New Series, New Year, New Look!

I often say I'm in the business of transformation. I'm the grand-daughter of a coal miner, the daughter of a truck driver. I've gone from first grade failure to first generation college graduate to dietitian to full-time novelist. But while some things change, others have stayed the same. I've lived in Ohio for nearly all of my life, except for a three-year jaunt in the south. I'm still married to my high school sweetheart. And I like to think that I'm still the girl who went door to door for my candidate the first time I was old enough to vote.
In my book life, Disney Hyperion developed an iconic cover brand that has persisted through two series: The Heir Chronicles and The Seven Realms. When HarperTeen bought my new series, The Shattered Realms, the designers developed a similar brand for the new series, as we were eager to reassure loyal readers that they could look forward to more of what they loved before.

The Heir Chronicles

The Seven Realms

Shattered Realms Original Covers

After ten books, it's confusing. When I'm at a bookfest, behind a table stacked with all of the books in my various series, newbie readers look them over and say, Is that all one series? And, Where do I start? Because the books are not always numbered on the covers, readers don't know if a book is the start of a new series or the continuation of an old one. Maybe--just maybe--it was time for a change.

              Coming January 4, 2017

       A New look for the Shattered Realms!

So the design team at HarperTeen put their heads together and decided to launch a new look for the new Shattered Realms series -- beginning with the paperback Flamecaster and continuing with the hardback Shadowcaster. This time, we decided to showcase some of my kick-ass characters--the ones that go through hell to get from one end of the story to the other.

I've seen the new covers, and they are GORGEOUS!! I can't wait to share them with you. Watch this space and YABooksCentral.com 4 Jan 2017!

Flamecaster Holiday Giveaway

Winter is coming...and with it the winter holidays. Brighten this dark season with the gift of a good book. And if you choose to give Flamecaster, the first book in the Shattered Realms series, you will give and be gifted in multiple ways.

Everyone who orders Flamecaster from any retail outlet (local bookstore, chain bookstores, online, digital, audiobook) is eligible to enter the FLAMECASTER HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY.

The grand prize is your CHOICE of a box set of The Seven Realms paperbacks or The Heir Chronicles trilogy box set, plus a signed ARC of SHADOWCASTER, the second book in the Shattered Realms series. PLUS a writing journal with a note from ME to YOU in the front of it. Grand prize winners will also receive other swag, including a signed bookplate for your shiny bright copy of Flamecaster, signed bookmarks, a limited edition Flamecaster light-up pen, and your very own dragon necklace to show your dragon spirit.

The first 150  entries will receive a signed bookplate and other swag--just for entering--if you include your mailing address with your entry. 

All royalty income from these holiday sales will be matched by me and donated to the GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK.  Because, you know, winter is coming. 


Here's how to enter:

1. PLEASE follow these directions. I'm not very good at following directions, either, but I need your help in order to get you properly entered because I don't have minions.
2. Send an email to cwchimapromo at gmail dot com. In the subject line, put HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY ENTRY
3. In the body of your email, include your name and snail mail address; which box set you prefer,  and how/if you would like your books to be personalized.
4. If you would like to receive a signed bookplate, bookmark, etc include your snail mail address.
5. Make sure I have the best email to contact you
6. THIS IS IMPORTANT: Attach an image of proof of purchase for your ordered book, whether it's an online receipt, a receipt from a store, an email confirmation of an order, a notarized statement from your local bookseller--whatever way you can show me you've placed an order.
7. Books must have been ordered/bought between November 1, 2016 and December 25, 2016 (in other words, previous sales excluded.) Deadline for entry: December 31, 2016.
7. This offer good only in the US and Canada.


Questions? Email me at that same address with the header HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY QUESTION

YALLFEST, CHARLESTON SC -- MY LAST EVENT THIS YEAR!

I'll be at Yallfest in Charleston SC this Friday and Saturday! Shake off those election blues and come PARTY with awesome YA authors! You'll find the complete schedule here! http://yallfest.org/schedule/

I'll be Hanging With Lots of Awesome Authors This Fall!

There's a certain crispness in the air that says its time for fall bookfests!! So empty out your mad money jar and lay in some reads for the cold season. Winter is coming, after all!

Cincinnati, OH

Books By the Banks

Come see me and 27 other YA Authors!

Saturday, Oct 15, 2016, 10-4 pm

Duke Energy Center

Cincinnati, OH 

http://www.booksbythebanks.org

Northern Ky
Teen Book Fest
14 FABULOUS YA Authors
Saturday, Oct 22, 2016 11-5 PM
Lloyd Memorial High School
Erlanger, KY
http://www.kentonlibrary.org/teens/nk-ya-fest

Wooster, OH

Buckeye Book Fair
Book Lovers' Paradise
Saturday, Nov 5, 2016 9:30-4 pm
Fisher Auditorium
http://www.buckeyebookfair.com 

Charleston, SC

Yallfest 2016
ALL YA -- ALL THE TIME!
70 (Count 'Em) YA Authors
Friday and Saturday Nov 11-12, 2016
Scads of YA authors, panels and more
More info coming soon!
http://yallfest.org

My First Vote? Heartbreak and Redemption

My first vote? Heartbreak and redemption in the 70s.  rtvote.com/firstvote16  #firstvote16 Now, Kamie Garcia and Amie Kaufman: let us know about your first time!

SFWA Events Baltimore Bookfest

September 23-25, 2016

Baltimore Inner Harbor

Here’s the full SFWA schedule!

http://tinyurl.com/hqd8yaw

My Events

Saturday September 24

5-6 PM Second Breakfast and Snozzberries: Food in SF & Fantasy

Authors: Cinda Williams Chima, Lara Elena Donnelly, Scott Edelman, Anna Kashina, Fran Wilde, K. Ceres Wright

6-7 PM   Meet the Authors Party!

Sunday, September 25

12-1 PM Beyond the Hunger Games: YA SF & Fantasy

come find your new fave as our authors talk about the depth and breadth of Young Adult Literature. Authors: Cinda Williams Chima, Lea Cypess, Sarah Beth Durst, Kristen Lippert-Martin, Lois Metzger, Rysa Walker

2-3 PM Plucky, Snarky, & Sweet: Memorable Girl Characters in YA

Authors: Cinda Williams Chima, Lea Cypess, Sarah Beth Durst, Justina Ireland, Lois Metzger, Rysa Walker

4-5 PM Signing in SFWA Tent

Authors: Cinda Williams Chima, Damien Angelica Walters

Will U Be At Dragoncon?? I Will!

DragonCon Schedule

Title: Gender Roles in YA Lit

Description: How are girls-and boys-typically portrayed in YA? What tropes do you love or hate? What's missing, and what does it mean to have a "strong female character"?

Time: Fri 05:30 pm Location: A707 - Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)

(Tentative Panelists: Cinda Williams Chima, Kathryn Hinds, Tamsin L. Silver, Danika Stone, Mary Weber)

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Title: Autograph Session:

Time: Sat 01:00 pm Location: International Hall South - Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)

(Tentative Panelists: S. Usher Evans, Cinda Williams Chima)

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Title: YA Lit Authors Juvenilia

Description: Some of your favorite authors read works they wrote when they were young, alas. Let the fanfic hilarity ensue.

Time: Sun 01:00 pm Location: A707 - Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)

(Tentative Panelists: Mari Mancusi, Cinda Williams Chima, Tiffany Trent, Fran Wilde, Susan Dennard)

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Title: Reading: Cinda Williams Chima

Time: Sun 04:00 pm Location: Edgewood - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

(Tentative Panelists: Cinda Williams Chima)

Title: In-Booth Signing

 Location: The Missing Volume Booth

Americasmart  building 2, Booth # 1301, 1303, 1400 & 1402

 Time: Sun 6:00 PM

They will have books for sale and I will have giveaways…I hope to see you there!