And so it begins…

The trade paperback release of The Last Will of Moira Leahy is about a week away. Promotions this time around are somewhat low-key, though I am running a wonderful contest on my Facebook author page from 8/3-8/10. People who come to the page and “like” it, then comment on the contest note (not yet up) will be entered for a chance to win TWO copies of one of *43* novels in a “My Sister and Me” contest. Most titles in the giveaway are women’s fiction, though there is a wonderful ecclectic mix in the group. If you’re chosen as one of the winners (a random draw), you’ll receive two copies of a book–one to keep and one to share with a sister or a friend.

More details soon, but why not come and get an early seat?

Guess what Fed-Ex man just brought? A first-edition, hot-of-the-presses copy of the trade paperback of Last Will of Moira Leahy! Yes, I’ve seen the jpg plenty of times over the last several months, but it’s still a stunning moment to hold it in my hand now.

Two weeks until the trade paperback is available!

Happy to have made reviewer S. Krishna’s Summer Reading List!

What are you reading this summer?

This post first ran at Writer Unboxed, but I thought you might be interested to see it here, too. I hope you don’t mind the recycling.

“Did you have any influence on your cover?” is one of the most asked questions whenever I do a presentation with book clubs or writing groups. (I’ve done ten since The Last Will of Moira Leahy was published, if you can believe it.)

The short answer is yes. But it’s way more complicated than that, so let me take you through the steps–or at least explain how it worked for me.

The Cover Concept Meeting

Almost a year before the book was released, I was told that a cover concept meeting would soon be taking place to discuss Last Will–a meeting when lots of ideas are thrown around by the editor, possibly the publisher, and others involved in the book. This is when the author’s voice may be presented to the art department. I was invited to submit any ideas I had, including any jpgs of images that I felt spoke to the work.

Of course I took them up on their offer, and submitted about a page of description about twins, the book’s water themes, and magical realism, and named some setting possibilities–Castine, Maine and Rome, Italy. I also sent 36 pictures along in a Word document, which now feels over the top, but at the time felt just right. (You know how I love a good picture.) Of those 36 shots, 24 were of twins or included water imagery, and many featured saturated colors–great for pop, to attract attention on a bookshelf. One of them even contained a picture of a woman with red hair covered in bubbly, magical looking water. I included jpgs of a few book covers I’d liked, too, including Amy MacKinnon’s Tethered and Kate Brallier’s The Boundless Deep. (Erm, you think I was subtle about what I wanted? Oh, lunacy, thy name is debut author.)

Designers Designing

Everything is shared with the cover designer–the memo and the photos–before the designer sits with all of those thoughts, digesting before the real design work begins. And then it does begin. Take a look at this great video showcasing the birth of the cover Blameless, a novel by Gail Carringer. Continue Reading »

I just learned that The Last Will of Moira Leahy was chosen to be a TARGET BREAKOUT BOOK. So very happy for this opportunity!

There’s time to jump in on a fantastic giveaway hosted by author Allison Winn Scotch, where you can win a copy of The Last Will of Moira Leahy and/or one of twenty+ other fab books. Details are on my new Facebook Author page. I hope you’ll become a fan, and learn how to win one–or ALL–of those books. Click HERE.

I have long been fearful of public speaking. When I had to stand up before the board of education several years ago, to fight for the challenge program in our school district, I was a shaking, quivering mess.

Since that time, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to present myself to the public — online. You can find me speaking my mind every week in one way, shape, or form on Writer Unboxed. But that’s public exposure, not public speaking.

As the date for the release of The Last Will of Moira Leahy approached, I was a little concerned. Would the shaking, quivering me come back for an encore, or had I conquered my stage fright? I had a book talk and signing at my local Barnes & Noble the day the book came out. The store was packed; I learned later that 150 people were there to hear my presentation. Not only that, a television crew appeared to get a clip of me and the event for the evening news. I think I did shake, a little, but I got through the television interview. What I really enjoyed, though, was speaking in front of a crowd of people who wanted to know something more about my novel and the process of writing.

I’ve had the chance to speak with nearly a dozen groups since then–book clubs, writing groups, and other interested parties–and every time I step in front of an audience, the process becomes easier. This past weekend, I presented my first workshop at a well-regarded and -attended writers’ conference, The Muse and the Marketplace, in Boston. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for regression, with authors like Brunonia Barry and Anita Shreve in attendance, but there was no quivering, no shaking. Instead, I felt confident and had a lot of fun with my group.

This spring will bring a few other events, including more book clubs and a Writing Matters writers’ panel this May with fellow novelists Randy Susan Meyers and Shelley Stout in New Jersey. And you know what? I look forward to all of them.

I wouldn’t have bet that nerves were conquerable. I would’ve been wrong.

If you live in the Owego area and would like to hear a discussion of The Last Will of Moira Leahy, I’ll be there as a guest of the Coburn Library on April 14th from approximately 12:10-1:00. The library is located on 275 Main St., Owego. See you there!

I’ll be signing books at the Vestal, NY, Barnes and Noble today from 1:30-3:00, if anyone wants to stop by. Big bonus: A percentage of books purchased today at the store will benefit The Madrigal Choir of Binghamton.

Hope to see you!

I’m thrilled to announce that The Last Will of Moira Leahy has been named a finalist for RWA’s prestigious RITA Award in the category of Best First Book. Winners will be announced in late July at the annual RWA conference in Nashville, TN.