To Florida!

Well, I know I said I was going to be getting back into blogging, but what I forgot to mention was that we're leaving tomorrow for our summer Florida trip. I'm going to try and keep up the writing while we're gone, since there will be some down time between all the family stuff and fun outings, but I won't have very much Internet access.

For now, it's packing and finalizing the trip plans, since we're leaving early in the morning. I'll catch you folks later.

--J.

Detox

So, with some ass-kicking from Nate, I'm back in the query game. I've just sent out two more and I'm working on expanding my query list. Even though I just got Diablo III and it's addicting, and I'm still addicted to Skyrim and Minecraft, I'm paring down on my gaming time in favor of more productive things. We're making our yearly trip to Florida soon, and after that it'll be time for Nate and I to start hunting jobs so we can get some money coming in. Until we leave, I'm going to be focusing on my writing as much as possible in an attempt to break the complete hold my games have over my mind.

It's like...detox. That's right. Weaning myself off one tasty, tasty poison and going back to the life-giving creative process, if you will. Already it feels good. I think my ideas are starting to fester, and it stings. I do have an idea floating around, and it's time to get it out on...okay, not paper, since I write on the computer, but you know what I mean. I'm also going to actually get back into blogging as a means of keeping myself motivated.

For now, though, it's pretty late so I want to wrap up what I'm working on and head to bed. Tomorrow I'm going to try to find at least five more agents for my query list and start working on a preliminary outline for my new story idea. I have some notes scribbled down somewhere in this mess on my desk, so I'll go through those and see what I can pull together.

Hope everyone's doing well and that things don't suck.
--J.

The Ash-Born Boy!

It's May 15th! 

Not only does THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab come out in paperback TODAY, but, to celebrate its release, "The Ash-Born Boy" is finally up over at Disney*Hyperion's website!

So, what IS "The Ash-Born Boy"? 

It's a free story Victoria wrote as a thank-you to her fans, and she wrote it to answer ONE question: "Who was Cole before he came to Near?"

Now, if you've already read THE NEAR WITCH, "The Ash-Born Boy" is guaranteed to change the way you see Cole.

And if you haven't read THE NEAR WITCH yet, don't worry, "The Ash-Born Boy" won't spoil anything!

So basically, either way, you should go read Cole's story ;) 

And if you want to wait and read THE NEAR WITCH first, don't worry! Cole's story will stay up on Disney*Hyperion's website, and if it ever comes down, Victoria will carve out a space for it on her own site. It will always be available somewhere, and it will always be free. 

And! 

Cole's story isn't the only goodie to go along with the paperback release. In the back of the paperback itself, you'll find the first chapter of Victoria's new book, THE ARCHIVED, which doesn't come out until January!

So what are you waiting for? 

Help Victoria celebrate today by taking a look at "The Ash-Born Boy," and don't forget to buy/order/pick up your own paperback copy of THE NEAR WITCH!