Newsy Bits: Two Weeks to Witchlanders!
And look what came in the mail! “Un-put-down-able!” My fourteen-year-old nephew, Justin, immediately snagged a copy (how could I say no?). I honestly didn’t know if he’d like it or even be able to get through it, but he called me less than 24 hours later to tell me he had stayed up all night reading it and that it was “un-put-down-able.” Even next to Kirkus, that is definitely my favorite review so far! My Blog Tour! In other news, I’m am madly writing blog posts for my upcoming blog tour starting August 22nd and running to September 9th. Check out my tour page on the Kismet tour site for...
Read MoreMy First Video Interview AND Win a Copy of WITCHLANDERS!
I did my first video interview! Okay, it’s pretty obvious where I stumbled so much over my words that the lovely people at Wattpad had to edit me, and I did make air quotes at one point (cringe), but I managed to get through it, which is the important thing. And the best part? Simon and Schuster Canada is giving away ten (10!) copies of the book! Go over to the Wattpad site now and enter. (And just ignore my air quotes.)...
Read MoreMy WITCHLANDERS Book Trailer!
I’m so very excited to launch my first book trailer, which I made myself using Windows Movie Maker. Have a look! Don’t forget that you can click the symbol at the bottom, right-hand corner for full-screen viewing.
Read MoreSome Great Early Reviews for WITCHLANDERS, Meeting Kelley Armstrong, My Blog Tour and More!
Two Starred Reviews! Witchlanders isn’t coming out until August 30th, but it’s already picked up two starred reviews!! The first is a glowing one from Kirkus Reviews. My favorite quote, which I’d be perfectly happy to have carved on my tombstone, is : Exquisite storytelling plus atmospheric worldbuilding equals one stunning teen debut. Meep! Read the full review here. And yesterday, Google Alerts sent me a link to a review in Publishers Weekly, which actually has a better synopsis than any I have written for the book. My favorite quote from this one: Plot twists unfold...
Read MoreMaking My Witchlanders Book Trailer–Part 2
Last week I posted some of my favourite book trailers in hopes that they would inspire me to make my own. This week I’ve been madly writing a script and gathering photos, music and video clips. Here are the steps I’ve taken so far, along with some of the great sites and programs I’ve found to help me make my very own Witchlanders book trailer. Step One: Draft a Script Keep it short: As a general rule, I find book trailers too cheesy and too long. I’ve tried to think of my trailer as an elevator pitch with images. Be Flexible: Remember that you might not find the exact photos you want. If...
Read MoreMaking My Witchlanders Book Trailer–Part 1
I adore book trailers. I was speaking to a writer yesterday who audibly moaned when I told him I was making one. “We have to do that, TOO?” No, writer friends, we don’t HAVE to make trailers to promote our books. In fact, of all the many online promotion tools—blogging, social networking, etc.—a book trailer is one that I’m not entirely convinced has a big effect. Many of the big readers I know, teen and adult, tell me they’ve never seen one. But I think that’s changing. Teachers are using them more and more in the classroom, and savvy authors and publishers are learning to use...
Read MoreAbout Me
Hi! I'm Lena, a young adult fantasy author from Toronto.