Part of my girl series book collection is on display at the Sacramento County
Rancho Cordova Library. How many series can you recognize?

Not snow...in Northern CA we're smothered in fog. I'm just glad I don't need to drive anywhere today.

What I do need to do is write. I've been thinking and editing a lot on my futuristic WIP, but haven't
added new pages since November. But I do feel like I've mentally worked out some of the
stumbling blocks that have slowed me down and I will add new words today.

I was lucky enough to get some amazing ARCs at ALA and have read a few already:
1. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE -- loved this fascinating, science fiction, romantic mystery.
2.  RED GLOVE - Another successes page-turner by Holly Black. Need more, please.
3. CLOSE TO FAMOUS - This one made me happy and touched my heart. I love Joan Bauer.

Now I  am going to write. Really, I am. Now... Read the rest of this post

In Support of L.K. Madigan
A massive Feast of Awesome giveaway of last year's Morris winner, FLASH BURNOUT, and Lisa's new novel, THE MERMAID'S MIRROR.

Lisa released some heartbreaking news on her blog this week.
Now we are celebrating Lisa's books, hoping she knows how very much she and her stories mean to us.

Details here:

http://community.livejournal.com/debut2009/1059044.html



 

It's available! NOW! I have been hoping so much this would really happen -- a way to reintroduce my THE SEER series to readers.

THE SEER #1, DON'T DIE DRAGONFLY is a one-month-only FREE download from Amazon/Kindle.

And the cool thing is you don't even need a Kindle -- I downloaded the free app to my I-Phone. Lots of devices can get a free Kindle device. And for January, readers can get my book too -- the first book where Sabine is introduced, she rescues Josh, sees ghosts, talks to her spirit guide and meet Dominic.

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Die-Dragonfly-ebook/dp/B001KYEZRE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

I would really appreciate it if you could repost this to your blogs. Thank you.

I sent out a Christmas letter with news of my family and travels, etc. But here I'll share the more personal stuff--tthings I liked.

GAMES: I learned two new ones to play when friends-family get together: a dice game called LEFT CENTER RIGHT and a box game called APPLES TO APPLES. Fun!

CONFERENCES: Aside from usual SCBWI conferences, I also went to a mystery-novel conference called LEFT COAST CRIME. I traveled with my mother and had a blast listening to workshops about murder, forensics. pet sidekicks and cozies.

PLAY TIME: In April my hubby, son and I saw the musical production of WICKED. It was wicked amazing!

CRUISING: While on a cruise in the caribbean, I saw a ship  appropriately called LOBOS which was a floating non-profit library.
Impressive!

TILTING WINDMILLS: I visited Burney, CA where my hubby, a crane operator, was putting up giant windmills. I stood on top of a mountain alongside rows of massive windmills and could see both Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen in one loftly glance.

OOOH, FEELS GOOD! I went to a day spa and had the first massage in my entire life!

MOVIE SEQUELS: I saw both Harry Potter 7 1/2 and Eclipse. 

AND MY FAVORITE NEW TOY IN 2010.....my I-Phone! It's like holding a universe of information in my hand. I love my I-Phone.

And on New Year's Day I may have something else new and free to tell you about....stay tuned.

My first book -- ALMOST TWINS -- came out in 1991.
Almost two decades later and my 36th book, THE SEER: MAGICIAN'S MUSE, just came out from Flux.

FIVE SECRETS OF STAYING PUBLISHED FOR (NEARLY) 2 DECADES:

*1.  Butt in Chair on a regular schedule (but be flexible & enjoy family-friends, too).
   I'm at my computer every day. But when the kids drop by, I stop to enjoy them.
   Then it's back to work.
 
*2.  Networking: writing friends are wonderful. We support each other and share info which can lead to sales.   In 2003, after several years of crushing disappointments, a good friend Dotti Enderle suggested
  I submit series ideas to her publisher Llewellyn. Since then I've sold STRANGE ENCOUNTERS, THE SEER series,   DEAD GIRL trilogy, and upcoming  2012 GOTH GIRL Mysteries to Llewellyn/Flux. I've passed on pub news   and love to support with other writers. One young writer friend, Jeff Sampson, found a publisher after a tip I gave him.  He's sold a lot since then and has a new book out now. I treasure all my writing friendships. 

 #3. Never regret having written something even if it never sells. Raise your hand if you have unsold books
  buried away never to be read. I have about 10 unsold books; some deserved not to sell, others may
  be reworked in the future. Everything I've written was a lesson learned in writing and a stepping stone
  to the next book--which could be a bestseller (that's my goal!).

 #4. Always say "yes" to new opportunities. When I was starting out I jumped at any publishing job. I wrote
 a quiz and short stories for teen mags. I ghostwrote a Sweet Valley Twin. When I was invited to write
 a cheerleading series for Avon, even though I had no cheerleading experience, I immediately said "yes."
 Then I researched, took cheerleaders to lunch, attended cheer meetings & posed as a coach at cheer camp.  Those were some of my best writing research experiences. The most  challenging job ever was writing two   Pick Your Own Dream Date books, which had over 15 different endings and I needed to make a color-coded chart of every page in the book to keep the storylines straight. That was a fun, stressful job which I'm still proud of; like puzzling together a book.

#5.  Never give up. EVER. 
    

Yesterday I had a great (BUSY!) day at the Sacramento Convention Center speaking on a panel titled: CONNECTING AUTHORS, BOOKS, CHILDREN, TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS. This topic was all about
inexpensive ways to connect authors with students.  

The five panelists includes:

ME: Showing my latest book, MAGICIAN's MUSE, and talking about my wonderful Skype experience with a
Texas middle-grade classroom. All the kids had read my books and especially enjoyed THE SEER series,
asking brilliant questions like: Did you base the emotions of your characters on your childhood experiences?

This led to a talk about how a boy broke my heart and how those emotions still feel real decades later.
I also told about THE GREAT SCAVENGER HUNT, created by author Kay Cassidy, which has over 200
authors who created 10 questions for  each of their books; sending readers hunting library shelves for books,
answers and a chance for prizes.
                                                 
Pictured: Stacy Nyikos, Susan Goldman Rubin, Linda Joy Singleton, Caryn Yacowitz, Belle Yang

Stacy Nyikos set up this panel and flew from Oklahoma to CA for this event. Her book DRAGON WISHES
is gorgeous and rich with history and imagination. She spoke on Skype, also, offering different types of
visits and also sharing her writer's journey.

Susan Goldman Rubin shared of the music behind her words in upcoming book MUSIC WAS IT about
famous composer Leonard Bernstein. She spoke passionately about the composer's life and made
us all wish this book was out already. She has CD's to accompany her book, bringing music to classrooms.

Caryn Yacowitz brought song to our panel; songwriter, actress, producer, writer, she creates plays
from her picture books. THE JADE STONE has been performed on stage and herPUMPKIN FIESTA
inspires crazy-fun costumes accompanied by silly songs she teaches. And she got the whole audience SINGING!

Belle Yang was born in China and came to the US when she was very young, and traveled to exotic
places in the world, developing her artistic talent. She wowed everyone with a book trailer that has
a time lapse sequence that shows her work on a biography graphic novel: FORGET SORROW.
I started reading this book and in the first three pages alone she experienced more drama that
most people do in their entire lives. YALSA should take note of this book as it will appeal to all
ages; a wonderful cross-over graphic novel in a large hardback format. This book deserves AWARDS!

In the evening, 

FIVE THINGS ON A FRIDAY

1.  Plans to attend ALA Midwinter are going great! I'm signing DEAD GIRL and THE SEER 6, MAGICIAN'S MUSE on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9th.

2.  Almost done reading the 7th book in PENDRAGON series by D.J. MacHale -- exciting and creative series.

3.  In my car, I am listening to WHITE CAT by Holly Black. (wouldn't it be funny if her name was Katherine so the book could be WHITE CAT by KAT BLACK?)  By the way, I was happy to be in traffic since I am so loving this book and can't wait to find out what happens next. It's a fantasy mystery--a favorite genre!

4. I am doing NaNoWriMo for the first time ever and hope to finish the draft of my dystopian (abbreviated to U.S.) and have met my 5-day-a-week 2,000 words each day goal. Hit over 11K words today. And yes, I am proud of myself. Lots of editing ahead, but this story really excites me and I can't wait to discover the shape of each scene.

5. Had a cool email from a fan who is annoyed at one of the big bookstores since they don't have my new THE SEER book, MAGICIAN'S MUSE, and she's now determined to make them carry my books. I could use more fans like her!

Hi LJ friends!

I have been super busy lately! Fun stuff but little time for writing. I'm going to fix that, though, because for the first time ever I signed up for NaNoWriMo for the first time ever. It usually takes me 6-7 months to finish a book so I've never participated before but I have 13 pages of a book that really excites me and it would be great if I could push myself to finish it quickly. We'll see if I can succeed....

Last Thursday I signed books for BOOKS INC Spooktacular event in Palo Alto with authors Rachel Caine (super lady!) and Stacey Jay (great sense of humor!).   Stacey is on the left, I'm in the middle and Rachel at the end. It was so fun and I feel like I've made two wonderful new writer friends, plus the staff at BOOKS INC was wonderful and I enjoyed them a lot. I signed lots of books and handed out DEAD GIRL rainbrow hand-crafted bracelets. Then afterwards my hubby drove me to the beach for my birthday weekend trip. I posted more pics on my Facebook under my full name. I also have an author page on FB where I only write about books, nothing personal like here.

Last night I went to a Halloween party at my niece Natasha's house and my hubby took best adult costume with a rennassaince costume. I dressed up too in a purple gown. Lots of talking, candy, games and fun.

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

October is MY month. I've always celebrated my birthday with my almost-twin best friend Lori since we share birthdays.

And this year I've been invited to sign books at BOOKS INC in Palo Alto on Oct. 28th, 7PM with 2 amazing authors.

search.barnesandnoble.com/Magicians-Muse/Linda-Joy-Singleton/e/9780738719573/
 M&MM (MAGICIAN'S MUSE & MOCKINGJAY) BOOK GIVEWAY!
 
WIN A COPY OF MAGICIAN'S MUSE!
Also a copy of MOCKINGJAY!

MAGICIAN'S MUSE, 6th THE SEER, finds Sabine haunted by the ghost of a century old woman stage magician while struggling to keep Dominic from leaving forever.

For each repost of this message on a blog, Facebook page, retweet on Twitter or review of a SEER book..., you win an entry in a drawing for MAGICIAN'S MUSE & MOCKINGJAY.
 
Leave your post info at [email protected] and a winner will be drawn within a week.

ENTER SOON and OFTEN!

With just a little over a month before MAGICIAN'S MUSE comes out (it's usually out earlier than the Oct. 1st pub date for pre-orders), I want to share something with fans.

The book has almost 300 pages but I don't want to give away the ending, so pick between pages 1-250 and the first two people who respond, I'll copy those pages to share here.

The opening of MAGICIAN'S MUSE has already been posted on this blog if you look back several posts.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738719579/ref=nosim/theplanningsh-20

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