A Holiday Letter to My Readers

1912 image, courtesy Library of Congress

Dear Readers,

Thank you for an amazing 2013. The way you embraced In the Shadow of Blackbirds far exceeded my wildest expectations. I'm so grateful for every single person who took a chance on my dark little tale with the ghostly cover.

This book has found an audience largely because of reader recommendations. Thank you to everyone who took the time to spread the word about the novel to someone else, whether online or in person, even if it was just a quick mention to one other individual. I'm also grateful for all the letters, emails, vlogs, and blogger support, as well as the fan art and poems that I've seen. And to all of you librarians and booksellers who have shown love for the book on a major scale, you people are superheroes to me! We authors appreciate you more than you probably even realize.

I'm looking forward to all that's yet to come in 2014. In January I'll be making an appearance at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, along with the other finalists of YALSA's Morris Award. In Fall 2014, most likely in October, my second novel, The Cure for Dreaming, will be available from Amulet Books. The novel involves hypnotism, women's rights, the publication of Dracula, and life in 1900 America, and I can't wait to share it with you (I recently divulged a few more details about the book at Read My Breath Away). The paperback edition of In the Shadow of Blackbirds will also be hitting shelves in 2014, and a little bird told me it just might contain a preview of The Cure for Dreaming. Details about both publications, including a cover reveal, should be available this spring.

Happy holidays, lovely readers! May the coming year be a good one for everyone!

Warmest wishes,

Cat Winters

Santa visiting me on my very own street when I was a kid.

A scene from the WWI-set movie Joyeaux Noel, based upon a
real-life Christmas truce during the war:

One of my favorite holiday songs, "Winter Weather,"
the Squirrel Nut Zippers rendition: