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| Some good beach graffiti, Morro Beach, California |
An open letter to France, in celebration of UNDER THE NEVER SKY’s publication there today.
A handful of years ago, while I was an art student here in California, I signed up for a semester of study abroad. In the program, I would spend a few days in Paris, followed by several months in Italy.
From the moment I arrived in Paris, I felt like I had appeared on a movie set. The architecture was gorgeous. The people were beautiful. Everything was so… stylish.
I had many unforgettable experiences while I was there. Everywhere I looked, I saw elegance and history. The Louvre blew my artist’s mind. A few friends convinced me to go to Pere Lechaise, which was an experience that was historically enlightening, and spine-tinglingly eerie. The Palais Garnier made such an impression on me that it appears, quite importantly, in my novel.
I ate many wonderful meals in Paris but one of my most memorable dinners happened, a bit oddly, at a Greek restaurant. I can’t remember the name of the place. What I remember is that about a dozen art students and myself ended up eating there one night, and a full plate-smashing, dancing until three in the morning affair ensued.
Paris, you have it all.
One of my dearest friends here in California is from Belfort (do any of you know Valerie? She’s wonderful.) Valerie tells me stories of how much more France has to offer outside of Paris. I wish I could have seen that for myself. One day, I will.
For now, I will content myself by knowing that my book is there, and that my characters are seeing a bit more of France than I could.
I hope you enjoy the novel. And thank you for reading.
Cutting to the chase here because Book Three is calling me:
US Readers: Ebook deal: UNDER THE NEVER SKY only $2.99.
Roar interviews Perry for the first (and last) time here.
For writers: Staying Sane. Or not.
Check out these cool Peregrine/UNDER THE NEVER SKY tattoos in the making.
Finally, my French publisher continues to rock:
A few things:
UTNS is now only $2.99 on Kindle, Nook and Kobo! Guys…. you can’t even get a latte for that price. Grab it now. Offer stands until September 17th.
Also, for those looking out for the ROAR AND LIV novella, it is now available for preorder.
Also, for those looking out for the ROAR AND LIV novella, it is now available for preorder.
Review Copies
I’ve been getting lots of requests for ARCs of THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT. Also, I’ve been getting lots of requests from abroad for review copies of UNDER THE NEVER SKY.
Thank you! I’m so happy that you want to read my book(s). (I can’t overstate that.) At this time, however, I can’t send out advanced reader copies, or finished copies because… well, because I don’t have them. My bookshelves are full of other peoples’ books… not mine. I mean, I have a few copies of mine. But very few.
Here are some suggestions for obtaining copies:
- If they are purchasable, buy them! Hah. I jest. But really. A book is a good thing to spend money on, yo. Now, I know it’s impossible to buy every single book you want, so….
- If you can’t buy a copy, check one out from your local library or share a copy with a friend
- If you can’t do that, contact HarperCollins for an ARC, or the appropriate international publisher (see the list in the Books tab.)
- Regarding ARCs of THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT, I’ll be giving away a copy or two in a couple of weeks so stay tuned for that. I also believe that ARCs will be moving out into the world soon
Once again, sorry I can’t mail you copies of UTNS or TTEN. I really, really wish I could!
Last but not least, the fun part!
Here is a teaser from ROAR AND LIV:
“I’m ready,” I say, against her skin. “The question is, are you?”
She stares at me.
I wait.
And wait.
“You’re killing me, Liv. Whatever it is, just tell me. What’s in your heart?”
Hee. I wrote it, but I kinda still want to know how she answers.
: )
ONE.
Davis, CA – September 15th
The Avid Reader
617 Second St. Davis, CA
530-758-4040
with Talia Vance, Katherine Longshore and Donna Cooner
TWO.
San Ramon, CA – September 29th
Info below.
Are you coming? I hope so.
In other news, THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT and ROAR AND LIV are both up on Amazon. YAYYYY. Serious yay. I would greatly appreciate your clicking LIKE if you like!
Some of you have been asking for ARCs of TTEN. I know that my publisher will be sending some out, but don’t have any details yet. I’ll have answers soon for you– along with a contest/giveaway–but I did just learn that there will be many signed ARCs at NY Comic Con this fall, so if you’re in the NY area, be sure to pick one up.
Regarding ROAR AND LIV, the cover is coming soon. I can’t wait for you guys to read this novella, which is a prequel to UNDER THE NEVER SKY told in Roar’s POV. It’s about 65 pages (or it would be, if it were printed… it will only be available as an ebook), and I’ve mentioned before that I could have kept going. What else can I say about it? It’s mostly Roar and Liv’s story, but there’s plenty of Perry in there, and you’ll get to see Vale and Talon too, among others. I totally loved spending time in Roar’s head, and I hope you’ll enjoy it one tenth as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Have a great Labor Day weekend!
Weirdly, working on a new project has me feeling nostalgic. New project has a character who is an artist, and see, once upon a time I was an artist. I mean, I still am. But once–once–my hands were always either smudged with charcoal or paint of both. Once, I didn’t own a single pair of jeans (or shoes) that weren’t covered in paint. Once, I could look at any color and tell you exactly how I’d mix it on my palette. Exactly. Blue wasn’t blue to me. It was Cerulean. French Ultramarine. Thalo. It was so much more than just blue.
I miss thinking like that. So I’m gonna start painting again.
I hope if there’s something that you miss doing that you’ll start up again, too. Let me know in the comments if you do.
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| I have books and books of this stuff. Interesting how we return to the same territory over and again. I wrote this excerpt of WB Yeats “The Second Coming,” above which has the lines, “The falcon cannot hear the falconer…. Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.” Coincidence? I think not. |
Oh, and if you’re interested in seeing a few more of my old sketches you can stop over at my Facebook page.
Rock on, y’all.
UNDER THE NEVER SKY has made it to YALSA’s Reader’s Choice list! This is something Veronica never dared to even dream of! Veronica is so stunned and flattered by this turn of events that she’s speaking about herself in the third person.
But seriously… Thank you readers, bloggers, friends, librarians and booksellers for supporting Aria, Perry, Roar and the rest of the NEVER SKY crew. Thank you for reading, commenting, and nominating. Thank you!
In other news: Here’s your chance to read UNDER THE NEVER SKY on the nook for just $3.99. Cast your vote to make UTNS a Nook Summer Read!
Lastly, but certainly not leastly, the Cover Gods have truly been kind. Look at this beauty, created by my wonderful French publisher, Nathan:
C’est magnifique!
Well, helloooo precioussss!
Look what I got in the mail today! So excited to get my first copies of THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT. I love how it looks next to UTNS. (I can’t believe it was just a year ago that I received my ARCs for UTNS. Where has the time gone, I ask?)
First, a few newsy things:
Contest - I’ll be giving away an ARC of TTEN soon. Stay tuned for details.
Novella - The release date for the Roar and Liv short story has been set for October 30th.
Writing Workshop - I’ll be part of a conference in North Carolina in October. for MG and YA writers, for those of you who are interested. Details here.
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| Hey there, good looking. |
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| Even better together, yes? |
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| One of these things is not like the other. |
Go forth and read!
So there’s this thing NPR is doing. They’ve rounded up a list of 200+ YA books, and they’re asking people to vote for the best teen books. Excuse me if I become a little incoherent.
Under the Never Sky made this list. Which is WIN. It’s so much WIN to just be on this list, that I can’t stand it. Really. Can’t. I am humbled. I am proud. I am shaking.
If you’re a fan of the book, here’s a chance to show it. I appreciate it. Very, very much. And you can vote for up to ten titles — and oh man, if there aren’t some amazing novels over there.
I just noticed who I’m sandwiched between on the list.
I’m going to go peel myself off the floor now.
This week, we’re sharing favorite scenes. I decided to search through archives of past writing for this. Partly because I’m so deep in the world of NEVER SKY that I wanted a wee break, and partly because I remembered writing this short snippet years ago, and really liking it. This comes from a fantasy manuscript I was working on before NEVER SKY. It’s pretty dark. I guess I like dark. (Maybe some of you know that by now?) Anyway, it’s a prologue, which most people will tell you is a no-no but I had fun with it. Hope it doesn’t creep you out too much 
The Cart
Prologue
Sky and earth tilted to the left, a blur of blue and white, as a shrill whinny broke into the air. Padrig Forester had only time to grasp the pommel as his horse lurched further to the side. The mare’s hooves begged for purchase in great dragging scrapes. He held on, rocking and sinking, until at last she found a foothold and righted with a jolt. Padrig made a low sound to soothe her, a sound made strange by his trembling voice.
He searched the ground below. White gashes floated inches above the mountain trail, scored by the mare’s shoes. Black ice again, invisible and deadly. Padrig patted her sweat-matted neck.
“Steady as you go, Ginny,” he murmured. “This will be done with soon.”
The mare startled under his touch, tossing her head in defiance. She was a good horse, had served him well for near a dozen years, but Padrig knew their bond had been broken that morning. She had smelled the blood early and when it came time to tie the cart’s shafts to her harness she had fought, rearing and bucking like he’d never seen. She had even bitten his shoulder, stamped his skin with a purple imprint of horse teeth that still throbbed. But Padrig couldn’t blame her. Animals had a powerful aversion to death.
Padrig turned around. The cart still crunched along over the snow-patched trail behind him. Dark circles stained the woolen blanket he’d draped over the top. The putrid stench overtook him, nausea striking next, raking claws through his stomach, flooding his mouth with warm saliva. Padrig bit down and pressed a prayer through his lips, pleading to Gepsa for forgiveness. When the sickness finally ebbed away, he vowed not to look at the cart again. Not until he had to give it to the boy.
He lifted his gaze to the crest of Mount Aroe. There, within the icy dome, lay the Cobai city where the boy was said to be. It would be immense work to reach that place—the coming trail would only offer steeper grades and more snow—but that was why he had been chosen to deliver the cart. His reputation as an expert tracker had brought him good coin in the past. This time it was he who’d pay if he failed—with his life.
“Take heart, Ginny.” The mare’s long brown ears flicked back. “At least we’ll learn if the blood of the Lion still lives.”
Padrig found solace in his own words. Since autumn, the question had been in every mind. If the boy truly was Erick of Belfort’s son, then Tarthians could have some hope. If he was the Lion’s son, Padrig would pledge his fealty—his life’s service—in a single breath.
But how would the boy react? Would he condemn Padrig for what he was doing? Padrig had no choice but to deliver this vile load—would the boy have the wisdom to understand? Padrig leaned aside and spat at the frozen earth. No one should have to do what he was doing.
No one.
Bad as he felt, Padrig knew the boy, Willem Hawk, would feel far worse when he saw what was in the cart.
