Last week, I received cover art for CHRONAL ENGINE (I'll post when it's made public) and this week, got first pass pages (above), including thirteen amazing interior illustrations by Blake Henry! I couldn't be more thrilled. He absolutely nailed the characters and the paleo-critters, as well. (No, I can't show you these. You'll just have to wait and see. Yes, I'm a tease. The pub date is March 20, 2012. :-)).
In other news, Cyn likewise received first pass pages for her novel DIABOLICAL, which has a pub date of January 24, 2012.
In other news, the Austin Teen Book Festival announced its lineup. Cyn will be moderating Fantasy Panel 1, with Heather Brewer (VLADIMIR TOD), Jackson Pearce (SWEETLY), Tera Lynn Childs (SWEET VENOM), Sophie Jordan (VANISH) and Andrea Cremer (WOLFSBANE). It's October 1, 2011, at the Palmer Events Center.
Finally, BLESSED is a finalist for the ALA Teens' Top Ten List for 2011! If you're a teen, go and vote for it here! The winners will be announced during Teen Read Week (October 16-22).
By: Kimberly Pauley,
on 4/12/2011
Blog: Young Adult (& Kid's) Books Central (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Eternal, Blessed, Interviews, Authors, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Tantalize, Add a tag
Jill and I recently got the chance to interview the tantalizing Cynthia Leitich Smith. Check out her answers to our questions below!
Cynthia Leitich Smith is the New York Times and Publishers Weekly best-selling author of ETERNAL, TANTALIZE, and BLESSED (Candlewick). She also writes short stories and acclaimed books for younger children.
Cynthia is a member of faculty at the Vermont College M.F.A. program in Writing for Children and Young Adults.
Her website at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com was named one of the top 10 Writer Sites on the Internet by Writer's Digest and an ALA Great Website for Kids. Her Cynsations blog at cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/ was listed as among the top two read by the children's/YA publishing community in the SCBWI "To Market" column.
Thank you, Cynthia, for joining us on the YABC Blog today! First off, can you tell us a little bit about your latest novel, Blessed?
Blessed is the story of Quincie P. Morris, a teenage restaurateur who’s facing the consequences of her own undeath, trying to clear her true love of unfounded murder charges, and fighting to stop the monster that remade her from cursing hundreds of others. Or, put another way, it’s your basic rescue the boy, destroy the monster, save-the-world story.
Blessed crosses of the casts of my two previous books, Tantalize and Eternal, and picks up at the very scene where Tantalize leaves off. Like those earlier titles, it’s a Gothic fantasy with strong elements of romance and some humor.
What was it like stepping back into the world of Tantalize and Eternal for this third book?
Fun, perilous, ambitious.
In Tantalize, we meet the everyday people of the world—high school students and teachers, a wedding planner and police officers, waiters and a homeless guy. In Eternal, the stage shifts to spotlight the major players—the vampire royalty and the forces of heaven who combat it. Blessed is a bridge book of sorts, bringing together characters from all walks.
How intriguing to rediscover guardian angel Zachary trying to fend off restaurant customers who longed to touch his hair and to join high-school student Quincie in meeting vampire queen Sabine for the first time.
Will there be a fourth book in the series? If so, can you tell us a bit about it?
Yes, I’m revising it now! Book four is still untitled, but it will feature characters from all of the previous books. Th
By: Kimberly Pauley,
on 3/1/2011
Blog: Young Adult (& Kid's) Books Central (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Cynthia Leitich Smith, Contest Winners, Blessed, Julie Kagawa, Kristen O'Donnell Tubb, Selling Hope, Giveaway News, Add a tag
February was an amazing month for giveaways -- we received a record number of entries. Thanks to all those who spread the word!
And now, on to the winners.....
These five winners will each receive a copy of BLESSED by Cynthia Leitich Smith:
ssmith
breakkanamexd
jbeckstead
talisker2000
maddie.mcphail
These two winners will each receive an IRON QUEEN Prize Pack:
blazesandbubbles
mar_vene4u
This winner will receive a signed copy of SELLING HOPE and some of Hope's Anti-Comet Pills:
leebee19
Congratulations to the winners!
Don't forget to enter our new March Giveaways: Click here to enter!
By: Kathy Temean,
on 2/13/2011
Blog: Writing and Illustrating (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Author, Blog, writing, YA Novel, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Book Tour, Young Adult Novel, Book Stores, Blessed, children writing, Add a tag
On Saturday night Anita Nolan and I traveled to the Barnes and Noble to see Cynthia Leitich Smith. She was doing a book signing for her new book BLESSED, which is the third book in her gothic novel series. Since I hadn’t read the series, I bought all three books and had them signed. I’m reading MOON OVER MANIFEST (Newbery Winner), which is really good, but when I finish, I’ll start Cynthia’s TANTALIZE and discover how her main character starts up a vampire themed restaurant. Of course, it becomes a place that vampires frequent.
I never met Cynthia, but I think like most people I felt like I knew her from of her blog Cynsations. You probably think she does her blog, just as a marketing tool, but she really is a caring author who wants to give back (something I hope other published authors will try to do). Patty Brown who comes out to many of our New Jersey events came out to support Cynthia, which was nice. Cynthia knew Patty from one of her MFA classes at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Patty says her whole experience with Vermont College and their MFA Program was wonderful. I know that is something most of us would like to do.
Cynthia is already writing her fourth book for the series and she is working on a graphic novel of the series, except the graphic novel is going to be told from the main male(werewolf) character’s point of view, which I think is very cool. She also talked about how she completely writes the first draft of her novels and then throws the whole thing away. The real book starts after that. I know there are people who say that is what you should do, but I never actually met anyone who was that brave. I could sit down and start writing the story again, but I am not brave enough to just trash the whole thing. I keep everything, just in case I want to go and look. I never do, but like I said, I am not that brave.
After the book signing Anita, Cynthia, her publicist Heather from Candlewick Press and I went out to dinner. It was really nice getting to know both or them and we will be doing an interview with Cynthia for a later issue of Sprouts Magazine. Don’t tell anyone, but Cynthia drinks very dark red wine. It almost looks like she is sipping blood. Okay, I think I’m getting too into her books.
One of the things she said was that she started writing paranormal right before the genre really took off and she feels the next big thing is going to be in the direction of science fiction. Which stopped me, because that is exactly what Agent Ginger Clarke from Curtis Brown said at the conference in New York last month. So there you go. We already know that dystopia is big, so it doesn’t seem like a big jump to get to science fiction.
Hope you get a chance in the future to meet Cynthia. Maybe we can work something out for next year’s NJSCBWI June conference.
Please Note: I have extended the “Early Bird” pricing to March 1st. After talking to some of you, it sounded like everyone could use a little more time. Hope this helps.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Kathy
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By: Jess,
on 2/7/2011
Blog: I Just Wanna Sit Here And Read! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Cynthia Leitich Smith, Tantalize, Blessed, Review, Add a tag
Publisher: Candlewick Press (February 8, 2011)ARC: 480 Pages
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Tantalize # 3
Book from: Publisher*
From Goodreads. Quincie P. Morris, teen restaurateuse and neophyte vampire, is in the fight of her life -- or undeath. Even as she adjusts to her new appetites, she must clear her best friend and true love, the hybrid werewolf Kieren, of murder charges; thwart the apocalyptic ambitions of Bradley Sanguini, the seductive vampire-chef who "blessed" her; and keep her dead parents’ restaurant up and running. She hires a more homespun chef and adds the preternaturally beautiful Zachary to her wait staff. But with hundreds of new vampires on the rise and Bradley off assuming the powers of Dracula Prime, Zachary soon reveals his true nature -- and a flaming sword -- and they hit the road to staunch the bloodshed before it’s too late. Even if they save the world, will there be time left to salvage Quincie’s soul?Review by Jessica
BLESSED, by Cynthia Leitich Smith finishes up Quincie P. Morris's story with a bang. Quince faces more obstacles than ever with making sure the restaurant she inherited stays up and running, dealing with her werewolf true love being gone, trying to find a way to save a group of humans from turning into bloodsucking monsters, all while dealing with her own undead status.
This book drove me absolutely crazy. It took me longer to read than the first two books in the Tantalize series and I couldn't get really interested in it until towards the end. Don't get me wrong, the book was great all around but about three quarters of the book was very slow.
I have to admire Quincie, she takes on so much responsibility without much complaining. Both her parents are dead, her undead uncle is eternally dead and she still has school, her restaurant, and herself being a new vampire without anyone to guide her or help her. A lot of new characters came into play in this one, and a lot of old ones.
Smith weaved Eternal, the second book in the Tantalize series, perfectly into Blessed. I was amazed at how perfectly she brought the MC from Eternal, which is a completely different story than Quincie's into this one. It was absolutely perfect. The book was well written and I did like the book overall, it was just a bit slow for my tastes for the majority of the book.
By: Carmela Martino and 5 other authors,
on 2/3/2011
Blog: Teaching Authors (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Contests, Book Giveaway, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Blessed, Carmela Martino, Giveaway Winner, Add a tag
Becky will be receiving an autographed copy of Blessed. She said she plans to share the novel with her teenage children. Congratulations, Becky!
A big THANK YOU to all who entered the contest. I'm sorry you couldn't all win, but stay tuned for more giveaways coming soon.
And, as always, happy writing!
Carmela
By: Kimberly Pauley,
on 1/25/2011
Blog: Young Adult (& Kid's) Books Central (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Cynthia Leitich Smith, Tantalize, Vampire, Eternal, Blessed, YABC reviews; paranormal, Jillian Van Leer, Add a tag
First of all I have to say that I have not yet read the first 2 books in this series, Tantalize and Eternal. That being said right off the bat I was a bit confused, but quickly caught on. The book was very easy to follow without having read the previous two. That is sometimes hard to do, but Mrs. Smith pulls it off! Second, I love Quincie! She is such a strong female character! She is running her parents restaurant, dealing with becoming a vampire and fighting her emotions over her best friend and true love, Kieren. To read more of my review, click here.
By: Kathy Temean,
on 1/24/2011
Blog: Writing and Illustrating (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Cynthia Leitich Smith, Book Tour, book signing, Book Stores, Blessed, Eternal Series, Author, Book, Add a tag
Now is your chance to meet Cynthia Leitich Smith in person and thank her for all she does for the Kid Lit community.
I tried to get Cynthia to do something with the New Jersey SCBWI while she was here, but I couldn’t fit my schedule into her schedule. Candlewick is whisking her off to other states, just a little too fast. I already have her on my personal schedule to see.
Cynthia’s new novel—Blessed, the third installment in the Eternal series. Cynthia is on her way to the NY/NJ area, where the good folks at Candlewick are sending her on tour.
February can be frigid and Cynthia deserves nothing but a warm welcome—no matter how cold or snowy it is. Please feel free to share her Blessed tour dates below with Eternal fans, teens, kid-lit scholars, and writers in your area who will not want to miss New York Times best-seller Cynthia’s appearances!
Sunday, 2/6/11
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Books of Wonder - reading/Q&A/signing to public with Another Pan author Daniel Nayeri (PUBLIC EVENT)
18 W. 18th St., New York, N.Y.
Monday, 2/7/11
10 a.m. to 11:34 a.m. Francis Lewis High School
6 p.m. Borders Bookstore - reading/signing (PUBLIC EVENT)
Borders Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y.
Tuesday, 2/8/11
4 p.m. to 5 p.m. New Brunswick Free Public Library - reading/Q&A/signing (PUBLIC EVENT)
6:20 p.m. to 9 p.m. Rutgers University – guest lecture, “Materials for Young Adults” — room 203
School of Communication and Information — 4 Huntington St., New Brunswick, N.J.
Wednesday, 2/9/11
10 a.m. NYPL Mulberry Branch - visit with schools
10 Jersey Street (Between Lafayette & Mulberry Streets) New York, N.Y.
8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. New School Creative Writing Graduate Class - guest lecture
66 West 12th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues
Thursday, 2/10/11
11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. Brooklyn Public Library - Professional Development Day
Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza
4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Brooklyn Public Library - Will You Be My Paranormal Valentine Party (with teens)(PUBLIC EVENT)
Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza
Friday, 2/11/11
2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School Visit
Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin HS, LREI
272 Sixth Avenue, New York, N.Y.
7 p.m. The Voracious Reader - “Will You Be My Paranormal Valentine?” event with Another Pan author Daniel Nayeri (PUBLIC EVENT)
Saturday, 2/12/11
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mercer County Library Event – West Windsor Branch (PUBLIC EVENT)
333 North Post Road, Princeton Junction, N.J.
By: Greg Leitich Smith,
on 1/9/2011
Blog: GregLSBlog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Blessed, young adult, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Texas author, Mari Mancusi, Add a tag
Save the date: On January 29, 2011, at 2 PM, at Book People at 6th and Lamar, Cynthia Leitich Smith and Mari Mancusi will be celebrating their new releases, BLESSED and NIGHT SCHOOL, respectively, with a party and signing!
Event is open and free to the public! The celebration will include author talks, a Q&A panel, book raffle, surprise giveaways, devilish desserts, demonic drinks and signing.
Wear red and black if you're on the side of Evil or blue and black if you're on the side of Good.
Bonus points (and possible prize) to anyone who dresses up as a vampire, shape shifter, vampire slayer, angel, or fairy!
By: Charles Hodgson,
on 5/13/2010
Blog: OUPblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: podcast, blessed, forests, varnish, berenike, varnishes, benghazi, “descendants, Add a tag
iTunes users can subscribe to this podcast 
Varnish is the glossy protective layer applied to wooden furniture and other surfaces.
Tracing the reason its called varnish back through time takes us on some interesting twists and turns.
As much as 700 years ago English got the word varnish from French. The French word had come from a Latin source which in turn seems to have come from a Greek word that is said to have arisen because there was a city on the Mediterranean famed for its varnishes; or perhaps the first place that varnishes were sourced.
That city was known as Bernice or Berenike so in moving from Greek to Latin the “b” morphed to a “v.”
The city still stands though much changed. It is now called Benghazi and is the second biggest city in Libya. The current name is said to stem from a meaning of “descendants of Ghazi” where Ghazi is identified as a specific benefactor of the city but is an honorary title rather than a personal name and means “veteran” based on honored service in some military campaign.
The name Benghazi then isn’t a modification of the earlier name Berenike but a newer name replacing the old Greek one.
Berenike was a name bestowed on the port town to honor an Egyptian queen of 2300 years ago and her name in turn breaks down to two words meaning “bearer of victory”; Nike being the goddess of victory and the inspirer of shoe names.
The city had an even earlier Greek name that might explain why Berenike begot varnish. The place was first known as Hesperides, named after Greek mythological islands of the blessed. Today the region is a dry, dusty, gritty landscape but those thousands of years ago is said to have been home to resinous pine forests. That sounds a little more blessed. It was the resin from these forests that was used in making varnish.
Five days a week Charles Hodgson produces Podictionary – the podcast for word lovers, Thursday episodes here at OUPblog. He’s also the author of several books including his latest History of Wine Words – An Intoxicating Dictionary of Etymology from the Vineyard, Glass, and Bottle.
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By: Cindy R. Williams,
on 3/26/2010
Blog: Blogs and Blurbs (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Happiness, Blessed, Add a tag
By: Garden Painter Art,
on 2/16/2009
Blog: Garden Painter Art (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: chocolate, Valentines Day, Kimberly Wlassak, Garden Painter Art, chinese food, blessed, Add a tag
Hello There:
Another day of luscious rain. Here in the Southern California desert, we take all we can get!
I hope this entry finds that you all had a lovely Valentine's Day weekend. Gary and I had our traditional dinner of chinese food, a bottle of Almond Champagne and lots of dark chocolate and cheesecake! A yummy dinner followed with a movie by the fireplace. And as always, the obligatory red rose ~
The majority of the weekend was spent moving my mom's "stuff" from her storage facility to our trusty 4 car garage. With her stay at the Board and Care, we decided that the $125.00 we were paying for her storage could be used in oh so many, useful ways. So...off to U-Haul to rent a truck, packing up all her belongings and shuffling them all round our garage was how we spent most of the weekend. After the truck was returned, we still managed to have our delightful dinner ~ 
But of course, as our holidays so often lead to adventure, a romantic dinner, a movie and a long day of moving furniture just wasn't enough. Nope, just not enough. Last night, while nobody was watching, the tank on one our toilets decided to "runneth over". By the time the soggy mess was discovered, the water had managed to find it's way out of the bathroom and into the hall carpeting. Hurry, hurry, run, run, run...outside to turn off the water to the entire house. Fetching over a dozen bath towels to soak up the floor. Then, Gary and my oldest son were off on an adventure to find a part for the tank. All of this just as Gary was almost finished with his school paper. Out the door at 7:15 p.m. They purchased the part and managed to get it all done and cleaned up with one minute to go before the season premiere of "The Amazing Race"! Sheeesh ~ I get a wee bit weary just thinking about it. However, even with the general busy-ness of this Valentine's Day weekend, a good time was had by all.
Oh....and lest I forget ~ one of our PCs became riddled with viruses while we slept. So, download anything saveable and reformat the entire machine.
I hope your weekend went a bit smoother than ours did. But...considering all that I have to be thankful for, virus riddled computers, drenching toilet tanks and shifting large pieces of furniture is all just part of the adventure!
Until Next Time:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
Wow! That's a lot of really fabulous news, Greg. Congratulations!!!!!!