UPDATE: Wow, can I ever get this announced on a Monday. Sorry for the delay, folks. The winner of THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS by N.K. Jemisin is The Original Drama Mama. Please email your physical addy to Contests@KnightAgency.net.
CLIENT NEWS: Rob Thurman's sixth Cal Leandros novel, BLACKOUT, debuted at #19 on the New York Times mass market list. We are incredibly proud of Rob! WTG!
TKA NEWS: Lucienne Diver talks about the agent/author relationship with Romantic Times web editor Morgan Doremus:
Report from Cyberspace:
Amazon says hasta la vista baby to Illinois after Governor Pat Quinn signed new sales tax fairness legislation into law requiring online retailers to collect sales tax - Bookselling This Week
USA Today bestselling, self-pubbed ebook author Amanda Hocking warns those using her as an example of why traditional publishing is on death's doorstep to rethink their position - Amanda Hocking's Blog
Author, journalist and former repairer of ripped newspapers at the New York Central Library, Cory Doctorow pokes holes in HarperCollins's 26-ebook library lending theory - The Guardian ___________________________________________________
Leave a comment to win a copy of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS by Nebula-nominated author N.K. Jemisin. The winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Monday.
The 411: Yeine Darr, mourning the murder of her mother, is summoned to the magnificent and beautiful city of Sky by the king, her grandfather. He names her his heir but has already assigned that role to both his niece and his nephew, so what he’s now done is set up a competitive and thorny three-way power struggle. Yeine, looking more like her Darre father than her Arameri mother, may be a baroness in the Arameri world, but in the matriarchal North she is a chieftain of her people. She is also terrified and fascinated by the gods who roam Sky, including the nocturnally monstrous Nahadoth and the childlike Sieh. In just a few days, Yeine discovers that every action has consequences when she inadvertently sets up Darre to be attacked and realizes that her role in the succession to the throne may be that of a human sacrifice. This complex tale of politics, assassination, racism, and gods too intimately involved in the lives of humans is a challenging read and a notable authorial debut. --Diana Tixier Herald, Booklist
Lucienne Diver's monthly column is up at Magical Words, and today she's talking about the promo tips she learned from the recent Novelists Inc. Conference. This year's conference was dedicated to “Brainstorming on the Beach” about the future of publishing. Click here to read her report from the frontlines!
Hot of the Presses: Chat Transcript for Michele Lang and Lucienne Diver!
Last night, we had a fabulous time with featured guests Michele Lang, author of LADY LAZARUS, and Lucienne Diver, author of REVAMPED, in TKA's chat room. If you weren't able to make it, we've uploaded a transcript to get you all caught up. The ladies shared a lot of awesome information about their books and publishing in general, so it's definitely worth a read. Also, below you'll find links to some helpful articles and a free read that Michele and Lucienne supplied in the chat:
Chat TONIGHT with Michele Lang and Lucienne Diver!
Don't forget to set a reminder for TKA's chat event tonight @ 9pm ET with guest Michele Lang and Lucienne Diver! Michele is the historical fantasy author of LADY LAZARUS and Lucienne is the author of REVAMPED, a paranormal young adult novel. Lucienne is also an agent with The Knight Agency. We've also planned some great giveaways and invited a special mystery guest to drop by -- so be sure to check us out!
(Photo: Michele [left] & Lucienne [right] at their fab double book launch party in NYC)
On Thursday, September 23rd at 9pm ET, we're hosting a chat event with two very special guests -- historical fantasy author Michele Lang and paranormal YA author Lucienne Diver (who also happens to be Michele's agent). Michele and Lucienne recently teamed up for a "Supernatural Soiree" book launch party at the Soho Gallery for Digital Art in New York City, and now they're taking the TKA chat room by storm. Both ladies will share details about their respective novels, but there will be plenty of talking shop too! Oh, and of course, prizes. You can always count on that. ;-)
HOW TO CHAT: Enter a username and password (any combination). Choose "Login." **Your computer must be java-enabled to chat.
Praise for LADY LAZARUS:
“Lang crafts a creative and terse story as all of Europe awaits the September invasion of Poland. Lang is a writer to watch and is sure to have wide appeal to fans of Jim Butcher, Kat Richardson, and other urban-fantasy A-listers. An outstanding debut.” -- Booklist, starred review
“An absolutely unique protagonist in an engaging tale set against the backdrop of the greatest clash of good and evil in human history. What’s not to love about LADY LAZARUS?” -- Jim Butcher, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Dresden Files series
Praise for REVAMPED:
“This is a witty vampire romance/adventure with plenty of heart and action.” -- VOYA, reviewed by Ava Ehde
“Gina, the 17-year-old fashionista of the undead, is back and as sassy as ever (Vamped, 2009). Thoroughly enjoyable, this sequel is a light, fizzy read… listening in on Gina’s thoughts and quick-witted dialogue is what makes this such a treat.” -- Kirkus Reviews
Lucienne Diver has created an awesome contest for the sophomore effort in her paranormal YA series. VAMPED and REVAMPED (Flux, September 2010) heroine, Gina, is looking for minions and not just any will do... First they must pass a test. The grand prize winner who proves they are king or queen of the minion pack will receive a Flip Video Camera. Here's a stolen bit from Lucienne's blog to explain the how, what and why:
Have y’all seen the application tapes from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog for the Evil League of Evil (samples here)? Well, Gina’s on the side of sweetness and light…or at least, light…and taking applications of her own. That’s right, Gina wants, no NEEDS, minions. So, here’s the deal:
-create a video “application” to tell Gina why you’d make an amazing minion. Style, theatricality and humor all encouraged -send it to me at ginasminions @gmail.com (though without the space between ginasminions and @), along with a filled in, signed version of the statement below.
It’s as simple as that. Four finalists will be chosen and posted on my blog(s) by August 15th. The winner will be chosen on August 31st, the day before ReVamped officially hits shelves! The grand prize winner receives a Flip Video Camera, and the three runners-up $25 Barnes & Noble gift cards.
To get the required form to participate, visit Lucienne's blog.
Lucienne Diver wears two hats, that of agent and author. Her second young adult book, REVAMPED, will be released September 1st. Recently, Lucienne experienced her first ever newspaper interview. The article from The Laker illuminates how Lucienne successfully balances both her writing and agenting life. Click here to check it out!
Via Lucienne's blog: I'm guest blogging today over at Naughty Author Chicks on erotic fiction, so if you're over eighteen and want to check it out, here's the link.
We are a bit late to the party, but TKA agent Lucienne Diver is hosting a debut week on her blog with posts by authors Diana Orgain, N.K. Jemisin, Vicky Dreiling and Kalayna Price. Leave a comment in any of the blogs and you can win a "bundle of books." Today, Lucienne is taking her turn at the mike, giving an agent's perspective on making "The Call" to a debut author. http://varkat.livejournal.com/
Marjorie M. Liu, New York Times bestselling author of the DIRK AND STEELE and HUNTER KISS series recently interviewed with Fan Off. Click here for the podcast.
This week, Melissa Jeglinski was interviewed by her client Lydia Dare on the LadyScribes blog.
Lucienne Diver Discusses the Economics of Word Count
Lucienne Diver is guest blogging at Magical Words today about the "Economics of Word Count." Here's an excerpt:
"Simple economics: it costs more to print big, thick books than it does for thinner volumes. Shocker, right? This means more economic outlay for the publisher without a guarantee of returns on their investment. (And yes, I’m primarily talking about print publishing here, because while the audience for e-books is growing, their sales still only account for between 2% and 4% of the market and don’t yet pay a living wage.)"
A rock-star worthy sized crowd came out to chat with Lucienne Diver and Nephele Tempest last night. The agents answered lots of question about querying, conferences, and the like. Unfortunately (or fortunately) there were more questions than time allowed. It certainly made us feel pretty popular, but we definitely would like to make it up to those who were missed. Lucienne has generously agreed to answer any remaining questions today on her blog.
But first, check out our chat transcript to make sure you question hasn't already been answered. Hope to see you at the next chat! Remember, you can sign up for our newsletter to get information on upcoming events! Click here to subscribe.
Tonight, TKA Agents Lucienne Diver and Nephele Tempest are answering publishing questions in our chat room.* If you'd like to get any guidance about how to query, what editors are looking for right now, the ins and outs of digital rights, how to approach agents at conferences, and much, much more -- this is the event for YOU! Plus we are giving away a variety of fabulous romance books from our clients to get you in the Valentine's Day mood!
Hope to see you there!
WHAT: Chat with Lucienne Diver and Nephele Tempest WHEN: Thursday, February 11th @ 9pm ET WHERE: TKA's Chat Room: http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545 HOW TO CHAT: (1) Enter a username and password (any combination) (2) Click Login* *Your computer must be Java-enabled to chat.
*Please note, this is not a pitch session. It's an informal, relaxed chat where we hope you will be able to learn more about the state of the current publishing industry and have a little fun hobnobbing with our agents and your fellow writers and friends in the process. If you have any questions about the chat, please email info(AT)knightagency.net
TKA Agents Lucienne Diver and Nephele Tempest will host a very special publishing chat* this Thursday, February 11th at 9pm ET. Get ALL of your publishing questions answered: find out what's hot and what's not, what the number one qualities in a query are that really impress an agent, how to stand out at writers' conferences, and beyond! They are ready and waiting to answer your quesitons. And, of course, we'll be giving away some awesome books by TKA authors.
WHAT: Chat with Lucienne Diver and Nephele Tempest
Lucienne Diver Open Q&A on Barbara Vey's Beyond Her Book Blog
Today, TKA agent Lucienne Diver is the featured agent on Publisher's Weekly blogger Barbara Vey's blog! She's answering YOUR publishing questions in the comments, so make sure to stop by and drop her a line. Click here for Beyond Her Book.
Hot of the Presses: Chloe Neill & Lucienne Diver Chat Transcript!
Thursday night we had an awesome time chatting with Chloe Neill, author of SOME GIRLS BITE, and her agent Lucienne Diver. Thanks to everyone who came out! Some of you were almost an hour early :). Admittedly, there was some time zone confusion -- but hey, still great to see everyone.
If you didn't make the chat, we've got the next best thing available. Check out the transcript below. Chloe and Lucienne were very generous with their knowledge about distinguishing yourself in the flooded paranormal market, query ettiquette and combating writer's block. Plus, Chloe also revealed the name of her upcoming YA series for the first time, ever! A must read: Chat Transcript.
Author and Agent Online Chat Fest! Chloe Neill and Lucienne Diver will be featured guests in TKA's chat room, Thursday, April 30th @ 9pm ET
UPDATE: During the chat Chloe will give away a Cadogan House Fan Pack, which will include a signed copy of SOME GIRLS BITE, Cadogan House tote bag, Cadogan House mouse pad and "I love Cadogan" bumper sticker!
Did you know that some girls bite? Well, of course, if they're a vampire! Silly, what did you think I meant? SOME GIRLS BITE is the smart new release from talented debut author Chloe Neill that introduces the world to Merit, a new inductee into the world of the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES. The first book is like a potato chip...you can't have just one. It's so good, you'll be itching to read Book 2, FRIDAY NIGHT BITES, due in stores October 2009.
If you love paranormal romance and urban fantasy, are an up and coming author--or hey--if you just like really good books, join Chloe and her fab agent Lucienne Diver in our chat room on Thursday, April 30th @ 9pm ET. Chloe will answer questions about the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES series and her upcoming young adult series VARSITY MAGIC, share her experience as a first time author and offer advice on how newbies should prepare for the rollicking ride of getting their manuscript from 8 x 11 letter-sized to trade paperback. Also our own Lucienne Diver will be on hand to share how she discovered Chloe, and lend her seasoned advice to authors looking to break into the paranormal genre. To learn more about Chloe, visit: www.ChloeNeill.com! Also, be sure to check out a cool new feature on Chloe's blog, WIP (Work in Progress) Thursdays. If you've got a manuscript underway, just share a few tidbits in the comments and she might feature you on her blog!
Here are the chat deets:
What: Online Chat with Author Chloe Neill and Agent Lucienne Diver
How Do You Chat: Visit the chat room here: http://client1.addonchat.com/sc.php?id=115545. Enter a username and password (this can be any combination). Your computer must be Java enabled to chat.
IN TWILIGHT SHADOW's Nomination News & Vampire Week on Lucienne's Blog
Congrats to Patti O'Shea for IN TWILIGHT'S SHADOW's nomination for Best Paranormal in the Write Touch Readers Choice Awards. The book is also a finalist for the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. WTG Patti!
Also, be sure to check out Vampire Week on Lucienne Diver's Varkat blog. The awesome line-up includes Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill, Cris Marie Green, Jess Anderson and Gail Carriger. Today, Rachel Caine is opening the festivities with her "Handy-Dandy Vampire Generator." Click here visit Varkat!
YA Spring Break Week has come to an end. Thanks to all of our WONDERFUL guest bloggers, including Monica McKayhan, Shannon Greenland, Lucienne Diver, Diana Peterfreund and Rachel Caine. You all did an awesome job! Also, thanks to everyone who commented and participated in our contests. We had an absolute blast and we hope that you did too!
We still have a few unclaimed prizes. If you recognize your name from the following list, please email your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces in address):
Winner of 5 Books from Monica McKayhan's INDIGO series: Anna
Winners of Signed VAMPED bookplates from Lucienne Diver: Nicola, Suzette and Isabel
Today's winner of signed Rachel Caine book of their choice: tetewa
YA Spring Break Week: Lucienne Diver Tackles America's Sweetheart...Begrudgingly
UPDATE: The winners of signed VAMPED bookplates are: Nicola, Suzette, Celeste, Brindle and Isabel. Please send your physical addresses to contests @ knightagency.net (remove the spaces in the email addy).
When Jia gave me “America’s sweetheart” as a topic, I had to laugh. I suppose if I had to label myself, I’d be a closet goth. Not cool enough for the full title. Too cheerful for one; too geeky for another. Yes, I adore vampire fiction and have an affinity for skulls, hence my near miss with graduate school for forensic anthropology, but I tend to wear all that on the inside.
So, as you can imagine, the thought of America’s sweetheart makes my teeth hurt. Saccharine overload. The likelihood of cavities and dentists and all that rot. But here’s the thing…nothing is ever as it seems. Authors and screenwriters have gotten a lot of mileage out of the fact that nobody’s perfect (think the film American Beauty). Inside we’re all closet geeks or addicts or outsiders laden with fears we hide away from the outside world. Things that are either too precious to be exposed to ridicule or too certain to invite it. And the teen years are the worst, as kids often try to direct attention away from their own perceived weaknesses by pointing out those of others.
Like my character Gina from VAMPED. Okay, she doesn’t have any insecurities that she’s aware of. She’s coasting along fairly certain that she’s at the absolute top of the food chain. Until she wakes up dead. No reflection, no way to apply lipstick or fix her hair and make-up. Now that’s horror. And that’s why I had so much fun playing with her. In order for Gina to become a fully-realized person, I had to knock her off her pedestal. Take her from head of the fashion police to low girl on the vampire totem pole. That’s the true test of a person’s metal…whether they wither in adversity or put on their big girl panties and deal with it. Well, Gina is not the type to take her reversal of fortune lying down, especially once she discovers that not only is her geek-boy sire in danger of being stolen away by his vampire vixen progenitor, but her classmates are being turned to the dark side to serve as cannon fodder in some war not of their choosing. First of all, if anyone’s deserving of merry minions, it’s Gina. For another, well, she’s starting to develop some of those warm and fuzzy feelings she was always able to fend off when she lived and breathed.
So, I guess what I’m saying here is that the idea of America’s sweetheart and all that accompanies it (perfect beauty, manners, behavior…ack!) is just that, an idea, an ideal. The truth is that the beauty is in seeing what has to be done and doing it, in accepting yourself and others for who they are and in hosing the sugar-coating from our ideals and facing their realities. I think we’d all be so much happier in a world where people were prized for saying and doing what they feel is right rather than what they’re told is acceptable.
To me, that’s part of what’s so appealing about young adult fiction. It’s subversive. So much of the text and subtext is about a) being true to yourself and b) not buying into the preconceived rules and notions of authority. We’ll never change the world by accepting the status quo.
That’s my two cents.
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. Five winners will be chosen to receive signed VAMPED bookplates from Lucienne! Leave your name in the comments to enter. The winners will be announced tomorrow morning in this post.
The 411: Yeine Darr, mourning the murder of her mother, is summoned to the magnificent and beautiful city of Sky by the king, her grandfather. He names her his heir but has already assigned that role to both his niece and his nephew, so what he’s now done is set up a competitive and thorny three-way power struggle. Yeine, looking more like her Darre father than her Arameri mother, may be a baroness in the Arameri world, but in the matriarchal North she is a chieftain of her people. She is also terrified and fascinated by the gods who roam Sky, including the nocturnally monstrous Nahadoth and the childlike Sieh. In just a few days, Yeine discovers that every action has consequences when she inadvertently sets up Darre to be attacked and realizes that her role in the succession to the throne may be that of a human sacrifice. This complex tale of politics, assassination, racism, and gods too intimately involved in the lives of humans is a challenging read and a notable authorial debut. --Diana Tixier Herald, Booklist
Lucienne Diver wears two hats, that of agent and author. Her second young adult book, REVAMPED, will be released September 1st. Recently, Lucienne experienced her first ever newspaper interview. The article from The Laker illuminates how Lucienne successfully balances both her writing and agenting life. 
