Blog Roll!

So, hello!!

I hope your summer is treating you well, and yes, according to my last blog post it really has been six months since my last visit, and not only have I missed you, but so much has happened since then!

Like...I recently signed a three-book deal for a new YA series, UNRIVALED, with Harper Collins that I'm super excited about!

Me celebrating at Harper Collins Headquarters with the only things you really need for an epic celebration: Snarkles & Sparkling Cider!

And since I hope to get this blog going again, I figured what better way to begin than by taking part in a blog roll?! 

The amazing author of HUSH LITTLE BABY, Suzanne Redfearn, invited me to join this blog roll in progress that's all about the writing process. I don't know about you, but I'm always interested in reading about other writer's creative processes, so without further delay, here's mine:  

1. WHAT AM I WORKING ON –
I’m currently working on the first book in my upcoming YA series, UNRIVALED (in stores early 2016!). It’s a bit of a departure from more recent works as it takes place in the fast-paced world of LA nightclubs, where three teens get caught up in a high-stakes competition and the desperate measures they take to win that make them suspects in a mysterious crime. It’s glamorous, edgy, suspenseful, sexy, and of course, there are loads of cute boys and romance! After writing 14 paranormals over the last 5 years, I’m having a blast returning to my contemporary roots!

2. HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS OF ITS GENRE?
I don’t necessarily set out to make my books different, as I’m not really thinking about anyone else’s books while I’m writing. I just try to write about subjects that are either deeply personal, or deeply interesting to me, and then I create a cast of characters with varying perspectives and try to tell the absolute truth of their journey until ultimately (hopefully!) arriving at some sort of greater, more universal truth by the conclusion.

3. WHY DO I WRITE WHAT I DO?
Nearly all of my books are either reflective of some aspect of my life experience—feeling lost and failing myself miserably back in high school (FAKING 19), dealing with the soul-crushing grief of losing a loved one (SAVING ZOË and THE IMMORTALS series), or sometimes it’s a question or an idea that I’m grappling with—is there life after death? (THE RILEY BLOOM series), destiny vs freewill (THE SOUL SEEKERS series). Sometimes I start out merely exploring an idea, sometimes I’m actively looking for answers, but I’m always changed for having taken the journey alongside the characters.

4. HOW DOES MY WRITING PROCESS WORK?
I’m currently working on my 23rd novel and I can honestly say that my writing process continues to be a work in progress. I went from having no process with my first book (FAKING 19) to evolving to a sort-of three part process that works pretty well by now, but I’m always looking for ways of improving!
It’s basically part ritual—green tea, scented candles, a carefully curated playlist, part process—Blake Snyder’s Save The Cat Beat Sheet that I use as an outline, and a whole lot of discipline—not just the usual Butt In Chair, but rather, Butt Stays In Chair Until The daily Word Count Is In! I find that by doing that repeatedly for several consecutive months, by the end, I have a book!

5. HOW DOES MY WRITING PROCESS NOT WORK?
If my writing process isn't working it’s usually because something in my story isn't working. There’s no magic in the process, it’s merely a tool to get from Chapter 1 to the end. When I’m stuck, I either return to my outline and try to figure out why it isn’t working and where to go next, or I do more research into my characters and their world, or both—it never fails to get the story moving again!

So now I get to tag 3 more authors and trust me, you won't want to miss them!

Up next- the amazing Mary Pearson , author of the incredible JENNA FOX CHRONICLES TRILOGY and THE KISS OF DECEPTION (July 8)-- a book that took my breath away and left me begging for the sequel!

The incredible Kimberly Derting who writes books that I love, love, love like the awesome BODY FINDER series, and more recently, THE TAKING--an amazing book that I was luck enough to blurb!

And, the Fabulous Melissa de la Cruz who writes so many awesome books, it's hard to keep track! Most recently I loved The RING & THE CROWN, and FROZEN--book 1 in the Heart of Dread Series. Her books explore so many interesting worlds--witches, princess, vampires--I can't wait to get a glimpse at her process to see how she does it!

Enjoy!

xoxo

Alyson

Playing Catch Up!

Hey Everyone-

Well, it seems I've been very lax about blogging, facebooking, and tweeting lately (yes, they are all action words!), and my excuse is that I returned from the Pen Fatale Tour and went straight into deadline mode.

For those who don't know, deadline mode is a very sorry state of unwashed hair, unhealthy meals . . . well, let's just leave it at that--it's best not to go into too much detail.

For those who do know, then thank you for understanding.

Anyway, after climbing out of the rubble that is my desk, I thought I'd share a few random pics and articles and videos with you, presented in no particular order, so here goes:

Random Video #1, filmed during my Brazilian Book Tour, where I talk about The Immortals series, Brazilian culture, and more!

Random article # 2- a piece in Publisher's Weekly Children's Bookshelf where me and my fellow Pen Fatale Tour Mates spill the dish on group tours! To read it, click HERE.

Random article #3- DEAR BULLY--an amazing anthology where 70 YA authors speak out, yep, including moi, on the horror that is bullying-- featured in PEOPLE magazine--how awesome is that?!

And last but not least, random pic #4- Enjoying a little time off in Seattle with the talented & lovely Mary Pearson & Jessica Brody!

That's it for now--the manuscript won't revise itself!

Or will it?

Hmmmm . . . .

:)

Pen Fatale Heads for Seattle!!

Hey Everyone-

The Pen Fatale Tour is on its way to its final two stops in WA! Hope to see YOU at one of the signings at:

Wednesday, October 12

7:00 pm

Third Place Books

Lake Forest Park, WA

Thursday, October 12

7:00 pm

Barnes & Noble

Lynwood, WA

Hanging by a Moment

(Me, Marlene Perez, Mary Pearson, Mary Anne Ramsey)

So yesterday's talk & sign at the Mission Viejo Reader's Festival was an absolute blast! Not only did I get to hang out with good friends Marelene Perez and Mary Pearson (and at the lunch beforehand, Debby Garfinkle!), meet Jennifer Kogler who is as nice as she is hilarious, catch a slightly stalkerish, glimpse of one of my childhood icons, The Fonz, but I also got to meet a ton of really awesome readers--thanks to all of you who showed up!

I'm seriously so impressed with the way it turned out, I can hardly believe it was their very first event. Though I'm sure that's due in good part to the wonderful volunteers who kept it running so smoothly and for the efforts of Mary Anne Ramsey, young adult librarian extraordinaire!

After the signing I headed straight for Peralta Hills for the third annual Paws for Cures Benefit where I hung with my good friends (shout out to Snarky, O'malley, and Sue!), and meet some very cool celebrities like Tillman the Skateboarding dog who is so nice and down to earth, it's clear he's just doing what he loves and isn't in it for the celebrity despite his red carpet pose!

I also got to meet Ben Carey, Lifehouse guitarist, who is also really nice and down to earth (and really cute too!), and whose songs just so happen to appear on the BLUE MOON playlist, which I will get up on my website, um, soon--very soon!

Oh and he even took to the stage and played a few songs which was a total treat!

All in all a really great Saturday--and now, back to work!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

A

xoxo

Good Morning Starshine

Above is the last of the Comic Con pictures. Or at least the last of my Comic Con pictures.

But truth be told this is actually Cindy Pon's comic con picture, (she's in the awesome costume, and Mary Pearson is to my right) and she was just kind enough to lend it to me!

So, in other, non-Comic Con related news, I'm giving away a signed copy of BLUE MOON over at The Book Butterfuly! For your chance to win, click HERE.

Also, I've just added some events to my roster: first up is the Readergirlz Chat on October 19 at 6PM Eastern to celebrate YALSA's Teen Read Week (Evermore is nominated for YALSA's Top Ten Award!).

Then on Monday, October 26th, I'll be signing books at the Barnes & Noble in Oceanside. But I don't have a time yet, so stay tuned!

And lastly, on May 15, 2010, I'll be headed out to Rochester, NY for their fabulous Teen Book Festival and I can't wait. (Even though I kind of have to wait since it's good ways away--but still)!

Oh, and I was so excited to see this nice review for BLUE MOON from Tynga's Urban Fantasy Reviews, who said:

"Blue Moon was totally amazing, even better then Evermore (which I really liked). I was so taken by Ever's emotion I was blinking back tears at more then one moment. I was so into the moment it was hard to bare to suspense and Ever's grief. The storyline is so well built it's insane, you really don't see the ending coming. I was completely shocked!Very well done Alyson the book is great and I can't wait to read Shadowland!"

To read the full review, click HERE.

Okay, back to playing with my iPhone- er, I mean work! Back to work!

Have a good day everyone!

A

:-D

Book Signing-- Save the Date!!!

Hope to see you there!!