Updates on All Three of My Upcoming Releases

I just wrapped up two intense months of meeting multiple deadlines, including judging a round for School Library Journal's 2015 Battle of the Books, which was quite an honor. Now that I have time to come up for a little breather, I thought I'd talk a little about the current status of my upcoming books. I'm in the amazing position of having three(!) new releases debuting between August of this year and Spring 2016, and even my husband and kids have some trouble keeping all of the books straight.

Here's the latest info for all three of those releases, as well as some details to help keep track of which book is which. (Click on the titles for more info and pre-ordering options.)

THE UNINVITED

Coming August 11, 2015 
William Morrow / HarperCollins
ISBN 9780062347336

Jazz. Gin. Ghosts. 

The Uninvited is my adult debut novel, set in the same 1918 time period as In the Shadow of Blackbirds. What makes it an adult novel versus a YA one? The main difference is that my main character is a 25-year-old woman instead of a teen. The book entails more cussing and sex than my already-published YA novels, although my upcoming YA short story (see the next book listed) does involve a sex scene.

The bottom line: This is still very much a Cat Winters novel, despite the protagonist's age and her occasional nakedness. You'll find a blend of the paranormal and history, and the book is also being called a psychological thriller. Advance praise for the novel is listed here.

SLASHER GIRLS & MONSTER BOYS

Coming August 18, 2015 
Dial / Penguin
ISBN 9780803741737

My second August release is a YA horror anthology involving short stories written by fourteen different authors, including me!

We've all finished writing and editing our stories, and the book is now beautifully typeset. I've heard that advance review copies are in the works, as well as a website for the book. I'll reveal the title of my individual story as soon as I receive the go-ahead to do so. (Update: There's now an official Slasher Girls & Monster Boys website).

The bottom line: This one's going to be scary, kids. All fourteen of us authors were asked to write stories inspired by classic horror movies and books. The book is for teens (and adult readers, too, of course), but some bravery and a lack of squeamishness will be required. Horror fans should be pleased.

THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY

Coming Spring 2016
Amulet Books / Abrams

This is my Hamlet-inspired YA novel involving a biracial girl in 1920s Oregon. I just handed my editor my revisions for the book this morning, and the novel will undergo two more stages of edits before the book is typeset, proofread, and turned into a finished product.

I won't say too much more about this one before the official synopsis gets released with the cover this fall (probably around September or October), but I will mention that, like In the Shadow of Blackbirds, it does involve a murder, a mystery, and a ghost.

The bottom line: My agent and early readers have called The Steep and Thorny Way my strongest book yet, and I'm incredibly proud of the novel. I'd personally say the book is appropriate for ages 14 and up.