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I’ve handled hundreds of book contracts in my career as an editor, but today was the first time I received one as a writer. It looks just like all the others except for one important difference, this one has my name on it. I thought I’d be blase about it, but you know, I couldn’t stop grinning as I read through all seventeen pages of it. What a neat feeling.

Apparently, wizards and vampires are popular!

On the last page of each issue of Publishers Weekly is the Soapbox, a feature that allows anyone to write in with an observation about publishing. Inevitably the article ties in with an author’s book just going on sale (funny how that happens,) but there is usually a good insight thrown in on how to survive and thrive. I would recommend checking it out if you get the chance.

Editor stuff – Band of Sisters

The book continues to reorder and we’re now contemplating going back to press again. Kirsten has been working incredibly hard doing signings, interviews and other events which keep generating positive articles and overall awareness. I don’t know how well this translates for fiction, but Kirsten’s radio foray has paid huge dividends.

Author stuff – Iron Elves Series: A Darkness Forged in Fire

Originally, it was going to launch around the same time as another series giving Pocket a one-two punch next summer. The other series has been delayed, however, so Pocket’s foray into the SFF world will launch with mine. The result is my book will be getting a bigger push, just hopefully not off a tall cliff! They’re going to send me on a Canadian tour to take advantage of my foreign roots and fly me to the San Diego Comic Con next summer followed by a bit of a tour in California. I’ll also be attending Comic Con here in New York next April, but that’s just a short commute on the subway. Now if I can just talk them into doing a European leg…

I had a look at my agent’s website the other day and was happy to see my name now on the client list. It’s unlinked, however, because I don’t have a website yet to link to. Before I take the plunge and build a website (well, have someone build it for me) I am searching out interesting websites to get ideas from. If you have any that you think are really well done I’d love to hear about them.

Thanks,

Chris

There is a perception out there that they’re elitist, perhaps because of their location in the heart of NYC and close proximity to the big New York houses, but I found them engaging and eager to hear more about the company I work for (most certainly not a big New York house.) We talked about the fall list, promotions, articles, reviews and more. In this crowded marketplace it’s not easy to get your voice heard, so having the chance to sit down face to face with them was well worth braving the Hades-like conditions of the subway today to go downtown.

In other news I had a breakthrough on my YA novel while riding the train to Pennsylvania earlier this week. In fact, enough synapses fired that I found myself jotting down notes for both it and the second book in the Iron Elves series. It was a productive few hours.