The synopsis: The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn’t tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is at it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end.

And now for the interview:

Describe your main character in 3 adjectives + a noun.

Humble, brave, generous, enchanter’s apprentice

Describe your book in 3 adjectives + a noun.

Magical, mysterious, adventurous, journey

Describe yourself in 3 adjectives + a noun.

(This is tough!) Curious, motherly, enthusiastic, author (finally!)

If you could travel to any 3 countries, what would they be?

Italy (Rome), Peru (Machu Pichu), Israel (Jerusalem)

If you could take any 3 non-writing-related classes, what would they be?

Language: Ancient Greek, History: Early Christianity, Music composition

If you could have 3 alternate careers, what would they be?

Bookseller, College Professor, Restaurant Owner

What are 3 of your favorite flowers?

Gardenias, Lilacs, Jasmine (I love the smell of Jasmine in the spring!)

What are 3 of your favorite foods?

Sushi, Milk Chocolate (especially Godiva truffles), any kind of pasta

What are 3 of your favorite books?

LILIES OF THE FIELD by William E. Barrett (I’ve read it at least a dozen times), WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte, and GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell.

Yay, GWTW! That’s one of my all-time favorites too. Thanks for stopping by, Laurisa, and happy book birthday!

The synopsis: When Kitty Tylney’s best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII’s heart and brings Kitty to court, she’s thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat’s shadow, Kitty’s now caught between two men–the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat’s meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

My take: A tale of intrigue at the court of Henry VIII and Catherine Howard, told by her best friend Kitty Tilney. I am generally fascinated by the poor doomed wives of Henry VIII, and I recommend this to all my friends who love Philippa Gregory’s THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL. There’s a bit of romance here, but the story really focuses on the friendship between Catherine and the childhood friends who are her saviors and saboteurs. I felt for Kitty and her steadfast loyalty, even when Cat doesn’t deserve it. If you know your history, reading about the poor young queen’s missteps and bad choices is like watching a frothy horror movie, all “No! Don’t do it!” And there’s a helpful author’s note to determine the fact from the fiction. Highly recommend!

On to the interview!

1. Describe your main character in 3 adjectives + a noun.

Kitty is an undervalued and loyal but misguided friend.

(Jess’s note: So undervalued! So loyal! I just wanted to shake Cat!)

2. Describe your book in 3 adjectives + a noun.

GILT is a complicated, passionate, historical narrative.

3. Describe yourself in 3 adjectives + a noun.

I am a pragmatic, cautious and wholehearted romantic.

4. If you could travel to any 3 countries, what would they be?

Nepal, Zimbabwe and Italy.

5. If you could take any 3 non-writing-related classes, what would they be?

Psychology, ceramics and art history.

6. If you could have 3 alternate careers, what would they be?

Travel writer, chocolate taster or a docent at a National Trust property in England.

(Jess: I would also like to be a chocolate taster, please!)

7. What are 3 of your favorite flowers?

Daffodil, pansy, forget-me-not.

8. What are 3 of your favorite foods?

Chocolate, chili and artichokes.

9. What are 3 of your favorite books?

WOLF HALL by Hilary Mantel, THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH by Norton Juster and A ROOM WITH A VIEW by E.M. Forster. 

Yay! Thanks so much for stopping by, Katy, and happy book birthday!

Readers, stay tuned for another interview tomorrow, to celebrate THE ROCK OF IVANORE!

I absolutely think we are all too hard on ourselves. It’s so easy to downplay our own achievements, to be worried about sounding arrogant, to focus on what we’re still striving toward. I do it too. But to those of you who struggled to think of something, or who denied your own awesome in the same breath as you told me about it, all “Well, this isn’t really that cool” or “I haven’t done much” — no. You are awesome. I mean, all other accomplishments aside, if you are here, chances are excellent that you are a reader, and if you are a reader, chances are, you are good at putting yourself in other people’s shoes. You are empathetic and clever and imaginative and curious. Those are excellent qualities to have!

The winner of my birthday giveaway is Jessa Russo. And the winners of my swag giveaway are: Adriene, April Hunter, Jasmine Rose, Heidi Grange, and Lisa.xox. (Lisa, please email me back at cahillwitch at gmail dot com with your address so I can send you a swag pack!)

In other housekeeping news: I’ve updated my Events page to include the three summer events I’m doing — a multi-author signing in Boston on June 2, a library event in VA, and Bringing YA to PA! I’m so excited to meet more readers and authors!

Coming up, I’m planning a Craft Week on the blog. I’m fascinated lately by the hows and wheres and whens and rituals of other writers. I don’t think there’s any one right way to do it. But I’m still fascinated. So, next week (May 21-25) I’m going to write about my own when and where (along with pictures of my office) and try to explain a bit of how – how I fight my own perfectionist-y procrastination-y tendencies, my sticker method of drafting, when I involve my critique partners and beta readers, the software I use, and all of that. If there are things you’re particularly curious about, let me know in the comments!

It’s all amazing. It all happened in the last year. And yet–

I fret. Am I meeting publisher expectations? What do these Bookscan numbers mean? I’m not a crazy breakout NYT bestseller. Only one starred review. 1-star reviews. Is the new book good? Will I get to go on tour again? Will the new cover be pretty? The next book. The next book. The next book.

I am full of wanting, and always have been. I’m happy — but rarely content, exactly. I feel that radio-static chatter of anxiety, the constant craving drumbeat of ambition.

Which is why it’s important, sometimes, to stop. To look at where I am now and where I was a year ago. To be grateful, and note what I have accomplished, instead of all that is yet to come. Birthdays are good for that.

Last week I did two book-talks at my old high school and saw five former teachers. I did a reading and signing at my hometown library, and half a dozen high school classmates came, and lots of family. There was a write-up in the local paper. People threw around words like proud and successful and made your dreams come true and it was both wonderful and strange because: yes. And still no. My dreams are a moving target, it seems.

Today I am 32. I’m sitting here in my green and yellow office, wearing a Princess Sparkle T-shirt, drinking strawberry tea and noodling around on Twitter and daydreaming about the next-next-next book. Later, I’m going out with friends and The Playwright for cocktails.

I am grateful.

And to celebrate, I’m going to have a contest! You could win some of my favorite books this year:

A signed copy of BORN WICKED

A signed copy of UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi

A copy of THE WICKED AND THE JUST by J. Anderson Coats, with swag

A signed ARC of FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS by Diana Peterfreund

All you have to do is leave a comment below, telling me something awesome YOU accomplished in the last year. Contest open until Thursday, May 10 at noon. International entries are fine.

Hi! Welcome to my stop on the YAmazing Race with MGnificent prizes, a blog hop featuring over 50 debut authors, and prize packs that include ARCs, gift certificates, swag, and more! If you haven’t yet been to the Apocalypsies website, please click here to start from the beginning and read the complete rules. The race begins at noon on Wednesday, May 2 and runs through Tuesday, May 8 at noon! 

BORN WICKED: Book 1 of The Cahill Witch Chronicles

Now available from Putnam

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word…especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

PLEASE NOTE: THE RACE IS NOW CLOSED. I’ve contacted the winners. Thanks for playing!

TA-DA! You can win a signed finished copy of BORN WICKED by participating in the race. But by leaving a comment below, you could also win 1 of 5 swag packs — complete with signed BORN WICKED bookmarks, bookplates, stickers, and magnets from me, plus whatever swag I can get my hands on from other Apocalypsies! I’ll draw the winners next Tuesday at noon! (And international entries are totally ok for this.)

The next stop is over at E.C. Myers’ blog. Have fun!

Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school’s struggling radio station, where the other students don’t find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams’s mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.

Publisher’s Weekly says: Debut novelist Coriell shows sparkling wit and great skill in creating complex characters with memorable personalities.

And I say: I was able to read this early, via Netgalley, and I enjoyed it tremendously. Chloe is so likable — chatty and funny and quirky — but not in a way that ever seems contrived; I felt like I could’ve plucked her out of the group of theatre kids in my own high school. She starts off a rather self-absorbed drama queen, but she grows a lot over the course of the book as she learns how to shut up sometimes and listen. I loved the relationship between Chloe and her grandmother, who’s facing Alzheimers and a growing loss of independence. From the synopsis, I was expecting a  fluffier contemporary romance, and I was pleasantly surprised by the complexities of Duncan’s family secret and how maturely Chloe handles it. I definitely recommend this!

Now for the interview:

Describe your main character in 3 adjectives + a noun.
Chloe is a big-hearted, outgoing, vintage-shoe-wearing radio talk show host

Describe your book in 3 adjectives + a noun.
WELCOME, CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE is a quirky, complex, surprising contemp

Describe yourself in 3 adjectives + a noun.
I am a peace-seeking, curious, rescue-dog-loving daydreamer  

If you could travel to any 3 countries, what would they be?
Australia (Whitsunday Islands), Italy (Venice and the Brenta Riviera), China (Zhenjiang) (Jess: I’d love to go back to Venice! *sigh*)

If you could take any 3 non-writing-related classes, what would they be?
Italian, sail boating, quilting

If you could have 3 alternate careers, what would they be?
Restaurant critic, white-water river raft guide, cellist

What are 3 of your favorite flowers?
Daffodils, poppies, irises

What are 3 of your favorite foods?
A perfect peach, black bean lasagna, buttermilk-crusted blackberry cobbler. (Jess: ooh, black bean lasagna? That sounds amazing!)

What are 3 of your favorite books?
Today I’ll go with 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD, JANE EYRE, and KIND BIDGOOD’S IN THE BATHTUB.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Shelley! Happy book birthday!

Basically, you make a list of the next 10 books you’re planning to read. Except they both read way more than me, so it’s not necessarily a monthly thing for them. Still, I was thrilled by this because a) I am a fanatical list-maker; b) I am always fascinated by what people are reading or have just read or are planning to read (which is why I just can’t quit you, Goodreads); and c) I have been drowning in books lately. I want to read 100 this year, and at the beginning of March I was totally on track, but then I hardly read at all during April while I was on deadline. I have such issues balancing reading *and* writing. And I’ve gotten approved for so many fantastic e-galleys and my publisher’s sent me galleys and it is the saddest, seeing them pile up and taunt me. Better balance in so many areas — I need it. Anyway, I’m reading THE SPRINGSWEET now, which is wonderful, and then my list for May is:

1. HEMLOCK by Kathleen Peacock (Apocalypsies traveling ARC)

2. MEANT TO BE by Lauren Morrill (Apocalypsies traveling ARC)

3. MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick (Apocalypsies traveling ARC)

4. MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH by Bethany Griffin (ARC, loaned by my friend Caroline)

5. BLACK CITY by Elizabeth Richards (ARC, sent by my publisher)

6. UNSPOKEN by Sarah Rees Brennan (Netgalley)

7. THE BOOK OF BLOOD & SHADOW by Robin Wasserman (Netgalley)

8. KILL ME SOFTLY by Sarah Cross (Netgalley)

9. THE LIST by Siobhain Vivian (recent release)

10. DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth (finally; I have been meaning to read this forever, and my book club’s discussing it in May)

There we have it. Hopefully this will help me step away from Pinterest and pick up a book instead. What’s on your to-read list for May?

The synopsis: Goldenrod Moram loves nothing better than a good quest. Intrepid, curious, and full of a well-honed sense of adventure, she decides to start her own exploring team fashioned after her idols, the explorers Lewis and Clark, and to map the forest right behind her home. This task is complicated, however, by a series of unique events—a chance encounter with a mysterious old lady has her searching for a legendary blue rose. Another encounter lands her in the middle of a ragtag gang of brilliant troublemakers. And when she stumbles upon none other than the ghost of Meriwether Lewis himself, Goldenrod knows this will be anything but an ordinary summer . . . or an ordinary quest. Debut author Sarvenaz Tash combines an edge-of-your-seat adventure, a uniquely clever voice, and an unforgettable cast of characters to prove that sometimes the best adventures of all are waiting right in your own backyard.

I haven’t had a chance to read this yet, but it sounds wonderful, and I’ve heard glowing reviews!

Describe your main character in 3 adjectives + a noun.

Goldenrod is a smart, spunky, determined explorer.

Describe your book in 3 adjectives + a noun.

THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST is a funny, fantastical, outrageous adventure.

Describe yourself in 3 adjectives + a noun.

I am a geeky, grateful, and oft-silly writer.

If you could travel to any 3 countries, what would they be?

Greece is my favorite country I’ve ever been to, so I would definitely want to go back. I also really want to go to Peru (and hike the Inca trail) and South Africa. (note from Jess: Greece is #1 on my list!)

If you could take any 3 non-writing-related classes, what would they be?

Knitting (I really like crafts and I’ve been wanting to learn how to do this for years. One of these days!), Drums, and Dance (even though I have no head for choreography…as anyone who was ever in a play in high school with me can attest to.)

If you could have 3 alternate careers, what would they be?

Teacher, film editor, rock star (honestly, who doesn’t want to do that?)

What are 3 of your favorite flowers?

Orchids, irises and jasmine. 

What are 3 of your favorite foods?

Bread, spaghetti, this Persian dish that’s made out of spinach and plum stew over rice.

What are 3 of your favorite books?

Oh, this question is hard. As long as I know this list won’t come back to haunt me if I’m ever stuck on a deserted island, I’ll go with PRIDE & PREJUDICE, the HARRY POTTER series (possibly cheating) and Salman Rushie’s MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN.

Thanks for stopping by, Sarvenaz! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week!

All this week, Penguin is unveiling the Fall 2012 Breathless Reads books on Facebook and Tumblr. And look what was announced today!

VENOM is special to me because I gave it my very first blurb:

Wonderfully sinister and thrillingly romantic, VENOM has it all — secret trysts in graveyards, Venetian canals, murdered courtesans, and masquerades! Fiona Paul created a lush, compelling mystery that I couldn’t put down. 

Now you can read the beginning — and the beginning of the other two Breathless books, ORIGIN by Jessica Khoury and THE INNOCENTS by Lili Peloquin — in this sampler. I happen to have advance knowledge of the two remaining Breathless books, too, and trust me — you’re going to want to read them all! I can’t wait!

What do you think? Are you excited?