Author Event: Jenn McKinlay

 

Last week Jenn McKinlay visited my library for an after-hours event and it was awesomesauce.

Her newest book Summer Share just came out:

Which I reviewed for Fresh Fiction

"The Perfect Summer Read"

Jenn and I had a conversation where we talked about:

The Bat Scene

How the setting was influenced by her childhood memories

How the grandfathers were influenced by her uncle

The Dude and how she comes up with all the mischievous and cute animals in her books.

The Hallmark+ series for Paris is Always a Good Idea

Sadly, she does not have a cameo in the series

But she did talk about her visit to the set with her two sons

She shared how fast the timeline moved and how surprised she was having heard that Hollywood is VERY slow.

There's another work that has been optioned - this time by Acorn TV

The hat shop series starts with Cloche and Dagger. It's a seven-book series that takes place in England.

I loved this series

Jenn shared how the series idea struck her after watching William and Kate's wedding and seeing the hat Beatrice wore. 
I REALLY hope this happens. 

We talked about her writing habits and how they changed over time (and a little influence from her husband). 

We talked about switching genres (romance, cozies, romance, and fantasy)

We talked about the ending of series because of the end to printing mass market paperbacks (This is SO NOT FAIR! I want more cupcake bakery mystery series)

This ended on a cliffhanger of sorts and I want more.

Jenn signed books afterwards. 

Here I am getting my book signed

All in all, it was a great night! 

* thanks to my co-workers for taking the pictures

Author Event: Sarah Beth Durst

 Last evening, we had an author event at my library. It was lovely.

Sarah Beth Durst came to the library for an after-hours event. 

While she writes for several ages: kids, teens, and adults, we were celebrating her newest series:

Here we are talking:

We talked about so much - 

Community and Kindness

Writing every day or just finding out what works best for you as a writer

Everyone has a story to tell

Writings as an act of joy

Snacks

Unsuccessful hobbies

Book Recommendations

The Spellshop as a series and how it developed

Librarians

Upcoming books

It was a magical night! 

Not pictured: All the yummy cookies! 

Shoutout to my co-workers for taking these photos! 

A Night with Jamie Beck and Before I Knew

I had the pleasure of hosting Jamie Beck at my library for the Connecticut Author Trail program. She was lovely and fantastic. I really enjoyed it. I know Jamie through RWA (Romance Writers of America)

She talked about the difference between straight romance and women's fiction and how she writes a blend of the two. Jamie talked about how she became a writer - through a a job she didn't love and then staying home with the kids.

When she first started writing, she didn't tell anyone. After her first book was rejected, she joined RWA where she learned the craft of writing. Her second book was also rejected, but there was interest in it.

All the advice said to just keep writing, and we're so glad that she did!

The only bad thing about the night (besides the traffic) was that I forgot to snap a picture with Jamie!

Before I Knew is her latest book and the first in a family saga.Colby's mentally ill husband killed himself two years ago and she's still healing from all the pain. He wanted to keep his illness a secret, causing her to lie to her family for years. Now she's trying to start up a restaurant, hoping that a new challenge will bring purpose to her life.

Except the head chef is none other than Alec. Besides being an old family friend, he's also the brother of the man that her husband dared to his death. And the family's been estranged for the last two years.

Guilty about both men's death ate Alec alive, but he's happy to be given another chance. He certainly has ideas for the restaurant. He's also had feeling for Colby that never went away. Can they recapture their easy friendship and maybe even something more?

My Thoughts: I loved this book, I loved the two families torn apart by tragedy coming back together and healing. I loved that Colby was trying something new with her life and trying to make it successful - with the help from her family. Her family added both humor and more drama to the story. I'm looking forward to reading more about them. I enjoyed watching Alec put his life back together - with his ideas for the restaurant and his ideas for his family. I loved watching Alec and Colby become friends again and work together. I really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the work it takes to create and start up a restaurant. Luckily book 2 comes out early next year!

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: Purchased

Library Recommendation: Public Libraries will want to grab this one! And also invite Jamie to chat at your library.

Where I Was (part 2)

After hiking Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon, we traveled to Vegas for some R&R. I know that doesn't seem logical, but...that's who we are. I wanted a place with a fun pool. Of course I did some reading by the pool.

I saved Kristan Higgins's new book for this trip. And of course, it was amazing. I couldn't put it down.

We also went to a wax museum, my first time. It was fun, but it took a bit to get into it.

 Here are some of my favorite photos.

Singing with the Rat Pack

The Hulk grabbed me.

Box Out, Box Out!

Then we just walked around a bit and looked at everything.

We got to visit with some friends for drinks.

Plus I got to chat with an author friend. Sadly, we didn't take a picture this time. 

But you can read about the first time that we met here!

And her books are amazing!

CT Author Trail: Kady Cross

The Otis Library has been participating in the Connecticut Author Trail since it started 4 years ago. This year, Kady Cross was our author. 

Kady writes three different types of books with three different publishers. She uses different voices for each name, which allows her to write for different ages, without worrying that fans will find her older books.  She also writes under Kate Cross and Kate Locke.

With Harlequin Teen, she writes under Kady Cross. (Reviews of Girl in the Steel Corset and Girl in a Clockwork Collar).  She hopes the Steampunk Chronciles will have 5 books in the series. The next book will be about Emily, with her on the cover and maybe we her robot cat! I can't wait to see that cover (and of course read the book!) She uses a book on Victorian inventions and her husband (a science buff) for ideas on how to incorporate technology into this fabulous series.

She grew up in Nova Scotia, out in the middle of nowhere. A bookmobile would come around, which was fabulous. Bags of books were brought home and devoured.

Kady knew she liked writing when she was 8 and her teacher read her story aloud to her classmates. Everyone laughed in all the right spots and she thought, I could get used to this. Kady started writing her first romance at the age of 10, which was set in the deep south. She used to write stories for her classmates for their required silent reading period during school hours.

In her mid 20s, she quit her job and went back to school. Her boyfriend (now husband) encouraged her to write a book. When she finished it, she sent it to 4 publishing houses. Avon offered her a two book deal.

It was a GREAT night filled with lots of laughter and fun!

Here's our Room Set up: 
Dessert Table

 
Close Up of cookies

Chocolate Cameo:

 

The Book Table:

                                                  

The Swag:

Meeting Mary Higgins Clark

I read Loves Music Loves to Dance when I was in the 7th grade for a book report and I loved it. I was hooked. I read all the other books by Mary Higgins Clark. I was so happy to meet her on Friday night. She was there with her daughter, author Carol Higgins Clark. They were charming, funny, and intriguing. 

The secrets we learned:

Originally, Mary Higgins Clark killed off her characters Elvira in Weep No More My Lady, but her daughter convinced her to rethink the death.  For her latest book, her editor asked for a biblical story. It's the only book that isn't titled after a song.

Deck the Halls, their first collaborative book, was made into a movie last year - they both had cameos in it.

Mary Higgins Clark knew she wanted to be a writer. She was always writing skits that she and her brothers would perform together. They wanted more of a starring role, but as the writer, she chose the rolls. She wrote during math and sciences classes. She went to secretarial school, but then her father died and they needed money.  She started a job in advertising.

She just got engaged when she was offered the opportunity to be a Pan Am Stewardess for a year. She would be traveling and seeing Europe, Asia, and Africa. Her fiance told her to get the travel bug out of her system and they would get married at Christmas, when people were more generous.

When she stopped flying, she signed up for a class at NYU for short stories as she never thought she could write a book. She didn't realize she was a mystery writer. She sold her first short story for $100, but it was at a time when short stories were not selling. Her agent pushed her to write a book. She was researching George Washington for a radio show and discovered fascinating details of his life. She wrote a book and gushed to her agent over all the research. Her agent was less than happy as the book only sold 1200 copies. It was later reprinted as Mount Vernon Love Story. She wrote from 5-6:45 in the morning at the kitchen table as she was working full time. Now she has an office where she can leave her work out. Mary Higgins Clark wanted to write a book that would sell. She looked in her library and realized that she loved suspense. So she started writing suspense.

Carol, interested in acting, began typing up her mother's books and fell into writing. Her first book Decked, was a murder on a cruise ship. Her mother came up with the title. Carol looked around in her life for ideas from books. One item was a letter from a man who wanted to be her butler. Another was from her stint on a game show where she lost the big money because her partner's terrible clues. One that might make it to her book was an unknown person buried in their cemetery's family plot.

Her mother's advice " If someone's mean to you, make them a victim in your next book."

Mary Higgins Clark writing advice: Take a look at your bookshelf. What books to do gravitate towards? Choose that type of book to write.

I LOVED meeting her!

Chatting with Inara Scott

Yesterday, we talked about The Candidates and today we sit down and chat with the author!

What made you choose to write YA?
I was introduced to the genre when I heard a speech by Meg Cabot at a romance writer’s convention. I read the Princess Diaries and then the Mediator series and I was hooked! I was writing adult romance at the time, but found that I was really drawn to the openness of the young adult genre, where it seemed that anything and everything was possible.

Ironically - she's the reason I'm a YA librarian :)

Where do you write best?
It’s such a cliche, but I seem to write best in a coffee shop, especially when it’s early in the morning and quiet. If I’m writing something new, I need to get out of the house and have a chunk of time to get anything done. If I’m revising something I’ve already written, I can work just about anywhere.

How do you get your ideas? Do you use real events in your novels and if so, can you describe one?
Ideas come from everywhere -- it’s more difficult to whittle them down than it is to come up with them in the first place! I don’t explicitly use real life events in my novels, but real events definitely influenced me while I was writing Delcroix Academy: The Candidates. At the time, we were hearing a lot about the war with Iraq going wrong, increasing government surveillance, and preemptive action being taken against presumed terrorists. All of these things ended up affecting The Candidates, though to prevent spoilers, I won’t say exactly how!

Ah, I can see that now. That's VERY interesting!

How did you come up with your title?
I can’t say that I did. I’m HORRIBLE with titles. I had originally named the book Taking Sides, and at my agent’s suggestion, came up with lots and lots of other options when it came time to submit it to editors. None seemed to quite fit. My agent liked the idea of having something that would work for a series, and suggested Delcroix Academy: The Candidates.

Can you tell us a little bit about The Candidates?
I’d love to! Dancia Lewis is a girl with a dangerous paranormal gift -- she can make things happen just by imaging them. The problem is, when she uses her gift, people always end up getting hurt. Dancia tries to make herself invisible, hiding from the world in an effort to avoid using her powers, but when she's recruited to attend Delcroix Academy, an exclusive boarding school, all bets are off. Suddenly, she's got the hottest guy on campus and a dark, troublemaking best friend vying for her attention. But why has the most invisible girl in the ninth grade suddenly become so popular? What's really going on behind the gates of Delcroix Academy?

How many books will there be in the series?
Book Two, Delcroix Academy: The Watchers will be out in August 2011. After that, it’s anyone’s guess!

Oh, I LOVE the title!

If you had a “gift” what would you choose?
I’d love to breathe underwater. It’s a dream I’ve had since I was a kid. My name means mermaid, and I always thought perhaps if I tried hard enough, I could become one. :-)

What did you do on your release day?
I had a pedicure with my daughter, spent a lot of time emailing and hanging out on the internet, and then went out with friends to celebrate.

What was the last book you’ve read that you’ve been recommending to everyone? Flash Burnout by LK Madigan. I just loved this book and can’t recommend it enough.

I've heard GREAT things about this book. I must read it!

I Loved the idea for the love your library contest – which is finished, but amazingly awesome. What’s your favorite library story?
Thanks -- I wanted to make sure everyone knew I was thrilled for them to request my books at the library. I know books are expensive! Like the rest of you, I can’t get enough of new books and I definitely don’t buy them all. I am what I like to call a “power library user.” ;-) Meaning, I take my kids there a few times a week and we load up on the books. Multiple bags are involved. Picture books, chapter books, coffee table books, novels...it seems there’s always some new subject we’re learning about. I think my favorite day was when I found myself taking out books about Miami, gardening, flower arrangements, faeries, world religions, yoga, and jazz -- all at the same time. I figure the librarians must think I’m crazy!

I love the mix of books you grab!

Are there any authors you’d love to meet?
I’ve met her, but only briefly -- I’d love to have a drink and hang out a little with Meg Cabot.

Do you have a favorite literary quote?
It is wrong that I don’t? LOL. My favorite quote (not literary) is from Mahatma Gandhi: “Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with love.” I find very little of value comes from hate.

Listing if your favorites:
Candy: Swedish Fish
Pizza topping: Fresh mozzarella (I can’t eat it otherwise!)
Genre of books: YA of course!!
Singer and/or Song: Jason Mraz, I’m Yours
Restaurant: Slappycakes
TV show /Movie: Tough one! I love The Cutting Edge. Also, The Pirate Movie. They’re old. You’ve probably never heard of them. ;-)
Color: Blue
Shoe: Black Dansko boots, ballet flats from Target
Video Game: Don’t really play ‘em. I’ve got enough trouble keeping up with my inbox without introducing video games into my life!

Anything I didn’t ask?
Do I like hearing from readers? YES! Please contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@inarascott) or gmail: inara dot scott at gmail dot com!

Meeting Suzanne Collins!

Last Friday, I met Suzanne Collins during a signing of Mockingbird. I even waited to read the stamped book, which was hard as it kept me off blogs and most of the internet for days. It was hosted by RJ Julia's but held off site. This bookstore always has amazing authors. I've met so many great ones there!

In honor of the event, I wore a special shirt.

Here she is waiting in the wings before coming up to the stage









Here she is on the stage where she read a little bit of Catching Fire for the audience to fully appreciate Katniss's voice before diving in and reading in the first few pages of Mockingjay.









Then we all waited in line. Here she is stamping my friend - a fellow librarian's - book and chatting with her. There wasn't much time to chat, but it was awesome nonetheless.

I wish there had been a Q&A as there were several questions I wanted answered, but it was still great fun. Plus I won a door prize! - a Hunger Games bag clip, which I think I can alternate and use it as a necklace or bracelet!


Finally, I chatted with her and asked her to pose of a READ poster:

Author Visit: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

We had the extraordinarily good fortune to snag Jennifer for an event at the library.

Here's the room set up:

There's a dessert table



There's a readalike table where people could check out books from our collection



There's a book buying table



And finally there was Jennifer

A little blurry and then before the room filled up.

*************
She talked about her writing process

How long it takes her to write a book: her first couple of books took a few short weeks while her last book look almost a year to write. She also revises each day before she writes.

Her rejections and how to get over rejections: best tip: as soon as you start query letters for one project, immediately start another project so when the rejections letters come - and they will - it won't hurt as bad because it's not the project you're working on right now.

How Raised by Wolves found the official cover - after many drafts with tons of photos, fonts, and colors

Books:
She recently LOVED
Mistwood
Unwritten Word

She adores:
adult urban fantasy

The first supernatural book she read: Matilda

Old favorites from Childhood:
Anne of Green Gables series
Tamora Pierce


Here's a READ poster I made of her with her favorite Spy novels