MORE THAN EXES Update

I'm currently working hard on MORE THAN EXES, the prequel novella to MORE THAN MUSIC about Jared's brother Kyle. I hope to have more information available soon, including a full description and a release date. For now I can say that it's set at the Battle of the Bands about a month before the start of MORE THAN MUSIC, and it's the story of Kyle reconnecting with his high school sweetheart Alexis. Jared and Maddie will both make appearances in it, of course!

I'm preparing to reveal the cover for MORE THAN EXES soon. If you want to see it first all you have to do is sign up for my newsletter!

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Tomorrow I'm heading off to Comic-Con, my favorite event of the entire year, and I hope to see some of you there. I'll be at most of the book panels and will be accompanied by a tall guy in a chainmail hoodie, so please say hello! I'll have pretty bookmarks to give away! Or if you're not going you can follow me on Twitter, where I'll be posting updates and photos throughout the con.

Pitch Wars & Writer's Voice Success Stories!

I'm so excited to announce that my 2013 Pitch Wars mentee Audrey Coulthurst has signed with Alexandra Machinist of ICM Partners. Yay! Dancing pony time!

I had a great time mentoring Audrey and an even better time becoming friends with her over the past few months. Plus I absolutely loved her YA fantasy about a princess who falls for the horse-training sister of the prince she's betrothed to. I can't wait for it to sell so everyone can read it too!

BUT WAIT... there's more good news! Two of the people I coached in The Writer's Voice 2014 have also signed with agents! Huge congrats to LT Host for signing with Sara Megibow of Nelson Literary Agency and Breanna Shields for signing with Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency!

I'm so happy to have played a tiny part in these three authors' journeys. I predict great things for all of them!

Psst... I'm going to be mentoring again in the 2014 round of Pitch Wars. My wish list will be up soon and I'll be looking for YA and NA this year, so get cracking on those revisions so you can apply on August 18!

Critique Partner Appreciation Giveaway!

MORE THAN MUSIC has been out for a month and the response has been even better than I expected! Thank you to everyone who has read it, reviewed it, or supported it in any way!

I truly could not have written or published this book without the help of my amazing critique partners. Today I want to show my appreciation for three of them by giving away copies of their awesome books. (And I plan to do another giveaway later for my CPs whose books aren't out yet - so stay tuned for that one too!)

Want to see what you can win?

THE LOST PLANET by Rachel Searles

CAMELOT BURNING by Kathryn Rose

PUSH GIRL by Jessica Love & Chelsie Hill

All of these books are signed by the authors! I'll also throw in some goodies and swag from Comic-Con. Maybe a bag? A poster? An ARC of an upcoming book? It will be a surprise - and the more entries we get, the more stuff I'll throw in! Unfortunately, since this will be a pretty big package this giveaway is for US only. Sorry!

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One, Two, Three Interview & Giveaway

I'm thrilled to have an interview with Elodie Nowodazkij on my blog today, who is the author of the new YA contemporary ONE, TWO, THREE. Check it out, and then enter the giveaway below for a signed copy and more!

When seventeen-year-old Natalya’s dreams of being a ballerina are killed in a car accident along with her father, she must choose: shut down—like her mother—or open up to love.

Last year, Natalya was attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. Last year, she was well on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. Last year, her father was still alive.

But a car crash changed all that—and Natalya can’t stop blaming herself. Now, she goes to a regular high school in New Jersey; lives with her onetime prima ballerina, now alcoholic mother; and has no hope of a dance career.

At her new school, however, sexy soccer player Antonio sees a brighter future for Natalya, or at least a more pleasant present, and his patient charms eventually draw her out of her shell.
But when upsetting secrets come to light and Tonio’s own problems draw her in, Natalya shuts down again, this time turning to alcohol herself.

Can Natalya learn to trust Antonio before she loses him—and destroys herself?

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INTERVIEW

1. You’re French and live in Germany…but you write in English. How come?

I lived in the United States, in Maryland, for quite a few years, first as an “au pair” and then as a university student. I’m a proud Retriever and a proud Terps J, having received a BA from the University of Maryland at Baltimore County and my first Master’s from the University of Maryland at College Park. Writing in English just seems to be more “natural” for me. But maybe one day, I’ll write a novel in French too.

2. What was your inspiration for ONE, TWO, THREE?

I used to love dancing ballet as a kid, and I won a writing contest to go see the Opera de Paris. We saw the dancers train, it was magical. Those moments stayed with me.

Then, one day, I was talking about the movie Center Stage on Twitter and Natalya’s voice came into my head. At first, all I knew was that she was seventeen and an accident had killed her hope of becoming a professional ballerina...The accident turned into a car crash that also took her father’s life.

Natalya’s voice was sad and broken, but full of want.

From there on, it became her story.

3. The family from Natalya, the main character in your novel, originally comes from Russia. How did you do your research?

The name of my main character was actually inspired from my mother-in-law, who moved to Germany from Russia about 20 years ago. My husband, who was born in the Ukraine, still speaks Russian with her, and I learned a lot from them. His family is the one who taught me there’s a Russian proverb for every situation, and some of Natalya’s favorite food is also mine.

4. Can we expect more books to come with Natalya & Tonio?

Yes. But I’m not planning a sequel. There will be at least two companion novels to One, Two, Three. The first one will be published in November 2014. It will focus on Emilia, Nata’s friend at the School of Performing Arts. It’s entitled ALWAYS SECOND BEST, and you can already find it on Goodreads. The second companion novel will be focusing on Becca, Nata’s best friend. Publication will be in early 2015.

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Elodie Nowodazkij was raised in a tiny village in France, where she could always be found a book in hand. At nineteen, she moved to the US, where she learned she'd never lose her French accent. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Modern Language & Linguistics, and later earned master's degrees in German Cultural Studies and European Studies. Unbeknownst to her professors, she sometimes drafted stories in class. Now she lives in Germany with her husband and their cat (who doesn't seem to realize he's not human), and uses her commuting time to write the stories swirling in her head. She's also a serial smiley user.

Website: www.elodienowodazkij.com 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/commutinggirl 

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/elodienowodazkij 

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More Than Music Fan Teaser + Giveaway

Thank you to everyone who helped make my release week so great! I'm so happy More Than Music is out and that so many people are enjoying it. Hearing from readers always makes my day!

In fact, I recently got this teaser from a fan - isn't it awesome? Especially since I went to high school with Adam Levine briefly, back when Maroon 5 was called Kara's Flowers!

By the way, on Friday I'll be heading to Las Vegas for the ALA Annual Conference to hang out with librarians and authors and bloggers. I'm not officially signing, but I'll be around the exhibit hall all weekend, so if you see me please say hello! Or leave a comment and let me know you're going too!

And if you missed out on one of the More Than Music giveaways going around, here's another chance to win an ebook copy, plus a $10 gift card!

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