As 2014 comes to a close, I want to thank everyone who has read and embraced my books. This past year started off with an amazing bang when I got to celebrate In the Shadow of Blackbirds at the Morris Award ceremony in Philadelphia, and now it ends with a second book published and two more novels and an anthology short story slated for publication in 2015 and 2016.
I'm grateful to everyone in the publishing industry who is helping me to bring these books to life, especially my agent, Barbara Poelle, and the folks at Abrams, HarperCollins, and Penguin. But I'm also deeply indebted to every reader who's taking a chance on these offbeat books of mine with the quirky/spooky covers and historical settings. A writer can only have a career if he or she finds readers, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for being my readers.
I appreciate all of your kind notes and support, and if I don't respond immediately to one of your letters, please be assured it's only because I'm busily working to meet a deadline. Every single fan letter means the world to me.
I look forward to sharing my 2015 novel and my anthology short story with you this upcoming August. For those of you who enjoyed In the Shadow of Blackbirds, you'll find my return to the year 1918, a setting I adore. I can't wait.
Happy New Year!
Warmest wishes,
Cat Winters
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Looking Ahead to 2015 . . . Two Book Releases, Writing Workshops, Secret Projects, and More
In recent posts I've talked quite a bit about my novel that's coming up in 2015, but I actually have two works of fiction releasing from two different publishers next year . . . and they're publishing only one week apart from each other.
Here's a rundown of the books you'll be seeing from me next year, as well as a peek at the books I'll be working on behind-the-scenes and some of my scheduled 2015 events.
2015 RELEASES:
THE UNINVITED
Coming August 11, 2015
William Morrow / HarperCollins
ISBN 9780062347336
My adult fiction debut returns to the 1918 setting of In the Shadow of Blackbirds, although instead of California, this one takes place in Illinois, the site of the real-life lynching of a German-American named Robert Prager—a murder that made national headlines during the volatile final months of the World War I era. In The Uninvited, a young woman finds herself drawn to the brother of a German immigrant whom her father and brother killed in a violent act of vengeance for a war-related death. The novel is a ghost story, a love story, and a psychological thriller . . . and I can't wait to share it.
SLASHER GIRLS & MONSTER BOYS
Coming August 18, 2015
Dial / Penguin
This YA horror anthology will feature original new tales by thirteen authors, including myself. From what I've heard, we won't be revealing the titles and synopses of our stories until the weeks leading up to the release of the book, plus there are a few other surprises about the anthology's theme that are yet to be announced. A cover is currently in the works, and hopefully we'll be able to reveal it soon. I've previewed some of the other authors' stories, and I can say with certainty that readers are in for a creepy and gripping treat just in time for the Halloween season.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES BOOKS
THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY
Coming Spring 2016
Amulet Books / Abrams
My third YA novel won't release until 2016, but 2015 will be the year when all of the fun stuff occurs—the major edits to get the book in shape, the cover design, the cover reveal, the preparation of advance reading copies. I cannot wait to share more info about this one, but I will say that it's a Hamlet-inspired tale involving a murder, Prohibition, and the KKK in 1920s Oregon. My Hamlet character is a biracial girl named Hanalee who's struggling to survive in a state gone terribly rotten.
THE TOP-SECRET BOOK
I've started writing a new work of adult fiction, so when I'm not in the midst of working on my other projects, I'll be busily typing away on and conducting research for this yet-to-be-announced new novel.
2015 APPEARANCES:
Saturday, January 17, 2015, 2:30-4:00 pm
The Next Level Professional Series
TaborSpace, The Annex
5441 SE Belmont, Portland, Oregon
Success Panel: How a Writer and Writer/Illustrator Got Their Starts, with Cat Winters and Nicole Rubel.
Thursday, March 12, to Sunday, March 15
Left Coast Crime 2015
Doubletree by Hilton Portland
1000 Northeast Multnomah Street, Portland, Oregon
Attending, potentially speaking. More info TBA.
Saturday, May 30, to Sunday, May 31, 2015
SCBWI Oregon's 2015 Annual Spring Conference
Holiday Inn Portland South
25425 SW 95th Ave., Wilsonville, Oregon
Faculty member. Subjects and times of workshops TBA.
More 2015 events are in the works, including possible appearances outside of Oregon. Please keep an eye on my Events Page for updates.
Here's a rundown of the books you'll be seeing from me next year, as well as a peek at the books I'll be working on behind-the-scenes and some of my scheduled 2015 events.
2015 RELEASES:
Coming August 11, 2015
William Morrow / HarperCollins
ISBN 9780062347336
My adult fiction debut returns to the 1918 setting of In the Shadow of Blackbirds, although instead of California, this one takes place in Illinois, the site of the real-life lynching of a German-American named Robert Prager—a murder that made national headlines during the volatile final months of the World War I era. In The Uninvited, a young woman finds herself drawn to the brother of a German immigrant whom her father and brother killed in a violent act of vengeance for a war-related death. The novel is a ghost story, a love story, and a psychological thriller . . . and I can't wait to share it.
SLASHER GIRLS & MONSTER BOYS Coming August 18, 2015
Dial / Penguin
This YA horror anthology will feature original new tales by thirteen authors, including myself. From what I've heard, we won't be revealing the titles and synopses of our stories until the weeks leading up to the release of the book, plus there are a few other surprises about the anthology's theme that are yet to be announced. A cover is currently in the works, and hopefully we'll be able to reveal it soon. I've previewed some of the other authors' stories, and I can say with certainty that readers are in for a creepy and gripping treat just in time for the Halloween season.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES BOOKS
THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY Coming Spring 2016
Amulet Books / Abrams
My third YA novel won't release until 2016, but 2015 will be the year when all of the fun stuff occurs—the major edits to get the book in shape, the cover design, the cover reveal, the preparation of advance reading copies. I cannot wait to share more info about this one, but I will say that it's a Hamlet-inspired tale involving a murder, Prohibition, and the KKK in 1920s Oregon. My Hamlet character is a biracial girl named Hanalee who's struggling to survive in a state gone terribly rotten.
THE TOP-SECRET BOOK
I've started writing a new work of adult fiction, so when I'm not in the midst of working on my other projects, I'll be busily typing away on and conducting research for this yet-to-be-announced new novel.
2015 APPEARANCES:
Saturday, January 17, 2015, 2:30-4:00 pm
The Next Level Professional Series
TaborSpace, The Annex
5441 SE Belmont, Portland, Oregon
Success Panel: How a Writer and Writer/Illustrator Got Their Starts, with Cat Winters and Nicole Rubel.
Thursday, March 12, to Sunday, March 15
Left Coast Crime 2015
Doubletree by Hilton Portland
1000 Northeast Multnomah Street, Portland, Oregon
Attending, potentially speaking. More info TBA.
Saturday, May 30, to Sunday, May 31, 2015
SCBWI Oregon's 2015 Annual Spring Conference
Holiday Inn Portland South
25425 SW 95th Ave., Wilsonville, Oregon
Faculty member. Subjects and times of workshops TBA.
More 2015 events are in the works, including possible appearances outside of Oregon. Please keep an eye on my Events Page for updates.
Monday, December 8, 2014
ARC Requests for THE UNINVITED
So, if you're a bookseller, librarian, reviewer, etc.—someone who typically receives ARCs—please send your request to Lauren Jackson at HarperCollins.
ARCs are not yet available, but the list of recipients is in the works.
The Uninvited is my adult novel releasing from the William Morrow imprint of HarperCollins on August 11, 2015. Please note that if you've requested ARCs for my two YA novels in the past, this particular book is being released by a different publisher.
Thank you to everyone interested in receiving an advance copy.
Advance Praise:
“An affecting novel, dark in fiction and in fact. Set in 1918 against the parallel epidemics of the Spanish influenza and an equally terrifying strain of ‘superpatriotism,’ Cat Winters’s latest offers resonant characters, a stunning twist, and an emotional, satisfying conclusion.”
International bestselling author of
A Paris Apartment
“Part ghost story, part love story, part historical fiction, this tale set in a small Midwestern town during the Great War is compulsively readable, beautifully written, and populated with characters that will hover in the air around you, long after you've set the book on your nightstand. I finished this story and wished very much I had written it.”
Bestselling author of
The Fate of Mercy Alban and The Vanishing
PRE-ORDER:
Friday, November 28, 2014
Advance Praise for THE UNINVITED
I'm extremely excited to announce that two bestselling authors, Wendy Webb and Michelle Gable, have blurbed The Uninvited.
Here is their generous advance praise of the novel:
“Part ghost story, part love story, part historical fiction, this tale set in a small Midwestern town during the Great War is compulsively readable, beautifully written, and populated with characters that will hover in the air around you, long after you've set the book on your nightstand. I finished this story and wished very much I had written it.”
—Wendy Webb
Bestselling author of
The Fate of Mercy Alban and The Vanishing
“An affecting novel, dark in fiction and in fact. Set in 1918 against the parallel epidemics of the Spanish influenza and an equally terrifying strain of ‘superpatriotism,’ Cat Winters’s latest offers resonant characters, a stunning twist, and an emotional, satisfying conclusion.”
—Michelle Gable
International bestselling author of
A Paris Apartment
The full synopsis:
From the award-winning author of In the Shadow of Blackbirds comes a stunning new novel—a masterfully crafted story of love, loss, and second chances. Set during the fear and panic of the Great Influenza of 1918, The Uninvited is part gothic ghost-story, part psychological thriller, perfect for those who loved The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield or The Vanishing by Wendy Webb.
Twenty-five year old Ivy Rowan rises from her bed after being struck by the flu, only to discover the world has been torn apart in just a few short days.
But Ivy’s life-long gift—or curse—remains. For she sees the uninvited ones—ghosts of loved ones who appear to her, unasked, unwelcomed, for they always herald impending death. On that October evening in 1918 she sees the spirit of her grandmother, rocking in her mother’s chair. An hour later, she learns her younger brother and father have killed a young German out of retaliation for the death of Ivy’s older brother Billy in the Great War.
Horrified, she leaves home, to discover the flu has caused utter panic and the rules governing society have broken down. Ivy is drawn into this new world of jazz, passion, and freedom, where people live for the day, because they could be stricken by nightfall. But as her ‘uninvited guests’ begin to appear to her more often, she knows her life will be torn apart once more, but Ivy has no inkling of the other-worldly revelations about to unfold.
The Uninvited is an atmospheric, haunting, and utterly compelling novel.
PRE-ORDER:
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
A Podcast in Which I Answer 10 Questions in 10 Minutes
I’m honored to have been interviewed for the very first Abrams Books “10 Under 10” podcast. I answer questions about my books (present and future), my inspirations, writing advice, character names, and even the 1960s TV series Bewitched . . . all within a 10-minute time frame.
Huge thanks to Abrams Books, the publisher of my YA novels, for inviting me to be their first podcast author!
Monday, November 17, 2014
November Events, Past and Future
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| Me at University Book Store. |
This upcoming Saturday, November 22, I'll be on a YA panel with four other authors at A Children's Place Bookstore in Portland, OR. Then on Monday, I'm catching a plane to Washington, DC, and I'll be speaking on a panel at the ALAN Workshop on the morning of November 25. Here are the full details for these two events:
Saturday, November 22, 2014, 3:00 pm
A Children's Place Bookstore
4807 NE Fremont St., Portland, Oregon
YA panel with Chelsea Pitcher, April Genevieve Tucholke, Miriam Forster, Cat Winters, and Teri Brown.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014, 8:40-9:10 am
ALAN Workshop
National Harbor, Maryland
Panel: Fantastic Genre Fiction: The Bridge from Our World to Other Worlds, with Colleen Gleason, Brandon Sanderson, and Cat Winters.
More pics from the Seattle signing:
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| The lovely University Book Store display of my two novels. |
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| Many of my talks include historical images. |
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| Proof that I'm a major hand-talker. Or maybe I'm hypnotizing someone . . . |
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Signing in Seattle
This Saturday I'll be heading up to Seattle, WA, for an appearance at University Book Store (the U District location). I'll be speaking at 4:00 pm, and I'll be sharing historical photos, music, and giveaways, as well as reading a short excerpt from The Cure for Dreaming. A Q&A session will follow my talk.
Here's the University Book Store's summary about the event:
A mesmerizing gothic tale about a young woman named Olivia whose father hires a mesmerist to "hypnotize the rebellion out of her," Cat Winters' The Cure for Dreaming paints a vivid portrait of the early 19th century women's rights movement and injustices inflicted upon women when the hypnotist instead enables Olivia to see the true nature of the world and those in it. Joining us for a reading and signing, Winters will invite us into its spellbinding story of darkness, light, monsters, cages, and issues of oppression still relevant today.
If you can make it, I'd love to see you! If you can't, you can still buy an autographed copy of The Cure for Dreaming through University Book Store. Pre-order a copy here.
I'm looking forward to seeing you, Seattle!
Here's the University Book Store's summary about the event:
A mesmerizing gothic tale about a young woman named Olivia whose father hires a mesmerist to "hypnotize the rebellion out of her," Cat Winters' The Cure for Dreaming paints a vivid portrait of the early 19th century women's rights movement and injustices inflicted upon women when the hypnotist instead enables Olivia to see the true nature of the world and those in it. Joining us for a reading and signing, Winters will invite us into its spellbinding story of darkness, light, monsters, cages, and issues of oppression still relevant today.
If you can make it, I'd love to see you! If you can't, you can still buy an autographed copy of The Cure for Dreaming through University Book Store. Pre-order a copy here.
I'm looking forward to seeing you, Seattle!
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Cover Reveal: THE UNINVITED
I'm thrilled to bits to share with you the cover for my newest WWI-era novel, The Uninvited, coming August 11, 2015, from William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins.
From the award-winning author of In the Shadow of Blackbirds comes a stunning new novel—a masterfully crafted story of love, loss, and second chances. Set during the fear and panic of the Great Influenza of 1918, The Uninvited is part gothic ghost-story, part psychological thriller, perfect for those who loved The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield or The Vanishing by Wendy Webb.
Twenty-five year old Ivy Rowan rises from her bed after being struck by the flu, only to discover the world has been torn apart in just a few short days.
But Ivy’s life-long gift—or curse—remains. For she sees the uninvited ones—ghosts of loved ones who appear to her, unasked, unwelcomed, for they always herald impending death. On that October evening in 1918 she sees the spirit of her grandmother, rocking in her mother’s chair. An hour later, she learns her younger brother and father have killed a young German out of retaliation for the death of Ivy’s older brother Billy in the Great War.
Horrified, she leaves home, to discover the flu has caused utter panic and the rules governing society have broken down. Ivy is drawn into this new world of jazz, passion, and freedom, where people live for the day, because they could be stricken by nightfall. But as her ‘uninvited guests’ begin to appear to her more often, she knows her life will be torn apart once more, but Ivy has no inkling of the other-worldly revelations about to unfold.
The Uninvited is an atmospheric, haunting, and utterly compelling novel.
If you have any questions about the novel—which marks my adult fiction debut—feel free to ask them in the comments section below. As long as the questions don't involve spoilers, I'll answer them soon.
The synopsis:
From the award-winning author of In the Shadow of Blackbirds comes a stunning new novel—a masterfully crafted story of love, loss, and second chances. Set during the fear and panic of the Great Influenza of 1918, The Uninvited is part gothic ghost-story, part psychological thriller, perfect for those who loved The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield or The Vanishing by Wendy Webb.
Twenty-five year old Ivy Rowan rises from her bed after being struck by the flu, only to discover the world has been torn apart in just a few short days.
But Ivy’s life-long gift—or curse—remains. For she sees the uninvited ones—ghosts of loved ones who appear to her, unasked, unwelcomed, for they always herald impending death. On that October evening in 1918 she sees the spirit of her grandmother, rocking in her mother’s chair. An hour later, she learns her younger brother and father have killed a young German out of retaliation for the death of Ivy’s older brother Billy in the Great War.
Horrified, she leaves home, to discover the flu has caused utter panic and the rules governing society have broken down. Ivy is drawn into this new world of jazz, passion, and freedom, where people live for the day, because they could be stricken by nightfall. But as her ‘uninvited guests’ begin to appear to her more often, she knows her life will be torn apart once more, but Ivy has no inkling of the other-worldly revelations about to unfold.
The Uninvited is an atmospheric, haunting, and utterly compelling novel.
PRE-ORDER ONLINE:
If you have any questions about the novel—which marks my adult fiction debut—feel free to ask them in the comments section below. As long as the questions don't involve spoilers, I'll answer them soon.
Friday, October 31, 2014
My TV Appearance on Oregon Art Beat
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| Me at the Oregon Historical Society. Photo by Krysta Maksim. |
Unfortunately, the video player they use isn't working when I try to embed it on my website, so you'll need to head over to the segment on the Oregon Art Beat website.
The writers who appear with me at the coffeehouse are Teri Brown, Miriam Forster, and Kelly Garrett. Teri is the one talking about bloodletting. :)
The segment was filmed on location at the Oregon Historical Society, Portland's White House, downtown Portland, and various other locations, including my own house. Huge thanks to producer Katrina Sarson at OPB for choosing to feature me!
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| (From left) Me, Teri Brown, Kelly Garrett, videographer Todd Sonflieth, and Miriam Forster. |
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| Producer Katrina Sarson at Portland's White House. |
Sunday, October 26, 2014
News about an Oct. 30 Signing, Plus Launch Party Photos
If you missed my launch party at Powell's Books this past Saturday and you live in the Portland area, I will be making one more local appearance this week. Catch me at Jacobsen's Books in Hillsboro, OR, this Thursday, October 30, at 6:30 pm. The store is located at 211 E. Main St. in downtown Hillsboro.
I had an absolutely wonderful time at my launch party. Thank you to everyone who attended! I encouraged people to dress in costumes, and those who didn't had the option of wearing masquerade ball masks. Here are some photos from the event.
Thanks so much to Powell's Books for hosting me! If you live near the Cedar Hills location, you can head over to the store to pick up a signed copy of The Cure for Dreaming.
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| Me and my books. |
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| My husband, Adam, dressed as Willy Wonka. |
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| Me with costumed guests, including novelist April Henry (far left). |
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| Guests in masks. |
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| Me at the podium. |
Friday, October 17, 2014
My Oct. 25 Launch Party at Powell's Books . . . and How You Can Order a Signed Copy
The Cure for Dreaming debuted Tuesday, October 14, but I'm holding off on any major celebrations due to my son's upcoming 10th birthday (getting upstaged by Mom's new book is no way for a child to usher in the era of double digits).
On Saturday, October 25, however, I will be celebrating the novel in grand style at Powell's Books in Beaverton, Oregon. If you live in the Portland region, here are the full details for the event:
LAUNCH PARTY FOR THE CURE FOR DREAMING!!!!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
4:00 pm
Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, Oregon
Come dressed in a Halloween costume—or dressed as your true hidden self—to enter to win giveaways.
If you can't make it to the event but would still like to buy a signed copy, Powell's has a nice and easy ordering option:
Other links for the event:
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone who can make it!
On Saturday, October 25, however, I will be celebrating the novel in grand style at Powell's Books in Beaverton, Oregon. If you live in the Portland region, here are the full details for the event:
Saturday, October 25, 2014
4:00 pm
Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, Oregon
Come dressed in a Halloween costume—or dressed as your true hidden self—to enter to win giveaways.
If you can't make it to the event but would still like to buy a signed copy, Powell's has a nice and easy ordering option:
Other links for the event:
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone who can make it!
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
THE CURE FOR DREAMING International Spotted-in-the-Wild Giveaway!
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| Samples of the poster. |
The giveaway will run until December 8, 2014, so don't worry if The Cure for Dreaming hasn't yet reached your area. If you live outside the regions in which the novel will be sold, Book Depository offers free shipping to several countries around the world.
Here are the rules:
1. You must be 13 years or older to enter.
2. Take a picture of yourself with a finished hardcover copy of The Cure for Dreaming. The book can be located at a bookstore, your house, a library—wherever—but it must be a finished hardcover, not an ebook or paperback proof. If your bookstore does not have a copy in stock, please request them to order it (you'll then have my sincerest gratitude!).
3. Post the photo somewhere online (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter—anywhere that can involve a link to the photo).
4. Fill out the following form to let me know where you posted the photo. You must submit your entry through this form in order to be eligible for the giveaway.
THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED.
5. If you post the photo on more than one day, or on more than one site, the posting will indeed count as an extra entry, but please fill out the form each time you share the photo.
6. The giveaway is international. These posters are not easy to ship, so this will likely be a one-time-only opportunity. :)
The giveaway will close at midnight PST on Monday, December 8, 2014. Three winners will then be randomly drawn from all of the entries.
The prize:
Three winners will receive one signed, limited-edition poster featuring the cover of The Cure for Dreaming. The posters are a beautiful, glossy quality, and the cover art jumps out in a vivid shade of green (see the photo above). Winners will also receive The Cure for Dreaming bookmarks and a signed bookplate. As I said above, the giveaway is open internationally.
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| Bookmarks and signed bookplate. |
Buy The Cure for Dreaming today:
Monday, October 13, 2014
The Blog Tour Continues . . . and an Interview of Me on the First Draft Podcast Series
The Cure for Dreaming arrives tomorrow! To celebrate, I'm continuing my blog tour stops throughout this entire week (giveaway included; full schedule below), plus the kind and generous Sarah Enni interviewed me for her First Draft podcast series. Find out all about my creepy story inspirations, my long journey to publication, and what the Smurfs had to do with my writing career here.
Thanks so much to Sarah for driving out to my house in Oregon for that wonderful in-depth chat, and thanks to Rock Star Book Tours, for hosting the blog tour. Here's the full tour schedule:
Thanks so much to Sarah for driving out to my house in Oregon for that wonderful in-depth chat, and thanks to Rock Star Book Tours, for hosting the blog tour. Here's the full tour schedule:
Week One
10/6/2014- Word Spelunking- Interview
10/7/2014- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post
10/8/2014- Me, My Shelf and I- Review
10/9/2014- Falling For YA- Interview
10/10/2014- Crossroad Reviews- ReviewWeek Two
10/13/2014- Xpresso Reads- Interview
10/14/2014- Candace's Book Blog- Review
10/15/2014- I Heart YA Fiction- Review
10/15/2014 - Not part of the blog tour, but Corsets, Cutlasses, &Candlesticks will be running an extensive interview of me this day.
10/15/2014 - Not part of the blog tour, but Corsets, Cutlasses, &Candlesticks will be running an extensive interview of me this day.
10/16/2014- Rainy Day Ramblings- Review and Guest Post
10/17/2014- Bad Bird Reads- Guest Post
PRE-ORDER The Cure for Dreaming:
Music: "Mostly Ghostly," composed and performed by Kristen Lawrence.
Monday, October 6, 2014
THE CURE FOR DREAMING Blog Tour & the Paperback Release of IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS
Two big things are happening this week in the world of my books. First of all, today marks the first day of The Cure for Dreaming Blog Tour!
The tour is being hosted by Rock Star Book Tours, and it will include ten days of guest posts, interviews, and reviews, as well as a tour-wide giveaway. Here's the full schedule:
In other news, the paperback edition of In the Shadow of Blackbirds debuts this Tuesday, October 7! I've received my copies, and they're absolutely beautiful. A special bonus: The book includes a sneak peek of The Cure for Dreaming at the back. Some photos of the paperback:
Order the paperback online:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Powell's Books
IndieBound
Book Depository
Abrams
Amazon UK
Indigo
Coming next week: The Cure for Dreaming (October 14)!
Week One
10/6/2014- Word Spelunking- Interview
10/7/2014- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post
10/8/2014- Me, My Shelf and I- Review
10/9/2014- Falling For YA- Interview
10/10/2014- Crossroad Reviews- ReviewWeek Two
10/13/2014- Xpresso Reads- Interview
10/14/2014- Candace's Book Blog- Review
10/15/2014- I Heart YA Fiction- Review
10/16/2014- Rainy Day Ramblings- Review and Guest Post
10/17/2014- Bad Bird Reads- Guest PostIn other news, the paperback edition of In the Shadow of Blackbirds debuts this Tuesday, October 7! I've received my copies, and they're absolutely beautiful. A special bonus: The book includes a sneak peek of The Cure for Dreaming at the back. Some photos of the paperback:
Order the paperback online: Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Powell's Books
IndieBound
Book Depository
Abrams
Amazon UK
Indigo
Coming next week: The Cure for Dreaming (October 14)!
Saturday, October 4, 2014
A Lovely Award for BLACKBIRDS and a Nomination for THE CURE FOR DREAMING
Today I had the honor of accepting the Oregon Spirit Book Award in the category of Young Adult Fiction. Huge thanks to the Oregon Council of Teachers of English for naming In the Shadow of Blackbirds the winner! They gave me a beautiful plaque and Oregon Spirit Book Award seals to place upon the book. If you work in a bookstore and would like some seals for your copies of the novel, please contact me.
Recently, I learned that The Cure for Dreaming received an honor of its own: it's been nominated for the 2015 Amelia Bloomer Project, Recommended Feminist Literature for Birth through 18, presented by the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association. I'm extremely proud of both of my books and the recognition they're receiving.
The Cure for Dreaming debuts in less that two weeks now. Be sure to check back this upcoming Monday, October 6, 2014, for blog tour info. The entire tour schedule is now posted at RockStar Book Tours.
Recently, I learned that The Cure for Dreaming received an honor of its own: it's been nominated for the 2015 Amelia Bloomer Project, Recommended Feminist Literature for Birth through 18, presented by the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association. I'm extremely proud of both of my books and the recognition they're receiving.
The Cure for Dreaming debuts in less that two weeks now. Be sure to check back this upcoming Monday, October 6, 2014, for blog tour info. The entire tour schedule is now posted at RockStar Book Tours.
PRE-ORDER:
Music: "Mostly Ghostly," composed and performed by Kristen Lawrence.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS Up for YALSA's Teens' Top Ten — Voting Open
Voting is open at http://www.dogobooks.com/book_clubs/teens-top-reads through October 18, 2014. Teens can vote for up to three books.
Thanks to the individuals who nominated In the Shadow of Blackbirds, and thanks to everyone heading over there to vote! It's a fantastic list filled with some of my good friends' novels, and I'm extremely honored to see In the Shadow of Blackbirds included.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Pre-order Signed Copies of THE CURE FOR DREAMING
Powell's Books is now offering customers a chance to pre-order signed copies of The Cure for Dreaming online! I'll sign the books at my October 25 launch party, and Powell's will ship the books to readers after the event.
If you're in the Portland, Oregon, region and can attend my party, you do not need to pre-order a signed edition. Simply buy the book at the event, and I'll sign copies after my talk and reading.
Here's the full scoop about the launch party:
LAUNCH PARTY FOR THE CURE FOR DREAMING!!!!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
4:00 pm
Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, Oregon
Come dressed in a Halloween costume—or dressed as your true hidden self—to enter to win giveaways.
I'll be bringing tricks and treats to celebrate the release of both my newest novel and the paperback edition of In the Shadow of Blackbirds.
If you're in the Portland, Oregon, region and can attend my party, you do not need to pre-order a signed edition. Simply buy the book at the event, and I'll sign copies after my talk and reading.
Here's the full scoop about the launch party:
Saturday, October 25, 2014
4:00 pm
Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, Oregon
Come dressed in a Halloween costume—or dressed as your true hidden self—to enter to win giveaways.
I'll be bringing tricks and treats to celebrate the release of both my newest novel and the paperback edition of In the Shadow of Blackbirds.
Other pre-ordering options:
Monday, September 15, 2014
THE CURE FOR DREAMING Swag Giveaway!
Now, I have bigger giveaways coming up in October, so this little celebration is going to be relatively low-key in comparison. However, this one will be international.
The Rules:
1. You must be 13 years or older to enter.
2. Post the cover of The Cure for Dreaming, along with the book's title and my name, at any public online site that allows images. It can be Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, your blog, or anyplace else along those lines, as long as you're able to provide a link for me to view the cover.
3. Fill out the form below, letting me know your name, your email address, and the link for the cover. YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY VIA THIS FORM TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GIVEAWAY.
This giveaway is now closed.
4. You may post the cover on more than one site and during more than one day, and you may fill out the form each time you post the cover. That will simply allow you to be entered multiple times. :)
5. The giveaway is international.
The giveaway will close Tuesday, September 30, at midnight PDT. I will draw FIVE winning names at random. The winners will receive one The Cure for Dreaming swag pack that includes bookmarks, a signed bookplate, and a postcard.
If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below. Good luck!
Friday, September 12, 2014
Read the Entire First Chapter of THE CURE FOR DREAMING!
Thanks to Abrams & Chronicle Books, the entire first chapter of The Cure for Dreaming—looking exactly as it will appear in the printed edition—is now available to read:
Click here for sharing options. Thanks so much to Abrams & Chronicle for creating this preview!
Click here for sharing options. Thanks so much to Abrams & Chronicle for creating this preview!
“Winters combines the history of women's rights in the early 20th century with a spellbinding story of a young woman caught at a crossroads between family and self.”
—School Library Journal
“[A] gripping, atmospheric story of mind control and self-determination.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Coming October 1, 2014, in the UK;
October 14, 2014, in the U.S. and Canada
—Kirkus Reviews
Coming October 1, 2014, in the UK;
October 14, 2014, in the U.S. and Canada
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Advance Praise for THE CURE FOR DREAMING + Upcoming Blog Tour and Events
The trade reviews for The Cure for Dreaming are starting to come in!
In October, be on the lookout for my blog tour for The Cure for Dreaming, sponsored by RockStar Book Tours.
I'll also be traveling quite a bit to promote the novel this fall. Here's where you can find me between September 2014 and January 2015:
Friday, September 26, 2014, 12:00 pm
PNBA Fall Tradeshow
Hotel Murano, Tacoma,Washington
Speaker, The Celebration of Authors; The Cure for Dreaming signing (1:45 - 2:15).
Saturday, October 4, 2014
OCTE Fall Conference
Wilsonville High School, Wilsonville, OR
Accepting the Oregon Spirit Book Award in the Young Adult Category.
Friday, October 24, 2014, 7:00 pm
Bards & Brews
Primrose & Tumbleweeds, 248 E. Main St., Hillsboro, Oregon
The Cure for Dreaming reading and signing, as well as readings from four other Oregon authors.
LAUNCH PARTY FOR THE CURE FOR DREAMING!!!!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
4:00 pm
Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, Oregon
Come dressed in a Halloween costume—or dressed as your true hidden self—to enter to win giveaways.
I'll be bringing tricks and treats to celebrate the release of both my newest novel and the paperback edition of In the Shadow of Blackbirds.
Saturday, November 15, 2014, 4:00 pm
University Book Store
4326 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington
The Cure for Dreaming reading and signing.
Saturday, November 22, 2014, 3:00 pm
A Children's Place Bookstore
4807 NE Fremont St., Portland, Oregon
YA panel with Chelsea Pitcher, April Genevieve Tucholke, Miriam Forster, Cat Winters, and Teri Brown.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014, 8:40-9:10 am
ALAN Workshop
National Harbor, Maryland
Panel: Fantastic Genre Fiction: The Bridge from Our World to Other Worlds, with Colleen Gleason, Brandon Sanderson, and Cat Winters.
Saturday, January 17, 2015, 2:30-4:00 pm
The Next Level Professional Series
TaborSpace, The Annex
5441 SE Belmont, Portland, Oregon
Success Panel: How a Writer and Writer/Illustator Got Their Starts, with Cat Winters and Nicole Rubel.
“Winters combines the history of women's rights in the early 20th century with a spellbinding story of a young woman caught at a crossroads between family and self. A strong female protagonist, realistic dialogue, and well-written prose allow readers to become immersed in Olivia's rather unique (and sometimes frightening) world.”
—School Library Journal
“[A] gripping, atmospheric story of mind control and self-determination.”
—Kirkus Reviews
—Kirkus Reviews
In October, be on the lookout for my blog tour for The Cure for Dreaming, sponsored by RockStar Book Tours.
I'll also be traveling quite a bit to promote the novel this fall. Here's where you can find me between September 2014 and January 2015:
Friday, September 26, 2014, 12:00 pm
PNBA Fall Tradeshow
Hotel Murano, Tacoma,Washington
Speaker, The Celebration of Authors; The Cure for Dreaming signing (1:45 - 2:15).
Saturday, October 4, 2014
OCTE Fall Conference
Wilsonville High School, Wilsonville, OR
Accepting the Oregon Spirit Book Award in the Young Adult Category.
Friday, October 24, 2014, 7:00 pm
Bards & Brews
Primrose & Tumbleweeds, 248 E. Main St., Hillsboro, Oregon
The Cure for Dreaming reading and signing, as well as readings from four other Oregon authors.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
4:00 pm
Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, Oregon
Come dressed in a Halloween costume—or dressed as your true hidden self—to enter to win giveaways.
I'll be bringing tricks and treats to celebrate the release of both my newest novel and the paperback edition of In the Shadow of Blackbirds.
Saturday, November 15, 2014, 4:00 pm
University Book Store
4326 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington
The Cure for Dreaming reading and signing.
Saturday, November 22, 2014, 3:00 pm
A Children's Place Bookstore
4807 NE Fremont St., Portland, Oregon
YA panel with Chelsea Pitcher, April Genevieve Tucholke, Miriam Forster, Cat Winters, and Teri Brown.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014, 8:40-9:10 am
ALAN Workshop
National Harbor, Maryland
Panel: Fantastic Genre Fiction: The Bridge from Our World to Other Worlds, with Colleen Gleason, Brandon Sanderson, and Cat Winters.
Saturday, January 17, 2015, 2:30-4:00 pm
The Next Level Professional Series
TaborSpace, The Annex
5441 SE Belmont, Portland, Oregon
Success Panel: How a Writer and Writer/Illustator Got Their Starts, with Cat Winters and Nicole Rubel.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
A Short Excerpt from THE CURE FOR DREAMING, Read by Me
I'm pleased to present a short excerpt from The Cure for Dreaming. Click on the video below, and you'll hear me reading a hypnotism scene from Chapter One. For the benefit of the hearing impaired, the text appears directly below the video, or you can watch the trailer on YouTube and click on the CC option for subtitles.
The text: My hands weighed several tons. They dropped away from the young hypnotist's fingers, and my chin slumped to my chest. I sank deep inside the darkness in a languid, dreamlike fall. Nothing hurt or troubled me any longer. I felt divine.
The music appearing at the end of the video is "Mostly Ghostly," composed and performed by the highly talented Kristen Lawrence of HalloweenCarols.com. One of Kristen's other songs, "Dark Glass," served as inspiration for the opening scene of The Cure for Dreaming, a book that first came to me three Halloween seasons ago when I was in the mood to write something theatrical, Victorian, and dreamlike.
If you're hearing about this novel for the first time (and even if you're not), I have a special way to share the plot with you: a sneak peek of the synopsis, as it will be appearing on the inside flap of the dust jacket.
I'm incredibly excited to share this novel with everyone next month (October 14, 2014, in the U.S. and Canada; October 1, 2014, in the UK)!
The text: My hands weighed several tons. They dropped away from the young hypnotist's fingers, and my chin slumped to my chest. I sank deep inside the darkness in a languid, dreamlike fall. Nothing hurt or troubled me any longer. I felt divine.
If you're hearing about this novel for the first time (and even if you're not), I have a special way to share the plot with you: a sneak peek of the synopsis, as it will be appearing on the inside flap of the dust jacket.
I'm incredibly excited to share this novel with everyone next month (October 14, 2014, in the U.S. and Canada; October 1, 2014, in the UK)!
Friday, August 22, 2014
THE CURE FOR DREAMING Countdown Widgets
During the rest of August and all through September, I'm going to be busily wrapping up the first draft of The Steep and Thorny Way, while also working on revisions for The Uninvited and my Slasher Girls & Monster Boys short story. I won't be posting many updates over here, but I will leave you with countdown widgets for both the U.S. and the UK publication dates for The Cure for Dreaming. Feel free to use the widgets on your own site.
In October, be on the lookout for my blog tour for The Cure for Dreaming, sponsored by RockStar Book Tours. And, as always, keep an eye on my Events page to see where I'll be showing up in person. I'll be traveling around the Northwestern U.S. for appearances this fall, and I'll also be on a YA panel in Washington, DC. Details about that last event to come.
U.S. release date widget:
Widget code: <iframe frameborder="0" height="240" src="//w2.countingdownto.com/612040" width="350"></iframe>
UK release date widget:
Widget code: <iframe width="350" height="240" src="//w2.countingdownto.com/622474" frameborder="0"></iframe>
In October, be on the lookout for my blog tour for The Cure for Dreaming, sponsored by RockStar Book Tours. And, as always, keep an eye on my Events page to see where I'll be showing up in person. I'll be traveling around the Northwestern U.S. for appearances this fall, and I'll also be on a YA panel in Washington, DC. Details about that last event to come.