Winners, News, and Not News

Okay, first let me say that this has been the year of crazy. For sure. Between moving and traveling and deadlines and book releases and tours and, just, well, everything, it's almost amazing I'm still capable to form coherent sentences. And I'm about to head out to the Austin Teen Book Festival (woot-woot!) and thought I should catch up on a little bit of stuff before I go.

Winners

1. I don't think I ever picked winners for my June/July website contest (my bad!) so I'll make up for that now. The three winners of the Forgive My Fins paperback are:

• Sheila P.
• Dina V.
• Lily A.

2. Since I'll be traveling this weekend, I'm going to go ahead and pick the August/September winners of Fins Are Forever now, too:

• Akchita S.
• Molly M.
• Jessie M. (bonus winner of a Forgive My Fins t-shirt)

3. I picked winners for the Forgive My Fins UK booklet, but they haven't responded yet so I thought I'd repeat them here:

• Tayte A.
• Kim H.

4. And, finally, the winner from this week's A Need So Beautiful giveaway is:

• Nicole M.

News

I'm thrilled to announce that Templar, the UK publisher of Forgive My Fins and  Fins Are Forever, is also going to publish the Sweet Venom trilogy, with the first book coming out Fall 2012.

Not News

Gah! I have news that I'm dying to share (and you are going to be so excited!) but things are still being finalized and I can't spill until it's all figured out. I promise I will blast from the roof of the blogosphere as soon as I can!

I'm out for the weekend, ready to meet all the awesome readers and bloggers and librarians and other authors at the Austin Teen Book Festival. Hope to see you there!

Hugs,
TLC

Monday Giveaway: A Need So Beautiful

*** contest is over and winner is Nicole M ***

Yay, Monday Giveaway is back (after a brief, deadline-and-release-induced hiatus) with a signed copy of A Need So Beautiful by the lovely and adorable Suzanne Young. I have secret news I can quite share yet, so instead read this.

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences?

And, in case that hasn't convinced you this is a wonderful book, then watch the trailer.

Awesome, no? Want to win this book? Just comment with your guess about what my secret news is. (I can't comment--yet--but I bet some of you get it right.)

Hugs,
TLC

Are You Ready, Austin?

The Austin Teen Book Festival is just around the corner and this year I am lucky enough to be a participating author!

The festival takes place October 1st at the Palmer Events Center and is FREE and open to the public. I'm going to be on a series of fabulous panels called Supernatural Suspense with these amazing authors:

• Cynthia Leitich-Smith
• Heather Brewer
• Jackson Pearce
• Sophie Jordan
• Andrea Cremer

Oh, and the keynote speaker this year is the incomparable Scott Westerfeld. Read more about the festival and the high-tech press they have planned in this School Library Journal article.

Can't be at the festival? Follow the festivities on the festival's Twitter account (@AustinTBF) and the hashtag (#ATBF11).

Hugs,
TLC

Fix My FAQs

I'm in the process of changing over my website to a Wordpress site (which will make updating and adding fun stuff so much easier) and I notices something really important. My FAQs are woefully out of date. I need some new Qs to A, and that's where you come in. Leave your Q(s) in comments or email them to tlc[at]teralynnchilds[dot]com so I can add them to the updated FAQs page.

Hugs,

TLC

Fun Friday Giveaway from the UK

*** contest winners are Tayte A. and Kim H. ***

Last week I got a very fun package of goodies from the UK publisher of Forgive My Fins and Fins Are Forever. The first is a cover flat of next summer's release of Fins Are Forever. Isn't it gorgeous?

(By the way, it's really hard to take a good picture of a shiny cover.) To me this looks more like Dosinia than Lily, but that works for the story.

They also included a few of the promotional booklets they made to include in a popular UK magazine. On one side is the cover of Forgive My Fins and the first chapter of the book. If you flip it over, you'll see the cover of A Tangle of Magicks by Stephanie Burgis and the first chapter of her book.

Since I got a few of them, I wanted to share. I'm going to give away two of these adorable booklets. To enter, simply comment by telling me what one country in the world you most want to visit. (Mine would be a tie between South Africa and Argentina.)

Hugs,
TLC

Have You Reviewed?

Reviews are not something I talk about often here on the blog. They can be a volatile subject. If I find a good review, I don't want to get all gloaty about it (unless it's from a big time review journal). If I find a bad review, I don't want to draw more attention to it than absolutely necessary.

This blog isn't about good or bad reviews. It's about posting them.

A lot of the success of a particular book is based on potential reader perception of the book. If you're checking out a new author for the first time, you might head over to Amazon or GoodReads to check out their review star rating and how many reviews have been posted.

High marks from lots of reviewers might be just the thing that changes a potential reader into an actual reader.

So what's my point here? It's simple. Post your reviews. If you've read a book, and especially if you've already written a review for your blog, copy and paste it to the big three if you can. (That's Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and GoodReads.) It's one of the best things you can do to support a book you love.

This is especially helpful for self-published books, like Eye Candy and Straight Stalk, because those have to work harder to get reader attention.

A big thank you to everyone who already does this, and a big thank you in advance to everyone who will.

Hugs,
TLC

Fun Times in the Emerald City

Now that I am officially a resident of Seattle, it's about time I do a book signing here. The Emerald City launch of Sweet Venom and my life here will happen at the fabulous Secret Garden Books in Ballard on September 21st. Here are all the details:

Who: Me (obviously) along with Gretchen, Grace and Greer
What: Chit-chat, book talk, and general hijinx
When: Wednesday, September 21st, 7:00pm
Where: Secret Garden Books at 2214 NW Market Street in Ballard
Why: Fun times and vegan cupcakes
How: Um, if you can't figure that out...

If you want to register official-like, visit the Facebook event page and RSVP.

Hugs,
TLC

Release Day Winners and Bookstores

Happy Monday, everyone. It's been a busy week and now it's time for me to pick winners from the Sweet Venom release day contest. Courtesy of Randomizer.org, here they are:

• Cesya MaRae Cuono
• Abena Opoku
• thestoryqueen

Winners email your mailing info to tlc[at]teralynnchilds[dot]com.

In other news, many of you have noticed that Sweet Venom is not in Barnes & Nobles yet. You may remember that way back at the start of the year, Sweet Venom was supposed to come out on October 4th. The release date got moved up because of my tour. Well... apparently that caused some confusion and a delay in shipping the books to Barnes & Noble.

The good news is that things are getting straightened out and books should be on their way and (hopefully) in stores this week. The more good news is that Barnes & Noble is going to do some extra promotion for Sweet Venom in October, but that's just bonus.

Anyway, keep checking with your Barnes & Nobles and let me know when Sweet Venom shows up there.

Hugs,
TLC

Which Medusa Sister Are You?

Sweet Venom stars Gretchen, Grace and Greer, identical triplets who--although genetically the same--have been raised in very different lifestyles. Which means they've grown up to be three very different girls. Want to know which sister you're most like? Take this short quiz to find out.

1. It's the first day of school and you're getting dressed. What do you put on?
a. Whatever's closest to the bed when I roll out twenty minutes before class.
b. My favorite jeans, an organic cotton tee, and Chuck Taylors.
c. The latest designer classics and fashionable high heels.

2. How do you spend your free time?
a. Working out, training, beating up on the nearest punching dummy.
b. Doing homework, hanging out with my family, and saving the planet.
c. What free time? Between extra-curriculars, student government, and social events my schedule is full.

3. What's your favorite color?
a. Black, it's tough, practical, and doesn't show dirt or blood.
b. Green, it's the color of nature and the environmental movement.
c. Gold, it's the color of wealth, success, and power.

4. Describe your ideal boy.
a. He's not intimidated by strength and doesn't freak in the face of danger.
b. He's cute, kind, and loves his family.
c. He's popular, powerful, and destined for a successful life.

5. What's your average dinner?
a. Whatever's ready and waiting in the freezer.
b. Something vegetarian with loads of veggies and tofu.
c. A gourmet meal prepared by our housekeeper.

Add up your answers and check the key below.

Mostly a's? You're a Gretchen. You're tough, maybe a bit of a loner, and you never back down from a fight. You live for danger and the adrenaline rush. You can't stay this way forever, though. One day you're going to meet a boy you can't scare away with sarcasm and snark.

Mostly b's? You're a Grace. You're sweet, smart, conscientious, and committed to the environment. You love your family and try your best to stay out of trouble. You hate lying and keeping secrets, but there will come a day when you find they're necessary.

Mostly c's? You're a Greer. You're a natural leader and it's a role you enjoy. But it's really only a stepping stone to your future as a CEO or member of congress. You are poised, confident, and every girl in school wishes she had your life. And you secretly adore their envy.

So, which sister are you?

Hugs,
TLC

Fashion Tips From Greer

Hello readers,

At Tera's request, I am here to offer you a handful of fashion tips.

First, grooming is essential. You cannot be fashionable with frizzy hair, rough cuticles, or unkempt eyebrows. Make personal care a priority. I set aside one evening each week to pamper myself with a home spa.

Second, find your own style. Not every fashion icon has the same style, otherwise they would not be a fashion icon. Learn to recognize the fit and styles that work best for your, buy those in classic, high quality pieces.

Third, be confident. Above all else, fashion and beauty come from within. The most stylish haircut, makeup, and clothes cannot overcome a lack of confidence. Believe in yourself and your fashion will follow.

Sincerely,
Greer Morgenthal

Fighting Tips From Gretchen

If you want to win a fight, with a beastie or a human, remember these things:

1. Evaluate your environment. Check the space around you for exits, obstacles, and potential weapons. These are things you or your opponent might be able to use.
2. Use the element of surprise. If you can sneak up on your opponent, you'll have a significant advantage. If you can't, then surprise them with an unexpected move.
3. Keep a cool head. Panic can be costly in a fight. If you find yourself freaking out, try taking a deep breath and picturing yourself victorious. Believe it, achieve it.

Gretch

Eco Tips From Grace

Hi everyone, Grace here. Tera asked me to share some of my best eco-friendly tips with you, so here are some things you can do to lighten your footprint on the planet.

1. Turn off the lights. This seems silly, but if you think about all the lights in all the rooms in all the houses in all the world... well, the power savings really add up.
2. Turn off the water. Same goes here. You don't need to leave the water running while you're brushing your teeth or scrubbing your dishes. If you're really dedicated, you can turn off the shower while your shaving your legs.
3. Recycle what you can. Even if you don't have recycling in your home or building, fill reusable shopping bags with paper, plastic (check the numbers), aluminum cans, and (if your recycling center accepts it) glass. Think about how much you can keep out of the landfill with just one or two trips a month.

xoxo
Grace

Sweet Venom Map of San Francisco

Since Sweet Venom is the first time I've gone on a research trip for a book (check out my posts from last April where I posted some pictures of of the locations) I thought it would be fun to create a map of all the places where things happen in the book.

View Sweet Venom in a larger map

Please not that I've taken some (a lot of) artistic license with these locations. Many of them serve different purposes in real life than in the book. Just know that when you read about a location, these are the places I picture. Don't show up at Groove Merchant Records and expect to find an oracle waiting there (but do expect to find awesome jazz, soul and funk albums).

Hugs,
TLC

Sweet Venom Release Day and Giveaway!

The day that felt like it would never come is finally here! My brand new book baby, Sweet Venom, hits shelves and ereaders across the country today.

Want to know more?

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they’re triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful Gorgon maligned in myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Want to order it?

• Indiebound (hardcover)
• Amazon (hardcover | kindle)
• Barnes & Noble (hardcover | nook)
• Books-a-Million (hardcover)

Of course it's not a release day celebration if there isn't a giveaway, right? How about three copies of Sweet Venom? This is the last one I'm doing with my own books for a while, so don't miss the chance. I'll choose winners next Monday.

To enter, tell me your favorite character or story from Greek mythology.

Hugs,
TLC

On Title Hunt Winners and Titles

After jumping the gun a little bit and trying to end the Sweet Venom 2 title hunt contest early, it's now officially over and I can officially announce the title. Say hello to...

Sweet Shadows

There were some very creative guesses (Sweet Poisons, Sweet Daemons, Sweet Victory) but most of you figured it out.

I don't have any information about a release date yet, other than Fall 2012, but I can tell this book bursts into brand new territory. It's even more action-packed that Sweet Venom. I can't wait to see the cover. I've seen the picture they're going to use and, well, let's just say it's going to be breathtaking.

And of course, now that the contest is over and the title revealed, it's also time to choose winners. I headed over to Randomizer.org and let it do my choosing for me. Without further ado, the winners are...

Grand Prize

(Sweet Venom + $50 GC)

Kate Roth

Runners Up

(Sweet Venom)

Ambur Hostyn

Donna Rushton

Lyssa Anne

Mandy Rose

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all the bloggers who hosted letters and everyone who entered!

Sweet Venom hits bookshelves in a matter of hours (!!!) and I'll be kicking off release week with--of course--more giveaways. Tune in tomorrow to say happy book birthday to Sweet Venom and to join in the celebration fun.

Hugs,
TLC