Book news!

This has been (and still is) one of the more purgatorial summers on record here in the heart of Texas.  But the writing and the business of writing go on...

Last week, I received cover art for CHRONAL ENGINE (I'll post when it's made public) and this week, got first pass pages (above), including thirteen amazing interior illustrations by Blake Henry!  I couldn't be more thrilled.  He absolutely nailed the characters and the paleo-critters, as well.  (No, I can't show you these.  You'll just have to wait and see.  Yes, I'm a tease.  The pub date is March 20, 2012. :-)).

In other news, Cyn likewise received first pass pages for her novel DIABOLICAL, which has a pub date of January 24, 2012. 

Also, TANTALIZE: KIEREN'S STORY comes out next week!  Go here for an interview with Cyn and illustrator Ming Doyle!

In other news, the Austin Teen Book Festival announced its lineup.  Cyn will be moderating Fantasy Panel 1, with Heather Brewer (VLADIMIR TOD), Jackson Pearce (SWEETLY), Tera Lynn Childs (SWEET VENOM), Sophie Jordan (VANISH) and Andrea Cremer (WOLFSBANE).  It's October 1, 2011, at the Palmer Events Center. 

Next, congratulations to Cyn and the other finalists for the Writers League of Texas Children's Book Award!  In addition to HOLLER LOUDLY, finalists are SHARK VS. TRAIN, by Chris Barton, A MILLION SHADES OF GRAY, by Cynthia Kadohata, POP! THE INVENTION OF BUBBLE GUM, by Meghan McCarthy, BETTI ON THE HIGH WIRE, by Lisa Railsback, and CROSSING THE TRACKS, by Barbara Stuber.

Finally, BLESSED is a finalist for the ALA Teens' Top Ten List for 2011!  If you're a teen, go and vote for it here!  The winners will be announced during Teen Read Week (October 16-22).

BLESSED and NIGHT SCHOOL signing! [Bumped and Updated]

Update 1: Check out the BLESSED blog tour!

Update 2: Check out the great article in Sunday's Statesman, "In 'Blessed,' neophyte vampire battles forces of the undead -- and adolescence"!

Update 3: If you're in the northeast, go see Cynthia next month on the BLESSED tour!

Save the date: On January 29, 2011, at 2 PM, at Book People at 6th and Lamar, Cynthia Leitich Smith and Mari Mancusi will be celebrating their new releases, BLESSED and NIGHT SCHOOL, respectively, with a party and signing!

Event is open and free to the public! The celebration will include author talks, a Q&A panel, book raffle, surprise giveaways, devilish desserts, demonic drinks and signing.

Wear red and black if you're on the side of Evil or blue and black if you're on the side of Good.

Bonus points (and possible prize) to anyone who dresses up as a vampire, shape shifter, vampire slayer, angel, or fairy!

BLESSED news and ETERNAL fan trailer awesomeness...

Reviews are starting to come in on BLESSED (available, January 25, 2011):

"A guardian angel joins forces with an unusually humane vampire and a host of shape-shifters in this appealing melding of characters from Smith's earlier novels, Tantalize (2007) and Eternal (2009). The pages fairly smolder...[and] readers will again be pulled into this wild and ultimately fascinating...alternate universe." Kirkus Reviews

"As in the first two novels, the main attractions are the clever and campy blend of the supernatural and the everyday and the thoroughly entertaining characters, human and otherwise...A hearty meal for the thinking vampire reader." Horn Book Magazine

And here's the awesome fan trailer for ETERNAL: