Five Things - the Quick Version!

1. 25 days until Pub Date - July 1!!! It doesn't seem *that* long ago that it was a year away. My, how time flies! It's interesting that the book was chosen to launch right before the July 4th Independence Holiday.

2. The final chapters in The Healing Spell take place during the Independence weekend. Those final scenes include danger by shotgun, a wedding, a death, a confession, a traumatic event, and a cute boy. But not in that order.

3. It helps to write a new book while you're waiting for pub dates and news!

I wrote one this past year, CIRCLE OF SECRETS that was under contract, just started another one ( a Victorian Paranormal Thriller that I'm quite excited about and just finished drafting Chapter Two) and I'm in the throes of planning a third one at the same time I'm writing the paranormal - a MG set in Bayou Bridge, Louisiana. Scholastic wants a companion book to THE HEALING SPELL, and they want the same timeless feel of THE HEALING SPELL. It's going to be about mother's and daughters and ghosts and secrets and friendship.

4. My awesome Scholastic publicist is helping me plan book party launches. I have 4 so far lined up. Announcements next week for times/dates/places! Fun, fun, fun!

5. Gotta start writing my book launch TALKS. Nervousness! But the past couple of weeks I've been reading some fantastic posts on Shrinking Violets Promotions, one of my favorite blogs, about book tours and book talks and tips for how to survive without freaking out and crawling under a table. REALLY GOOD STUFF in this post two weeks ago, too!

And Here's a FAB interview about public speaking and promotion from Maggie Steivfater on Shrinking Violets. 

Am I alone in endless tweaking?

The final revised manuscript of THE HEALING SPELL was sent off yesterday morning and then I got an email from Gorgeous Editor that she'd like to send the Dedication and Acknowledgments along with it to the copy editor today and could I send ASAP?

Well, sure! But I haven't even really *thought* about the D&A pages, let alone drafted a potential D&A for this book, although I have been keeping a list of the people who have helped me along the way.

I spent FOUR hours off and on writing and tweaking. Good grief. I am such a tweaker, but this seemed ridiculous. It was hard to get the words RIGHT. To say what I wanted to say about each person.

THE HEALING SPELL has had a seven year journey from concept to this point. A story I've always loved, but it took a lot of revision over the years and a long time to find the right publisher and editor.

And I NOW HAVE an OFFICIAL PUB DATE!!!

Drumroll please and confetti and balloons and fireworks . . . JULY 1, 2010! Whoo hoo!

I was hoping for June, but it's pretty close. Just in time for people to read over their 4th of July holiday - and Livie's older sister, Faye, has her wedding in the book on the 4th of July!

We also have some cover comps!!! I think it's going to be gorgeous!!! Can't wait for the final to show off.

Off to hit SEND again! Have a great day everyone!