Jessica Khoury's Blog
October 4, 2016
YASH Fall 2016
HELLO HUNTERS!
I am Jessica Khoury, author of the Corpus trilogy (Origin, Vitro, and Kalahari)
and recent Aladdin retelling, The Forbidden Wish .
I'm your host on this YASH stop! WELCOME!
HERE'S THE SKINNY:
YOU: What's the YA Scavenger Hunt and why are people losing their minds over it like flamingos at a shrimp shack?
ME: Because, beautiful reader, on this hunt, you not only get to read exclusive content from your favorite YA authors--you also get a chance to win a major fantastic prizes (we’re talking BOXES AND BOXES OF BOOKS) and that's not even counting the extra giveaways you'll find on many of our blogs!!
YOU: But Jess, how do I win this glorious readers' booty?
ME: By hopping from blog to blog and collecting the secret numbers! You'll find each author's favorite number hidden in their YASH blog post, highlighted in ORANGE. Collect all the numbers for my team (I'm on Team Orange!) and submit the total sum here on this nifty entry form, and hey presto! you're officially entered to win a year or two's worth of reading!
YOU: But what if I don't win?
ME: Lucky for you--there are six simultaneous hunts going on (yes, you heard me--SIX!) and you can participate in either one, two, or if you're super-hardcore--ALL OF THE HUNTS! Collect the numbers from each hunt and submit them, and multiply your chances of winning!
YOU: OMG, JESS. LIKE SRSLY. Can this hunt get any more awesome?
ME: Dear hunter, it can. Each author has the option of hosting their own giveaway on their blog, so keep an eye out for extra chances to win extra books and swag!
We are also now featuring a bonus prize. We select a group of authors who have participated in the hunt many times and fans can add up their numbers as well to enter for a $50 Amazon gift card. The list of those authors will be included on the YASH ENTRY page.
YOU: Okay, I'm in. Where do I start?
ME: Right here! You can begin your hunt on any participating blog, but for the full list of rules and authors and blogs and prizes, check out the YASH website here! The contest runs from Oct. 4 at noon PST to Oct. 9 at noon PST. Small window of opportunity, my dear--you must be swift!
YOU: Is there any fine print to this? Cuz it seems too good to be true.
ME: Just this: Open internationally, and anyone under the age of 16 must have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Oct. 9 at noon PST. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered. Duplicate/multiple entries per team will be deleted and result in disqualification--so YES we are watching and YES cheaters will be eliminated!
YOU: Jess, these rules and info are a drag. Can I just start already?
ME: Jumpy little thing, aren't you? But YES. Enough talk. LET'S SCAVENGE! Scroll down to meet the author I am hosting, read her bonus content, find my secret number, and to get on your merry way! For more info on the hunt, check out the YASH homepage!
HAPPY HUNTING!
I am thrilled to be hosting Emil Sher, author of Young Man With Camera.
Whoa. This sounds like an intense, engrossing read about an important issue in today’s world. I would love to get my hands on a copy! I wonder how many photos are in the book? Maybe... 7??
MEET EMIL!
A writer who writes for the young and once-were-young: picture books, stage plays, young adult fiction, essays. Still learning the ropes. Often in knots.
Learn more about Emil & his books on his website!You can find Young Man With Camera for sale here!
Happy reading, Hunters!
And now for some BONUS CONTENT!! Woot woot!Emil has a special treat for us--a look at some of the snapshots that didn’t make it into the book.Feast yer eyes, me hearties!
Young Man with Camera“This is one reason why I have this so-called obsession with photography,” says T—in Young Man with Camera, a novel about a thirteen-year-old photographer with facial scars and a singular perspective that gives him an uncommon strength. “Since you can never get the whole picture, you should wonder about the part of the picture you can’t see.”
In other words, what you see is not always what you get, a truth that is illustrated early in the book when T— describes a photograph he titled Girl With Goldfish. We staged the photograph on a cold morning in east-end Toronto. When we arrived at the location we were delighted to see a sidewalk store sign that was about the same height as the young girl who would be posing for the photograph, goldfish in hand.
We soon realized that the sign’s appeal would become a liability: it draws attention away from the girl. So we decided it was best to show the girl by herself to best focus on her body language. Here is photographer David Wyman taking one of several shots.
All the photographs in Young Man with Camera are published in black-and-white. True, costs were a consideration. But as T— notes, “Color is more colorful. Black and white is more revealing.”
Here is the photograph as it appears in the novel, and T—’s description of what happened beyond the frame.
I took it in front of the Pet Palace. The girl’s mother kept telling her to Smile! Smile! but the smile looked rehearsed. A minute after I took the picture, the woman poked the plastic bag with her finger. How long will this one last before it’s flushed down the toilet? The girl burst into tears.
What a cool behind-the-scenes look at YOUNG MAN WITH CAMERA! Thank you so much for sharing these pictures with us, Emil!AND NOW, to continue on your merry way, Hunters, click this link to visit the next stop on the Team Orange circuit!
I am Jessica Khoury, author of the Corpus trilogy (Origin, Vitro, and Kalahari)
and recent Aladdin retelling, The Forbidden Wish .
I'm your host on this YASH stop! WELCOME!
HERE'S THE SKINNY:
YOU: What's the YA Scavenger Hunt and why are people losing their minds over it like flamingos at a shrimp shack?
ME: Because, beautiful reader, on this hunt, you not only get to read exclusive content from your favorite YA authors--you also get a chance to win a major fantastic prizes (we’re talking BOXES AND BOXES OF BOOKS) and that's not even counting the extra giveaways you'll find on many of our blogs!!
YOU: But Jess, how do I win this glorious readers' booty?
ME: By hopping from blog to blog and collecting the secret numbers! You'll find each author's favorite number hidden in their YASH blog post, highlighted in ORANGE. Collect all the numbers for my team (I'm on Team Orange!) and submit the total sum here on this nifty entry form, and hey presto! you're officially entered to win a year or two's worth of reading!
YOU: But what if I don't win?
ME: Lucky for you--there are six simultaneous hunts going on (yes, you heard me--SIX!) and you can participate in either one, two, or if you're super-hardcore--ALL OF THE HUNTS! Collect the numbers from each hunt and submit them, and multiply your chances of winning!
YOU: OMG, JESS. LIKE SRSLY. Can this hunt get any more awesome?
ME: Dear hunter, it can. Each author has the option of hosting their own giveaway on their blog, so keep an eye out for extra chances to win extra books and swag!
We are also now featuring a bonus prize. We select a group of authors who have participated in the hunt many times and fans can add up their numbers as well to enter for a $50 Amazon gift card. The list of those authors will be included on the YASH ENTRY page.
YOU: Okay, I'm in. Where do I start?
ME: Right here! You can begin your hunt on any participating blog, but for the full list of rules and authors and blogs and prizes, check out the YASH website here! The contest runs from Oct. 4 at noon PST to Oct. 9 at noon PST. Small window of opportunity, my dear--you must be swift!
YOU: Is there any fine print to this? Cuz it seems too good to be true.
ME: Just this: Open internationally, and anyone under the age of 16 must have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Oct. 9 at noon PST. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered. Duplicate/multiple entries per team will be deleted and result in disqualification--so YES we are watching and YES cheaters will be eliminated!
YOU: Jess, these rules and info are a drag. Can I just start already?
ME: Jumpy little thing, aren't you? But YES. Enough talk. LET'S SCAVENGE! Scroll down to meet the author I am hosting, read her bonus content, find my secret number, and to get on your merry way! For more info on the hunt, check out the YASH homepage!
HAPPY HUNTING!
I am thrilled to be hosting Emil Sher, author of Young Man With Camera.
A picture is worth a thousand words -- and with a unique photographic format, a stunning original voice, and a provocative portrayal of bullying, Young Man with Camera is a book to get people talking.
T-- is used to getting grief. He gets it from his mom, who blames herself for his accident years earlier. He gets it from Mr. Lam, who suspects every kid of stealing from his shop. Worst of all, he gets it from Joined at the Hip, a trio of bullies so vicious that they leave T-- terrified of even using his entire name.
But T-- has his own strength too: his camera, which captures the unique way he sees the world. His pictures connect him to Ms. Karamath, the kind librarian at school; his friend Sean, whose passion for mysteries is matched only by his love for his dog; and especially Lucy, a homeless woman who shares his admiration for the photographer Diane Arbus. When Lucy is attacked by Joined at the Hip, T-- documents the assault on film. But the bullies know he has the photographs, and their anger could be deadly. What's the right thing for T-- to do? Do pictures ever tell the whole truth? And what if the truth isn't always the right answer?
Whoa. This sounds like an intense, engrossing read about an important issue in today’s world. I would love to get my hands on a copy! I wonder how many photos are in the book? Maybe... 7??
MEET EMIL!
A writer who writes for the young and once-were-young: picture books, stage plays, young adult fiction, essays. Still learning the ropes. Often in knots.
Learn more about Emil & his books on his website!You can find Young Man With Camera for sale here!
Happy reading, Hunters!
And now for some BONUS CONTENT!! Woot woot!Emil has a special treat for us--a look at some of the snapshots that didn’t make it into the book.Feast yer eyes, me hearties!
Young Man with Camera“This is one reason why I have this so-called obsession with photography,” says T—in Young Man with Camera, a novel about a thirteen-year-old photographer with facial scars and a singular perspective that gives him an uncommon strength. “Since you can never get the whole picture, you should wonder about the part of the picture you can’t see.”
In other words, what you see is not always what you get, a truth that is illustrated early in the book when T— describes a photograph he titled Girl With Goldfish. We staged the photograph on a cold morning in east-end Toronto. When we arrived at the location we were delighted to see a sidewalk store sign that was about the same height as the young girl who would be posing for the photograph, goldfish in hand.
We soon realized that the sign’s appeal would become a liability: it draws attention away from the girl. So we decided it was best to show the girl by herself to best focus on her body language. Here is photographer David Wyman taking one of several shots.
All the photographs in Young Man with Camera are published in black-and-white. True, costs were a consideration. But as T— notes, “Color is more colorful. Black and white is more revealing.”
Here is the photograph as it appears in the novel, and T—’s description of what happened beyond the frame.
I took it in front of the Pet Palace. The girl’s mother kept telling her to Smile! Smile! but the smile looked rehearsed. A minute after I took the picture, the woman poked the plastic bag with her finger. How long will this one last before it’s flushed down the toilet? The girl burst into tears.
What a cool behind-the-scenes look at YOUNG MAN WITH CAMERA! Thank you so much for sharing these pictures with us, Emil!AND NOW, to continue on your merry way, Hunters, click this link to visit the next stop on the Team Orange circuit!
YASH 2016Experiencing technical difficulties w/my post!Fi...
YASH 2016
Experiencing technical difficulties w/my post!
Fixing ASAP, but for now, here’s the lucky number (16)
AND the link to the next stop!
Up soon!!!
Experiencing technical difficulties w/my post!
Fixing ASAP, but for now, here’s the lucky number (16)
AND the link to the next stop!
Up soon!!!
February 25, 2016
THE FORBIDDEN WISH is finally here!!!
It’s here it’s here it’s here!!! After YEARS AND YEARS I can FINALLY share with you this story that means so much to me!!
If you thought Aladdin was the hero of the story, think again. The jinni has her own tale to tell...
The Forbidden Wish
If you thought Aladdin was the hero of the story, think again. The jinni has her own tale to tell...
The Forbidden Wish
September 30, 2015
YASH Fall 2015
HELLO HUNTERS!
I am Jessica Khoury, author of the Corpus trilogy (Origin, Vitro, and Kalahari)
and upcoming Aladdin retelling, The Forbidden Wish .
I'm your host on this YASH stop! WELCOME!
HERE'S THE SKINNY:
YOU: What's the YA Scavenger Hunt and why are people losing their minds over it like fangirls at a One Direction concert?
ME: Because, beautiful reader, on this hunt, you not only get to read exclusive content from your favorite YA authors--you also get a chance to win a major fantastic prizes (like over 160 signed books yes you heard that right ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIGNED BOOKS) and that's not even counting the extra giveaways you'll find on many of our blogs!!
YOU: But Jess, how do I win this glorious readers' booty?
ME: By hopping from blog to blog and collecting the secret numbers! You'll find each author's favorite number hidden in their YASH blog post, highlighted in BLUE. Collect all the numbers for my team (I'm on Team Blue!) and submit the total sum here on this nifty entry form, and hey presto! you're officially entered to win a year or two's worth of reading!
YOU: But what if I don't win?
ME: Lucky for you--there are eight simultaneous hunts going on (yes, you heard me--EIGHT!) and you can participate in either one, two, or if you're super-hardcore--ALL OF THE HUNTS! Collect the numbers from each hunt and submit them, and multiply your chances of winning!
YOU: OMG, JESS. LIKE SRSLY. Can this hunt get any more awesome?
ME: Dear hunter, it can. Each author has the option of hosting their own giveaway on their blog, so keep an eye out for extra chances to win extra books and swag! (PS. At the bottom of this post I am giving away some bedazzlement of my own--so be sure to enter!)
YOU: Okay, I'm in. Where do I start?
ME: Right here! You can begin your hunt on any participating blog, but for the full list of rules and authors and blogs and prizes, check out the YASH website here! The contest runs from Oct. 1 at noon to Oct. 4 at noon, PST. Small window of opportunity, my dear--you must be swift!
YOU: Is there any fine print to this? Cuz it seems too good to be true.
ME: Just this: Open internationally, and anyone under the age of 16 must have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Oct. 4 at noon PST. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered. Duplicate/multiple entries per team will be deleted and result in disqualification--so YES we are watching and YES cheaters will be eliminated!
YOU: Jess, these rules and info are a drag. Can I just start already?
ME: Jumpy little thing, aren't you? But YES. Enough talk. LET'S SCAVENGE! Scroll down to meet the author I am hosting, read her bonus content, find my secret number, and to get on your merry way! For more info on the hunt, check out the YASH homepage!
HAPPY HUNTING!
I am thrilled to be hosting Anne Heltzel, author of Charlie, Presumed Dead.
(Wait... "presumed" dead? There's definitely a story here...)
(speaking of dead, that's what I felt like when I saw this gorgeous cover, y'all...)
The charming, jet-setting Charlie Price is presumed dead following a tragic plane crash. At his funeral, Charlie’s double life is exposed when his two girlfriends—Lena and Aubrey—collide.
Reckless and glamorous, Lena Whitney believes Charlie is still alive, and she won’t rest until she’s found him. She and Aubrey Boroughs—a sheltered aspiring artist—team up on a journey across Europe and Asia to uncover the full extent of Charlie’s deception.As a trail of Charlie’s lies carries them across continents, it’s the girls’ unlikely friendship that keeps them strong…until they each discover that the other has been harboring a destructive secret of her own. Can their fledgling bond survive Charlie’s final—and most insidious—betrayal?
This page-turning psychological mystery will engulf teen fans of Gillian Flynn and We Were Liars.
HOT DAMN this sounds AMAZING, and not just because I loved Gone Girl. I love that this book features girl friendship, and you know I'm a sucker for globe-trotting stories! No wonder Kirkus said of Charlie: "Reminiscent of Gone Girl with its elaborate twists and turns...an edgy thriller that keeps the guesses coming until the last word."
And here is lovely Anne!
(is it just me, or does Anne resemble another Ann I know...?)
ANNE HELTZEL is a Brooklyn-based author and editor of children's books. Anne was born in Ohio, has been a voracious reader since the age of three, and credits her careers in publishing and writing (both lifelong dreams--just ask to see her childhood journal) to a serendipitous coffee shop conversation during her senior year of college. Anne was on a law school track until the aforementioned fateful conversation prompted her to switch gears and move to New York City, where she entered an M.F.A. program. In 2007 she began her first job in publishing. In 2008 she graduated from The New School with a master's degree in Writing for Children. Anne has since lived in India and Paris, and has taught writing and reading workshops in each of her former homes. More recently, she participated as a mentor in NYC's Girls Write Now program. When she is not writing, Anne is furiously (and passionately) editing novels for a Manhattan publishing house. She is represented by Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management. Anne also writes under the pseudonym Anna Collomore.
Learn more about Anne & her fabulous books on her website!You can find Charlie, Presumed Dead for sale here!
Happy reading, Hunters!
And now for some BONUS CONTENT!! Woot woot!
Anne has for you a deleted scene from Charlie, Presumed Dead!
Charlie, Presumed Dead: Alternate Ending
For my personal giveaway, I am giving away this prize pack of four books: signed paperbacks of Origin and Vitro, plus ARCs of The Forbidden Wish and upcoming (amazing) fantasy Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton!
Enter my giveaway below, then click here for your next stop on the YA Scavenger Hunt!Or use the full directory of participating authors listed on the YASH site.
Farewell, beautiful hunter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 27, 2015
ARC GIVEAWAY! The Forbidden Wish
I'm giving away an advance reader's copy of
The Forbidden Wish
, my upcoming Aladdin retelling, here on Goodreads! Don't miss this chance!
click here to enter!
click here to enter!
June 12, 2015
TFW Release Date!
We finally have a release date for The Forbidden Wish, my Aladdin retelling coming out next year!!
Read more about the book here:
The Forbidden Wish
Read more about the book here:
The Forbidden Wish
September 11, 2014
Vitro Paperback Cover
Vitro will be released in paperback on January 22nd, 2015--and here's a gorgeous new cover to go with it!!!!
I love the colors in this artwork and think it's such a perfect fit for the book, with the test tube in the title, the exotic setting, and a super cool new tagline! And it goes beautifully with the cover for Kalahari!
Pre-Order Vitro in Paperback!
barnes & noble | amazon | indiebound | book depository
On Skin Island, even the laws of creation can be broken.
On a remote island in the Pacific, Corpus scientists have taken test tube embryos and given them life. These beings—the Vitros—have knowledge and abilities most humans can only dream of. But they also have one enormous flaw.
Sophie Crue is determined to get to Skin Island and find her mother, a scientist who left Sophie behind years ago. With the help of Jim Julien, a young charter pilot, she arrives--and discovers a terrifying secret she never imagined: she has a Vitro twin, Lux, who is the culmination of Corpus's dangerous research.
Now Sophie is torn between reuniting with the mother who betrayed her and protecting the genetically enhanced twin she never knew existed. But untangling the twisted strands of these relationships will have to wait, for Sophie and Jim are about to find out what happens when science stretches too far beyond its reach.
I love the colors in this artwork and think it's such a perfect fit for the book, with the test tube in the title, the exotic setting, and a super cool new tagline! And it goes beautifully with the cover for Kalahari!
Pre-Order Vitro in Paperback!
barnes & noble | amazon | indiebound | book depository
On Skin Island, even the laws of creation can be broken.
On a remote island in the Pacific, Corpus scientists have taken test tube embryos and given them life. These beings—the Vitros—have knowledge and abilities most humans can only dream of. But they also have one enormous flaw.
Sophie Crue is determined to get to Skin Island and find her mother, a scientist who left Sophie behind years ago. With the help of Jim Julien, a young charter pilot, she arrives--and discovers a terrifying secret she never imagined: she has a Vitro twin, Lux, who is the culmination of Corpus's dangerous research.
Now Sophie is torn between reuniting with the mother who betrayed her and protecting the genetically enhanced twin she never knew existed. But untangling the twisted strands of these relationships will have to wait, for Sophie and Jim are about to find out what happens when science stretches too far beyond its reach.
July 31, 2014
Book Four Announcement!!!
Hi Everyone!!
I am SO SO SO SOOOOO EXCITED right now!! Because I get to announce something incredibly new and different and very very dear to me—my fourth book, which is currently UNTITLED (but I am working hard on changing that!!) It's with Razorbill/Penguin, like the last three books (hurray!! Penguin!! <3 <3 <3) and AHHHH let me tell you MOOOOORE!!
If you’ve read any of my previous books—Origin, Vitro, or Kalahari—the first thing you’ll need to know is: this book is nothing like those ones. It’s a complete departure from my earlier Sci-Fi, as I take a turn, well nose-dive really, into fantasy.
I ADORE high fantasy. It’s my favorite genre. I’ve been DYING to share my fantasy with you for years, guys, YEARS. And it’s finally happening and I CAN’T EVEN.
HANG ON A SEC. *Catches breath*
Where were we?
Right. So Book 4 is a retelling of the story of Aladdin told from the perspective of the genie--a girl named Zahra--who falls in love with Aladdin even as she is bound to grant his wishes to win the heart of a princess.
(I love love love this gif since it almost perfectly captures Zahra (except for the eye color), but can't find what it's from!! If you know, please tell me!)
It’s set in a Middle Eastern-esque world based on ancient Persian and Arabic culture, which is UBER EXCITING for me, because I got to delve into some of my heritage for research. For years my Syrian grandfather has been urging me to write something inspired by his homeland, and it's such a honor to finally get to do just that! Ancient Near Eastern culture is incredibly rich, fascinating, and complex, and I'm totally obsessed. And at the same time I'm thrilled to revisit one of my favorite stories from a completely new and exciting perspective.
I've been working on this story as a pet project for a few years now, and Zahra has become very dear and real to me. I've never felt a character's voice so strongly, and to get to finally share her with you is A WISH COME TRUE.
You’ll meet some familiar faces: the princess, the vizier, of course Aladdin. But they’ll be a little darker, a little grittier, and totally re-imagined, so you can live this beautiful story all over again in a new way. I’ve tried hard to maintain a balance between the familiar and the totally new in this story, so whether you’re looking for a faithful retelling or a reinvented fairytale, hopefully this will satisfy either!
But when will the book be out,? Well, no idea yet. I’m still very early in the writing process, but as SOON as I have an idea of a release time and title, you will be the first to know! =) Until then, all I can really leave you with is my Pinterest board of inspiration and a promise of more to come soon!
I am SO SO SO SOOOOO EXCITED right now!! Because I get to announce something incredibly new and different and very very dear to me—my fourth book, which is currently UNTITLED (but I am working hard on changing that!!) It's with Razorbill/Penguin, like the last three books (hurray!! Penguin!! <3 <3 <3) and AHHHH let me tell you MOOOOORE!!
If you’ve read any of my previous books—Origin, Vitro, or Kalahari—the first thing you’ll need to know is: this book is nothing like those ones. It’s a complete departure from my earlier Sci-Fi, as I take a turn, well nose-dive really, into fantasy.
I ADORE high fantasy. It’s my favorite genre. I’ve been DYING to share my fantasy with you for years, guys, YEARS. And it’s finally happening and I CAN’T EVEN.
HANG ON A SEC. *Catches breath*
Where were we?
Right. So Book 4 is a retelling of the story of Aladdin told from the perspective of the genie--a girl named Zahra--who falls in love with Aladdin even as she is bound to grant his wishes to win the heart of a princess.
(I love love love this gif since it almost perfectly captures Zahra (except for the eye color), but can't find what it's from!! If you know, please tell me!)It’s set in a Middle Eastern-esque world based on ancient Persian and Arabic culture, which is UBER EXCITING for me, because I got to delve into some of my heritage for research. For years my Syrian grandfather has been urging me to write something inspired by his homeland, and it's such a honor to finally get to do just that! Ancient Near Eastern culture is incredibly rich, fascinating, and complex, and I'm totally obsessed. And at the same time I'm thrilled to revisit one of my favorite stories from a completely new and exciting perspective.
I've been working on this story as a pet project for a few years now, and Zahra has become very dear and real to me. I've never felt a character's voice so strongly, and to get to finally share her with you is A WISH COME TRUE.
You’ll meet some familiar faces: the princess, the vizier, of course Aladdin. But they’ll be a little darker, a little grittier, and totally re-imagined, so you can live this beautiful story all over again in a new way. I’ve tried hard to maintain a balance between the familiar and the totally new in this story, so whether you’re looking for a faithful retelling or a reinvented fairytale, hopefully this will satisfy either!
But when will the book be out,? Well, no idea yet. I’m still very early in the writing process, but as SOON as I have an idea of a release time and title, you will be the first to know! =) Until then, all I can really leave you with is my Pinterest board of inspiration and a promise of more to come soon!
July 14, 2014
KALAHARI--Cover Reveal!
Hi guys! I'm so thrilled to share with you the cover for my upcoming book, KALAHARI! The book is scheduled to hit shelves next February, but one lucky winner will receive an early copy in the giveaway below!
Why this cover?We threw around a LOT of ideas for this book, but kept coming back to the idea of this incredible place--the Kalahari region of southern Africa--where the book is set. While I was in Botswana doing research last summer for the book, I spent every evening marveling at the incredible colors and silhouettes created by the sunsets over the grasslands, and felt that this image was a truthful, evocative representation of the scenery that so inspired me (and which made pictures super fun!)
What I love...... about this cover is that it immediately conjures the beauty and the drama of the Kalahari setting, and the models representing the characters of Sam and Sarah are spot on! Adventure, survival, and romance are all important aspects of this story, and this image captures that so well. I was so thrilled when I first saw it--I instantly saw my story! The vibrant colors, the weathered texture, and the cool fonts were just icing on the cake.
About the BookKALAHARI tells the story of Sarah Carmichael, a girl who has lived in one remote location after the next with her zoologist parents. Sarah is an expert on animals, speaks multiple languages, and is well versed in survival skills--but when it comes to talking to teens her own age, she's awkward and shy. Now, just six months after her mother was killed in an auto accident, Sarah and her dad are hosting a two-week safari for five city kids. Sarah dreads the trip, but when one of their guests turns out to be handsome, friendly Sam Quartermain, she wonders if it might be so bad after all.
But things quickly take a turn toward disastrous after Sarah's father disappears and the kids are left on their own. After fleeing from an attack by murderous poachers, they discover a ruined Corpus laboratory deep in the Kalahari--where a lethal engineered virus has escaped and turned the local animals into crazed, bloodthirsty monsters. Desperate to cover up the terrible pathogen they created, Corpus is determined to eliminate all witnesses to their catastrophic experiment--and Sarah, Sam, and the other kids are first on their list. Hunted by mercenaries, hit men, and an infected lion, Sarah must summon the strength and wits to stay alive in one of the world's most deadly deserts...but in the ruthless wilderness of the Kalahari, there is no water, no safety, and no place to hide.
Pre-Order the BookKALAHARI is available for pre-order in e-book or hardcover from these sellers!
Amazon | Books-a-Million | Indiebound
GiveawayI've got signed copies of my previous books ORIGIN and VITRO up for grabs, along with an advance copy of KALAHARI (to come as soon I have it!) All these go to one lucky winner, so complete as many entries as you can below for the best chances of claiming these prizes!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Why this cover?We threw around a LOT of ideas for this book, but kept coming back to the idea of this incredible place--the Kalahari region of southern Africa--where the book is set. While I was in Botswana doing research last summer for the book, I spent every evening marveling at the incredible colors and silhouettes created by the sunsets over the grasslands, and felt that this image was a truthful, evocative representation of the scenery that so inspired me (and which made pictures super fun!)
What I love...... about this cover is that it immediately conjures the beauty and the drama of the Kalahari setting, and the models representing the characters of Sam and Sarah are spot on! Adventure, survival, and romance are all important aspects of this story, and this image captures that so well. I was so thrilled when I first saw it--I instantly saw my story! The vibrant colors, the weathered texture, and the cool fonts were just icing on the cake.
About the BookKALAHARI tells the story of Sarah Carmichael, a girl who has lived in one remote location after the next with her zoologist parents. Sarah is an expert on animals, speaks multiple languages, and is well versed in survival skills--but when it comes to talking to teens her own age, she's awkward and shy. Now, just six months after her mother was killed in an auto accident, Sarah and her dad are hosting a two-week safari for five city kids. Sarah dreads the trip, but when one of their guests turns out to be handsome, friendly Sam Quartermain, she wonders if it might be so bad after all.
But things quickly take a turn toward disastrous after Sarah's father disappears and the kids are left on their own. After fleeing from an attack by murderous poachers, they discover a ruined Corpus laboratory deep in the Kalahari--where a lethal engineered virus has escaped and turned the local animals into crazed, bloodthirsty monsters. Desperate to cover up the terrible pathogen they created, Corpus is determined to eliminate all witnesses to their catastrophic experiment--and Sarah, Sam, and the other kids are first on their list. Hunted by mercenaries, hit men, and an infected lion, Sarah must summon the strength and wits to stay alive in one of the world's most deadly deserts...but in the ruthless wilderness of the Kalahari, there is no water, no safety, and no place to hide.
Pre-Order the BookKALAHARI is available for pre-order in e-book or hardcover from these sellers!
Amazon | Books-a-Million | Indiebound
GiveawayI've got signed copies of my previous books ORIGIN and VITRO up for grabs, along with an advance copy of KALAHARI (to come as soon I have it!) All these go to one lucky winner, so complete as many entries as you can below for the best chances of claiming these prizes!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 6, 2014
New Book Deal!
At last! I can FINALLY tell you!! I signed my second book contract with Razorbill/Penguin Random House, starting with KALAHARI, coming winter 2015. Guys, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book so much! It's very close to my heart and I've been on absolute pins and needles these past six months as I've kept it secret.
It feels SO GOOD to finally just--
But anyway, enough dramatics, here's the announcement from PW:
Woohoo!!!
Here's a bit of a longer synopsis:
Curious to know more? Follow my KALAHARI Pinterest board to explore some of the inspiration behind the story!
A lot of people have asked me if this is another story from the same world as ORIGIN and VITRO--and yes, it is! But it's a lot different from my first two books in many ways, and one of my favorite things about it is that it's set in the Kalahari Desert in Bostwana, Africa! I was lucky enough to spend a few weeks there last summer doing research for KALAHARI, and can't wait to share more about that and the book in the months to come!
The speedy folks over at Goodreads have already got KALAHARI up for you to check out--and add to your to-read shelf! =)
hurray, Africa!!!
believe it or not, playing with lion cubs was TOTALLY research for this book...
It feels SO GOOD to finally just--
But anyway, enough dramatics, here's the announcement from PW:
Woohoo!!!
Here's a bit of a longer synopsis:
Sarah Carmichael has lived all over the world, from dense jungles to scalding deserts, with her zoologist parents. Six months after her mother is killed in a automobile accident in Africa, Sarah and her dad find themselves in need of research funds--and in return for them, agree to host a group of high school students from the States at their remote camp in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. But things go quickly wrong when reports of poachers in the area call Sarah's dad away to investigate. When he doesn't return, Sarah finds herself alone in charge of a group of city kids she doesn't understand or relate to, in one of the world's most deadly wildernesses. She sets out to find her dad and instead runs across a secret research facility that has been left mysteriously in ruins. There, she and the students become witnesses to a horror that a certain biotech company will do anything to hide--a deadly virus created out of living metal that consumes everything it touches.
Curious to know more? Follow my KALAHARI Pinterest board to explore some of the inspiration behind the story!
A lot of people have asked me if this is another story from the same world as ORIGIN and VITRO--and yes, it is! But it's a lot different from my first two books in many ways, and one of my favorite things about it is that it's set in the Kalahari Desert in Bostwana, Africa! I was lucky enough to spend a few weeks there last summer doing research for KALAHARI, and can't wait to share more about that and the book in the months to come!
The speedy folks over at Goodreads have already got KALAHARI up for you to check out--and add to your to-read shelf! =)
hurray, Africa!!!
believe it or not, playing with lion cubs was TOTALLY research for this book...
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