EARLY STOPS - THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY TOUR

You never saw a girl more anxious to spread the word of her latest book...THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY doesn't release until February, but I'm already beginning to organize an online tour! 

Click on the page I recently created to learn more about the tour, and to view the stops already I've already planned. 

How many more days until February????

FALL BLOG PIC, SO FAR AWAY...

There's something about the arrival of a new season that makes me want to update the ol' "About Me" pic here at the blog...A gal can't keep displaying a picture of herself in a short-sleeved T, surrounded by greenery, when everything green is starting to disappear, after all.

I've heard some authors say they really dread having their pictures taken.  I've never minded it, though.  Actually, truth be told, I like it.  Sitting down for a new book jacket photo always feels like a celebration.  And I know how much I personally enjoy seeing new candid shots on my fave authors' blogs (many of my favorite authors are long-distance friends these days, and I know that a candid pic on a blog can feel like the next-best-thing to seeing someone in person).  Besides, I didn't start blogging or online networking until I'd sold my first book.  If I'm providing a publisher a picture for a jacket or simply updating an online profile, I always feel like new shots are being taken because I'm an author with books in the works.  The thrill of that, of being a professional writer, never wears off.

I have learned over the past few years that any picture, whether it's a promo photo or a less formal blog shot like the one I recently had taken, dramatically improves when you happen to be looking at someone you really dig.  My most recent "About Me" photo is proof enough of that:

Also, my PLAYING HURT celebration giveaway closed, and I was thrilled to send the winning copy off...to South Korea.  I don't think I'll ever not be surprised by the idea of someone so far away reading my work. Makes me get all those excited tingles just thinking about it, actually...

I say it all the time, but I mean it: I love my readers.  Seriously.  Love.

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST Qs

I know I've mentioned this previously (the idea of sending me your topics for September blog posts for my YA group blog, YA Outside the Lines). But I also just filmed a short vid about using your topics for our posts, and I had to share...

We're getting some really great suggestions in, but I'd love to have more! Slapstick funny or deadpan serious...it's up to you! Go ahead and leave any ideas in the comments to this post.

Thanks in advance for your fabulous suggestions!

YA OUTSIDE THE LINES: CALLING ALL QUESTIONS

I recently took over administrative duties at my YA group blog, YA Outside the Lines. (Don't worry; the blog's previous administrator, the fabulous Jennifer Echols, is continuing to blog at YAOTL, too...)


Like my MG blog, Smack Dab in the Middle, everybody at YA Outside the Lines blogs about one theme per month...And for our September posts, we'd like to hear from you guys! Send us your questions: the kookier and quirkier, the better! Don't be shy! Head over to YAOTL, check out who's blogging there, follow along, and shoot some funky q's to writehollyschindler (at) yahoo (dot) com...even leave a few questions in the comments below! Nothing's off limits.

Can't wait to hear from you!

NEW BLOG + NEW TOUR

I'm so incredibly thrilled and flattered by all the positive attention PLAYING HURT'S been getting! (And also incredibly sad that the tour at Teen Book Scene's coming to a close...) Right now, you can check out my guest post + contest at A Good Addiction, and Shut Up! I'm Reading's just posted a review of my firstborn, A BLUE SO DARK...

Also, Kayla at Midnight Twilight's Book Blog is running a character interview with Clint himself, for all you Clint junkies out there...

In the midst of all the PLAYING HURT excitement, I'm also looking forward to the release of my next novel, which is a (yet untitled) middle grade, due out from Dial in '12. In fact, I just put together a new blog with a group of super-cool fellow MG authors, called Smack Dab in the Middle. We're actively looking for followers (hint, hint, nudge, nudge). Here's the first post, a vlog, which explains what we're all about:




I'm also in the midst of organizing dates for my own PLAYING HURT Tour, so stay tuned!

TEEN BOOK SCENE: THE PLAYING HURT TOUR

For those of you who might not be aware, Kari, the uber cool blogger at A Good Addiction, also runs a book tour site at The Teen Book Scene...

And I was so incredibly thrilled and flattered when she contacted me last fall about a tour for PLAYING HURT!

The tour will feature author interviews, guest posts, as well as character interviews, and giveaways of swag and signed copies of both PLAYING HURT and A BLUE SO DARK!

...You'll also get four—count 'em—four sneak peeks into PLAYING HURT.

The tour begins at the end of February, and will run throughout March. You can find the complete list of stops here.


Said it 1,895,097,954 times, I'll say it again: I don't know where I'd be without my incredible bloggers. Seriously.

NOVEL ANECDOTES ON THE KINDLE

Yes, you can now read my blog, Novel Anecdotes, on the Kindle!

This is an absolutely exciting new venture…in many ways. Because I’m offering Novel Anecdotes on the Kindle, I’m also going to be upping the ante as far as blog content is concerned. I’ll be posting two to five days a week, on developments in my own career, and on the books being released by my own fantastic fellow authors. I’ll also be offering tons of writing tips to keep you productive and growing as an artist, as well as practical tips on the business—whether you’re trying to break in and snag your first deal, or are looking to grow your readership. The ongoing conversation will explode here at Novel Anecdotes, as I’ll be featuring interviews with authors and publishing enthusiasts and highlighting new bloggers who continue to add to this incredible, incredible community.

…I’m committed to my vlog posts (to add to the content here on the web), but each vlog post will also include substantial supplemental text, to keep Kindle subscribers entertained and in-the-know.

So get in on the fun! Subscribe to Novel Anecdotes on the Kindle…