BEA, ARCs, and Some Thoughts on Writing
BEA Swag!
These are ARCs (advanced reader copies) I picked up at BEA. Also, my toes, which I included in the photo because they bear my favorite nail polish: a luminescent, pearly silver. Since I don’t have a novel coming out this year (The Celestial Globe will be published in March 2010), I went purely as a spectator, and had a great deal of fun scouting out free books, standing in line (truly! Some of the best conversations happen with strangers who stand in line with you), and seeing friends. You can guess which ARC I was reading when I took the photograph.
Yes, Catching Fire (the bent cover gives it away). Before I finished it, someone mentioned to me that there was a moment when she feared that the book wouldn’t turn out to be good, but she was relieved and satisfied in the end. She didn’t want to say which moment that was, since I had only just started reading. But I knew exactly what she meant when I got there. And I, too, thought, “Really? That’s where this book is going to go? Is that a good idea?” But it was. Catching Fire was a solidly entertaining read, and also written in a clean style perfectly suited for our pragmatic, powerful, no frills narrator.
Sorry if I sound very vague. I just don’t want to give away any spoilers.
And I’m going to be vague again! And unspoilery again!
The book I read before BEA was Kristin Cashore’s Fire, which made me sooo happy. I mean, except for the sleep deprivation part. Now that little Eliot is sleeping through the night, I really shouldn’t stay awake reading, but I couldn’t help myself. Fire presents such a rich world, with fascinating characters (even the minor ones have a great deal of depth) and a romance that unfolds very subtly and tenderly.
Now reading: Laini Taylor’s Lips Touch.
And also: Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. It’s kind of shocking that I haven’t yet read this classic text on writing (especially because I teach creative writing!). One particularly true thing I’ve come across so far in Bird by Bird is the command to write every day: “Do it as you would do scales on the piano. Do it by prearrangement with yourself. Do it as a debt of honor.” I particularly like that last sentence, because it begs the question: Who or what are you honoring when you write? The obvious answer is, of course, yourself, but there are others, too, and it seems that the way in which you answer the question is exactly what determines the kind of book that is being written.
Any writers out there? What do you think is most important when writing? What do you honor?
This is a really nice post. And no, I’m not just saying that because you passed on some love!
)
I think that when I write, I’m honoring the mustard seed. By which I mean that I’m honoring that teeny little blip of faith I have that what I’m writing isn’t a pile of crap; that there is a book here; that I can do the ambitious thing I’m trying to do. I’m not a religious person, but some of the metaphors from my Catholic education linger… I believe that you don’t always need complete faith in the book you’re writing. A teeny little mustard seed of faith is enough to get you to the end, as long as you cling to it hard enough!
It was SO NICE to see you at BEA, if only for a second. Thanks so much for standing in my line! I hope I’ll be in one of yours soon
)
I like the thought of honoring the mustard seed (also, I like mustard seeds. Especially toasted in olive oil with sauteed potatoes. Or as the name of a wee little Shakespearean fairy. Viva la mustard seed!).
I’m not quite sure yet what I honor, except maybe the thought that stories are vital, and everybody has the right to try to tell one. Maybe people won’t be interested in my story, but the act of trying to tell it is worth honoring.
It was lovely to see you, too! I also liked the people in your line. They were fun to talk to.
Sorry my reply to this is a little belated. My wireless went rogue this morning. Bad, evil wireless!
Please tell me that you photo-docked “Forest Born” and “Fire” on there. I wish that they would come out sooner.
What do I honor in writing? I’m not sure. I’ll check back when I know.
Have a nice day!
Yes, I did get ARCs of “Forest Born” and “Fire.” “Fire” is awesome. Haven’t read “Forest Born” yet, though I’m looking forward to it…I’m a bit sad, though, that the covers of the Bayern Books are no longer done by Alison Jay. I loved those covers!
Eliot is, by the way, a big fan of Alison Jay. He really enjoys Picture This.
Thanks for posting, Moonstone!
My pleasure! The Alison Jay covers were beautiful. I wonder what the cover would look like if it was an Alison Jay. Hmmm…..
i like the post, i just read “the cabnet of wonders” and i loved it
im in love with neel! i just want to know what the name of your next book is going to be.
Thanks, Momo! I love Neel, too.
The next book will be out in March 2010, and it’s called The Celestial Globe.
I am serching for a hard copy of The Celestial Globe which was originally published I believe) in August/September 2009. I have promised one of my grand children who has re-read The Cabinet of Womders numerous times that I would try to find the sequel for her for Christmas 2009 (her hard copy is falling apart). I realise the paperback is due out in the US in 2009 (and I trust in Europe shortly afterwords), but based on Vicky’e response to the first book in the trilogy a soft copy will not stand the number of readings and thus I would really like to source a hard copy! Is there any way to source a clean copy that does not cost an absolute fortune!?
kind regards
B.
Dear Barbara,
I’m so delighted to hear that your grand daughter likes The Cabinet of Wonders! Reading the book to pieces is a huge compliment.
As for The Celestial Globe, it’s actually not going to be out until March 2010. Somewhere out there are ARCs (advance reader copies) of Celestial, but they are paperback and not the final version of the book, so it sounds like that wouldn’t help you. I don’t even have a hardback copy of Celestial, so I think that the answer is that you might just have to wait until March…the book won’t cost a fortune, promise. It’ll probably be just the usual cover price of a hardback book (16.99$, I think) with the usual discounts on various sites (usually it ends up being about 12$)
The paperback version of Cabinet will be out in February.
Does this help? Where are you writing from in Europe? Is your granddaughter reading in English, or another language?
Thanks so much for this Marie. I’ll pass it on to Vicky so she can read the bad news that she will have to wait until March but, if it is anything like The Cabinet, she will find it is worth the wait.
Re location, we live in Italy – my husband is Italian and I Irish. By co-incidence, Vicky lives in Ireland and is an avid reader.
Thank you again for your input. I’ll pick up a copy of The Cabinet for a friend’s eldest daughter here in Piedmont – her parents are Engish/Irish and while she is fluent in Italian she tends to read only English books. I am a firm believer in getting kids hooked on books at an early age.
Kind regards
B.
Dear Barbara,
I completely agree with you (about getting kids hooked on books early)! This is why I’m delighted by nearly one-year-old son loves flipping through board books (usually just to find images of cats).
I’m also part of an international marriage—my husband’s French and I’m American.
Cabinet is going to come out in Italy, published by Il Castoro, but I’m not sure when…
Sorry about the delay with The Celestial Globe. I’m eager for it to come out, too, and I hope Vicky likes it.
So, I was going to ask you, What is BEA? But instead decided to employ my incredibly advanced research skills(READ: I googled BEA). And it sounds spectacular! Like Disneyworld or something! And then I realized it is “a trade-only” event, which is a bummer.
Is it bad that I want to write a book just so I can get into this?
Hi Nico,
BEA is a lot of fun, though I don’t quite believe you when you say that you want to write a book just so you can go!
It is a trade event, but anybody can go as long as they pay. There are different rates, depending on how many days you want to attend and on what your profession is (I think librarians get the lowest rate). The next few BEAs will be in NYC, so you could always go if you wanted to. Kind of pricey, though.