Photos from the Book Cons & links to some cool authors I met there

I just got back from Albacon, a small sci-fi con in Albany, and also RT Booklovers Con in Dallas. Both were a blast for different reasons. At the sci-fi con I got to be on four panels, which I loved. In Dallas I met and chatted with amazing authors, bloggers, readers and editors. I took photos of my fave authors and intriguing new ones. Wanna see?

Tammara Webber
(and that's me on the left)

Tammara's novel EASY was what got me into new adult lit. The story was so much deeper than I ever thought "romance" could possibly be.

Nice tatts, Molly!

Check out the tattoos on the fabulous Molly McAdams. She helped take romance out of the Fabio era and into the new millennium.

Shari Slade's The Opposite of Nothing was intense and wonderful reading, however short. I look forward to more from her and it was fun to chat with her.

What a thrill to meet Lydia Kang in person after being friends online. She writes great sci-fi for the YA crowd.

Lydia Kang

Hey, she's holding my novel!

And guess who was staying at my "overflow" hotel? The great legend that is Tamora Pierce! In case you've been living under a rock, she's written dozens and dozens of fantasy novels over the years.

Tere Michaels

Holy cow, I got to ride in the van to the main event and chat about houses, the perks of living upstate and other domestic fun. Who cared if we weren't at the main hotel.

I got to see Tere Michaels again. She wrote Who Knows the Storm, a fascinating dystopian novel with an M/M love element. Wasn't sure it would be my cuppa tea, but hey, love is love, and boy, can Tere write! Her future, very noir NYC had my hair standing up.

Tamora, me, her PA

I met Zoraida Cordova who writes YA fantasy and often about the ocean like I do. Check out her Vicious Deep series. And last but not least, a couple of my own reader fans!!!
Kathleen Baldwin was on a panel, and her novel School for Unusual Girls sounded so cool, I have to load it on my kindle asap. Here are my tips for attending book cons in a post for Untethered Realms.

Tempted to make this guy
my next cover model.
Thoughts?!

The organized chaos of the RT  Giant Book Fair

Kathleen Baldwin

Zoraida with yours truly

Shari Slade

Loyal reader and friend, Raynell

Push to Publish, Realms Faire & other Fabulous Fall Happenings!

Every year, I'm a Writing for Kids and Teens panelist, and on the Speed-Dating with the Agents & Editors team at the amazing Push to Publish event, sponsored by Philadelphia Stories. It's located at Rosemont College, 1400 Montgomery Avenue, in Rosemont, PA. This is a great place to mix informally with writers, social media experts and freelance editors to talk shop. Authors like the fabulous Gregory Frost and Beth Kephart make regular appearances, as well as the talented indie author, Alison DeLuca, and of course, yours truly, MOI! Oh, and check out Marie Lamba, an agent with the De Chiara agency who's running an intensive workshop this year.
Do you need advice on your work in progress?
Want a seasoned manuscript advisor to edit your WIP?
Um... that would be me!
So, if you are anywhere near the Philly/Rosemont/Bryn Mawr area on OCTOBER 12th, from 9 am to 5 pm join us for this great event.
To register, click here. And click here for a full list of participating editors, agents & authors.

More news... I recently announced that I've joined a great group of authors who write speculative fiction. We're called Untethered Realms. M Pax, and some others are organizing a Realms Faire, with TONS of fun ACTIVITIES and PRIZES. Mark your calendars! It's November 11 through 15th. For a jumpstart on all of the games and sign up sheets, click here. Follow our blog for the latest on this, and other news on everything spec. Oh, and check out our newly launched, and more established novels--everything from horror to YA sci-fi to space opera.

One last but very cool thing, it's official, I'm an MFA thesis advisor! That's right, I am the thesis advisor for all writers taking on YA and NA projects at Rosemont College. Rosemont has an excellent MFA in Creative Writing program! Yay, Rosemont, and yay me! I love working with students and aspiring authors, and this will be an exciting venture.

What thrilling events do you have lined up for the fall?
Book launches, conventions, panels, classes?
Share it here.

Day Two of Ruby's Fire launch, win great swag & meet Ruby!

Ruby's Fire is out! To celebrate, we're having an epic Ruby launch celebration! We've got cool Rafflecopter prizes, and fun quizzes on blogs. Thanks to all of you amazing bloggers who are hosting features, and thanks in advance to anyone who buys, reads and reviews Ruby, and walks with her on her perilous journey. Props to all who tweet and RT about the book.
After all, readers make the world go around.

Where to find Ruby:

illustrated paperback, Kindle ebook, Nook ebook

Tuesday, June 25th revelers: The Warrior Muse, From the Writer's Nest, Amy Kathleen Ryan, Share my Destiny, Teen Blurb, Kordugum Hayalle & Yorum Duragim (two Turkish blogs, who would've thought?!)
About the novel:
“Seventeen year-old Ruby and her little brother Thorn, have only known a life blighted by the extremist Fireseed Cult. The night Ruby is set to be claimed by one of its cruelest and oldest leaders, she makes a bid for freedom. With Thorn in tow, she stumbles into the world beyond, and finds an opportunity for a fresh start in Skull’s Wrath under the guidance of Nevada Pilgrim, a woman who may not be all she seems. Ruby's new life could bring her friendship, love, even fortune, but nothing comes without a price. Is Ruby's talent for elixirs keeping the roof over their heads, or do some of her associates have a more sinister and lucrative interest in them? Life outside a strange cult isn't without its dangers, and the experience leaves Ruby transformed and communing with the Fireseed more closely than she ever would have imagined. Stine delivers a thrilling adventure led by an exciting cast of characters, and the romance is really well handled.”   -YA’s The Word

Here are Monday's revelers: Meradeth Houston's blog, Laurel's Leaves, M Pax, The Write Game, The Story of a Writer, Books for YA.

Before you hop off, please copy a tweet to tell friends about Ruby! Catherine will give you a big, grateful virtual hug.

YA future thriller, Ruby’s Fire is out! Come on her perilous journey. http://tinyurl.com/l6y6qem  #YA #kindle #hotread #romance #beachread


She escaped a dangerous cult, but why is Ruby’s blood turning green? http://tinyurl.com/l6y6qem #hotreads #beachreads #YAscifi #lovetriangle

Ruby's Fire, love triangle, escape from cult, bad drugs, mutations. http://tinyurl.com/l6y6qem
 #pageturner #YAscifi #kindle #newreads #romance

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ruby's Fire Cover Reveal & More Bookish News

Today is the Ruby's Fire cover reveal. Isn't it beautiful? My cover artist, Jay Montgomery did a stellar job. Thanks so much to all of you who are participating in the reveal! 

The novel launches on June 24, and I'd love for anyone who wants to help celebrate to consider joining in a post during that week (June 24-28), whether it be a simple mention, a feature, or an interview. I will provide content. Email me at kitsy84557 AT gmail DOT com and let me know what you prefer. If that week is not convenient, then please consider signing onto the official tour, with Giselle over at Xpresso. That tour starts on July 29, and here is the link.

In other news, Fireseed One won finalist spots in the USA Book News International Book Awards for both YA AND sci-fi. I was floored to receive it.

I would love for anyone who wants to read Ruby's Fire to put it on their TBR list over at Goodreads. This helps raise awareness of the novel. Thanks so much in advance!

And please consider subscribing to my newsletter for news of giveaways, contests and more. (Link is on right banner)

What's exciting in your world today?

Newsflashes: More awards, Ruby's Fire tour, cover reveal sign ups and early blurbs

Fireseed One was awarded an Indie Reader Approved stamp! This followed the good news that it also won the Bronze Wishing Shelf Book Award. It's lovely to get these votes of confidence, after all of the hard work of trying to craft a gripping novel.

More news: I've signed with the awesome Giselle over at Xpresso Book Tours for my forthcoming novel, Ruby's Fire. It will be rolled out in stages. The first is a cover reveal, which happens this week, on Thursday, May 23rd! There's still time to sign up to join in on the cover reveal. Just click here and fill the app. Thanks! Ruby is smokin' in her futuristic cowgirl/huntress gear. No prom dress for this badass survivor! She has to be able to crawl around in desert caves, hunting poisonous lizards and other weird critters. You can't do that in spike heels. She's still fashion conscious, especially her ruby-hued jewelry and her fingernails, each painted in a different shade, complimenting the desert environs. Wait for it...

Ruby's Fire will have a book blitz buzz and the actual launch in June. Later, on July 29 the big tour begins. For the June launch, I will be seeking participants to help me celebrate in any way they see fit. I will keep you posted as to the actual date.

In the meantime, I'm very grateful to have gotten some amazing blurbs from early readers. Here's a sampling, such as this one from our own sci-fi diva, M Pax:

“Gripping and addictive, Ruby had imagination packed into every page and scene; Unexpected and original.”  -M. Pax, author of The Backworlds series
And from the fabulous Susan Kaye Quinn:

“This haunting story unfolds, layer by layer, like a Fireseed plant reaching out and calling you to figure out the mystery, mystery. What’s revealed is even creepier than expected in a world already steeped in exotic technology and bioengineered strangeness. Great science fiction imaginatively told, Ruby’s Fire is a wonderfully crafted story that will make you think – and be glad for a cold drink of water ready at your fingertips.”   -Susan Kaye Quinn, author of  the Mindjack trilogy

One last bit of news, I've joined a NetGalley author co-op, Patchwork Press, so that reviewers, librarians and bloggers have access to read and review. To request a book, visit our site here.

Award News, Ruby's Fire Cover Reveal & I teach at Philly Writers' Conference June 7, 8 & 9

Fireseed One just won a Wishing Shelf Bronze Book Award! The Wishing Shelf Award is a unique one because it's decided in large part by high school students. Students in the UK and Sweden voted for their favorite books. A big thanks to these participating schools: Worsley Bridge Primary School, Rokesly Junior School, Montpelier Primary School, Meadlands Primary School, St George the Martyr Primary School, Gainsborough Primary School, Gospel Oak Primary School, Mossfrd Green Primary School & Pelham Primary School.

I will teach Writing and Publishing Teen Fiction at the Philadelphia Writers' Conference on June 7, 8 & 9. This is always a fun and informative event, located in Philly's historic old city, near the Ben Franklin Museum and the Liberty Bell. For more details and info on registration, click here.

The cover for Ruby's Fire is officially done! Xpresso Tours is setting up a cover reveal blitz. I will have a book launch in June (and a tour with Xpresso in July and Aug). There will be a sign up for anyone who wants to help celebrate. Stay tuned. I will also be featuring the cover artist Jay Montgomery on Idea City.

Tomorrow, I'll have a left knee replacement. Yipes! I did way too many step aerobics classes, and jumped up on way too many high risers. No cartilage left. So, if it takes me a couple days to get back online, you'll know why. A heads-up to those who are jumping on pogo sticks, and rollerblading or running on hard asphalt--protect your knees.
Mad love for the online community, and for those indie authors and book bloggers who have already blurbed Ruby's Fire. Thank you!

Help Decide on Cover Design for Ruby's Fire!

I wrote the last chapter on Ruby's Fire a few days ago. Man, it was a complex, drawn out, organic process with people swooning over the "wrong" characters and a whole new lead than I'd planned! It left me breathless, in a good way. Now comes the next stage, me doing the interior drawings; and working with my talented cover artist, Jay Montgomery, to finalize the design so he can do what he does best: badass digital illustration!

Since it was so fun to get your opinion on the cover roughs for Fireseed One, Jay and I are taking another opinion poll. Here are his VERY rough sketches (So keep in mind Ruby's face, image details and exact clothing may change slightly). FYI, here's the link to see Jay's ramp-up of that first cover.

Version A

Version B

What I like in version A is that it's close, in-your-face dramatic. Ruby's looking at an exotic hybrid. 'Nuff said for now; no spoilers here. Suffice it to say, she's enchanted and weirded out by it.
What I like about version B is that Ruby's a lizard tracker and maker of elixirs, and here we get to see her hunting satchels and more of her desert-tromping, cave-garden slinking style.

Okay jury, A or B? Why?  

Susan K. Quinn's Cover Reveal and Lots of Prizes!

Free Souls by Susan Kaye Quinn

(Book Three of the Mindjack Trilogy) Now Available!

When your mind is a weapon, freedom comes at a price.

Four months have passed since Kira left home to join Julian’s Jacker Freedom Alliance, but the hole in her heart still whistles empty where her boyfriend Raf used to be. She fills it with weapons training, JFA patrols, and an obsessive hunt for FBI agent Kestrel, ignoring Julian’s worries about her safety and repeated attempts to recruit her for his revolutionary chat-casts. When anti-jacker politician Vellus surrounds Jackertown with the National Guard, Kira discovers there’s more to Julian’s concerns than she knew, but she’s forced to take on a mission that neither want and that might be her last: assassinating Senator Vellus before he can snuff out Julian’s revolution and the jackers she’s come to love.

All of the Mindjack stories are available on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, and iTunes (Note Free Souls is not yet available on Kobo or iTunes)

Early Praise for Free Souls

“Quinn paints a picture of a not-too-distant America where politicians inflame the hatred of one section of the populace for another—all for their own gain—and you worry that her world is not so far off from our own.”

— Dianne Salerni, author of We Hear the Dead, The Caged Graves, and the forthcoming The Eighth Day

"Free Souls starts with a bang and doesn't let up. Like a mash-up of all your favorite science-fiction adventures from Star Wars to The Legend of Korra, it blends nonstop action, nail-biting escapes, and great romance. I absolutely loved it! A great series conclusion—a must-read."

— Leigh Talbert Moore, author of Rouge and The Truth About Faking

“Susan did it again. Free Souls was WOW! I expected Kira to step up to her role as heroine but not like this. Surprises kept coming until the very end which tied up more loose ends than I knew existed. Warning: Don't start reading until you have time to finish. I didn't want to put Free Souls down for a second. It's that kind of book.”

— Sher A. Hart, Goodreads Review

Interview Susan's over at Amy Saunder's blog today (12.14.12), answering questions about how she came up with the mages' abilities, what kind of mage she would be, and all about her future works. Digital Box Set Since Free Souls is out, there is now a Digital Box Set of the Mindjack Trilogy for those of you who want the whole series!

Available on Amazon, Barnes&Noble

Mindjack Origins Collection Want more Julian? Wondering how Sasha's ability really works? Looking for EXCLUSIVE DELETED SCENES from Free Souls? This collection of novellas, scenes, and other goodies is for those craving a bit more of the characters and drama of the Mindjack series.

Includes: Mindjack Novellas Mind Games (Raf's story) The Handler (Julian's story) The Scribe (Sasha's story) TWO EXCLUSIVE DELETED SCENES from Free Souls (published nowhere else!) PLUS Mindjack flash fiction, an (imaginary) conversation between Raf and Julian, and other goodies for readers who want just a little bit more of Kira, Julian, Raf, and the Mindjack crew.

Available on Amazon, Barnes&Noble

ENTER TO WIN one of FIVE ecopies of the Mindjack Origins Collection

a Rafflecopter giveaway

After a month of Hitchcock-style events...

Sometimes you get that perfect, thoughtful review by someone who totally gets your book. In the middle of a dreadful month of apartment floods, five weeks of no hot water and gas for cooking due to a gas leak, no Internet and other Hitchcock-style horrors, I got one of those reviews that made my heart stutter with delight. Indie Ebook Reviews had actually posted in April what I'd just stumbled across. It was like digging up that perfect, golden potato under the soil. Because Ms. Glass so got it, I will post it here:

In the world of YA fiction, the paranormal romances Twilight inspired have recently been replaced by an outbreak of dystopian fiction – with Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games leading the way and Scott Westerfield’s Uglies and Ally Condie’s Matched close behind.  Catherine Stine’s Fireseed One taps into this trend, although its slightly retro cover signals she is steeped in traditional sci-fi and not just an arriviste to the genre.


Also differentiating it from those other recent hits is the fact that the lead character is male – 18-year old Varik – although he is soon joined by the feisty Marisa Baron.  The novel is set in 2089, with the US a lethal ‘Hotzone’ full of ‘refugees’ who the propaganda channel known as ‘the stream’ insists are dangerous. Varik’s father, a marine biologist, has been murdered leaving his son in charge of his sea-farm and valuable seed-banks, which are the world’s main food supply.  When he catches Marisa stealing seeds and his crops are struck with the plague, Varik sets off with her on a quest that leads him into the Hotzone to find the ‘fireseed’ his father is rumored to have created, learning along the way that the lines between good and evil are more blurred than he thought.


The vision of the future Stine creates – of a world divided into have and have-nots by climate change and utterly dependent on GM crops – is convincing.  The book has a strong satirical slant, with interesting things to say both about the way the media demonizes refugees and how advertising penetrates every corner of our lives – each news update from ‘the stream’ ends with an ironic sponsor’s ad, devastating news of riots being: ‘brought to you by Restavik Chophouse, where the boar is better than home-grilled and the ladies drink free on Saturdays.’

Shin Kaskade, Tech Wizard
by Catherine Stine

The writing is strong, using the present tense to create freshness and full of vivid verbs.  It is the little, specific details that make this world so three-dimensional.  In the first few pages we get the horrific, cinematic image of Varik’s father’s corpse (‘famished viperfish had gouged his hands’), along with tender details that really nail the father-son bond (‘I’ll miss our docksides fish fries, our midnight boat rides…our poker games for abalone.)  Varik’s trendy friend Audun has a ‘shark-tooth earring’.  A firestorm burns the sky with ‘molten arteries of light.’  Stine has also created a believable slang for the teenagers, with Varik exclaiming ‘yummo’, ‘fry me’ and ‘burn it’.


I do think there’s one plot hole – if the entire world is dependent on Agar as a food-source, why would it be left in the hands of one nice, ordinary seeming biologist and then his disinterested 18-year old son?  This was, ultimately, a bit unconvincing – especially when Varik leaves the last feeble Agar plant in the hands of his best mate who seems more interested in baking scones.  A brutal regime which uses propaganda to stamp out sympathy for the starving would surely be a bit more hands-on about its supply chain!
...It’s a great young adult book though, with a sweet central romance and lots of inventive thrills.

Review by Evie Glass

Juko
by Catherine Stine

To celebrate, I am offering a signed paperback copy of Fireseed One at a huge discount--$5 (includes postage)--to anyone who emails me at kitsy84557 (at) gmail (dot) com.
Or, if you prefer, order an ebook, on sale at B&N or Amazon for $0.99, and I'll send you a signed copy of an illustration from Fireseed One.
Offer good for two weeks (Through Aug 15).


Now, to do a power visualization that Con Ed will come turn on our gas and hot water!

Cheers, Catherine

Cool Sci-fi, Fantasy and Science-related Blogs

Hi all, I've been busy whipping my YA thriller into shape to indie pub it! That's the fun part. The downside is that I haven't been posting quite as often. BUT... I'm determined to catch up! So, let me start by turning you guys onto some of my favorite sci-fi blogs. M'kay? Because I know a lot of you out there are writing fantasy, futuristic stories and sci-fi.

io9 is one of the best. Their slogan is "We come from the future!" They post daily about everything fantasy and sci-fi, including reviews of the latest films, and overviews of the best classic films and novels. They also follow the world of science and space travel. Without further ado: heeeereeee's i09.

And here are a couple of links to their thought-provoking archives:

1. How to Write a Sincere First Draft of Your Sci-Fi or Fantasy Epic

2. Quantum Locking will Blow Your Mind--but how does it Work?

Another well-regarded blog is SF Signal.

And, just to switch it up, here's a really cool article by Hannah Waters from Scientific American on why scientists should read science fiction blogs.

Do you have some fave sci-fi, science or futuristic blogs you want to share? Do you find it helpful to keep up with scientific advances? What about favorite fantasy/myth sites?

The Fine Points Between YA Dystopia and Sci-fi

What distinguishes a YA dystopian novel from a YA sci-fi novel? And is there a difference between hard-core genre sci-fi, and creating a futuristic world, conceivable by scientific standards? What is the prevailing mood towards these genres?

Dystopias are almost always cautionary tales—utopias that have soured—and tropes for real life scary cultural trends such as fascism, climate change and technology run amok. Interestingly enough, the ancient translation of the word utopia is “no place”, which suggests that a utopia cannot actually exist.

A classic example of a dystopia that almost all high-school students read—and end up loving—is George Orwell’s 1984. Written in 1948, Orwell warned people of the dangers of totalitarian government a la Stalin’s Russia, and the loss of one’s personal independence in a repressive style of communism. Control in 1984 is obtained through mass brainwashing, and Big Brother’s ultimate desire is to have a person die loving the Party; this, so that there’s no danger of the “vaporized unperson” becoming a martyr and fomenting rebellion. Does Big Brother succeed? Ah! For the answer to that question, you must read Orwell’s very clever afterward.

Some current YA dystopias are THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins, set in an alternate USA, where teens fight to the death for the richest district’s entertainment, and BIRTHMARKED by Caragh O’Brien, a world where life is reduced to helping birth babies for the exclusive set inside the Enclave by “Unlake” Michigan.

So, what about YA sci-fi? I believe it’s slowly but confidently creeping into the YA canon, despite some editors fears that teens won’t “get” the science behind the stories, and therefore must be limited to YA fantasy where there is no steep learning curve. Quite the contrary, I think teens are itching for this kind of concrete, yet visionary material. After all, the classic authors such as Sir Arthur C. Clarke ended up inventing satellite technology. I mean, how cool is that?! In Clarke’s own inspiring words: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Who wouldn’t want to explore the magic of the real world?

There’s no need to fear that pages of details will overrun the genre on how to build a robot from scratch, or power a rocket. No current author wants to mimic the old-school adult genre. So, there’s no need for authors writing YA sci-fi to hide it under names like “futuristic thriller”.

Current examples of YA sci-fi run the gamut from Cory Doctorow’s LITTLE BROTHER, a sort of cyberfest for Internet geeks (And major nod to Orwell’s Big Brother), and THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX by Mary Pearson, which explores the ethics of using new science in medicine, and the nature of the soul.

And now, onto the difference between YA dystopia and Post-apocalyptic fiction… for this discussion, I will ferry you onto the excellent post by YA Highway:

http://www.yahighway.com/2010/06/dystopian-and-apocalypse-whats.html

But before running off, you may want to answer this challenging question: Is S.A. Bodeen’s THE COMPOUND post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, or simply a thriller?