On Violence in Teen Books

Bestselling author and lit diva Cynthia Leitich Smith is hosting me over on her blog, Cynsations. Check out my guest post on Violence in Teen Books.

Come Visit Me On My Q&A Page on Goodreads!

I'm hosting a Featured Author discussion on Goodreads from October 11-17. The group is set up now, though, and you can join any time. There I'll answer questions, reveal secrets, and basically discuss both the Heir Chronicles and The Seven Realms. So if there's anything you've ever wanted to ask me, here's your chance!

I'll be "on duty" from October 11-17, but will be stopping in when I can before then.

   

       

                  Q&A with Cinda Williams Chima       

                8 members
        Join New York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima as she discusses her new novel The Exile...

         

               

Books we've read

                                           

                                     
                The Warrior Heir

                by Cinda Williams Chima

                   
                 

                  

                                     

                                     
                The Wizard Heir

                by Cinda Williams Chima

                   
                 

                  

                   
               
               

View this group on Goodreads »
             
               

         

       

   

The Exiled Queen Author Tour (update)--New York City 10/7/10

Hello, everyone! I added an event to my book tour list!

I'll be at Books of Wonder on October 7th from 5 to 7 p.m. Hope to see some of you there!


View The Exiled Queen Book Tour Fall, 2010 in a larger map

To see the entire tour on a larger map, click here.

The Secret Lives of Fantasy Writers

Many people think of the lives of writers as glamorous and exciting, flitting from book launch to movie premiere, and traveling to exotic locales for research purposes. We work in our pajamas, while the afternoons away in coffee houses, and hang with A-list folks like bookstore owners, teachers, and librarians.
Maybe you think that’s the reason that your favorite author hasn’t finished the sequel you’ve been dying to read.
Real or not real?
I’m here to tell you that authors work very, very hard. Yes, they do. In the interest of setting the record straight, I thought I would share some of the ways we fantasy authors spend our time.


Keeping up to date on the literature in our chosen genre.

Conducting dangerous field research into the habits of magical creatures.

 Sometimes we interview magically-gifted individuals

Or consult experts in period weaponry

torture devices

and medieval prisons.

(Don’t let that brilliant smile fool you—it was terrifying.)

Sure, from time to time we may stay a few days in a castle,

 but do note that we’re hard at work interviewing the staff to gather real-life stories and authentic gossip, what we novelists call “color.”

We often seek mentorship from other authors, hoping their success might rub off on us.

And engage in secret writerly rituals

like obsessively checking our Amazon ratings and setting fire to books that are more popular than ours.

After all of that effort, sometimes an intervention is necessary. This usually involves festive beverages.

All in all, it's an arduous life!

The Exiled Queen Author Tour

Wow!! Can you believe it? The Demon King just released in paperback and The Exiled Queen release is only weeks away. Did you think this day would ever come? (I didn't.)

We are working on plans for my tour for the release of The Exiled Queen, and I've been working on a tour map to post on my website and blogs. The book will launch at The Learned Owl in Hudson, OH on September 28, 2010, and after that I'll be in Minneapolis, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, and Orlando, what with one thing and another. I hope I'm coming somewhere near you!


View The Exiled Queen Book Tour Fall, 2010 in a larger map

Fear of Handrails

I’ve noticed something disturbing as I criss-cross the continent—people seem to have developed a widespread, persistent fear of handrails.

For example, I am in Acadia National Park and we are descending a steep stairway to Thunder Hole, where the ocean crashes into a narrow passageway, spewing high into the air.

Seems like a place where handrails would be a good idea, right?

I observe a young girl reaching for the handrail to steady herself.

“Don’t touch that!” her mother bellows, grabbing her daughter’s arm and yanking it out of danger.

Days later, in Quebec City, we are climbing the long staircase from the Rue du Petit Champlain to Haute Ville—a staircase aptly named Escalier Casse-Cou, or the Breakneck Stairs. Again, a child innocently takes hold of the handrail, and her mother scolds her, whipping out a container of antibacterial foam and smearing it all over her daughter’s hands.

We’ve gone beyond aggressive handwashing and anti-bacterial dispensers on every street corner. These days we’re air-kissing the handrail.

Having been a recent victim of Norovirus, I totally appreciate the dangers in touching contaminated surfaces. But in a risky world, we have to prioritize. I can’t help but wonder if we’ll have an epidemic of people falling to their deaths over cliffs and down staircases and escalators. 

I recently climbed the Beehive in Acadia, clinging for dear life onto those iron handholds bolted into the rock. Believe me, I wasn’t worrying about whether I might develop symptoms tomorrow. I was worried that I wouldn’t see tomorrow. 

More important than fear of handrails? Fear of falling.

             My opinion—handrails are our friends. With handwashing to follow.

The Exiled Queen Awarded Kirkus Star!

Kirkus says, “Duty, love, expedience and revenge fuel the labyrinthine intrigues of this second entry in an epic fantasy series…Riveting.”

Translation News

French Translation: Le Roi Demon

The Seven Realms Quartet
French and Polish Translations
For the Francophones among you, a French translation of The Demon King (Le Roi Démon) is scheduled for release in November by Castelmore, a new YA imprint of Bragelonne. You’ll find more information on that here.

Galeria will release the Seven Realms series in Polish translation.

The Heir Chronicles
Dutch, Indonesian, Turkish, and Polish Translations
Having already bought the Seven Realms series, Luitingh has purchased rights to a Dutch translation of the Heir Chronicles.
Matahati will offer an Indonesian translation, Pegasus will publish in Turkey, and Galeria in Poland.

There’ll be more news to come on The Exiled Queen release and author tour.