It’s official! I have a new FOUR-BOOK DEAL.

The DOON Series (YA, co-written with Lorie Langdon), Brigadoon reimagined coming September 2013. Read more at Honestly YA! http://bit.ly/VRzzaD  

Join our journey on Facebook: http://bitylink.info/DOON

Also did a fabulous photo shoot with a young, talented actor at ESSENZA STUDIO this week for the cover of THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE KEEPER. More details soon!

New Book Season

12/14 UPDATE:

Today is my official Seasons of Reading Blog Hop day. So to celebrate, THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER is now free at smashwords for the rest of the month. Happy Holidays!!!

NEW BOOK SEASON:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. New Book Season. All year long, I look forward to my holiday break—two wonderful weeks off from work, two fabulous weeks to spend with my family, two glorious weeks to read.

 I love getting books as Christmas presents, almost as much as I love giving them. As a kid, it was one time of year when I would get a brand, spankin’ new book with crisp pages and a glossy cover…and the smell. Is there anything better than the smell of cracking open a new book for the first time? Ok, maybe a rare edition or six.

One of my first Christmases with my hubby, I gave him a limited edition, hardback copy of one of my favorite stories, The Giving Tree. And when I found out I was pregnant I started amassing books for baby first Christmas, everything from older editions of fairie tales to Sandra Boyton board books to gorgeously illustrated classics.

For the Corp family, books are an integral part of the holiday season. Each December, I diligently fill out our bookstore wish lists. I hit the brick-and-mortar stores for gift cards for teachers and friends. Then I canvas the school book fair and load up on books to give my family.    



Kid 1



Kid 2

So what’s on the list this year?

The kids are easy.

My hubby got his new book a few weeks ago (and will be reading for some time—the book is freakin’ huge!):

Me? All I want are: Clockwork Prince & Kiss of Night

And this year, there’s a new twist to New Book Season, my own book!

So, I’m giving away a signed print copy of THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN to one lucky person and donating one on the winner’s behalf to my local public library. Contest runs 12/4 through 12/31. Winner will be announced on January 1, 2012. To enter follow my blog and leave a comment below. Please read the contest disclaimer here.

YOUR TURN: What' terrific tome is on your holiday list?



to find your way to the next post, click here

  Thanks to Jo Ramsey and all the Seasons of Reading Blog Hop authors!

ALSO: check out the BOOK LOVERS BUFFET

Are you as sick of me as I am?

Release week for THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN is finally over. If I’ve done my promotion right, you all are sick of me. J Heck, I’m pretty sick of myself. The promotion continues. I’ll still be blogging at a few sites this month as well as my own. I’m participating in a really COOL MG and YA indie author kindle giveaway. I’ve been and will continue to network with valued industry professionals. I’ve got a conference coming up this weekend that I’m prepping for—creating some promotional material.

Out of the gate, sales are better than I anticipated. Between Amazon     Barnes & Noble    Smashwords I’ve sold nearly 100 copies. I’m getting 4 and 5 star ratings and reviews  at the above sites and Goodreads. (So one rated my book 3 stars – I will not obsess about it!) Despite the rigorous line edits, someone else found some typos. (Crap! See mantra above.)

Overall, I just survived one of the most exhausting, momentous weeks of my career. It was completely worth the hard work. And the work is not over. But I’ve got to pull back and refocus enough that writing becomes my priority. I have projects stacking up. Not a bad position to be in.

Conclusion: Acting as your own publisher is more time consuming that difficult. There are so many systematic resources that help. Later this month, I’ll post my step-by-step analysis of my process/How to guide.

Mood: Rested

Related topics: Win a Kindle for your kid! Fantabulous MG and YA indie author giveaway.

Next steps: Write, conference this weekend, write, In about a week I need to start getting THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN print-ready.

Tomorrow is the FIRST LOVE FRIDAY!!! To celebrate Tina Ferraro will be joining me to talk about her first kiss.

Your turn: What’s your current writing priority?

THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN release day!

“Thrilling and oh-so-romantic, THE GUARDIAN will keep you up all night, turning the pages!”

 –Kristi Cook author of HAVEN

Rated five stars on Barnes & Noble.com and Goodreads, THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN is now available in all eBook formats.

Buy THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN (a 2010 RWA Golden Heart® finalist for young adult fiction) at Amazon     Barnes & Noble    Smashwords  coming soon to iBookstore

Turn your computer into a free eReader: Kindle for PC  NOOK for PC

more information at www.careycorp.com

The day has finally arrived and to celebrate, I’m giving away a free digital copy. This contest will run until midnight Wednesday 5/25.

FIRST:

“Like” THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN facebook page

NEXT:

Tweet, post, or share this post, Or add to your goodreads TBR

THEN:

Paste the link in the comment section of this post. Each link is worth one entry.

I will announce a winner Thursday morning.

Friday, I will be hanging with Vanessa Barneveld at Authorness. I will be sharing my *honest to God* teenaged guardian angel story and asking readers to share theirs. Plus, there will be another chance to win a digital copy of my book. You won’t want to miss it. 

I promised to reveal my very first book. Click below. J

THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN (The Big Cover Reveal)

I’ll share more about my cover designer, and how the design came into being next week (5/5).

Your Turn: What do you think? Can it compete with New York covers?
                    Record your answer in the poll below.

**Please note, starting 5/1 this blog will post every Thursday and the first Friday of the month**

Thursday 5/5 – My Cover uncovered, plus my self-pub learnings and TO DO list

First Love Friday 5/6 – HAVEN author, Kristi Cook shares her tale of teenage love