Quirky Author Thoughts: Introducing . . . SALVATION

I first met Salva and Beth in the middle of a collision. Papers, pencils, the contents of Beth’s backpack, and point of view everywhere!

Yet neither of them bothered to introduce themselves. Oh, no; they were both far too busy telling me about each other. According to her, he was one of those “patronizing—and annoying—organized people.” And according to him, she was “the walking disaster area.”

There was plenty of evidence to support both claims. Though I got no names out of that collision, and I had no idea there was a book coming.

I didn’t find that out until Pepe shoved Salva into the prologue. Pepe is Salva’s best friend, and he’s pretty certain he knows what Salva needs: by this I mean who Salva should date, what sport he should play, what he should do with his life, where he should go to college, and when Salva should be brave enough to introduce himself to an author—aka yours truly—and demand that author write his story.

In this case, Pepe was right: Salva has a heck of a story.

If I wanted to be cheesy, I could pitch it as “Perfect Chemistry meets Romeo & Juliet;” but then you’d assume you know the end. And you don’t.

Because you can’t. Until you know Salva & Beth.

Salvation, Exile, and Judgmental Cats

Check out my new website updates at www.anneosterlund.com! Highlights include info about my new book, Salvation—complete with an awesome photo on the What’s Next page; as well as a brand new awards page; and reviews for Exile! Plus, don’t miss the row of cat judges on the new “reviews” link. Are my web designers incredible or what?

Author Spotlight: Sharon Shinn

Sharon Shinn is one of my favorite authors. If you have read her novel, Summers at Castle Auburn, this won’t surprise you. It features a royal palace and a gutsy heroine a la another YA novel you may have read by yours truly.

Not surprisingly, Summers at Castle Auburn was my first Sharon Shinn discovery. A YA fantasy with castles, princesses, and magic is very unlikely to miss my radar.

Surprisingly, especially considering how great Summers at Castle Auburn is, it is not my favorite Sharon Shinn book.

That honor goes to Archangel—an absolutely fabulous piece of fantasy that will rob you of your sleep—even on the night before a very important exam—so BEWARE.

Shinn writes both YA and adult romantic fantasy, often with a unique sci-fi blend; and in this rare instance, I tend to love her adult fantasy/sci-fi even more than her YA—because I get to spend more time in the hearts of her characters and their wonderfully rich worlds. All of her novels are worth checking out; however my absolute must-reads are below. In the order of how much I love them.

1. Archangel (Archangel Trilogy #1)

An age of corruption has come to the land of Samaria, threatening its peace and placing the Samarians in grave danger. Their only hope lies in the crowning of a new Archangel. The oracles have chosen the privileged angel, Gabriel, and further decreed that first he must wed the slave woman, Rachel. Gabriel is certain that she will greet the news of her destiny with enthusiasm, and a devotion to duty equal to his own. Rachel, however, has other ideas.

Note: Initially, I was a bit hesitant to read this trilogy, due to the “angels.” I don’t like my main characters to be dead. But have no fear! These angels are neither dead nor religious figures. And Gabriel is definitely hot!

2. Summers at Castle Auburn

She was a girl with a talent for witchcraft and a taste for adventure. The illegitimate child of a royal lord, she longed for a man who could never be hers. And she lived for her summers at Castle Auburn.

She is a woman who has grown accustomed to standing alone. What she once loved, she has lost. Where she once saw joy, she now sees terrible injustice. And at the castle where she once lived in peace, she now walks in fear for her life.

3. Jovah’s Angel (Archangel Trilogy #2)

Destructive storms are sweeping the land of Samaria. Then the current Archangel is incapacitated and replaced by shy, unworldly Alleya (Alleluia). She must calm the weather, pacify the tribes, make Jovah hear her, forge a reconciliation with the previous Archangel, and find the man she is supposed to marry--in four months. Unfortunately, the tribes don't want to be pacified, the weather is uncooperative, Jovah is remote, the crippled Archangel is bitter, and Alleya's “destined” husband is identified by the oracles only as a "son of Jeremiah."

Just as addictive as the first Archangel novel!

4. Heart of Gold

A scientist by nature . . . he used his rational powers of observation to examine more closely the privileges he was born to enjoy—and the people he was raised to despise.

A rebel at heart . . . she followed her fiercest passions in the struggle to overthrow a legacy of hate—one that had poisoned her family for generations.

On a planet divided . . . between rich and poor, strong and weak, intellect and feeling, only one thing could bring these two opposites together: A strictly forbidden desire.

For justice. For equality. For each other.

Enjoy!

Valentine's Day, Shakespeare, and Salvation's Release

Me: Hi, Beth.

She looks up from her own manuscript. There are about fifty pages (and a pen) in her hand and stacks of papers all over the table, but none on the floor. A definite achievement for Beth.

Beth: Hello.

Me: Umm. I have news.

She adjusts the grip on her pages.

Beth: Must not be good, or you’d be talking to Salva first.

Me: Why would you say that?

Beth: Because he’s cares about being first. And he’s stubborn. And can go for days without talking if he’s in a foul mood.

Me: A bit of an exaggeration. Don’t you think?

She’s gives me a doubtful look.

Me: OK, maybe you’re right. So I have news. And maybe you could help me share it with him?

Her pen falls to the table.

Me: The release date for Salvation has been changed. Again.

Her jaw drops.

Me: It’s been moved to January 2013.

The papers fly everywhere.

Me: (lifting my arms to avoid the spray) It’s not my fault! I swear. I submitted on time.

She sputters.

Beth: Anne, we worked our tails off so that you could have that first submission done. A year-and-a-half ago.

Me: Yes, Beth.

Beth: And then we worked straight through last spring for the second submission. Even though that’s our busiest time of year.

Me: I know.

Beth: I missed Senior Prom.

Me: You missed the prom for other reasons.

Beth: This is so unfair.

Me: It isn’t bad news. Your book is going to be the only original story released by Penguin in January.

Beth: Uh huh.

Me: Which means it will get more attention than if it was competing with something else.

Beth: We have Salva. Mr. All-State Quarterback. He can totally handle competition.

Me: Also, this means Salvation will come out when readers still have Christmas gift cards.

Beth: Are you kidding me? If I had a Christmas gift card, I’d spend it the day after Christmas.

Me: That’s because you’d lose the card otherwise.

Beth: (grudgingly) I might.

Me: And the best part . . . (I bend down and start picking up her pages)

Beth: Yes?

Me: Your story will be coming out the month before Valentine’s Day!

Beth: Right.

Me: Which means Salva will be in a good mood.

Beth: (glaring) As opposed to how he’s going to react to this news.

I hand her back her pages.

Me: An exceptionally good mood.

Beth: How exceptional? Are we talking chocolate?

Me: I think chocolate is a little mundane for Salva.

Beth: Flowers?

Me: Flowers in February are kind of expensive.

Beth: Shakespeare?

Me: Shakespeare will definitely be in order.

Beth: (giving a long dreamy sigh) I’ll tell him.