Cristy Watson's Blog - Posts Tagged "ya"

My latest YA novel, Living Rough, has arrived! I opened the box yesterday and now need to finalize the book launch(es)!!! Now that I have two books published, I can say it is still just as exciting to receive the next batch...

Please join me on October 27th, 2011 for the launch of 'Living Rough' (Orca Currents). The event takes place at the Pelican Rouge Coffee Shop (15142 North Bluff Road, White Rock, BC) and doors open at 7pm, with the reading and author talk beginning at 7:30pm. Copies of 'Benched' and 'Living Rough' will be available for purchase through Kidsbooks.

Door prizes and activities for teens! Please bring a canned good for the local South Surrey/White Rock Food Bank. Hope to see you there!

As the New Year approaches, I am happy to report I made my resolution in record time this year. I not only wrote one more YA novel, but two, and I am nearly 10,000 words into my third. 'The Contest' is still looking for a 'home' and 'Gingerbread Man' is with the editor at Lorimer for the SidesStreets series (fingers crossed for good news) and once this one is finished, I'll polish and send it off, too! Are you thinking about the resolutions you'll make this year? Do they include writing and publishing?

Just had two great author visits to LLED classes at UBC for Teacher-Candidates. The audiences were wonderful and asked great questions on the art of writing and on the targeted audience of reluctant readers. Shared a new web page from Orca with them, as well: http://orcabook.com/reluctantreaders/...

BE SURE TO JOIN US:
Surrey Reads and Writes
I will be reading at 2pm on Level 1 in the Youth/ Children's section - hope to see you there!
http://www.surreylibraries.ca/5459.aspx

Alexandra Neighbourhood House is excited to announce Lit Cafe, an evening of readings showcasing the work of five talented, award-winning local authors.

The event will happen Wednesday, January 15 from 7-9 pm in the newly-inaugurated Reading Room at Alexandra Neighbourhood House, 2916 McBride Ave. in Crescent Beach. Suggested donation for admission is $5, but none will be turned away for lack of funds. 

The individuals presenting their works will be Margo Bates, Ben Nuttall-Smith, Lois Peterson, Sylvia Taylor, and Cristy Watson.

See link for author bios - I am on page 2:

http://www.alexhouse.net/sites/defaul...

Thanks to my wonderful editor, Melanie Jeffs at Orca Books, my new YA hi-lo novel will be published in the Spring of 2016. This is my first time signing a book contract when the MS is not finished. Over this holiday break I worked hard and now have three chapters to complete by my deadline of April 15th. I can do it! I can do it! I can do it!

Wow! I just hit 100 ratings between my two YA novels. I am thrilled that so many people took the time to add my books to goodreads and took the time to give them a rating. Now if I could get onto my personal blog page I'd add a note, there as well!

Once I hit send, you think I'd be relieved. The edits are done and my job, finished. But then, I wait... What cover will my publisher choose? What will the folks think who read the ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) and when it finally hits the shelves next Spring, what will the public think of my novel?!

So, I stress and worry until I get absorbed in a new story! This year, I am waiting on two books, one with Lorimer SideStreets and one with Orca Books. Orca has my novel up on their Spring list for 2016 and I love the cover and the tagline: Cue the conflict: family versus passion. Check it out here and watch for updates:
http://www.orcabook.com/On-Cue-P1113....

Thank you to the readers and reviewers who have taken the time to post their ratings and comments on Goodreads! CUTTER BOY just reached 50 ratings. I know that doesn't sound like much, but considering its been available in Canada for just over five months, that's not bad! Of course, it's nothing like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which received over 160,000 ratings within a week of its release, but I am still happy.

To have this kind of response for a hi-lo title aimed at reluctant readers, is pretty exciting. The novel has received mixed reviews but a number of the readers who posted lower ratings suggested it was because they wished the story was longer. I love writing hi-lo realistic fiction because I hope the books are picked up by reluctant readers and help to shape them into book lovers!

But it is tough to write within the low word count restrictions. Still, I wouldn't trade my five recent titles for any other books. DEAD TO ME is also hi-lo realistic fiction with a tight word count. It will be released this month from Lorimer Book Publishers.

I am thrilled that so many reviewers recognized the need for a book like CUTTER BOY in this genre. My aim is to offer hope and help to those struggling with, or supporting mental health. But, 50 ratings alone don't guarantee that this book will get into the hands of those who need it. If you enjoyed CUTTER BOY, perhaps consider voting for it on any one of the three lists readers have added it to on the book page for this novel.

Thank you to all the folks who entered my recent Goodreads Giveaway Contest. I was shocked to discover that over 1,000 people entered the contest. WOW! I do need to apologize to the five winners for the delay in getting your books to you. The novels just arrived and were sent on August 31st. Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy the read!

To the remaining contestants, I hope you pick up a copy of EPIC FAIL and I hope you enjoy it, too. I have six books now, all aimed at a YA hi-lo audience. The novels are great for getting young people 'into' reading and they are a wonderful resource for students learning the English language. Librarians say that my books are flying off their shelves - this is great news to hear as an author!