It’s all very exciting, but also wildly overwhelming and thus… I have been totally suckfail when it comes to Internetting. Soon, things will be back to normal, I promise. But in the meantime, do accept my humblest and most sincere apologies for all the disappearedy.

*humbles* *sinceres*

Saundra has the same root as Alexander. So this book is totally for me today. Oh, this too:

Heh. Actually now I feel a little better. Is there nothing picture books can’t cure??

I put BREATHKEPT up in the blog for free for a Christmas present, and you guys have all been so amazing. Thank you for your kind words, your letters, it all means so much to me. BREATHKEPT was a book of my heart that never found a place at a publishing house. So it means a lot to me that it found a place with you all.

So now I’m going to experiment with it a little. The subject of whitewashing covers comes up again and again in YA, for good reason. Even when authors write stories with diverse characters, marketing departments continue to be convinced that putting a character of color on the cover is a deathknell.

I think they’re wrong.

So I’m going to experiment with BREATHKEPT. It’s been on Amazon and B&N since January with the original cover, featuring a gorgeous photo by Luna Vandoorne. It’s sold six copies*. Since you guys knew it was for free, I’m going to take that as a good baseline. Six people who don’t know me (and didn’t know they could get this book for free) bought BREATHKEPT with its original cover.

Now, I’m going to put it up for one month with silhouette cover and see what happens. Nothing else changes; the text is the same, the description, category and placement are all the same. It’s the same book, in the same marketplace. Admittedly, I probably skew the results a little just by talking about it here, but hey. If you’re here, you already have it for free so I feel confident that you’re not going to buy it to alter the outcome.

I also feel pretty confident that I’m not going to sell any more books with this cover than I did with the original. I don’t believe it makes a difference to consumers. Part of the reason for this confidence is that I have another self-published book with a character of color on the cover, and it sells just fine. It’s under another name, it had no existing base of awareness, and I sell a steady fifteen* copies of it a month, and have done for over a year.

But I know representation makes a huge difference to readers, to teens who rarely have the chance to see themselves on the shelves. I remember the first time I read THE OUTSIDERS, how I suddenly felt less alone in the world to read a book that featured neighborhoods like the one I was growing up in. That’s such a small thing, compared to reading books– seeing books– that feature characters who look like you do. Representation is so important, and it kills me that companies avoid it on the theory that painfully erasing representative images might bring in a little more money.

So ahoy, to June 15th! I’ll see you on the other side.

——-

* Proof that not every self-published novel on Amazon suddenly will make you a gazillionaire. Though the other book does pay for my 1 movie a month habit. :)

Anna and her best friend go on a summer-long road trip with an old Kerouac book as their guide, which becomes a high-spirited exploration of faith, loss, and love.

To celebrate Elissa’s debut today, I’m asking her 9 essential questions we need to know about every author.

9. Legs or pudding?
I like legs.

8. Jean jacket or leather jacket?
Leather, I guess, though polar fleece is probably more my style.

7. Blind faith or cold logic?
I’m too logical, really.

6. Pen or keyboard?
I think better on the keyboard, but sometimes when I get stuck, a good pen will free me.

5. Zombies or unicorns?
Let’s just say I’m more prepared for zombies

4. Hardback or paperback?
Hardback for my classroom, paperback for bath-reading, ebook for the gym or the road.

3. Bookmark or fold the page?
I’m a page folder who tries hard to reform.

2. Hoard or share?
I’m a teacher, so I’ve gotta share. I’m learning to let go, but there are some lost books I’m still bitter about.

1. Happy ending or total devastation?
Happy. No, hopeful. With a twist of bleakness, I guess, but not total devastation. I’ll throw those books across the room.

Thanks, Elissa! To find out more about Elissa, check out her website at elissajhoole.com! Happy debut, Elissa!

Framed by his father, “reformed” supervillain Colonel Chaos, super-speedster Chris Fairborne, AKA Crimsonstreak, is sent to the Clermont Institution for the Criminally Insane. A hero surrounded by dastardly inmates and heartless guards, Chris struggles to keep his wits about him, until the arrival of some unexpected new “guests” at the facility provides him with a means for escape. Once out, though, he discovers that the world he knew is gone, replaced by a fascist, supposedly utopian state run by none other than Colonel Chaos himself.

With the heroes of the world locked away or fighting in a disorganized resistance, Crimsonstreak teams up with a snarky British butler and a teenage superhero-to-be. Together, the unlikely (and bickering) allies must take down Crimsonstreak’s dad and set the world right. Not easy when your only powers are super-speed and looking good in spandex. But hey, someone’s got to save the world.

To celebrate Matt’s debut today, I’m asking him 9 essential questions we need to know about every author

9. Legs or pudding?

Pudding. Chocolate. To quote Jerry Seinfeld, “Why would I be a leg man? I don’t need legs. I have legs.”

8. Jean jacket or leather jacket?

This question really should be, “Eighties or the Fonz?” I’d pick The Fonz every time. Ayyyy!

7. Blind faith or cold logic?

There’s a small part of me that wants to say I’m a cold logic guy, but I’m terrible at calculus. Thus, logically speaking, let’s go with blind faith.

6. Pen or keyboard?

Both! Yep, it’s cop out time. I typically “make stuff up” (character sketches, ideas, story outlines, etc.) on paper in my trusty, magical notebook. I do all my writing on a keyboard. I use the monolithic Microsoft Word because…well…I have it.

5. Zombies or unicorns?

I’ll go with the magnificent creatures that aren’t trying to eat your brains. The lack of pustules on unicorns was a key factor in coming to this difficult decision.

4. Hardback or paperback?

I like hardback novels–especially thick ones–because they have a sense of permanency to them. As an added bonus, they can double as weapons. Although if I had to pick a paperback that could kill a man, I’d pull out George R.R. Martin’s A Storm of Swords.

3. Bookmark or fold the page?

Bookmark. Be kind to your books. Please.

2. Hoard or share?

There’s enough for everyone…share and share alike!

1. Happy ending or total devastation?

I tend to be the happy ending type. Not every story has to have bluebirds singing on your shoulder because everything is right with the world, but I tend to end things on an upbeat note. That’s not always the right ending, though.

Thanks, Matt! To find out more aboutMatt, check out his website at www.mattadamswriter.com! Happy debut, Matt!

]]> http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/14/the-9-spot-matt-adams/feed 4 http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/10/i-totally-want-this http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/10/i-totally-want-this#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 19:23:42 +0000 Saundra http://saundramitchell.com/blog/?p=6407 Continue reading →]]> I’ve often told my daughter that we’re made of stardust. She doesn’t believe me. I thought of her (and the fact that she’ll go on after me) when I read this:

“You want a physicist to speak at your funeral. You want the physicist to talk to your grieving family about the conservation of energy, so they will understand that your energy has not died. You want the physicist to remind your sobbing mother about the first law of thermodynamics; that no energy gets created in the universe, and none is destroyed. You want your mother to know that all your energy, every vibration, every Btu of heat, every wave of every particle that was her beloved child remains with her in this world. You want the physicist to tell your weeping father that amid energies of the cosmos, you gave as good as you got.

And at one point you’d hope that the physicist would step down from the pulpit and walk to your brokenhearted spouse there in the pew and tell him that all the photons that ever bounced off your face, all the particles whose paths were interrupted by your smile, by the touch of your hair, hundreds of trillions of particles, have raced off like children, their ways forever changed by you. And as your widow rocks in the arms of a loving family, may the physicist let her know that all the photons that bounced from you were gathered in the particle detectors that are her eyes, that those photons created within her constellations of electromagnetically charged neurons whose energy will go on forever.

And the physicist will remind the congregation of how much of all our energy is given off as heat. There may be a few fanning themselves with their programs as he says it. And he will tell them that the warmth that flowed through you in life is still here, still part of all that we are, even as we who mourn continue the heat of our own lives.

And you’ll want the physicist to explain to those who loved you that they need not have faith; indeed, they should not have faith. Let them know that they can measure, that scientists have measured precisely the conservation of energy and found it accurate, verifiable and consistent across space and time. You can hope your family will examine the evidence and satisfy themselves that the science is sound and that they’ll be comforted to know your energy’s still around. According to the law of the conservation of energy, not a bit of you is gone; you’re just less orderly. Amen.”
—

Aaron Freeman “You Want A Physicist To Speak at your Funeral” (source: npr)

]]> http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/10/i-totally-want-this/feed 1 http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/09/well-2 http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/09/well-2#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 13:47:51 +0000 Saundra http://saundramitchell.com/blog/?p=6403 Continue reading →]]>  

To appease the old gods and earn their favor, I have rendered unto them a non-blood sacrifice. Or, really, I went down to check the mail in my BRAND NEW HOUSE, and promptly stepped into a hole in the yard. Hole: 1 Saundra: 0 (TWSS.)

So now I’m on crutches. My agent says that it’s method writing. Julian in the third and final Vespertine book had polio when he was a baby and has one functional leg. Crutches galore in THE ELEMENTALS!

As handsome as this cast is, I won’t have it long. I hope. I tore ligaments instead of breaking bones, so I’m using that to justify my belief in previously unknown to me mutant-healing powers.

Seriously though, you guys. I have to think up a good lie about how I did this. The real story is just too pathetic to tell. Maybe the made up version will include ninjas…?

]]> http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/09/well-2/feed 2 http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/08/the-9-spot-lynne-kelly http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/08/the-9-spot-lynne-kelly#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 13:30:06 +0000 Saundra http://saundramitchell.com/blog/?p=6303 Continue reading →]]> Lynne Kelly’s novel CHAINED debuts today from FSG/Margaret Ferguson Books. What’s it about?

The touching story of a boy and an elephant who have a friendship stronger than any lock, shackle, or chain.

To celebrate Lynne’s debut today, I’m asking her 9 essential questions we need to know about every author.

9. Legs or pudding?
Pudding. Do I get to keep my legs, though? ‘Cause if not, I’ll pick legs.

8. Jean jacket or leather jacket?
My denim jacket is my security blanket, but leather’s nicer

7. Blind faith or cold logic?
Blind faith, but not too blind. Legally blind faith?

6. Pen or keyboard?
Pen to draft, keyboard to revise.

5. Zombies or unicorns?
Unicorns.

4. Hardback or paperback?
Hardback.

3. Bookmark or fold the page?
Bookmark.

2. Hoard or share?
I share my hoard.

1. Happy ending or total devastation?
Happy ending after surviving devastation.

Thanks, Lynne! To find out more about Lynne, check out her website at www.lynnekellybooks.com! Happy debut, Lynne!

]]> http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/08/the-9-spot-lynne-kelly/feed 2 http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/04/natures-fury http://saundramitchell.com/blog/2012/05/04/natures-fury#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 18:09:47 +0000 Saundra http://saundramitchell.com/blog/?p=6394 Continue reading →]]>

In Indiana, we often joke that God hates trailer parks because they get hit by tornadoes so often.

(This joke is both grim and should be informed by the fact that most of the time it comes up when I’m standing on the porch of my dad’s trailer, while we’re listening to the tornado sirens in the distance.)

Just so you know, God also hates glass patio furniture.

The umbrella was up. Obviously, the first mistake. Why would you want shade from an umbrella? Ridiculous! To fix that, a wind gust lifted the umbrella straight into the air. Then it dropped its spike tip right back on the table. Which, as you can see, shattered the table into a million little pieces of safety glass. The crash was so loud, my husband heard it while running the lawn mower.

Another abomination cured by Mother Nature’s wrath!

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