Dear Editor/Agent

Five frequently asked questions are put to my editor, Erica Sussman, and my agent, Tina Wexler.
Check out their responses.



Sweet, aren't they?  And I'm so loving their responses to Carrier of the Mark *sighs happily*

Oh and guys, I'm doing a live chat today (Thursday 21st July) at 5pm on inkpop.  We're talking marketing and books with marketing expert, Christina Colangelo from HarperCollins.

Hopefully I'll talk to you later.

Leigh

Introducing Wendy Higgins and Sweet Evil

My friend and fellow inkie, Wendy Higgins, has some very exciting news to share today.  Her debut novel, SWEET EVIL, has been picked up by HarperTeen!  Congratulations Wendy!!

inkpop cover

I’ve had the pleasure of reading Sweet Evil, and it totally rocks.  I can’t wait to get my hands on the real deal.  The story is so captivating.  HarperTeen are one of the best in the business when it comes to awesome covers (I speak from experience) so no doubt they’re going to come up with a clanger of cover to give you a taste of what’s to come.

Inkpop, the website that made it happen for me and Wendy, has just been re-launched with a whole new look and set of features.  Check it out!! It’s the place to be.   I’m so excited for Wendy, and for Sweet Evil!

Want to know more? Well check out Wendy’s blog.  You can follow her on twitter too.

Woot! Go Wendy!!

Leigh

Live chat with my editor, Erica Sussman

Erica Sussman

On Wednesday 8th of June, I'm doing a live chat on inkpop, Harperteen's website for aspiring authors.  I'll be joined by my editor, Erica Sussman, editor to New York Times bestselling titles like Paranormalcy, by Kiersten White, The Wings Series, by Aprilynne Pike and The Warriors Series, by Erin Hunter.  We will be doing the live chat for one hour.  If you have any questions about the editing process, or what a top editor in a major publishing house is looking for, well here's your chance.  Make time in your calendar for this amazing opportunity.
If you're not going to be around for the live chat, you can always post your question on the chat forum and we'll see that your question is answered.  Check out the forum here.

Good luck with your editing guys, and hopefully we'll talk on Wednesday. Oh and while you're on, make sure you've entered my comp here for a chance to win a signed ARC of THE CARRIER OF THE MARK and other luscious goodies.

Now, back to my editing.

Fact meets fiction (exceptional) Friday

I’ve had a great day today.  You’ll have to forgive the cryptic nature of this post; there are lots of things going on behind the scenes, each one more exciting than the next.  There are a few things I can mention. 

The Carrier of the Mark has been picked as a Buzz book for BEA (Book Expo America) This is HUGE for The Carrier of the Mark and will put it in the spotlight, giving it some much needed exposure at one of the biggest book events in the world! Eeek.

I’ve just done an interview for the Kirkus Reviews! This is so cool.  The Kirkus Reviews is a publication that's been on the go for years.  It's famous for it's cantankerous grumpy reviews.  No doubt I'll fall victim and be chewed up and spat out one of these days, but that's what I signed on for.  Yikes!  I’ll let you guys know when the interview is posted.

On the inkpop blog today, The Carrier of the Mark ARCs are causing a stir, and there’s a fab giveaway going on over there if you fancy getting your hands on one of those precious babies.  Inkpop have also posted my little ‘scare the UPS man’ video.  At this rate it will get back to the poor man and I’ll have to pay him an appearance fee.

Phew… it’s been a hell of a Friday.  Fingers crossed for an excellent weekend.

Have a most excellent one guys.
Oh, and if you haven't already filled in my Author Tracker, it is over on the right=====>

Leigh

The Wednesday Whinge - Whinging in rhyme

In honor of Dr. Seuss birthday and the fact that all the kids going into school this morning were in ‘The Cat in the hat’ hats, I thought I should pay homage to the lord and master of children’s stories, so I’m going to attempt to whinge in rhyme today.  Dr. Seuss will be turning in his grave seeing his name and my attempt at rhyming on the one page, but here we go…

Wednesday’s for whinging, and that I can do,

For my head is pounding and my throats full of goo.

My stomachs in heap, I haven’t eaten for days,

Everything hurts and my brains in a haze.

What is it with these US bugs,

These dirty, nasty, damn thugs?

How can they even still be in existence?

They’ve only gone and got antibiotic resistant!

This winter is sucking in terms of infection,

I’ve never seen so many germs avoid detection.

The kids are puking, and have a dose of the trots,

Even though they’ve all had their flu shots.

Be gone with you winter, and spring time come hither.

I’m sick of the snow, the ice, and the shiver.

Things are on the up though, I’m sure you should know,

The Ice is melting a bit, and there’s much less of the snow.

The girl scouts are out, flogging cookies, what fun,

A sure sign that spring is upon us, bringing the sun.

Oh and while I’m donning my big red stripy hat,

This evening on inkpop I’m doing a live chat.

I’ll be there with my agent, Tina Wexler,

Pop on over and throw some questions at her.

I’m posting a video of me in New York,

Go on and look at it, I’m such a big dork.

If getting published is your life’s dream,

Well then have a gander and meet my team.

And so this brings me to the end of this whinge

Where are those girl scout cookies? I’m in the mood for a  binge.

The Monday Morning Bits and Bobs Round Up

Hello all!  I hope you had a marvelous weekend and that Monday sees you well rested and in fighting form. 

There’s a few things going on this week that are worthy of a spot on the Monday Morning Bits & Bobs Round Up.  Firstly, my first every super-duper ARC comp is up and running.  There have been some amazing entries submitted.  Props range from potatoes to sparkly vampires, and the locations are getting more and more beautiful.  If you haven’t entered yet, what on earth is stopping you? Don’t you know you can win one of the first EVER ARC’s of The Carrier of the Mark?  AND I’ll even sign it for you!!  There will be a gorgeous silver Celtic necklace included in the prize (stay posted to twitter for details), and you’ll also get a copy of your winning picture!!  So get your delicious bootie over to the competition post and enter… NOW.

Tina

Secondly, I’m doing a live chat on Wednesday over on inkpop.  The live chat is with my agent, Tina Wexler and we are accepting questions now on this tread.  By all means, please pop in at 5pm EST and ask us a couple of questions.  This is your opportunity to get the low down on snagging a top quality agent, or to chat to Tina about cute little things like kittens and puppies (Tina has a soft spot for fluffy things). 

This weekend I’m off to the book launch of Clarity by Kim Harrington.  It’s at Tatnuck Booksellers, Westborough, MA on Saturday, March 5 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, if you in the area, pop in and say hi. 

Then on Sunday I’m off to Ireland to say hi to my new nephew/niece, and enjoy a five day whirlwind visit filled with fun and frolics, on the emerald isle.  So that means next week’s blog posts will be coming to you from across the Atlantic, so the times might be a little skewie.

So that’s it, for now.  Talk to you Wednesday for some whinging.

Leigh

The Wednesday Whinge & Giveaway Winner

I started doing my Wednesday whinge and realized I had little to whinge about.  Okay, so my twin boys have bad croup, my husband was in ER with one of them until 10.30 last night, and they’re both off school today, so I’m getting no work done, but at least they're healthy…ish.  And I guess Valentine’s Day totally sucked.  I rather stupidly had booked myself and my husband in for a dentists visit, forgetting completely that it was Valentine’s Day.  Okay, so I’m not a big fan of that silly day anyway, but still, miniature efforts should be made.  But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as my husband was so busy that it was the only time of the day we got to spend together, and we did manage to share a tuna sub in the car after the dental hygienist assaulted our mouths (the only action I got that day!) *giggle*

Not mine... but you get the idea.

Humm, I guess I have a few things to whinge about now I come to think about it.  The most prominent being my tech fail on the video you’re about to watch.  I decided at the last minute to try and entertain you for a few minutes, you know the usual me making a fun of myself and making lots of silly faces, but my mic on the camera was not playing ball today, I think it might have been a bit intimidated by my singing voice (scary).  But anyway, in fine Leigh fashion, I ploughed ahead, so if it hurts your ears, or if you are of a delicate constitution, best to turn down your volume before pressing play.  I want no complaints… you have been warned.

Oh and I did contemplate not bothering to post this video, but during the time I was trying to shoot it, my 3 year old twins had emptied the entire contents of a large jar of peanut butter all over the kitchen counter and mashed it into the hardwood floor.  It took me FOREVER to clean it up and now the poor  cat is frantically working her way along the ridge between the boards  licking what she can out and it’s driving her nuts.  So due to the pain and torment this video caused to both me and the cat, I posted it, despite its horridious sound.

And thanks a million for all your fantastic comments and ‘likes’ you guys rock my world.  I’d love to have stuff to give to you all, but there can only be one winner and that is… watch the video!!