Live.Laugh.Love...Feeling the Love!

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One thing I've learned since OPPRESSION was published is that you can't please everyone. No matter how hard you try, even if you write the most brilliant masterpiece of a novel (which I'm not saying I did...), there will always be those who put you down, who don't like your work, etc. BUT what makes it all worth it are those you touch, who love everything about your writing and reach out to tell you just how much...

I wanted to share with you some of the emails I've gotten that have made it all worth it for me :) In moments where I was discouraged or hurt by someone's comment (yes, authors are people too...we do read the reviews you write and the comments you make...) these emails really made me feel the love!

"Hey just wanted to say GREAT book! Loved it.... soooo.... umm.. hurry up and get the next one written already!!! Jeez :)" - Aly

"I just popped over here from Mark Koopman's blog. I cannot for the life of me remember where I heard about your novel, "Oppression" the first time, but I bought a copy and am now almost half way through. LOVE IT! Wonderful characters and story! Love your spin on Greek Mythology." - Scarlett Stokes

"Hi, I know that this series is in the teen category, however as a 51 y/o my wife and I loved your first book and can't wait until the next one is published. Thank you for an original series and great read." - Hub

"I loved your book! It was all of the details and creative aspects that I would want in an absolutely amazing book! I am a HUGE fan of Greek mythology. Sometimes I felt like I was Elyse and that I had known these characters my whole life. The way that you described that the Gods weren't really gods at all, but people that had special powers and they aged differently, made me look at mythology in a whole different way. I give this book 5 stars all the way. Your book, (in my opinion) was better then the Hunger Games series, Percy Jackson series, and the Matched series, combined! In the end your book took my breath away and I want my own William!" - Tera Vinuela

"Ms. Therrien, I am an avid reader and love really most any type of book, but I must say, I loved your first book Oppression. My wife and I (she's 26, I'm 28) always look for up-and-coming authors on Amazon and Barnes & Noble (she has a Kindle, I have a Nook), and sometimes the do-it-yourselfers get it right. This book was so good that if I knew you, I'd have to give you a high-five because it was very entertaining.
I have been an avid reader all my life, and typically read an average of a book per week. This one is very easily in my Top 10 for the past few years. Good job with this one, and I look forward to reading Book Two." - Ty Davis

"Dear Mrs. Jessica Therrien,

Jeez! Your writing is amazing! I would like to introduce myself. I am LeeArron Klosterman. I am a senior in high school and going off to college next year. I bought a little tablet for Christmas that I am going to take to college. I found out that I could use the 'kindle' app on it. I usually do not like reading, BUT, I got your book on there and my mom was SO impressed that I was reading! I really could not keep my mind off of the storyline. Books on young adults (well, at least appearing to be [haha]) with superhuman qualities or abilities are my favorites! Anyways, I wanted to say thank you for sharing your amazing gift of writing stories with me. I am also here to say that I SOOOO much want to hear back from you and also to know about when the next book comes out. I want to get a hold of it as soon as it does. Thanks-a-million again!

Have a splendid day! and Hope to hear back!

 

P.S. Also, I wanted to mention that my absolute favorite part of the first book had to be the way you designed Ellie. I could really relate to her. I identified with her on everything (usually the way she felt) every step of the way throughout the book. That made it even more awesome to read!" - LeeArron Klosterman

How have others made you feel the love lately?

Oppression Blog Tour - DAY 4

The book launch was AMAZING! Thanks so much to everyone who came...it was so much fun to see you all :) We sold a ton of books and I signed them all with my cool new autograph pen. *teehee* The big news yesterday was that Oppression moved up to the #5 best-selling teen NOOK book right behind The Hunger Games trilogy & box set. Crazy right? As of this morning...it's still there! Thanks to all the awesome people buying it! YAY!

Over the next two weeks I'll be hopping around from blog to blog for my Oppression blog tour. Today is day four of the tour!! 

Today there is a guest post up at Book Chelle. I'm really excited about that post because it's on writing about love while being in love. Also, over at Sana's Blog there is a great review of Oppression along with a giveaway. Thanks girls for handing over your blogs for the day! You're awesomesauce. 

Over the next 15 days I'll be collecting comments from all of the blog tour stops. At the end, I'll pull one lucky winner out of a hat. They'll win an Oppression poster, an Oppression notebook, and a signed copy of Oppression. Thanks in advance to everyone who checks out the blog tour posts, and thanks to all of the bloggers who were nice enough to invite me over to their blogs.

Throughout the tour I'll also be doing a promotion for the $.99 Oppression e-book. If you purchase it for Kindle or NOOK, enter here to win a signed copy of Oppression.

   

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

March 1

Rachel Morgan - Book Review

March 2

K.T. Hanna - Guest Post

Soumi Roy - Book Review March 3 Inspired Kathy - Interview & Giveaway Fictitious Musings - Guest Post March 4 Book Chelle - Guest Post Sana Shams - Book Review & Giveaway

March 5

Carrie Butler - Interview

Melanie Fowler - Interview

March 6

Rebekah Loper - Interview

Leigh Covington - Interview

Precious - Interview

March 7

Elie - Book Review & Interview

Word Spelunking - Book Review & Guest Post J.C. Martin - Interview Sarah Hoss - Interview

March 8

Becky - Interview

Tia - Book Review & Interview

March 9

Megan - Book Review & Interview

Mr. Book Wonder - Book Review

March 10

Nicola O'Sullivan - Book Review

Liliana Espinoza - Book Review & Interview

Rebekah Loper - Book Review March 11 Sam Bella - Guest Post Avery Marsh - Excerpt from Oppression Hilda - Book Review & Interview March 12

Sophia - Guest Post & Giveaway

Brinda Berry - Oppression Playlist

March 13

Cherie Colyer - Interview

Juliana Brandt - Interview Juhina & Farah - Interview

March 14

Jaime Morrow - Interview

Meradeth - Book Review & Interview Janina - Book Review & Interview

March 15

Claire - Guest Post Tattoogirl Reads - Book Review, Interview, & Giveaway Katrina - Book Review & Giveaway Maria Qadi - Interview Wendy Darling - Book Review & Giveaway K.T. Hanna - Book Review *March 16 - extended tour date Manga Maniac Cafe - Book Review & Interview

Writers Campaign Challenge #1

As part of Rachael Harrie's Platform-Building Campaign we've been given our first flash fiction challenge. The Challenge is:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count. 

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:

• end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count)

• include the word "orange" in the story

• write in the same genre you normally write

• make your story 200 words exactly!

The Other Side

     Shadows crept across the wall. It was him.

     “I know you’re here.” My voice cut through the silence of my empty bedroom.

     Every night he’d been coming. Invisible, but present, his silhouetted form the only proof I wasn’t crazy. I clicked on my bedside lamp. He couldn’t hide in the orange glow.

     I gasped as the light outlined his shaded figure.

     He moved quickly, away from me.

     “Don’t go,” I shouted. “I want to come with you.”

     He stopped, came closer. I reached for him. The way the air warmed where he stood was both terrifying and exciting. He was real.

     I felt the warmth on my face, his hand.

     “I know it’s you, Jack,” I said, tears wetting my lashes. I’d never loved anyone else. He’d died too soon. “Please take me with you.”

     The warmth moved to my lips, and I breathed it in, the familiar scent of sage and earth.

     “Please.”

     His invisible hands found my neck, gently at first. The pulse of my heart quickened beneath the heat of his fingers.

     “Do it.”

     The loss of air was startling, but I wanted this. I couldn’t live without him. I smiled with closed eyes as everything faded.

If you liked my story, you can give it a thumbs up here. I'm #47.

Rachael Harrie's Fourth Writers' Platform-Building Campaign

Hello fellow campaigners! I'm so happy it's time for another campaign! Yippeee! If you've never heard of this fantastically marvelous idea, let me enlighten you...

What is the Campaign?

Basically, the Campaign is a way to link those of us in the writing community together with the aim of helping to build our online platforms. The Campaigners are all bloggers in a similar position, who genuinely want to pay it forward, make connections and friends within the writing community, and help build each others' online platforms while at the same time building theirs.

As the Campaign kicks off, you'll have the names and blog addresses of the Campaigners on my List of Campaigners page, so you can keep in touch with the other Campaigners. That way you’ll have a list of bloggers in the same position as you, who genuinely want to help you succeed. And you'll be able to meet those who have the most in common with you. You can visit their blogs and other places they haunt, follow along, leave comments galore, and share your highs and lows as you journey through the blogosphere and build your online platform. And they'll be doing the same for you.

If you want to find out a bit more about past Campaigns, check out the info I've included here.

Yes. I will be joining! Will you?

Writing World: Hello February

Hello February! I’ve been waiting for you…

My debut novel, Oppression, comes out this month! I can’t believe I can finally say that. It felt like February would never come. These next 27 days are going to be excruciatingly long…in a good way. It sort of feels like the first day of December when I start counting down to Christmas (I’m a sucker for Christmas).

Though release day is still 27 days away, ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) of Oppression have been distributed. Yes. People are reading it RIGHT NOW. It’s a crazy feeling. I really love the idea of ARCs. It’s fun to let people in on the book before it hits the market. I feel like I’m sharing a really good secret. Thanks to all of you ARC readers out there. I appreciate it and hope you are enjoying Oppression!

To celebrate the first day of release month I wanted to reveal the back cover of Oppression. Some of you may have already seen it, but for those who haven’t…here it is! I absolutely love it.

Click the photo for a bigger image.

Also, as a reminder, if you want to sign up for the Virtual Launch Party for Oppression or the Blog Tour, there is still time! Click here to sign up for the launch party or here for the blog tour. Thanks!

What are you looking forward to this month?

Writing World: Update on Oppression

Well, what once was "writing world" for me has now become "marketing world." ...not that this part of the publishing experience isn't completely and awesomely fun. It is. But man, it is work. Not to mention I still have to keep writing the next book (which is going well by the way...I can't wait to start sharing and talking about that once Oppression is out).

Now don't get the wrong idea, I don't want to shove Oppression down your throats, but this blog is called Imagination to Publication. Without trying to be too much of a salesman, I wanted to share the newest details of my publishing journey.


As you may know, I met with ZOVA last weekend, and here is the latest:

1. Oppression will be included in the 2012 Debut Author Challenge.

The challenge goal is to read & review a minimum of twelve young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1, 2012 – January 31, 2013.

As part of the debut author challenge, Oppression will be touring around to different readers on the Debut Author Challenge ARC Tour. You will be able to sign up for the tour here once it is posted (sometime next week).

 *Don't forget to become a member of the Debut Author Challenge Group on Goodreads!

2. Oppression is climbing the YA Debut 2012 Listopia list where you can vote for your favorite upcoming 2012 novels. Yippee! Thanks for your votes everyone!

3. I'm planning an Oppression Virtual Launch Party! I hope you'll be joining me on February 28th to help celebrate the release of my book (by posting about Oppression). I'll be posting a sign up/RSVP form later this month for those of you bloggers who want to help me host. If you know for sure you want to be involved, you can also email me or leave a note in the comments.

4. The back cover reveal will be coming shortly. I absolutely love it. Can't wait to share :)

5. A fresh wave of E-ARCS should be going out to bloggers soon. I can't wait to hear feedback from everyone!

6. A Q&A with my publisher will be posted in a few weeks.

7. I will be attending the Southern California Writers Conference with ZOVA the week before the release (Feb. 17-20) to promote the book. Hope to see you there!

That's what's going on in my writing world. What about you? Feel free to share any big book news or even if you're just writing queries. I love to hear from you all!

OPPRESSION Cover!

I've been waiting for this day FOREVER...My book has a cover! It has a cover that I LOVE.

It just makes it all much more real...proof that I'm not making all of this up. On top of it all, ZOVA got it just right. The girl is exactly how I pictured Elyse. Young but wise. Gentle but cautious.

What I love most is that her eyes are closed and that she seems to be coming into the light. I can't think of a more perfect way to visually express the idea of a girl discovering the truth about herself, especially after spending her whole life in the dark about who and what she is. 

Not to mention the title is Oppression, so the blackness pressing in on her from all sides is appropriate.

I just love it. Thank you ZOVA!

There are others like her. Many of them. 

And they have been waiting for her for a long time.

 OPPRESSION tells the story of a young woman who discovers that she belongs to a secret society of individuals with extraordinarily long life spans and unusual abilities. Fearful of prophecies about their only daughter, her parents kept her hidden from the world – and the society – for as long as they could. But when their own untimely deaths leave her to fend for herself, the truth of her origins and the fateful prophecy find her at last. Joining the ranks of such widely popular works as the Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games, and the Mortal Instruments series, Mrs. Therrien's paranormal romance/adventure promises to be the next fan-favorite in its genre.

*Note: The above blurb is not what will be printed on the back cover. ZOVA is still working on that, but what I've seen of it looks awesome. Can't wait to share that with you when it's ready.

Also, in case you haven't read the little teaser I posted a while back, here is a sneak peek inside the book.

When I left Cearno’s in a state of half sleep, I found the door to my apartment ajar. I grabbed the knob and pushed it open with caution, assuming I had forgotten to close it all the way.

“Hello?” I asked, just in case.

No answer. I shut the door behind me.

It wasn’t until I reached the top of the stairs that I felt something wet on my palm and realized I had blood on my hand. I made my way to the sink, looking for where I’d cut myself when I heard her.

“It’s not your blood,” Kara said from behind me, making me jump a foot in the air.

“What are you doing here, Kara?” I asked, callous and guarded. The last time I’d seen her, she’d stabbed me in the leg.

She was slumped down in the corner, sitting on the floor of my kitchen, a bloody mess.

My face registered with shock. “What happened to you?” 

I waited for an answer, but she only glanced at me briefly, annoyed by the question, and continued staring off into the distance.

“Are you hurt?” 

If she wasn’t going to talk to me I would find out for myself. I knelt down in front of her, looking over her blood stained hands, arms and face. She seemed fine.

“It’s not my blood either,” she said, her eyes finally meeting mine.

Live.Laugh.Love...Did I mention Oppression has a cover?!

You know those weeks where everything just keeps getting better and better? This was one of those weeks. The main reason being that I got a first look at the preliminary cover of Oppression! If you follow me anywhere else, you probably already know that. I've been blabbing the news everywhere I can because I'm so dang excited I can't stand it. No matter how many people say, "don't judge a book by its cover," everyone does. The cover is what makes you pick up a book and buy it. It has to be good, and every author's fear is that it won't be, that it won't do their book justice.

Thankfully ZOVA Books isn't like most publishers. They listened to me. They took my suggestions and ideas and worked their magic making it their own. Most authors don't get final say on the cover, some don't get any say. You hold your breath and take what your publisher gives you. Of course you can whine and kick and cry and scream if you hate it, but for me there will be none of that. I absolutely LOVE the cover. I don't think I'll ever forget the feeling I had when I saw that email in my inbox and clicked on the attached photo. For me it was the moment that would make or break all the hard work and love I put into the book, the first impression, the face of the novel that everyone would see and judge. I had no idea what to expect. When the picture came into view, my jaw hit the floor. It was perfect. Brilliant. Better than I could have ever imagined.

I still can't stop staring at it. They NAILED it. I am SO HAPPY!

Stay tuned for the cover reveal! Hopefully that will be soon. I'll keep you posted.

What good things are happening in your life? Whether Christmas related, family related, or writing related, what has brought you happiness this week or month?

The Buzz: Goodreads Choice Awards

Congrats to all of the 2011 GoodReads Choice Award Winners! I'm so happy Divergent won Best Book. It was definitely my favorite read this year. I've posted some of the other books that won, but you can view the full list of winners here. Some of the books I hadn't even heard of, which means I'll be adding them to my to-be-read pile. If anyone has read any of the books that won, please let me know how you liked them in the comments or leave a link to a review. Thanks GoodReads and thanks to everyone who voted!

Also, check out the interview with Divergent author Veronica Roth...

Favorite Book of 2011 & Best YA Fantasy and Science Fiction

Best Fantasy



Best Paranormal Fantasy

   

Best Young Adult Fiction



Best Fiction



Road Trip Wednesday: How far would you go to get published?

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

We'd love for you to participate! Just answer the prompt on your own blog and leave a link -- or, if you prefer, you can include your answer in the comments.

This Week's Topic: 
We writers can form quite an attachment to our characters and stories. But we also know publishing is a business, and sometimes to make it in said business--to really build a career from it--we have to bend a bit. How far would you go to break into the publishing world?

When ZOVA Books signed me, they loved the concept of Oppression and my writing style, but no manuscript is ever perfect. Working directly with my publisher (with no agent) meant that I was coming to them with a manuscript that had not been reviewed or critiqued by an industry professional. The only feedback I’d gotten was from friends and relatives, which meant I knew there would be requested changes.

Now, ZOVA signed me before sitting me down to work through the weak spots in my story, so I wasn’t making crazy changes to please someone who didn’t believe in me. ZOVA has believed in me from the beginning. When they provided their critique, a list of weaknesses and suggested changes, I accepted them, but I’ll admit….I cried. After I cried, I worked really hard and re-crafted the lackluster parts of my story. Looking back, I am so thankful for their advice. Sometimes we fall in love with parts of our stories just because we wrote them, not because they help the plot along. In writing, we’re only supposed to take what we need to survive, right? Don’t be a Princess Vespa. What is it she says in Spaceballs… 

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“It’s my industrial strength hairdryer! AND I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IT!”

Sometimes we need editors, agents, or publishers to come at us with tough love and give us that reality check.

What I've learned is that people in the industry (or at least the people with ZOVA) are smart. They know what they’re doing and their feedback is honest. Now, that isn’t to say you should completely re-write your story because someone in the industry is telling you to (especially if they aren’t invested in you) but my point is, there is a lot to be learned from that kind of feedback.

ZOVA has not only believed in me along the way, they have been a great teacher, advisor, friend, mirror, critique partner, and genius publisher. They’ve helped me grow as a writer, and for that I am so grateful.

So how far would I go? I'd say I'm willing to be open to new ideas, suggestions, and advice about the details of my novels, as long as in the end, it's still my writing, my work, my creativity, and my story.

What would you do if a publisher, agent, or editor asked you to change your novel? Would you be open to it or say no thank you?

Live.Laugh.Love...Writer Friends

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Okay, I'm going to be honest. I'm super blog-lazy right now. Forgive me if this isn't the world's best post. Lazy or not, I have to thank the universe for giving me writer friends. What would we do without them? They're the ones who actual listen when you feel like venting about plot frustrations, talking about character development, or when you have to tell someone about the amazing scene you just wrote. Most people will put up with your writer-ranting for a while, but the writer friends REALLY listen and connect, because they know. They know what it's like to pour your heart and soul out onto the page, how much work it is, how hard yet satisfying it can be when you make progress. And when you say, "Hey Holly, can you read these 30 pages real quick?" She doesn't groan or make a face like, 30 PAGES, do I have to? No. She says, "OF COURSE! Yay, I can't wait!" I mean, lets be honest here. Not many people are willing to do that for you (aside from mommies, sisters, and besties) but writer friends will, because they are a special kind of wonderful. Not only will they read that 30 pages, they'll read it again. AND AGAIN....with honest feedback, and corrections each time.

So, thank you writer friends:

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Holly Kammier - author of Could Have Been Holly Wood
Christian LaMonte - author of Talis Springs
Candace Walsh - Ms. Poetic Brilliance
Allison Rogge - The World's Strongest Woman (and brainstorming extraordinaire)
Janet Jackson (no not the singer...but just as bad ass) - My Biggest Fan
...and of course Molly the Magnificent and the rest of the ZOVA magic makers.


Thanks for everything you do! I LOVE YOU WRITER FRIENDS!

What have your writer friends done for you? What makes them so awesome?