/kr-online-issue/2013-winter/selections/amy-boesky-656342/">The
life of a Sweet Valley High ghostwriter</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>via
yahighway.com</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2006/04/i_coulda_been_a_pretender.html">A
work-for-hire writer who enjoyed the experience<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></a>even though his book never made it
to the shelves.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://www.elizabethfama.com/2011/12/book-packaging-and-indentured-servitude.html">Is
book packaging indentured servitude?</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://ktliterary.com/2010/11/ask-daphne-about-book-packagers/" target="_blank">Daphne Unfeasible on book packagers</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://misssnark.blogspot.com/2006/01/more-on-book-packagers.html" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Miss Snark on book packagers</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><a href="http://bookalicio.us/2011/05/interview-with-l-j-smith-part-duex/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">LJ Smith talks about getting fired
from The Vampire Diaries.</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<a href="http://www.underdown.org/packaging.htm">Book packaging--under-explored
terrain for freelancers.</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2012/05/29/the-not-so-secret-backdoor-to-publishing/">Publishing's not-so-secret back door.</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.bookbrats.com/book-packaging/#.UUU-1Bc3uXG" target="_blank">Book Brats--thoughts and more helpful WFH links</a>. Worth it for the animated GIFs alone :)</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A steady WFH writer lists<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://chandlermariecraig.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/guide-in-links-book-packaging-and-work-for-hire"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">still more work-for-hire links.</span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-65916938336231269442013-03-14T06:00:00.000-05:002013-03-16T16:06:14.315-05:00What's it like writing work-for-hire? Part II<br />
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>Here's the second part of my Q&A about working with Paper Lantern Lit.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #eeeeee;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">7. What
is the give and take like between you and those on the idea end?
(collaboration, meetings, input, etc.)</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">I
didn't have any formal meetings but we did talk on the phone a couple of times and I went to NYC to meet
everyone. Basically PLL sent me an outline for each book. I pitched changes and
suggestions. They accepted some but not all of them. We went back and forth
until everyone felt somewhat comfortable with the outline and then I started writing.
They were always open to hearing my thoughts and I think out of 15 or
so plot point changes/additions for the <i>Belladonna</i> outline they took all of
them except 2. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Book #3 was more of a struggle because by that time I was really emotionally invested in the series and had strong feelings about the
plot and character arcs. PLL had strong feelings, but a very different vision. So how do you
reconcile creative differences? It was tough. Basically both sides compromised
on as much as possible and then we consulted the Penguin editor for input on
the rest. Luckily, she's a genius and I really think she guided us down a
path where the book is now finished and everyone feels good about it.
But here's the deal: PLL are the ones who made the bulk of the money in
the sale and it's their copyright Therefore, they're the ones Penguin has really
high expectations for, so they do have final creative control. I
did a lot of things differently than I would have done on my own. Looking back on the manuscripts, some of the PLL suggestions are
clearly better than what I would have written and I'm grateful I had
them to push me to see things a different way. Some of the things I still think
could have been just as cool the way I envisioned. But anytime you're working with other people--and WFH or not, all traditionally published books involve working with other people--you're going to have to be flexible. You have to pick
your battles, you know?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #eeeeee;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">8.
Given the six-figure deal PLL made for Venom, how did you feel about the
flat fee you received? </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Dude. I
was dumbfounded when I found out<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Venom</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>had sold as part of a major deal. I
never thought of historical as having a high price tag. The thing with the PLL
setup is that they sell on proposal. This means they have to sign you to a contract
before they know what the book sells for so they have a guaranteed writer
attached to the project when an editor buys it. My contract was redone after
the sale and while the flat fee still doesn't feel like a lot of money, I did
get things put into the terms that protect me if the series becomes a
runaway bestseller so I am comfortable with the contract. You
have to keep in mind that PLL has overhead like editor and accountant salaries
to pay that I don't have. They also had agency fees (I didn't) and picked up
the tab for the Renaissance expert. Finally, the idea of working with a new
development company helmed by 2 industry experts was probably very enticing to
some of their publishing colleagues and it's highly unlikely that if I would
have shopped the same exact book--even with an agent--it would have sold
for the same amount of cash.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #eeeeee;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">9. Do
you think PLL's basic structure is something that could be widely replicated,
or does it only work because of the personalities/ambitions of those who
founded it?</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Honestly,
I'm not business-savvy at all so I don't know. What I do know is that
work-for-hire is everywhere--songwriters are hired to write songs for bands,
screenwriters are hired to create scripts for movie studios, legions of mystery
writers are hired to develop books for James Patterson. What's the big deal? If
you like the song or movie or book, does it matter if multiple entities helped
bring it into the world? With respect to books, my gut instinct says that
middle men are expensive so publishers who start hiring WFH writers directly to
develop IP will be less inclined to use outside development companies. But it's
like my agent says: "there is always a market for awesome." I think if
an editor falls in love with a story and believes it can reach a wide audience
that he/she is going to buy it no matter where it came from.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><i>10.
What was the timeline like, from submission to sale to publication?</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Every book's path to publication is different. I was
invited to sub for a PLL project in July of 2010. I wrote and revised a sample
chapter and was offered a contract in August. I wrote the 60-70 page proposal
(the first 5 chapters or so) in August and September. We revised that
throughout October, also allowing time for PLL's agent to read. We went out on
sub in November, had immediate interest from multiple houses, went to auction,
and sold before Thanksgiving. The deal was announced in PM in December. I began
writing the rest of the book in January, while working full-time, going to grad
school, and writing a second manuscript.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">I wrote
Venom pretty slowly--finishing the first draft by May 1st, I think, and then
revising through early summer. I cut back to part-time at work and
Belladonna was written a little faster. Book 3 was drafted in 2.5 months to stay on publisher deadline. First
drafts of all three books were completed before Venom released on October 30th,
2012, though book 3 had some extended revisions which I just finished.
One thing you have to keep in mind is that revision can take a lot longer in a
process like this because you revise as you write and then you revise at the
end of the first draft. Then you revise for your publishing house editor. Then
maybe you get letters from her and from the development company with more
revisions. Each round you have to figure 2-3 weeks for the editors involved to
read and then 2-3 weeks for you to do the revisions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #eeeeee;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">11.
Break it down, the pros and cons of your work-for-hire experience.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Okay,
but these are <i>my </i>pros and cons and other writers have had different experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #eeeeee;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Cons:</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">struggling to reconcile creative
differences, lack of copyright, fast and
furious deadlines, heavy editing, time-consuming email chains about potential plot issues,
reading negative reviews and saying to myself, "but, but I TOLD everyone we
shouldn't do it like that", and the forced realization that I am more
neurotic, controlling, and emotional than I ever would have guessed. Okay,
maybe I knew about the emotional part :) Also, dude. Do you know how hard it is
to write 3 books and not use the word 'dude' once? Or even the word 'guy'?
Historical is freaking tough!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #eeeeee;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Pros</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">: got pushed out of my comfort zone, became a better
writer, developed confidence, learned how to advocate
for me and my characters, wrote with a think tank of editors at my disposal to
help with plot snarls, got to go part-time at my day job, networked and became
pals with amazing authors/editors/bloggers, got to work with Penguin executive
editor, got a crash course in the publishing industry, learned how to read
copy-editing marks, developed cramazing writer stamina (Nanowrimo? Dude, I
lived Nanowrimo for months at a time), developed thicker skin, learned about
marketing and social media, learned about contracts, became beta partners with
other published authors, met and did events with other local authors, got
selected for fancy Breathless Reads promotional campaign and got to go on tour,
received amazing emails that said things like, "your book swished me away from all of the stress of my
husband's hospitalization and made me feel like I was back in Venice", and
last but not least, I made my mom proud.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #eeeeee;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">12.
Will you write more books for PLL?</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Here's another question I can't answer. There's no job security in writing
until your books have their own theme parks, so more books with PLL may never
even be an option. I do have my own agent and deal now and I'm not going to
lie--it does feel different. I guess what I learned during the PLL process is
that I'm kind of a control freak who wants copyright of her words and likes
being able to have things mostly her way :) Not that I don't take feedback well. I've
revised multiple manuscripts with my agent and I think she would describe me as
very receptive to suggestions. Part of it is, succeed or fail, I want to own my destiny, you know? On the other hand, I built the Fiona Paul
identity even though PLL owns it, and I'm not sure how I feel about just
giving it away. Even writing for 2 publishers, I'm still making less money than
I was as a full-time RN. Once I finish grad school, my plan is to go back to
nursing, promote the books that are written but not yet released, and
just see how things go. The future feels wide-open, and that's pretty exciting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> Thanks for all of your fantastic questions! <a href="http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2012/05/29/the-not-so-secret-backdoor-to-publishing/" target="_blank">Here's a link to an interview with Lee 'Lanie' Bross where she also talks about her Paper Lantern Lit experience.</a></span></span></div>
Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-60717103127485144852013-03-12T10:10:00.002-05:002013-03-16T16:06:29.079-05:00What's it like writing work-for-hire? Part I<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I've noticed some threads and
blog posts lately about work-for-hire writing and whether it's evil and
manipulative or just good business. One blogger even wondered on her blog how I
felt about working with Paper Lantern Lit. With their blessing, I'm going to
answer a few of the most commonly asked questions. Keep in mind these answers
are specific to me. A lot has changed at PLL since I began writing<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Venom</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and your experience with them or
another development company could be completely different.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<i>1. Wait. I'm already lost. What's work-for-hire?</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://definitions.uslegal.com/w/work-for-hire/" target="_blank">Basically, work-for-hire means that a
person or company hires another person or company to make something for them</a>.
Normally the copyright/licensing rights for a product remain with whoever made
it, but not necessarily in the case of WFH. WFH can be corporate (if you
discover the cure for cancer while you're working for a drug company, the drug company is
going to have the rights to your medicine) or freelance (if a TV studio hires you to
write the script for a weekly episode, the network will own the rights to the script
once you are finished).</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
In the case of WFH and books, it is often a book development company or
packager who comes up with an idea they want to see developed into a book.
Sometimes the idea is generated by the writer and then adapted and edited by
the company. Some of the major book development companies are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://alloyentertainment.com/books/" target="_blank">Alloy</a>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.workingpartnersltd.co.uk/" target="_blank">Working
Partners</a>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.paperlanternlit.com/bookshop/" target="_blank">Paper Lantern Lit</a>, The Inkhouse, and
Full Fathom Five. (Note: if you prefer not to find out that some of your
favorite books were packaged, you might not want to click those links). <a href="http://www.publishingtrends.com/2012/12/diy-ip-how-publishers-develop-exploit-and-deploy-their-own-ip/" target="_blank">Lately it has become more common for
publishers or editors to develop ideas and for publishers to hire WFH writers
directly.</a> I know of WFH authors developing intellectual property for
imprints of Penguin and Random House and I'm sure there are plenty more.
Occasionally a TV or movie studio (<a href="http://jeannieruesch.com/wordpress/?p=3213" target="_blank">as in the case of the bestselling Richard
Castle books</a>) will hire a writer to develop books based on a story they
own. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">2. How
did you find out about Paper Lantern Lit?</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">I
actually took an online writing class taught by Lexa Hillyer, one of PLL's
founding partners. She mentioned the company during the class and once the
class was over invited me to audition.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">3. What
was the submission process like?</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">I was
not a slush baby, but regardless of where PLL 'finds' you, once you are offered
a chance to audition, the process is the same. I was given a short document
that was an idea-spark--I think it was one page--along with a one-page chapter
outline. I turned their one-page outline into a 15-page chapter. They then gave
me feedback about what they liked and didn't like in the form of a revision
letter and asked me to revise. I was a finalist with one other writer. They
felt my revised chapter was a better fit for the project so I was selected and
offered the chance to develop a 60-page proposal for their agent to sell.
Unrelated, but cool: the girl who was my runner-up found me online and we are
really good pals now. She is going to do amazing things :)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">4. What
made you want to write for them?</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">First
and foremost, I learned so much from Lexa in my online class that I would have
paid to have her critique the rest of my WIP. Getting paid to work for her just
seemed like a no-brainer. I saw it as an apprenticeship--a way to improve my
craft, learn about the industry, and get a chance to work closely with Lexa,
Lauren, and a publishing house editor. Also, I tended to write 1st person,
present-tense contemporary stuff, so writing a 3rd person, past-tense,
historical novel seemed like a fantastic way to stretch unused writer
muscles and explore a new genre. I had recently been to Venice and my mind
started brainstorming ideas as soon as Lexa mentioned the words
"Venice", "murder mystery" and "romantic
entanglements." Finally, I was working a day job that was psychologically
crushing me and the money from the PLL contract was enough that I could go down
to part-time. What was to lose? My one concern was that my own writing would
get back-burnered for PLL but I just refused to let that happen. I wrote 6
books in 2.5 years while working and/or going to school and 5 of them are sold.
I feel pretty good about that :)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> 5.
How detailed are the outlines that you're given?</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Word-for-word
from<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.paperlanternlit.com/wtf/" target="_blank">PLL's
website.</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>"Like
architects we envision, design, and layout all the basics of a book, but it's
our writers who inhabit them and bring them to life.</i>" My original
outline for Venom included short character descriptions for the main characters,
some notes on the setting and a longer plot outline. As the series progressed
and PLL gained confidence in me (and I gained confidence in me!), the outlines
got shorter and my overall creative input increased. I should also add
here that PLL did require me to complete a handful of homework assignments including longer character sketches, character interviews, and analyses of horror books
and movies to determine what it was about them I found scary. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">6. Must
you follow the given outline point for point, or are you allowed to go
"off script"?</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Heh.
For the first few weeks I was kind of starstruck by the whole process and sent
all these emails every time I wanted to change the tiniest detail. But the
answer was always "go ahead and let's see what happens." Since PLL
reads your draft and sends edit notes every 2-4 chapters as you are writing,
you can't veer too wildly out of control without them realizing it. By the
middle of Venom I was mostly just adapting the outline as I saw fit during the
writing process. Honestly, I went back to review it before writing this blog
post because I was going to ask PLL if I could post an excerpt to show you
guys, but it is pretty much unrecognizable next to the end product. By the
beginning of Belladonna, I felt comfortable deviating from the outline as
needed. Only once in the writing process for the trilogy did I write a chunk of
pages off script and have it all get cut.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>Come back on Thursday for the second part of this Q&A</b></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-19414724310032359642013-03-04T20:09:00.000-06:002013-03-04T20:09:19.015-06:00Where in the world is BELLADONNA??<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
We have a winner!!</div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK_g4gna1ecuvWCLxNunTA0frwx3GwJfETRw1CoJJvNFDymB61z9Ui797p9HM2qQKt_6ZKZ7IVlx_IYo0KkQ-AeLYwZLeTdT0eouiNwD7odbyAgkFefdM-Hmfg-2MjVhe0RLqT5GJ1Rw/s1600/world+with+q.dib" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But first, I am super-duper excited to share with you the beauty of <a href="http://www.wingswildlife.com.au/" target="_blank">Wings Wildlife Park</a> in Gunns Plains, Tasmania. And let me just say that I had to stop in the middle of writing this post and reflect on how monumentally cool it is that little old me has been to Tasmania. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I grew up as a "free lunch" kid whose dad was perpetually underemployed and whose mom juggled jobs in retail and fast food. I never hopped a plane until a high school friend invited me to go to Universal Studios with her. I never left the country until after I graduated from college. I've been to about 30 countries now and I did the bulk of my traveling while working in a restaurant making 10 dollars an hour. You can do anything you want, okay? You can have All the Things, no matter where you are right now or where you came from. So if you want to write a book or go to Tazmania or do any other thing that people might tell you is impossible, I'm telling you right now, they're wrong. You rule. The whole world is waiting for you...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Welcome to <a href="http://www.wingswildlife.com.au/" target="_blank">WINGS WILDLIFE PARK!!!</a> hiding place of Belladonna!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9meeI8Ip7WJbBh5I-1r7UEfhCt7iEUq805rg2P1eKW2hMiLqZQRIXaaj80srTFQKqbRJRwgRL_9jYqo5V5L6MpN9OdHN3E7pT7esQBjhnqu39yzMB_isCOg5KWoufLWAAgRLDlyzgms/s1600/NZ+and+Australia+191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9meeI8Ip7WJbBh5I-1r7UEfhCt7iEUq805rg2P1eKW2hMiLqZQRIXaaj80srTFQKqbRJRwgRL_9jYqo5V5L6MpN9OdHN3E7pT7esQBjhnqu39yzMB_isCOg5KWoufLWAAgRLDlyzgms/s400/NZ+and+Australia+191.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get up close and personal with the locals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiVJid2iJUsgb6ioQawbqxFO-ASHP2x8vh9OWCwyLppip3Tn6NBq8dT4Qha7jrIhbK_Mya-lJKYpOaoqE-ne4PD0SG6Qsw9iGSQfzC4o2hs6dDvES0Q-jP2RpU4k1KgjSfzFGL3AloSc/s1600/wallabykickback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiVJid2iJUsgb6ioQawbqxFO-ASHP2x8vh9OWCwyLppip3Tn6NBq8dT4Qha7jrIhbK_Mya-lJKYpOaoqE-ne4PD0SG6Qsw9iGSQfzC4o2hs6dDvES0Q-jP2RpU4k1KgjSfzFGL3AloSc/s400/wallabykickback.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or, you know, just kick back and rest for a bit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpywd4w0R7J-Su1dW8Zsu8yyi_2zm7HZ9rxpNrkel48hA99GvM-46WJD9FA0v20A5ocPs5ehjpDa-tXdVHVLvM1DqJ42CX-qHXg1wFeTMRLBCuTKwBKvjGqB03wJO8o1uSTp-4vVFHh6w/s1600/deekoala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpywd4w0R7J-Su1dW8Zsu8yyi_2zm7HZ9rxpNrkel48hA99GvM-46WJD9FA0v20A5ocPs5ehjpDa-tXdVHVLvM1DqJ42CX-qHXg1wFeTMRLBCuTKwBKvjGqB03wJO8o1uSTp-4vVFHh6w/s400/deekoala.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or make a new friend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOTWskWQBojxhAntctruoYpIbCCMJqN9ErqLV9KHR7v_z52u_4YOipDrSjGgk3GzN53IHYsPhJjSQqVhEOW5_J1W7vmmslmhUxJBSm2vubFdaSzZTgyv4Qb5A0WmwtgeDjUXiLeszh9g/s1600/NZ+and+Australia+230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOTWskWQBojxhAntctruoYpIbCCMJqN9ErqLV9KHR7v_z52u_4YOipDrSjGgk3GzN53IHYsPhJjSQqVhEOW5_J1W7vmmslmhUxJBSm2vubFdaSzZTgyv4Qb5A0WmwtgeDjUXiLeszh9g/s400/NZ+and+Australia+230.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe you'll even fall in love.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Congrats to my WINNER Sara from Forever 17 Books who located Bella inside the Tasmanian devil enclosure at Wings. You'll be receiving an autographed ARC of BELLADONNA, an autographed hardcover of FIRST KILL, the first book in Heather Brewer's Slayer Chronicles, and an assortment of other delicious stuff.<br />
<br />
Randomly selected winner of a $15.00 e-card to Powellsbooks.com is Karibbean Island.<br />
<br />
Both winners, please email me at the address listed under the 'Contact me' tab.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Thanks to everybody for playing!! You've revealed a wealth of amazing destinations I just might have to visit someday. Happy reading, writing, and traveling. No worries if Tanzania is currently outside of your budget. There's always tomorrow, and in the meantime magical places are probably lurking right outside your door. I hope they find you.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-88837013095655424282013-03-04T19:38:00.000-06:002013-03-04T19:38:13.497-06:00Where in the world is BELLADONNA?? Clue #7Dear tired explorers,<br />
<br />
I'm tired too.<br />
I'm not feeling witty.<br />
What if I just told you<br />
the name of the city?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLTNWG7AqM77qRgLMWyQdgqo7ep-oanqkJftOqT_wnRR5vM4Hc77q6ufxGHqzz6Uw-lAHU0f6887GDL5L8Frir4nDK0yzigDxUlg1GERhVGicwfTpcS4qnbb91tlR4jP22BfYKV1VYHo/s1600/PLACEwitwib.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLTNWG7AqM77qRgLMWyQdgqo7ep-oanqkJftOqT_wnRR5vM4Hc77q6ufxGHqzz6Uw-lAHU0f6887GDL5L8Frir4nDK0yzigDxUlg1GERhVGicwfTpcS4qnbb91tlR4jP22BfYKV1VYHo/s400/PLACEwitwib.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unscramble me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-6621275695485185282013-03-04T17:22:00.000-06:002013-03-04T17:26:45.279-06:00Where in the World is BELLADONNA?? Clue #6Oh weary and valiant explorers:<br />
<br />
The ninjas are tricky<br />
They'll come from the east<br />
But there's nothing to fear<br />
Bella's guarded by this beast.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hA7PRNMvKTlU3a6psUIULjHUSC7RMRcPaZGiz1taGOPlhNHStP8g91JwGs57IRRIDzTrE_avF3VQ1ztiUe1w57fx0-eaiQNRcaUD0W1v1bPkHrdyihF9LD4CFyKUz3iYiqOgh_euFLM/s1600/beast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hA7PRNMvKTlU3a6psUIULjHUSC7RMRcPaZGiz1taGOPlhNHStP8g91JwGs57IRRIDzTrE_avF3VQ1ztiUe1w57fx0-eaiQNRcaUD0W1v1bPkHrdyihF9LD4CFyKUz3iYiqOgh_euFLM/s400/beast.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Believe it or not, this picture has not been edited ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-73651803021930297532013-03-03T21:03:00.002-06:002013-03-03T21:07:23.260-06:00Where in the World is BELLADONNA?? Clue #5.5Hey explorers,<br />
You'd better drink some coffee<br />
So that you may prevail<br />
Does it help at all to know<br />
Your scarlet bovine is a male?Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-55696806375856234072013-03-03T19:33:00.000-06:002013-03-03T19:33:00.116-06:00Where in the World is BELLADONNA?? Clue #5Dear explorers,<br />
Are you getting tired?<br />
Perhaps you need a scarlet bovine to carry you to Bella.<br />
Good luck. It won't be long now...Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615156335037398265.post-6892703270566294842013-03-03T09:52:00.001-06:002013-03-03T09:52:05.793-06:00Where in the World is BELLADONNA?? Clue #4Dear intrepid explorers,<br />
Don't despair. You're getting closer to finding Bella.<br />
She's right across the way from this ticklish little fella.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0PFWspHXnuV63Lc8XEsrLXuAKWCR2H5ZweUo3-Dha4TqdSk-XXMMtYmVJufKrFg4j3eNM6-CZXNjQwFjxOildkWzjnPoqSkEaAFjSevox6KT6FGX38IpYmHdtwxbgMBNdsbDk7amABE/s1600/cutie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0PFWspHXnuV63Lc8XEsrLXuAKWCR2H5ZweUo3-Dha4TqdSk-XXMMtYmVJufKrFg4j3eNM6-CZXNjQwFjxOildkWzjnPoqSkEaAFjSevox6KT6FGX38IpYmHdtwxbgMBNdsbDk7amABE/s320/cutie1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUK2rPgiG31sL9jsZIbgIC9b6NAdndop7o9xQJYAliwj-9EcCgfZQWihKk2zbrOrSdVNIrKF7jAXStlFbSKBOPjitNLXhaythBiHxk0EHnJiiEYYRkULFon_wNYQCCiOwC-qZyRmKB0s/s1600/cutie3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUK2rPgiG31sL9jsZIbgIC9b6NAdndop7o9xQJYAliwj-9EcCgfZQWihKk2zbrOrSdVNIrKF7jAXStlFbSKBOPjitNLXhaythBiHxk0EHnJiiEYYRkULFon_wNYQCCiOwC-qZyRmKB0s/s320/cutie3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtbbJhrJz6ahcbSfPTZDPlRTxih7rfynb2y0rLQjpkYo0Czna6eHmUbIzceR_5pTUli4enJcrFv-2OU0AmMyLQoHoclGoBkU199HXj0yxLwelFesMdqNK9qXfrdD_V7_N35qn_1OFjxs/s1600/cutie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtbbJhrJz6ahcbSfPTZDPlRTxih7rfynb2y0rLQjpkYo0Czna6eHmUbIzceR_5pTUli4enJcrFv-2OU0AmMyLQoHoclGoBkU199HXj0yxLwelFesMdqNK9qXfrdD_V7_N35qn_1OFjxs/s320/cutie2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWZzyNQSxY0zHLlF71J365eoEkVV0ImDZo5H-qsK_l9nEFPlhJ5iFaunF0HJIoSxj5K8AllcuuS7wiFJbY6lKA9ULLZJTP2lUo6WPhrlCpw6xQV4ElliZLVv0Ojmmm9LGWnfGQnesTA8/s1600/cutie5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWZzyNQSxY0zHLlF71J365eoEkVV0ImDZo5H-qsK_l9nEFPlhJ5iFaunF0HJIoSxj5K8AllcuuS7wiFJbY6lKA9ULLZJTP2lUo6WPhrlCpw6xQV4ElliZLVv0Ojmmm9LGWnfGQnesTA8/s320/cutie5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiguKT7-GtN2ozgeSi0Wjo4Jl3FlNtW6MsNB6YyQutmY58z08kGXRbnm4JZMIme_vRzygD59x7xUmJyd3K32Zbf5Va9mmX2TX2GP8YXVsDQU-PPk3zzyFqVyzvge7EcrCBhUBwAWRfM84/s1600/cutie4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiguKT7-GtN2ozgeSi0Wjo4Jl3FlNtW6MsNB6YyQutmY58z08kGXRbnm4JZMIme_vRzygD59x7xUmJyd3K32Zbf5Va9mmX2TX2GP8YXVsDQU-PPk3zzyFqVyzvge7EcrCBhUBwAWRfM84/s320/cutie4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Fiona Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12988652479881963096noreply@blogger.com13