mguibord

I'm not blogging these days- dealing with a health issue unfortunately. But the good news is- REVEL is almost out! After so long my sea-monster fantasy is going to be here February 12th! I'm really happy that the first few people to read it seem to like it. Even Kirkus was rather kind. There are a couple of places to win a free one:

First the lovely Dawn Metcalf  is giving away a copy, along with a sea-glass necklace that ties into the story. She interviewed me with some fun questions about inspirations for Trespass Island, world-building and jelly beans. You can see the map I created for the island. Beware-It wasn't intended to be art, only to show where the monsters live!  http://dawn-metcalf.livejournal.com/145748.html

Also I'm giving away 2 copies at Goodreads.
Best wishes to all- and keep reading!

They're here!
I'm surprised they're here so early, my release date is February 2013. No complaints Delacorte!!  I am so wowed by this gorgeous cover, designed by Trish Parcell. It makes me feel very cool just looking at it. Which I can use in this melty weather. Can't help but feel a little uneasy though, about who or what, might be in the water with that girl…

Someone can win an advanced readers copy- signed and doodled by me. I'm doing the giveaway at Goodreads and I believe all you have to do is click on the widget below to enter.
Yes, that should work.

Just got an amazing call from Linda Jones from the Romance Writers of America. WARPED is a finalist in two categories for the RITA award, for Best Young Adult Romance and Best First Novel!!!

I knew the calls were going out today but I had just about steeled myself to leave the house and carry on as usual when the phone rang. Out went the sangfroid and in came the gaspy tears. Heck, I don't even know if I just spelled sangfroid right. I don't care.



This is such a thrilling surprise- I'm so honored for my book to be among the stars on those lists!!

To celebrate I'd like to give away some copies. I have 5 paperback copies that I'll sign with hearts and send to random chosen commenters from US or Canada. YIPPEE!

I'll pick the winners 3/27/2012 at 5PM and notify you if you've won

Just returned from our town's Memorial Day parade. It's a small but stalwart affair and I like having the opportunity to clap and cheer for the veterans, the emergency volunteers, the high school band and the Gym Dandies (that's the unicycle/juggling youth team in Scarborough who are amazing). I was proud to see my son walking in the parade this year with his Boy Scout troop too. And he got to carry one of the big troop flags- which is an honor (and heavy- as such an honor must be I suppose). 

So now this is officially summer right? It does feel like it today- sunny and thick. 

A couple of fun bits of bookish news for WARPED. 

soniag , as part of her countdown to the release of her debut novel THE REVENANT is giving away a signed copy of WARPED as well as a copy of HAVEN by Kristi Cook 
The theme of the contest is "Hapless Hearts"- and Sonia explains what she means by that in her post. She is an unabashed romantic that girl!
Here's the link:
soniag.livejournal.com/347706.html

Also I found out that WARPED is nominated for the Summer Genre Book Battle, along with a whole bunch of other great books- so stop by and vote for your favorites!   mostimportantletter.wordpress.com/2011/05/29/book-genre-battle/

Although I'm not going to BEA I do have some exciting news- On Saturday May 28th I'm going to be at Books of Wonder in NYC for a multi author event. This makes me more thrilled than I can tell you.  For one thing, I get to meet other fantasy authors and be a tongue-tied fan girl (Gail Carson Levine is going to be there- can you say eep?!!!) 

 
I attended a very magical conference this weekend! The New England Chapter Conference for Romance Writers of America was magical for several reasons:

#1 Magical friends
I got to meet the elegantly bloodthirsty soniag  and the convivially psychopathic kimharrington . We had a great time- chatting about the ups and downs of being debut authors and sharing info from the conference. Ooh and I also met Marissa Doyle- a writer that I've felt like I've known for a long time online (on the blueboards)- but finally got to meet.

#2 Magical place
It took place in beautiful  Salem, Massachusetts, a city with a sad history. Many innocent people were killed during the witch trials (mostly by hanging), a fact that is remembered and recounted in museums as well as memorials.

But make no mistake: Hollywood witchcraft and the lighter side of everything macabre are also celebrated. This became clear when I encountered a man dressed in a butcher's coat, splattered with blood and brandishing a cleaver as he strolled down the cobble-stoned street.
"Don't worry," he told me with a friendly grin. "I'm not gonna scare you."
Maybe I should have told him it was a little late.
But I didn't want to upset him.

#3 Magical inspiration
#4 Magically Silly Pictures!!!

( See some very scary witches...Collapse )

 
There's a writer I know named dawn_metcalf 

Dawn's one of those fearsome people who are just so damn intense and intelligent and eloquent that my brain muscles are sore after conversing with her for a while. But in a good way!  My little gray cells are probably about 3% stronger, just by association.

Oh and she's a second degree black belt. Which means that she can kick my butt too. It's a very impressive combination in a critique partner- which is how I know Dawn.

Not much news to report. I thought of a line of dialogue for  Revel today. Why is it that I always think of snippets of dialogue for scenes that are six chapters away???
It must be the same synaptic mismatch that only allows me to think of a comeback 1 hour after I could use it.

He stared at the blood on his hand. "There's a fine line between a god and a monster. What separates them, do you think?"

"Maybe just the people who love them."

 
At The Hiding Spot I have an interview with Sara where we talked about the inspiration for WARPED and also the classic authors that I love to read again and again. My hiding spots!
 thehidingspot.blogspot.com/2011/03/interview-maurissa-guibord-author-of.html

AND there's also a drawing to win a signed copy of WARPED (US only) : thehidingspot.blogspot.com/2011/04/win-copy-of-warped-by-maurissa-guibord.html

 

This Saturday, the 26th I'm going to be at Bullmoose Music & Books in Scarborough Maine www.bullmoose.com/
with the effulgent* ellenbooraem , author of



 SMALL PERSONS WITH WINGS

and the audacious* carriejones, author of        ENTICE

We'll be at the store from 2-4 PM for readings, signings and general mayhem. I am so looking forward to it!
The day before we are also supposed to tape a 5 minute local TV interview together ! ACK! 

Anyway if you will be anywhere near Scarborough, ME this Saturday- please stop in- I'm bringing chocolate! 

*Both are lovely women and awesome writers but I thought I would give them some other adjectives because they probably hear those all the time :-)