Did you see, did you see? I’m named as one of Dead End Follies’ Ten Literary People That You Absolutely Need To Know! I’m super flattered. Thanks, Ben.
Some publishing stuff:
FREAK is officially in production. After a couple of rounds of intense revisions (mostly big picture stuff – which about killed me, but the book is so much better for it) and then a couple of rounds of line edits, FREAK has finally come together… and dare I say it doesn’t suck? (This is the most I’ll ever be able to praise myself.) I have seen a cover and I’m dying to show you, but I’m waiting a bit because the hardcover doesn’t come out till August. Want to be awesome and pre-order it already? Pretty please?
And psst… it’s been hinted that the FREAK cover will have special effects. I’m quivering.
I have also seen a cover for the mass market edition of CREEP, which I’m told is also due out in August. Not sure if the cover is final yet, but if it sticks, I can tell you it looks nothing at all like the hardback cover. They went a totally different way, and it’s quite feminine and sexy and haunting, if I do say so myself (and not a handcuff in sight). I’m not even joking when I say I’ve won the cover lottery three times so far in my short career. Those Gallery Books cover artists don’t mess around.
Meanwhile, as I wait for FREAK to come back to me for the dreaded copy edit process, I’m working on first pass page edits for the mass market version of CREEP. Lots of coffee is necessary for this.
And by the way, CREEP has been doing really well in the UK and has gone into reprints. REPRINTS! *cartwheels* My UK publisher Sphere sent me copies of the newest edition, which looks the same except for one little line inside that says Reprinted 2011 (twice), 2012. Oh yeah, baby.
11 Questions:
I’m catching a flight Thursday morning for a much needed, long overdue girls weekend. Back Sunday night. But before I go, my lovely pal Nancy Thompson tagged me in 11 Questions:
1. What is the first line of your current WIP?
There was something fucked up about a job where cocaine was overlooked, but cigarettes would get you fired.
(Okay, so I dropped an F-bomb in the very first line… but I’m still pretty sure there’s less swearing in this book than the last.)
2. Would you rather have one book published that became a classic or have multiple books that sell well but eventually go out of print?
I was asked this in a workshop a few years back, and my answer is still the same. Someday, I want my own cardboard stand in Barnes & Noble and Chapters. So, I will go with multiple books, please.
3. What was the weirdest moment of writing inspiration you’ve ever had?
It happened in the bedroom. Let’s, uh, leave it at that.
4. What was your favorite book in 2011?
Tina Fey’s BOSSYPANTS. It made me laugh and laugh.
5. Who is your favorite author?
Stephen King. I can’t imagine this will ever change. His body of work is too extensive, and he’s written so many books I love.
6. Who is your favorite, Bill or Ted, and why?
No preference. I was never really into their excellent adventure.
7. Plotter or pantster?
Fortunately or unfortunately, I fly by the seat of my pants. Always. It’s why my revisions are so effing painful.
8. If you could go back and do anything over again, what would it be?
I wouldn’t have stopped writing in my twenties. I think I’d be a stronger writer now if I hadn’t dropped out for an entire decade, though interestingly, I don’t believe I would have been published any sooner.
9. What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done?
Well, I got published. I guess that’s pretty cool.
10. If you could meet the President of the United States, what would you say to him?
I’d politely ask for a green card so I’d have the option of moving back to Seattle. (Yes, it’s all about me.)
11. What is your favorite quote?
And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~ Anais Nin
Hope your week is going well. What was your favorite book of 2011? I’m always looking for recommendations.
Freak in August! Very cool Jen, happy yo got it hammered out.
I'm not surprised at all that you are one of the ten literary people that everyone should know. 🙂
I'm so excited about FREAK. I can't wait to read it!
Great answers to those tag questions. 🙂
And my favorite book of 2011 was Beth Revis' ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. Her A MILLION SUNS is even more awesome.
That is quite an honor and totally true!
I can't wait to see the cover of FREAK and to get a copy in my hot little hands!
BOSSYPANTS is still on my TBR list. I really need to hurry up and get it.
Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!
ROFL re: asking "politely" for a green card….how very Canadian of you! 😉
Reprints already? Nice! Oh, and in case I haven't said it yet this week… I'm so flippin' excited for FREAK! 😀
Great news! Congrats!
That's great news on your novels. Reprints – that's awesome.
And if you stopped writing in your twenties and that was over a decade ago… But you still look so young!
Reprints!! Yes! Can't wait to see what the "special effects" are for the FREAK cover.
And I love that Anais Nin quote too.
Oh shoot, I should've asked Obama for that! I want you back in Seattle, too. Thanks for participating! I love learning more about you. I'm diggin' the first line in Freak. Gonna ore-order it. I can get a hardback, right? Gonna bring it to BoucherCon for you to sign. Also need to check out Bossypants. God knows I could use a laugh.
And lastly, REPRINTS? TWICE?!! WAHOOOO! Way to go! See, I always knew you'd be a superstar!
Can't wait to see the cover of Freak! It sounds thrilling. Have a wonderful girls' weekend!
I can't wait to read Freak! I'm so glad it's in production. *rubs hands together*
Yay!!! What an awesome honor! Congratulations!!! I can't wait to see the cover for the new book! So exciting!!! Have a wonderful time on your little getaway!
Ooh, looking forward to Freak!
I finally read Creep – at last, and I really enjoyed it! Whipped through it over a couple of nights because I couldn't put it down lol. 😀
Congrats, Jennifer! And yay for reprints in the UK, I'm glad to hear we love your book, though not that surprised.
This is a fab post, Jen – I'm so happy for you and how well the books are doing. Keep us updated. D
OMG, I'm soooo excited! This year is turning out to be crazy good for you, Jen. Couldn't have happened to a better person–YAY!!!
And I'm officially freaking out over FREAK now. 🙂 August can't come soon enough, I swear.
Btw, I never knew that you took your 20s off from writing. What a coincidence, so did I! Basically, real world got in the way something fierce once I graduated from college and I somehow completely forgot to write in that time. I only got seriously back into it once I hit 30, and like you I always had this feeling that I had so much catching up to do. I envy those who were able to keep working on the craft straight out of college, although a very good writer friend of mine mentioned that the best writers are those who have spent a decade or more experiencing life first–the good as well as the bad.
Probably most *especially* the bad, I'd say.
Well of course you're one of the people to know. I just wish I knew you in real life and not just in electrons. =o)
Can't. Wait. For. August. I also can't wait to see your awesome covers. Great first line and the f-bomb feels right for it. Last, I think the government here should give you dual citizenship, so you can come back whenever you want.
So many awesome news! I don't even know where to start congratulating you, but YAY!! Special effects? Reprints? A gorgeus cover I can't wait to see? Available for pre-order? SQUEEEE!!!
You rock! 😀
I'm SO excited to read FREAK! And I love that I have the ability to look up these other covers – they look great!!
I have the audio version of BOSSY PANTS. I need to finish listening to it. Tina Fey narrates and is hilarious!
Reprint!! Woohoo!!!!!! That's awesome! Can't wait to see the cover art for FREAK. I love special effects. 😉
Well…I'm glad you asked… My absolute favorite book of 2011 was CREEPby Jennifer Hillier… I just lived it. 😉 btw, congrats on the literary person rank…super cool!
LMAO…correction please.. "I just LOVED it", I most certainly did not"LIVE it"… *phew* silly autocorrect
Congratulations on all the good news! 🙂
Can't wait to see the cover for Freak.
Congratulations on, well, everything! And I can feel your (pantsing) pain. I've got a 145K monster right now in dire need of revision. So instead, I'm outlining my next project. Makes sense, right? Ah yes, the freedom of not having an agent, book deal, contract, etc. =] You keep up this awesomeness, y'hear?
Reprints, yay!!!! Congrats on being one of the top ten literary people I need to know. I totally agree with that guy. I was so happy when I found your blog and went back and read a lot of your old posts that chronicled your journey from writing the novel to the release date and beyond. Great stuff! I'm off to pre-order Freak. It's one of like 5 books I'm allowing myself to buy this year (there is a new book ban in effect–I'm hoping to catch up on the 70 some books I've already got to read). Oh and I totally LOVE the first line of your WIP. I already want to read that too!!!
Wow, good news and good news. Special effects, oh fun times. And congrats on being featured too.
Reprints? Holy cow! Congratulations!!!
My favorite author is Dean Koontz but my all-time favorite novel is Stephen King's 'The Stand'. The unabridged version.
Yes, I'm a glutton for punishment.
So many things to say. First, bleep-it because Nancy tagged you first! I just tagged you… should've checked to see if you'd already been tagged. Oh, well 🙁
Next, huzzah on all sorts of awesome Creep and Freak news! Reprints and gorgeous covers and special effects! I'm stoked for you.
Lastly, I LOVE that Anais Nin quote. It's one of my faves, too.
Thanks bud.
Thanks Cherie!
Both of the Revis books are on my TBR list! So many good books out there! I need to take a long vacation just so I can read…
You would love BOSSYPANTS. It's really laugh-out-loud funny.
Thanks Karen!
Well, you know how polite we Canadians are… 😉
You are SO SWEET! Thanks Carrie!
Thanks Adam!
Thanks Alex! I actually stopped writing for the duration of my twenties, for that whole decade! I could cry thinking about it now.
I so miss Seattle, you have no idea.
Well, actually, you totally do. 🙂
I wish Bouchercon was next month.
Thanks Meredith! We had a great time.
Thanks Lydia. I'm happy to be at this stage finally!
Thanks Yvonne! We had a really good time. Still recovering, haha.
A couple of days? That's awesome, thanks, Kyra!
Thanks Sophia! I'm so happy the book is doing well over there. 🙂
Yay, thank you! Friends like you make all the difference. 🙂
Yes, I totally agree with that. I don't think I'd have been able to write anything publishable in my 20s, but I do think if I'd kept writing, it would brought me… happiness?
Someday I hope we meet in real life! Because I would really love that. You're a great friend. Thank you for all your support. *hugs*
Thank you Moni! Your excitement makes me so happy. 🙂
Oooh, I should have listened to the audio version! She would be even funnier, I imagine.
Thanks girl! 😀
You lived it? OMG ARE YOU OK??
😉
Hahaha! Made me laugh.
Thank so much! 🙂
Yay for revisions! You're going to rock it, I know it. I'll be cheering you on!
Oh wow, thanks Lisa! Can't wait to do the same for you someday soon!
And congrats on your big news, girl! Sooooo happy for you. 🙂
Thanks Southpaw!
One of these days I need to re-read The Stand… but that's a big ass book, man. 🙂
I do love that quote. I recite it to myself whenever I feel scared (which is, uh, more than I'd like to admit).
Thanks Alexia! 🙂
I'm totally preordering this right now. Woot! and I LOVE your first line. I'm so okay with the f-bomb. Yep.
First of all, let me just say how sorry I am to be just now seeing this! I've had a very hectic past week with the fam. But I am pre-ordering Freak asap! and how freakin' awesome is that new first line???
Also, SK is our fav author EVER. Just finished rereading Salem's Lot and it's every bit as good as I remembered.
We would still like to beat the crap out of both Bill and Ted for two hours wasted. And what kind of friend would I be if I didn't say best book of 2011…Creep, of course!!!! Hello????
congrats on Freak. That big picture editing is a killer.