Ellen Jensen Abbott's Blog

I’ve just posted a new website to introduce readers to me and my books! I’ve moved my blog over there so going forward, please look for me at: http://www.ellenjensenabbott.com

I had a great–and productive–weekend with my dear friend, Beverley Patt (Best Friends Forever) in Ocean City, MD. A quiet beach resort is just the ticket for a writing weekend! (Not to mention the condo unit with the hot tub!)

Holly Schindler, my friend and colleague from YA Outside the Lines, has a new book coming out on 26 August and she is revealing the cover TODAY!

Cool, eh? Here is so more detail about the book:

It’s too late for you. You’re dead.

Those words float through Claire Cain’s head as she lies broken and barely alive after a brutal beating. And the words continue to haunt her months later, in the relentless, terrifying nightmares that plague her sleep. So when her father is offered a teaching sabbatical in another

state, Claire is hopeful that getting out of Chicago, away from the things that remind her of what

she went through, will offer a way to start anew.

But when she arrives in Peculiar, Missouri, Claire quickly realizes something is wrong—the town is brimming with hidden dangers and overrun by feral cats. And her fears are confirmed when a popular high school girl, Serena Sims, is suddenly found dead in the icy woods behind the school. While everyone is quick to say Serena died in an accident, Claire knows there’s more to it—for she was the one who found Serena, battered and most certainly dead, surrounded by the town’s feral cats.

Now Claire vows to learn the truth about what happened, but the closer she gets to

uncovering the mystery, the closer she also gets to discovering a frightening reality about herself and the damage she truly sustained in that Chicago alley. . . .

With an eerie setting and heart-stopping twists and turns, Holly Schindler weaves a gripping story that will make you question everything you think you know.

The book is coming out with HarperCollins.You can pre-order here: http://www.amazon.com/Feral-Holly-Schindler/dp/0062220209/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391182020&sr=1-1&keywords=Holly+Schindler+Feral

You can also add the book to your Goodreads shelves: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15782742-feral

You can keep up with Holly here: http://www.hollyschindler.com/and of course on YA Outside the Lines.

I just posted on YA Outside the Lines. The post is called, “Where’s the Story? or How I Appreciate Art.” Here’s a teaser:

“I have a very low visual IQ. My husband does most of the decorating in our house—choosing paint colors, hanging pictures, arranging curtains. On the day we moved in to this house, the mover kept coming to me: “Where do you want this table, desk, armoire, dresser, ma’am?” I sent him to my husband. I just don’t see things well. I can’t even pack the car.”

The rest of the post can be found here: http://yaoutsidethelines.blogspot.com/2014/01/wheres-story-or-how-i-appreciate-art.html

I had a blast on Monday night meeting with Marna Quinter’s book club–for the third time! They’ve read each of my books and invited me to come to their meeting each time. They read closely, thoughtfully and passionately! Below are photos of all three visits:

 

Thanks so much for having me, Lisa, Margy, Kim, Chris, Kathy, Gloria, Marna, Wendy, Kim and Melinda! You’re just the kind of readers every author dreams of!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s the opening:

“My post this month falls just about half way between Christmas and Epiphany, the day the Christian calendar celebrates the visit of the Magi, or the three kings, to the baby Jesus. So today I want to celebrate my magi—the three women who bring gifts to my writing life.

My first magi is my editor, Robin…” Read the rest: http://www.yaoutsidethelines.blogspot.com/2013/12/my-magi-by-ellen-jensen-abbott.html#comment-form

Saturday was a fun day at two malls with my KidLit Author Club friends: Alison Ashley Formento, Jenn Hubbard, Kit Grindstaff, and Alissa Grosso!

Where else would any self-respecting writer be on the Saturday before Christmas? In a bookstore at a mall! Correction–TWO malls! Stop by and say hello–and get some Christmas shopping done! I’ll be at

Books-A-Million! in the Exton Square Mall, Exton PA, Saturday 12/21, 11 AM-1PM (Alissa Grosso, Kit Grindstaff, and Dianne Salerni all from Kid Lit Authors Club will be signing too.)

AND

Barnes and Noble in the Neshaminy Mall, Bensalem, PA, Saturday 21/21, 3PM-5PM (Alissa Grosso, Alison Ashley Formento, Kit Grindstaff, and Jennifer Hubbard.)

…but it’s not over yet! Here’s another guest blog post and giveaway over at Margo Dill’s excellent blog:

http://margodill.com/blog/2013/12/09/watersmeet-trilogy-giveaway/#comments

 

I’m very proud to say that I have a guest post on Cynthia Leitich Smith’s blog, Cynsations! There’s also a giveaway with the post: another chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite and copies of my whole trilogy.

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2013/12/guest-post-giveaway-ellen-jensen-abbott.html