This Blog Has Moved

THIS BLOG HAS MOVED!!! Head on over to teralynnchilds.com/blog to catch up on all the latest news and fun extras from author Tera Lynn Childs.

So, you might notice that there hasn't been much activity on ye olde blog recently. Well, partly it's because I haven't been blogging much, but also it's because I've moved my blog to my website. My blog can now be found at:

teralynnchilds.com/blog

And if you've subscribed via a feed reader, the new feed address is:

teralynnchilds.com/feed

That is all.

Aka, end of blog.

The Sweet Legacy Blog Blitz is Coming!

The release of Sweet Legacy, the third and final book in the Sweet Venom trilogy comes out in two short months. Eeeep. I mean,

EEEEEEPPPP!!!!!

To celebrate this awesome moment, I want to make a big splash across the interwebs. Enter the Sweet Legacy Blog Blitz. This is going to be a big, massive, one day only blog tour. Anyone and everyone with a blog can participate. All it takes is filling out the form below.

You get to pick what kind of special content you want to post on Blog Blitz day. You can choose between some types that I'll provide, or making your own post. Everyone will be on a big link list AND everyone will get to post the humongous Rafflecopter contest. I'll be giving away huge amounts of Sweet Venom books and other great prizes.

Blog Blitz hosts will get to enter a separate contest with an even better prize!

Signup is only open until July 15th, so fill out the form now.

*** the signup period is over ***

FAQ–Did You Always Want to Be a Writer?

I'm working on the FAQ section of my new website, so I've been thinking a lot about the questions I get asked more often. I'll be answering them here on the blog in long form and then including a shorter version on the website. Expect more posts like this.

One of the most common questions writers gets asked is:

Did you always want to be a writer?

This question usually comes from aspiring writers who want to know if they're... one the right path. (Or, you know, the write path.) Was it a lifelong passion for reading and writing or some other series of chance events that led me to my career? In a long nutshell, here goes:

I never considered myself a reader. In school I was always math and science girl who wanted to be a marine biologist or a veterinarian. I hated language arts and blamed it on the fact that my first three years of school were in French. Now I know better. There were two reasons I shied away from reading and writing when I was in school.

One, because my English teachers ranged from unexceptional to ridiculously neurotic. In my junior year American Lit class, we never had one essay question on a test. They were all Scantron. How is that even possible?

Two, because the books I enjoyed reading (and now love writing) were the ones that "didn't count". I adored series like Nancy Drew and The Baby-Sitter's Club and Sweet Valley High and, well, according to teachers and other grown-ups, if it wasn't Lord of the Flies or The Red Badge of Courage or Billy Budd then it was a waste of words. Lesson to literary snobs: this is precisely how "children who hate reading" are born.

Fast forward to my freshman year of college. In my first semester literature class we read Pride & Prejudice. It changed my life. For the first time, I truly loved a book that was "important" enough to read for class–at Columbia, an Ivy League school, no less.

I looked at books differently after that.

Then, after college and a year off, I started in a Masters program at Columbia. My degree is in Historic Preservation and has nothing whatsoever to do with writing except this: during my thesis defense, one of my advisors said, "Tera, you're a very effective writer." Now, he was only saying that to soften the blow of wanting me to cut the first half of my thesis, but those words stayed with me.

After graduation, when I was back home and basically house-sitting for my parents, his words rattled around in my brain. During that time I also started reading romance novels. Obsessively. I would drive into town to the bookstore, bring home a huge stack, tear through them, and go back for more.

Somewhere along the way, I started wanting the characters to say/do things differently. Finally, between my renewed love of reading and the confidence my advisor's compliment gave me, I decided to try my hand at this writing thing.

So that's it. No childhood dreams of become a writing. No formal education in creative writing. In fact, I can only remember one creative writing project in my entire education career, and that was in my high school Biology II class. 

Funny aside: For that project, we had to make up a human genetic mutation. I wrote about how humans developed a membrane in their throats to be able to filter oxygen from water. The first step toward mermaid fiction for sure.

The short answer is no. I didn't always know I wanted to be a writer, but once I found writing I knew I never wanted to do anything else.

What I'm Working On--Summer Edition

Summer is always a crazy time for me. I've been helping my mom get ready for the start of SILV, which is madness. Pure madness. Plus I've been trying to catch up on email and other stuff. Here's a general list of what I'm working on:

• new website design
• waiting for edits on GODDESS IN TIME
• brainstorming PRETTY IN PEARLS
• writing a new mythology-inspired YA proposal
• brainstorming an epic MG idea
• email, email, email
• marketing plans
• blogging plans
• video plans (maybe)

And that's just the writing-related stuff! Is it any wonder that I'm *mumble-mumble* months behind on email?

Where I've Been: RT

With almost no time to recover from TeenBookCon and TLA, I turned back around and headed to Kansas City for the RT Booklovers Convention. This trip made me think of this song:

The convention was held at the Sheraton Kansas City, which had this super cool sculptural thingy hanging above the lobby.

I was only in at RT for two days--in and out--but the very first thing I did was find my banner in the hall. So much Venom-y goodness.

While there, I got some fabulous prezzies from the darling Suzanne Lazear and her daughter.

I went to lunch with a bunch of amazing YA authors. (Colleen Houck, Colleen's sister, Cole Gibsen, Zoraida Cordova, and Justina Ireland are nearest me at the table.)

At the Avon Red Slipper Lounge, I signed a fortress of books...

...hung out with fab authors Karina Cooper and Teri Brown...

...and of course got some quality time with Sophie Jordan in our almost-matching dresses.

On Saturday, I survived an early breakfast (with Karina Cooper, *mwuah*), an almost-four-hour book signing, two back-to-back panels, and the awesome-but-exhausting Teen Day party! And guess what I got at the party? More ARCs! (I also got some actual real signed books from Josie Angelini, Amy Plum, and Jen Lynn Barnes.) So look forward to those giveaways.

While waiting in the lobby for my airport shuttle, one of the cover models gave me this CD of his music. Um...

Now I'm back home with no more writing-related travel for a while. Until July anyway. I think...

TLA Addendum (aka TLC is a Stalker)

In my main post about my trip to TLA in Fort Worth, I totally forgot to mention the Most Important Thing I did! If you've followed my blog... or met me... or seen me on Twitter or Facebook... you should know that my favorite YA author is Jaclyn Moriarty.

Now, I've met a lot of YA authors over the years, but Jaclyn lives in Australia. AUSTRALIA! So I've never had the chance to be in even the same hemisphere as her.

Until TLA!

I arranged my travel so I could stay late enough on Friday to attend her official signing at 2:00pm. By 11:00am I had staked out my spot at a table within sight of her signing aisle.

I was first in line.

They only had two of her books available, but I bought them both. (And, yes, I got an extra one to giveaway here on the blog.)

Finally, after many long years of obsessing admiration, I got to meet Jaclyn Moriarty.

I don't think I made TOO MUCH of an idiot of myself. *fangirl squeal*

Where I've Been: TLA

After TeenBookCon, I got to head home for two whole days before turning back around for another trip to Texas for the Texas Library Association annual conference in Fort Worth. I stayed at the beautiful Worthington Renaissance hotel with the rest of the HarperCollins team.

We walked from the hotel to the convention center, through the adorably historic and vibrant downtown Fort Worth. I was definitely impressed with the area. It was a fun place to hang out for a couple days.

The downtown area and the convention center had many art displays, including this gigantic star made entirely of cowboy hats (including a pink one).

I spoke on the Lone Star panel (which was in a gigantic room) along with amazing authors Marie Lu, Kiersten White, Ally Carter, and Mary Pearson. We were a hoot, I'm pretty sure.

No event is complete without food, and while at TLA I headed to the Cupcakery with Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Ally Carter, and Mari Mancusi. I indulged in this gorgeous cupcake...

...and a Texas-sized onion ring at the Harper family dinner.

I picked up SO MANY amazing ARCs from the publisher booths, including the absolutely amazing Premeditated by the supremely talented Josin McQuein.

You know ARCs for me mean giveaways for you, so expect lots of great books up for grabs in the near future.

Where I've Been: TeenBookCon

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I've been on the road a lot lately. A lot. I had three back-to-back weeks of events and all that wild travel was pretty exhausting. (Especially since it included two red eye flights in the mix. Ugh, never again.)

The first of the three trips sent me back to my adopted hometown of Houston, Texas, for TeenBookCon. If you live in or around Houston (or can get yourself there without too much trouble) you should try to get to there for TeenBookCon next year. It was amazing!

There were dozens of fabulous authors (some of whom I've been dying to meet for a long time, like Kate Brian, Justina Chen, and Claudia Gray). We started out the day on stage, while hundreds of teens watched from the auditorium.

Then, after Chris Crutcher's keynote speech, we headed to our panels. I was on the Take Me Away panel with Lenore Applehans, AG Howard, Sophie Jordan, Stacey Kade, and Shannen Messenger.

We repeated our panel four times, which you might think would get boring but since the audience questions changed every time, it was always different. (Although I think we were all a little loopy by the end of the day.)

I also got to spend some--but not enough--time with some of my favorite people.

It's so hard to say goodbye.

But the great thing about author events is that there is always another one just down the road. Luckily I got to see many of these awesome author peeps at my next two events. Stay tuned for recaps on both of those.

News (Yes, News!) of the Very Exciting Variety

Wow, I haven't posted anything but giveaways in a while! (But that's good for you guys, right? Lots of free books. And after TeenBookCon, TLA, and RT events the last few weeks I have a ton more to give away. Stay tuned!)

But today, finally, I have real and excitingly awesome news. For real!

You might have noticed that HarperTeen has started doing digital first projects for their Impulse line. They have already published a bunch of awesome short stories and novellas from great authors like Aprilynne Pike, Amy Plum, and Sophie Jordan. And, coming soon... ME!

source: roxinovak

Here are the details so far:

1. I will be writing TWO (2) Impulse novellas.
2. One will be another story in the Fins world.
3. The other will be... Goddess in Time, aka Nicole's story, aka FINALLY ANOTHER STORY IN THE OH. MY. GODS. WORLD!

That's all I know for sure right now. Goddess in Time will probably be out this year, sometime after the release of Sweet Legacy this fall. The Fins story will be out next year, maybe early early next year.

I don't even know who the Fins story will be about yet. More about Lily? Quince? The rest of Peri's story from Pretty in Pearls? Someone else entirely?

What do you think? Whose story would you most like to read?

Monday Giveaway: Pickle

This week's Monday Giveaway is for a signed copy of the fun middle grades book Pickle: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Middle School by Kim Baker.

This is the story of THE LEAGUE OF PICKLE MAKERS.

Ben: who began it all by sneaking in one night and filling homeroom with ball-pit balls.

Frank: who figured out that an official club, say a pickle making club, could receive funding from the PTA.

Oliver: who once convinced half of the class that his real parents had found him and he was going to live in a submarine.

Bean: who wasn't exactly invited, but her parents own a costume shop, which comes in handy if you want to dress up like a giant squirrel and try to scare people at the zoo.

TOGETHER, they are an unstoppable prank-pulling force, and Fountain Point Middle School will never be the same.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Giveaway: The Lost Code

Yet another awesome Monday Giveaway. This week you can win a signed copy of The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson.

In the year 2086, Camp Eden promises summer “the way things used to be,” back before the oceans rose, the sun became a daily enemy, and modern civilization sank into chaos. Located inside the EdenWest BioDome, the camp is an oasis of pine trees, cool water, and rustic charm.

But all at Camp Eden is not what it seems.

No one will know this better than 15-year-old Owen Parker. A strange underwater vision, even stranger wounds on Owen’s neck, and a cryptic warning from the enchanting lifeguard Lilly hint at a mystery that will take Owen deep beneath Lake Eden and even deeper into the past. What he discovers could give him the chance to save the tattered planet. But first, Owen will have to escape Camp Eden alive…

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#6k6books Giveaway

Remember when I promised that if I got 6000 followers on Twitter I would give away six books? Well, I got 6000 followers on Twitter so I'm giving away six books!!!

Enter through the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Note that if you win you can choose ANY of my books as prizes, including Sweet Legacy, but if that's your pick you'll have to wait until I get my copies closer to the release date.

Now... what are you waiting for? Enter away!

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Monday Giveaway: I'm Not Her

This week's Monday Giveaway is for a signed copy of the RITA-nominated book I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler.

Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. Yet the smiles of her picture-perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn’t hold it together, who will?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Giveaway: The Elite

Another great Monday Giveaway, this time it's an ARC of The Elite by Kiera Cass.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Giveaway: Life After Theft

This week's Monday Giveaway is for an ARC of the new Aprilynne Pike book, Life After Theft.

Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.

Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel.

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Monday Giveaway: Wasteland

Time for another Monday Giveaway, and this time it's an ARC of the dystopian novel Wasteland by Emmy Award-winning Susan Kim and Edgar Award-winning Laurence Klavan.

Welcome to the Wasteland. Where all the adults are long gone, and now no one lives past the age of nineteen. Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan’s post-apocalyptic debut is the first of a trilogy in which everyone is forced to live under the looming threat of rampant disease and brutal attacks by the Variants —- hermaphroditic outcasts that live on the outskirts of Prin. Esther thinks there’s more to life than toiling at harvesting, gleaning, and excavating, day after day under the relentless sun, just hoping to make it to the next day. But then Caleb, a mysterious stranger, arrives in town, and Esther begins to question who she can trust. As shady pasts unravel into the present and new romances develop, Caleb and Esther realize that they must team together to fight for their lives and for the freedom of Prin.

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Spring 2013 YA Scavenger Hunt, Coming Soon to a Blog Near You

The YA Scavenger Hunt (organized by the fabulous Colleen Houck author of the Tiger's Curse series) is coming back and will go live on April 4th at noon Pacific Time.

Who: Too many YA authors to name, but here's the complete list.

What: An exclusive BONUS offering from each author. This might be an exclusive excerpt, an extra chapter, a short story, a bit of news, a free download (*raises hand*), a new cover or any bit of insider info from the author's world. Everything will go back in the vault on April 7th and you might never see it again.

When: April 4th to 7th

Where: YA author blogs and websites

Why: Because you love bonus material AND because there will be lots of prizes up for grabs, too. I'll be giving away a copy of Sweet Shadows to the Blue Team grand prize winner as well as a bonus giveaway on my blog.

How: Come back to my blog on April 4th and find my surprise guest author's bonus material. You'll also get a clue to find the next stop on the hunt.

Is It Almost April Already?

So... it appears that I have missed most of March. I can't believe I haven't blogged all month. It's been a busy month, but seriously? What a slacker.

While I haven't been blogging, I have been doing other things. Like writing. And traveling to Milwaukee in March--really? Who thought that was a good idea? I've also been posting lots of Vine videos. Here are some of my faves:

What about you? How has your March been? Did it fly by or is it dragging on and on?

Monday Giveaway: Mila 2.0

I've got an awesome giveaway this week! It's an ARC of Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza.

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity–style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

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(Not) Literally the Best Thing Ever

I am a sucker for super-creative, clever projects. And if they relate to one of the best book series of all-time (aka Harry Potter) well then it's insta-love.

Check out these amazing videos from Not Literally:







These are so well done! I love the new lyrics, the overall themes of each video, and Dana and Ginny (the two lead girls who also write all the content) have great presence and personality.

I am in awe.