Tuesday, November 27, 2012

SIGNED Paperback copies of EVER - Holiday Gift Idea!


You can now ORDER your SIGNED print copies of EVER right here on my blog FOR A LIMITED TIME!

Signed books would great Holiday Gifts for book lovers!

Add EVER to your TBR on Goodreads! 

Since I will be drop-shipping these copies from my home, I do have to charge for shipping. 

Please choose the best option for you in the drop-down menu below, then continue via Paypal to order!

Signed Print Copy of EVER $13.99 + $5.00 shipping in USA or CANADA. 

(If you are outside the US or CANADA, please send an email to emailjessarusso [at] gmail [dot] com, to order. Shipping fees will change accordingly.) 



                                                      CHOOSE the best option below:
                                 
                                                           

Saturday, November 24, 2012

THE NEXT BIG THING - All about my WIP!


I was tagged by the awesome Marisa Cleveland - a fellow author and the newest literary agent at The Seymour Agency! 

I have two works in progress, but I think I will take this moment to introduce you to DIVIDE - my NanoWrimo project. 
(My other work in progress is EVER TWO - book two in The EVER Trilogy, in case you couldn't tell by the awesome title. It's coming along slowly but surely, and I'm excited to see where the story takes Ever, Frankie, Toby and Jessie.)

So anyway, without further ado, let's talk about the NEXT BIG THING! 

Rules for The Next Big Thing Blog Hop:
***Use this format for your post
***Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (work in progress)
***Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.

Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:

What is your working title of your book?
DIVIDE. It is a standalone, upper young adult supernatural romance, loosely based on Beauty and the Beast and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. So, DIVIDE is a fairytale redux mashed up with an old gothic horror story. One day - when it's finished - I'll have a clearer vision of what shelf it will go on. For now, DIVIDE doesn't want to fit nicely into any specific little genre boxes. 

Where did the idea come from for the book?
Honestly, I had this idea floating around in my head for a while. A Beauty and the Beast redux unlike any others. I figured I'd get to it in a few years when I was finished with the EVER series. But then, when I sat down to start working on finishing EVER TWO for my first NanoWrimo, DIVIDE started spilling out onto  the page instead. So I went with it. 

What genre does your book fall under?
Young Adult Supernatural/Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Redux. LOL! Seriously. I'm going to have to work on that. 

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
 That's tough. My male lead looks a lot like Max from The Wanted, but I don't know what actor would best fit the part. The female lead would be perfect for Elle Fanning, but not for a few more years. She's too young right now. (Luckily we have a little time before we start casting the movie officially. lol) 

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
 I have no idea! Why did you do this to me, Marisa!? lol 
Um ... let's see ... flying by the seat of my pants here, so bare with me. Its going to be terrible. 
Cursed by being a descendant of the original spellbound Beast, Holland Briggs must fulfill her own fairy tale destiny by finding love, or becoming the beast she knows she is destined to be - but when love doesn't break the curse after all, Holland will question everything she's ever known to be reality. 
Ha! That is the worst and longest run-on sentence in the history of words. Oh well. I was winging it.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
 Well, excuse me while I take offense to this question. As an author AND Acquisitions Editor for a small publisher, I'd like to clarify that there is another, just as awesome option - small indie pub houses. My first book EVER was released by Curiosity Quills Press, and I imagine my future works will be as well. We will see! 

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I'd like to say one month, because that is, after all, the point of NanoWrimo. However, I am stuck at about the halfway point now, and November is almost over. So only time will tell. 

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
 I have no idea. I hope it is unlike anything else out there. Its a step outside the norm, I think. (I hope?)

Who or what inspired you to write this book? 
I don't know. I guess I continued to be inspired by the need I have inside me to write. I also get a lot of support from my critique partner and my editor. I think if either one of them gave up on my writing, I'd have a hard time believing I was any good at it. 

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Well, aside from *hopefully* being unlike anything else out there, I think the readers will love my main characters, and there will be kissing! YAY! 

And now, to tag five other writers! 
Feaky Snucker: My number one girl, my critique partner Tamara Mataya (aka Feaky Snucker). She's an amazing writer, and an even better friend. 
Mittens Morgul: The wonderful Laura Hughes has been an amazing supporter and critiquer of my work, and I'm so happy to have met her through this online writing community. 
Kay Froebel: I met Kay after she reviewed my book. She's an awesome reviewer and I'm so glad to know she's also a writer! One of these days I'm going to convince her to submit to CQ!
Ink in The Book: Talynn Lynn is one of the most supportive online friends I've met thus far. She is actively involved in supporting her peers and promoting their accomplishments, and the writing community is lucky to have her! 
Amanda Burckhard: Let's just say Amanda is "the one who got away." She's the first person I offered publication to when I began in Acquisitions at Curiosity Quills. She rejected me and went with an agent I adore, so I can't be too mad about it. lol ;-) But I can say that I can't wait for her awesome book to hit shelves!  

I tried to add my writing buddies that haven't done this hop before, but if you have and I missed it, I apologize! 


Friday, November 23, 2012

BLACK FRIDAY Blog Hop! #BkFriHop


Here's an awesome Black Friday Giveaway Hop, brought to you by Carrie Ann's Blog Hops! Thanks so much, Carrie Ann!


While the rest of the US is out handling the crowds, fighting for their holiday gifts, some of us like to stay in, shop online, or just ignore Black Friday all to together. This year, join us in our second annual Black Friday Blog Hop! It's a ONE DAY hop where we're giving away prizes, talking about books we love, and most likely  eating left over turkey. :-)

The hop is November 23rd and is ONE DAY only.

And while we do that, we are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.

Personally, this giveaway is perfect for me because I am one of those people who refuses to go out on Black Friday. If I do leave the house, it is not to go shopping. Frankly, that much chaos and that many chaotic people has always just freaked me out. Plus, I love and value sleep too much to wait all night in lines. lol 

So what about you? Do you brave the crowds on Black Friday, or do you shop from home? Or, are you even more like me and tend to shop the weekend before Christmas? Eeek! Its true! I'm a procrastinator in all areas of my life! 

If you're braving the internet today instead of the crowds, then good for you! You've got a chance to win a lot of wonderful stuff! (And I mean A LOT! There are over 200 participating blogs!) After you enter my giveaway, be sure to hop around to all the other participating blogs and enter their giveaways as well! 

MY GIVEAWAY 
For my stop in the blog hop, you have a chance to win an e-copy of my debut young adult paranormal romance, EVER.


Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious.

Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible.

Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.

Some girls lose their hearts to love.

Some girls lose their minds.

Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.

*Book One in The EVER Trilogy*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG HOP GRAND PRIZE 


But that's not all....



We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!


Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $75 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

You HAVE to comment on this post to be entered in the GRAND PRIZE Giveaway, so comment away! If you don't have anything to say, let me know if you've read my debut novel EVER, or if you plan to! 

Happy Holidays to all of you!

XO,
Jessa

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

#PitchMAS Announcement! The AWESOME list of participating editors and agents!


IT'S TIME FOR THE BIG REVEAL!

What's the final count for our amazing literary experts? 



UPDATE! We've added one more amazing agent! 
8 Amazing Agents and 8 Exceptional Editors! 



We're so excited about this event, and hope you are too!

Up first, let us introduce The EDITORS!

Kate Kaynak - Spencer Hill 
Lead Editor at Spencer Hill Press, Editor of The Covenant Series, Cursed, The Veil Trilogy, PODs, and Amarok, Co-Editor of UnCONventional, Milayna, Elemental, and Fae) is the author of Minder, Adversary, Legacy, Accused, and Operative.We are interested in Young Adult, New Adult, and Middle Grade sci-fi, psych-fi, paranormal, or urban fantasy, particularly those with a strong and interesting voice. We only take on new projects that inspire us and make us want to read more. Follow Kate on Twitter: @KateKaynak



I began working for Entangled as a publicist in 2011 but joined the editorial staff earlier this year to get involved with authors and their stories at an earlier stage. A former graduate and medical student, I'm either a Renaissance man or indecisive, depending on how you choose to look at it. Find me on Twitter @LewisPollak

My tastes are wide-ranging, but there are certain things I tend to favor that are more important to me than genre. I really appreciate a story that offers a mix of humor and drama. I prefer heroines that are resourceful, that stand on equal footing with the hero in some way. My favorite characters also tend to solve problems with their brains more than brawn, but a mix of both works great as well.


Kate Fall - Entangled
Kate Fall is an editor with Entangled Publishing. She previously interned at Rhemalda Publishing, is a member of SCWBI, and has been writing and editing professionally for 14 years. She loves novels with humor, settings that come to life (whether historical, contemporary, or futuristic), and main characters with what the Irish call "a good person's faults." She is especially looking for sweet romance for any age group with a well-rounded cast of characters, a love interest down on his luck, unusual American town life, or a unique twist on a time-honored plotFollow Kate on Twitter: @KateFall


Kathleen Kubasiak - Curiosity Quills:
As an avid reader, a former Language Arts teacher and librarian, and a current homeschooling mother of three, I have spent my life surrounded by literature. My current role as acquisitions editor for Curiosity Quills Press allows me to have a different relationship with the written word. I am very pleased to now be in a position to help authors achieve their dreams of publication. Find more info from Kathleen HERE 


Ben LeRoy - Tyrus Books
Ben LeRoy grew up in Madison attended college in Milwaukee, and has been running publishing companies–first Bleak House Books, now Tyrus Books–since the turn of the century. He has traveled the country extensively including stops on stage with the President and hanging out with Jesco & Mamie White in Boone County, West Virginia. He blogs regularly for Hey, There’s a Dead Guy in the Living Room and less regularly for The Huffington Post. He also discusses Tyrus Books, publishing, and a whole bunch of other nonsense on Twitter (@TyrusBooks). His personal website, featuring various thoughts about music, baseball, books, and American-ness, can be found athttp://www.benjaminleroy.com/

Looking for crime and dark literary fiction. Not looking for thrillers, suspense, or any adaptations of tv shows. Want books that focus on people's worlds getting torn apart (sometimes subtly) and how the characters survive. More interested in the human condition than I am crazy plot twists and violence. On whether or not Ben is looking for YA or Adult: In theory, I could envision a YA that fits, but it'd be one of those books that works in both worlds.


Rudy - Immortal Ink: 

Owner, Acquiring Editor, and Website Manager - Immortal Ink Publishing is open to most genres, but we're specifically interested in the following:
  • Horror (especially literary)




  • Paranormal (fantasy, romance, and mystery)




  • Literary Fiction (well-paced and accessible)
  • Women's Fiction
  • Crime/mystery/thriller
  • Young adult
We are not interested in bibles, elves, dwarves, and purple moons.
Follow Immortal Ink on Twitter: @Immortal_Ink


Andrew Buckley - Curiosity Quills: 

Andrew Buckley is an author, podcaster, and professional unicorn wrangler.In his past life he was a slightly awkward ninja with no sense of balance. He’s also the Adult Acquisitions Editor for the innovative publishing house of Curiosity Quills Press. He’s currently looking for strong sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, and anything quirky. He has a strong sense of literary ethics and, as such, is totally open to bribes.Oatmeal raisin cookies and/or jammie dodgers are his favorite. Follow Andrew on Twitter: @ABuckley23

Andrew’s debut novel Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish, hits digital shelves December 5




  • Katie Henson - Sapphire Star:

Co-owner and acquisitions editor at Sapphire Star Publishing, a full-service small press with a focus on ebooks. We opened our doors at Sapphire Star in January of 2012, and we’ve had the privilege of bringing many talented authors into the Sapphire family over the past year. We look forward to what 2013 will bring—we’re always on the hunt for “a good story well told.” We accept all genres of fiction, but we have our eye out for New Adult Romance in particular at this time. Follow Katie on Twitter: @KatieHenson_SSP


And now, to introduce The AGENTS!

*JUST ADDED! Jordy Albert - Booker Albert Lit Agency
Formerly with the Corvisiero Agency, Jordy Albert recently teamed up with fellow agent, Brittany Booker to form The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She mentored under Marisa Corvisiero for the past two years, and is looking to grow her client list. 

She is interested in women's fiction and romance, especially historical and Regency romance. 

She is also looking for YA contemporary/historical or dystopian, sci-fi/fantasy with romance weaved throughout. She is also open to YA GLBT within those genres. Jordy would love to see unique, well-developed plots featuring time travel, competitions, or travel. 

Jordy enjoys intelligent, quirky, complex characters, and characters who have a self-deprecating sense of humor,
Follow Jordy on Twitter: @Bluedragonfly81


Brooks Sherman - FinePrint Literary Management: 
On the adult side, Brooks is looking for literary and upmarket fiction, speculative (particularly urban/contemporary fantasy rooted in realistic settings and horror/dark fantasy), as well as historical fiction and crime fiction. 

On the children’s side, he is seeking middle grade novels of all genres (but particularly fantasy adventure and contemporary), and is open to YA fiction of all types except paranormal romance. 

He would especially love to get his hands on a dark and/or funny contemporary YA project.
Follow Brooks on Twitter: @byoBrooks


Kim Lionetti - Bookends LLC:
Kim Lionetti is an agent with BookEnds LLC representing a variety of bestselling YA, romance, women's fiction and cozy mystery authors.  Kim spent over eight years as an editor at Berkley Publishing before joining BookEnds in 2004, therefore she bring a hands-on approach to her clients and enjoys helping them bring their work to its fullest potential. 


She's currently seeking fresh voices in new adult, young adult, women's fiction, romance (excluding inspirational) and cozy mystery. Follow Kim on Twitter: @BookEndsKim


Bree Ogden - D4EO 
Bree Ogden joined D4EO in November 2011, after having been an associate literary agent at Martin Literary Management for nearly 2 years representing children’s, YA, and graphic novels.

Bree graduated with her BA in Philosophy from Southern Virginia University where she served as editor-in-chief of the University’s newsmagazine. She received her MA in Journalism with an emphasis in editing and expository writing at Northeastern University where she worked on both the New England Press Association Bulletin, and also served as the features editor of the premier campus music magazine, Tastemakers Magazine. Follow Bree on Twitter: @BreeOgden

Here's what Bree's seeking:
~Highly artistic picture books (high brow art, think Varmints)
~Middle grade, Young Adult, Adult
~Graphic Novels
~Nonfiction, Humor, Pop Culture, Art books
Genre-specific (Both in Adult and YA):Transgressive fiction, Genre horror, Genre noir, Genre romance, Dark (not angst-ridden), Realistic, Psychological horror (with no paranormal elements), Hard sci fi. Meaning no fantasy, or magical realism at all
~A Dexter-ish type YA black comedy (COMEDY being the operative word)
~A Roaring Twenties historical for YA
~A manuscript written in the era of Mad Men with panache and style
~A unique and theme-driven art book
~Any book dealing with Anne Boleyn
~Historical fiction (love crime-driven historical fiction, i.e. Black Dahlia)


Marisa Cleveland - The Seymour Agency: 
Her Intern to Agent journey
A high school English teacher for seven years, I spent the past seventeen years teaching various forms of artistic movement, including dance, gymnastics, and cheerleading. I am a member of SCBWI, RWA, and YA-RWA. My super fabulous agent sold my category romance to Entangled Publishing, and now I'm shifting positions at the agency from intern to agent, hoping to make someone else's dreams come true.

Here's what she needs: A middle school novel I can’t put down until the last page and can’t stop discussing. Voice is definitely key for me. If I’m going to sign (and sell) someone or recommend someone, then the writer’s voice has to speak to me. I have to be able to listen (vocally and on the page) to that writer through revisions and edits and book after book. I want to find characters I’d want as my best friends and partners in crime long after the story ends, whether it’s in this world or an alternate universe… and middle grade means the content where issues are age-appropriate and not based solely on lexile levels.
Follow Marisa on Twitter: @MarisaCleveland

Having set up her own literary agency in January 2012, Julia is specializing in representing international authors of unique and captivating commercial fiction, namely thrillers and romance as well as Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult and Women's Fiction. Julia's not too keen on sci-fi and futuristic stories and Fantasy should be set in the real world. Other than that, she's open to all sub-genres. 

A hooking plot, engaging characters, and a fresh voice are a must. Follow Julia on Twitter: @jawlitagent


Nicole Rescinti - Seymour Agency: 

Nicole has been listed by Publisher's Marketplace as a top deal-maker in the country, and named ACFW's 2012 Agent of the Year. She loves discovering new talent and helping established authors to take their career to the next level. Do you have the next project to feed her book addiction? A smart, tight read she won’t be able to put down? A signature voice she’ll fight to represent? 

HEA’s are a must for romance. Mainstream suspense, thrillers, mysteries, YA and inspirational novels are welcome. A consummate science geek and card-carrying Mensa member, Nicole would love to find the next great science fiction/fantasy novel or action/adventure masterpiece. Nicole is a member of AAR, ACFW, RWA, and Mensa. She holds degrees in biology, psychology, and behavioral neuroscience. Nicole taught in the public school system and has worn many hats before heeding her calling to become a literary agent. Follow Nicole on Twitter: @NicLitAgent



Pooja Menon - Kimberley Cameron Agency: 
As a new agent, Pooja is looking to build her client list and is eager for submissions by debut novelists and veteran writers. She's looking for writing that has an easy flow and a timely pacing, along with a unique perspective and a strong voice.  In fiction, she is interested in literary, historical, commercial, and high-end women's fiction. However, she's most drawn to stories with an international flavor, vibrant characters, multi-cultural themes, and lush settings.In fantasy, she's looking for original, layered plots with worlds as real and alive as the ones that were created by J.K Rowling and Tolkien. In non-fiction, she's looking for adventure & travel memoirs, journalism & human-interest stories, and self-help books addressing relationships and the human psychology from a fresh perspective. In YA, she's looking for stories that deal with the prevalent issues that face teenagers today. She is also interested in fantasy, magical-realism, and historical fiction.  



More specifically, from Pooja:
Adult fiction: I'm looking for multicultural fiction in both contemporary and historical genres, with strong voices and lush settings.
YA: I'm looking for unputdownable fiction in the following genres: Contemporary, Historical, Adventure, Mystery/Thriller, Steampunk, as well as non-fiction. 
Follow Pooja on Twitter: @FriscoDreamer




So there you have it! We'll see you on Tuesday, December 4th for the Pitch Polishing Workshop RIGHT HERE ON MY BLOG!



And if we don't see you here, we'll see you when the Pitching goes LIVE on Tamara's blog that evening. 


***If you missed the official details post, it's Right Here***

Will our judges be Naughty or Nice to you? Only one way to tell... 

PITCHMAS 2012!!!

Follow along with the hash tag: #PitchMAS

See you soon. 

XOXO,
Jessa and Feaky

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

WILDE'S MEADOW Blog Tour Stop! @KrystalWade

The third and final installment of The DARKNESS FALLS Series is finally here! For today's tour stop, I would like to stray from the norm, and instead of interviewing Krystal or posting a review, I am going to post all THREE of my reviews from all THREE books in the series. 

YAY!


DISCLAIMER: My reviews are basically just a gush fest because I loved these books so much! 




"There is no pain in this death, only peace, knowing I am going to die with the one I love the most." - Katriona Wilde. Katriona Wilde has never wondered what it would feel like to have everything she's ever known and loved ripped away, but she is about to find out. When she inadvertently leads her sister and best friend through a portal into a world she's dreamed of for six years, she finds herself faced with more than just the frightening creatures in front of her. Kate's forced to accept a new truth: her entire life has been a lie, and those closest to her have betrayed her. What's worse, she has no control over her new future, and it's full of magic and horrors from which nightmares are made. Will Kate discover and learn to control who she really is in time to save the ones she loves, or will all be lost?

MY REVIEW:
5 of 5 stars false
My disclosure for this review is that Krystal Wade is my editor at Curiosity Quills, where my debut novel will be published by the end of the year. I am only disclosing this information because I have to admit that I was worried about reading WILDE'S FIRE. I'm ridiculous, I know. But here's a sneak peek into what was going through my mind: What if I didn't like it? What if I didn't like her writing style? What would that say about me, or about my own book that she picked out of dozens of manuscripts to offer publication to? What if .... aaaaaaaaaaaah!

So as I often do, I totally psyched myself out about it. PS. I psyche myself out about anything and everything, and almost always without reason. :-)

This was one of those times. Because wow, I LOVED WILDE'S FIRE! LOVED IT! I was immediately drawn into the story. I fell in love with the relationship between Kate and Brit, and I especially fell in love with Arland. *swoon* 

I set the book down upon finishing it, with tears in my eyes, and immediately ordered WILDE'S ARMY, which I am now reading with fervor. The worst part about this is that it was only just released, which means I will have to wait a very long and painful amount of time for WILDE'S MEADOW. Boo. 




"Hello, Katriona." Those two words spark fear in Katriona Wilde and give way to an unlikely partnership with Perth, the man she's been traded to marry for a favor. Saving her true love and protector Arland, her family, and their soldiers keeps her motivated, but the at-odds duo soon realizes trust is something that comes and goes with each breath of Encardia's rotting, stagnant air. The moment when concern for her missing sister spirals out of control, all thoughts of trust are pushed aside and she finds herself trapped by the daemon tricks Perth warned her of. However, rescuing those she loves is only half the problem. Kate still must get to Willow Falls, unite her clashing people, and form an army prepared to fight in order to defeat Darkness. When so many she's grown fond of die along the journey, her ability to play by the gods' rules is tested. How will she make allies when the world appears stacked against her? And will she still be Katriona Wilde, the girl with fire?
MY REVIEW:
5 of 5 stars false

If I could give WILDE'S ARMY six stars, I would. It was BETTER than WILDE'S FIRE, which I gave five stars to already, so a SIX star rating is the only thing that makes sense!!!

I cried so many times in this book because I felt SO MUCH EMOTION. Happiness, love, fear, sorrow ... to name a few. 

I finished the book with tears streaming down my face, not knowing what to do with myself next. I honestly had that confused, shocked, stuck-in-an-imaginary-land feeling you occasionally see 'somecards.com' referencing. 

There are a select few books I would read again. This series is one of them. 

*NOTE: I want to add that this review may seem biased because Krystal Wade is my editor. I am telling you that it is not, and you have no reason to believe me. However, because she IS my editor, had I NOT liked the book, I would have remained silent and never bothered to leave a review. That's my honesty in all its glory.




Happy endings are hard to find, and even though Katriona is in the middle of a war with someone who’s already stolen more than she can replace, she aches for a positive future with her Draíochtans.

Armed with hope, confidence in her abilities, and a strange new gift from her mother, Kate ventures into the Darkness to defeat a fallen god.

Losses add up, and new obstacles rise to stand in the way. Is the one determined to bring Encardia light strong enough to keep fighting, or will all the sacrifices to stop those who seek domination be for nothing?         


Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads 
MY REVIEW:
5 of 5 stars false
GAH! Well, it's happened folks. The last book of a fantastic series has been devoured. I'm both ecstatic to have read it, and devastated that it has ended. 

But, with that said, I have only great things to say about WILDE'S MEADOW - though I imagine you knew that was coming. I obsessed over the entire series and read the first two in about two days. 

Anyway, I just finished WILDE'S MEADOW, and can say that though there is an influx of tragedy and drama (which you can foresee by looking at that powerful blood-red cover), Krystal Wade manages to leave us with hope and happiness. She manages to leave the impression that though some things may finish, they never truly END. Some people may be gone to us on this earth, but they live on in the love and memories they leave behind ... And that's all I have to say about that, because I don't want to spoil anything. ;-)

WILDE'S MEADOW was fast and action-packed from the get-go. There was more Kate and Arland (Mmmm, Arland),as well as the characters you loved instantly (Flanna, Brit), and those you learned to love over time (Perth, Rhoswen). All in all, I'd say this was a wonderful wrap up to a fantastic series. I can't wait to read what Krystal writes next! *cough cough * hurry up *cough cough*




Krystal Wade can be found in the sluglines outside Washington D.C. every morning, Monday through Friday. With coffee in hand, iPod plugged in, and strangers – who sometimes snore, smell, or have incredibly bad gas – sitting next to her, she zones out and thinks of fantastical worlds for you and me to read.
How else can she cope with a fifty mile commute?
Good thing she has her husband and three kids to go home to. They keep her sane.
Click HERE to go to the Blog fest! 






Monday, November 19, 2012

#PitchMAS - Holiday Pitch Fest Details and Times


Official #PitchMAS Details


Welcome to our amazing Holiday Pitch Fest … PitchMAS! Like Christmas only better, because instead of a fat man getting stuck in your chimney, you get Jessa and Feaky! Woot woot!

OFFICIAL SCHEDULE

Tuesday 12/4: 4am-9pm PST
PITCH-HONING WORKSHOP (Jessa's Blog)
Tuesday morning at 4:00am pacific standard time, a post will go live on Jessa’s blog announcing the Pitch-Honing workshop. All day Tuesday, you will be able to comment on the blog post with your pitches (both 35 word blog pitches and 140 character Twitter pitches). Your peers will comment and help you hone your pitches into something that will grab the attention of our esteemed editors and agents during the live pitch fest.

An example of a comment during the pitch-honing workshop could look something like this:

Jessa Russo
EVER, YA ParanormalRomance

35 word blog pitch:
Seventeen-year-old Ever Van Ruysdael knew her heart was on the line when she met Toby James. What she didn’t know was that her soul and the souls of those she loved were also in danger.

Twitter pitch:
17yo Ever knew her heart was on the line when she met Toby James. What she didn’t know was that her soul was in danger as well. #PitchMAS

Once your comment has posted, people can respond telling you what would work better for your pitch, and we can all help each other with honing our pitches and making them contest ready.


Tuesday 12/4: 11pm-2am EST
First PITCH SUBMISSION WINDOW (Tamara's Blog)
Tamara’s contest post will go live at 11pm, and will remain open until 2am. At this time, please comment with your pitch. She will only take the first 50 blog pitches. Please only post ONCE, and do not comment on other contestant’s comments. If you do not get in during this window, have no fear – there will be a short window first thing Wednesday morning.


Wednesday 12/5: 10AM EST-11AM EST
Second PITCH SUBMISSION WINDOW (Tamara's Blog)
Comments on Tamara’s contest post will be open again, and she will take an additional 25 pitches only.

Wednesday 12/5: 11:30am-9:30pm EST
BLOG PITCH CONTEST (Tamara's Blog)
This is when agents and editors will be able to scroll through the comments with the 75 pitches, and make requests, or ask questions. Please do not comment on any of the comments at this time, UNLESS an agent or editor has asked you a question specifically.

Thursday 12/6: All day!
TWITTER PITCH PARTY! 
{140 Characters or Less - obviously}
Everyone can join in on the Twitter party, regardless of your participation in the pitch-honing workshop, or the blog pitch contest. Also, EVEN If you’ve received requests, you may still pitch during the Twitter party because you never know when a ninja agent may be lurking.

Your Twitter pitch MUST CONTAIN the hash tag or the agents will not see it.

You may not pitch more than twice per hour. Please respect your fellow pitch fest contestants buy obeying this rule. It is unfair to clog the feed with your manuscript every two seconds.

We will notify you throughout the day if we see an agent or editor is lurking, so make sure you follow both Tamara and Jessa on Twitter.


***Follow along with the hashtag: #PitchMAS***

*You may only pitch completed and polished manuscripts.
*You may pitch more than one manuscript, but each pitch must be its own comment, or its own tweet. (Read: Do NOT pitch multiple manuscripts in ONE comment or ONE tweet.) 

PLEASE TAKE THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE!