Thanks everyone who wrote and congratulated Hilary Wagner on her debut novel, NIGHTSHADE CITY. Purchase a copy here: http://amzn.to/bmTOVM
In a moment, I'll announce the winner, but first a reminder about my
mystery guest, a brilliant writer, who has a Book Birthday just in time for Halloween. It's not a Halloween book, and it's not for little kids. It's a book for older teens and up, the up meaning old like me. I read the first page and I was spellbound. Here's a little tidbit from
Part One: The Amethyst Hour to whet your appetite for more. . .
"I am going to build something big for you. It's like one of those Russian dolls that you open up, and open up again. And each layer becomes something else. On the outside is the universe, painted dark purple; decorated with planets and comets, stars. Then you open it, and you see Earth, and when that comes apart. . ." Don't you want to read more? Of course you do. Learn all about the mystery author and the book on October 29th!
One more bit of news: Next week I'll be speaking at Keystone Reading in Hershey, PA. Lindsay Barrett George will be there and the award winning author Suzanne Bloom of a
Splendid Friend Indeed. If any of you are going, please stop by one of the signing booths, presentations, or the Author Tea on Tuesday afternoon to say "Hello!" Thanks.
Hat's off to the LUCKY WINNER of
NIGHTSHADE CITY selected by random.org:
Take a bow, MALLORY! Mallory, please e-mail me: claragillowclark(@)gmail(dot)com with your full name and address.If I don't hear from you in one week, the names go back in for a new drawing. If you haven't checked out Hilary's amazing websites, here are the links again:
www.hilarywagner.blogspot.com and
www.nightshadecity.com See you next week!
Comment on this post by midnight Est time
tonight and I'll do a random drawing for a sparkly new Hardback of Nightshade City:)
Today, Hilary Wagner (author or Nightshade City. (and yes Rick Riordan blurbed it!!) stops by today to discuss some marketing ideas.
Nightshade City summary: Deep beneath a modern metropolis lies the Catacombs, the kingdom of remarkable rats of superior intellect. Juniper and his maverick band of rebel rats have been plotting ever since the Bloody Coup turned the Catacombs, a once-peaceful democracy, into a brutal dictatorship ruled by decadent High Minister Killdeer and his vicious henchman, Billycan, a former lab rat with a fondness for butchery. When three young orphan rats--brothers Vincent and Victor and a clever female named Clover--flee the Catacombs in mortal peril and join forces with the rebels, it proves to be the spark that ignites the long-awaited battle to overthrow their oppressors and create a new city--Nightshade City.
"Fans of Redwall and the Warriors series will love this heroic tale of good versus evil in a subterranean society of rats." --Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series ^
I met Hilary over a year ago in an online writer's group. It's been so exciting to see her embark in this journey and I'm so happy for her.
Hey Hilary, before we get started, tell everyone about you. 
I write middle-grade and young adult novels. I love brilliantly written, colorful stories, which leave me still thinking about them the next day--a touch of creepy doesn't hurt either! I live in Chicago with my husband Eric, our seven year old Vincent and our two year old Nomi. We also have a neurotic Italian Greyhound, Louie, who is adorable, but very whiny! ;)
Okay, now tell us about your amazing new book.I'm cheating on this part!
Here is the summary from my publisher and there is a lot more on the official site. From
Holiday House, "This enthralling animal fantasy, in the classic tradition of
Redwall and
Watership Down, encompasses timeless themes of honor and loyalty, family ties and lost love, alliances and betrayals. Readers will respond enthusiastically to this surefire page-turner, by a talented new novelist, set in a brilliantly imagined
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Congrats, Mallory!
Congratulations to Mallory. This book is definitely on my read list. :) Clara, hope your presentation in PA goes well.
Margo
http://margodill.com/blog/
Thanks for the good wishes, Margo! Much appreciated!
Clara,
Have fun in Hershey!
Thanks, Susan! I'll bring you a Hershey bar with almonds.