A.G. Howard's Red Carpet SPLINTERED Event (Featuring IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS as a Giveaway Prize)

Fellow Amulet Books author A.G. Howard is celebrating the upcoming release of her whimsical and wonderful Alice in Wonderland-inspired novel, Splintered, which debuts January 1. She's throwing a major Red Carpet Event that includes several major INTERNATIONAL giveaways...and a signed advance reading copy of In the Shadow of Blackbirds is part of one of her prize packages!

ENTER HERE

You can also win advance copies of other 2013 debuts, some of which I've had the privilege of reading, such as Sarah Skilton's Bruised and April Genevieve Tucholke's Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. And, of course, you'll have the opportunity to win Splintered!

Congratulations to A.G. Howard for her upcoming book birthday!

On a separate note, in case you didn't hear my announcement before Christmas, In the Shadow of Blackbirds is now on NetGalley.

Holiday Greetings, WWI Style

May you have a safe, relaxing, and joyful holiday season!

A glimpse at Christmas, WWI style:

1918 Christmas, Courtesy Library of Congress,
Prints & Photographs Division

1914 Christmas truce between the British and the Germans.

1918 Red Cross Christmas Poster, Courtesy Library of Congress,
Prints & Photographs Division

And last, but not least, a WWI holiday image for fans of fictional versions of the time period...

A rockin' 1918 Christmas, Downton Abbey style!

 HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS Is Now on NetGalley!

If you're a book blogger, bookseller, librarian, book reviewer, teacher, or anyone else who normally receives galleys, I'm pleased to announce that In the Shadow of Blackbirds is now available on NetGalley!

REQUEST THE NOVEL HERE

Thanks so much to all the lovely, enthusiastic people who have already expressed an interest in receiving an advance copy of this book. For more In the Shadow of Blackbirds info, visit my About the Novel page.

 

The Opening Line Revealed

I stepped inside the railroad car, and three dozen pairs of eyes peered my way.

—In the Shadow of Blackbirds, opening line

Courtesy Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

If you'd like to sample the opening lines of sixty-seven other debut YA, middle-grade, and children's books that will be coming your way in 2013, visit The Lucky 13s. I gathered all of our first sentences together in one major list I think you'll enjoy perusing.

A Sneak Peek of Chapter 1!

I discovered something in the ABRAMS UK Spring 2013 catalog that made me beam with pride: the In the Shadow of Blackbirds cover art has been used to introduce the Amulet Books titles...

Open publication - Free publishing - More abrams books

...and you can read an excerpt from Chapter 1! Click "Expand" below, and you'll be able to adjust the size of the page by sliding the little circle in the toolbar at the top of your screen.

Open publication - Free publishing - More abrams books

Thank you to everyone involved with featuring In the Shadow of Blackbirds so prominently in the ABRAMS UK catalog!

December News (Including Launch Party Info)

I just realized it's been a couple weeks since I've posted anything new, but during that time I've compiled exciting In the Shadow of Blackbirds info to share. I'm dividing this post into items I can publicly announce, and teaser items I can't yet completely reveal.

What I can reveal:

I've scheduled my In the Shadow of Blackbirds launch party! I'll be discussing the novel, reading from the book, and giving away prizes and other goodies at the following location and time:

Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton, OR
Saturday, April 6, 2013
4:00 PM

More details and reminders will follow as April gets closer.

Also, I'm signing advance copies of In the Shadow of Blackbirds at the following event:

ALA Midwinter, Seattle, Washington
January 26-27, 2013
(Times TBA)

I can't wait to meet all the librarians attending the conference! I'll post my exact signing times once the ALA author schedule goes live.

In foreign-language rights news, In the Shadow of Blackbirds sold to Scolar Kiadó in Hungary! I'm thrilled the novel will be translated into another language and hope Hungarian readers enjoy the book. I'm keeping my fingers tightly crossed that more foreign rights sales will follow.

Save the date: Monday, December 17, 2012. I'm compiling a post at The Lucky 13s blog that you won't want to miss. I'm not just saying that because I'm organizing the post; you won't want to miss it because we're offering an extra-special sneak peek of close to fifty debut 2013 YA and kid-lit books.

What I can't completely reveal:  

We received more In the Shadow of Blackbirds cover blurbs, including one from a New York Times bestselling author. I'll be revealing those the week before the January ALA event.

Also in the works for January: The launch of an In the Shadow of Blackbirds website that will entail behind-the-scenes treats and plenty of extras, including an interactive In the Shadow of Blackbirds map of San Diego. I'll reveal the URL the very last week of January. 

And in February, the book trailer reveal tour will arrive...