All about UtopYA book con in Nashville!

I am going to UtopYA this year for the first time, and I'm really looking forward to it! I've been hearing about this book con for a while now. It will be surreal because I will be meeting many authors in person who I "know well" from the blogging and online author community. What is UtopYA exactly? Well, here's a post from the an organizer, who can explain it better than I can:

Have you got a story in your heart simply bursting to be told? Or characters in your head who never stop whispering their secrets? Maybe you're a devoted reader who wants to tell the world about your favorite books. No matter your goals, UtopYA will envelop you with open arms as well as inspire you beyond belief! The book conference brings female writers of contemporary and supernatural YA and NA fiction together with their fans. Book lovers from far and wide, including authors and readers as far away as the UK, Scotland, and South Africa. This year’s expected attendance of 700-1,000 will be its highest ever.

Those who are interested in a thriving book community will enjoy panels and camaraderie. Readers will not only meet some of their favorite authors (and even do karaoke with them!), but they'll attend educational panels to learn about honing their craft. Whether it's writing or editing a book, designing covers, developing marketing strategies, blogging - they've got a panel for that and more! Keynote speakers Denise Grover Swank, Lauren Miller and Kim Holden will kick off each day followed by educational panels, games, screenings and more. These panels contain expert advice to aspiring authors and book bloggers, plus open discussion for audience participation. Over 100 exhibitors will showcase their work and meet readers; a B&N and indie bookstore are also on site. In addition to the cosplay karaoke on Friday night, the highly anticipated UtopYA Awards will take place Saturday evening, where nominees are honored thanks to their peers and fans. We'll get dressed up and dance the night away as we fangirl over our favorite book boyfriends ;) In addition, there is a book signing on Saturday that is open to the public - all UtopYA asks is a book donation or $5 to their charity Book 'Em. In return, you'll meet bestselling authors, plus a chance to discover plenty of new ones! More than a few women have called this event a life-changing experience! The event is already at 75% capacity, so get your tickets here or hurry over for more information at www.utopyacon.com.

Want to know who'll be there? Here’s a PARTIAL list of authors, experts, models & vendors, ready to meet YOU:

Denise Grover Swank • Kim Holden • Lauren Miller • Marissa Meyer • Myra McEntire • Tammara Webber • Rebecca Donovan • Amy A. Bartol • Jessica Sorensen • Ella James • Cameo Renae • Elizabeth Kirke • Amanda Jones • T.A. Kunz • Chelsea Fine • Whit & Ware • Mae I Design • Indie-Visible • Teal Haviland • Kristie Cook • Kitsy Clare • Clean Teen Publishing • CHBB • Timid Monster • Tia Bach and Indie Books Gone Wild • The Paisley Reader • Delphina Henley • Shana Benedict • Book Junkie Not So Anonymous • Michele Madow • Courtney Stevens • C.J. Redwine • #NALitChat • Chanda Hahn • RK Ryals • A.M. Hargrove • B.J. Sheldon • Cambria Hebert • Tessi Conquest • Nathan Weller • Kendra Malcolm • Madison Daniel • Mindy Ruiz • Bryna Butler • Curiosity Quills • P.K. Hrezo • Rysa Walker • Mary Ting • Bella Roccaforte • Raine Thomas • The Rebel Writers • Michele G. Miller • Raye Wagner • Heather Hildenbrand • S.M. Boyce • Rebecca Yarros • Rachel Harris • Tammy Blackwell • Plot Ninja • Helene Dunbar • Lila Felix • Lizzy Ford • A.G. Henley • Toni Lesatz • Nikki Jefford • Katie McGarry • Stormy Smith • Amy Miles • Rick Miles • Jon Miller • Misty Provencher • Kallie Ross • Catherine Stine • Stacie Wilson • Morgan Wylie and so many more. Check the web site for full list of authors, exhibitors, panelists and more!

News, more artsy images & stuff! Plus what are YOU up to?

Hi all, I'm still in the thick of launch madness. Ever been through it? Ever had two books launch at once? If so, you feel my pride, fear, exhilaration and pain! Reviews are trickling in, many Facebook messages must be posted, word must get out! It's fun, exhausting, maddening, engaging--all of it at once. My writing students, readers, fellow bloggers (you!) and family help keep me grounded. Thanks! And thanks to all who are reading and reviewing, helping get the word out about Private Internship and Dorianna, and hanging out at my Facebook events. A special thanks to those who bought copies! I am so very grateful.  Random news:

The rather dashing, but dangerous villain from DORIANNA

For those who do NOT like reading on Kindles, Dorianna finally came out in paperback! 

Pick up a copy from Amazon.

I've been having more fun with images and titles. I created this banner for the street team I'm continuing to build. Renamed it Kitsy Cat's Crew. Silly & fun. Like my new banner?
Interested in joining? Free books to read & review, swag, attention to your WIPs and more. Sign up form here.

The Dorianna tour and Rafflecopter with a huge array of great ebooks is still open (until NOV 24). Check out the remaining stops & scroll down to enter the Rafflecopter here.

Today is the last day for Private Internship's YA Bound tour. Here are the last stops with a couple of really nice reviews and a character interview of my main players: Sienna & Caz:
Paradise of Pages – Review ***
books are love - Review ***
Reader Girls - Character interviews! Caz and Sienna
My Crazy Corner - Promo Post

Today's Dorianna stop: my guest post on new twists to Dr. Faustus!

What are YOU up to in November? Doing Nano? If so, feel free to buddy me (CatherineStine).

Private Internship Launch Week Special 2 for 1 book deal & plus cool Rafflecopter prizes!

Toss the confetti and do a happy dance. Private Internship, book two of my Art of Love series has  launched!
In huge appreciation of my readers, bloggers and fellow authors I'm offering a special limited launch deal! For the first 50 people who buy Private Internship, you will get Model Position absolutely free with an emailed proof of purchase! Email me at kitsy84557 (AT) gmail (DOT) com and let me know which ereading format & ebook you'd like. (If you've already read Model Position, choose one of my YA futuristic thrillers Fireseed One or Ruby's Fire, or even the new writers' cookbook, Bake, Love, Write, where I share a recipe & advice on love & writing)

Get Private Internship: Amazon, B&N, 
All Romance Ebooks, Kobo

*Caz is the most entertaining bada@s book boyfriend yet, with the most fireworks relationship, and I’m pretty sure you’ll get a kick out of his hijinks. The lowdown:

Sugar’s not so sweet and secrets can be deadly … especially with matters of the heart

Sienna’s bestie, Harper warned her not to intern for famous bad boy artist, Casper Mason. After all, he just fired Harper who helped Sienna get the interview. But the moment Sienna sees Casper—or Caz—sweaty and practically shirtless and swinging from chains while he works on his sculpture, she’s hooked. He’s the richest, hottest artist in New York, and he lives in the fabulous Williamsburg Sugar Factory. But he’s also an incorrigible game-player, who seems to relish testing Sienna’s loyalty with a string of unsettling tests.

She knows she should get away fast. But by the time Sienna sneaks into his locked storage room and begins to unearth his dark and terrifying secret, she’s fallen way too hard for the handsome, charismatic Caz.

To read about the inspiration for PI's unique setting on the Inkspell blog, click here.

Thank you, wonderful book bloggers and readers! I couldn't do it without you.
Enter Rafflecopter for great swag & books *open until OCT 10!

Reviews! Obsessed by Books, Ashelyn Drake, Christine's Books

September 29
Old Victorian Quill, Books and Fandom, Reviewing in Chaos, The Reading Diaries, The Fantastical World of Wonders, Lisa Voisin, Stephanie Keyes, JM's Meanderings, Flutey Words, SA Larsen, Meradeth Houston, Brinda Berry, Ellie Garratt, C. Lee McKenzie, Sydney Aaliyah Michelle, Juliana Haygert, Cecilia Robert, Chandara Writes, Angie Sandro, The Warrior Muse, SM Johnston, Book Boyfriend Junkies

September 30
My Book Filled Life, Megpie93’s Book blog

October 1
Tome Tender, Pretty Little Pages, The Lusty Literate, Share my Destiny, Dimensions in Fiction, Margay Leah Justice

October 2
Just Booked, Scandalous Book Blog, Not Everyone’s Mama (Cutest blog name plus excerpt!), Sassy Book Lovers (wins for prettiest purple blog banner!), Haloangel Reads (with interview!), Michelle Abbott, S.J. Pajonas, Mythical Books (Read all about the real setting behind the novel's location-guest post), Talk Books to Me (Interview!)

October 3
Once upon a Twilight, Girls With Books (Today's win for cutest blog banner!), True Story Book Blog, Books Direct, Kimber Leigh Writes, Naughty Book Eden, Escape into a Book, SunShy Book Reviews, Two Ends of the Pen, 101 Ways to Make Love to a Spoon, Paola’s Bookshelf,  My Favorite Things, Confessions of a Y.A. and N.A. Book Addict, Renee Entress’s blog, Oops, I Read a Book Again, Between the Lines, Kitty Kats Crazy About Books, We Stole Your Book Boyfriend, So Many Books, So Little Time, Meleth Bookaddicted

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A paranormal boxed set of 4 new adult tales set in New Orleans on Halloween night!

Today, Idea City is participating in the cover reveal for a fun & spooky boxed set of new adult paranormal Halloween-ish stories by Alyssa Rose Ivy, Jennifer Snyder, Juliana Haygert, Sarra Cannon. It launches on October 1st. Put it on your Goodreads TBR list here. Preorder links below! But first, a synopsis:

This Halloween, prepare to be haunted by a kiss…
Midnight Kiss is a limited edition of four BRAND NEW, NEVER RELEASED novellas, all set in New Orleans on Halloween night.

AFTER MIDNIGHT by Sarra Cannon
From the outside, Becca Goldberg looks like any normal freshman girl at Tulane, but she’s been keeping a terrible secret. She’s really Allison Moore—a young witch from Peachville hiding out from an evil coven of witches known as the Order of Shadows. She thinks she is safe until an unexpected accident occurs. Now, she only has until midnight on Halloween until her identity is discovered. She must turn to the hottest, most elusive guy on campus for help. Will he save her? Or will her life come crashing down after midnight?

THE MIDNIGHT TEST by Juliana Haygert
Being the weakest witch of her generation, nineteen-year-old Hazel is convinced she's supposed to live a normal, human life—except for the occasional ghost hunting. When Hazel moves to New Orleans, the most powerful witch coven in the world grants her a chance to join them, but only if she passes a dangerous test on Halloween night. Everything is going fine until mysterious Sean steps in Hazel’s way, putting her entire test at risk. Will she be able to ace the test and keep them both alive at the same time?

SEDUCTION'S KISS by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Never agree to a road trip to New Orleans with your roommate. At least not when your roommate is dragging you along while she reconnects with an ex boyfriend. Possible consequences of failing to take my advice:
1) Unknowingly going out with a vampire stripper.
2) Getting kidnapped by said vampire’s nest mates.
3) Falling head over heels for your winged hero.
Believe it or not number 3 is the worst one, especially when no one believes you that he exists.

KISS OF AWAKENING by Jennifer Snyder
With one kiss, everything will change...
When a mysterious letter arrives from her estranged mother, twenty-one year old Kenna Blake and her best friend, Bree, make a trip to New Orleans hoping for a little Halloween fun and to get away. The mystifying Crescent City has something else in store for her though.
Cryptic messages, a hot tour guide, and a new sense Kenna can't seem to explain are just the beginning of this eye opening trip. Will Kenna accept what awakens with in her or will she crumble under its reality?

Pre-order it here!
iBooks, Kobo, Google Play

Sydney Aaliyah Michelle's HOPE series, evocative covers & a giveway!

Idea City is helping Sydney Aaliyah Michelle celebrate the cover reveal for her NA romance series, HOPE. Her covers are by Arijana Karčić, at Cover It! Designs. Emotionally potent, huh?

Book #1

Title: Hope For Her

Author: Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Series: Hope Series, Book #1

Publication Date: October 1st

Hope for Her (Hope Series Book #1)

What do you hope for?

No one ever expected much from him.

Joshua Elijah Griffin, IV is on his last chance. A stint in rehab and a transfer to a new school has scared him into putting his life on track. He’s determined to live up to his family’s expectations, but on the first day of class, Josh meets a girl. He knows his father won’t approve, but in Carrington, he sees a kindred spirit. He's willing to give up everything to be with her.

No one ever thought much of her.

Carrington Olivia Butler is ready to shine. Always in the background, she goes away to college to break out of her shell. Carrington wants to feel special. Josh's attention is exactly what she craves, but their intense and sometimes volatile relationship is more than she bargained for.

As their relationship progresses, Josh’s demons return, and Carrington’s feelings fade, but they aren’t ready to give up hope. They give their love one last shot to survive, but hope, may not be enough.

**This book contains adult subject matter. Not intended for young readers.**

Hope For Her on Goodreads

Pre-Order Hope For Her:

Amazon, iTunes

A sneak peek at the cover art for books 2 & 3 in the forthcoming series!

Hope For Him ( Hope, book #2 ): What do you hope for, now?

- Available December 2014

Hope For Us ( Hope, book #3 ): What do you hope for, still?

- Available February 2015

About The Author

Sydney Aaliyah Michelle, who hails from Texas, is a New Adult Contemporary Romance writer, a voracious reader and movie fanatic. She's been blogging at sydneyaaliyah.com for three years, where she interviews people about their tattoos, discusses her favorite movie quotes, reviews books (mostly NA but not all) and journals about her writing and editing process. After surviving five and a half years of living in China, she had the courage to pursue her passion and become a writer. Sydney’s indie debut NA, Another New Life released June 2014. Active on Twitter, she's also a JuNoWriMo (2x) and NaNoWriMo (2x) winner who notes the sci-fi action flick “The Matrix” as the best representation of her life in the past. She's blessed to be awake now and doing what she loves.

Website / Twitter / Facebook/ Goodreads / Pinterest

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Hope For Her

by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Giveaway ends October 01, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

News, news, news!

This has been a busy time, and it's only going to get busier! With good stuff. First of all, Private Internship, my new adult novel (sequel to my novella Model Position) is coming out on September 29th with Inkspell!
Also, I signed my YA contemporary horror, Dorianna with Evernight Teen!

Dorianna is a fresh yet toxic twist (think daisies, snakes and burlesque dancers at Coney Island) on the Oscar Wilde classic, A Picture of Dorian Gray. It's a cautionary tale for the Internet generation. More on that soon . . .

Private Internship is . . .

In the meantime, I'd LOVE for anyone who's up for it, to help me with my cover reveal (or release day blitz) for Private Internship!! It's a really pretty cover, and I'm proud to say that I helped design it with the lovely and talented Najla who does the covers over at Inkspell. The cover reveal will be on Wednesday, August 27, but August 28 & 29 are fine days to post as well! (The blitz will be on Sept 29) Just fill out this easy peasy sign-up form here. Once you sign up, I'll send you all the info you'll need to post. (Plus you'll get a magical chocolate sundae & bestie sticker)

What's your news/obsession/thrill/fave summer activity, and how's your July going so far?

My big news! Book #2, Private Internship is forthcoming in the Art of Love series

My big news is that Inkspell Publishing picked up the second in my new adult Art of Love series, Private Internship, to be launched this fall! *Happy Dance* It follows artist, Sienna Karr into her first wonderful and horrific paid internship. Here's a summary:

Sienna’s bestie, Harper warned her not to intern for famous bad boy artist, Casper Mason. After all, he just fired Harper who helped Sienna land the interview. But the moment Sienna sees Casper—or Caz—sweaty and practically shirtless and swinging from chains while he works on his sculpture, she’s hooked. He’s the richest, hottest artist in New York, and he lives in the fabulous Williamsburg Sugar Factory. But he’s also an incorrigible game-player, who seems to relish testing Sienna’s loyalty with a string of unsettling tests.

She knows she should get away fast. But by the time Sienna sneaks into his locked storage room and begins to unearth his dark and terrifying secret, she’s fallen way too hard for the handsome, charismatic Caz.

The shuttered Domino Sugar Factory

The odd thing is that I set it in a place that is now getting tons of attention: the old Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I've been obsessed with that place for many, many years, ever since I moved in around the corner from it when I first came to NYC. 

Kara Walker's gorgeous sugar sphinx

So, it was news to me this year when I heard it was slated for partial demolition, and even bigger news to me when I read that well-known sculptress Kara Walker had crafted a gigantic Sphinx mama, made from sugar in the defunct annex there, and it was attracting lines around the block. You see, my main character's love interest, Caz lives and works in the factory, and he makes . . . wait for it . . . sugar sculptures!!!! 

I had to pay a visit my old haunt. And it did not disappoint! It brought back strong memories of my very first visit and it still smelled like burnt sugar. I'm sad that the place is now closed, and will be altered in preparation for an ambitious waterfront building project that have many in Brooklyn up in arms.

But I'll have Sienna and Casper Mason's love story set in the factory to cheer me up. And

hopefully, if and when you read it, you'll fall in love with the sugar castle too. In the meantime, here are a few other amazing sculptors who spin sugar art.

The Writing Process, What's Yours?

Today I'll focus on my writing process, part of a craft thread that the talented Donna Galanti invited me to be a part of. A bit about Donna:

She writes suspense, YA, and middle grade fiction and is represented by Bill Contardi of Brandt & Hochman Literary. She's an International Thriller Writers Debut Author of the paranormal suspense novel A HUMAN ELEMENT (Echelon). Watch for her suspense novel A HIDDEN ELEMENT, the sequel to A HUMAN ELEMENT, coming summer 2014 by Imajin. Her middle grade series, JOSHUA AND THE LIGHTNING ROAD, debuts in 2015 by Month9Books.

Her writing process question made me wonder what is my writing process exactly?

The Cape porch where I started to
write Fireseed One, Ruby's Fire
and Model Position

I tend to start projects in the beginning of the summer, often at the writing retreat I go to at the Cape, where I can get totally lost in daydreams. It takes me around six months to do a first draft, though I've done them faster: once for an American Girl project in a month (!!!) and another during Nanowrimo (61K words in a month). I'm trying to fast draft now, but it doesn't always work, because I'm the type of writer who needs to know where the plot is going first. Yes, I outline, but not in too much detail.
I work on one novel draft a time, though once in a while I'm revising one project, while drafting another. I get into my characters quite deeply, so it can get confusing to write two first drafts at once.
I've written middle grade lit, A Girl's Best Friend, a ghostwritten novel and a story called the Fashion Show for a Scholastic book club anthology. More recently, I've written YA: Refugees, Fireseed One, Ruby's Fire. And I'm continuing to write YA. I've also really gotten into writing new adult: Model Position, and the continuation of that storyline in my forthcoming novel, Private Internship. I love writing new adult, because the boundaries of what can be portrayed are pretty boundless. I like boundless.
And I like romance. We'll see where my journey takes me!

Taking a poll. What should I work on next? Book 3 of Sienna's artistic journey or
a historical romance set in the 30s?

And now, I'm happy to introduce the two writers who I've selected to talk about their writing journeys for their own posts on May 21.

The first author is Helen Mallon, who writes contemporary fiction that straddles the line between literary and women's fiction (if you had to categorize it, which she may give me a sharp elbow nudge for doing). Her writing truly impresses me: her wordcraft and character portrayals are masterful. And she's got a brand new bundle of stories coming out!

The second is Elizabeth Arroyo, a wonderful author of paranormal and romantic fiction. Her dark fantasy series The Second Sign and The Second Shadow are real rollercoaster rides.

So make sure to check out their posts on Wednesday, May 21!

What's one hallmark aspect of your writing process?

A Writing Retreat & other Spring Cheer!

Phew, I've been a wee bit absent from the blog of late, because I'm busy reading theses and research papers, getting ready for the end of spring semester.

But I'm back! I teach a course called the Creative Life to college students. Since the students are artists, they're writing really interesting papers about painters like Rothko, Basquiat, Pollock, Frankenthaler; and writers like DeLillo, Denis Johnson, Kafka, Vonnegut. It dovetails nicely with what I'm working on now--more of Sienna's artistic journeys. It's been fun writing about bad boy art star, Casper Mason and his new intern, Sienna for Book Two of my New Adult series, Private Internship. Have you heard of these creative heads?

Helen Frankenthaler and
her fabulous paintings

Jean-Michel Basquiat & his work

A young Joan Mitchell
in her studio

Denis Johnson, author of
the acclaimed, Jesus' Son

The little stream at Rosement

I also teach creative writing workshops. In fact, I'm teaching at a weeklong writing retreat in June, and I'll focus on writing new adult and young adult fiction! The retreat is at Rosemont College, which is in Bryn Mawr, PA, so it's easy to get to for anyone around the Philadelphia/Jersey/Norristown area. The dates are June 20 to 27. Come chill under the summer trees, meet other writers and workshop your manuscript. It can be for college credit, or for your own edification.

I've taught writing workshops at The New School in NYC, Push to Publish, The Philadelphia Writing Conference and at Missouri U's Summer Abroad Program.
Here are the Rosemont retreat links, the workshops, the faculty bios. To register!

I'll leave you with a few amazing quotes from some inspiring writers and artists. It's fun to think about how these might inform your own work.

“It takes close attention to see what is happening in front of you. It takes work, pious effort, to see what you are looking at.” -Don DeLillo, Point Omega

"Stories have no point if they don't absorb our terror."  -Don Delillo, Mao II

"I don’t want your candor. I want your soul in a silver thimble."  -Don Delillo, Valparaiso

"A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us."  -Franz Kafka

"Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly."  -Franz Kafka

“What’s the point of being alive if you’re not going to communicate?”  -Kurt Vonnegut, Bluebeard

"This wasn't the sea of the inexorable horizon and smashing waves, not the sea of distance and violence, but the sea of the eternally leveling patience and wetness of water. Whether it comes to you in a storm or in a cup, it owns you--we are more water than dust. It is our origin and our destination."  -Denis Johnson

"I’ve gone looking for that feeling everywhere."  -Denis Johnson, Jesus’ Son

"You are right in demanding that an artist approach his work consciously, but you are confusing two concepts: the solution of a problem and the correct formulation of a problem. Only the second is required of the artist."   -Anton Chekhov

"I am only interested in the ideas that become obsessive and make me feel uneasy. The ideas that I'm afraid of."  -Marina Abramovic

"The strangeness will wear off and I think we will discover the deeper meanings in modern art."  -Jackson Pollock

“There are no rules. That is how art is born, how breakthroughs happen. Go against the rules or ignore the rules. That is what invention is about.”  -Helen Frankenthaler