Brodi Ashton

DARK DAYS tour recap: AKA How I learned to stop worrying and love the Crawtators

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:27:00 +0000

Hey Y'all!

So, I'm back from my DARK DAYS tour, and already I'm missing all the people I met, especially the other authors I toured with:

Cynthia Hand (the Unearthly series)
Courtney Allison Moulton (the Angelfire series)
Jodi Meadows (the INCARNATE series)

I'll give a quick recap, borrowing liberally from other people's pictures of the events.

Here's me standing by the poster:

Here are all the authors together:

(top row: me, Jodi Meadows. Bottom row: Courtney Allison Moulton and Cynthia Hand)

Here are some interesting tidbits about the other authors:

Jodi Meadows: She makes her own yarn and knits. Constantly.
Cynthia Hand: She smells like citrus.
Courtney Allison Moulton: Things like to fall on her head.

Here are some donuts somebody brought us:

They were delicious

Nuggets:

Strangest Echo Sensation: While speaking to the crowd, my phone would buzz with tweets about the things I was saying. Like when I said, "I imagine brains would taste like tofu"

And then my phone buzzed and showed the tweet: "@brodiashton says brains taste like tofu!"

Or the time someone asked when I first started writing, and I answered something like, "Well, I hated writing in high school. I was more into math and science. It wasn't until I was older that I really got into it."

and then my phone would buzz:

"@brodiashton hated writing! It made her puke!"

Okay, it wasn't quite like that. But I was suddenly very careful of the things I was saying.

Strangest question from the audience: "If you could eat any other author's brains, whose would it be, and what would they taste like?"

(Hence the 'brains taste like tofu' remark). For the first time all night, I had to raise my hands in a helpless manner, and say, "I got nothin'."

Strangest out-of-context comment during a car ride with four authors: "Ferrets are good for cleansing the palate."

Awesomest media escort: So, there were these media escorts who would take us around to all the places and get us water and stuff like that. Our media escort in Austin showered us with animal crackers, Diet Coke, and our new favorite snack, the "Crawtators".

Best Part: The enthusiastic crowds!

Another best part: Kayla brought me Diet Coke and my mocha-honey!

That was a good day, when Rafa gave me his soul.

Here are some other tidbits:

Courtney Allison Moulton: She loves horses, and she gets locked out of hotel rooms easily.

Jodi Meadows: She owns ferrets, and she loves to take long showers in hotel rooms.

Cynthia Hand: Her friends in high school wanted her to date a guy with the last name "Foot".

Courtney did a little video montage of the behind the scenes images. All I can say is... do I really look like that from behind?

More interesting nuggets:

*Two authors write about angels, one writes about reincarnation, and yet during an interview for Voices of America, I'm the only one who got asked about "religion" in my book. Go figure.

*When asking the audience whether they were Team Jack or Team Cole, they were about evenly divided.

*If you sign your name enough times, eventually it doesn't look right. And then you forget how to get from the "r" to the "o", and you end up messing up on that part fifty times in a row. And then you look stupid because, duh, it's your name, and you should be able to spell it without hesitating in the middle.

Okay, that's all for today. I have a deadline on Monday (again) and so I'll see all y'all later!

My Perfect Valentine's Present, and I head to the Lone Star State

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:13:00 +0000

Happy Day After Valentine's Day!

So, Valentine's Day morning, I walked into the shower and saw a contraption hanging from the shower head. It was a waterproof radio.

And It. Was. Beautiful.

I can turn it on and off without fear of being electrocuted. I can listen to my favorite morning show without blasting the radio for the neighbors to hear. I can shower for two hours without fear of wasting our earth's natural resources by using the power cord for the traditional radio.

For me, it was the most romantic gift ever.

And when Sam came home from work, and I was still in the shower, he knew he had done well.

Now if they'd only invent a waterproof computer so I could blog in the shower.

By the time I was done, my skin was hanging off of me in wrinkled splendor, so I knew I'd probably lost a lot of weight too. It's the gift that keeps on giving!

Tomorrow, I'm leaving for the Dark Days Tour to Texas.

Here's the schedule:

Thursday, Feb. 16th Dallas Southlake Barnes and Noble at 5pm
Friday, Feb. 17th Austin Barnes and Noble (on Research Blvd.) 7pm
Saturday, Feb. 18th Houston Blue Willow Bookshop (on Memorial Drive) 4pm

There's a driver coming to pick me up at my house to take me to the airport. This is an entirely unfamiliar concept for my family.

My mom: "How are you getting to the airport?"

me: "A driver."

mom: "You mean Sam?"

me: "No, a driver. Like a driver for hire."

mom: "You mean you're paying Sam?"

me: "No, mom, I mean they're sending a car for me."

mom: "I do not compute. Do you need me to take you?"

me: "No, it's too early in the morning. I'll stick with the driver."

mom: "But where did they find this... driver? Does he have credentials?"

me: "His parol officer vouched for him completely."

mom: "That's not funny."

me: "There's nothing funny about the after-prison reform program. Especially for habitual offenders. But I want to support them."

pause...

Sometimes, I love messing with my mom.

So, is anyone going to be in the Texas area? Will I meet any of you there?

My Weekend at LTUE, and My Shot at True Love

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:22:00 +0000

Hey y'all.

So, last weekend I spoke on my first ever panel at the LTUE conference. The thing I said that got the best reaction was when I told the story about happening across a tweet that said, "And then there's EVERNEATH. It's like they're not even trying anymore."

What can I say? People like to revel in my pain. :)

I did meet these three boys, who just happened to be born with birthmarks on their cheeks that just happened to be in the image of my book cover.

Jared, Jackson and Matt

Just kidding. Those are the temporary tattoos of my Everneath cover! Aren't those boys awesome?

And since it was the LTUE conference - which is heavy on the sci-fi and high fantasy - these boys were still the most normal looking people there. Even with the tattoos on their cheeks.

I had to stay overnight one night, but I knew my kids were in good hands at home with the hubby because he texted me this series of photos:

Kid B, wondering why he can't see better with his homemade glasses

Yep, those are donuts. And he's pulling a Princess Leia.

All ready for school! And the possibility of a flash flood.

By the way, Malaysian Cupid says they can find me my perfect match by Valentine's Day. That means they have 24 hours.

I know they are legit, because here is their very professional email:

"Dear, Mr. Ashton, Here are the latest cupids to respond to your plea for love. Their names are Farah and Mira."

I responded to their obviously personalized email by saying "I'm all in. I have complete faith in your ability to match me. You have 24 hours to find me true love. But first, just for fun, let's aim for men."

They responded by saying, "Okay, Mr. Ashton. Whatever floats your boat."

I'm very excited about my prospects.

My Answer to: "In EVERNEATH, why did you decide to to THIS??!!"

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:16:00 +0000

I have to get something off my chest.

So I've been getting a lot of emails lately from readers who connected with EVERNEATH, and by far this is the best part of being an author so far.

Some of these readers have questions about the story. The questions are about everything and anything, but they usually start out with, "Why did you decide to do --------- and not ----------?"

It's a difficult thing to answer, because the answer is usually the same, and therefore, it's kind of boring. But here it is:

"Because I felt the story called for it."

I can tell by reading some of the emails that some readers think there is a deeper agenda going on. A "deeper agenda" like:

It's a YA book, and I, as the author, think that YA books need to have certain standards, and so that's why I made the decision.

Because, as the author, I have a deeper responsibility to spread a message to teenagers about x, y, or z.

As the author, my own personal beliefs are x, y, and z, and therefore my characters' beliefs are the same

But I'm telling you if I tried to write a book based on any of these "deeper agendas", I would fail miserably, for several reasons.

1. It would feel more like work and less like a passion

2. I would never presume to set myself up as the voice of morality for teenagers

3. It would be a really boring book

This doesn't mean that when I write, I can shut off all the aspects of my life that make me me. First, that's impossible, and second, that would be a boring book as well. But it does mean that when I'm facing a turning point in the book, the question in my mind is:

"What would the character do?"

not

"What do I want the reader to learn?"

That way, any themes that do emerge come organically from the story, and not from a "to-do checklist" I made up before I wrote the book. Does this make sense? I'd love your thoughts too.

I'm off to LTUE for the day. Hope to see some of you there! If not, have a great weekend!!

Housekeeping notes from the man

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:44:00 +0000

Brodi is at the LTUE conference today. I believe that she will doing a post either later today or tomorrow, so please check back.

A couple of quick notes:

As mentioned, the LTUE conference is going on right now. I believe that you can still sign up. Its cheap and there are some fabulous authors going to be there. So go there or be square (wait, that didn't rhyme). Go to the conference, there is great ambiance (wait, still didn't rhyme...and thus my career as a poet was over before I realized it- yep, still can't rhyme).
If you are looking for great book deals. If you want to buy another copy of Everneath to proudly display on the mantle of your fireplace, head on over to Kings English where they are having a 30% off hardcover books...and if you buy more than 3 books, you will get 40% off. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You should buy 4 copies of Everneath and think of all of the money you will save! Your husband or your wife or your boyfriend or your girlfriend or your friends, pets, neighbors and acquaintances will all be impressed by your thriftiness.
If you live in Utah, but you live out South like in Sandy or Utah County...head on over to the Sandy Barnes and Noble...you can get already autographed copies of Everneath. Yay for you!

I wish I had interesting stories to tell you all today. We do have a clog in our drain line at our house. Thats pretty exciting. I would take pictures, but I know that NOT one of you cares about that (due to popular demand, I am posting one picture of the drain cleanout...sorry, no gross out pictures) I could talk about the Bachelor, but Brodi already covered it last week. So, with that, I bid adieu...check back later today or tomorrow for Brodi's return.

Do you want to be a Writer? Two Conferences that are the best Bangs for your Buck

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:25:00 +0000

It's time for Thing #1 and Thing #1

Thing #1

LTUE CONFERENCE

So, I was talking with a neighbor the other day, and he showered EVERNEATH with compliments, like, "It wasn't as cheesy as I was expecting it to me," and "It didn't make me puke." (Okay, the second one is how I interpreted his comments.

Anywho, he said he wants to write a book to. He proceeded to tell me about his plot, which involved words like "nanobots" and "alternate world" and "other beings" and "cows" then he asked me if I could take a look when it was finished.

me: "I'm not sure I'd be the best person to judge it."

him: "Why?"

me: "Because it's sci-fi, and I'm no expert on sci-fi stuff."

him: "It's not sci-fi!"

me (with one eyebrow raised, if I could raise just one eyebrow): "I distinctly heard the word 'nanobot' and if you have the prefix of nano-anything, it's sci-fi."

But then I realized there is something so absolutely perfect for him coming up this weekend. It's the LTUE Conference, and it is widely known throughout the writing circles of Utah that this conference is the best bang for your buck.

If you are a writer who is short on money (which is every writer) this conference is the place to be. They have sci-fi panels, magical realism panels, first novelists panels, how to break out into the market panels, they talk about plotting, writing, publishing, everything you need. It's not just for geeks either.

I'll be speaking on three of their panels, and I'll be signing on Friday night. And generally hanging out there. So if you want to catch up, or get your copy of EVERNEATH, join me! There will be big name authors there, like Brandon Mull and James Dashner and Brandon Sanderson and many others.

You can read about it here. You can see the schedule here. You can register here.

LTUE conference
Dates: Feb 9-11
Place: Utah Valley University
Fun Factor: 10

Thing #1

WRITING FOR CHARITY

And... another can't-miss writing event in Utah in March. It's the Writing for Charity annual event. For a list of the authors attending, click here. It's a one-day conference, with amazing workshops, that are interactive and unique, and you can get your work critiqued by a published author! And the proceeds go to charity.

The really fun part is the silent auction. Bid on getting a character named after you in EVERNEATH 3, or you can bid to go to lunch with me, Bree Despain, Emily Wing Smith, Matthew Kirby, and Ally Condie.

To register, click here.

WRITING FOR CHARITY
Date: March 17
Place: Provo Library
Fun Factor: 10

So, will I see any of you there?

Updated Appearances... and Kid B Discusses Life with the Guy Upstairs

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Hey y'all!

A couple of notes:

1. I will be signing books at the Authorpalooza event at the Sandy Barnes&Noble this Saturday from 1-3 pm. So, if you didn't get a chance to get your copy of EVERNEATH signed, here's your opportunity!

2. I will be on several panels at the upcoming LTUE Conference. If you are a writer, or other creative type, there really isn't a better value than this conference, because it's only $30, and it lasts for three days!

The conference takes place Feb 9-11 at the UVU campus in Orem.

3. I know today is Thursday, and I usually blog on Wednesday. And the last blog was Tuesday, and I usually blog on Monday.

The reason for this is simple: There is a crack in the universe that has been following me around ever since I was a little girl, and sometimes it shifts my life one day to the right.

Or... that might've been an episode of Dr. Who. And the real (and boring) reason is... I'm swamped. I have a deadline on Monday. And this is the first time I've been revising while simultaneously trying to launch a book. I'm flailing a little bit.

Today, I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the things Kid B has been praying about lately. Many of you know Kid B has some delays, especially when it comes to language. But at night, he has been saying his own prayers.

Kid C and Kid B

The prayers always start out with:

"Heavenly father, thank you for this day."

And in the past week, that sentence has been followed by:

"... The babies are sleeping... so please be quiet..." (Yes, Heavenly Father, please keep it down)

"... I play Cut the Rope... Experience... I went next level..." (The big man will be so impressed)

"... I go to school today... Tuesday... January... 31st... two thousand twelve..." (because it's good to be specific)

"... please bless me to talk..." (I used to say this when I said the prayers)

"... Is it time for snack? Yes, you can have snack. I can have a snack? Yes! ..." (Sometimes he practices conversations he's heard that day)

I just imagine the guy on the receiving end of that prayer. I like to think he sets aside whatever amazing thing he is creating, sits back, and has a good chuckle.

TOP FIVE things I learned from The Bachelor

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:15:00 +0000

#5 If ten girls tell you that one specific girl is bat-shiz crazy, you should believe instead that it's the ten girls who are crazy.

#4 If you can overcome your fear of heights, and bungee jump off the bay bridge, that means you are ready to overcome your fear of relationships, and jump into love. If you can't, this means you are emotionally stunted, and you are there for the wrong reasons.

#3 Kissing in water is always sexy, unless your feet can't touch the bottom and you're arms and legs are flailing about when you go to plant one on her, and then there's that awkward moment when you realize you can't smooch and stay afloat.

#2 If you are in doubt of your feelings, strip. This will prove that you are ready to expose your innermost layers, because you are ready to expose your skin. If you can't, this means you are emotionally frigid, and there for the wrong reasons. (Side note: The worst indictment on someone is to say they are "there for the wrong reasons".)

#1 When the couple next door to me was sharing an intimate moment, I sneaked up and said, "Can I steal him for a moment? You've already had one-on-one time." ... This is not okay.

Launch Party by the Numbers: because it's a tradition

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:14:00 +0000

Firstly: The winner of the Everneath Prize Pack is: Tara Turner

Please email me your mailing address: brodiashton at gmail dot com

On to the post!

Hey y'all. Since it's become a defining feature on the blog, I thought I'd share a rundown of the Everneath Launch Party by the Numbers:

Number of people in attendance at the launch party- 220

Number of hours I signed for: 2.5

Number of essential items I forgot: 2
1- my own copy of the book to read from 2- my special red pens to sign with (I shopped for them all day. I ended up signing with a purple pen.)

Number of times I called someone "Rachel" who's name was in fact not "Rachel": 2 (King's English has a lot of Rachel's!)

Here's one of the Rachel's introducing me. I love her.

Number of typos in my power point presentation: 2

Number of times I said the word "nipple" in my presentation: 4

Number of times my mom hoped I would say the word "nipple" in my presentation: 0

Number of bad pictures in a row my hubby took of me: 9

Open those eyes, Brodi.

No wait, try again.

This one's my favorite. I'm so bored, I'm sleeping.

Could I BE any happier?

I'm scared. The woman in the front row has a gun.

Constipated? Yes, please.

Remember that part where I tried to eat the microphone?

I'm thinking of a funny joke inside my head.

A little to the left, raise your chin more... yep. Now I can see straight up your nostrils.

Number of times I messed up on signing my own name: 2 (What is it that makes me forget the "r" in Brodi?)

Number of times I ripped the title page of the book when I was trying to remove the post-it note: 1

Number of times I've typed the words "thank you" in the past 48 hours: 548

Number of people I have left to thank: countless

Thank you again, everyone.

EVERNEATH Launch Party: An Initial Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:06:00 +0000

Hey y'all. I'm finally starting to unwind from the big launch party. I can't believe how many people showed up, and packed the art gallery next door to my local indie bookstore, the awesome King's English.

I thought I'd just show you some wonderful pictures, taken by my friend Michelle Sallay. (Also, she is giving away a signed copy of Everneath on her blog).

First off, here are pics of the crowd from several angles. I was so overwhelmed by the support from the community, friends and family! The staffers counted over 200 in attendance.

I did my first ever power point presentation. We were only into the second slide when I came across my first typo.

It read:

THIS IS MY FIRST POWER POINT PRESENTATION.

I all grown up now.

Yep. I all grown up now.

I signed books for over two hours straight. The King's English sold out of books early in the evening. Thank you so much to everyone who braved the crowds and stood in line!

My awesome family (who considers it their divine mission in life to feed the masses) made the best treats which helped make the wait more pleasant.

photo taken by Eden Ellingson

And King's English got this awesome cake:

photo taken by Eden Ellingson

I almost hated that they had to cut into the pretty!

Here are some more pics of the event, again taken by Michelle Sallay:


This is my critique group, THE SIX minus me. They are wearing DEAD ELVISES t-shirts. From l-r: Sara Bolton, Valynne Nagamatsu, Kim Reid, Bree Despain and Emily Wing Smith.

My sweet parents, holding my book. Doesn't my dad look great?!

Me signing.

Thank you to everyone for all of your support. People ask me how I'm handling everything, and I tell them I'm handling everything fine, until I think about all the people I have to thank. Then I become overwhelmed.

If you were at the party, what did you think?

And if you weren't, did you know you can order signed copies of EVERNEATH from The King's English?

Also, I will announce the winner of the Pre-order contest tomorrow. :)

On EVERNEATH Eve, I am feeling Reflective

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:21:00 +0000

First things first: Check out this contest that Waterstone's in the U.K. is doing. Anyone can enter, no purchase or hoop-jumping necessary, and you could win the dress from the cover of EVERNEATH! Isn't that cool?

Second things second: My main character Nikki gave an interview over here. That playful little minx! I didn't know she could do these things without my knowledge!

Thirdly, EVERNEATH comes out tomorrow. Tomorrow!! I know some of you have already seen it in stores (and if you have, tweet me a picture!) but it's out officially tomorrow.

This is causing me to do something I rarely do: Reflect. I can't help it. I print up all of my rejection letters in preparation for the launch party tomorrow, and the next thing I know, I'm reflecting.

All those people who thought my book wouldn't sell. And trust me, there is a stack of them.

I check out the dedication in the book:

To: my dad.
A quiet man.
A fierce warrior.

And I can't help but remember there were many people in the past four years who told me he wouldn't live to see my book on shelves.

*HIGH FIVES, DAD*

I read over the acknowledgements page, which I'll share with you now, because there are so many people besides me who are behind this book:

Brace yourselves: this is going to be long. It takes a village to raise a novel, and this book owes its existence to one giant, crazy village.

First off, a big sloppy kiss on the cheek to the folks at DGLM, especially my agent Michael Bourret who is one half advocate, one half shrink, and the other third kindred soul. Thank you for seeing the beauty in the beastly draft that I sent you, and for talking me down from the ledge on a regular basis. And for loving tennis just as much as I do. Added kisses for Lauren Abramo and her stellar work abroad on behalf of Everneath.

Next, high fives all around to the entire team at Balzer+Bray and HarperCollins. Special thanks to Sara Sargent and my editor Kristin Daly Rens, who fell in love with the story of Everneath months before it was even submitted. You taught me to never stop asking questions and digging deeper. The Everneath came to vivid life because of you. Also thanks to the many people behind the scenes, including even more editors, copy editors, and the enthusiastic sales, design and marketing teams.

Slaps on the bums (football-team style) for my writing group The SIX (aptly named because we are all six feet tall) Bree Despain, Emily Wing Smith, Kimberly Webb Reid, Valynne Maetani Nagamatsu, and Sara Bolton. Without your brilliant critiques, endless readings of crappy drafts, and emergency runs to In-n-Out, this book would be a flaming pile of goo.

Hugs all around for friends who have helped me through the madness of trying to get a book published, either by reading early drafts or providing emotional support and chocolate: Amy Jefferies, Diane Adair, Anne Petty, Matthew J. Kirby, Alissa Owen, Raina Williams, Debbie Lambson, Jenni Elyse, Robin Weeks, Karin Brown, Amy Weech, and especially Dorien Nielson, who read the earliest version, when it was only twenty pages long and I was getting it ready to be critiqued at a conference.

Thank you to Martine Leavitt and the rest of my WIFYR 2009 workshop group for their insights. Thank you to many more blog friends, Twitter friends, real-life friends, and book bloggers who have watched my journey from the beginning, and have thrown their enthusiastic support behind this book. You know who you are!

Chest bumps to my extended families, including Frank and Kathleen, the Johnsons, the Otts, the Jacksons, the Ellingsons, and the other Johnsons, and endless nieces and nephews who also were subjected to early drafts. Special thanks to Eden Ellingson, who gave me the idea to write a book in the first place.

A noogie on the head for my sister Erin, who shouted the praises of crappy first drafts, and was ready with a pair of brass knuckles for anyone who thought differently. I'd want you on my side of any battle! Extra noogies for her husband, Dave.

A kiss on the forehead for my mom and dad, who raised me to believe I could do anything, and celebrated every step of the journey, from false starts and rejections to that magical day when I got THE CALL.

A pinch on the cheek for my boys, Carter and Beckham, for reminding me there is life outside of my books.

Most of all, a smack on the kisser for Sam. You never let me give up. You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. You are the best man I know. It’s you and me against the world. Love you.

Lastly, I want to thank all of you blog readers - lurkers and frequent commenters - for accompanying me on this journey. Today, I'm just filled with love and gratitude and I don't know how to repay everyone. I'm always searching for words, but right now there are none.

Except THANK YOU.

Kid B Packs his Essentials, and Your Chance to Win an EVERNEATH Prize Pack

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:45:00 +0000

Hey, yo.

Things are about to get EVER-FREAKY around here, mostly because my book comes out in 4 DAYS!!

I am EVER-excited, and to prove this, I'm going to put "EVER" in front of every single adjective!

Okay, just kidding.

Sorry for the sporadic blog posting this week and last, but I've been on a cruise. Sam didn't want me to mention it until after we were back, because he was nervous that burglars religiously follow my blog, just waiting for the moment I mention that we're going out of town.

So, for all of you religious burglars out there: BAZINGA! You've just been EVER-BAMBOOZLED. Ha HA!

When we told Kid B that he was going on a cruise, he promptly found a suitcase and packed everything his 6-year-old mind thought he would need. Here's what it looked like:

I case you can't tell from the picture, that there is a suitcase full of:

1 standard issue pencil box, filled with crayons

4 multi-colored Yoshi's

1 very angry bird (whose talents include destroying wood. Perfect for a cruise.)

1 paper punch in the shape of a tiger

1 industrial sized tape dispenser

1 roll of heavy duty packing tape (I assume for if the ship springs a leak)

The bottom is just made up of stacks of paper. Because that's the one thing you can't get everywhere.

He zipped it all up and headed for the door. Sam had to break it to him that we weren't leaving for another 24 hours. The Yoshi's were not impressed.

I'll tell you all about my trip later, but first I had to show you what was on my doorstep when we got home:

And I want to celebrate. Would you like to win a personalized copy, complete with autograph, from my own personal stash? Along with some EVERNEATH swag like temporary tattoos, a guitar pick necklace, and signed bookmarks?

That, my friends, is what the people-in-the-know call a PRIZE PACK!

Here's your chance to win it. All you have to do is pre-order my book, and you're entered to win! Now, I know some of you are thinking, "But if I pre-order her book, and then I win... won't the space-time continuum implode?"

Wait, that wasn't what you were thinking? Oh. Then maybe you were thinking you'd end up with two books.

And I say... what's the problem? Double the fun! Do you have a friend who has a birthday ever? This would be perfect! How about a holiday that shows up once a year? Excellent.

So, pre-order my book from places like Books A Million or Barnes and Noble or Indiebound or anywhere else, and then leave me a comment telling me you pre-ordered the book, and you're entered! Just make sure you include where you ordered it from, your confirmation number, your credit card number and your social security number, along with your mother's maiden name.

Again, I jest. There's no real way for me to tell if you're lying. So, we are making a gentlemen's agreement. But just for fun's sake, tell me where you ordered it from. :) And if you already pre-ordered, EVER-thank you! And yes, that counts too.

Okay! That's it! And again, don't forget that everyone's invited to the launch party at The King's English on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

*I should've mentioned that this contest will end on Tuesday, January 24th at midnight.*

**I also should've mentioned that it counts if you're going to buy your copy from King's English on the night of the launch. Plus, this option will also give you a warm fuzzy feeling because you supported your local indie bookstore. And we all know warm fuzzies attract a lot of luck in a random drawing. **

German book trailer for EVERNEATH (Fixed)

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

I'll tell you right now, blogging will be a little sporadic this week. I'm a bit in recovery mode after my revisions and resting up for the big book release, which is in nine days, which is so crazy!

But while I'm here, I thought I'd share the German book trailer for EVERNEATH. I think it has a very romantic and cool feel to it. Let me know what you think! And again, I wish I spoke German.

Okay, Okay. I get it. There's no link! Here's a link. Or better yet, here's the video. I think.

How I Tought Kid C the Similarities between a Cruise Ship and a Naked Woman

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:54:00 +0000

Hey ya'll!

So, we're going on a cruise in the distant future. I've never been on one. I'm so excited because this combines my fear of enclosed spaces with my fear of the open water for an exciting cocktail of crazy.

Sam is very excited to see what wonderful sides of my personality this experience will bring out.

I was trying to explain to Kid C what a cruise ship will be like.

me: "We're going to stay on a boat with like hundreds of other people!"

him: "That sounds crowded."

me: "But the boat is huge!"

him: "Where will we sleep?"

me: "In our own room. Like a hotel room. But it floats!"

him: "That doesn't sound very safe."

I glanced at the television guide, which happened to be showing TITANIC. Now before you think this can't turn out well, I also noted that the movie had just started, so there was no way it could be to the scary sinking part yet.

So I'm all, "Kid C! Get over her. You are going to see what a cruise ship loos like."

I flip the channel, and front and center on the screen is this:

Only it didn't cut off. It panned from left to right, showing the whole enchilada, if you know what I mean. Do you know what I mean? (boobs.)

So to poor kid C, I was all, "Watch the big screen, son. This is what a cruise is!!!" Cue naked woman! "There. Does that clear the whole 'hotel... but on the water' confusion?"

I immediately shut the tv off, which was probably worse, because it resembled one of those flashes that become ingrained in your brain.

Kid C: "Was that a naked woman?"

me: "No! It was a... boat. You saw a naked woman? That's weird."

Yes, I like to take the coward's way out.

15 More Days... Launch Parties, Revision Woes, and the need for Burned Flesh Factoids

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:42:00 +0000

So, I have a revision deadline for the latest version of EVERNEATH 2: It's Everneath-ier on Wednesday.

This means I'm going through the draft right now, and coming across highlighted words. Stuff I didn't want to figure out right then, but needed to come back to later.

Sometimes I'd be in the middle of a really tense scene, or even worse, a romantic scene, and I'd turn the page only to find this:

blah blah blah... leading up to big kiss *smooch*

Here are examples of my favorite highlighted reminders:

Blah blah blah... add description (Yeah, this one comes up about once a page)

------- word for hand thingee? -------(I don't know, could it be a glove?)

------ word for leather thing that can old a knife? ------ (Okay, obviously the word "sheath" wasn't coming to me)

------ do "concentric" circles go outward or inward?---------

what else can he do with his hand, besides run through hair? (I ask myself this question every day. *she said as she ran her fingers through her hair)

-----need transition here: Aaaaaaannnnnnnndddddd... scene!-------------

--- note: what does burned hair smell like?-----

--- note: if you tear off sleeve, will burned flesh come with it? -------

And my personal favorite:

--- say it again, but better---

EVERNEATH comes out in 15 days. The launch party will be at The King's English bookshop in the 15th and 15th area of Salt Lake City.

When: Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Where: King's English
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Treats?: Of course

Everyone is invited, so mark it down on your calendars so I don't look like an idiot up there at the microphone, speaking to an audience of Sam and my mom.

I practiced my speech on Sam the other night. He had one thing to say:

"I'm not sure it's appropriate to talk about your hatred for faulty epidurals in your book launch speech. In fact, we could probably leave Kid C's birth story out."

Looks like it's back to the drawing board.

So, who's coming to the launch party? And who can answer the question about the burned skin?

The TOP TEN things my kid says to me to keep me grounded

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

The other day, I did a TOP TEN list on Twitter, and I got a couple requests to do it as a blog post, because of all the people not on the twitter. (I'm looking at you, Dorien).

So, since I have a book coming out in 17 days (17 DAYS!!), sometimes my head is in the clouds. Below, I present to you the TOP TEN THINGS MY KID SAYS TO ME TO KEEP ME GROUNDED:

#10 "Percy Jackson already did mythology, and he's a BOY."

#9 "Please don't show your cover to my friends. It's embarrassing."

#8 Me: "I'm going to be in Wal-Mart!" Kid C (shrugging): "I'm in Wal-Mart at least once a week."

#7 "Mom, do you know any REAL authors? Because my teacher needs one to talk to her class."

#6 "Why did you have to write a book about... LOVE?" (Followed by melodramatic gagging sounds)

#5 "Wouldn't it be cool if Nikki ate Jack's BRAINS?! (Yes, he's into Zombies)

#4 (Looking at my cover): "That's a weird looking dude." me: "Um, that's a girl." Him (turning cover upside down): "Oh. I get it." me: "???"

#3 When a friend asked him what my book was about: "Um... Monsters. And dragons. And people who eat BRAINS!" There are none of these things.

#2 (looking at finished copy) "What, they only made it out of paper?" Tosses it onto floor. me: "Yes, they cancelled the gold leaf printing."

And the number one thing my kid says to keep me grounded: "WHY CAN'T YOU BE MORE LIKE R.L. STINE?"

If you're a writer, what do your kids say to you?

If you're not a writer... whatcha up to this weekend?

I'm trying to get to my To-Do list, but where am I supposed to find the sand for the Sandcastles?

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:11:00 +0000

Hey y'all. There is so much to talk about today!

First off, I was interviewed by Captain Jack Sparrow over on C.J. Redwine's blog. She is truly hilarious, and you can check it out here.

Next up, the Pitch Dark Facebook Page has the first 72 pages of EVERNEATH up. So if you can't wait until January 24th to start the book, head on over!

So, I don't know if you noticed, but EVERNEATH comes out in 19 days. 19 DAYS!!

The other day, I came home to find this on my doorstep:

My niece, M+M, made me a paper chain countdown for the launch date. Isn't that so great? Especially for me, because I have a very hard time counting backward from such large numbers like 19.

Each chain has a quote on it from the book:

So I thought it would be fun to share these quotes as I rip off the chains each day. If you want to follow along, look for me on Facebook or Twitter.

And finally, if you have an interview/swag/giveaway request in to me on my emails, I'm trying to get to them all. Really trying. But yesterday I did four interviews, and then I got eight more requests, so I'm convinced that completing interviews only leads to more, exponentially, and it's very hard. Please be patient, and if I haven't answered you and I was supposed to answer you, send me a reminder.

Because look at my to-do list:

I'm not sure why I have to do these things, but they are on a list, and that means I'm going to do them! Excuse me while I step outside momentarily to Trust the Universe.

You may also do this to-do list, if you're bored. I'm particularly eager to FIND OUT HOW THINGS WORK.

With that in mind, I'm off to dismantle my computer. Wish me luck!

Why I'm Hugging my Mail Today... Because it took Years to get Here

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:51:00 +0000

Guess what I got in the mail today?

This little beauty:

An actual hardcover from the first printing of EVERNEATH.

And just like any newborn, it has a spine.

I actually got two copies. Sam said we should keep one of them exactly like it is, and not besmirch it with my signature. Thanks, Sam. I would hate to ruin it by writing my name in it.

Here's the truth:

When I opened the package from HarperCollins, I just sat there in my study for about half an hour, staring at the book. I thought about the journey to get to this point, the culmination of factors both in and out of my control, the multitude of people who contributed to this little clump of bound pages.

There's not enough room on the spine to list them all, but there should be! And those names deserve to be there, mostly because I just spelled "should" as "shood" and my book would've been full of "shood"s without a giant team backing me up.

I tried to get all eloquent about the monumental effort that this book symbolizes, but then I realized the book is the perfect size and shape to make it very huggable, and so I shall forget the big words and sentiments, and I'll just hug it for a little while.

While I'm at it, let me just say a big thank you to all y'all who have been reading this blog, and taking this journey with me. I love everybody today.

World-Building: When You're Missing the Essential World-Building Bone in your Body

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:04:00 +0000

So, I'm under deadline. I know it seems like I was just under deadline, and that's because I was.

For those of you who don't know, I'm revising EVERNEATH 2: It's Everneath-ier. This time around, we are focusing on world-building.

And let me tell you something right now: I was born without the world-building bone in my elbow. Doctors were amazed; they would take my x-rays around and show other doctors, and remark, "This little baby is going to have a helluva time trying to build a world that's not exactly like the one we live on."

Most of my world-building looks like this:

Okay, so lets take a planet:

Now we have to ask ourselves, where will the people live?

Let's add some land:

Good. Now, how will life grow? What will the people drink?

Let's add some water.

And... oh crap. I've made Earth. AGAIN!

Then I crumble up the paper and throw it away and start over.

I was supposed to world-build in the last round of edits, but instead I threw in some razzle-dazzle. I gave my editor the old flim-flam-flummox, then I dazed and dizzied her, because how could she see that I couldn't world build when she had sequins in her eyes?

As a final number, I threw in a tap dance.

But the thing is, I can't tap dance, and my editor could see just fine with the sequins in her eyes, and she still said, "Hey, how about we world-build a little?"

Then I tried to explain to her about my unique anatomy:

But she was not impressed. Apparently, she thinks I can do this.

So, yon bloggerville, I think I can do this too.

But just in case, does anyone know what the Underworld looks like? Anyone at all? Geography and demography would be great. And for heaven's sake, do not let it resemble Earth!

My Adventure in Houston, and Bringing my Dad Home for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:52:00 +0000

Hi Everyone!

I hope y'all are enjoying the holidays. It's been a while for me on the blog, I know, but the holidays and my dad's health have definitely had me hopping.

And by hopping, I mean stressing. And by stressing, I mean tearing my hair out, strand by strand, follicle by follicle, until I accumulated enough to knit myself a pair of matching throw pillows for my couch.

Here's a recap:

A couple weeks ago, we landed in Houston because my dad had landed in the ICU there at MD Anderson.

We found him like this:

That picture is deceiving. He's not really giving the "Thumbs up" sign, nor is he saying, "Turn up the gas!" He's actually saying, "Get this contraption off of me, or I will take these thumbs and use them to gouge your eyes out."

He is a very stubborn man. But we needed to get him out of the ICU, in order for him to continue getting his radiation treatment, and get him home for Christmas.

So my mom and my sister and I made a bunch of goals, and stuck them to the television.

If you blow up the picture, you can see that yes, Diet Coke is considered a solid food, and by exercising, we mean cage fighting. We wanted to make the goals as realistic as possible.

The following day, we got to rip off the goal of "Clear chest x-ray," because take a look at that beautiful x-ray on the left.

The one on the right was the day before, and you can tell it is cloudy with fluid. But the one on the left... brilliantly black.

The smiling nurse is Justin. He was very happy to pose for our multitude of pictures, but he drew the line at climbing in the cage with my dad for a fight to the death. He's getting married in a few months, so I understand his hesitation.

A couple days later, we were able to ditch the flattering yellow garb and take my dad for a walk on the observation deck of the hospital, and we got to rip down the goal of "Overcome Vertigo."

Once he was out of the ICU, we made great strides. He even got to wear actual clothes again.

Last week, against all the odds, he was able to continue with his radiation treatments, complete the round, and return home to us just in time for Christmas.

I'd like to take full credit for his recovery, but the honest truth is it was all him. I couldn't have asked for a better present.

May your own holidays be excellent, and your chest x-rays clear!

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

Houston, we had a problem...but things are looking better

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:03:00 +0000

This is Sam, Brodi's lovely husband. Brodi is down in Houston, Texas (can I get a Yeehaw? or a y'all?) with her sister and her mom. Her dad is at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He has been there for the past week or two getting some awesome radiation treatment. But, he had a bad spell and some bad luck and has been in the ICU for the past week.

The good news is that he is doing much better now than he was doing earlier this week. We are keeping prayers, fingers crossed, etc. as he enters this weekend. The pic above are DEMANDS by Brodi, her sister and her mom for her dad. They will accept nothing less. And so far, he is listening to their demands - you don't mess with 3 'blonde' women who have their minds made up. The plan now is that her dad will continue to feel better this weekend and and then get some treatment that was in the middle of before his setback, and come home next week. It would be a very nice Christmas gift to everyone if that were to happen.

First off - there is no reason for the pic above except I put it there because it is awesome. With Brodi gone, I am trying to make sure that I don't go insane. For all of you single parents out there...my San Francisco baseball hat is tipped to you. This week has been work, running kids to school, soccer practices, scouts, haircuts, birthday parties, skiing, work, trying to clean the house, homework and regular work once again. I think I have lost my wallet or phone 19 times in the past 3 days. Somehow I am able to find them every single time. But I have probably wasted 7 hours looking for those stupid little things. I have also been able to witness some great conversations between our boys, such as "Do you know that 95% of kids do not get enough whole grain?' Kid C told this to Kid B. Kid B gave him a look that said, 'Seriously, you think I care about that. Seriously?'

Today is also Kid C's birthday, so we had an early breakfast at McDonalds (breakfast of champions, pic on the right...if you look hard enough, you will see a load of fruits and vegetables - I think they are right under the sausage egg mcmuffin wrapper) and then a birthday party at his school. After school, he is headed up to go skiing. After skiing, we are going out to eat at Chuck-a-rama (his choice) or get Hot wings (my choice) and then a Utah Utes basketball game. So, yes, we will be busy. My birthday gift to Kid C is to teach him how to smile like a regular kid. Hope you all have big plans for the weekend. Brodi should be back in the blogging saddle on Monday.

A Very Yoshi Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:10:00 +0000

So, Kid B was in charge of decorating the Christmas tree this year. When he was finished, I walked into the living room to see this:

Yep, that there is Giant Green Yoshi, with Small Red Yoshi. And apparently, they've been catapulted onto the tree, and impaled in its branches.

Doesn't he look so comfortable?

Kid B is available as a Decorator-for-Hire. He can Yosherize any tree. Anywhere. Anytime.

And the ornament isn't without its symbolic meaning. Don't you remember when the sheep, and the oxen, and the winged baby dragons bowed their head before the manger? If not, that makes me wonder which version of the bible you are reading.

We, of course, read King Koopa's Bible. I don't want to give any spoilers for those of you who haven't read it.

But the butler did it.

How are your holidays coming along? We are steamrolling ahead toward Christmas, flattening any and all elves who get in our way.

I Found a Treasure I'd Been Searching for for SIX YEARS.

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:04:00 +0000

Six years ago, while we were preparing to leave on a trip, my hubs hid the jewelry box containing my wedding ring.

He was concerned that if someone broke into our house, my ring would be the first thing to go.

Why wasn't I wearing it, you ask? That is a discussion for another time. But basically, it boils down to this: I never wear it, because I have a habit of taking it off and leaving it places like bathroom sinks and restaurants and bowling alleys.

You see, I would hate to lose it.

Anywho, we got back from our trip, and since I never wore my ring, there was no reason to get it out of its hiding place.

Fast forward six years. We have since remodeled the kitchen, and a good portion of our house. We have since had another kid. And Sam totally forgot where he hid the ring. You'd think that at some point, during a spring cleaning session, or one of our kajillion garage sails, we would've come across the jewelry box.

But it didn't happen.

Finally, two days ago, Sam was rummaging through some sort of closet and found the jewelry box. Yay!

I'm not sure what this says about us, on several levels.

1. How much do my housecleaning skills suck if we never ran across it for six years?

2. There is a cheerio in the corner of my kitchen floor that I've been able to keep track of for three years. Why couldn't I keep track of my wedding ring?

3. If someone did break into our house, I don't think his first thought would be, "I wonder where the wife keeps her wedding ring." It would more likely be, "Why does this family keep their flat screen under this big pile of Cap'n Crunch?" or "I'd steal the laptop, but my path is blocked by this pile of laundry... and wait... why have half of the keys on the keyboard been replaced with various incarnations of Spongebob Macaroni and Cheese noodles?"

4. Then we'd be featured on that new reality show "When Burglars Stage a Hoarders Intervention instead of actually Burgling the House."

5. I don't know why I'm suddenly numbering everything on this blog post.

6. But Six seems like a good round number to end on.

So... what's everyone up to this weekend? Sam and Kid C are taking ski lessons. Boy would I love to be a fly on that mountain.

Why I wanted to punch my Hubs... No Seriously.

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:06:00 +0000

Sorry so late with the blog. I spent the first half of the day with no internet. Now I completely know how the pioneers felt.

Kidding.

Anywho, my brain no longer works right, so Sam has to remind me about things like appointments and parties and stuff. Last Friday, Sam's all, "Kid C's first school ski day is today!"

And I'm all, "What?!"

Sam: "Yeah, he needs gear. GEAR! Lots of gear that starts with the letter 'G' like Goggles and Gloves, and a Gator! And he has to be to this other school parking lot [not our own school, but another school] because if he's not there on time the bus will leave without him!"

So I ran around to a bunch of different places and bought the first goggles they showed me because I didn't have time to price-shop.

I picked Kid C up from school, ran home and changed him. It was like a fire drill at the local station. I'm all, "Strip! STRIP!! Now put these on. No! On your head! Does it look like Goggles go on your feet?!"

Sweats, check.

Pants check.

two long sleeve t-shirts, check.

Ski Jacket, check. Gloves, check. Gator, check. Goggles, check. Hat, check.

Kid C was very nervous. He asked if there would be bullies on the bus. He insisted on wearing every article of ski gear, even though he still had a long bus ride, and even though it was like 65 degrees outside.

65 degrees.

But he didn't want to stand out because he wasn't sure how to put his gloves and goggles and stuff on.

So, I race him to the other school, and we wait.

That was how he looked as the final bell rang, and the entire school came out, filing past him and giving him strange looks. You can see the boy behind him is in simply a t-shirt and jeans, and here's kid C wearing every article of ski gear possible.

And we wait.

And wait.

I call Sam. "Are you sure we're at the right school?"

"Yes, I'm sure! I've never been surer about anything in my life!"

me: "Are you sure it's today?"

Sam: "Yes! I'm even more sure that it's today than I am that you're at the right school!"

We wait.

And wait.

No other skiers show up. But plenty of carpool moms drove by the poor snow boy, looking at me like I'm crazy because it's sunny and warm.

Then my phone rings. It's Sam. "Um... looking at the fine print here... and it seems... the ski program starts next week.

Who wants to break the news to Shaun White here?

So I'm all, "Hey Kid C. Congratulations! You passed the test. I just wanted to make sure it was possible to make it here on time, with you in your complete ski gear. And look! You did it!"

He gave me a look. (I could only see so much of it through his goggles). Then he turned around, slumped his shoulders and clomped his way back to the car.

This is my life lately. What about you?

Three Books I am Excited for... and EVERNEATH gets a Starred Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brodi Ashton) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:31:00 +0000

First off, the winner of the EVERNEATH mini-giveaway from the YA Scavenger Hunt is...

Tayte Hunter

Please email me your mailing address (brodiashton at gmail dot com) and I'll get that ARC in the mail.

Next...

Now that I've had a chance to breathe, I wanted to talk about some books I've read lately. Unfortunately, they haven't been released, but consider this your official "heads up" to keep an eye out for them!

INCARNATE

INCARNATE is so different than most of the stuff out there! It's sort of Dystopian, sort of Fantasy, definitely romantic, and full of adventure. I thought it was a fabulous debut, and I can't wait to read the next one.

It comes out January 31st, and Jodi is touring with me, so that makes it doubly exciting!

Next up was UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Not only is Veronica Rossi a great person and a great friend, she is also an incredible storyteller. Under the Never Sky is a dystopian, where the worlds of the sheltered "pod-dwellers" and the "savage" outsiders collide, under threats from the ground and the sky. It's pretty incredible.

And finally, I'm in the middle of reading THE SAVAGE GRACE, the final installment in Bree Despain's THE DARK DIVINE trilogy.

So far, there has been an explosion, an ambush at demon rave, and lots of smoochies. Three things that will get me to read any book. :) I can't wait to get back to reading it! It comes out in March.

So, what have y'all been reading? What book have you fallen in love with? Which books are you most excited for?

And, in "EXCITING NEWS I'D LIKE TO SHARE" news:

EVERNEATH received a starred review from VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)

“The author brings a fresh, innovative concept to young adult fiction with well-developed characters and a fantastic plot line .... Libraries are advised to buy multiple copies-this one will fly off the shelves.”

— Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (Starred Review)

Publishers Weekly had this to say:

“Ashton’s debut, is complex and intriguing. Drawing inspiration from such myths as Osiris, Orpheus, and Persephone, it explores the nature of loss and longing and what it means to be alive.”

— Publishers Weekly

Thanks for sharing in the excitement with me! And don't forget to tell me about what you've been reading.