Posts Tagged: balthazar

Doll Contest News, plus interview Qs and the Artist’s Way!

Posted on February 10, 2011 | Comments Off on Doll Contest News, plus interview Qs and the Artist’s Way!

First of all, the first doll claimed was Raquel, and her bad-ass vampire hunting self is going to the lucky Averi A.! Congrats, Averi! Raquel will be making her way to you soon, assuming the postal service doesn’t try to confiscate her weapons.

If you didn’t win this time, don’t despair: Three more dolls need homes! And we’ll get that contest started soon — but first, there are some interview questions that need answering. You guys asked SO many terrific questions that I want to get to plenty of them, so I’m just going to “interview” each character as his or her doll is given away. Which makes today “Raquel Day.”

(Note: Spoilers for EVERNIGHT, STARGAZER and HOURGLASS below!)

From Averi: “Do you think that you will be the next Buffy the Vampire Slayer; is that your MO?”
Raquel: “Buffy was banging vampires all the time. I’ll pass, thanks.”

From Precious: “What is it like being a member of the Black Cross?”
Raquel: “Well, at first it was kind of awesome. I was so sick and tired of being scared all the time, you know? Black Cross finally gave me a way to fight back. Plus, I got to be with Dana, which was and is definitely awesome. But lately — since all that stuff with Bianca and Lucas — I don’t know. I guess I’m wondering how much we’re supposed to give up. Maybe it’s too much.”

From Paz: “Now that you know that Bianca is a vampire/wraith. Will you try to look past that and still be her friend?”
Raquel: “Seeing as how I kind of totally turned her in and nearly got her and Lucas killed, I figure there’s no chance she’ll ever forgive me. So that kind of kills the friendship, huh? But I’d do it a lot differently if I had it to do over. Of course, I don’t.”

From Aranxta: “Raquel, how do you manage to always stay so strong and brave??”
Raquel: “Me? Brave? I feel like I’m scared to death half the time. But you just have to be strong enough to keep going anyway; if not, whatever it is that’s trying to keep you down — it wins.”

From Melanie: “If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?”
Raquel: “BAD MAMA JAMA. Okay, that’s silly. But I’d take it. Given how I’m feeling about Black Cross lately — maybe DOUBLE-CROSSED.”

From Harman: “Raquel, you sort of found your soulmate at/in blackcross, what do you think of her?”
Raquel: “Dana’s the best person I’ve ever known. She’s totally courageous — you should ask her about staying strong and brave sometime. She knows how to fight every evil supernatural thing out there, because she’s grown up in Black Cross — but she doesn’t let Black Cross think for her. Plus, she’s hilarious. And gorgeous. I still can’t believe I’m lucky enough to have her in my life.”

From Eniyah: “Raquel, deep down do you really, really love being apart of an exhilarating group such as Black Cross?”
Raquel: “Exhilarating? Try eating oatmeal for 30 days straight and see how exhilarating you think it is then. I admit, though – they really have taught me how to fight, and I’m grateful for that.”

From Jennifer: “It seems like you’re pretty psyched and gun ho about being a slayer but what do you not like about it?”
Raquel: “The early mornings. Oatmeal. Not knowing who to believe or trust. What they did to Bianca and Lucas. Also, oatmeal. Feeling like Dana and I never get any time to ourselves. The kind of cult-like mentality of the whole thing. And did I mention the endless, endless oatmeal?”

From Monique: “In the first books you were so scared to do anything; you didn’t talk to many people. What made you overcome your fears and join the Black Cross team?”
Raquel: “Well, I don’t know if I ever would have had the guts to leave Evernight Academy if it hadn’t been on fire at the time. That kind of simplified things. Once I learned there was actually a group of people out there dedicated to fighting the supernatural stuff that used to scare the hell out of me, though, I was in. … Maybe I should have asked a few more questions first.”

From Camille: “What would you do if the time comes that you have to kill Bianca?”
Raquel: “Oh, my God. I could never do that. Not ever. I mean, it freaks me out that she’s a vampire — I know they’re evil — but I just couldn’t. Don’t make me even think about it.”

**

Bianca, Patrice and Lucas will answer the great questions you guys sent for them in weeks to come. Beginning, shall we say, next Wednesday, February 16, when I’ll give another doll away! What are the rules for entering this time?

THE RULES:

1) Send an email to evernightclaudia at gmail dot com, with the subject header EVERNIGHT doll contest #2 or similar.
2) In this email, tell me your single favorite scene from the EVERNIGHT saga so far.
3) Also give me a name and address I can use to mail your doll if you win (and yes, I’ll ship anywhere in the world) — and tell me which of the remaining three dolls (Patrice, Lucas or Bianca) you’d most like!
4) Do all this before next Wednesday, when I’ll pick the winner at random, and answer some more interview questions.

Good luck, everyone!

(By the way, if you need to remind yourself of how awesome these dolls are, check out the original post. And for those of you who have asked: Balthazar will wait for his own doll when he gets his own book … in other words, only one short year from now. So keep watching this space!)

Now, because I somehow forgot to post this on the weekend:

The Artist’s Way, Week One: Recovering a Sense of Safety

Not every week speaks to everyone in the same way, when it comes to this book. Some weeks, the program is really dealing with an issue that strikes home; other weeks, it’s not anything you particularly need to hear.

That’s what this week was to me. It’s mostly about identifying the people who have discouraged you from being creative, but I have to say … almost nobody has ever done that. I’ve had the odd flame for some fanfiction I wrote, or a bad review or two on Amazon, but those are just nicks and scratches. This chapter is mostly about administering to the wounded, to people who have really been told that they have no creativity or that it’s a waste of time for them to express it. I know there are a lot of people for whom that’s true, and I’m glad they have the tools in this chapter to help them get past that.

But I wouldn’t say this was a waste of time for me. The chapter doesn’t ask us to only look for the people who discouraged you; it also asks who encouraged you. And I’ve been so lucky and fortunate to have people who believed in me all along the way. I really believe a sense of gratitude is one of the key ingredients of happiness, so reconnecting with that in a big way was amazing.

Onto next week, and “A Sense of Identity” —

VACATIONS FROM HELL contest winners!

Posted on January 26, 2011 | Comments Off on VACATIONS FROM HELL contest winners!

And who are the many, many lucky winners of autographed copies of VACATIONS FROM HELL? First, the Aussies! Congrats to Kamsajini T., Ashling H., Stacey B., Terril-Lee F., and Millie T.! But there’s lots more of you, too: Way to go, Amy C., Gina L., Lea K., Elizabeth K., Jamie T., Nicole B., Laurel F., Ala T., Angela L., and Dawn D.! Hope all of you enjoy your copies and all the paranormal stories within.

I just returned from New York City, where I met with my publishers to talk about all the good stuff coming up, mostly about FATEFUL in the fall (when werewolves meet the Titanic, the fun never ends), a little about BALTHAZAR (who wants to guess what color his cover is going to be?) but also about the release of AFTERLIFE … which is only six weeks from today. Actually, I’m getting this posted after midnight, aren’t I? So five weeks and six days from today. Leading up to AFTERLIFE’s release, I’m going to be having tons more contests, interviews and fun stuff, so stay tuned.

But we’re going to start tomorrow, because it’s after midnight, and I’m just so grateful not to be on a plane. 😀

Australian box set giveaway!

Posted on January 10, 2011 | 11 comments

OK, enough of you were interested in the Australian box set (paperbacks of EVERNIGHT, STARGAZER and HOURGLASS all together for you) that I’m going to do a giveaway! I have nine copies of the box set, for nine lucky winners; I’ll autograph each box set. How do you enter?

1) Send me an email at evernightclaudia at gmail dot com, with the header “Australian Box Set Contest” or something similar.

2) Include a name and address I can use to ship your box set if you win! (This contest is open to readers worldwide except in Australia — because you are the lucky guys who can already get the box set on your own! Don’t worry; I’ll get you Aussies on our next contest.)

3) In this email, tell me what you’ll do with your box set! (Give it away? Keep it and give away your old copies? Have a hard copy instead of just your ebooks? I want to know!)

4) Do all these things before Monday, January 17, when I’ll pick the nine lucky winners!

Good luck, everybody!

**

I hope to soon start offering some more interviews — and there will be more contests — but right now, I’m on deadline with BALTHAZAR. So bear with me while I finish up, and keep watching the blog!

And for those of you interested in “The Artist’s Way”: I’m definitely going to do this, and blog about it, for the 12 weeks beginning the final day of January. All you need to do is get a copy of the book (available throughout the US at least, and I’m guessing internationally too; you can find it in most bookstores, new or used, online, or at your local library) and follow along with us!

ETERNAL contest winners announced!

Posted on December 8, 2010 | Comments Off on ETERNAL contest winners announced!

Congrats to Royce Anne V., Kimberly S., and Patrycja R! Each of them will be receiving a signed copy of the vampire romance anthology ETERNAL.

This was one of my favorite contests — your answers were really ingenious, and all the EVERNIGHT characters would be touched by how thoughtful you guys were. Kimberly feels that Bianca needs a new pair of tennis shoes, considering all the running around she has to do. Royce Anne would give Ranulf the HUNGER GAMES trilogy boxed set, because she thinks his take would be interesting (you and me both!) Patrycja plans to go the extra mile and hand-make a tie-dyed T-shirt for Vic, which he would appreciate very much.

Because I’ve seen a lot of questions on FB and Twitter lately, an update on what I’m working on now: AFTERLIFE is written, done, out there, getting printed; I hope to post an excerpt for you guys in the new year. FATEFUL (aka WEREWOLVES ON THE TITANIC) is written and edited, and will be making its debut on September 13. (That ship is always unlucky, isn’t it?) Currently I’m writing BALTHAZAR, about the life, death and subsequent adventures of one Mr. Balthazar More; although this novel is obviously connected to the EVERNIGHT series, it’s more of a stand-alone than a fifth book. (I consider Bianca and Lucas’ story complete with AFTERLIFE.)

And soon I will have many tour dates to announce! MANY. In March alone, I’ll be in Chicago, San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas, Raleigh, Minneapolis, and a city in Ohio to be designated later! I’ll also be attending Book Expo America in NYC this May, and the ALA conference in New Orleans this June. That doesn’t even get into the September tour dates for FATEFUL, which are still up in the air at present. I’ll post more event details as we get closer to the dates. Can’t wait to meet you guys there!

AUTUMN GIVEAWAY EXTRAVAGANZA Contest #7 starts today!

Posted on October 13, 2010 | 4 comments

First, I should announce the winners of Contest #6: Congrats to Jaime A., Lisa S. and Astrid R. They wanted to room with the easygoing Dana, the interesting Bianca and the creative and artistic Raquel, respectively, so no squabbling over room assignments next year at Evernight Academy. That’s a relief. They’ll each be getting a copy of the vampire romance anthology ETERNAL straight from the publisher, BenBella.

This week I’m in Vancouver, where I will have dinner, as promised, with the winning bidder in the Nashville Flood Relief auction earlier this year. I’m really looking forward to meeting her, and it’s been fabulous to visit up here, too. Vancouver, you are the only city on earth that wears more black than New York, and I salute you for it. I also salute you for the incredibly high number of dogs I’m seeing on the streets. I get to vicariously enjoy all sorts of dogs. Especially pugs. Good times. When not traipsing around dog-watching, I’m hard at work on the outline for BALTHAZAR. So it’s a big week!

But it’s not so busy that I can’t get AUTUMN GIVEAWAY EXTRAVAGANZA Contest #7 off the ground!

Three fabulous books could be yours for the taking, all very different, all very fabulous:

1) THE DUFF, by Kody Keplinger. Bianca Piper’s cynical attitude helps disguise the insecurity she feels about being her group of friends’ DUFF … “Designated Ugly Fat Friend.” It also helps her give class jerk Wesley as good as he gives, matching him insult for insult. But when hormones overcome hostility — and Wesley turns out not to be so awful after all — she’s about to find out if the DUFF can get the guy in the end (if he’s worth getting). Smart, funny and sexy!

2) I AM NUMBER FOUR, by “Pittacus Lore,” IF THAT IS YOUR REAL NAME. Ahem. This hot science fantasy title is going to be a big movie early next year, but you know you want to check the book out first. Nine kids came to Earth to hide from the alien race hunting them down; three of them have been killed, so far. Doesn’t feel good to be Number Four, aka John Smith, who’s trying to lead an average life in Ohio. Suspenseful and mind-bending stuff.

3) MATCHED, by Ally Condie. This is one of the most anticipated YA releases for fall, but you can get the ARC in your hot little hands first. Cassia lives in a futuristic dystopian world where everyone is told what to do, what to be and whom to love. But when she goes to be “matched” with her eternal partner, she’s shown not one image, but two. Will anyone believe her? Is the guy they’re pushing her toward really the one she belongs with forever? Or does Cassia need the freedom to explore her own heart?

Three awesome books, three lucky winners. How can you be one of them? Check out the contest rules!

1) Send me an email at evernightclaudia at gmail dot com, with the subject line “Contest #7”. In this email, also include the name and address I can use to send your prize if you win — and yes, for this one, I will ship anywhere.

2) In this email, tell me which of the three books you’d like … or just put, “surprise me.”

3) Do all this before Monday, October 18, when I’ll choose the winners at random.

Good luck to all, and stay tuned — we’re getting closer to Halloween, which means we’re getting closer to the AFTERLIFE ARC giveaways —