Melissa Walker

Photo Friday: Rochester Teen Book Festival!

Melissa Walker — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:39:51 +0000

I had the best time at the Teen Book Festival in Rochester last weekend. (I got to meet long-time blog reader Ashley and got to see Jordan again–yay!). More highlights:

Driving to the Festival in a ’56 Oldsmobile:

Jenny Han is my driver (not really).

A portion of the amazing crowd!

Jenny Han and I did a talk together, and we played Kiss, Marry, Kill, with book characters. Total fun. We also talked about other stuff, like writing and our books and all that, but KMK was my favorite part.

Later, we crashed a prom. You think I’m kidding, but I’m not.

Chesty boys with: Jennifer Roy, Julia DeVillers, me, Jenny Han, Carolyn MacCullough

Matt de la Peña, Me, Carolyn MacCullough, Barry Lyga and James Kennedy (Prom King)

You guys really should go if you can–authors and readers and all. Totally great.

Happy Friday!

Win-It Wednesday: A Signed Book of Your Choice

Melissa Walker — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:25:21 +0000

Ready? Five random people who email me photos of Unbreak My Heart in the wild (ie, on a bookshelf in your bookstore or library), will get a signed copy of one of my previous books (your pick!).

I hear there’s been a slight shipping delay, so B&N will have the book on Friday (sorry!). If you spot it, send me a photo!

Here’s my (very glarey, you-can-see-me-taking-it) shot. It’s the window of The River’s End bookstore in Oswego, NY! Fantastic spot. They have signed copies of the book, so call to order (Hello! Excellent birthday gifts, people.): 315-342-0077.

Happy Wednesday! I’ll choose 5 winners a week from today!

Cover Stories: Second Chance Summer

Melissa Walker — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:03:36 +0000

Guys, Morgan Matson is here! You know I love her, and she has a new book out, so we must read it asap. Also: The Cover. Here she is to tell its tale:

“I had absolutely loved my cover for Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour [read that Cover Story here]. I wasn’t worried about how the cover for the second book would turn out. I was still in the midst of writing the first draft of the book when my editor asked me what I had been thinking about for the cover.

“I mentioned that since the book takes place in a summer lake community, with a dock being a very important part of the story, maybe there could be a dock featured somewhere. An initial idea I’d had was two sets of bare feet on a dock, or hanging over the edge and skimming the water. And then I basically just gave her vague, summer-conjuring words – pine trees! Mountains! Lake!

“By the time I saw the first cover proof, we’d actually been going back and forth a lot on the title. I tend to pick long, not-particularly-evocative-titles, and then cling to them stupidly. The original title of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour was Amy & Roger Discover America. Which now seems so not to fit the book at all! When I was writing the first draft, I had been calling the book The Summer of Second Chances. My editor had suggested Second Chance Summer, but I wasn’t totally on board with it yet. But that all changed when she sent me the cover proof. I adored the cover, and I loved the way that the title fit on it. Which is probably a strange way to settle on a title, but ever since I saw the cover proof, I knew that was the book’s title.

“And I just adored the image. It captured the book so perfectly, and the mood of it – the sun setting, the dock, the trees across the lake. And I love the detail of the girl wearing a pink bikini.

“One thing I’m also grateful for is that my UK covers are so different. They give much more information to the events of the book. In the UK cover (right), you can see all the little details that make up the story. So I love having two versions – one evokes what the book will be about, and one that gives you concrete details of the story.”

Thanks, Morgan! Here’s what I love: The colors. I mean. That sunlight, so muted and soft and dreamy, like sunset or even very early morning. And I’m with Morgan on the title script–it flows perfectly, becomes part of the image. Total summer, with tinges of sadness and hope.

What do you guys think?

Photo Friday: Books!

Melissa Walker — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:23:11 +0000

They’re here! The book is out on Tuesday! I’ve updated my events schedule in the sidebar —–>

(And I’m using way too many !!!)

Come see me or call up and snag a signed book anyway, if you can’t make it.

♥ Saturday May 19: Rochester Teen Book Festival!

♥ Sunday May 20, 2:30 pm
River’s End Bookstore with Laurie Halse Anderson, Barry Lyga and Terry Trueman
19 West Bridge St.
Oswego, NY 13126
Phone: 315.342.0077 (Call to pre-order signed books!)

♥ Tuesday June 5, 6:30-9:30pm
Teen Author Carnival!
Jefferson Market Library, NYC

♥ Saturday June 9, 11am
Books & Greetings Teen Panel with Jen Calonita, Susane Colasanti, Elizabeth Eulberg, Jenny Han, Wendy Mass and Kieran Scott
271 Livingston Street
Northvale, NJ 07647
Phone: 201.784.2665 (Call to pre-order signed books!)

♥ Thursday June 14, 6-8pm
Books of Wonder Summer Love with Susane Colasanti, Elizabeth Eulberg and Jennifer E. Smith
18 West 18th Street, NYC
Phone: 212.989.3270 (Call to pre-order signed books!)

♥♥ PARTY! Sunday June 10, 7pm
The (late) launch party is happening! YOU are invited.
BookCourt
163 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: 718.875.3677 (Call to pre-order signed books!)

Win-It Wednesday: Bookmarks!

Melissa Walker — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:16:47 +0000

Hey, guys! Last week’s chosen-at-random winner of a brand spanking new hardcover of Unbreak My Heart is… Sophie! Send me your address, S.

This week, I have a giveaway for everyone. Email me with your address and I will send you one of my gorgeous new bookmarks (see so-pretty image at left, front and back). I may send you more than one if you make a case as to why you need them (to hand to friends, booksellers, librarians–these are good reasons). Yay!

And because bookmarks aren’t books, I’m going to point you elsewhere for chances to win. Four spots in fact:

Check out Daisy Whitney’s giveaway on facebook! (She called the book “romantic & smart & wise & witty.” Yay!)

Ex Libris is giving away a signed ARC! (She says the book is “a great mix of friendship, family, romance and personal growth.”)

Memories Overtaking Me is giving away a hardcover copy of the book (“Fantastic writing and great characters.” Yay!)

Jen Bigheart at I Read Banned Books is giving away an ARC too (“One of my favorite contemporary YA romances of the year!”)

In case you’re still like, “What is this book?” Here’s a page all about it.

Unbreak My Heart comes out on TUESDAY! Hooray! (I hear it’s already on shelves in Canada–those wily Canadians, always ahead of the game.)

Cover Stories: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Melissa Walker — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:35:19 +0000

I had the chance to hang out with Jessi Kirby in Houston last month, and I can confirm that she is fantastic and fun and smart and all the things she seems to be. Also, her new book, In Honor, apparently contains a Tim Riggins type. SOLD. (Read a review from A Book and a Latte.)

Here’s Jessi to talk about the cover:

“My publisher asked for input before they got to work on the cover, and I said ‘It’d be really great if you could somehow include the car, (which is a 67 Chevy Impala), and Honor in her dress and red cowboy boots.’

“When I saw the cover, I absolutely LOVED it. Truly, madly, deeply loved it. From the font, to the car, to the boots, it was EXACTLY what I was hoping for.

“My editor is always open to comments and suggestions, as is the art department, who goes above and beyond to try and keep everyone happy. With this, the one thing that we asked was that there be some reference to Honor’s brother being a Marine.

“The art department actually went back in and put a set of dog tags dangling from Honor’s hand, which I thought was subtle and just perfect. That was the only change.

“I believe it’s a stock photo, and I definitely think it captures the feel of the book. In the end, I feel like I did the very first time I saw it—I am head over heels for it.”

Thanks, Jessi! I am SO excited to read this one, for so many reasons. The cover is certainly one. Such a small town, summery feel that I just adore. Also, I had never noticed the dog tags but now I see what a perfect touch they are!

What do you guys think?

Today I’m in PA!

Melissa Walker — Sat, 12 May 2012 06:26:46 +0000

Come see me and these awesome ladies if you’re nearby!

Photo Friday: Unbreak My Manicure

Melissa Walker — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:16:00 +0000

Um, how cool is this?

The Princess of Storyland matched her nails to Unbreak My Heart (the anchor is my fave). Thank you!

Happy Friday!

Win-It Wednesday: YOUR Giveaways

Melissa Walker — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:06:26 +0000

Last week’s winner of the Unbreak My Heart ARC is… Susan Light! Send me your address, SL.

This week, I want to showcase other people’s giveaways. So here’s the deal: In the comments, leave a link to your own giveaway, or one that you know about… let’s get a lot of link love going and go enter all the giveaways we can find!

Then I’ll pick one commenter at random to win a finished Hard Copy of Unbreak My Heart… they’re here! Remember that lovely full jacket? It can be yours (wrapped around the book!).

Cool? Go.

Cover Stories: See You at Harry’s

Melissa Walker — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:45:35 +0000

Final cover

Today, Jo Knowles is here to talk about her latest novel, See You at Harry’s. (Read a rave review on Stacked, and note that it just got a star from Kirkus!)

“I think I imagined [the cover as] an image of the restaurant described in the book [as I was writing]. Or the family posing for their annual Christmas card. But… nothing really concrete. I was just hoping whatever it was, I would love it.

“My publisher didn’t ask for input. But I gave a few suggestions when I was arguing to keep the title, which is another whole story.

“When I first saw the cover, I felt… Relief! I thought the image was perfect. I liked that the background was blue, not pink. I liked that it wasn’t an image of a sad or lonely girl. I loved that the empty dish had two spoons, not one. I felt that the image captured the mood of the book just right, without giving too much away.

“I had some tiny comments about the font and size of the title, and they worked on those.

Original cover

“But a big bookseller chain that shall remain nameless wasn’t wild about the original cover (right). My publisher tried a few other mock-ups in reaction to the feedback, but kept coming back to the original concept. So, they embellished the original and came up with what I think is even more perfect. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

“It is partly from a stock photo, and I still love it. I see a lot of hidden meanings, but if I shared them, I would spoil the story.“

Thanks, Jo! I cannot wait to read this one, and the cover is really excellent. I like the final better than the original–it feels more finished, somehow. But the overall concept is fantastic and I’m glad they stuck with it!

What do you guys think?