Wanna grab some samples at COSTCO with me?...And winner of the LOST LETTERS contest

2/11/2011

Hey friends-

Good news! THE DARK DIVINE and THE LOST SAINT are now available in Utah/Idaho/Arizona Costcos. Which means I'll be doing signings at Costcos all over Utah in the next few weeks. Here's the schedule--I'd love to meet you if you're in the area:

2/12/2011 Sandy, UT 1:00 PM

2/26/2011 Orem, UT 1:00 PM

3/5/2011 South Ogden, UT 1:00 PM

3/19/2011 St. George, UT 1:00 PM

I'll also be speaking on several panels at the LTUE conference hosted by BYU next weekend (Feb 17-19th) and speaking at the Whitmore Library on March 12th. So when will I have time to finish writing TDD3?--Ahhhh! I don't know. Anyone want to stop time for me for a few weeks? Pretty please????

Anyway, on to the part you've all been waiting for. Thank you everyone for reading and enjoying THE LOST LETTERS. I'm glad they've been so well received and I'm hoping to "discover" more of them in the future because Gabriel's story is so darn interesting to explore. I hope you'll want to read more. Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. The winner (chosen by Random.org) is: Pamk

Pamk, please email my admin at readbree(at)gmail(dot)com with your address, and be sure to specify whether you'd like the English audio-book of THE LOST SAINT or the Spanish print edition of THE DARK DIVINE.

That's all for me this week. Hope to see some of you soon at Costco (we'll have to grab some yummy samples together!)

THE LOST SAINT launch party recap...and Top Secret Project revealed!

1/5/2011

UPDATE: Lost Letters Schedule can be found here

Hey all,

I FINALLY have permission to share the details about my Top Secret TLS-related project...but first I wanted to share a few thoughts and pictures from my TLS launch party.

I seriously can't believe THE LOST SAINT has been out on bookshelves for more than a week. That's just plain crazy. The launch party was loads of fun and the turn-out was awesome. Not gonna lie, I felt like was going to puke when I walked into the 15th Street Gallery and I saw all those people waiting to listen to me speak. But I managed to hold it together.

After I did a little book-talk and read a selection from TLS, we headed over to The King's English Bookshop for blue-frosted cookies and I signed books until my special blue pen ran out of ink--which luckily didn't happen until after the last person made it through the line.

One of my BFFs, Michelle Sallay (of Michelle Sallay Photography) brought her trusty camera along and snapped a bunch of awesome pictures. They were all so great that it was hard I couldn't choose just a few, so I wanted to make a slideshow of all of them--but apparently that is far too great a task for someone as technically deficient as I am. Since hubs isn't around to help, I'll have to be content with posting a few of my favorite pics to help you get a feel for the event .




Many thanks to Michelle for the awesome pictures, and many thanks to everyone who came out for the event. If you weren't able to attend and you're in Utah, you can still catch me at the West Jordan B&N (in Jordan Landing) at 2pm on January 8th. For details on other events and happenings, check out THIS post.

Okay, now on to the TOP SECRET project...

If you've been following the blog for the last couple of months, you've probably (or hopefully) have been wondering about this secret writing project that I've been hinting about for like ever (or at least that;s how it felt to me). I finally have the go-ahead to share.

Introducing:

As many of you know by now, Gabriel (Daniel's mentor and an ancient Urbat) plays a rather important role in THE LOST SAINT. We were first introduced to Gabriel in THE DARK DIVINE when Grace is given a book full of old letters that Gabriel (a young monk a the time) wrote to his sister during the crusades, detailing his search to know more about the Urbat. The book of letters ends just before Gabriel falls to the Urbat curse.

Well the exciting news is that a few letters not originally included in that ancient book have been "discovered"-- five of them in fact. These letters detail Gabriel's fall to the curse and then his quest to seek revenge on the man he feels is responsible for his demise.

I am really excited about these "lost letters" because they give a lot of depth to Gabriel's character, and also the mythology of the Dark Divine trilogy. The letters are the perfect lead in before reading THE LOST SAINT (i.e. no TLS spoilers and will hopefully get you excited to start TLS) and are also still a good read for those of you who have already read TLS.


The lost letters of Brother Gabriel will be released one at a time over the next 5 weeks, starting TOMORROW (1/6/2011) on different blogs across the blogosphere.

Which means you need to come back here tomorrow for a detailed schedule and links to where to find the letters. And as a bonus, each blog hosting a letter will be giving away a signed first edition of THE LOST SAINT and a bottle of TLS nail polish. You'll get a entry for each letter you read and comment on.

THE LOST SAINT release day...and winners of the Countdown Contest

12/28/2010

It's here! It's here! THE LOST SAINT is finally here!!! TLS Day has finally arrived. Exactly this time last year I was coming down from the euphoria of the release of TDD and working feverishly on the first draft of TLS, and now I can't believe it's all packaged up in a fabulously-gorgeous-real-life-hold-in-your-hands-book.

I plan on spending the day dragging KidA and KidZ around to every local bookstore so I can snap pictures of them with copies of TLS in the wild (I am sure they will be so enthused) and getting ready for the official TLS launch party at The King's English tonight (What to wear? What to say? Hope I don't forget anyone's name!)

In the meantime, I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge and thank everyone who has been involved in THE LOST SAINT. This has been an amazing yet harrowing year, and I wouldn't be sane if it weren't for the many, many supportive people in my life.

I was going to write an open thank you letter for this blog post, but I realized I already did that when I wrote the acknowledgments for THE LOST SAINT and I'm not sure what I would have said differently...So I hope you don't mind if I repost those acknowledgments here (cuz I'm gonna do it anyway :D):

So many people deserve my immense gratitude for helping make this book a reality—and for keeping me from losing it during the process:

You, my awesome readers, because without your enthusiasm this book wouldn’t have had a chance to exist. Thank you for all the love.

The agents at Upstart Crow Literary, namely Ted Malawer and Michael Stearns. Thank you for believing in me and helping to share my books with the world.

The amazing folks at Egmont USA. I am often surprised by how many people think I’m responsible for everything that goes into creating my books, from the cover design, the editing, and even all the way down to the choice of the typeface. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I write the stories, but an entire team helps turn those stories into books: Doug Pocock, Elizabeth Law, Mary Albi, Regina Griffin, Nico Medina, Robert Guzman, Alison Weiss, Katie Halata. And especially my intrepid editor Greg Ferguson, who not only puts up with, but embraces, my crazy antics and the “Jimmy Olsen” nickname I’ve inflicted upon him. And who also isn’t afraid to push me until things are as great as they can be—or to whip out his super-editor cape and come to the rescue of a hopelessly stranded author on the streets of NYC. This one’s for you, Greg: Spunkgate! (Yep, I just worked that reference into a book.)

Joel Tippie at JDrift Designs. I didn’t know it was possible to create a cover even more beautiful than the one for THE DARK DIVINE. Wow, just, wow.

My enthusiastic publicist, Virginia Anagnos.

Noreen Gibbons for never failing to offer help—even when it’s completely inconvenient to her.

Whitney, for being an eager mother’s helper.

My mom, Nancy Biesinger, for bringing over bags of groceries on the deadline days, and for helping out in hundreds of other ways.

Sara Zarr, who gave me just the right advice at just the moment I needed to hear it.

Mathew J. Kirby, for his ongoing friendship and support—and free psychological guidance, of course.

The SIX—the best critique group and posse of friends an author could have: Brodi Ashton, Emily Wing Smith, Valynne Maetani Nagamatsu, Kimberly Webb Reid, and Sara Bolton. If it weren’t for the suggestion of adding a “bedazzled stake” to this book by Brodi Ashton at a hilarious lunch on an otherwise no good, very bad day—THE LOST SAINT may have never come together the way it did. And if it weren’t for the daily input and understanding of The SIX, I may have succumbed to the writer crazies a long time ago. (Or more so than I already have!)

The rest of my friends, siblings, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and dad, who help out in so many ways, from entertaining my boys, to just being a listening ear, or a shoulder to lean on. I feel way too lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life.

My boys, who I couldn’t love more—even when they’re jumping on top of me and pretending to fire-bend lightning bolts at my laptop while I’m working. Nothing makes me prouder than when they ask if they can tell me a story. (Just you wait, publishing world, these boys have got it going on!)

And most especially Brick, who held on tight during the insane roller coaster that was this last year. Thank you for never letting go. You are my inspiration, my love, my saint. I know you’re not perfect, but you’re the perfect man for me. I.L.Y.R.U.T.T.M.A.B.A.

Thank you so much to everyone who shared this process with me. I hope you will all celebrate with me today (and pick up a copy of TLS if you can--heheh). I hope to see many of you at upcoming events.

And don't worry, I didn't forget about posting winners for the Countdown to TLS Contest. We had over 1200 entries into the contest, and compiling the entries was quite the task (for hubby). Winners were selected through Random.org and are as follows:

Grand Prize Winner: Vivien

2nd place winner: Danielle Nguyen

3rd place winner: Riv Re

Winners, please email me to claim your prizes at readbree(at)gmail(dot)com.

Okay, I'm off to make my bookstore rounds. Have a very happy TLS Day!

Lots of stuff happening & how you can read chapter two of THE LOST SAINT

One week from TLS launch day and there's a ton of stuff happening in the next few weeks, so I thought I'd give you a quick rundown. Hopefully, you'll be able to participate in some of the fun.

1. THE LOST SAINT may come out in a week from today, but a preview of the prologue, chapter one, and now chapter two are up on RT Book Reviews' blog. If you comment on the RT post about chapter two, and then come tell me about it here on my blog, you'll get an extra entry in the countdown contest. Go HERE to read chapter two and find links to the other chapters.

2. The Countdown to THE LOST SAINT Contest continues until midnight on December 26th. For rules and details, see THIS post. Winners will be announced in the morning on December 28th.

3. Mundie Moms will be hosting a pre-launch chat party on December 27th at 9pm EST. Everyone is invited to join us to chat about TDD and TLS. For details, click HERE.

4. THE LOST SAINT hits shelves on December 28th. Join us that night at 7pm at King's English Bookshop for a launch party. I'll be speaking, reading, and signing books. (Note: The book talk will be held in the 15th Street Gallery next-door to the bookstore, so there will be plenty of room for everyone.) Click HERE for more details on the event. Would love to see you there!

5. On January 8th at 2pm I'll be speaking and signing at the Jordan Landing Barnes & Noble in West Jordan. If you can't make it to the launch party, then this is another great opportunity to get a signed copy of TLS.

6. On January 13th (my birthday!) I'll be speaking and signing at Kepler's Books in Menlo Park, CA. Come party with me on my b-day, and get signed copies of TDD and TLS while you're at it. For info on this event, click HERE.

7. On January 20th at 9pm EST Page Turner's Blog will be hosting a TLS spoiler chat. That gives everyone 3 weeks to read TLS and then join us to ask me all your spoiler-filled questions. I'll post more details about how you can join the chat as we get closer to the event.

8. On January 29th I'll be participating in an Authorpalooza at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona. There will be games and lots of authors signing books.

9. Remember that secret project I've been hinting about for the last few weeks?--Well, the date that I get to reveal it has been bumped a bit...but it is still coming soon. I think fans of TDD and TLS will enjoy it.

10. A lot more events and such are in works. I promise to keep you posted as I get more information. In the meantime, be sure to come back on the 28th to help celebrate the release of TLS.

Watch THE LOST SAINT Trailer AND Read The First Chapter of TLS

12/14/2010

***In case you've been wondering (because people have apparently been wondering) THE LOST SAINT releases on December 28th. The official launch party will be at The Kings English Bookshop on the 28th at 7pm. For a list of other upcoming events, please see THIS post or click News in the navigation above.***

Seriously, waiting for TLS to hit the shelves at this point is absolutely excruciating. But at least I (finally) get to share a couple of really fun things with you while I wait. Today is a great day here in ReadBree Land--I get to share THE LOST SAINT book trailer!!!

So without any further ado, I present THE LOST SAINT book trailer:



I don't know about you, but the first time (okay, more like the first TEN times) I watched the trailer I literally squeed with joy.

Huge kudos go to the crew at Kineto Pictures for the creating this fabulous trailer, along with Nathan Day (Daniel), Katya Feinstien (Grace), and AJ Walker (Jude) from Urban Talent for their enthusiastic work in the freezing cold. Despite the low temperatures, we had an absolute blast filming.

But that's not all! Now that you've watched the trailer (admit it, more than once, right? :D) you should head over to RT Book Reviews' blog and read the first chapter of TLS. That's right. The first chapter of THE LOST SAINT is up on RT Book Reviews! And in case you missed it, you can read the prologue first here.

Oh, but before you go:

Don't forget that the Countdown to THE LOST SAINT Contest is still ongoing, and you can get additional entries by sharing the trailer and first chapter. 5 entries if you post the trailer on your blog/facebook page, and 2 entries for telling people about this contest. And you can get 1 entry for telling people about the first chapter preview on the RT blog, and an additional 1 entry for commenting on the RT blog post.

That's a total of 9 possible more entries in the contest. Just be sure to tell me what you did in the comments of this post (with proper linkage) in order to qualify for your entries. (Adding up your entries for me is always helpful, too.)

I've also decided to sweeten the deal by adding two signed first editions of MATCHED by Ally Condie.

So contest prizes are now as follows:

1st Place:
6" Kindle with WiFi.
$10 Amazon gift card (so you can buy an eBook version of THE LOST SAINT)
$20 gift card to iTunes (so you can buy the songs on THE LOST SAINT playlist :D).
Signed first edition of MATCHED by Ally Condie

2nd place:
Signed first editions of: MATCHED by Ally Condie, THE SCORCH TRIALS by James Dashner, and BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

3rd Place:
Signed first editions of: THE SCORCH TRIALS by James Dashner, and BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

Remember, contest ends at midnight MST on Dec. 26th and contest winners will be announced the morning of Dec. 28th (TLS release day!)

For full contest rules and information, read THIS POST.

Okay, now go read the first chapter . . .